Chapter 12

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After a while, the black jade tower ship turned into a beam of light that flew out of Deer Spring City.

Pei Ling, who was experiencing flight for the first time in this world, did not have the mood to appreciate the scenery around him. Instead, he stood on the deck with his head lowered, trying his best to appear more steady.

Fairy Li had already flicked her sleeves and entered the cabin before leaving the city. The remaining three looked at each other for a while. A murderous look flashed between Zheng Jingshan’s brows as he shouted in a deep voice, “Who gave you the guts to barge into my residence!”

“…” Pei Ling racked his brains to think for a reason. /Damn it, I don’t want to either, do you believe it?

Seeing that he did not answer, Zheng Jingshan’s eyes flashed fiercely. If it were a while ago, he would not have even asked as he would have punched him directly.

However, Pei Ling was brought on the boat by his senior sister, after all. He did not know what her plans were…

He thought about it and suddenly noticed something. He said, “Why did the symbol of the Rakshasa Painting disappear?! Was it Senior Sister who intervened?”

Pei Ling was startled when he heard this. Only then did he realize that his cultivation level had shockingly increased by another level. He was now at the fourth level of Qi Refinement.

He composed himself and was about to speak when Pei Hongnian exclaimed, “The fourth level of Qi Refinement?!”

Zheng Jingshan did not understand Pei Ling’s background, but as the Pei family’s eldest son, Pei Hongnian would know. Every time he returned home from the outer sect of the Deep Sea Sect, he had the responsibility to guide his peers. How could he not know that Pei Ling was only at the second level of Qi Refinement when he returned home a few days ago.

Judging by the time, less than a month had passed, and his junior brother had already advanced two levels in succession quietly?

“Huh?” Upon hearing what Pei Hongnian said, Zheng Jingshan immediately thought of something. He quickly checked the items he had on him, and his expression changed immediately. Ten Bone Tempering Pills were missing!

The Bone Tempering Pill was meant to be used together with the Bone Forging Art cultivation. Usually, one could only take one pill for each cultivation. Now that ten pills were missing, it meant that Pei Ling had not only snuck into his room to cultivate once but at least ten times.

Pei Hongnian was only a lowly dog under him. No, the entire Pei family was like a dog in front of him. Meanwhile, Pei Ling was inconspicuous in the Pei family and did not even have the right to approach the Green Parasol Compound.

In the end, this kid appeared subservient on the surface. In reality, he trespassed into his residence, stole his pills, cultivated in his room, and even did it in front of the Scarlet Bone Rakshasa Painting. Not once, not twice, but ten times!

At this moment, Zheng Jingshan and the late Wu Tingxi had a tacit understanding: Were cultivators nowadays going to risk it all for ten Bone Tempering Pills?!

Or they, as disciples of a large sect, have stayed in the sect every single day and lived comfortably for too long, to the point of gradually losing the awareness of either moving forward or falling back without realizing it?

Other than feeling shocked, his impression of Pei Ling did improve slightly.

After all, the strong preyed on the weak. In Zheng Jingshan’s opinion, Pei Ling’s action was not worth the risk to ascend from the second level of Qi Refinement to the fourth level of Qi Refinement. Still, such an unorthodox way of pursuing power was in line with the true meaning of Dao in Zheng Jingshan’s eyes.

He’s brave and young; He’s ruthless to his clansmen and himself; He’s from a humble background, making him easy to bribe…

Zheng Jingshan thought quickly. No, merely these are never enough to catch Senior Sister’s eyes.

This senior sister of his was the core disciple of the Deep Sea Sect and the future Saintess. Although Pei Ling was a promising talent in Zheng Jingshan’s eyes, how could he compare to Fairy Li?

At the thought of this, Zheng Jingshan withdrew his anger and looked deeply at Pei Ling before taking out a bone saber from his storage bag.

The bone saber was about four feet long and was completely snow-white in color. There was only a bright and glistening line of blood seemingly undried in the middle of the blade. There was a diagram of a ferocious ghost with a green face and fangs carved on both sides of the handle in the shape of a person being devoured. At the instant it appeared, a round of faint wailing echoed.

Pei Ling could not help but raise his guard at the sight of this. However, Zheng Jingshan did not have the intention to attack. Instead, he reversed the saber and, with only two fingers, held onto the tip of the blade. He said slowly, “You two have contributed to arresting Wu Tingxi this time. Although I have already awarded 50 Bone Tempering Pills to your family clan, the two of you have yet to receive anything! The Holy Sect has always been clear about rewards and punishments. How about this? I will only use 20% of my strength. You guys come up one by one. Whoever can pull the saber from my fingers, this Life-Extinguishing Blade will be your reward.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother Zheng!”

Pei Hongnian had not paid attention to Pei Ling before this. He had only just noticed that this junior’s cultivation was already the same as his own. He was jealous with mixed feelings. He could not help but be overjoyed when he heard the offer. “I am deeply grateful for Senior Brother’s generosity!”

