3: The Fairies' Hidden Competition

The moonlight was like water, and Su Wanqing’s question, filled with confusion and seeking, was like a stone tossed into a calm lake, stirring ripples in Lin Xuan’s heart.

He suppressed the shock in his heart, displaying a look of appropriate surprise and doubt. “Bloodline throbbing? Yearning? Senior Sister Su, did something go wrong with your Cultivation? What I gave you were just some ordinary Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts. How could they trigger such an anomaly?”

Of course, he couldn't reveal the existence of the System, so he could only play dumb. At the same time, he secretly communicated with the System in his mind: “System, detect Su Wanqing’s current status and analyze the cause of the Bloodline anomaly.”

【Ding! Detecting that the 'Supreme Yin Youying' Bloodline within the target Su Wanqing is beginning to awaken. The pure spiritual energy and specific attributes (such as the ice attribute of the Ice Heart Jade Dew) contained in the items invested by the Host have accelerated this process. Bloodline awakening is accompanied by spiritual power agitation, mental unrest, and a natural attraction and dependence on the source of proximity (the Host).】

Supreme Yin Youying? That sounds incredibly high-class! Lin Xuan understood instantly. It seemed his investment had truly been placed upon an extraordinary existence.

Seeing Lin Xuan's blank expression, which didn't seem faked, a hint of self-doubt flashed in Su Wanqing's cold eyes. Could it be that she had cultivated too hastily and produced an illusion? Yet, the throbbing originating from the depths of her Bloodline felt so real... She frowned slightly, no longer pressing the issue, merely giving Lin Xuan a profound look. “Perhaps... I was overthinking it. I apologize for disturbing Junior Brother.” Having said that, she turned to leave, her silhouette in the moonlight appearing somewhat frail and... lonely.

“Senior Sister, wait.” Lin Xuan suddenly spoke.

Su Wanqing paused but did not turn back.

Lin Xuan walked forward, retrieved a warm jade bottle from the System Space (an extradimensional space only he could access and store items in), and handed it over. “This item is called the 'Heart-Calming Soul-Suppressing Pill.' It might help settle your mind and regulate your spiritual power. Senior Sister has been busy with the Grand Competition lately; don't overwork yourself.”

This was a third-tier Medicinal Pill he had just obtained by using a batch of low-grade Materials and triggering the hundredfold return, perfectly suited for Su Wanqing's current state.

Su Wanqing’s body trembled imperceptibly. She slowly turned around, looking at the bottle of Medicinal Pills, and then at Lin Xuan’s face, which appeared especially gentle and sincere in the moonlight. She didn't take it immediately, remaining silent as a subtle tension filled the air.

After a long moment, she extended her slender jade hand and accepted the jade bottle. Her fingertips inevitably touched Lin Xuan's palm again. This time, instead of immediately withdrawing, she paused for a moment. A slightly cool sensation transmitted, carrying the unique delicacy and smoothness of a maiden’s skin.

“Thank you.” Her voice was slightly lower than before, carrying a trace of imperceptible hoarseness. Clenching the jade bottle, she didn't linger and quickly vanished into the night.

【Ding! Investment in Su Wanqing successful! Triggering eight hundredfold return! Gaining special item 'moonlight essence' x1!】

【Ding! Bond with target Su Wanqing upgraded to 'Dependence'!】

Watching the System prompts, Lin Xuan's mouth curved upward slightly. Dependence... this level seems quite good... Over the next few days, the Qinglan Sect seemed to return to peace, but undercurrents quietly surged around Lin Xuan.

After taking the “Heart-Calming Soul-Suppressing Pill,” Su Wanqing's Bloodline agitation indeed subsided significantly, but her attitude toward Lin Xuan underwent a subtle change. Previously, she was cold and distant; now, although she still didn't speak much, Lin Xuan could sense that the times her gaze lingered on him had increased, and the duration had lengthened. Occasionally, when they “ran into” each other on the way to the Hall of Legacy, she would nod slightly, and she would even patiently answer a few questions when he sought advice on basic Spell Arts, which was unprecedented.

On this day, Lin Xuan was in the quiet room of his small courtyard, attempting to refine that drop of “moonlight essence.” The pure and cool moonlight power surged into his limbs and bones, subtly forming a kind of Yin and Yang balance with the extremely masculine and rigid spiritual power of his Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art, allowing his Cultivation to advance further.

Just as he was immersed in Cultivation, a familiar, faintly seductive fragrance quietly entered the quiet room.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes and saw Qu Feiyan leaning against the doorway. Today, she wore a tighter red gauze dress, outlining a breathtakingly graceful curve. The neckline was slightly open, revealing a section of snowy white neck and delicate collarbones. The skirt was slit extremely high, and as she moved, a pair of straight, long jade legs were faintly visible, dazzling the eye.

“Junior Martial Brother~ Cultivating so diligently, aren't you afraid of getting tired?” Qu Feiyan took delicate steps and walked up to Lin Xuan, leaning down and exhaling a breath like orchids. From this angle, Lin Xuan could even vaguely see the full, rounded curve beneath her gauze dress and the deep cleavage.

A rush of heat uncontrollably shot up his lower abdomen. Lin Xuan steadied his mind and gave a wry smile. “Senior Sister Qu, how did you sneak in again without a sound?”

