C11 Leng Yunxian!!(1)

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

The medicinal herbs in the field danced wildly as if caught in a tempest.

Suddenly, the wind ceased.

The air turned icy in that moment.

"Oh no! The Master has arrived!"

Hsu Qingqing dropped to her knees, pleading, "Master, please show mercy. Lin Xiao is not to blame. Punish me instead."

Such power!

Lin Xiao inhaled sharply, his gaze fixed.

This chilling presence deterred him from any rash actions at Moon Worshipping Peak.

He hadn't even caught a glimpse of the newcomer, yet everyone there felt as though they were encased in ice, unable to move.

After what seemed like an eternity, Lin Xiao spotted a barely visible figure descending from above.

The figure drew nearer, becoming clearer.

Clad in white, she radiated a frigid elegance. Her eyes sparkled like stars, her face as delicate as a peach blossom, her black hair cascading behind her, her figure so voluptuous it threatened to split the seams of her dress.

"Stunning..."

In his two lifetimes, Lin Xiao had never seen a woman so breathtaking.

Her nobility was such that it felt forbidden to even glance her way.

Yet, Lin Xiao couldn't resist stealing another look.

Noticing his gaze, she shot him a frosty look that made him instantly bow his head.

"Bow quickly; the Master dislikes being stared at," Hsu Qingqing whispered urgently, pushing down on Lin Xiao's neck.

Was this the Green Hill Sect's second-in-command? The enigmatic Fairy Leng, Leng Yunxian, who drove the four great sects to madness?

Lin Xiao now understood, seeing the emerald sword Leng Yunxian bore on her back, commanding respect from all.

Thud! Thud!

Leng Yunxian touched down, her hand outstretched, releasing two waves of bone-chilling cold toward Lee Si and Murong Chong.

In an instant, they were writhing on the ground, clutching their abdomens.

"Steal my herbs, trespass on Moon Worshipping Peak, and seek your punishment from the Disciplinary Elder," she declared.

Leng Yunxian had merely stripped the two of their abilities before shifting her attention to Hsu Qingqing.

Lee Si and Murong Chong dared not utter another word. Overwhelmed with gratitude, they knelt and bowed to Leng Yunxian before hastily departing.

"Master..." Hsu Qingqing's voice quivered with fear.

Without a word, Leng Yunxian simply pointed at Lin Xiao.

"Master, please give Lin Xiao a chance. He's merely at the Third Layer of Qi Training. Crippling him would make no real difference—he's already suffered enough. Please, no more harm must come to him," Hsu Qingqing implored.

"Wrongdoing must be met with punishment. He's fortunate I've spared his life, considering he's a disciple of our sect," Leng Yunxian responded firmly.

"You may step back," Leng Yunxian continued, unyielding. "My decision is final. No one can sway me."

A bitter expression crossed Hsu Qingqing's face. She knew all too well that Fairy Leng's word was law; not even the Sect Master could change her mind once it was made up.

"Just hold on. I'll find someone to heal you. Don't worry; even without your cultivation, you'll still be with me," Hsu Qingqing reassured Lin Xiao, though her own heart was heavy.

"I can cultivate your medicinal herbs," Lin Xiao declared defiantly through clenched teeth.

Leng Yunxian's expression remained icy. She had struggled to nurture the manjusaka herself—how could an Outer Sect disciple possibly succeed?

"Qingqing..."

"I am here, Master. I recognize my own faults. Please, if you must, cripple my cultivation," Hsu Qingqing said, casting a glance at Lin Xiao.

Was it hatred she felt? If not for Lin Xiao's actions, she wouldn't be in this position. Yet, it was Lin Xiao who had shaped her life, leaving her emotions in turmoil.

Leng Yunxian shook her head. "I accepted you as my disciple, and I won't discard you lightly. I have another manjusaka that requires your exceptional water spiritual root for its care."

"I will devote myself to the manjusaka's wellbeing, Master," Hsu Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief. "Master, I must confess something. If I don't speak now, I'll be burdened with guilt for a lifetime, unable to forgive myself."

"Speak."

"Yes, my achievements today are all thanks to Lin Xiao. Master, it wouldn't be difficult for you to discover that I was born with an innate cold poison and lacked a spiritual root. It was Lin Xiao who provided me with a pill that not only awakened my spiritual root but also transformed it into a top-tier water spiritual root."

Leng Yunxian was momentarily taken aback.

As an Alchemist herself, she was aware of such a pill's existence, but it was something from legends a hundred thousand years past, barely mentioned in ancient texts.

The possibility of encountering such an enigmatic Alchemist in the present day...

It was simply inconceivable!

"Let me take a look at you."

Leng Yunxian extended her hand, and a stream of white silk unfurled from her sleeve, coiling around Lin Xiao's wrist and turning his palm upward.

"There's no trace of pill fire in your palm; you're not an Alchemist," Leng Yunxian stated, her brow furrowed.

"Master, he surely isn't one. His cultivation is merely at the Qi Training Third Layer. It seems his fate is to remain in the Outer Sect indefinitely. Alchemists are exceedingly rare, especially here in the North Continent—they're as scarce as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Within our Green Hill Sect, you are the sole esteemed Alchemist. But there must be a formidable figure supporting Lin Xiao from the shadows."

Hsu Qingqing spoke with urgency, "I must be transparent with you, Master. The pill Lin Xiao gave me is undeniably genuine, which leads me to believe he has a backer. That's why I put him in charge of the medicinal herbs. Without any guidance from me, he was able to discern that the manjusaka was the truly valuable herb."

Leng Yunxian fell into deep thought.

If Lin Xiao indeed had a more powerful Alchemist behind him, then there might be hope for the manjusaka.

She had pinned all her hopes for advancement on this plant.

She wouldn't let even the slimmest chance slip away.

"Who is supporting you from behind?" Leng Yunxian inquired.

"Out with it, quickly! You're such a pushover, it's driving me mad. You never stand up for yourself, no matter how much you're bullied. Did you become enslaved by that expert in exchange for the pill? Does he often send you to do the most grueling tasks?" Hsu Qingqing was nearly consumed by guilt, having let her imagination run wild with visions of Lin Xiao enduring a life of servitude.

Lin Xiao shook his head. "My master, he doesn't bully me."

With the system backing him, how could it possibly bully anyone? It was just a tad unreliable at times...

"Ding! The system has detected that the host is showing disrespect..."

"Disrespect? When have you ever shown me any? I'm a villain, yet you're always pushing me to do good deeds. Have you ever respected my choice of career? Do you really think I won't turn the tables on you?!"

The system inquired, "Is that truly your master? What kind of person is he? Is he prone to mood swings, perhaps bullying his own disciple?" Hsu Qingqing couldn't help but steal a glance at Leng Yunxian as she spoke.

"Not at all, he's more of a scapegoat. I'm usually the one venting on him," Lin Xiao replied.

"Pfft! You must be joking. Where on earth would you find such a generous master?" Hsu Qingqing said, her eyes brimming with envy. The anxiety that had been weighing on her heart dissipated. It seemed Lin Xiao hadn't suffered; he had encountered a real-life deity.

"Lucky fool, you've stumbled upon a master with a saintly patience. But watch yourself in the future; masters these days can be quite proud. You never know when one might get upset and send you off to toil in the spirit fields. And if you mess up, there's a chance you could be ruined."

"I won't ruin Lin Xiao," Leng Yunxian declared, her brows knitting tighter.

"Thank you, Master," Hsu Qingqing quickly switched to a beaming smile, a glint of mischief in her eyes as she rose to her feet. "Master, you are the finest in the world."