Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Chapter 386: Chapter 282: Revealing His Edge

The woman gave a faint nod. Her eyes then fell upon Ling Xiao, and her voice was crisp and cold. "You are Ling Xiao?"

Ling Xiao nodded and smiled faintly.

"I am Leng Qianqian, the Palace Master of Lengning Palace." The woman’s voice remained icy, betraying no emotion. She sat down in a chair of her own accord, then looked Ling Xiao up and down a few more times before speaking again. "They all said you were a youth, but you seem quite mature now!"

Ling Xiao smiled faintly. ’This Palace Master might look cold and heartless, but she’s really just a child who hasn’t grown up,’ he thought. "I have disguised my appearance," he said. "Please forgive me, Palace Master. It is inconvenient for me to reveal my true face here."

Shangguan Yutong was surprised. The Palace Master, who never met outsiders—especially not strange men—had actually come to see Ling Xiao on her own initiative. It was clear just how curious she was about him.

"I heard you’re the one who created the Beauty Pills. You’re amazing!" Leng Qianqian didn’t seem to beat around the bush, speaking very directly. This made Qiuyue Yao and Shangguan Yutong, who were standing to the side, blush with embarrassment. ’Asking him so bluntly is a bit inappropriate!’

In fact, back in Ling Xiao’s previous life in the Cultivation Realm, most of his senior and junior sisters from his sect were just like this Leng Qianqian—innocent, guileless, and direct—aside from a few who were naturally cunning. As a result, Ling Xiao suddenly felt as if he had returned to the Cultivation Realm. He smiled and said, "I am the one who made them. Could it be that the Palace Master is interested?"

"Yes, I’d very much like to learn your method of Alchemy!"

Leng Qianqian’s words were nothing short of shocking. As soon as she said this, Shangguan Yutong and Qiuyue Yao wished they could disappear on the spot. ’Who says something like that right after meeting someone? It’s a good thing it’s Ling Xiao. Anyone else would think you had ulterior motives, wouldn’t they?’

But on second thought, it made sense. The eight Elders of Lengning Palace held a tight grip on power. Throughout history, unless a Palace Master was exceptionally strong, they rarely participated in much of the sect’s administration. Furthermore, the Palace Master’s main duty was usually cultivation. This was especially true for a super genius like Leng Qianqian, who normally didn’t involve herself in management at all. So, even though she had been the Palace Master for several years, her social skills... were truly something to be desired.

Fortunately, Leng Qianqian was merely direct and a little naive, not stupid. After a moment, she added, "But I know you can’t just teach me easily. So, I want to purchase these elixirs from you long-term for everyone in Lengning Palace to take, so they can all retain their youthful looks. I heard from Yutong that the Beauty Pills are limited in quantity. Can I buy more from you?"

Qiuyue Yao, at her side, said, "Palace Master, how could we do that? Even if Ling Xiao could sell them to us, we can’t buy that many!"

"Why not?" Leng Qianqian put on no airs in front of Qiuyue Yao, asking with a look of confusion.

"Well..." Qiuyue Yao was in a difficult position. ’Can I really say that those Elders won’t agree?’ she thought. After a moment of consideration, she said tactfully, "Palace Master, look, it’s enough to provide the Beauty Pills to the ancestral masters in seclusion, the eight Elders, and yourself. As for the rest of us, we shouldn’t trouble the sect."

"Are you saying you’re not qualified?" Leng Qianqian’s exquisitely beautiful and cold face was a mask of indifference. She continued, "I should at least have the authority to make this decision. Over the years, the sect’s funds have become quite substantial under your management. Besides, if we’re buying so many on a long-term basis, he’ll give us a discount, right?"

With that, she turned to face Ling Xiao. Hearing this, Ling Xiao laughed. "Of course. Since the Palace Master herself is asking, why not make it half price?"

The corners of Leng Qianqian’s mouth curved up slightly. She looked at Ling Xiao and said, "Then thank you!" Then she turned her face to Qiuyue Yao. "You see, Senior Sister? Isn’t that settled?"

The Beauty Pill was now famous throughout the world; what woman wouldn’t want to take it long-term to preserve her youth? However, Qiuyue Yao felt it was completely unrealistic for everyone in the sect to take it. She worried that the Elders would think she was trying to profit from the deal, especially since Ling Xiao was acquainted with her and Yutong.

So, Shangguan Yutong still tried to persuade her, "We should still discuss it with the Grand Elder and the others first!"

Leng Qianqian pouted slightly but said nothing more on the matter. She turned to Ling Xiao and said, "Your strength is impressive. You’re actually stronger than me!"

Both Qiuyue Yao and Shangguan Yutong were stunned. ’Impossible!’ they thought. ’A year and a half ago, Ling Xiao was a genuine Celestial Vein Master. Shangguan Yutong, in particular, knew him even better; a year and a half ago, Ling Xiao was just a Sword Attendant not even at the Sword Master level. How could his cultivation possibly be higher than Leng Qianqian’s now... It’s simply impossible!’

But a person like Leng Qianqian would never lie. With ordinary people, she couldn’t even be bothered to exchange a few words. The fact that she was speaking so much with Ling Xiao was already an incredibly astonishing event in Shangguan Yutong’s eyes.

