2: My backing is beyond your imagination.

"My investor... is someone you can touch?"

Lin Xuan's words were not loud, yet they exploded like a clap of thunder in the silent sky above the Qinglan Sect.

Countless Disciples, Elders, and even the owner of the Nascent Soul pressure in the sky, were stunned.

Where did a Qi Refining third-stage Trash get the audacity to speak so wildly to a Nascent Soul Old Monster?

The figure in the clouds solidified slightly, revealing an old man in black robes with a sinister face. His gaze, like lightning, locked onto Lin Xuan, and he laughed in extreme anger, "A mere ant dares to bark? You're courting death!"

He didn't bother with extra words, directly flicking his finger. A highly condensed black finger-wind, powerful enough to easily kill a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, shot towards Lin Xuan like a venomous snake! Its speed was astonishing!

"Be careful!"

"Junior Brother!"

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan's expressions changed simultaneously, and without thinking, they moved to intercept it. Su Wanqing's ice sword glowed with cold light, and Qu Feiyan's blood lotus was about to emerge.

However, someone was faster than them.

No, faster than that finger-wind!

"Buzz—"

An unassuming earthy-yellow light, as if its trajectory had been calculated long ago, abruptly appeared in front of Lin Xuan. The finger-wind struck the light barrier, like a clay ox entering the sea, not even stirring a ripple before vanishing into thin air.

An old man wearing a wrinkled Elder's robe, with messy hair and sleepy eyes, had appeared in front of Lin Xuan at some unknown point, letting out a big yawn.

"Which bastard... disturbed this old man's sunbathing?" He rubbed his eyes, his tone filled with deep impatience. It was none other than Elder Gu, the Law Enforcement Elder from the Library Pavilion, who always seemed half-asleep, Gu Qingqing's father, and also a long-term beneficiary of Lin Xuan's "Spirit Refreshing Tea."

The black-robed Nascent Soul in the sky's pupils constricted, "Gu Changkong?! Haven't you long since had your Dao Foundation damaged, becoming a cripple?!"

Gu Changkong picked his ear, saying lazily, "Whether this old man is crippled or not, what's it to you? Who gave you the guts to lay a murderous hand on a Disciple of my Qinglan Sect?"

He waved his hand seemingly casually.

"Slap!"

A crisp, loud slap echoed through the air, landing directly on the black-robed Nascent Soul's face! It caused his head to tilt, and a clear palm print instantly appeared on his face, his surrounding spiritual power becoming chaotic!

Everyone was stunned!

A casual slap, delivered from a distance, directly to the face of a Nascent Soul Old Monster?! What was this Elder Gu's Realm?!

The black-robed Nascent Soul was both shocked and enraged, covering his face, looking at Gu Changkong in disbelief, "You... you dare to humiliate me?!"

"Humiliate you?" Gu Changkong sneered, his eyes suddenly becoming as sharp as knives. A vast, profound, and terrifying aura, far exceeding that of a Nascent Soul, shot into the sky, instantly shattering the opponent's pressure! "Another word, and this old man will kill you!"

Overbearing! Powerful! He was like a completely different person from his usual lazy self!

The black-robed Nascent Soul's face instantly turned pale from the impact of this aura, his blood and Qi churning, almost causing him to fall from the sky. His eyes were filled with horror and fear, and he dared not say another word. He glared venomously at Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan, then turned into a black light and fled in a sorry state, several times faster than when he arrived.

The crisis was resolved in an instant, in a way no one had anticipated.

The entire Qinglan Sect fell into an eerie silence. All eyes were focused on the Elder Gu, who had returned to his lazy demeanor, and the calm-faced young man behind him, who seemed to have expected it all.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan also stared blankly at Lin Xuan, their beautiful eyes gleaming with a strange light. They knew Lin Xuan was mysterious and could always produce unexpected resources, but they never imagined he could persuade the reclusive Elder Gu to act!

Who exactly was he?

Lin Xuan respectfully bowed to Gu Changkong, "Many thanks, Elder Gu, for your assistance."

Gu Changkong waved his hand, returning to his half-asleep state, muttering, "Enough of that, next time you have good tea, remember to save some for me..." With that, his figure flickered and he vanished from the spot, as if he had never appeared.

Only then did a thunderous clamor erupt throughout the Qinglan Sect!

"My heavens! Elder Gu is actually this strong?!"

"Slapped a Nascent Soul flying with one palm? What Realm is that?"

"The key is... he acted for Lin Xuan! How does Lin Xuan have a connection with Elder Gu?"

"Didn't you hear Elder Gu? It was for 'tea'!"

"This Lin Xuan... he hides too deeply!"

Countless gazes once again turned to Lin Xuan, filled with shock, awe, curiosity, and disbelief. This former universally acknowledged Trash, today first had the two great Genius Fairies of the Outer Sect step forward to protect him, and then an reclusive powerhouse domineeringly escorted him. The mist shrouding him instantly became impossibly thick.

Lin Xuan felt the scorching gazes around him, his heart calm.

Investing in Gu Qingqing with those "Spirit Refreshing Tea" was indeed worth every penny. The return was not just Divine Ability fragments, but at a critical moment, a powerful trump card capable of turning the tide!

