Ning Rongrong patted her chest. "Thank goodness, thank goodness. For a moment there, I thought Third Brother was done for!"
Dai Mubai frowned as well. "Soul-Devouring Zhenren really is vicious. One wrong word and he's ready to kill. He truly is a madman of the demonic path."
As everyone discussed it, Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat, puffed out his chest, and stepped forward with his usual knowing smile. "What are you all panicking about? Little San had it all planned!"
Everyone froze and turned to look at him. Yu Xiaogang continued unhurriedly, "Think about it. If Little San really wanted a cultivation technique, why would he ask so directly?"
"He was deliberately probing Soul-Devouring Zhenren's depths! Testing his character, seeing whether the demonic cultivators were truly a solid wall. Look, didn't he fish out someone willing to speak up for him?"
"That's called throwing a stone to test the road. It's the art of investigation I taught him. Who else would have the cunning for that?"
He said nothing about where that help had come from.
Flender hurriedly nodded in agreement. "Right! Xiaogang really did think further ahead! Tang San played that beautifully, planting the seeds as soon as he entered the demon's den!"
Liu Erlong nodded in agreement as well. Watching Yu Xiaogang's practiced maneuver, Ning Fengzhi could only smile and chime in. "Grandmaster, you have taught him well. Tang San's shrewdness is indeed far beyond that of ordinary people."
In the Spirit Hall's Worship Hall, Qian Daoliu had still been quietly fuming over Qian Renxue being reduced to a maid. Seeing this, he could not help stroking his beard. "That boy Tang San truly knows how to endure. You won't find another member of the continent's younger generation who can keep his composure like that."
Bibi Dong leaned against the railing, her lips curling into a faint smile. "So what if he knows how to endure? He's living under someone else's roof, scraping by in a demon's den. It's hard to say whether he'll even live to see tomorrow. What good is all that endurance?"
After the Ascension Assembly ended, Ye Lingtian did not take Qian Renxue to the cultivation technique pavilion to collect an outer disciple's technique. Special people received special treatment, so he led her straight toward Sword-Seeking Peak instead.
Mountain winds swept the sound of rustling pines across the bluestone path. Mist dampened the ends of Ye Lingtian's hair, and the wind lifted a corner of his green robe, making the young man look especially handsome.
Clutching the hem of her clothes, she walked halfway up the mountain, her thoughts churning over and over. In all her years, when had she, Qian Renxue, ever been a maid following behind someone?
In the past, she had been the crown prince in Heaven Dou and the holy maiden of the Spirit Hall. Wherever she went, everyone bowed before her. But now she had become someone else's maid, and for the moment, she truly could not accept such a change in circumstances.
"I haven't asked you yet. What's your name?"
Ye Lingtian's clear, gentle voice suddenly sounded beside her ear. Qian Renxue snapped back to her senses and steadied herself before answering, "Qian Renxue."
Ye Lingtian stopped and turned to examine Qian Renxue, his brows lifting slightly. "Qian Renxue?"
Qian Renxue nodded nervously, but a question arose in her mind. Could there be something wrong with her name?
Looking at Qian Renxue's golden hair and now knowing her name, Ye Lingtian suddenly found a bold guess taking shape in his mind.
In truth, he was not from this world of immortal cultivation. He had originally been a student on Earth, but after an accident, he had been reborn in this world.
Ever since he was old enough to understand, he had sensed that there was something different about his body. Later, he heard of the existence of immortal cultivators and came to the Primordial Sect after hearing of its reputation.
Not only did he have a Metal Spiritual Root, he also possessed the Innate Sword Embryo, a physique suited to sword cultivation. At his assessment, the master of Sword-Seeking Peak, his conveniently acquired master, had immediately taken him in, making him the youngest true disciple in the sect.
Nor had he wasted his gifts. In the mere fifty years since joining the sect, he had risen from the Body Tempering Stage all the way to Golden Core Stage Perfection, only one step away from the Nascent Soul Stage.
All he needed was a flash of inspiration to break through.
Besides his achievements in the sword, he had also made considerable progress in formations, alchemy, and artifact crafting. As a transmigrator, he had so many ingenious ideas that, if he wanted to bring them to life, he had to learn all of those arts.
As a result, he could now be called a well-rounded sword cultivator.
During that time, he had visited secret realms, ventured into deadly lands, hunted down demonic cultivators, and sought out people said to have been born with knowledge. But without exception, their precociousness had merely been the result of exceptional spiritual roots.
He had never heard a word about any other transmigrators and had long since given up looking for them. Even so, he truly had not expected a transmigrator to come knocking at his door one day.
Much less one he knew: Qian Renxue of Douluo Continent. He was naturally familiar with that name, which rang in his ears like thunder.
He suddenly turned around, his dark hair swept across his shoulder by the wind, and his sharp gaze bore straight into her. Caught off guard, Qian Renxue met his eyes, and the tips of her ears instantly turned pale red.
"You... never mind." Ye Lingtian opened his mouth, then suddenly realized that even if he exposed her identity as a transmigrator, what would be the point? It was not as though they could return, was it?
Even if they could, they would only be going to the world of Douluo Continent, a cage where the gods penned people like livestock, a place where even longevity was impossible. What was so good about going there?
And now that he had met Qian Renxue, Ye Lingtian's deeply buried obsession with finding other transmigrators suddenly vanished.
"I was fixated on appearances." Under Qian Renxue's bewildered gaze, Ye Lingtian shook his head, looking at ease.
Although Qian Renxue did not know why Ye Lingtian had suddenly done that, she seemed to sense that there was something different about the young man before her.
"Come with me." Ye Lingtian turned and continued walking ahead.
"You've only just joined the sect, so I'll first take you to the place where you'll live and tend to things from now on: Sword-Seeking Peak."
After a pause, Ye Lingtian added, "Normally, I'd fly there on my sword, but you haven't reached Foundation Establishment and can't even control objects in the most basic way. So I'll take you there on foot this time. Remember the route."
"I understand." Qian Renxue nodded, setting what had just happened aside for the moment, and followed Ye Lingtian.
"Oh, right." He spoke in an even tone. "Do you have any complaints about being asked to lower yourself to serve as a maid on my Sword-Seeking Peak?"
Qian Renxue was stunned for a moment, then bit her lower lip. "I have no one to rely on in this world and possess nothing. I'm fortunate enough to have found shelter in the Primordial Sect. How could I have any complaints?"
Ye Lingtian nodded but said nothing. He knew Qian Renxue had more to say.
Qian Renxue looked up at Ye Lingtian, puzzled. "There's just one thing I don't understand. Are my Metal-Fire Dual Spiritual Roots really such poor talent? Why must I be a maid?"
Ye Lingtian nodded and said softly, "Since you've asked, I might as well tell you."
"Metal-Fire Dual Spiritual Roots are naturally excellent. Out there, it wouldn't be impossible for you to become a true disciple outright."