When Li Fan found Senior Sister Zhao, she was watching Qin Shou sparring with other disciples from the Moonlit Splendor lineage.
Senior Brother Qin’s cultivation was truly impressive; his earth-yellow divine light could be used for both offense and defense. As a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, he effortlessly contended with cultivators at the Grand Completion stage of Nascent Soul. Furthermore, his spiritual energy was boundless; he could engage in continuous battles for several hours without showing any signs of fatigue.
Among Zhang Wangshuang's disciples, he had sparred with many, and not a single one could defeat him. Qin Shou also gave Zhang Wangshuang ample respect; each match either ended in a draw or a hard-won victory after a prolonged struggle. Although Senior Sister Zhao's fellow disciples were defeated by him, they held no ill will towards Qin Shou himself. On the contrary, they greatly admired his conduct and demeanor. Even Senior Sister Zhao herself, after witnessing Senior Brother Qin's impressive bearing from the sidelines, occasionally had a glint of admiration in her eyes.
Li Fan, observing this scene from a distance, couldn't help but inwardly curse, "Good thing I showed up in time, or he would have stolen my girl."
Immediately, he calmly approached Senior Sister and gently held her slender hand. Senior Sister paused slightly, looking at the suddenly appearing Li Fan, but did not pull away.
"Is this Senior Brother Qin from the Connected Mountains lineage? He's truly mighty and extraordinary! I wonder when I'll be able to achieve something like that," Li Fan said, a hint of envy in his voice.
Senior Sister Zhao had initially worried that Li Fan might feel jealous after hearing rumors, but it seemed her concerns were unfounded. For some reason, while feeling a sense of relief, she also felt a slight disappointment. However, she didn't show it. She smiled sweetly and comforted Li Fan, "Junior Brother, your diligence in cultivation is truly rare in this age. It won't be difficult for you to catch up to Senior Brother Qin."
Li Fan didn't respond, just shook his head slightly and sighed inwardly. Seeing this, Senior Sister Zhao was immediately puzzled and quickly sent a telepathic message asking, "What's wrong? Did you encounter any trouble during your recent seclusion?"
Li Fan then slowly explained, "Originally, during this seclusion, I intended to achieve Golden Core cultivation in one go. However, whenever this thought crossed my mind, my spiritual intuition would send out frantic warnings, as if doing so would lead to some immense disaster."
Hearing this, Senior Sister Zhao couldn't help but frown. After a brief moment of thought, her brows relaxed, and she comforted him again, "One cannot force the formation of a Golden Core. Your premonition is likely accurate, which means the time is not yet right."
"Yes, I think so too," Li Fan nodded.
Suddenly, he changed the subject. "Since joining the sect, I haven't left the mountain for several years. The cultivation world is vast, and staying within the sect feels a bit sheltered and narrow-minded. Now that my cultivation has hit a bottleneck, I plan to descend the mountain to seek an opportunity for a breakthrough."
"Junior Brother, you..." Senior Sister Zhao was filled with shock upon hearing this. Then she couldn't help but try to dissuade him, "It's not as peaceful outside the sect as it is within. Not to mention the various rampant demonic beasts, even those rogue cultivators are not easy to deal with. They'll do anything for spirit stones and cultivation techniques. Even disciples of our Grand Dao Sect have mysteriously disappeared while traveling outside..."
Li Fan interrupted her, his gaze firm. "My mind is made up, Senior Sister; you don't need to persuade me further. The path of immortality is long, and the road to longevity is arduous. If I don't even have this much courage, how can I accompany you on our future journey?"
Hearing Li Fan's blatant declaration of affection, Senior Sister Zhao's pretty face flushed slightly, and she tightened her grip on his hand.
Meanwhile, Qin Shou, who was sparring on the stage and had once again gained a decisive advantage, seemingly headed for another victory, turned his head and saw Senior Sister Zhao looking at Li Fan with tender affection. His mind instantly faltered. His spiritual energy fluctuated wildly, and his opponent seized the opening, nearly defeating him. A shadow flickered in his eyes, and Qin Shou forcibly pulled his gaze away, focusing on the battle on the arena.
After he finally managed to turn the tide and secure his victory, Senior Sister Zhao and Li Fan had already left, their whereabouts unknown. Although Qin Shou wore a smile, the flames of jealousy were already raging fiercely within him.
Seven days later, Li Fan departed from the Grand Dao Sect, seeking an opportunity to form his Golden Core. Concerned for Li Fan's safety, Senior Sister Zhao also descended the mountain shortly after his departure, using the excuse of seeking a breakthrough opportunity. Her intention was so obvious that anyone could see it. Yet, for some reason, her master Zhang Wangshuang did not stop her. Instead, he even bestowed upon Senior Sister Zhao a Heavenly Mechanism Guiding Talisman, which could guide her towards opportunities at critical moments.
After leaving the sect, Senior Sister Zhao quickly located Li Fan using their pre-arranged contact method. After using the Heavenly Mechanism Guiding Talisman, the two traveled southwest, crossed a series of mountains, and arrived outside a ruin hidden deep within a dense jungle. They rested and decided to explore it the following day.
That night.
"Senior Sister, have you noticed anything amiss? It seems someone has been secretly following us the entire way," Li Fan sent a telepathic message while feigning sleep.
After a moment of silence, Senior Sister Zhao replied, "Perhaps you're being too suspicious? I haven't detected anyone following us."
Li Fan was very certain. "My premonitions are always accurate. Senior Sister, do you remember that day in Mount Qing, when bandits attacked the village? It was precisely because I suddenly felt uneasy that you accompanied me out to play and relax. That's how we managed to escape danger. This feeling is exactly the same as it was back then."
Hearing this, Senior Sister Zhao became a little more convinced. "So, what do you plan to do?"
Li Fan scoffed, "Lure the snake out of its hole."
The next day, just as the two were about to set off, they got into an argument over a trivial matter. The argument was very heated, with Senior Sister Zhao even uttering harsh words like, "Haven't you gotten to where you are today entirely because of me? And now you're losing your temper with me?" Li Fan's expression turned grim. He immediately turned and left, entering the ruins alone. Still fuming, Senior Sister Zhao did not immediately pursue him.
Just then, an inconspicuous flying insect followed Li Fan into the ruins. As Li Fan battled a demonic beast within the ruins, a sword light secretly slashed out. It was about to strike Li Fan down on the spot. At this critical moment, a cool moonlight emanated from Li Fan. Within the hazy light, Senior Sister Zhao's graceful figure was faintly discernible. But at this moment, an intense killing intent radiated from the peerlessly beautiful woman's face.
Amidst a violent explosion, Qin Shou was forced to reveal himself.
"Senior Brother Qin, it's you?!" Senior Sister Zhao's main body and her Moon Shadow clone, who had arrived shortly after, surrounded Qin Shou, their faces filled with disbelief. "Disciples harming fellow disciples is a grave taboo! Senior Brother, why would you do this?"
Seeing that his plot was exposed, Qin Shou simply dropped his pretense. He uttered vulgarities, staring at Senior Sister Zhao with undisguised lechery in his eyes.
[24 seconds from now] Chapter 799: Absolute Disadvantage
[1 minute ago] Chapter 493: Unable to say a word
[4 minutes ago] Chapter 2901: Death of Zhifei
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