“If you suspect someone, do not employ them. If you employ someone, do not suspect them. Since you are An Ran’s disciple, I naturally trust you. Moreover, if you were to betray me, you would not survive. Do not overthink it. I only told you so that you would cherish those two tokens.”
Miao Ling said directly, “Those two items are very precious to An Miao and me. Rest assured, as long as you bring them back, I will reward you with something no less valuable than a low-level eighth-grade pill.”
“Thank you, Master’s Wife. Rest assured, this disciple will never touch them.”
Lin Xiao was immediately overjoyed. What could a reward no less than a low-level eighth-grade pill be?
It would surely be extraordinary.
Yet no matter what it was, since she had promised, she would not go back on her word. With Miao Ling’s status, there was no need to deceive him.
In truth, even without any reward, he would still go.
“The rouge box contains pills separately, but the jade hairpin is purely a token of affection.”
Miao Ling added.
Lin Xiao nodded. If she had not said so, he might have speculated otherwise.
After all, anything from the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor’s hand was extraordinary. The rouge box was far too remarkable.
But a token of affection represented heartfelt sentiment. It might be immensely precious, yet not necessarily useful. Anything practical was probably inside the rouge box.
For the recipient, however, it would likely be more precious than anything, especially to someone deeply devoted.
Lin Xiao understood Miao Ling well in this regard.
“I hope you can retrieve them as soon as possible. When An Miao can break through to low-level eighth-grade spirit controller depends on the pills inside.”
Miao Ling said.
Lin Xiao was greatly shocked. The box actually contained pills that would allow An Miao to break through to low-level eighth-grade spirit controller?
Ximen Haoyue had taken decades to advance from high-level seventh-grade to low-level eighth-grade spirit controller.
And An Miao could achieve it just with those pills?
If An Miao reached the low-level eighth-grade spirit controller realm, would that not give him a tremendous ally?
An eighth-grade spirit controller was among those standing at the continent’s peak, capable of contending with the patriarchs of major hegemonic forces and families.
If An Miao was willing to help him, attacking the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower later would grant far greater combat strength and more trump cards.
A single low-level eighth-grade spirit controller was not limited to personal battle power. For example, an eighth-grade explosive pill could probably level an entire family.
“With this disciple’s strength, I am not far from a Martial Saint. Once I refine the pills rewarded from the grand competition, I will set off.”
Lin Xiao said, full of motivation.
Miao Ling nodded without saying more.
“By the way, in the Spirit Controller Grand Competition, you did not use the Swallowing Heaven Art, did you?”
Miao Ling then asked.
Lin Xiao shook his head.
He had not used the Swallowing Heaven Art for two reasons. First, there was no need. Second, on Spirit Pool Island, he had indeed worried someone might recognise it.
“Some people still remember the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor’s Swallowing Heaven Art. However, once you leave here, you may use it freely. Others will assume I taught it to you and will not suspect you are the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor’s successor.”
Miao Ling said.
Lin Xiao was startled. As expected, some could still recognise it. It was fortunate he had not used it.
But now, with this excuse, he could use any technique in the future without fear of others identifying him as the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor’s successor.
If news spread that he was the successor, it would bring enormous trouble.
“You may leave now. Come see me again after obtaining your master’s tokens. Oh, and be careful of Ximen Haoyue. He has great ambitions.”
Miao Ling said finally. The special barrier vanished, and the scene of the entire underground space appeared in Lin Xiao’s view.
Lin Xiao frowned slightly. Ximen Haoyue had warned him to beware Miao Ling, and now Miao Ling warned him to beware Ximen Haoyue. Whom should he believe?
Yet Miao Ling was not wrong. Ximen Haoyue’s attitude had been somewhat unusual, and he did warrant caution.
“Go.”
Miao Ling said again.
“Yes. Master’s Wife, take care.”
Lin Xiao nodded to Miao Ling, stood, bowed, and walked out of the small room.
Only then did Lin Xiao secretly breathe a sigh of relief before flying away without looking back.
“An Ran, I really wanted to kill him.”
Watching the youth’s departing figure, tears filled Miao Ling’s eyes.
“Yet was it not you who always sought a way to fuse spirit energies?
He has achieved it for you. He has fulfilled your wish. I cannot kill him.”
Tears welled in Miao Ling’s eyes.
She lifted her head, gazed upwards, and murmured to herself, “Silver Mirror Spirit Gate, can you truly bring you back to life?”
…
After rushing out of the underground space, Lin Xiao appeared in the hall. An Miao stood beside him and immediately closed the mechanism.
“I am very sorry. It was my mother who asked me to do this. I had no choice, but I believe my mother would not harm you.”
An Miao said softly, her voice full of apology.
Clearly, she was apologising to Lin Xiao for not warning him or for hoping he would enter the spirit domain.
“It is fine. She did not harm me. Not entering the spirit domain might have been more dangerous.”
Lin Xiao smiled.
“That is good.”
An Miao also smiled gently, changing the subject. “By the way, did my mother ask you to search for the tokens?”
Lin Xiao nodded. Presumably, Miao Ling had already mentioned it to An Miao.
“After I refine the Spirit Rush Pill, help me arrange things. Those old fellows outside are a bit troublesome.”
Lin Xiao said.
An Miao nodded. “Rest assured, they will wait in vain.”
Soon after, Lin Xiao left the island.
…
Returning to his own guest island, before Lin Xiao could enter his room, he saw Ximen Haoyue fly over and land nearby.
“Elder Ximen, you would not happen to be here to check if I have been enslaved, would you?”
Lin Xiao asked directly.
“You are correct.”
Ximen Haoyue said, “The Spirit Illumination Mirror can detect enslavement, but it causes no harm to the person and reveals nothing else about them.”
“Can I refuse?”
Lin Xiao countered.
“Only if you can withstand low-level eighth-grade spiritual power.”
As Ximen Haoyue spoke, he took out the Spirit Illumination Mirror and shone it on Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao could only let him check.
Seeing no reaction on the mirror, Ximen Haoyue put it away.
Lin Xiao found it strange. He did not know how Ximen Haoyue activated the mirror. He felt nothing, as if it were merely an ordinary bronze mirror casually shone in his direction, with no special properties at all.
“It seems she did not act against you.”
A thoughtful expression appeared on Ximen Haoyue’s face. After pondering for a moment, he said, “Cultivate well in seclusion. No one will disturb you here.”
With that, Ximen Haoyue flashed and teleported away, vanishing from Lin Xiao’s sight.
