Chapter 183 The Changes of Qinglin and Xiao Yixian
Xiao Ling stood at the entrance of the courtyard, the sunlight shining through the treetops, casting patches of light on his body.
I took a deep breath, the air was still filled with the familiar scent of flowers and faint herbs.
His eyes passed through the fence and fell on the center of the courtyard.
There, under an ancient pine and cypress tree, a woman was pounding medicine in a poetic manner.
She was wearing a lavender gown with delicate orchids embroidered on the lapels, which swayed gently in the breeze like soft waves in spring.
Her long hair fell to her waist like a waterfall, soft and shiny, gently tied up with a ribbon of the same color. A few strands of hair fluttered in the wind, setting off her white neck.
The sunlight filtered through the pine and cypress branches, dappling over her body, creating a moving interweaving of light and shadow.
Her fingers were slender and long, and every time she pounded the herbs, it seemed so light and powerful, as if she was playing a silent melody.
The flowers and plants in the courtyard seemed to sense her presence and leaned towards her, as if paying tribute to this beauty.
All around her, the air was filled with the faint scent of herbs, mixed with the scent of earth and pine needles, forming a peaceful and beautiful picture that was unforgettable at first sight and will be remembered forever.
Xiao Yixian seemed to feel Xiao Ling's gaze. She raised her head and their eyes met in the air.
A hint of surprise flashed across her eyes, and then was replaced by an elusive smile. She stood up, gently brushed off the dust on her body, and walked towards Xiao Ling.
"Xiao Ling, you're back." Her voice was soft, with a barely perceptible tremor, as if concealing the turmoil in her heart.
Xiao Ling nodded slightly, walked into the courtyard, and waved to the Little Medical Fairy: "Xian'er, long time no see. Did you miss me during the time I was away?"
A blush appeared on Xiao Yixian's face. She lowered her eyes and bit the corner of her lips lightly, as if she was hesitating about how to answer.
After a moment, she raised her head, her eyes twinkling with stars, and a playful smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, as if with a bit of teasing, and she said softly: "Xiao Ling, you are asking questions knowingly, you are really shameless."
Although her voice was full of blame, it could not hide the joy of reunion.
A faint smile appeared on Xiao Ling's face. His voice was soft and magnetic, with a hint of subtle ridicule: "How would I know if you have ever thought of me? But I must admit that I do think of you sometimes..."
Seeing Xiao Ling's figure in the courtyard, Qing Lin's eyes flashed a bright light, and her mood instantly became cheerful.
She seemed to be attracted by an invisible force, and ran to Xiao Ling with light steps, her face filled with unconcealable joy.
"Master Xiao Ling, you're finally back!" Qing Lin's voice was crisp and full of energy. She almost jumped in front of Xiao Ling, her eyes sparkling like stars.
Xiao Ling nodded slightly, looking at Qing Lin's face, a warm feeling surged in his heart.
He reached out and patted Qinglin's head gently, his eyes full of kindness and doting.
"Yes, Qinglin, I'm back."
Xiao Ling's gaze stayed on Qinglin for a moment and he noticed the changes in her.
The girl in front of me has become more graceful. Her long hair falls to her waist like an emerald waterfall, and every strand of hair seems to sparkle with the luster of life in the sun.
Her eyes were like the clearest lake water in spring, lush and green, revealing a purity that was untainted by dust.
She was wearing an elegant dress, the fabric was as soft as clouds, and the color was the tender green of willow buds in early spring. The hem of her dress swayed gently in the breeze, as if she was a fairy walking out of a painting.
The delicate golden embroidery on the skirt is like the mottled light and shadow cast by the sun on the green leaves, adding a touch of nobility without losing its lively temperament.
Her skin is whiter than snow, like the finest mutton-fat jade, with a faint luster. Her figure is tall and well-proportioned, and every movement exudes elegance and naturalness.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the once timid girl has transformed into a stunning young lady.
The polishing of time not only endowed her with a graceful figure, but also precipitated a hint of maturity and unwavering faith in her clear eyes.
Qing Lin felt the warmth coming from Xiao Ling's palm, and the warmth flowed through her hair and went straight to her heart. She lowered her head shyly, but did not dodge, instead she gently snuggled into the warmth.
