Lin Fan glanced at Yue Chan, surprised by the steadfast resolve in her young heart, her yearning for immortality already so profound.
At her brow, a faint imprint glimmered, radiating holy and mysterious light, exuding an indescribable aura.
Is her past life influencing her present? Lin Fan murmured to himself.
Yue Chan's connection to the True Immortal Qing Yue was undeniable. Some claimed she was her reincarnation; others said she was merely a similar flower blooming in her shadow. Regardless, the immortal's influence was evident in Yue Chan's deep-seated obsession with transcendence, far too intense for a child.
"What are you muttering about?" Yue Chan asked, her delicate nose wrinkling, her flowing hair swaying with a faint, fragrant breeze.
"Nothing. You're not complete, are you?" Lin Fan asked, recalling the original story. Yue Chan had practiced the Primary-Secondary Body Technique from a young age, her Upper Realm self being the primary body. He wanted to confirm.
Yue Chan looked surprised. "You know about that?"
"A little," Lin Fan nodded. Qing Yao had mentioned the technique, but he'd chosen not to learn it.
The reason was simple: he knew the technique, created by Kun Pengzi, was a trap designed to sabotage by Immortal Palace. Practicing an incomplete method that gave both bodies independent consciousness was a recipe for disaster.
Yue Chan was a living example, used as a guinea pig by the Immortal Palace. Yet the silly girl thought it was a great idea, nearly dooming herself.
"As a disciple of our sect, it makes sense you'd know," Yue Chan said, her mood brightening. The sting of her defeat faded, replaced by confidence and poise. "Now you see how amazing I am. You only beat one of my bodies. If my primary and secondary bodies merge, it's anyone's guess who'd win." She flashed a proud smile, brimming with arrogance.
"That doesn't change the fact you've lost to me seven times," Lin Fan teased, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"You—!" Yue Chan's face darkened, unable to refute the truth. She let out a cold huff and declared, "Just you wait. When my bodies merge and my divine technique reaches perfection, I'll definitely defeat you."
"Alright, alright, I get it. Little Yue Yue is the greatest, invincible under the heavens. This humble one will rely on your guidance in the future," Lin Fan said, feigning surrender.
"That's more like it!" Yue Chan tilted her chin upward, proud as a little phoenix, her radiant face glowing flawlessly in the sunlight.
Lin Fan shook his head, muttering under his breath, What an arrogant weirdo.
Yue Chan, caught up in the rare joy of his praise—however half-hearted—didn't seem to hear, basking in her moment of triumph.
"Why don't you practice the Primary-Secondary Body Technique? Once the divine embryo merges, your strength would skyrocket," she suggested.
"No thanks. I believe in my own invincibility. Creating another body is too much hassle, and one plus one doesn't always beat the original one," Lin Fan rejected flatly.
She's all smug now, but she'll regret it later when her face turns green, he thought, amused.
"By the way, didn't you have something to tell me earlier?" Lin Fan asked. Their tangent had dragged on for hours.
Yue Chan's tone softened, a sweet smile spreading across her face. "Actually, I was hoping you could help me with something, Junior Brother…"
Lin Fan eyed her suspiciously. "What is it? Spill."
"You know our Heaven Mending Sect has a sworn enemy, the Sky Severing Sect. The two have always been at odds, with conflicting doctrines and constant rivalry in the mortal world," Yue Chan explained, her gaze fixed on Lin Fan, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, as if she'd hatched a brilliant plan.
"Go on," Lin Fan said, though he'd already guessed most of her intentions.
"In our generation, the Sky Severing Sect also has a holy maiden, about my age and strength. Neither of us can overpower the other, so we agreed to an unconventional battle: choosing a champion to fight on our behalf…" Yue Chan's voice brimmed with excitement, her gem-like eyes twinkling.
"So you want me to fight for you and crush the Sky Severing Sect's holy maiden—your archrival, the Witch?" Lin Fan said with a knowing smile, unsurprised.
"Exactly!" Yue Chan beamed, her pearly teeth gleaming neatly.
With Lin Fan having reached the extreme limit of the Heavenly Passage Realm, Yue Chan was certain that if he fought in her place, she'd finally see the Witch flattened, putting her in a fantastic mood.
But Lin Fan's next words wiped the smile off her face.
"No reward, no deal," he said, lounging lazily on a large stone. I'd rather spend my time figuring out how to push further in the Heavenly Passage Realm than waste it on this.
Following the milk baby's path would only be mimicking Shi Hao's journey, and as the saying went, Those who learn from me live; those who imitate me die. Lin Fan understood this. He wasn't the Desolate Heavenly Emperor and could never become him. To surpass, he needed to carve his own path.
Yue Chan's face fell. She'd finally found a genius in the sect, and he wouldn't even help her. "Junior Brother… as a disciple of the Heaven Mending Sect, shouldn't you stand with me against the Sky Severing Sect? I'm your senior sister! Can you bear to let me fight alone?" she wheedled, batting her eyes with exaggerated charm.
"Fight alone? Hardly. Don't you have a horde of admirers? They're more than enough. I'll pass," Lin Fan said with a shrug, finding the whole thing childish, like kids playing house.
Yue Chan froze, her expression shifting rapidly. "You're stuck here. How do you know about my affairs?" she demanded, frowning.
Lin Fan rolled his eyes. "Is it hard to guess? You're a holy maiden. With your looks and social skills, you could wave a hand on the street and have a crowd of fools falling over themselves to serve you."
After spending so much time with her, he knew Yue Chan's character well: proud yet subtly cunning, adept at maintaining her pristine holy maiden image while manipulating her surroundings to achieve her goals. In the original story, she and the Witch were polar opposites—one concealed her true nature, while the other was unabashedly herself.
Yue Chan's forehead practically radiated dark energy. Is he calling me a social butterfly? she fumed. So infuriating! I want to strangle this junior brother!
Don't get mad. Don't get mad. I still need him. I'll deal with him later, she chanted internally, calming herself.
Her face softened, and she smiled gently. "Don't worry, Junior Brother. I won't ask for your help for free. Afterward, I'll give you a Boundary-Breaking Talisman."
"Deal, Senior Sister! Point me at whoever you want crushed. A mere Witch? I'll have her begging in no time," Lin Fan said, leaping to his feet, his delicate face deadly serious.
"Uh…" Yue Chan's mouth twitched. If she didn't know him so well, she'd think he'd had a personality transplant. This guy really doesn't move without a reward.
"But I'm still in hiding. I can't leave this place," Lin Fan added. In all his years at the Heaven Mending Sect, he'd never left this sacred land, only meeting the sect leader and a few elders. Most sect members had only heard of him as a prodigy, unaware of his appearance or even his gender.
"Don't worry, I have a way. You won't need to leave," Yue Chan said with a mysterious smile.
_
The sacred land basked in the warm afternoon light, the faint hum of divine energy lingering from their earlier clash. Yue Chan's scheming grin and Lin Fan's calculating gaze hinted at the storm brewing beyond the tranquil haven, as their plans set the stage for a clash that would ripple through the sects.
____
If you want to support me and read advanced 60+ chapters and other stories join: patreon.com/Caluem