Chapter Thirty-One: The Holy Son

"You're dreaming!"

Just as Wang Lei was about to touch her, Chu Lingyun suddenly erupted into action. A brilliant ice-blue fan appeared in her hand, which she swung toward Wang Lei.

A blast of freezing wind rushed forward.

Wang Lei’s eyes widened in disbelief, but it was too late to escape. Frost rapidly crystallized over his skin, and in an instant, he was transformed into a statue of ice, his life force utterly extinguished by the biting cold.

The frigid aura extended for a hundred meters. The ground turned to ice, becoming an eternal frozen cavern, and every disciple of the Sun-Moon Sect perished.

"Whew."

Chu Lingyun let out a sigh of relief, looking at the Winter Fan in her hand with a touch of astonishment. She had only thought to use it to cool her master down; she hadn't expected such immense power.

It was all thanks to her master. Her admiration for Chen Xuan deepened even further.

*Clap, clap, clap.*

Suddenly, the sound of applause rang out.

Chu Lingyun looked over with vigilance. Not far away, a young man with thick brows, star-like eyes, and an incredibly handsome appearance was walking slowly toward her. He wore a warm, friendly smile that made him seem very approachable.

"Greetings, Fairy," Su Yu smiled as he stopped before Chu Lingyun. "To see a fairy single-handedly slay a Golden Core expert and a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators is truly admirable."

"I am Su Yu, Holy Son of the Lingxiao Holy Land. May I ask the name of this fairy?"

Chu Lingyun scrutinized Su Yu for a moment. He was indeed very handsome, but to her, no amount of good looks could capture her attention. The only thing in this world she cared about was Chen Xuan.

"Xuandan Sect, Chu Lingyun."

Seeing that the stranger bore no immediate hostility, Chu Lingyun answered out of courtesy.

"Xuandan Sect?"

Su Yu searched his memory, but no such sect existed there. He assumed it was some obscure, insignificant little group. A flash of greed crossed his eyes.

He had been observing the fight between Chu Lingyun and the Sun-Moon Sect the whole time. Seeing her peerless beauty, he had intended to play the hero, save the damsel, and win her heart. But then, Chu Lingyun had pulled out that fan and instantly wiped out the Sun-Moon Sect disciples. Even he, hiding in the shadows, had only remained unscathed by relying on a Saint-grade artifact bestowed upon him by his sect.

He had initially assumed Chu Lingyun was a Holy Maiden of some other major sect and had abandoned the idea of seizing her Winter Fan. But as it turned out, she was merely a disciple of a minor sect.

Now, he would have both the beauty and the treasure.

However, to maintain his image as a gentleman, Su Yu did not attack immediately.

"Fairy Lingyun, you are gifted and possess a divine weapon; why dwell in such a small, insignificant sect?" Su Yu said with a gentle smile. "Why not join my Lingxiao Holy Land instead?"

"What Lingxiao Holy Land? I've never heard of it."

Chu Lingyun frowned. She hadn't felt any particular ill will toward Su Yu initially, but his description of the Xuandan Sect as an insignificant, small group immediately made her disgusted with him.

Without another word, she turned to leave.

"Never heard of it?"

Seeing her walk away, Su Yu quickly blocked her path. "If you haven't heard of it, I can introduce it to you. My Lingxiao Holy Land is..."

"I have no interest in knowing, don't talk to me," Chu Lingyun said angrily. "If you continue to pester me, don't blame me for being impolite."

A shadow crossed Su Yu's eyes. It was the first time he had ever been rejected.

Since she refused to drink the fine wine of courtesy, he would force her to drink the wine of forfeit. He was just about to take action and forcibly abduct Chu Lingyun when a middle-aged man, radiating an ethereal, immortal aura, appeared.

"Master!"

Seeing that familiar figure, Chu Lingyun was overjoyed. She immediately stepped forward and knelt before Chen Xuan. "Master, why are you here?"

"I came out of seclusion and heard you were on a mission. Fearing you might be in danger, I came to check on you," Chen Xuan replied.

"Thank you for your concern, Master. I am fine."

Hearing that Chen Xuan had specifically come for her sake, Chu Lingyun felt a warmth spread through her heart. She held out the Screaming Orchid and said, "Master, I found this for you. It should be useful to you, right?"

"The Screaming Orchid?"

Chen Xuan was astonished. The Screaming Orchid was a vital spiritual herb for a Nascent Soul cultivator to break through to the Enlightenment realm. He hadn't expected Chu Lingyun to find it for him so quickly.

[Ding! Chu Lingyun has gifted you a Screaming Orchid. Triggering a 10x critical hit. Reward: Demonic Orchid.]

The Screaming Orchid appeared as a red orchid that emitted an ethereal, wailing sound when the wind blew through it.

The Demonic Orchid, however, having been transformed by the system's critical hit, had shed its inherent floral form and become something resembling a young girl with an orchid atop her head. Yet, its form was extremely hazy—human-like, yet not quite human, and difficult to discern.

"Who is he?"

After putting away the Demonic Orchid, Chen Xuan looked at Su Yu with suspicion.

[Name: Su Yu]
[Cultivation: Golden Core Peak]
[Luck Value: Orange]
[Spirit Roots: Perfect Water, Fire, and Wind Roots]
[Physique: Extreme Flame Body]
[Comprehension: Superior]
[Technique: Scarlet Flame Heaven Blade Arts (Saint-grade, High-tier)]
[Filial Piety Value: -50]
[Summary: Possesses the Extreme Flame Body, a rare genius.]

Su Yu looked to be in his twenties, yet he already possessed a cultivation base at the peak of the Golden Core realm. However, seeing the man's orange luck, Chen Xuan wasn't surprised.

What baffled Chen Xuan was the Filial Piety value. He and Su Yu had no grudges and were meeting for the first time, yet the man’s value was -50. Did he really have such a punchable face?

"Su Yu, Holy Son of the Lingxiao Holy Land," Su Yu said, cupping his hands. "Is the Senior the master of Fairy Lingyun?"

"I am," Chen Xuan nodded.

Faced with a 'Child of Luck,' he remained relatively polite. As long as he could earn the other's filial respect, he could obtain significant rewards.

"Senior, if I am not mistaken, your current cultivation should be at the Nascent Soul realm, and the Screaming Orchid Fairy Lingyun just gave you is what you intend to use to breakthrough to the Enlightenment realm," Su Yu said.

"That is correct," Chen Xuan nodded, his estimation of Su Yu rising slightly.

He had to admit, as a Holy Son of a Holy Land, Su Yu was indeed well-informed. Many Nascent Soul cultivators with higher cultivation levels than his own might not have recognized the Screaming Orchid at a glance without a reference.

"Senior, if I may be blunt, you are not worthy of being Fairy Lingyun's master," Su Yu suddenly declared.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Chu Lingyun was instantly incensed.

"Oh?" Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow. He wasn't angry, merely calm. "And why is that?"

"Senior's cultivation is at most the Nascent Soul realm, and you even need your disciple to find the materials for your breakthrough to the Enlightenment realm," Su Yu said, head held high, convinced of his own logic. "Meanwhile, Fairy Lingyun is young yet has already reached the late Foundation Establishment stage. She is surrounded by good fortune and can effortlessly obtain rare medicinal herbs like the Screaming Orchid."

"Her future is limitless."

"Senior’s Xuandan Sect is tucked away in a corner and lacks resources. Requiring Fairy Lingyun to search for her own cultivation materials will only hinder her progress and become an obstacle on her path to greatness."

"Oh? And what do you suggest I do?"