C9 Cultivate Well!

"Come on, why are you so scared? Do you really think he has eyes and ears everywhere? It's just not possible. Let's head down the mountain and have some fun."

"You guys go ahead. I'm going to focus on my cultivation. I want to maintain my great skin," Qiao Yun declined, noticing their eagerness. She cautioned them, "Don't say I didn't warn you. Lee Xuan isn't the least bit worried about us staying here. Have you considered whether he's prepared for this?"

Her words failed to raise any alarm for Zhuh Feng and Zhang Yi.

They dashed down the mountain with great haste.

But the barrier was still active; there was no way out.

Their excitement on the way down was matched only by their dejection on the return.

"Hahaha, feeling foolish now?"

"Even if there's a barrier and I can't leave the mountain, I'm not going to be a fool and stick to my cultivation. Who can stand waking up before five in the morning? Since we can't leave, I'm going back to bed. Why not join me for an adventure? There are so many unexplored places in this academy."

Though Lee Xuan was miles away, he was well aware of everything happening at the academy. He knew they were flirting with danger.

But he didn't intervene immediately.

Some lessons are best learned through personal discovery.

Zhang Yi, Qiao Yun, and Zhuh Feng were all incredibly curious, especially about the true size of the academy. Just as they were about to start exploring, they ran into what seemed like an invisible wall.

Lee Xuan chuckled to himself from afar.

'It's funny. Some areas aren't ready to be opened yet because they lack the required number of people. What would you do if you went in and caused chaos?'

The group was in an uproar, their situation akin to hitting an invisible barrier.

No matter what they tried, they couldn't pass through.

Drained of energy, they all decided to head back and sleep.

The next day, they surely wouldn't wake up on time.

But that was okay. If they overslept, it would serve as the perfect lesson.

Lee Xuan turned to Loong Ling and said, "Grab my hand. I'll take you down the mountain."

With her face flushed with embarrassment, Loong Ling still obediently took Lee Xuan's hand. In an instant, the world spun around, and before she knew it, Loong Ling found herself in the urban area at the base of the mountain.

"Wow, what is this? It's absolutely incredible!"

"It's nothing special. If you diligently practice your cultivation, you'll be able to do it too."

Lee Xuan feigned nonchalance, and Loong Ling looked at him with even greater admiration.

"We don't have much on the mountain, especially not for girls. You should stock up on daily necessities now; it won't be so easy to come down later."

Lee Xuan advised, and Loong Ling nodded in agreement.

She quickly purchased a few undergarments.

After all, Loong Ling couldn't keep wearing the same outfit indefinitely.

Lee Xuan cast a brief glance in Loong Ling's direction before abruptly turning away.

If he kept looking, he might be mistaken for a creep, he thought with a hint of embarrassment.

"Look, isn't that the person the boss is looking for?"

"That's her, alright. She's got some nerve coming back here."

The two onlookers focused their attention on Loong Ling.

Meanwhile, Loong Ling was blissfully unaware as she continued to pick out clothes.

Lee Xuan had spotted them immediately but saw this as an excellent test for Loong Ling.

He decided to let her handle the situation herself.

Having reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, it was time for Loong Ling to discover just how formidable she had become.

After selecting her clothes, Loong Ling stood next to Lee Xuan and smiled at him, only to notice a group of men in black closing in on her.

Loong Ling instinctively thought to flee. As she turned, she realized she was also surrounded from behind.

"What do we do? They've encircled us. There are so many of them; they definitely won't let me go. This is all my fault; I've gotten you involved," she said, her voice tinged with distress.

"Don't worry about it," Lee Xuan replied, not only unconcerned but also casually starting to crack open and eat melon seeds.

Surrounded by mere ants, what could they possibly do?

Loong Ling's nerves were soothed by Lee Xuan's nonchalant demeanor, and she found her composure.

"Loong Ling, you dare to return? You've got some nerve, running off with some rogue!" sneered an exceedingly unattractive man, easily in his fifties. Lee Xuan couldn't help but feel repulsed at the sight of him.

Lee Xuan had no issue with someone keeping a mistress—if it was mutual. But to persist in causing trouble after being rejected was downright disgraceful.

Did this man think he was some kind of lord?

Loong Ling didn't consent, yet he wanted to force her? Such tyranny suggested he had blood on his hands; otherwise, he wouldn't be so brazen.

"Loong Ling, you've reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. These people are no match for you," Lee Xuan reassured her, and she began to regain her confidence.

Lee Xuan believed she was buoyed by his words, but in truth, Loong Ling felt secure simply because Lee Xuan was there to protect her.

"I've said I'm not willing. What do you intend to do? If you dare to lay a hand on me in broad daylight, I won't hold back."

"Not hold back? Hahaha, that's hilarious! Has this girl lost her mind?" The group burst into raucous laughter, utterly dismissing her.

As they closed in, Loong Ling shut her eyes, recalling the cultivation technique Lee Xuan had taught her. Initially hesitant, she was astounded when her counter sent the first assailant flying. The man's bodyguards shared her astonishment.

How had a delicate beauty suddenly become a force to be reckoned with, capable of launching a man through the air? Was such a feat even possible in the real world?

"Loong Ling, as the Eldest Disciple, you mustn't disgrace yourself," Lee Xuan reminded her with his usual calm.

He had entrusted her with his Cold Ice Clothes. If Loong Ling couldn't handle these thugs, it would indeed be a waste.

After hearing Lee Xuan's words, Loong Ling nodded vigorously.

Her eyes held a science-fictional intensity as she stared at her own fist.

Loong Ling had never even dreamed that she would experience a day like this.

Following the instructions from her cultivation manual, she found a stick.

Her movements were graceful, reminiscent of a fairy, yet her strikes carried immense power.

Since this was happening in a shopping mall, there were innocent bystanders around.

At first, these onlookers were quite concerned by the spectacle.

But upon witnessing Loong Ling's graceful demeanor, they couldn't contain their awe, exclaiming, "Wow, she's like a fairy sister, so beautiful! Is she filming a TV show? What's the name of it?"