Back inside the room, Xu Lin finally took off the Bronze Ghost Mask and set it on the table.
Then, with a wave of his hand, the Baleful Meteor Sword appeared, gripped in his grasp.
He didn’t know if Xi Ranchen had simply forgotten or truly didn’t care, but when she’d stopped earlier, Xu Lin had deliberately tucked the Baleful Meteor Sword away without returning it to her right away.
“It’s a fine sword, indeed.”
Xu Lin casually swung it a few times inside the room. Demonic Aura seeped from the blade, some of it coiling around his arm, threading bit by bit into his body.
The sensation from the arena surged back, and Xu Lin halted his movements, raising a hand to press against his brow as a strange emotion flickered faintly within him.
Even he himself noticed that something about him had changed while sparring with You Meng’er.
It wasn’t that the Baleful Meteor Sword had any mind-disturbing effect—rather, it was the Demonic Aura constantly sinking into his body that made him inexplicably restless.
Under the Baleful Meteor Sword’s influence, whether driven by his own will or otherwise, the blade’s Demonic Aura had poured in relentlessly, making up for the Spiritual Energy he could never seem to fully replenish.
Unlike before, when Xu Lin had absorbed Demonic Aura—whether from Jiang Luo or Yang Yao—he had always gone through a refining process. Only this time, he hadn’t.
Sensing the Demonic Aura’s effect, Xu Lin didn’t choose to resist at first. Instead, he yielded to it, wanting to see what would happen.
“If I blindly absorb Demonic Aura, my emotions seem to get affected.”
That was Xu Lin’s assessment.
Yet he still couldn’t quite understand it. Though the Sunset Sect’s Cultivation Technique was overbearing, and the Demonic Aura derived from Demon Sect arts differed from the Spiritual Qi on Righteous Path disciples, it shouldn’t have turned out like this.
“But without Demonic Aura to complement it, I seem to stagnate.”
Xu Lin shook his head in confusion, puzzled by his own condition for the first time.
After a pause, Xu Lin waved his hand, letting the Baleful Meteor Sword hover on its own.
He patted his sleeve, then climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged. Accompanied by the Baleful Meteor Sword’s Demonic Aura, he closed his eyes and entered a state of cultivation.
The night passed without a word. Xu Lin’s residence remained quiet, with no one approaching or disturbing him.
But not far away, a graceful figure sat on the grass, just like the day of Alchemy, when she’d seen so many onlookers that she hadn’t dared approach Xu Lin’s dwelling.
This time, even though his residence was utterly silent, even into the dead of night, she still didn’t dare go near.
From start to finish, Xu Lin hadn’t said anything, but after seeing so much today—especially Xu Lin’s contact with Yang Yao, and the Netherfiend Valley Saintess seemingly arguing with Yang Yao over him—every time she recalled it, her heart sank with displeasure.
Jiang Luo unconsciously pouted, sitting on the ground and leaning forward, propping her cheeks on her knees as she irritably yanked at the weeds.
But what right did she have to be upset?
The Senior Brother was a Saint, Senior Sister Yang Yao was a Saintess, and the two seemed close—at least that’s how it looked in Jiang Luo’s eyes.
Yet she still harbored such unrealistic fantasies and feelings.
Luckily no one had seen her like this, or else even as an Inner Disciple now, she’d probably still become a laughingstock.
She sat on the grass lost in thought all night. Only when dawn broke did Jiang Luo slowly rise.
After a night of sitting still, dew had dampened the hem of her skirt, and even her hair was a little moist.
She glanced toward Xu Lin’s residence, pressed her lips together, let out a sigh, and finally turned to leave, looking somewhat forlorn.
Back at her own dwelling, Jiang Luo spotted a bundle of clothes placed on the steps by her door, with an Inner Disciple token and several Inner Disciple insignias laid on top.
Jiang Luo picked up the token and rubbed it in her hands.
It was something she’d once dreamed of, yet holding it now, there was no joy left in it at all.
