Upon seeing Lin Xun return with Wuchuan’s group, the anxious villagers who had all been waiting erupted into a cheer, thrilled beyond measure. As the crowd exchanged happy words, Lin Xun sensibly left them to it and returned to his courtyard. “Master Lin, you're back!” the youngsters, who had been too occupied to focus on their cultivation, stared at their teacher with bated breath. Orıginal content can be found at 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝔫𝔢𝔱 Lin Xun smiled, “It’s settled. You guys just continue cultivating.” “Is everything really alright?” The little guys were stunned at first, and then they burst into a clamor with their eyes wide. “I told you, nothing can trouble Master Lin!” shouted a little fatty excitedly. “Liar! You said Master Lin was injured and something bad would likely happen!” another directly exposed the little fatty, causing the latter’s face to redden. “I was just worried about Master Lin. I definitely didn't mean it in a bad way, so don't you guys talk nonsense,” argued the little fatty anxiously. Seeing the scene spiraling into chaos, Xiao Xi immediately stepped out. With her brows raised high and her hands on her hips, she scolded, “What's all the fuss about? Stop yelling and focus on your cultivation!” The kids shrivelled at once. They shut up and resumed meditation. Lin Xun stroked Xiao Xi's head, “Well done.” Xiao Xi looked up with a grin that revealed two rows of neat, pearly white teeth. Pride was written all over her pretty little face as she crisply said, “I won't let you down, Big Brother Daoyuan!” Lin Xun smiled to show his approval and then walked into his room. On the bed, Xia Zhi was still sleeping, her breathing long and steady. Even though there was a peaceful expression on her face that was stunning beyond words, it was still very pale. This sent an emotional wave of pity and deep affection through Lin Xun’s heart, while the hatred and killing intent suppressed in the depths of it started stirring up again. “If I don't exterminate them one day, the hatred in my heart will never be resolved!” He took a deep breath. Only after his agitated mind calmed down did he withdraw his gaze from Xia Zhi and sit down cross-legged on the round mat next to the bed. The Limitless Abyss Sword Cauldron quietly emerged. Probing it with his spirit sense, he saw the state of the green-blue divine grass. Despite it being confined, the scarlet cursed energy drifting between the leaves still appeared appallingly creepy. Having seen his fair share of law powers, Lin Xun quickly judged from this energy that the bizarre ‘cursed law’ was most likely Heaven Rank! As for this law’s exact grade, it was impossible to tell by relying on senses alone. This required further investigation. However, since Lin Xun had yet to set foot on the immortal path, there was no way for him to comprehend the mysteries in the law power. “Should I let the Nirvana law power swallow it...?” He was torn. He wouldn’t have hesitated if this was a normal Heaven Rank law, but the key was that this law was related to a cursed power. Furthermore, the fact that the divine grass was a transformation of an origin law power was simply magical, making even him somewhat reluctant to part with it. Only after a long time did he make up his mind, “Whatever, let’s keep it for now. I can just make this decision after I step onto the immortal path and study the mysteries of this law.” He then put away the Limitless Abyss Sword Cauldron as he intended to focus on cultivating for a while. In the past two years, he had continuously nourished and repaired himself with various divine medicines and pills. Thus, the majority of his injuries had healed, and his cultivation had been rebuilt with the Great Dao Furnace Art. Although he had only recovered to half of his peak by now, Lin Xun had a premonition that once he fully recovered, his strength would definitely undergo a metamorphosis. Going through trials and tribulations and being rebuilt after a complete destruction, this was destined to be a rebirth, a nirvana. His cultivation was bound to become entirely different! Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the stone hut. “Wow, this older sister is so pretty.” “Shut up, did you not see that she’s accompanied by the chief? She’s definitely an important person from a big city, so be careful what comes out of your mouth!” “But...that older sister is really beautiful...” Hearing these murmurs, Lin Xun couldn't help but frown. He stood up and walked out of the room. When the youngsters in the courtyard saw him, they abruptly stopped discussing and honestly sat back down. Meanwhile, near the village entrance not far from the courtyard, Wuchuan was talking to a woman. The woman was clad in a dark-purple cloak. With fair and plump skin as well as an outstandingly gorgeous appearance, she was none other than the person Lin Xun had just met at the pool area. An imperceptible flash of iciness crossed his eyes. He walked straight over. At the same time, Wuchuan also noticed Lin Xun. Startled for a brief moment, the village chief then smiled warmly, “Little Friend, you've come at just the right time. Let me introduce, this is Lord Nie Qingrong from Liangyi Academy.” At the same time, he transmitted to Lin Xun, “This woman asked for your whereabouts as soon as she came here. I was trying to think of a way to send her away, but I didn't expect you to come out...” There was a bitter flavor in the transmission. Wuchuan wasn't stupid. He had realized right away that Nie