Chapter 70: Chapter 68: The Demoness’s Charm Skill Must Have Reached Perfection

Besides, for a normal Cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm, killing someone at Foundation Establishment would be impossible. But for Du Youqian, it wasn’t a particularly risky endeavor.

He had already started taking the Snow Wormwood Yang Supplement Pill. In about a year, he would be able to advance to Qi Cultivation Perfection.

By then, with his mastery of Arrays, setting up a Tier Two Array wouldn’t be too difficult. Coupled with his collection of Top Grade Magical Artifacts, he would definitely count as having Foundation Establishment Combat Power. He could even lend two Spiritual Artifacts to Lin Sha, who would have just completed her Foundation Establishment.

Right, he could also call the monkey to provide backup from the sidelines.

That would make for three combatants at the Foundation Establishment level, plus an Array.

Never mind that Helan Ruojin was only at the Foundation Establishment Third Layer; they would even have a chance of taking down a true Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator.

’Even if I can’t take him down... I’ll just burn through my lifespan and reincarnate. In any case, I won’t actually die for good.’

Therefore, in Du Youqian’s eyes, helping Lin Sha deal with Helan Ruojin posed almost no risk.

’But... should I really help her?’

For emotional reasons, as well as the need to stir up trouble to improve his end-of-life evaluation, Du Youqian was inclined to help.

’But I also have to think it through. What is the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect’s attitude toward her advancement?’

’Why isn’t the Sect stopping Helan Ruojin, even though they know he wants to extract her Dao Foundation?’

’If I help her, will I face threats beyond just Helan Ruojin?’

’If I help her eliminate Helan Ruojin this time, she might have a shot at reaching the Golden Core Realm in the future.’

’After I reincarnate, should I seek her out and get entangled with her all over again?’

’I want to reach the Nascent Soul Realm within ten lifetimes. Would she be an asset?’

These were all questions Du Youqian had to consider.

"Qing Lang!" That soft, yet soul-stirring cry brought Du Youqian back to his senses.

He looked at Lin Sha. She was dressed in the same way: a long, black-toned dress, so conservative that not a speck of skin was visible on her neck or fair wrists. Only her pair of snow-white, smooth, bare feet held a breathtaking charm.

She was like a Fairy who had accidentally stumbled into the Human World.

Unlike their previous two encounters, she wasn’t wearing a veil.

Her lovely face, beautiful whether in anger or in joy, was on full display. It was a little pale, but it was a perfect shade of white that added a touch of pitiable fragility to her.

Her entire demeanor was worlds apart from when she had yet to begin her Cultivation.

Her every frown and smile, her every gesture, could captivate a person’s gaze.

Little Fatty had once commented, ’That Demoness has likely perfected her Charm Skill,’ and Du Youqian couldn’t agree more.

When it came to resisting the allure of beauty, he was proud enough to believe that even those old Golden Core eccentrics couldn’t necessarily compare to him.

But in Lin Sha’s presence, the self-control he prided himself on was crumbling.

"You’re here! I’ve really missed you."

Lin Sha’s almond eyes, usually as cold as ice, instantly curved into smiling crescents. "Even though I know you’re lying to me, I’m still very happy."

......

Though so exhausted he’d rather lie down than sit, and sit rather than stand, Du Youqian still forced himself to focus. He sat at the table, fondly taking stock of the dozens of Jade Scrolls. From time to time, he would pick one up, press it to his forehead, and extend his Divine Sense to perceive a portion of its contents.

These were the precious materials Lin Sha had brought from her Sect. Although they didn’t involve any Cultivation Techniques or Secret Techniques, they contained many predecessor’s notes, travelogues, historical records, and fascinating tales, making them invaluable.

Reading these wouldn’t directly increase his Cultivation, but they could broaden his horizons and enhance his wisdom. Their importance went without saying.

Du Youqian was grateful and touched that Lin Sha had managed to bring out such precious items.

