"There's something I just can't figure out!" Murong Jin said, frowning.
"Are you referring to the fact that Ling Yi didn't die?" Murong Yue murmured.
"Yes, given Lin Batian's personality and methods, it's impossible for such a huge oversight to occur."
"There might be too many surnames, but the most likely explanation is that he was a double. The one who died outside the city wasn't Ling Yi, or rather, the Ling Yi who had always been in the public eye wasn't the real Ling Yi."
"Perhaps the real Ling Yi has already obtained some fortuitous opportunity and has been cultivating somewhere all along."
"Being able to carry people through the air without using any magical artifacts requires at least the Divine Platform Realm strength. The fact that uttering just two words can kill more than a dozen people is something that even ordinary Divine Platform Realm would find extremely difficult to achieve."
Murong Yue's Guangzhi held a hint of longing.
"Most cultivators' Spiritual Power lacks attributes; they can only unleash attacks with different attributes by relying on magical artifacts."
"Cultivators who possess elemental Spiritual Power inevitably have extraordinary physiques that defy the heavens. As long as they don't perish, they will surely become unparalleled powerhouses in the future."
At this point, Murong Yue looked at Murong Jin and asked, "Father, are you sure Ling Yi said he could let me cultivate?"
"You're not really going to go find that kid, are you?" Zhuge Jin asked, frowning.
"Father, only by following the strong can one become strong. You know what your daughter has always longed for."
"Besides, we can't refuse!"
"At worst..."
"Father, don't talk nonsense. You are the head of the Murong Family, and you are responsible for all 320 people in the Murong Family," Murong Yue said helplessly.
Murong Jin sighed deeply and said, "But I can't just watch my daughter jump into a fire pit, can I?"
Murong Yue shook her head and looked at Zhuge Jin, asking, "Father, why do you think Ling Yi's place is a pit of fire?"
"Father, sometimes you act too presumptuously. Although Heavenly Wind City is small, there is constant infighting between various forces. For the sake of profit, everyone is an enemy!"
"If I back down and run away, people will see me as weak and easily bullied. I don't know what Ling Yi will think if I don't go, but the other families will definitely think that we have offended Ling Yi."
"Whether it's to curry favor with Ling Yi or to share the spoils, we'll become the target of everyone's criticism."
After finishing her sentence, Murong Yue returned to her room, carefully dressed herself, and then left the Murong Family.
Murong Jin opened her mouth several times to try to stop him, but in the end she could only sigh helplessly and lower her head in silence.
Ling Mansion!
Ling Yi looked indifferently at Lin Batian, who stood before him with utmost respect, and said, "You deserved to die!"
"I understand!" Lin Batian said with a wry smile.
"You've already secretly arranged for someone to go to Twin Camel Mountain, haven't you?" Ling Yi asked again.
"Yes!" Lin Batian did not deny it; he had indeed sent people to Probe Twin Camel Mountain last night.
"You have two choices: either become a bodyguard for the Ling Clan for life, or serve me!"
"Please give your orders, young master!"
"Hehe!" Ling Yi chuckled lightly.
"You have ambition, courage, methods, and the ability to know when to advance and retreat with forbearance!"
Lin Batian lowered his head even further, his hands trembling slightly inside his sleeves. Only now did he truly realize how terrifying Ling Yi was.
"The bandits on Twin Camel Mountain weren't particularly strong; their highest strength was only at the third or fourth level of the Heaven and Earth Realm. However, they unintentionally obtained a cultivation technique—a technique that everyone in the Immortal Cultivation Realm both despises and desires."
"This technique is called the Yin-Yang Five Elements Art. After practicing it, one can absorb the cultivation of others and use it for their own benefit, allowing one to become a powerful being in a short period of time."
Lin Batian's breathing became rapid. Could there really be such a miraculous martial arts technique in this world?
Could it be that Ling Yi cultivated such a technique that allowed him to become so powerful?
He couldn't help but think this way, after all, it was simply unbelievable that Ling Yi possessed such strength at only seventeen years old.
But then Lin Batian realized why Ling Yi was telling him all this.
Thinking of this, Lin Batian broke out in a cold sweat.
