Chapter 396: Luo Liu's Gift
"This Luo Water Pearl is my life-bound treasure, but I don't see myself using it anymore. I'll give it to you," Luo Liu suddenly said to Lin Langtian after he finished refining the Evil Eye.
"Oh, you're giving me the Luo Water Pearl? What about you, Senior?" Lin Langtian was momentarily stunned, surprised by the gesture from the woman in the flowing blue dress before him.
"It's alright. Strictly speaking, I already passed long ago. I've merely been sustaining myself with the remnants of my life energy as the spirit within this Luo Water Pearl. But now that the Evil Eye is sealed once more, I will soon enter a final sleep along with this treasure, never to awaken again," Luo Liu replied calmly, as though she had come to terms with her fate.
Lin Langtian couldn't help feeling a deep respect for her. Such magnanimity was a hallmark of a true master.
"Though I'm giving you the Luo Water Pearl, you're not of the Luo Clan and haven't practiced our clan's spirit arts, so you won't be able to wield its full power. However, I've used the last of my energy to store within it three shields of the Luo Water Defense. When you encounter dangers that you cannot withstand, you can summon the Luo Water Pearl, and it will release one shield to protect you. These shields are strong enough to block even the deadliest attacks from a Wheel-Turn Stage master in this world."
"The Luo Water Defense, capable of defending against a Wheel-Turn Stage attack?" Lin Langtian's eyes lit up in excitement at her words.
A Wheel-Turn Stage expert was a top-tier powerhouse on the continent. Even the leaders of the Yuan Sect stood at this level. And this Luo Water Shield, which could withstand their attacks, was like having three life-saving talismans at his disposal—far more valuable than any elixir or spirit treasure.
"Young one, keep pushing yourself. If you hope to save this world, your current power falls far short," Luo Liu advised, her gaze on Lin Langtian growing somber. With a wave of her sleeve, a small blue pearl floated toward him.
Lin Langtian hesitated, but seeing the pearl hovering before him, he respectfully accepted it without further reluctance, nodding silently.
"Thank you, Senior Luo Liu, for this invaluable kindness. I will always remember it," Lin Langtian said solemnly.
"You don't have to feel indebted, but I do have one favor to ask," Luo Liu replied.
"Please, tell me what it is," Lin Langtian responded.
"If one day you eliminate the otherworldly invaders here and enter the Greater Thousand Worlds, I hope you can return this Luo Water Pearl to the Luo Clan. With the help of their ancient methods, there might be a chance for me to be revived," she said, her gaze filled with a flicker of hope.
Lin Langtian understood the weight of this request and nodded earnestly. "Rest assured, Senior. If I ever enter the Greater Thousand Worlds, I will visit the Luo Clan and see you revived."
Luo Liu smiled faintly, her gaze gentle. Her eyes slowly closed, and her clear voice echoed in his ears one final time. "Thank you…"
With those words, Luo Liu's form began to fade, dissolving into a shimmering light that drifted back into the Luo Water Pearl and sinking into an endless slumber.
As Luo Liu disappeared, the water barrier surrounding Lin Langtian began to slowly collapse.
"It's alright; don't dwell on it too much. The Luo Clan is still far from your current path. Focus on becoming stronger, and keep your promises in your heart," Ling Yi consoled Lin Langtian before merging back into his body just as the barrier fully dissipated.
Lin Langtian nodded thoughtfully, staring at the Luo Water Pearl in his hand with mixed emotions. In this journey through the Luo Clan's ancient relic, he had truly received great kindness from Luo Liu. One day, he would indeed seek out the Luo Clan.
As he reflected, the surrounding water barrier finally disappeared. Just then, a woman of striking grace quietly approached him. Her slender eyes were fixed on him, and as she noticed the Luo Water Pearl in his hand, a subtle and unreadable emotion flickered beneath her veil.
"So much has changed…" murmured Ling Qingzhu. Although her manner toward Lin Langtian had remained cool and distant, in this moment of solitude, a glimpse of her true feelings surfaced. Perhaps no woman could remain entirely calm toward a man with whom she had shared her most intimate self, even one as reserved as Ling Qingzhu.
Ling Qingzhu brushed her hand over her smooth, porcelain face, her eyes filled with memories as she gazed at the man before her. The man before her now bore a striking resemblance to the mysterious, steady young man she had encountered five years earlier. Back then, he had been someone who looked up to her from afar, struggling to reach the heights of a true master. Now, he was a falcon, soaring ever higher with a potential that would one day fill the heavens.
This young man had finally come to stand on equal ground with her. Watching this, a rare, faint smile emerged on Ling Qingzhu's face; she had to admit, it was rather impressive.
Just then, her smile faltered, and her expression shifted as she looked up to see him watching her, his gaze steady and warm.
Caught off guard, Ling Qingzhu froze, momentarily spellbound by Lin Langtian's intense gaze.
He smiled, reached out, and with a gentle tug, pulled down the veil from her face.
The veil slipped away, revealing her breathtaking beauty, and Lin Langtian couldn't help the look of admiration that crossed his face.
"You…"
Ling Qingzhu's quiet composure finally broke, and her normally serene eyes filled with both embarrassment and annoyance as she quickly stepped back.
"You're truly beautiful," he said.