In the distance, the sound of a bell rang out—the bell summoning the newly promoted Inner Disciples.
Moments later, the newly advanced Inner Disciples gathered in the square at the very center of the Sunset Sect.
Xi Ranchen, who had spent the entire night discussing matters with other Sect Masters, looked tired but found some relief in her heart at the sight of these disciples.
Then she glanced to the other side, and her expression immediately darkened.
“Do you Demon Sect people never let anyone rest?”
Xu Lin complained.
“You put me through an entire day yesterday, and now you’re at it again?”
All night, Xu Lin had gone nowhere, refining the Demonic Aura that had entered his body and continuing to probe the mystery of his constitution.
But just as morning arrived, Xi Ranchen used the Baleful Meteor Sword to send him a Sound Transmission, telling him to come here.
Xu Lin had only lifted an eyelid at first, not bothering to acknowledge her. Then, the next second, from a great distance, Xi Ranchen directly activated the Demon Curse Forbidden Pattern.
That made it impossible for Xu Lin to cultivate at all. Under the influence of the Demon Curse Forbidden Pattern, he tumbled straight off the bed onto the floor, flailing like a fish zapped in water.
Then, under Xi Ranchen’s warning, he reluctantly made his way here.
“Give me back the Baleful Meteor Sword.”
Xi Ranchen spoke directly, plain and simple.
“Fine, fine, here it is. No need to be so harsh.”
Knowing he was in the wrong, Xu Lin clicked his tongue and finally produced the Baleful Meteor Sword.
As the sword touched her hand, Xi Ranchen gave it a careful once-over to confirm nothing was wrong before tucking it away.
In her youth, this sword had accompanied her against many experts, including Wang Lingcang of the Vast Dao Sect.
The Baleful Meteor Sword was dense with Demonic Aura, and she’d feared Yang Yao couldn’t fully master it, so she’d never truly handed it over. Letting Xu Lin use it that day was already doing the brat a favor.
The problem was that Xi Ranchen not demanding the sword back was one thing, but the kid seemed to have no intention of returning it at all.
If she hadn’t asked for it face to face, Xu Lin probably would’ve tried to keep it for himself.
Xu Lin was good in every way except this one, and it genuinely worried Xi Ranchen. Even inside the Sunset Sect, the kid took things without the slightest hesitation.
She even feared Xu Lin might have tampered with the Baleful Meteor Sword.
With that matter settled, Xi Ranchen stood on the high ground and looked down at the newly advanced Inner Disciples who had all gathered.
“Normally, these disciples would be addressed by Yao’er or the Elders after advancing to the Inner Sect.”
Xi Ranchen turned her gaze to Xu Lin.
“As the Saint, today it’ll be you.”
“Me?”
Xu Lin pointed at himself.
“Are you sure?”
“Though I’m reluctant to admit it, those hypocrites of the Righteous Path are pretty good at stirring people’s hearts. As the Senior Brother at the Vast Dao Sect, you used to do this all the time, so might as well make use of you.”
Things like friendship, bonds, for everyone’s sake…
Don’t those Righteous Path disciples love shouting that kind of nonsense on the battlefield?
By the rules, Yang Yao was indeed supposed to give the address, since it was a good chance for the Saintess and Saint to build up their Prestige.
Unfortunately, Yang Yao never liked talking much with outsiders. Within the sect, aside from Xi Ranchen, she barely spoke to anyone. Xi Ranchen figured she wouldn’t have much to say anyway.
The other Elders were too stern and rigid—better to let Xu Lin, this rascal, do his thing.
“Mind your limits. Say what should be said, and don’t say what shouldn’t, or else…”
Xi Ranchen warned, Demonic Aura swirling around her fingertip, the very power of the Demon Curse Forbidden Pattern ready to be triggered.
“…” Xu Lin smacked his lips.
Was he really a Saint, or a fake one? How could Xi Ranchen so unceremoniously use him like a real Saint?