With Xiao Ling's return, the atmosphere in the courtyard became more lively. Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin sat around Xiao Ling, their eyes full of curiosity.
The Little Medical Fairy opened her red lips and broke the silence: "Xiao Ling, how do you feel about swallowing the strange fire this time? What changes have you experienced? Are you injured?"
Xiao Ling looked at the two girls in front of him, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and there was a hint of excitement in his voice that was difficult to conceal:
"Not only did I successfully devour the strange fire, but my cultivation also made a qualitative leap. Now, I have entered the realm of Dou Zong." Xiao Ling's words revealed pride and determination.
When Xiao Yixiang and Qinglin heard the good news, their eyes suddenly lit up with surprise.
Dou Zong is a height that practitioners aspire to reach. Even in Zhongzhou where there are so many powerful people, one can establish a sect. In the Northwest Continent, one is one of the strongest people.
Qing Lin couldn't hold back her excitement and blurted out: "Master Xiao Ling, you are so amazing. You are always so outstanding and make people so envied." Her tone revealed a full girlish feeling, with both admiration and joy.
Hearing this, Xiao Ling smiled and looked at the two girls, his tone full of encouragement: "Haha, sooner or later you will be able to reach my current level. Dou Zong is just a starting point for you."
In Xiao Ling's opinion, Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin's cultivation had made a significant leap compared to before he stepped into the underground magma world. Xiao Yixian has now been promoted to the Douhuang realm, thanks to the various poisons provided by Xiao Ling, the sponsor, which allowed him to devour and refine them, and his cultivation has improved rapidly like eating and drinking.
If Xiao Ling and Yao Chen had not intentionally controlled the amount of poison that Little Medical Fairy consumed, and if the poison resources in the Black Horn Region had not been limited, Little Medical Fairy's cultivation would probably have already broken through to the Dou Zong level.
As for Qing Lin, with the help of the Green Snake Three Flower Pupils and various elixirs, although his current cultivation level is not as good as Xiao Yixiang's, he has firmly reached the realm of the initial stage of Dou Wang.
During Xiao Ling's retreat, she even tamed two sixth-rank snake monsters. With the help of these snake pets and the magical powers of the Green Snake's Three-Flower Pupil, she was able to handle ordinary Dou Zong with ease.
Xiao Ling's eyes slowly swept over the two beautiful girls, with deep satisfaction in his eyes:
"You have worked hard during this period. During the time I was away, you still persisted in practicing hard. This kind of perseverance and hard work is very rare."
Little Medical Fairy shook her head slightly, a faint smile on her lips, and said: "This is not that hard. My progress is inseparable from the valuable resources you provided and the careful guidance of Senior Yao Chen. On the contrary, you have just broken through to the Dou Zong realm, so you need to consolidate your foundation even more."
Qing Lin also nodded in agreement: "That's true, Master Xiao Ling. Although a breakthrough is a happy event, you can't let your guard down because of it. Only by consolidating your realm can you go further on the road ahead."
Xiao Ling smiled slightly, "Well, don't worry, I know what to do when it comes to cultivation. By the way, where are Senior Sisters Zi Yan and Han Yue? Why can't I see them?"
Not long after entering the courtyard, Xiao Ling used his soul perception to carefully investigate, but he did not find any trace of Zi Yan and Han Yue in the courtyard or even the surrounding area.
The Little Medical Fairy smiled, her eyes sparkling with playfulness, and said jokingly, "When Zi Yan heard the news that there was a 'Dragon Scale Fragrant Fruit' in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, she couldn't hold back. She was still tinkering with herbs here this morning, and she disappeared in the blink of an eye."
"I heard that she got the news from a student, and out of curiosity, she hurried to the Monster Mountain Range to look for treasure."
Qing Lin covered her mouth with a chuckle and continued, "That's right. Senior Sister Han Yue was worried that she would be in danger alone, so she followed her. The two of them, one is impatient and loves adventure, and the other is always worried and always accompanies her. They are really a good pair."
After hearing this, Xiao Ling smiled knowingly: "Haha, the dragon scale fragrant fruit is indeed an irresistible temptation for dragon-type monsters like Zi Yan. She must be eager to taste it. Since they have been on the road for so long, they must be returning with a full load."
