Chapter 127: The Lu Siblings of Lingtian City

With a blink, Xiao Wenzi arrived before the old man in black. Pushing his "Demonic Body Frenzy" technique to its absolute limit, he unleashed a flurry of claw strikes upon a single point of the old man’s protective barrier, before detonating himself the moment the light shield began to flicker.

"Damn it! Self-destruction again? This accursed mosquito!"

The old man realized the danger, but it was too late for remedial action. He could only channel every ounce of his spiritual energy into his defensive aura, praying to withstand the shockwave.

*Boom!*

Having been boosted to the strength of a half-step Foundation Establishment cultivator by his technique, Xiao Wenzi’s strikes had already left the shield dangerously unstable. Under the force of the point-blank explosion, the barrier could no longer hold, and cracks began to spiderweb across its surface.

Chu Xin’er did not understand how Xiao Wenzi could resurrect after self-destructing, but she knew better than to miss such an opportunity. Acting on his telepathic cue, she unleashed a willow-leaf blade she had been readying all along. Furthermore, she kept a three-inch silver needle hidden in her palm.

Her timing was impeccable; she struck just as the old man was caught in the transition between his old defensive force and a new one. His fractured aura shattered instantly. The willow-leaf blade continued its trajectory, slicing through his left shoulder as he scrambled to dodge, leaving a trail of blood—though it was not a fatal wound.

However, the old man felt no relief, for a cold glint was rapidly expanding in his vision, aimed directly at his glabella. Chu Xin’er was a meticulous girl who favored calculated, step-by-step strategies; she had perfectly anticipated his movement, with the angle and timing of the strike flawless. While the flying needle, acquired from old man Hua, was only a common low-grade artifact, it was more than enough to pierce the skull of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"No! I am a disciple of the Extreme Demon Sect! You cannot—"

The needle moved too fast. Having just dodged, the old man could not shift his position again. In his final moments, he desperately invoked the name of the Extreme Demon Sect, hoping it would stay her hand. It was to no avail. As the needle pierced his glabella and shattered his consciousness, his voice was cut short.

At that exact moment, Xiao Wenzi reappeared in mid-air, looking as refreshed and vigorous as ever.

***

Having broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Chu Xin’er’s insights into cultivation had reached a new level. She simply did not believe that any innate talent could allow a demonic insect to repeatedly resurrect from self-destruction. In the cultivation world, even if there were spirit beasts with immortal bodies or secret inheritance techniques, they required the consumption of massive amounts of vital essence; none allowed a beast to return in such perfect condition as Xiao Wenzi.

Still, she had long known that Xiao Wenzi harbored secrets he was unwilling to reveal, and she chose not to press him. Moreover, having offended a behemoth like the Extreme Demon Sect, her priority was to flee as quickly as possible.

*Puff, puff.* Amidst a spray of blood, the head of the sinister youth was severed along with his body. He died without ever understanding what had happened. Naturally, the old man in black met the same fate. His storage bag, flying sword, black banner, and the belongings of the sinister youth all became Chu Xin’er’s spoils of war. Moments later, a streak of light shot up from the valley and vanished without a trace.

Hundreds of thousands of miles away, in a range of rolling mountains, lay the Extreme Demon Sect, one of the greatest powers in the northern part of Pingzhou. Inside a stone hall on You Tan Peak, a disciple responsible for guarding the soul tablets noticed the deaths of the old man surnamed Qiao and his companion. However, because their cultivation levels were low and they were mere nobodies in the sect, it caused no significant stir.

Though unaware of this, Chu Xin’er left Fuqing Mountain at top speed. She did not slacken for the next few days, only feeling a sense of relief once she reached a large city and used a teleportation array to arrive at Lingtian City. Through what she had seen and heard along the way, she knew the Lingtian Sect had some history with the Extreme Demon Sect. In a major cultivation hub near the Lingtian Sect, even if experts from the Extreme Demon Sect were to infiltrate, they would not dare to act too brazenly.

Lingtian City was a bustling metropolis with a population of tens of millions. Emerging from the teleportation array, Chu Xin’er saw many male and female cultivators. Now that she was in the Foundation Establishment stage, she no longer needed to be so cautious. She decided to stroll through the market and gather information about the Lingtian Sect. She recalled that the sect had announced they would be opening their gates to recruit disciples, and the timing seemed to be right about now.

Having successfully entered the Foundation Establishment stage, she now possessed some self-preservation capability. If possible, joining the Lingtian Sect and finding shelter under a large umbrella would be a sound choice.

After all, the "Drifting Cloud and Falling Rain Manual" only covered the Foundation Establishment stage. Back in Tiannan Prefecture, she hadn't expected to reach this stage so quickly. Now, at less than twenty years old, and with her current speed of cultivation, she was all but guaranteed to reach the Golden Core stage before her lifespan ran out. It was time to plan for the future. Furthermore, unaware that her killing of the two men had not attracted much attention from the Extreme Demon Sect, she sought to join the Lingtian Sect partly as a way to hide from any potential pursuit.

As one of the four great powers in the northern region of Pingzhou, the Lingtian Sect’s recruitment criteria were relatively relaxed this time, attracting millions of low-level cultivators. Naturally, the sect’s leadership did not want them crowding the gates, so holding the selection process within Lingtian City was the perfect solution.

Consequently, the city was teeming with Qi Condensation cultivators. Chu Xin’er didn’t even need to ask; before she had walked very far, she had already overheard the news. As she restrained her aura and stopped a young man and woman to inquire about the details, the dark-skinned, sturdy young man rubbed his nose and smiled shyly.

"Is the young lady asking about the Lingtian Sect’s recruitment site? My sister and I were planning to try our luck there as well. Why don't we go together?"

The sturdy youth was at a hot-blooded age; facing a beauty as lovely as Chu Xin’er, his face burned, and he lowered his head, not daring to look at her. The delicate-looking girl beside him was more composed and extended a small hand. "I am Lu Yin, and this is my brother, Lu Fang. May I ask how to address you, sister?"

The girl, wearing two ponytails, was only fourteen or fifteen, yet her cultivation was nearing the twelfth level. Her brother, Lu Fang, was at the middle of the thirteenth level. Neither could discern Chu Xin’er’s true cultivation, so they naturally assumed she was of their own rank.

Everyone appreciates beauty, and Chu Xin’er did not mind Lu Fang’s demeanor. She nodded and said, "My name is Chu Xin’er. Since we are going the same way, let’s go try our luck together."

In the central square of Lingtian City, it was bustling with low-level cultivators, both men and women, all appearing quite young. This was no surprise; while the sect had relaxed its criteria, aptitude and growth potential remained the primary focus.