After Xu Lin left, Yang Yao was somewhat puzzled by Xi Ranchen’s actions.
“Master, is this really alright?”
She rarely doubted her master’s methods, but this time even she sensed that Xi Ranchen treated Xu Lin differently, which was a bit strange.
Xi Ranchen nodded faintly. “Yao’er, do you care much about why I did this?”
“This disciple wouldn’t dare.” Yang Yao was respectful.
If Xi Ranchen hadn’t previously made it clear to her, she really would have suspected that Xi Ranchen actually didn’t want Xu Lin to die.
Seeing Yang Yao like this, Xi Ranchen sighed. Even if Yang Yao didn’t say it, she could still perceive something from the subtle expressions on her face.
“On this trip, though I just said to let him follow your orders, when the time comes, who will be relying on whom is still uncertain.”
“……”
“I don’t mean to belittle you and deliberately elevate that brat.”
After a moment of silence, Xi Ranchen noticed that after she finished speaking, Yang Yao subconsciously wanted to frown, but immediately restrained herself.
It was precisely because Yang Yao was her personal disciple that Xi Ranchen spoke so bluntly.
She wasn’t a flower in a greenhouse. Xi Ranchen clearly understood that merely saying pleasant things or being indulgent wouldn’t accomplish anything.
If it were truly like that, Yang Yao would sooner or later suffer greatly in certain matters.
“That brat is slick and experienced. Though he’s been confined within the sect by my restriction during this period, hasn’t he still been lively? You’ve seen this with your own eyes.”
Yang Yao was silent. The facts were just as Xi Ranchen said.
Probably aside from her and her master, everyone else treated Xu Lin as the Saint.
And the reason for this was that Xu Lin clearly understood that Xi Ranchen intended to use him, not kill him—at least not for now—so he didn’t need to be trembling with fear.
He could even use the name of Saint to do some things and seize the opportunity to gain benefits.
“I can sense that the brat cherishes his life. Compared to your ruthlessness, he can better navigate the Luo Xu Mountains, and even survive.”
Xi Ranchen walked forward, her fingertips lightly sliding across the tabletop, and finally came to Yang Yao’s side, standing sideways with her hand pressed on Yang Yao’s shoulder.
“Some people are like tigers, roaring through the mountain forests, intimidating all around, yet when they encounter deep swamps, they inevitably fall into traps. Others are like fish—though they may find themselves caught in a net with no escape, once they return to water, they are unshackled and even difficult to track down again.”
She didn’t say it outright, but Xi Ranchen simply patted Yang Yao’s shoulder and then turned to leave.
Yang Yao stood in place, her expression calm, but she still took Xi Ranchen’s words to heart.
Leaving other things aside, in her previous life, during the journey to the Luo Xu Mountains, that person had avoided many troubles with Xu Lin’s help.
When the restriction finally dissipated and the Ancient Demon Court truly emerged, everyone was exhausted and bedraggled, yet only their group still retained some strength.
That fellow was indeed like a fish—the more chaotic the place, the more he thrived.
Though the thought of needing to rely on Xu Lin to some extent made Yang Yao feel quite displeased, on the other hand, that person would no longer have Xu Lin leading the way.
Even if she didn’t need Xu Lin, that person couldn’t possibly curry favor the way he had in the previous life.
On the other side, Xu Lin, having left Xi Ranchen’s room, went outside the flying boat to get some air.
He casually swung the Lilun Sword, found it still handy, and put it away.
Then, recalling the situation in the room not long ago, he couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile.
It wasn’t that he truly thought highly of himself, to the point that even Xi Ranchen had to go to such lengths to instruct Yang Yao while he acted as if it were nothing.
He was actually very clear in his heart.
“The Demon Court—rather, the Phoenix Court.”
He looked into the distance and spoke softly.
Deep within the Luo Xu Mountains, there was indeed a Demon Court of an Ancient Demon, and that Ancient Demon was a True Phoenix.
But prosperity inevitably fades, and the master of the Phoenix Court and another fierce **clashed, ultimately falling.
Even though both sides perished, their powers still struggled endlessly, buried together deep in the Luo Xu Mountains, evolving into a Secret Realm and forming their own confinement.
The reason it was emerging at this time was entirely because those two forces had been constantly leaking outward, and by now, the confinement could no longer hold them in.
As for why those at the Life and Death Realm couldn’t enter, it was because those at the Life and Death Realm had solid foundations in their own laws, but the leaking power carried the pressure of the True Phoenix and its enemy, even the intent of slaughter, the might of a True Immortal.
Even in death, they unconsciously resisted and suppressed other laws, which was why those above the Life and Death Realm couldn’t enter.
The place was dangerous, yes, but the good things there were truly plentiful.
This could be said to be a key node where the protagonist truly embarked on the path of the strong.
Thinking of this, Xu Lin couldn’t help but smack his lips. Xi Ranchen was quite the calculator.
In a place like that, relying on his Spirit Void True Eyes, he could indeed avoid some troubles, and even find good things better than others.
But Xu Lin still had concerns.
“I’m currently under someone else’s roof, watching their expressions. But should I help the female villain after all?”
Xu Lin was truly conflicted.
When the time came, he could use the situation to bluff and confuse Yang Yao. Though she had a Demon Curse Forbidden Pattern in hand that could restrict him, he could also influence her.
After all, her methods were on a completely different level compared to Xi Ranchen’s.
A bold idea surfaced in Xu Lin’s mind.
He raised an eyebrow and smiled craftily.
“Maybe I can take the chance to fool her and see if I can get that restriction in her hands removed.”
He truly hadn’t found a way to undo this Demon Curse Forbidden Pattern, but one less restriction was still one less.
His gaze shifted downward, and Xu Lin noticed that on the vast deck of the flying boat, many Sunset Sect disciples were observing the surroundings, finding it all quite novel.
Xu Lin wasn’t surprised. The Righteous Path and Demon Sects alike would want their Inner Disciples to gain more experience, and once they were ready, they would send them out to the outside world for a few years to broaden their horizons—just like the Vast Dao Sect.
But this time, the Sunset Sect had all newly entered Inner Disciples participating, which still surprised Xu Lin.
The Sunset Sect was completely doing Gu Raising, hardly caring whether disciples lived or died. Only those who survived had the qualification to truly remain in the Sunset Sect.
After making a round, Xu Lin frowned.
“Strange, where’s that girl?”
A day before departure, Jiang Luo had specifically come to ask whether he was going to the Luo Xu Mountains as well.
Upon learning they would be traveling together, her face had lit up with joy.
Xu Lin could imagine that this was Jiang Luo’s first time participating in something like this—ignorance breeds fearlessness, and she really seemed like she was on an outing.
By all reason, she should also have been on the flying boat deck like those newly entered Inner Disciples, curiously looking around. Yet now she was completely nowhere to be found, which wasn’t like her at all.
There was one more thing. A while ago, when Jiang Luo had come to find him, it was as if they were meeting for the first time—she had stared at him inexplicably, sizing him up.
That had left Xu Lin quite bewildered. He’d even thought she’d been possessed, suddenly acting as if she didn’t recognize him.