85: Jealousy

"Hmph, just putting on an act." Fang Lingyao gave a cold snort. "It is the 'Fascinating Phantom Heart Technique' of the Hehuan Sect. They are using these people to test their techniques, or... perhaps they are just playing around for amusement."

Lin Feng scanned the scene and said in a low voice: "Look at their methods. They are guiding the attacks of those people towards each other. That burly man wielding the blade—his fellow Disciple was just slashed by him."

Fang Lingyao followed his guidance and looked closely. Sure enough, she discovered that the attacks of those Loose Cultivators seemed fierce, but often landed in empty space for no apparent reason, or even accidentally injured their companions. Meanwhile, the female Cultivators of the Hehuan Sect moved like butterflies flitting through flowers, moving with ease amidst the chaotic offensive, with a trace of playful amusement even at the corners of their mouths.

"Truly... vicious." Fang Lingyao's voice was colder, her fingers gripping the hilt of her sword tightening slightly. Although she was cold and detached, witnessing such a display of toying with human hearts and treating human lives like blades of grass still stirred her genuine anger.

Then, she took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her eyes: "This place is not suitable for a long stay. The illusions of the Hehuan Sect are impossible to guard against. Let us go around." Although she was disgusted, her reason remained, and she was unwilling to have a direct confrontation with this group of troublesome women at this moment.

Lin Feng nodded in agreement. Just as the two were about to quietly retreat, that burly Loose Cultivator, who had fallen into madness, seemed to have his potential explode. He actually broke free from the influence of the illusion, let out a roar, and wielding a giant axe, regardless of everything, slashed down towards the nearest female Cultivator of the Hehuan Sect.

The playfulness on that female Cultivator's face instantly turned into alarm. She let out a delicate cry, and her movement seemed to falter slightly because of this sudden attack. It looked as if the giant axe was about to fall.

Just at this moment, from the depths of the Buddha hall, came a lazy and slightly displeased hum: "Tsk, disturbing the peace."

Following this voice, a pink stream of light arrived before the others, with an incredibly fast speed, precisely sinking into the space between the brows of that burly Loose Cultivator.

The momentum of the Loose Cultivator's charge stiffened. The madness in his blood-red eyes was instantly replaced by intoxication and emptiness. The descending giant axe stopped abruptly in mid-air, and then with a "clatter", it slipped from his hands and fell to the ground.

His whole body collapsed to the ground as if his bones had been removed, yet his face wore a strange, happy smile, and he had completely lost consciousness.

A graceful figure slowly stepped out from the shadows in the depths of the Buddha hall.

She was dressed in a gown of gradient pink mist, the swaying of the skirt outlining breathtaking curves, and her face was stunningly beautiful. A wisp of pink spiritual light coiled around her fingertips; that stream of light from just a moment ago had clearly come from her hand.

She scanned the scene with a lazy gaze. Those Cultivators who were still "dancing wildly" all trembled in unison, their movements stiffening a few points.

Lin Feng was secretly shocked. This was the very Saintess who had once abducted him back to the Hehuan Sect.

The rescued female Cultivator hurriedly bowed, her voice filled with reverence: "Many thanks to the Saintess for making a move."

The Saintess did not even look at her. Her gaze passed over the chaotic battlefield with great interest and landed precisely on the Buddha statue where Lin Feng and Fang Lingyao were hiding.

"Oh?" Her red lips parted slightly, clearly reaching the ears of Lin Feng and his companion, "This Saintess thought her eyes had deceived her... So it really is you, Little Foe~"

Her gaze firmly locked onto Lin Feng, and she looked him up and down: "Eh? How long has it been since we last met, and you have actually reached the Foundation Establishment? Letting you slip away from under my nose last time really made me miss you so much."

She deliberately emphasized the words "miss you", her tone sweet and cloying, yet it made one's hair stand on end.

"Those few useless trash could not even watch over one person... Sister is quite Life Qi, you see, so I had to punish them by sending them to the 'Soul-Dissolving Cave' to reflect on themselves. I do not even know if they still... remember who they are now."