Lin Langtian looked up, his gaze meeting that of the woman before him. Bathed in sunlight, her cheeks were tinged pink. In this moment, the ethereal goddess, untouched by the dust of the world, seemed to have descended to the mortal realm, appearing even more beautiful and enchanting.
Tall and elegant, her flushed face and usually steady, amber-like eyes now held a mix of embarrassment and anger. Such an expression, rare and captivating, was utterly arresting.
"You…"
Ling Qingzhu glared at Lin Langtian with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation, as though struggling to believe he would act so brazenly.
Lin Langtian, however, remained unbothered, his expression calm, showing no trace of guilt or remorse. To him, Ling Qingzhu was his wife—he'd already seen every part of her. Revealing her face by removing her veil was hardly an offense.
Ling Qingzhu's initial embarrassment and anger gradually faded. Her self-control was admirable, and even now, she quickly regained her composure. She shot him a fierce look from her clear eyes before retrieving her veil, restoring it to cover her breathtaking face.
"Do that again, and you'll lose your hand," she said icily, glancing at Lin Langtian once her veil was back in place.
Lin Langtian simply chuckled, understanding that anyone else who dared to pull down Ling Qingzhu's veil would probably have met the edge of her sword immediately. Her restraint told him that, in her eyes, he held a different place than most.
Not that he assumed she loved him. With her aloof nature, Ling Qingzhu wasn't someone who would easily fall in love. Her tolerance likely stemmed from the events of their past, as well as from the changes she'd seen in him over the years.
Acknowledging her words without argument, Lin Langtian also realized that her threat of severing his hand had been mostly in jest. After all, if even Yuan Cang hadn't been his match, Ling Qingzhu herself probably wouldn't last many rounds against him either. His forbearance, however, allowed her to keep her dignity, which she appreciated.
The two remained silent for a moment until Ling Qingzhu spoke again, breaking the silence.
"It seems you were the one who gained the most from this journey through the Luo Clan's ancient relics," she said, her gaze flicking to the Luo Water Pearl in his hand.
Lin Langtian couldn't help but smile at her comment. It was true. Though the relic was rumored to be filled with treasures, they'd encountered more dangers than riches. They had narrowly escaped the Luo Water Formation, only to face the black mist Evil Eye, which had even claimed lives.
In the end, everyone else had left empty-handed and defeated, while he had emerged with the only true spoils.
"How long have I been in cultivation?" Lin Langtian asked, turning to Ling Qingzhu.
"Three days."
"Three days, huh…" Lin Langtian nodded, glancing at Ling Qingzhu with a smile. "Why didn't you leave earlier?"
During those three days, Ling Qingzhu had clearly remained nearby, even though she could have left earlier to rejoin and lead her disciples from the Nine Heavens Pure Palace. She had, instead, stayed there.
"There are still ancient remnants here worth exploring," she replied, turning her gaze aside.
"Is that so…" Lin Langtian smiled but didn't press further, instead murmuring a soft "Thank you."
Though unspoken, Lin Langtian understood that she had stayed partly to watch over him. While Luo Liu and Ling Yi had been guarding him, her actions still warmed his heart.
Ling Qingzhu made no comment on his thanks, merely saying, "If you've finished, let's go."
Nodding, Lin Langtian moved forward, heading toward the spatial vortex in the distant sky. Ling Qingzhu followed, and together, they entered the vortex and disappeared from sight.
The peaceful blue lake fell silent once more, the ancient and desolate atmosphere filling the surroundings, enveloping heaven and earth in quiet solitude.
High in the mountains, a space ripple twisted into a vortex, from which two figures emerged.
Lin Langtian hovered in the air, scanning the mountains below. The place, once bustling with crowds, was now almost deserted, with only a few stragglers in sight.
"Looks like everyone's gone…" Lin Langtian remarked.
"Mm. There's still about half a month's journey back to the exit from the Exotic Demon Domain. It's likely the disciples of various sects will resume their training along the way," Ling Qingzhu replied.
"You're not rushing back to lead them?" Lin Langtian asked.
"Wu Qun has some leadership abilities and can handle the situation for now. Su Rou and Shuang Wu are also competent. As long as they don't encounter serious trouble, everything should be fine," she said calmly.
At this, Lin Langtian chuckled and gave her a small wave. "Shall we go together?"
But Ling Qingzhu shook her head, glancing in a different direction in the Exotic Demon Domain. "You go ahead. There's something I still need to do."
"That's where the most powerful demonic beasts are concentrated. What's taking you there?" Lin Langtian asked, eyebrows raised.
"I've read records that say, deep within this domain, there's an ancient place called the Taiqing Immortal Pool, left behind by a powerful figure from ancient times. My cultivation of the Nine Heavens Celestial Art has always been intense, and it once led to an accident, injuring my meridians. The Taiqing Immortal Pool might help heal those injuries and counteract the side effects of my practice."
As she spoke, Ling Qingzhu glanced at Lin Langtian. "So, let's part ways here. We'll meet at the teleportation array. Take care."
With those words, Ling Qingzhu wasted no time, turning into a streak of blue light as she sped off into the sky.
But she hadn't gone far before she felt a presence following her. Surprised, she turned to see Lin Langtian keeping up, a relaxed smile on his striking face.
"Don't ask too many questions. I owe you a favor from just now, so let's say I'm working as your bodyguard—free of charge," he said with a slight smile, hands behind his back as he regarded her.
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