Chapter 170: Indeed, Very Big
The mastermind had been found.
Chen Huaiâan figured that as long as he killed this old rat, Li Qingranâs survival rate in the instance dungeon would skyrocket to 100%.
But the system didnât offer a direct option to execute the demonic cultivator.
Either the distance was too far for precise targeting, or this wasnât considered part of the main storyline.
But so what?
This was a real world.
Every action he took could change its fate.
Chen Huaiâanâs finger hesitated for a moment before gently pressing down on the soft curve of Li Qingranâs cheek.
Though he couldnât feel the sensation directly, just by watching her cheek sink in slightly, he could imagine the softnessâlike his fingertip sinking into cotton.
"MmâŠ"
Li Qingran stirred slightly, pouting in her sleep.
Her dimples appeared as her brows knitted together, her lashes trembling slightly.
"Master, stop shaking⊠The flying boat is about to fall into the Sea of StarsâŠ"
Her sleepy murmurs were as sweet as osmanthus syrup, dissolving into the night breeze.
The hem of her dark red dress shifted, revealing a small portion of her lilac silk stockings, embroidered with a slightly crooked little rabbit.
As she turned in her sleep, her foot tapped against the bamboo bedâs edge.
Flying boat falling into the Sea of Stars?
She had already started dreaming in just a few minutes?
Chen Huaiâan had initially planned to wake her up and have her fetch Su Qinian.
But seeing how deeply she slept, he couldnât bring himself to disturb her.
Li Qingran had been training relentlessly lately.
Her cultivation had already reached the late Foundation Establishment Stageâan incredible speed, even among prodigies.
But that was because she was putting in eight to nine hours of training daily.
"Without Li Qingranâs âEye Surveillanceâ ability, how am I supposed to notify Su Qinian?"
Chen Huaiâan switched his game perspective to outside her small chamber.
Even when he zoomed out completely, he could only see the entire peak of Luoxia Mountain.
Dragging the map around only revealed fog-covered areas.
When he didnât spend money or trigger special story events, his Divine Sense range was pitifully small.
ăWould you like to pay „998 to expand Divine Sense coverage to the entire Sword Pavilion?ă
ăNext upgrade requirement: Li Qingran must reach the Golden Core Stage.ă
Talk about perfect timing.
Chen Huaiâan grinned and paid without hesitation.
„998 was nothing to him.
As soon as the money was deducted, his Divine Sense expanded, revealing a huge section of the darkened map.
"So this is what it feels like to scan an area with Divine Sense?"
Sweeping his vision across the peak, he felt like everything was under his control.
As he focused on a figure, the view zoomed in automatically.
It was Yue Qianchi.
Seeing what she was doing, Chen Huaiâan quickly looked away.
"Damn, avert your eyes, avert your eyes⊠but⊠that really is huge."
Li Qingran had mentioned before that Yue Qianchi slept completely naked.
She wasnât lying.
No wonder she had so many formations guarding her cave residence.
He locked onto Su Qinianâs location inside the Sect Leaderâs Hall and zoomed in.
Su Qinian was half-reclining on a bamboo couch, resting his cheek against his hand.
In his other hand, he held a private communication jade slip, wearing a lovestruck idiot smile.
A faint, deliberately soft voice came through the jade slip:
ăLittle Yueyue, this lord misses you so much~ How have you been? Your cultivation hasnât fallen behind, right? Hehe⊠maybe I should come personally to âinspectâ your progress⊠By the way, Iâm a little short on spirit stones lately. Lend me some? Just a little bit will do~ Ah, Little Yueyue, youâre the best~ă
Chen Huaiâan: "âŠ"
So this was why the Sword Pavilion was always poor, yet somehow never ran out of resources for its disciples.
Their Sect Leader had been working hard behind the scenes⊠in a very different way.
"Ahem!"
Chen Huaiâan cleared his throat.
Su Qinian flinched in terror, nearly dropping his jade slip.
"Holy shâ! Oh, hahaha⊠Ahem, Old Ancestor! W-When did you get here?"
Seeing Su Qinian frantically hide the jade slip behind his back, forcing a stiff smile, Chen Huaiâan almost laughed out loud.
ăIâve been here for three breaths⊠Who would have thought that the esteemed Sect Leader of the Sword Pavilion would have so many cherished companions? Truly admirable.ă
Su Qinianâs heart nearly stopped.
His back broke out in a cold sweat.
How did Old Ancestor know what I was doing?!
Even the Divine Sense of a Void Refinement expert shouldnât be able to see this much.
The entire Sword Pavilion was protected by a sect formation, reinforced by generations of Sect Leaders.
Not only did it provide defensive power, but it also ensured privacy for the disciples.
Could it be that Old Ancestorâs strength had already reached a level where he could ignore the formationâs barriers?
If that was the caseâŠ
Then all those times he borrowed spirit stones from âcherished companionsââŠ
Had Old Ancestor been watching the entire time?!
For the first time in years, Su Qinianâs old face turned red, sweat dripping down his temples.
"Uh⊠Old Su, I just performed a divination and discovered that the true mastermind behind the demonic cultivators in Zhongzhou Secret Realm is currently disguised as a merchant in an Eastern Continent mortal town.
Take some men and kill him for me."
A pause.
Then a deep, solemn voice from the void:
ăJust now, as I sat alone upon the seat of the Violet Micro Constellation, I beheld the descent of the Greedy Wolf Star, plummeting into the dust of the Eastern Continent⊠At the tranquil ferry dock, shrouded in the smoke of cooking fires, a lone âwandererâ dressed as a merchant clutches the threads of three thousand blood-stained fates!ă
Su Qinian: "???"
"Wait, Old Ancestor, what are you talking about?!"
Individually, he understood all those words.
But put togetherâwhat the hell was he even saying?
Was Old Ancestorâs cultivation so insane that he now used the Violet Micro Star as a meditation cushion?!
After another pauseâ
ăIâm telling you to go to the Eastern Continent and kill a demonic cultivator. Heâs the mastermind.ă
Su Qinian finally understood.
"Ah! Now it makes sense!"
"This is what you should have said from the start, Old Ancestor!"
"But⊠whatâs his cultivation level?"
ăNascent Soul Perfection.ă
"HSSSSâ!"
Su Qinian sucked in a sharp breath.
"Old Ancestor! Iâm not his opponent! How about⊠you directly boost my cultivation to Nascent Soul Perfection? Iâll just grab a sword and go end him right away!"
ăFool! Why not summon the Sect Masters of the Pill Sect, Lingxi Valley, and the other sects to join you? Asking me to boost your cultivation? Do you want me to âventilateâ the Sect Leaderâs Hall for you?ă
Su Qinianâs neck shrank.
He let out a dry laugh.
"Yes, yes, Old Ancestor! Youâre absolutely right!"
It was just a joke, but Old Ancestor was serious.
Truly, Old Ancestor was strict and righteousâŠ
Worthy of being the Peak Lord of Ten Thousand Swords Peak.
A moment later, the voice from the void spoke again:
ăOh, and bring Qingran with you. Let her see the world. But wait one hour before waking her up.ă
Su Qinian blinked.
"Old Ancestor, why one hour later?"
A cold snort echoed.
ăBecause my disciple is sleeping. Let her rest longer!ă
ăWhat? You have a problem with that?ă
Su Qinian straightened up immediately.
"Not at all, not at all!"
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