“I missed you.” Qu Feiyan extended a slender jade finger and lightly tapped Lin Xuan’s forehead, the action intimate and natural. “Also, Sister has recently reached a Bottleneck in cultivating the 'Blood Lotus Illusory Body.' I keep feeling that my Qi and blood circulation is sluggish and my spiritual power is stagnant... Junior Martial Brother, you are knowledgeable. Can you help Sister take a look?”

With that, she actually grabbed Lin Xuan’s hand and, without explanation, pressed it onto her flat, smooth lower abdomen!

Through the thin gauze dress, Lin Xuan could clearly feel the astonishing elasticity and warmth of her abdominal skin. He could even feel a hot, slightly chaotic spiritual power surging deep inside her lower abdomen.

“Senior Sister, you...” Lin Xuan’s hand wanted to withdraw as if shocked, but Qu Feiyan held it firmly.

“Don't move~ Just feel it properly. It's here... and here...” Qu Feiyan guided Lin Xuan’s hand, gently rubbing and pressing the location of her Qi Sea in her lower abdomen, her voice carrying a lazy and seductive magnetism. “Isn't the spiritual power circulation very rough?”

Lin Xuan’s Adam's apple bobbed. This enchantress was clearly doing it on purpose! But he could indeed sense a slight abnormality in her spiritual power; it seemed that her eagerness for quick results had caused her Qi and blood to surge backward.

“Senior Sister, you are cultivating too hastily.” Lin Xuan forcefully suppressed the amorous thoughts, circulating a trace of gentle spiritual power within his body and slowly channeling it through his palm into her Qi Sea to help her regulate the chaotic aura. “Although the Blood Lotus Illusory Body is an Illusion Technique Divine Ability, it still requires a solid Foundation and gradual progress.”

A warm current surged into her body, soothing the agitation of her Qi and blood, bringing an indescribable feeling of comfort. Qu Feiyan couldn't help but let out a soft moan, like a flute. “Mmm~ Junior Martial Brother, your spiritual power... feels so comfortable...”

She half-closed her seductive eyes, a tempting blush rising on her cheeks, and her body softened, almost falling into Lin Xuan’s arms.

Just then, an icy cough came from the quiet room entrance.

Both were startled and turned to look.

They saw Su Wanqing standing there, covered in frost, her eyes as cold as ten thousand years of profound ice, staring intently at Qu Feiyan's posture, almost leaning into Lin Xuan’s embrace, and Lin Xuan’s hand still pressed against Qu Feiyan's lower abdomen.

“It seems I came at a bad time.” Su Wanqing’s voice was colder than a Siberian gale. After speaking, she turned and left, her skirt fluttering, carrying a gust of cold fragrance.

A triumphant smile flashed in Qu Feiyan’s eyes, but she feigned panic and straightened up. “Oh dear, Junior Sister Su seems to have misunderstood~ Junior Martial Brother, hurry and explain to her!”

Lin Xuan looked in the direction Su Wanqing had left, then at Qu Feiyan, who was smiling sweetly beside him, her eyes sparkling. How could he not understand that this enchantress had used him as a tool to provoke Su Wanqing?

These two Fairies—one cold and reserved yet gradually growing dependent, the other passionate and bold and pressing close—the silent competition between them, centered around him, seemed to be getting... increasingly interesting.

He shook his head helplessly and said to Qu Feiyan, “Senior Sister, I have helped you regulate your spiritual power stagnation. In your subsequent Cultivation, do not rush for success again. I have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave.”

With that, he subtly withdrew his hand and stood up to walk outside. Although being used was slightly annoying, the sensation of soft, fragrant warmth in his embrace just now, coupled with Su Wanqing’s reaction, which clearly contained jealousy, greatly satisfied a hidden sense of vanity within him.

Investment, as expected, brings comprehensive returns.

Watching Lin Xuan’s retreating figure, the smile on Qu Feiyan’s face gradually faded. She gently stroked her lower abdomen, where Lin Xuan’s palm had just rested. The warmth and aura of his spiritual power seemed to linger there, and her eyes became somewhat hazy.

“Little fellow... your willpower is quite good. However, Sister won't easily let go of something she sets her eyes on.”

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan quickly caught up to Su Wanqing. Looking at her taut profile and tightly pursed lips, he was about to open his mouth to explain.

Su Wanqing suddenly stopped, turned her head, and looked straight at him with cold eyes, interrupting him. “In three days, the Sect will open the 'Cloud Mist Secret Realm.' Disciples below Foundation Establishment can enter to seek Opportunity.”

She paused, her tone carrying a trace of unquestionable command. “You are coming with me.”

It was not a question, but a notification.

Having said that, she didn't give Lin Xuan a chance to speak and walked away directly.

Lin Xuan stared at her retreating figure, stunned for a moment, and then laughed.

Cloud Mist Secret Realm? That sounds like a great place to trigger high-multiple returns.

Moreover, is Senior Sister Su... staking her claim?

This secret war, unintentionally started by him and belonging to the Fairies, seemed to be entering a new phase within that Secret Realm.

He rubbed his chin, his eyes filled with anticipation.