To think she would also believe Ling Xiao’s strength surpassed her own... Shangguan Yutong couldn’t help but turn her gaze toward Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao gave a dry laugh and said, "The Palace Master has sharp eyes!"

Qiuyue Yao and Shangguan Yutong couldn’t help but gasp, staring at Ling Xiao as if he were a monster. Shangguan Yutong, in particular, had her cherry-red lips slightly parted, her eyes filled with pleasant surprise. She never imagined Ling Xiao’s progress would be so fast!

Leng Qianqian said, "The fluctuations of your Spiritual Power are too stable. Especially when facing my Cold Condensation Technique, which I’ve cultivated since I was a child. If your strength were less than mine, it would be impossible for you to appear so calm."

Ling Xiao couldn’t help but see this Leng Qianqian in a new light. He had originally thought she was the arrogant type who looked down on ordinary people. But after chatting for a bit, he discovered she was pure-hearted and without much cunning. ’A genuinely good person!’

As Ling Xiao was thinking this, he heard Leng Qianqian say, "I heard you’ve offended many prominent families and sects. If you’re ever in trouble, you can ask Lengning Palace for help!"

"You must not!"

An elderly woman’s voice suddenly came from outside. The expressions on Qiuyue Yao’s and Shangguan Yutong’s faces changed. The door was pushed open, and three middle-aged women who appeared to be in their forties or fifties walked in one after another. They were the Grand Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder who had accompanied Leng Qianqian on this trip.

The three middle-aged women were all beautiful, with noble temperaments and equally cold faces. In truth, these three Elders were all over eighty years old; the Grand Elder was already ninety! The reason they maintained their current appearances was related to their long-term use of high-grade medicinal herbs that could preserve one’s beauty.

The moment the three women entered, they first shot a fierce glare at Qiuyue Yao before their gazes fell upon Ling Xiao. The Grand Elder, who had just spoken, said to Leng Qianqian, "Palace Master, how can you be so muddle-headed and willful? This man is no good person, even in the Mortal World! He has countless women around him and is a complete philanderer. He has also offended several prominent families and sects. Hmph! Moreover, we just learned that he also stole the daughter-in-law of our hosts, the Qin Family—that girl he brought with him outside! How could Lengning Palace possibly associate with such a person!"

Clearly, this Grand Elder had put some effort into investigating Ling Xiao and wasn’t just spouting nonsense. However, while the things she had learned were close to the truth, they were actually a world away from it. Furthermore, it was all superficial information, shallow things that were most likely just hearsay.

As the Grand Elder spoke, she glared viciously at Ling Xiao and bellowed, "Not turning you over to the Qin Family is the utmost benevolence! Now get the hell out!"

This old woman showed no courtesy whatsoever, causing Qiuyue Yao and Shangguan Yutong to look deeply uncomfortable. Even Leng Qianqian seemed to lose face, her elegant brows knitting together slightly. "Grand Elder, why must you speak so maliciously? I think Ling Xiao is a very good person. Besides, he promised to sell us the Beauty Pills at half price!"

At the mention of the Beauty Pills, the Grand Elder’s expression faltered for a moment, but she still said coldly, "Then there’s even less to discuss with him. He’s just a mercenary merchant. We at Lengning Palace have plenty of money. If we want to buy, we’ll pay the full price. We don’t take advantage of people!"

"Exactly! Hmph, trying to deceive people with petty favors. Palace Master, you are still young and don’t understand the evils of the world. Men like him are experts at flattery!"

The Second Elder beside the Grand Elder also spoke coldly. After speaking, she glanced at the bowed head of Shangguan Yutong, snorted softly, and said, "Tong Girl, we’ve told you before that we want to accept you into the Inner Sect. There’s no time like the present. I say we do it today! Once you enter the Inner Sect, you can focus on your cultivation and sever all ties with the trivial matters of the mortal world!"

Ling Xiao had been sitting there without saying a word since they entered, but a fire had long since been ignited in his heart. He looked coldly at the three middle-aged women and, before Shangguan Yutong could speak, said calmly, "I don’t know who you heard those comments about me from, and I don’t care what you think of me. I wouldn’t sell a single Beauty Pill to you even if it meant feeding them to a dog! Also, I have no desire to interfere in your sect’s affairs, but if you want to take my woman into the Inner Sect, have you asked for my permission?"

After Ling Xiao finished speaking, all the women in the room were stunned. Shangguan Yutong’s face turned so red it looked like it might start bleeding. She refuted in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, "Wh-what nonsense are you spouting?" Although she knew Ling Xiao must have said it in a fit of anger, her heart felt sweeter than if she had eaten honey.

Qiuyue Yao gave Ling Xiao an approving look. ’Good kid,’ she thought. ’I wasn’t wrong about you! You’ve got guts!’ At this thought, she felt a wave of sadness. Back then, she hadn’t even entered the Inner Sect, yet the mere name of Lengning Palace had been enough to scare that man away. ’If that man had possessed Ling Xiao’s courage, would I... have abandoned everything to go with him?’

Leng Qianqian also glanced at Ling Xiao with some surprise, but she remained seated with a cold expression, not saying a word.

"Insolence!" The Grand Elder’s face turned ashen with rage. Pointing a finger at Ling Xiao, she roared, "Brat, if you’re tired of living, just say so!"

PS: 10,000 words done. Thanks again for everyone’s support! (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available, support the author, and support official reading!)

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