36: Best Actor Raymond Lam

Chen Qiaoqian knelt in a sea of white flowers, cold tears streaming down her cheeks, dripping onto the soft petals, spreading into damp stains.

Clan Uncle's words were like a blunt knife, cutting into her heart repeatedly. Lu Yunfeng, that frivolous Cultivator who often looked at her with lecherous eyes, just because of his so-called mutated Heavenly Spiritual Root and the Lu Family's influence, she was to be sent away as a bargaining chip.

"Father…" she murmured, her voice hoarse, filled with endless grievance and longing.

If her father were still alive, the one who was once the Chen Family Head and cherished her as his pearl, how would Clan Uncle dare to pressure her like this? Her father's accidental demise not only took away her closest person but also took away her lineage's status within the Family. Those clansmen who once fawned over her now began to kick her when she was down, thinking of how to strip away all the interests of her lineage.

She remembered her father's broad shoulders, and his loving eyes when he encouraged her to Cultivate diligently. Memories rushed in like a tide, overwhelming her already fragile Heart-Nature. She wished so much that her father could hold her in his arms like when she was little, telling her that everything would be alright.

"Father, Qiaoqian misses you so much…" She buried her head deeper, white petals stained with her tears and breath. Loneliness, helplessness, despair—all emotions intertwined, making it almost impossible for her to breathe. "Help Qiaoqian… Father, can you help Qiaoqian?"

Her voice was very soft, almost covered by the sound of the wind and the whispers of the flower sea. However, at this moment, she heard a familiar yet ethereal voice, as if coming from the distant sky, yet also as if whispering right beside her ear.

That voice carried a hint of her father's warmth and kindness from her memory, yet also an indescribable ethereal quality, as if it did not belong to the mortal world.

"Qiaoqian…"

Chen Qiaoqian suddenly lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes blurring as she looked around. The valley was empty, only the wind rustling through the flower sea. There was no one, no other sound. Was it an illusion? Was it because she missed her father too much that she was hallucinating?

"A hundred miles north from here, there is someone who can help you…"

The voice sounded again, clear yet illusory.

A hundred miles north? Someone can help her? Is her father guiding her? Is her father's spirit in heaven unable to bear seeing her in such a situation, thus manifesting to show her a clear path?

Immense joy enveloped her entire body. She trembled, wanting to respond, but choked up and couldn't speak, tears gushing out again.

It's Father! It must be Father! He never left her!

"Go!"

The voice gradually faded, as if it had never appeared. The valley returned to silence, with only her hurried breathing and soft sobs.

She cried even harder, joy turning to sorrow, and the sadness and grievances in her heart were magnified countless times by this sudden "voice."

She kept muttering "Father," and as she cried, the fatigue of her body and the huge emotional fluctuations made her gradually unable to hold on. Her head tilted, and she fell into the flowerbed, falling into a deep sleep.

After an unknown period, when she woke up again, the sunlight was already filtering through the gaps in the petals onto her face. She felt a dizzy spell, struggling to sit up. Around her was still the endless sea of white chrysanthemums, and as the wind blew, the fragrance of the flowers filled the air.

Was it… a dream just now? Dreaming of her father manifesting and guiding her? She was a little dazed, blinking hard, trying to separate the dream from reality.

However, just as she raised her hand to wipe her eyes, she felt something in her hand. She opened her palm and looked down.

A Medicinal Pill lay quietly in her hand. The Medicinal Pill was a warm, milky white, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance. There were a few shallow patterns on the surface of the Medicinal Pill, indicating at a glance that it was no ordinary item.

Foundation Establishment Pill!

Chen Qiaoqian's body instantly stiffened. How did she have a Foundation Establishment Pill? This… this was the Foundation Establishment Pill that her Clan Uncle had repeatedly refused to give her, despite her many applications within the Family, always with various excuses!

How much effort had she put in, how many cold stares had she endured for this Medicinal Pill?

She trembled as she clutched the Medicinal Pill tightly. The cool touch and the medicinal fragrance emanating from the Medicinal Pill made her realize that this was not a dream. This Foundation Establishment Pill was real!

Could it be… could it be that it really wasn't a dream just now? Was it really her father manifesting, sending the Foundation Establishment Pill into her hand, and showing her a clear path?

She no longer hesitated. This was her only hope! She carefully put away the Foundation Establishment Pill, stood up, identified the direction, and resolutely conjured her flying Magical Artifact, speeding towards the north.

Her heart was filled with apprehension and expectation. The person her father mentioned, who exactly was he?

And all of this, naturally, was not her deceased father manifesting, but Lin Feng, who was dozens of miles away on a mountain Peak, completing the layout through the "voice simulation" function and the Foundation Establishment Pill provided by the System.

He watched Chen Qiaoqian's figure fly away, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

As for Foundation Establishment Pills, he had a small mountain's worth of them in his System backpack. But for Chen Qiaoqian, it was the key to changing her fate. As long as she could Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage, her status within the Family would greatly improve, and her Clan Uncle would not be able to force her into a marriage alliance.

Given Chen Qiaoqian's Heart-Nature and her current predicament, her father's manifestation would almost certainly be her only lifeline. She would undoubtedly believe in it deeply and regard that person as a savior sent by her father. This way, his interaction with Chen Qiaoqian would have the most solid Foundation—based on trust in her father.

He restrained his Qi, and flew on his sword. After a month of secluded Cultivation in his Immortal Cave, Lin Feng had already Broken through to the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and his Foundation was incredibly solid. Traveling at full speed, it only took a few breaths to reach the destination before Chen Qiaoqian.

It was a small valley, serene and rarely visited, very suitable as a meeting place for the first time.

After Lin Feng arrived at the valley, he first adjusted his state. He took out a bronze mirror, slightly tidied his appearance, and changed into a blue and white Daoist robe, making himself look more like an Immortal.

With everything ready, he waited quietly.

Not long after, a streak of light flew in. Chen Qiaoqian's figure appeared at the entrance of the valley. She put away her flying Magical Artifact, her eyes eagerly scanning the valley.

When her gaze fell upon the figure on the bluestone in the center of the valley, she suddenly paused.

It was a man, dressed in a blue and white Daoist robe, with his back to her, only revealing a tall and straight figure. A gentle breeze blew, his robes danced, rustling, yet not appearing messy, instead highlighting an ethereal temperament.

Chen Qiaoqian cautiously took a few steps forward, wanting to see the person's face clearly. The man seemed to sense her arrival and slowly turned around.

When she saw the man's face clearly, her breath hitched involuntarily.

It was an extremely handsome face, with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, an Immortal-like grace, long hair like a waterfall, and unparalleled demeanor.

He must be an Immortal!

This thought uncontrollably surged into Chen Qiaoqian's mind. For a moment, she was so captivated that she almost forgot the purpose of her trip.

Is it him? The person her father guided her to? He looks like a Heavenly Immortal, and she… is just a small Qi Refining Cultivator.

She felt a surge of nervousness, her palms slightly sweating. She didn't know how to speak, how to ask for help from such an unparalleled man.

Just as she hesitated, the man, who seemed like a True Immortal in her eyes, smiled slightly at her. That smile was warm and sincere, instantly dispelling the nervousness and grievances in her heart.

His voice sounded, as if possessing some kind of reassuring magic.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here for you from now on."

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