Qingrong’s motive was not simple. Lin Xun nodded and said, “Chief, you can leave it to me. I’ll talk to Lord Nie in private.” Wuchuan smiled, “Alright.” At the same time, he gave Lin Xun a meaningful glance while transmitting, “Little Friend, if she is really from Liangyi Academy, then you have to be careful not to offend her. That’s the number one holy cultivation ground of the Donglai Region we’re talking about.” With that, Wuchuan left the scene. Lin Xun, on the other hand, turned to Nie Qingrong, “What do you want?” The woman’s phoenix eyes gleamed, and the ice on her stunning face dissolved like a spring breeze had brushed past as she revealed a bright smile, “You don’t seem to like my presence very much?” With an unperturbed look, Lin Xun rigidly said, “That is correct.” Nie Qingrong's smile froze in mortification and anger. With her cultivation level, status, and appearance, she had never been treated in the Donglai Region. After some moments of silence, she stopped smiling and stared fixedly at Lin Xun, “I came here with no ill intentions, Fellow Daoist. I only want to make a deal with you.” "For your so-called cursed law? Out of the question. Not to mention that I've never seen such a treasure, even if I have it, I won’t trade it away," Lin Xun said outright. "Also, with your status and knowledge, you can’t tell me that you don't understand how precious such a law power is. Do you really have anything of equal value to make this kind of deal?" His tone was casual but at the same time overbearing and stern. Nie Qingrong was dazed. Biting her rosy lips, she said, “Fellow Daoist, while my academy may not be able to hoard this kind of law to itself, behind us stand quite a few powerful immortal giants of the Sixth Heaven Domain. I believe that they can satisfy your conditions, should you be open for negotiation.” Immortal giants of the Sixth Heaven Domain? Many names flashed through Lin Xun's mind: the Wen, the Heng, the He, the Peng, the Zhu Clans...and of course, the Luo Clan! He asked, “Is the Luo Clan one of the backers?” Nie Qingrong replied, "No. The Luo Clan might have once been a hegemon with a powerful foundation in the Seventh Heaven Domain who could even measure up to the immortal giants in the Eighth Heaven Domain, but nowadays... it has declined too far. Even in the Sixth Heaven Domain, its situation is not optimistic, so it no longer has the ability to meddle in the affairs of the First Heaven Domain." Lin Xun inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. It was not that he was afraid of the Luo Clan, but that two years ago, he had promised Wuchuan to take Xiao Xi to Qingliu City, so that she could participate in a selection process to enroll in the Liangyi Academy and cultivate there as a student. If the Luo Clan was behind this organization, then Lin Xun would have to consider switching her to another school. Nie Qingrong asked, “Fellow Daoist, what do you think of my proposal?” Lin Xun shook his head, “What I said before was only a hypothetical situation. I have never seen the cursed law you mentioned.” Nie Qingrong clearly didn't believe him, but she was also very apprehensive of him. In the end, she let out a long sigh, “Forget it. Seems that our Liangyi Academy has no fate with this kind of fortune, so I'll take my leave.” She turned around, wanting to leave. Lin Xun suddenly said, “Fellow Daoist.” Nie Qingrong turned her head and looked at him. The latter’s eyes were calm, his voice indifferent, “Regarding today's matter, I hope that you will keep it to yourself. Otherwise, I'm afraid that the Liangyi Academy won't be able to protect you even if it exhausts everything it has.” Nie Qingrong stiffened slightly, and anger appeared on her fair face, “Is that a threat?” A cold luster quietly rose in Lin Xun's black eyes. Nie Qingrong only felt a stabbing pain in her eyes. A great terror surged out from the depths of her spirit as she seemed to fall into an abyss. Her vision became filled with mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with gods falling and the almighty dao collapsing. Her mind showed signs of crumbling as well. Endless despair overwhelmed her like successive tidal waves. “You're a smart woman, so you know full well that you are a threat to me, and there’s no better way for me to erase it than killing you. However, since you and I have no grudges, I don't mind giving you a chance at life. I only hope that this matter ends here.” When Lin Xun's voice rang out in her mind, Nie Qingrong instantly felt like she was being saved from drowning and snapped out of that endless despair. A layer of cold sweat seeped out from her beautiful skin. She now looked at Lin Xun in a completely different way, with deep fear and awe as though she was looking at the god of the nine heavens! It was only at this moment did she realize that her life was entirely at the whim of the other party. Her cultivation, her identity, and her prestige...were probably pointless in his eyes, making her nothing more than a joke. Taking a deep breath, Nie Qingrong lowered her head and whispered, “Thank you for showing mercy, Fellow Daoist. I won't forget a single word of what you said.” “I hope so,” Lin Xun nodded and waved his hand. “You can leave.” Nie Qingrong was being dismissed, but she no longer dared to even feel annoyed. Instead, she breathed out in relief like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. After a polite bow, she hurriedly left. Looking from afar, the back of her clothes had been soaked in cold sweat!