Just then, Lin Sha was sitting on the bed, draped in his loose-fitting clothes, which barely concealed anything.

However, the alluring contours of her body couldn’t possibly be completely concealed.

This state of being half-hidden and half-exposed was, in fact, all the more enticing.

However, Du Youqian was in his Sage state and didn’t spare her a single glance.

Lin Sha idly wiggled her delicate, jade-like feet before slowly caressing her long, slender legs.

Seeing that Du Youqian still wouldn’t look at her, a faint sound, as soft as a flute’s whisper, escaped her throat.

Du Youqian remained engrossed in the Jade Scroll, shaking his head as he read.

Lin Sha huffed, a little annoyed. She unleashed her Charm Skill, one on par with the Golden Core Level, and said in a syrupy voice, "Qing Lang, you’ll have plenty of time to look at those things later. Come and keep me company now!"

Du Youqian shivered slightly, then turned around with a solemn expression. "We Cultivators must understand that Cultivation is like rowing a boat upstream. We must be as cautious as if treading on thin ice, ever vigilant, and as careful in the end as we were in the beginning. Know that the human heart is perilous and the Dao Heart is subtle. Be pure, be one, and steadfastly hold to the center..."

"I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I don’t want to listen." Lin Sha wasn’t falling for it. A red ribbon, a Spiritual Artifact, flew out and wrapped around Du Youqian’s waist.

With a gentle tug from Lin Sha, Du Youqian flew involuntarily back onto the bed.

"Qing Lang, come here~" she cooed, her voice a plaintive whisper.

Du Youqian wore an expression of one facing death with grim resolve.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Lin Sha was finally satisfied, Du Youqian crawled out of bed, his lips ashen and his eyes lifeless. With a trembling hand, he took out a porcelain bottle, tipped out a round, fragrant Elixir Pill, and swallowed it.

He sat in meditation, performing his Breathing exercises for a long moment before heavily exhaling a breath of impure air. When he opened his eyes, a glimmer of light had finally returned to them.

Lin Sha, still draped in his clothes, leaned against the headboard. A lazy smile played on her lips as she gazed at him with tender affection.

Du Youqian suddenly spoke. "The higher-ups in your Sect must have guessed Helan Ruojin’s plans. Why aren’t they stopping him?"

Lin Sha’s smile vanished. She shot Du Youqian a cold glance, but when her eyes met his—gentle, yet unyielding—she quickly lost the confrontation.

With a sigh, her smile turned gentle once more. "Qing Lang, which bitch has been wagging her tongue, filling your head with all this nonsense?"

Du Youqian stared directly at her. "Tell me."

"I just... I don’t want you to worry about such messy affairs, Qing Lang. It’s really not a big deal. I can handle it myself," Lin Sha said, her gaze shifting away.

"Handle it? How? When Helan Ruojin makes his move, he will surely choose the moment right after you achieve Foundation Establishment, when your Dao Foundation is at its most unstable. At that point, you won’t be in any condition to fight, and you won’t have learned any Foundation Establishment Techniques. Even with the Spiritual Artifact you have now, you’ll need to re-refine it after your breakthrough to unleash its true power. You think you can fight Helan Ruojin with what you have now? You’d have a one-in-ten chance of survival, at best." Du Youqian stated the cold facts without a shred of mercy.

"But what difference would it make even with you, Qing Lang? You’re only at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer." Lin Sha subconsciously clutched the collar of her borrowed robe, pulling it tighter around herself.

Her body language betrayed her vulnerability and her unwillingness to face reality.

Du Youqian smiled. "You’re not breaking through to Foundation Establishment immediately. You still need a year or so to prepare your body and mind. By the time you achieve your breakthrough, I’ll have reached Qi Cultivation Perfection. You know I’m skilled with Arrays. Fighting inside one will increase our odds. Besides, I have friends. It wouldn’t be hard to call on one or two Foundation Establishment experts to lend a hand."