Chapter 5: Don't Underestimate the Poor Girl!

Are you kidding me?!

This was the first thought that flashed through everyone's minds, including Xiao Jinse, who was standing less than two feet away from Bai Lian.

A faint fragrance gently brushed against Xiao Jinse's nose, and for a moment, her heart, which had been growing colder with sadness, felt a flicker of warmth.

Ba-dum, Ba-dum—

Xiao Jinse could hear her heart racing faster and faster.

Calm down, Xiao Jinse.

This can't be real.

It must be an illusion!

Yes, just an illusion.

Even if it wasn't an illusion, Bai Lian was probably saying this out of sympathy and kindness, trying to help her.

After all, she had an Obsolete Spiritual Root.

Xiao Jinse's face twisted with bitterness. Even the smaller sects near Wutan State rejected her. How could someone like Fairy Bai Lian from the prestigious Duxian Sect have taken an interest in her three years ago?

Sigh.

Xiao Jinse listened to the murmurs of the people around her:

"They say that Fairy Bai Lian is as cold as a snow lotus, but she's actually a warm-hearted swordswoman."

"She once sacrificed her own flesh to feed an eagle and spared the lives of rabbits. The heavens and earth were moved by her kindness, striking down the evil eagle with divine lightning."

"Fairy Bai Lian is so kind-hearted that she must be saying this to help her!"

But...

If that were true...

Xiao Jinse's bitter smile deepened.

She made up her mind. Once Bai Lian left, she would quietly leave the Xiao Family as well.

She wanted to travel the world, maybe find a way to fix her Spiritual Root one day.

At that moment, a disciple from the Xiao Family hesitantly stepped forward and interrupted Xiao Jinse's thoughts, "Bai... Fairy Bai Lian, could you be mistaken? The most talented girl in the Xiao Family is Xiao Caiwei, the daughter of the second elder. Xiao Jinse has nothing but an useless Obsolete Spiritual Root."

Bai Lian turned her gaze slowly towards the speaker.

The mere act of her gaze caused the temperature to drop noticeably.

The disciple stammered, "I was wrong, Fairy Bai Lian. I shouldn't have doubted your judgment. I..."

Drip

Bai Lian's eyes shifted slightly downward.

To her surprise, she noticed that the disciple's crotch was wet, and a yellowish liquid was pooling on the ground beneath him.

"..."

The onlookers held their breath, waiting for Bai Lian to respond.

Bai Lian raised her hand and gently touched Xiao Jinse's head. She spoke with an icy tone, as if there were frost forming on her words, "A person with narrow vision cannot see the bigger picture."

Crack

The disciple fell back and landed in the puddle he had just created.

Bai Lian's gaze remained on the man, watching as more liquid flowed out. There seemed to be foam mixed in with it.

Proteinuria?

Bai Lian shook her head slightly and remarked, "You are unwell and need medical attention."

The man's face turned pale, and more liquid spilled out.

The two evil cultivators exchanged glances, their faces full of despair.

It's over. It's all over.

Fairy Bai Lian clearly doesn't think highly of them.

Indeed.

Argue with Bai Lian? Are they insane?

She's in the Nascent Soul Stage, maybe even beyond that. She could obliterate their souls with a mere thought!

Bai Lian didn't understand what was going through these people's minds.

She looked around at the people present.

All she needed to do was escort Xiao Jinse back to Qiongming Peak as per her master's orders, and her task would be complete.

However, if she wanted to earn more goodwill from Xiao Jinse, she had to do more.

Hmm...

Considering the events triggered by the previous two tasks, she probably shouldn't provoke these two evil cultivators again.

However, if she only targeted the disciples of the Xiao Family, it wouldn't be very effective.

Bai Lian's eyes gleamed.

Ah-ha!

She had an idea.

Bai Lian lowered her head slightly and turned to Xiao Jinse with a complex expression, "Younger martial sister, as your senior martial sister, I should avenge you..."

Xiao Jinse opened her mouth, about to say something.

Perhaps she wanted to tell Fairy Bai Lian that she didn't need her to cause trouble on her behalf. After all, she was just a cultivator with an Obsolete Spiritual Root.

"But as cultivators, we are always seeking our true selves. We detest 'inner demons' the most! If I were to eliminate them for you today, while you might get revenge, your inner demon would remain. When you face your tribulation, that demon could hinder your progress."

Bai Lian's voice was not loud, but it carried a weight that resonated deeply.

The crowd nodded in agreement. It was evident that she was truly a Natural Saint, possessing profound wisdom.

Bai Lian thrust her sword into the ground and declared, "Today, I won't punish you. Whether or not you'll be punished by Younger Martial Sister Xiao Jinse in a few years' time will be up to her!"

The square was filled with whispers of disbelief.

They didn't have to die?

The two evil cultivators couldn't believe their luck, though they dared not show it.

In a few years, even if Xiao Jinse managed to repair her Obsolete Spiritual Root, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage might still prove difficult. Not everyone possessed Bai Lian's exceptional talent, which allowed her to break through level restrictions so effortlessly.

The evil cultivator lifted his head and suddenly realized that Bai Lian's gaze seemed to penetrate right through him.

Bai Lian's lips curved ever so slightly, and she sighed, "Lack of foresight is a common flaw. Let me offer you some advice. Don't underestimate the poor girl; someday, she will spread her wings and soar through the skies!"

Her words echoed in the air like a chilling breeze.

This notion of "Don't bully the poor girl" seemed to resonate deeply with the crowd.

Someone cheered, "She truly deserves the title of a Natural Saint!"

Someone's body trembled, and suddenly, the world seemed wondrous, "Fairy Bai Lian is like a goddess, even more magnificent than my own mother!"

The square buzzed with exclamations. Bai Lian appeared as if she hadn't heard a thing. She retrieved her sword and the wooden tablet before turning her attention to Xiao Jinse.

"Younger martial sister, do you have any belongings you wish to take with you?"

Xiao Jinse shook her head, her eyes slightly misty.

"Then let's return to Qiongming Peak," Bai Lian said decisively.

Wait.

Xiao Jinse suddenly realized that she might have been mistaken.

She blinked, her eyes glistening with hope, and stammered, "Why would the Duxian Sect want me as a disciple? I have an utterly useless Obsolete Spiritual Root."

Bai Lian was presented with three task options.

[Task 1: Turn to your second martial sister with a sly smile and say, "If you willingly cultivate alongside me, I'll take you back to Qiongming Peak. If not, I might just kill you right now." (Reward: Ancient Dao Trace)]

[Task 2: Approach your younger martial sister and say, "I recommended you to the master." (Reward: Secret Medicine)]

[Task 3: Stand up for righteousness, "I don't know!" (Reward: Light Skill+1)]

"What the heck!"

After contemplating the options, Bai Lian chose Task 3, even though she was tempted by the reward in Task 2.

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