After distancing herself from Nangong Xiyun, Li Siyi quickly asked,
"How was it? What did you two talk about inside?"
"Don't rush. There wasn’t much to say, really. We just sized each other up for a while, exchanged a few words, and she gave me something for protection."
As she spoke, Su Luo showed off the bracelet.
"It looks real enough," Li Siyi observed, examining it closely. Apart from its appearance, she couldn’t detect anything special about it—mainly because her cultivation level wasn’t high enough.
Li Siyi was puzzled. "Just a few words? Why didn’t she let me in? Master is so strange."
"I don’t know either. There really wasn’t anything noteworthy."
"But what surprised me the most was that Master actually gave you a protective item. I’ve always been skeptical about her generosity."
"That’s a good thing, right? It shows you hold a special place in her heart."
"Don’t overthink it. Although I don’t have proof, I feel like it’s not just because of me. I haven’t known Master for long, and I don’t fully understand her, but this time, I really think there’s more to it."
In all the time Li Siyi had known her master, she had rarely seen anyone visit Nangong Xiyun or receive gifts from her, except for herself and Lin Xuan.
Was her master really the type to casually give protective items to others?
Li Siyi couldn’t figure it out.
Su Luo, however, didn’t care whether Li Siyi understood or not.
"Anyway, it’s not a bad thing for me. I’ll take this protective item."
"True, congratulations. But in the future, don’t..."
Cause trouble, or even a hundred protective items won’t be enough.
But Li Siyi thought to herself, how could Su Luo not cause trouble? Better not say anything.
...
After Su Luo and the others left, Lin Xuan went to see Nangong Xiyun. The more he thought about it, the more he felt he should ask.
At this point, he still didn’t know much about Su Luo.
Even if he did, it was only what Su Luo deliberately showed him.
"Master, what did Su Luo come to see you about?"
"Nothing much, just a casual chat. Why do you ask?"
"Can you tell me what you talked about?"
"Oh, why are you so concerned about Su Luo? I almost forgot—you two have some history." Nangong Xiyun suddenly remembered that Su Luo and Lin Xuan had clashed several times before.
However, Nangong Xiyun often read her diary and knew the truth: Su Luo was just acting. So, she didn’t take these incidents to heart.
But Lin Xuan certainly did.
"Yes, that’s why I’m asking. What was the reason you met with him?"
"It was just Li Siyi asking me to give him something for protection."
"You gave it to him?"
"Of course. Your feud isn’t to the point of killing each other, is it?"
"No, but he often seems like he wants to kill me."
Lin Xuan didn’t mention his suspicion that Su Luo might be a spy for the demonic path.
After all, it was just a guess. What if he was wrong?
Although Lin Xuan was about 80% convinced, he didn’t want to share his suspicions without solid evidence.
"Don’t worry, he’s just all talk."
"Right."
Lin Xuan finished his questioning. If it was because of Li Siyi, it was strange but not entirely unbelievable.
"By the way, let me remind you—Su Luo isn’t as simple as he seems. Don’t underestimate him."
Lin Xuan paused.
What did Master mean by that? Did she know something about Su Luo’s complexity?
Lin Xuan also knew Su Luo wasn’t simple, but he lacked specific details.
Did Master know more?
Just as Lin Xuan was about to ask for more details, Nangong Xiyun sent him away.
She didn’t give him a chance to inquire further.
And after that, no matter how many times Lin Xuan asked, he never got an answer.
...
For a while after that, Su Luo had no significant events to deal with, so life became quite boring.
Writing in his diary didn’t yield much either, as the rewards were just some attribute points.
So, every day, he lounged around, doing nothing.
Little Yu’s "Seven Stars Unite" technique had improved significantly, so the sect leader decided to teach her something new.
However, from the start, Little Yu struggled to grasp the new technique.
This puzzled the sect leader. How could someone who had mastered and even innovated the profound "Seven Stars Unite" struggle with a simpler technique?
The sect leader couldn’t figure it out.
Meanwhile, under Nangong Xiyun’s guidance, Li Siyi was rapidly improving.
As for Lin Xuan, his life was far more eventful.
After reaching the top of the Pure Martial Tower, Lin Xuan absorbed the experience gained there and began challenging various senior disciples in the sect.
His days were filled with battles, one after another.
Lin Xuan’s fighting style could be divided into three categories:
First, his sword techniques. His signature move was the "Flame Slaying White Dragon Sword," a relentless attack with illusory dragon imagery that devoured his opponents, delivering immense power.
Second, his spells, primarily fire-based. He often enchanted his sword with fire to increase its destructive force.
Third, his fists. Although Lin Xuan trained in swordsmanship, he preferred using his fists and had delved deeper into hand-to-hand combat.
So, when enemies shattered his weapon, thinking they had won, Lin Xuan’s fists would deliver their despair.
His most powerful fist technique was the "Eight Extremities Collapse."
During this period, Lin Xuan achieved fame throughout the sect.
His notable achievements included:
Three battles with Xie Feiran.
The first two ended in defeat, but only because Xie Feiran’s cultivation level was higher—he was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, while Lin Xuan was only at the early stage.
Everyone thought Lin Xuan had no chance, but after some time, he won the third battle.
Burning the Jade Balance Peak.
Of course, he didn’t actually set it on fire. Lin Xuan was practicing the "Three Thousand Flaming Strikes," covering his body in flames and charging at high speed.
When challenging disciples at Jade Balance Peak, he used only this move.
Yet, with just this technique, he defeated all the senior disciples there.
However, Jade Balance Peak was the weakest among the Seven Stars Sword Sect.
Three Heroes versus Lin Xuan.
The Three Heroes were three brothers from the Heavenly Authority Peak, famous for their seamless coordination. But even they couldn’t defeat Lin Xuan.
Seven Captures of Xu Xiaofei.
Xu Xiaofei was known as the fastest disciple in the sect, but he still couldn’t outpace Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan also sought out the Three Talents, but they were still in a slump, lacking their usual vigor.
Lin Xuan could only offer them some comfort and refrained from fighting them.
These were just a few of Lin Xuan’s many achievements.
Lin Xuan also had an excellent martial spirit. When he lost, he remained undiscouraged and persistent. When he won, it was always fair and square, relying on his true strength.
Moreover, Lin Xuan’s attitude was commendable—he was neither arrogant nor boastful.
Even those who lost to him held no grudges.
Because of this, Lin Xuan’s reputation continued to grow.
All these events, when Su Luo read about them in the novel, felt like they dragged on for tens of thousands of words.
But finally, it was over. Su Luo packed up briefly, as it was time to leave.
No, it was time to go home.
The next part of the story would take place in Autumn Wind City.
It was the classic tale of returning home in glory.
As the saying goes, "Returning home without glory is like walking in the dark wearing fine clothes."
Although Lin Xuan wasn’t from Autumn Wind City, he came from a nearby village.
His journey began in Autumn Wind City, so it could be considered his second home.
Clearly, this was Lin Xuan’s triumphant return, not Su Luo’s.