"Even if you cultivate the Yin-Yang Five Elements Art to its peak, you'll only reach the Divine Platform Realm, after which there's no further progress."
Lin Batian smiled bitterly, "Only the Divine Platform Realm?"
With his talent, even if he cultivated for another hundred years, he still wouldn't reach the Divine Platform Realm. That's the Divine Platform Realm!
In some cultivation sects, he is already an elder.
"Moreover, this Yin-Yang Five Elements Art is untouchable, unless you want to become a demon that everyone hates."
Ling Yi took out a dark red pill and tossed it to Lin Batian.
"This elixir is called the Undying Pill!"
Undying Pill? It's more like a death pill, isn't it? Lin Batian didn't hesitate at all and swallowed it directly.
A hint of admiration flashed in Ling Yi's eyes. No wonder this guy was able to successfully forge a villainous path.
That kind of courage is something most people can't match.
"This is a Spirit Detection Technique that can Probe other people's talents and physiques!" Ling Yi took out another jade slip and threw a porcelain bottle to Lin Batian.
"This bottle contains one hundred Undying Pill."
"For every disciple with exceptional talent and physique you find for me, I will help you advance your cultivation level further!"
"Primarily search among beggars and orphans; do not compete with other sects, and absolutely do not use force."
Ling Yi tapped his fingers on the table and said, "I will take those with decent character as my disciples, and the rest I will teach them some cultivation techniques and let them join the Shadow Gate."
"You will be the nominal leader of the Shadow Gate. I will give you some methods to control people. Members of the Shadow Gate can die, but they must never betray us!"
Lin Batian's mind raced. What was Ling Yi up to?
" Shadow Gate, for now, is primarily focused on information gathering."
Ling Yi didn't say anything more, but waved his hand, and Lin Batian tactfully bowed and withdrew.
Watching Lin Batian's departing figure, Ling Yi felt a mix of emotions.
In the Immortal Cultivation Realm, the strong are revered, and this was vividly demonstrated at this moment.
I still remember the first time he made a move at the restaurant yesterday, killing more than a dozen people. At that time, I felt extremely nauseous and uncomfortable.
But just one day later, when I tried to do it again today, that discomfort was completely gone.
Ling Yi didn't believe his adaptability was really that strong; it was simply Changes brought about by his strength. When he looked at ordinary people, he really had the illusion of facing ants.
Ling Yi hated this feeling; it even made him somewhat apprehensive.
"Cultivating immortality, what is that?" Ling Yi murmured to himself.
Cultivating immortality is about Longevity, not about turning yourself into an emotionless cultivation machine.
What makes humans human is their rich emotional system; joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are what make us human.
If all the cultivation ultimately destroys one's feelings, then what's the point of cultivating immortality?
Just then, Uncle Fu walked over with a slender beauty in a light blue long gown.
" Young Master, this is Miss Murong Yue!"
As he spoke, Uncle Fu gave Young Master Ling Yi a encouraging look, then turned and left.
"Everyone says that Miss Murong is exceptionally intelligent, and that the Murong Family's current achievements are largely due to her efforts."
"Young Master Ling is too kind." Murong Yue glanced at Ling Yi discreetly. He was handsome, mysterious, and had an Transcendent temperament, but he also possessed a coldness that kept people at a distance.
"Just telling the truth!"
To be honest, Ling Yi Simulation Murong Yue's life more than a hundred times, and when he met the real person, he had a feeling that was both familiar and strange.
"Miss Murong, I've always had a question I'd like to hear your answer to."
"Is it a test?" Murong Yue asked.
Ling Yi shook his head, "It's just a simple question!"
Although Ling Yi said that, Murong Yue didn't really think that way. Intelligent people have this tendency to always feel that other people's words have a deeper meaning, and then keep trying to deeply interpret their implications.
That's exactly how Murong Yue felt at that moment.
"Young Master Ling, please ask," Murong Yu said with utmost seriousness.
"Before yesterday, I was just an ordinary person who, after accidentally gaining immense power, returned to Heavenly Wind City filled with hatred."
