It was a woman of about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, with a waist as slender as bundled silk and a posture of perfect grace. Her ink-black hair was divided into strands, twisted together, and coiled into a knot at the front of her head.
A black hairpin was inserted into her hair, and earrings that gleamed like night illuminated her ears. Her beauty was exquisite, her countenance like clouds. Her twin eyes were as unfathomably deep as an abyss. On her face lingered a faint trace of eternal, unmelting ice-cold chill, as if the mundane world could not touch her features in the slightest.
“Nan Mu Ling?” Lin Xiao stared in utter astonishment at the black-skirted woman who walked in.
He had thought the visitor would be An Miao. How could he have expected it to be Nan Mu Ling?
He was wearing a human skin mask, and his aura was concealed by the Heavenly Eye. The Heavenly Eye’s concealment was so profound that even Martial Saints could not detect it. How had Nan Mu Ling recognised him?
Of course, at first glance, Lin Xiao was certain that Nan Mu Ling had recognised him. Otherwise, she would not have come visiting.
Yet even knowing it was him and still coming to visit left him utterly surprised.
“Very surprised?” Nan Mu Ling was the first to enter the room from the doorway.
“Somewhat surprised.” Lin Xiao also entered the room and closed the door. Puzzled, he asked, “How did you know it was me?”
“No need to doubt. I did not detect your aura. It was my constitutional talent that sensed it.” Nan Mu Ling said directly.
Lin Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His aura concealment had not failed after all. However, it added another layer of worry.
Elder Chu Xu from the Moxu Sect could smell his scent with his blood spirit nose. Long Tutian could sense his blood and qi. Nan Mu Ling could detect his identity through her special constitution.
Did that mean even if his appearance changed and aura was hidden, he could not fully conceal his identity? There were still all sorts of methods to identify him?
“Last time, many thanks for saving me, Miss Nan. I wonder, what brings Miss Nan here? Is there something you need help with?” Lin Xiao asked directly.
Nan Mu Ling was now a disciple of Shengtian Gate. He had a grudge against Shengtian Gate, but Nan Mu Ling had saved him. Thus, he could not guess why she had come.
If Nan Mu Ling had come to ask him to reconcile with Shengtian Gate, for her sake, perhaps he could reconcile with them.
Of course, on the condition that Shengtian Gate no longer troubled him.
“Indeed, you owe me your life.”
Nan Mu Ling’s tone was already calm, though it habitually carried a trace of arrogant coldness. “I have come this time not to ask for your help now, but to require you to help me with something in the future.”
Lin Xiao was puzzled.
Nan Mu Ling continued, “More than a year ago, you were only at the seventh-level Martial Lord realm. Now, you have reached the third-level Martial Emperor realm, and your strength is probably even greater than mine was back then.”
“Your talent exceeds my expectations. Your potential is perhaps no less than mine.”
Nan Mu Ling said concisely, “Therefore, in the future, you may be able to help with that matter. It should not go against your wishes.”
“If I can help, I will certainly do so with all my effort.” Although Lin Xiao did not know what Nan Mu Ling was referring to, he still promised sincerely.
She had already stated it would not violate his wishes. Naturally, he had to repay her favour.
He was someone who repaid kindness. If others treated him well, he would treat them well in return, especially since she had saved his life.
“Good. In that case, I hope you will fulfil your promise when the time comes.” Nan Mu Ling said.
“Without hesitation!” Lin Xiao affirmed.
“That is good!” Nan Mu Ling said, “By the way, I am now a disciple of Shengtian Gate, but the conflict between Shengtian Gate and you has nothing to do with me.”
“Also, be careful. The geniuses of the nine provinces are not simple. Even I do not have enough confidence to claim invincibility among my peers.”
“…” Lin Xiao.
He asked somewhat speechlessly, “What is your strength?”
“Stronger than you!” Nan Mu Ling said calmly.
“…” Lin Xiao was speechless again.
Did Nan Mu Ling know his current strength?
His petrification power could withstand a Martial Saint.
Or was Nan Mu Ling truly stronger than him?
Lin Xiao was somewhat unwilling to believe it.
Yet deep down, he very much believed her words.
Nan Mu Ling was truly too strong.
More than a year ago, she could kill ninth-level Martial Emperors. After more than a year, who knew how far she had progressed.
“The Ji family’s Ji Guan was actually only the one shown publicly. Behind the scenes, the Ji family hides even stronger figures.”
Nan Mu Ling continued, “Just like me. I could easily kill all those geniuses who appeared on the field, but I cannot act, even if Yangzhou is cursed by everyone.”
“In short, it is best to be careful!”
“Thank you for the reminder, Miss Nan.” Lin Xiao said.
“Farewell!” With that, Nan Mu Ling turned and left, her natural icy demeanour keeping others at a thousand li distance.
“I will see you out, Miss Nan.” Lin Xiao said.
“No need!” Nan Mu Ling departed, her whole being radiating cold rejection.
Lin Xiao could only see her to the door and watch her leave.
Then, he could not help but shake his head secretly, somewhat unable to understand Nan Mu Ling’s thoughts.
“I wonder what favour she needs from me?” Lin Xiao pondered for a while. With Nan Mu Ling’s strength and status, the matter was probably not simple.
However, no matter how difficult, when the time came, he could only steel himself and go through with it. After all, he owed her his life.
Debts of money were easy to repay, but debts of life were hard!
With a long sigh, Lin Xiao stopped thinking about Nan Mu Ling. He went out to instruct Wang Qi and the others, then returned to his room to prepare refining the pill made from yellow jiao blood.
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Lin Xiao took out the yellow pill. He examined it joyfully for a moment before swallowing it in one gulp.
“I hope it will be effective.”
Lin Xiao was filled with anticipation. As the pill entered his stomach, he circulated his power and began refining it.
Upon refining, the pill unleashed an extremely fierce efficacy that surged violently, pouring torrentially into his dantian and seeping into his blood throughout his body. It felt as if his entire body was about to explode. Countless fine needles seemed to stab outward from within, causing him immense pain.
“So fierce!” Lin Xiao was greatly shocked and hurriedly circulated his essence force to suppress the pill’s medicinal power.
The pill was too violent. Refining it in the usual way would definitely cause his body to burst.
Under Lin Xiao’s suppression, the efficacy finally slowed somewhat, eliminating the danger of the medicinal power exploding his body.
However, Lin Xiao still had to exert extreme effort to suppress the speed at which the pill turned into medicinal power while absorbing and refining it. His whole body boiled with hot blood yet felt like needles piercing him. Lin Xiao’s focus was pushed to the utmost.
If not for his high-level sixth-grade spirit power and strong mental strength, he probably could not maintain such prolonged concentration. The slightest carelessness could put him in danger.
