57: What you point to, sir, is the very direction my Red Dust Pavilion's sword will strike.

"Innate Mortal Heart..."

Luo Ximei put away all her disdain, revealing a solemn expression for the first time, "No wonder... no wonder she was able to establish such a colossal power, no less than an ordinary Holy Land, in such a short period. Revered Master, this girl is a Genius."

"Hmph, an Evil Path."

Mu Qingxue spoke coldly, but her voice held less of the previous killing intent and more a hint of vigilance. She knew that Revered Master was right; here, they truly couldn't do anything to this woman.

Su Lin no longer paid attention to the little thoughts of his disciple. He stepped forward slowly, stopping before the invisible red ripple, his gaze calmly fixed on Liu Ruyan, who had not once looked up.

"Raise your head."

He spoke indifferently.

Liu Ruyan's delicate body trembled violently. After a fierce internal struggle, she finally, slowly, little by little, raised her exquisite face, tear-stained like pear blossoms after rain.

It had been nearly a hundred years... she finally... saw that face again, the one that had appeared countless times in her dreams.

Su Lin finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a power that could see through people's hearts: "Tell me, why did you activate the grand formation? What is your intention in doing so?"

At these words, Liu Ruyan's delicate body trembled slightly, but her words showed no trace of panic.

"Reporting to Revered Master, Yan'er's actions have two intentions."

She remained prostrate on the ground, her voice clear and sincere: "Firstly, to verify authenticity.

Over the past century, those who impersonate Revered Master are as numerous as carp crossing a river, and among them are many with cunning methods.

Yan'er is insignificant and dares not make a rash judgment. Only by relying on this Vast World of Mortals grand formation can I glimpse Revered Master's supreme Dao Heart, which is impervious to all Dharmas.

If the one who comes is false, they will inevitably be trapped within it, doomed to eternal perdition."

"Secondly, to observe hearts."

Her gaze subtly swept over the three terrifyingly beautiful women behind Su Lin, "Since the three ladies can accompany Revered Master, they must also be Dragons and Phoenixes among people.

Yan'er dares to use this formation to see the true feelings of the three ladies for Revered Master...

Only by knowing oneself and one's enemy can one better serve Revered Master."

She gazed at Su Lin infatuatedly, her clear, cold eyes instantly filled with boundless adoration.

"Get up."

Su Lin's voice remained calm, "What happened back then was merely a small effort. You don't need to be like this."

"Revered Master's grace, to Yan'er, is a new life!"

Liu Ruyan, however, stubbornly shook her head. Not only did she not get up, but she performed the grand ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows to Su Lin, respectfully.

"Yan'er cannot compare to Revered Master's disciple. In this life, I seek nothing else, only to follow Revered Master, to serve him, and even if I become a slave or maid, I will do so willingly!"

She spoke these words with conviction and certainty.

"Yan'er knows that with Yan'er's meager cultivation, I am not worthy of Revered Master's Dharma Eye."

Liu Ruyan kowtowed again, her voice filled with absolute sincerity, "But Yan'er is willing to offer the entire Red Dust Pavilion, along with the Luck transformed from this Vast World of Mortals, to Revered Master!"

"From now on, the three thousand disciple of the Red Dust Pavilion, high and low, shall all be Revered Master's servants! Wherever Revered Master points, that shall be the direction of my Red Dust Pavilion's sword!"

"Wherever there are people in this world, there shall be the eyes and ears of my Red Dust Pavilion!"

"The person Revered Master wishes to find, whether in the Nine Heavens or the Yellow Springs, Yan'er will surely find for Revered Master!"

"The enemy Revered Master wishes to kill, whether they hide above the Nine Heavens or beneath the Nine Nether, Yan'er will surely... drag them into this endless Mortal World, to suffer eternal perdition!"

She did not look at the three disciple; her gaze, from beginning to end, was fixed solely on Su Lin. That pure, unadulterated reverence and adoration were something no words could feign.

Su Lin looked at the scene before him, which could be called a Shura field, and felt a wave of helplessness.

He gently removed Luo Ximei's hand from his arm and then shook his head at Mu Qingxue and Gu Qiuyue, signaling them to calm down.

Immediately, he stepped forward slowly, stopping before the invisible red ripple, his gaze calmly fixed on Liu Ruyan, who had not once looked up.

Su Lin fell silent.

He looked at the woman before him, and for the first time, a touch of emotion stirred within him.

He could see that Liu Ruyan was not putting on an act; that resolve and loyalty came from the depths of her Soul.

This emotion was too profound.

"Do you know that my cultivation is now lost, and my enemies are spread throughout the world? Following me might... bring utter destruction to you and your Red Dust Pavilion."

Su Lin's voice became somewhat low.

"Yan'er knows."

Liu Ruyan finally raised her head, and in her clear, cold eyes, an unprecedented light flickered, "But Yan'er also knows that Revered Master is like the bright moon in the sky. Even if temporarily obscured by dark clouds, there will eventually be a day when it shines across the Nine Provinces again.

To be able to offer a tiny spark of firefly light to Revered Master in this time of weakness is Yan'er's greatest honor in this life..."

Just then, the long-absent System prompt sounded in his mind again!

[Ding! Detected that Protector Liu Ruyan's bond value has exceeded 1000 points, achieving the special achievement "Sacrificing Oneself to Follow"! System special reward is being issued...]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the special Divine Ability — [Mortal World Heavenly Eye]!]

[Mortal World Heavenly Eye: See through illusions. Currently, the host can ignore all illusions, disguises, and blindfolds at or below the Void Refining Stage.]

A series of System prompts rang out in Su Lin's mind, causing a slight stir in his heart.

Although this was not an offensive Cultivation Technique, it was an extremely practical protective Divine Ability.

His cultivation was still shallow, and enemies were everywhere, many of whom were cunning individuals skilled in illusions and disguises. With this Divine Ability, he undoubtedly gained an extra layer of protection to see through conspiracies and perceive dangers.

A slight ripple stirred in Su Lin's heart. He looked at Liu Ruyan, who was still kneeling on the ground with a resolute gaze, and his eyes finally held a hint of gentleness and recognition.

He slowly extended his hand and made a virtual supporting gesture.

"Good, from today onwards, you shall follow me."

"Revered Master... Yan'er... thanks Revered Master!"

Her voice choked, and she was so excited that she couldn't speak a complete sentence, only bowing deeply to Su Lin again.

"Get up," Su Lin spoke again.

Only then did Liu Ruyan suppress her excitement and slowly stand up, respectfully standing to the side, her beautiful eyes never leaving Su Lin's back.

Mu Qingxue, Luo Ximei, and Gu Qiuyue also seemed to sense Liu Ruyan's sincerity.

They were all powerful figures who governed their own regions, their wisdom and vision far surpassing ordinary people.

Liu Ruyan's words just now, that resolve to offer herself, her Sect, her Luck, and even her Soul, they saw clearly.

They understood that such a person, for Revered Master's grand endeavor of return, would be an incredibly important and powerful aid!

Gu Qiuyue, as the Alliance Leader of the Master-Seeking Alliance, was the first to see the immense value of cooperation between the two sides.

She took a step forward, nodded slightly to Liu Ruyan, her tone polite yet maintaining her status.

"Pavilion Revered Master Liu, your loyalty to Revered Master, we all see it.

In the future, my Master-Seeking Alliance is willing to exchange resources with your Red Dust Pavilion and work together to share Revered Master's burdens."