"Yesterday, I used the power of a cultivator for the first time, and with a wave of my hand, I wiped out more than a dozen members of the Lin Clan. At that time, I felt extremely disgusted when I saw the bloodstains all over the ground."
"This morning, after I killed more than a dozen members of the Gu Clan again, I felt no nausea at all. It felt like I had crushed a dozen ants."
"If I'm like this now, then when I'm stronger, or when I'm invincible, will I see everyone as ants?"
Ling Yi's question was so pretentious. Even though Murong Yue was intelligent, she was ultimately just a caged bird who had never even left Heavenly Wind City. How could she possibly answer it in a short time?
But since Ling Yi asked, she couldn't refuse to answer.
After a long silence, he asked in return, "Then, I wonder what kind of the Immortal Cultivation Realm Young Master Ling envisions?"
Hearing Murong Yue's question, Ling Yi was momentarily stunned.
I was asking you a question, and you went on to elevate it to a higher level, then threw the question back at me?
However, after pondering for a moment, Ling Yi smiled and suddenly realized that he was being far too sentimental.
Ling Yi knew that this was due to the conflict between his two lifetimes and the different concepts of his soul, which made it difficult for him to adapt for the time being.
Either adapt to the world, or make the world adapt to you; for Ling Yi, simply staying true to himself is enough.
Ling Yi promptly changed the subject.
"Miss Murong, you are not born with a useless body that prevents you from cultivating. On the contrary, your cultivation aptitude is exceptional, and you possess a Innate Ice Physique that is one in a thousand years. You simply lack a suitable cultivation technique."
Murong Yue stared intently at Ling Yi and asked, "What price will I have to pay?"
"Stay by my side for now!"
Having Murong Yue by his side was partly to protect this "experience pack" (a term used to describe someone who gains experience points), lest she run off and get killed someday.
After all, Murong Yue's luck was really bad. In more than a hundred Simulation, she died miserably more than ninety times. The probability was... tsk tsk!
On the other hand, Ling Yi plans to improve Murong Yue's strength before she goes to practice Simulation to see what kind of life Murong Yue will Simulation with a certain level of strength.
Murong Yue blushed, completely misunderstanding Ling Yi's meaning, and whispered, "It's up to Young Master Ling to decide!"
Ling Yi gave her a strange look. "Why are you blushing?"
He shook his head in confusion, took out a jade slip and a bottle of pills from his Heaven and Earth Ring, and recorded the Ice Accumulation Art and some insights into cultivating the Ice Accumulation Art into it.
"This is the Ice Accumulation Art, which is very suitable for your Innate Ice Physique. This is the Body Tempering Pill. Practice on your own first, and if you don't understand something, come and ask me."
Murong Yue was somewhat excited. Becoming Murong Yue had always been her Obsession, and now that the opportunity was right in front of her, how could she not be excited?
Ling Yi called out to the person beside him, " Uncle Fu, arrange a room for Miss Murong!"
Uncle Fu suddenly appeared out of nowhere, a smile he couldn't hide on his face. His Young Master had finally come to his senses and was ready to produce offspring for the Ling Clan!
"Miss Murong, please come with me."
Watching Murong Yue leave, Ling Yi immediately activated the Simulation System. He wanted to see how Murong Yue's life would change under his intervention.
"System, Simulation Murong Yue's cultivation direction."
"Ding, one tael of silver has been deducted. Generating Simulation log, please wait."
[At 17, a great upheaval occurred in Heavenly Wind City. Murong Yue moved into the Ling family mansion and received the Ice Accumulation Art Technique from Ling Yi, thus embarking on the path of cultivation. With the help of Ling Yi's abundant resources, she reached the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm in three days, the Great Perfection of the Five Organs Realm in one month, and the Pinnacle the Spirit Absorption Realm in three months.]
[At 18, with Ling Yi's help, Murong Yue made Divine Speed progress, breaking through the Spirit Accumulation Realm and reaching the Great Perfection of the Spirit Sea Realm within a year. Murong Yu developed feelings for Ling Yi!]
"Pfft!" Ling Yi spat out a mouthful of tea.
What the heck? Falling in love with yourself? What's with that?!