He turned to look at the two stunning women beside him, who were still somewhat dazed, and smiled slightly, "Senior Sister Su, Senior Sister Qu, the trouble is temporarily resolved. Shall we... continue discussing the investment?"

Su Wanqing gave Lin Xuan a deep look, the complex emotions in her clear, cold eyes deepening. She nodded softly, "Okay."

Qu Feiyan patted her ample chest, letting out a long sigh, then leaned closer to Lin Xuan, her breath like orchids, her seductive eyes like silk, "Junior Martial Brother~ You saved this Elder sister again. This kindness, Elder sister doesn't know how to repay it~ How about... I offer myself to you?"

Lin Xuan coughed lightly, subtly stepping back half a pace, "Senior Sister is joking, it's just mutual benefit."

...After this incident, Lin Xuan's status in the Qinglan Sect underwent a drastic change. No one dared to see him as Trash anymore, and even some Inner Sect Elders would politely nod to him upon seeing him.

And Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan also received Lin Xuan's "additional investment" as they wished.

Su Wanqing received a bottle of "Ice Heart Jade Dew" that could refine her Sword Heart and purify her spiritual power, making her determined to win the chief position in the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

Qu Feiyan received a High Grade third-tier Demonic Treasure, the "crimson serpent whip," whose attributes were extremely compatible with her, and its astonishing power made her overjoyed.

Of course, Lin Xuan's gains were even more substantial.

[Ding! Investment in Su Wanqing successful! Triggering two thousand times return! Obtained Primal Beginning Sword Scripture Incomplete Manual x1!]

[Ding! Investment in Qu Feiyan successful! Triggering one thousand five hundred times return! Obtained Divine Ability 'Blood Lotus Illusory Body'!]

[Ding! Affinity with target Su Wanqing has increased to 'Trust'!]

[Ding! Affinity with target Qu Feiyan has increased to 'Intimacy'!]

Cultivation Techniques, Divine Abilities, and affinity, a comprehensive harvest!

Several days later, the Outer Sect Grand Competition was held as scheduled.

On the arena, Su Wanqing held her ice sword, her posture outstanding. Wherever her sword light passed, ten miles were frozen, and no one could block her edge. With absolute advantage, she easily won the position of Outer Sect Chief! She stood with her sword, her clear and cold gaze sweeping across the entire venue, finally pausing slightly on Lin Xuan, who was watching nearby. The corner of her lips seemed to curl into an extremely faint arc.

The elegance of that moment captivated the entire Qinglan Sect.

Although Qu Feiyan did not participate in the Grand Competition, the powerful strength she displayed (thanks to the newly acquired crimson serpent whip and the Medicinal Pills secretly funded by Lin Xuan) also made her famous within the Sect. No one dared to lightly provoke her

Everything seemed to be developing in a good direction.

This night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

Lin Xuan was cultivating cross-legged in his courtyard, consolidating his newly Breakthrough Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage cultivation, and inwardly observing the frost silence immortal sword within his Dantian, which was heavily Seal-ed but still emitted faint wisps of terrifying Sword Intent.

Suddenly, he felt something and opened his eyes.

He saw Su Wanqing, who had silently appeared in the courtyard at some unknown time. Moonlight sprinkled on her exquisite and beautiful profile, as if draping her in a silver veil.

She looked at Lin Xuan, her eyes no longer cold, but instead held a complex emotion Lin Xuan had never seen before: confusion, struggle, and a hint of... an indescribable sense of closeness?

"Junior Brother Lin," she spoke softly, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor.

"Senior Sister Su? So late, is something the matter?" Lin Xuan stood up, somewhat puzzled.

Su Wanqing didn't answer immediately. She walked a few steps closer. Under the moonlight, her eyes appeared exceptionally profound. She raised her hand, her fingertips gently brushing the scabbard of the ordinary sword Lin Xuan had placed on the stone table, her movements as soft as if touching a fragile treasure.

"I don't know why..." she murmured, as if speaking to Lin Xuan, yet also to herself, "Every time I get close to you, or use the Magic Treasure you gave me... the dormant Bloodline within me always sends an uncontrollablepalpitations and... yearning."

She raised her eyes, looking directly at Lin Xuan, her clear and cold eyes now seeming to contain a vortex, "Junior Brother Lin, tell me... what exactly are you, or the things you give me?"

Lin Xuan's heart was greatly shaken!

Bloodlinepalpitations? Yearning?

He suddenly remembered the string of question marks after Su Wanqing's SSS+ potential in the System!

Could it be... his accidental investment was not just assisting a Genius, but also... awakening some dormant terrifying existence?

He looked at Su Wanqing's beautiful face, filled with bewilderment and inquiry under the moonlight, and an even crazier thought uncontrollably popped into his mind:

If even a SSS+ potential stock like Su Wanqing was just a corner of his investment portfolio, then when he cast his "investment" gaze higher, further, even above the Nine Heavens... what incredible existences would he awaken?

The frost silence immortal sword within him seemed to sense its master's thoughts, emitting an almost imperceptible clear hum.

The night deepened.