He stepped forward without hesitation, grabbed the hilt of the saber with both hands, and yanked it.

The blade remained still.

Pei Hongnian’s expression turned serious. He took a deep breath and circulated his Qi and blood. He channeled all his cultivation at the fourth level of the Qi Refinement realm and tried his best to pull the handle of the saber again… but it did not budge!

After several tries, Zheng Jingshan’s fingertip did not even shake a little. Pei Hongnian was ashamed and unwilling to accept this fate. He wanted to try again, but Zheng Jingshan was getting impatient. “Forget it. You are not strong enough. You can back down.”

With that, he looked at Pei Ling.

Although Pei Ling did not know why Zheng Jingshan suddenly let him off and even took out the Life-Extinguishing Blade as a reward, how could he refuse at a time like this?

However, just as he was about to step forward, he suddenly shuddered.

His left arm was injured by Wu Tingxi’s Five Poison Finger previously to the point his bones were visible. Although he got cured and felt much better after the dual cultivation, he had not fully recovered. His right hand was not injured, but his right hand was tightly clutching the Essence Augmenting Pill that he had just stolen from Fairy Li!

What should he do?

Zheng Jingshan’s expression darkened when he saw the hesitation.

Pei Ling had previously followed the family head’s orders to the main hall of the Pei Residence and listened to his orders obediently. He seemed respectful and subservient then, but now, he actually dared to take his time. Could it be that he believed that he had obtained the favor of his Senior Sister and was deliberately taking advantage?!

If that was the case, this kid… was nothing worth mentioning after all.

“How dare you, Pei Ling!” Pei Hongnian was already feeling down when he saw it. He scolded, “Senior Brother Zheng is rewarding you, yet you didn’t come forward immediately. Does this mean that you don’t like this Life-Extinguishing Blade?!”

What the f*ck? Even this Cultivation World is playing the script of Beyond the Realm of Conscience1? I’ll remember this!

And this trash system!

I shouldn’t have given this retard a five-star review!

Pei Ling cursed in his heart. The origin of the Essence Augmenting Pill that the system had “gifted” was too suffocating. At this moment, he could only brace himself and reach out his left hand to grab towards the Life-Extinguishing Blade.

Right then, the surroundings dimmed suddenly.

Pei Ling was startled and quickly looked around, but the sky was clear. Just as he was wondering, he realized that a faint black fog had risen on the deck.

The appearance of the black fog was abrupt, and it spread rapidly. Soon, it reached the waists of the three of them, and a chill that seemed to strike straight into their souls arrived.

As for Pei Ling and Pei Hongnian, their teeth could not help but chatter despite trying their best to hold it in.

While the cousins were in shock, the black fog surged like waves. As if it had been summoned, it rapidly swirled towards a spot not far from the three of them, forming a black pillar of mist that was more than a hundred feet tall. It was as imposing as a dragon!

In the next moment, the pillar of fog collapsed as two translucent women in palatial clothes appeared.

The woman on the left had beautiful hair that was tied into a high bun, and she wore a flower crown. She was beautiful and pale; The woman on the right only seemed to be around 15 or 16 years of age, and she was elegant and beautiful. She wore a jade pearls necklace, with her hair tied into two buns, while numerous dark blue butterflies fluttered around her. When their wings flapped lightly, glittering light blue sparkles sprinkled down.

Their clothes were beautiful but black mist covered below their knees. The entire floating deck was covered in it. Both of them looked over, but there were no pupils in their eyes, left with only a deep black color that seemed particularly peculiar.

“Senior Sister’s Ghost Servants…” Zheng Jingshan’s pupils constricted, and he subconsciously revealed a hint of fear. He nodded and said, “Since Miss Jiaoni and Miss Wuliu are here, does Senior Sister have any instructions?”

“My master has ordered all of you to enter your respective cabins to rest,” the woman on the left said lightly. “If you need anything, you can just ring the bell in the room.”

Zheng Jingshan hurriedly asked, “About Senior Sister…”

The woman on the right covered her mouth and giggled. There seemed to be a blue light flashing in her black eyes. She did not even look at him as she said softly, “Master also said that before we reach the sect, no one is allowed to go up to the top floor to disturb us unless there are some major issues.”

Seeing Zheng Jingshan silenced, she was satisfied. She glanced at the three of them and asked curiously, “What are all of you doing?”

“Miss Wuliu, Senior Brother Zheng is testing us.” Pei Hongnian explained the situation dejectedly.

After hearing this, the two girls looked at each other, and Jiao Ni’s interest piqued. “In that case, you have already failed. Now, it’s your cousin’s turn?”

Pei Hongnian smiled awkwardly. “Yes.”

Hearing this, Jiao Ni looked at Pei Ling with a faint smile. “Sure, please continue. We’ll watch the show.”

Pei Ling’s hair stood on end from a look from that pair of deep black eyes. He hurriedly lowered his head, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. His right hand was still holding the Essence Augmenting Pill that the servants’ owner had lost!
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