Little Medical Fairy nodded in agreement, her tone revealing her concern for her two friends: "Indeed, with Senior Sister Han Yue following her, Zi Yan shouldn't do anything too risky. Let's be patient and wait, they may already be on their way back."
Qing Lin also said: "Yes, when they come back, they will definitely bring back a lot of interesting things. I am looking forward to it."
Xiao Ling showed a relieved smile on his face. He nodded gently and said calmly: "Since they all know their limits, we don't need to worry too much. Speaking of which, I did encounter some unusual things when I was in seclusion at the bottom of the Tianfen Qi Training Tower. I will tell you slowly after they come back."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "However, I have another senior whom I would like to introduce to you."
Hearing these words, Qinglin and Xiao Yixian became interested instantly and cast curious glances at Xiao Ling.
Xiao Ling smiled slightly, stretched out his hand, and whispered a few words to the snow-white ring on his finger. Then, a ray of light flashed from the ring in his hand.
As the light faded, an old man with a plump figure but extraordinary temperament appeared in front of Xiao Ling.
This person is the Lord Skyfire. Although he is only in soul form, his calm temperament and deep eyes are still not to be underestimated.
As soon as the Skyfire Venerable appeared, he nodded slightly to Xiao Ling, then looked around and said with some emotion, "After so many years, I finally got out of that damn place."
Xiao Ling smiled and responded in a relaxed tone: "Haha, then congratulations to Senior Skyfire Venerable."
Then, he turned his gaze to Xiao Yixian and Qinglin and continued, "This senior is called Yao Tianhuo, and the world calls him Venerable Tianhuo. I met him by chance in the underground magma world and brought him out of there. By the way, Venerable Tianhuo is the previous owner of the Fallen Heart Flame."
As soon as Xiao Ling finished speaking, a trace of awe flashed in the eyes of Xiao Yixiang and Qing Lin at the same time.
In the Douqi Continent, Dou Zun masters are admired by countless practitioners, and their names often represent a legend.
After looking at each other, the two women almost simultaneously bowed to the Skyfire Master and shouted respectfully, "Junior greets Senior Skyfire."
However, although Xiao Yixiang and Qinglin were surprised at the strength of Lord Tianhuo when he was alive, the two women quickly adjusted their mentality.
After all, they already have someone like Yao Chen by their side, an eighth-grade alchemist who has reached the peak of Dou Zun. This is enough for them to maintain a peaceful attitude towards other strong people.
Skyfire Venerable nodded slightly, smiling, and accepted the courtesy of the two people: "No need to be polite, you are all Xiao Ling's partners, which means you are my friends."
Afterwards, he looked around, sizing up Little Medical Fairy and Qing Lin, then smacked his lips and said with a smile, "Little friend Xiao Ling, you are so lucky. Not only are you gifted, but your companions are also gifted. You have such a high level of cultivation at such a young age."
"Green snake's three-flower pupil, and the body of the calamity poison. Such rare physiques can be seen at the same time. It really opens my eyes!"
When Xiao Yixiang and Qinglin heard the praise from Lord Tianhuo, they both smiled humbly but did not continue the topic.
They were already used to this kind of compliments, and it was hard for them to be moved. Moreover, there was an even more extraordinary Xiao Ling by their side. In comparison, they felt that their talents were just ordinary.
Skyfire Reverend smiled and said, "Alright, don't be so modest. Although I am only in the state of a spirit, I feel very honored to be able to communicate with young people like you. You have extraordinary potential, and it is only a matter of time before you reach my past level of cultivation. It is even possible for you to surpass me."
After saying this, his gaze lingered on Little Medical Fairy for a moment longer. An inexplicable look flashed across his eyes, but he quickly concealed it. Except for Xiao Ling, no one else noticed this subtle change.
Turning around, Skyfire Venerable looked at Xiao Ling, "Friend Xiao Ling, can you start the method of helping me recover my soul power now? I am a little tired after coming out again."
Xiao Ling smiled with a hint of embarrassment. Ever since he left the Tianfen Qi Training Tower, he had been so busy that he actually forgot to help Venerable Tianhuo recover his soul power.
"Haha, don't worry, Senior. I will immediately refine a pill for you to restore your soul power. By the way, there is another person I want to introduce to you later. I believe you will have a great chat."
(End of this chapter)