As she spoke, her fingertips lightly brushed across her smooth cheek, her smile becoming even more alluring.

The Hehuan Sect's "Soul-Dissolving Cave" was a place for punishing Disciples, where illusions were rampant, and it could infinitely amplify and distort a person's seven emotions and six desires. Those with slightly weak minds were extremely prone to losing themselves, or even having their minds collapse.

"Why, did you come to my door on purpose this time to compensate Sister?"

Fang Lingyao's expression changed abruptly, and she instantly tightened her grip on the sword hilt, looking at Lin Feng.

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm. He just looked back calmly and said lightly: "The Saintess is joking, we are just passing by by chance."

"By chance?" The Saintess chuckled, her laughter seductive to the bone, "Is this Zen Sound Temple Secret Realm a place one can just pass by by chance? Little Foe, you are actually more capable than I thought."

She took a light step forward, "Since you have come, do not be in such a rush to leave. Sister has been thinking about the unfinished business from last time."

Fang Lingyao stepped forward half a step, implicitly shielding Lin Feng behind her side, and looked directly at the Saintess. Although the sword had not been fully unsheathed, the Sword Intent had already condensed: "Your Excellency, what is your intention?"

Only then did the Saintess seem to notice Fang Lingyao. Her gaze swept over her beautiful face and figure, and the corners of her lips hooked into a playful smile:

"Yo, you even brought a flower-protecting envoy? And it is a... cold little plum blossom. Your cultivation is not bad... Are you planning to stand up for him?"

She shook her head lightly: "However... this is a private matter between him and me. Little plum blossom, it would be best if you did not interfere. Sister, you see, dislikes using force against beautiful girls the most."

As she spoke, a wisp of pink spiritual light flickered at her fingertips, carrying a heart-palpitating fluctuation, the threat implicit.

The atmosphere instantly tightened to the extreme.

Lin Feng took a deep breath and whispered to Fang Lingyao: "Senior Sister, her target is me. Find an opportunity to leave first."

Fang Lingyao frowned deeply, the knuckles of her hand gripping the sword turning slightly white.

However, the Saintess suddenly giggled, and the oppressive aura around her receded like a tide, and that wisp of pink spiritual light also dissipated from her fingertips.

"Look at how nervous you both are." She waved her hand, "Forget it, forget it. Today, Sister has proper business to attend to, and no time to play the game of little lovers pouring out their hearts with you here."

Her gaze shifted back to Lin Feng: "Little Foe, under the bodhi tree... we shall 'reminisce' properly. If you let Sister down again this time..."

She did not finish her sentence, but just smiled meaningfully. That smile was still sweet, yet it made one's heart run cold.

Before the words had faded, her figure quietly blurred, and the next moment she disappeared completely.

Only that unsettling, light laughter remained, slowly echoing in the air.

The Cultivators in the field who were controlled by the illusion, following the departure of the Saintess, seemed to lose their core support. The chaotic momentum gradually subsided, and one by one they collapsed in confusion, falling into a deep sleep.

Those few female Cultivators of the Hehuan Sect also breathed a sigh of relief, glanced reverently at the direction where the Saintess had disappeared, and began to clean up the aftermath.

Behind the Buddha statue, Lin Feng and Fang Lingyao did not move for a long time.

Fang Lingyao slowly withdrew her gaze and looked at Lin Feng: "You... when did you provoke such a character? She seems... determined to have you." The last few words were said somewhat slowly.

Lin Feng gave a bitter smile: "An accident. I had some grievances with her and managed to escape by luck. I did not expect her to be so persistent."

Fang Lingyao looked at him deeply without pursuing the details, but it was clear she understood that the matter was definitely not as simple as he said.

"She mentioned the bodhi tree." Fang Lingyao's tone became heavy, "It seems the final struggle is more troublesome than we anticipated. This Saintess... is at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage."

Lin Feng nodded: "I know. When the time comes, we will play it by ear."

After this incident, both of them felt much heavier in their hearts.