Chapter Sixteen: "Trembling with Fear" Under Suppression
Zhao Song was somewhat famous among the Inner Disciples. The news that he, along with his two followers, was bested by a Mortal Disciple and even reprimanded by Yè Qíngxuě in person, quickly spread within a small circle. This undoubtedly cast an even more mysterious veil over Ling Yun's already enigmatic image.
"Did you hear? Senior Brother Zhao Song went to cause trouble for that Ling Yun, but couldn't even touch his clothes!" "Real or fake? Senior Brother Zhao is already at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage!" "Absolutely true! They say Ling Yun just took a few steps, and Senior Brother Zhao nearly tripped himself!" "Senior Sister Yè even came forward to protect him!" "Weird! Too weird! What's this Ling Yun's background?"
Rumors intensified, even alarming some truly influential figures.
In the Azure Cloud Sect, within the Inner Sect, a cave dwelling on a mountain peak shrouded in mist.
An elder, clad in a green daoist robe, with a stern, refined face and deep eyes, sat in meditation. He was one of the Inner Sect Cultivation Hall Elders, with the daoist title "Qīngsōng." His cultivation had reached the Late Foundation Establishment stage, and he was responsible for teaching cultivation techniques and answering questions for some Inner Disciples.
At this moment, Zhao Song stood respectfully below, exaggerating his report of yesterday's events, emphasizing Ling Yun's "strangeness" and "disrespect," while omitting the details of his attempt to seize treasures and initiating the fight.
"...Master, that Ling Yun is merely a Mortal Disciple with Depleted Waste Meridians, yet he acts arrogantly, looks down on everyone, and possesses strange abilities. I suspect he might be cultivating some Demonic Cultivation Technique, or possesses a sinister magic tool, and has infiltrated my Azure Cloud Sect with ill intentions! I implore Master to investigate carefully!" Zhao Song said righteously, trying to use his master to eliminate Ling Yun, or at least probe his secrets.
Elder Qīngsōng slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. He didn't fully believe Zhao Song's one-sided account; he had some understanding of his disciple's nature. However, he had also heard various rumors about the Outer Sect Competition champion named Ling Yun. The Spirit Testing Stone exploding, a pebble causing hypnosis, withstanding the Ice Phoenix, giving pointers to Yè Qíngxuě, ignoring the Suppression of a Foundation Establishment cultivator... All these events linked together indeed seemed abnormal.
A Body Refining Stage 1 cultivator with Withered Spiritual Root could absolutely not achieve these things. Unless... there was a hidden secret.
"Oh? Such a thing happened?" Elder Qīngsōng asked calmly, his tone betraying no emotion. "In that case, I shall personally meet this champion who is 'lucky to the extreme.'"
His motive wasn't entirely to defend his disciple; it was more out of curiosity and investigation. If this child truly held a great secret or a great fortune, perhaps he could be of use to the sect? If he followed a heretical path, it would be best to eliminate him early.
The next day, early morning.
As Ling Yun picked up his broom to begin his day's "cultivation" (sweeping), an Inner Sect Steward found him.
"Ling Yun, Elder Qīngsōng from the Cultivation Hall wishes to see you. Come with me," the Steward said expressionlessly, his tone carrying the inherent superiority of an Inner Sect disciple.
The Mortal Disciples working around them cast envious and awestruck glances. To be summoned by an Inner Sect Elder was a tremendous honor!
Ling Yun, however, frowned. "Elder Qīngsōng? Who? I don't know him. Wait until I finish sweeping, there are quite a lot of fallen leaves today."
The Steward almost choked. He widened his eyes. "You... what did you say? An Elder summons you, and you dare make the Elder wait?!"
"Otherwise?" Ling Yun glanced at him curiously. "Don't Elders need to respect others' labor? Sweeping is also a very important form of cultivation."
The Steward: "..." He had never encountered such an arrogant Mortal Disciple! If the Elder hadn't specifically instructed him to "invite" him, he would have exploded long ago.
In the end, under the Steward's almost murderous gaze, Ling Yun slowly finished sweeping the fallen leaves in that area, then clapped his hands. "Alright, let's go."
An antechamber of the Cultivation Hall.
Elder Qīngsōng sat at the head of the hall, while Zhao Song stood at the side, a smug and sinister look in his eyes.
Ling Yun followed the Steward into the hall, curiously observing his surroundings. The hall was plainly decorated but permeated with a faint scent of sandalwood and a vast spiritual energy pressure. An ordinary Body Refining disciple would likely find it difficult to breathe here.
"Disciple Ling Yun pays his respects to the Elder," Ling Yun casually cupped his fists. His attitude was neither respectful nor disrespectful, just like a normal greeting.
Elder Qīngsōng's gaze was like lightning, instantly falling upon Ling Yun. The powerful Spiritual Sense of a Late Foundation Establishment cultivator swept over every inch of Ling Yun's body like invisible mercury, meticulously.
However, the feedback he received still caused his brow to furrow.
Body Refining Stage 1! Depleted Waste Meridians! Spiritual energy so weak it could almost be ignored! Blood and qi were also ordinary! From the inside out, from top to bottom, he was just a standard, completely standard template of a good-for-nothing! There were no signs of hidden cultivation or wearing a powerful concealing magic tool!
How is this possible?!
Elder Qīngsōng's heart was filled with even greater doubt. Either this child was truly just an ordinary person with incredibly good luck, or the methods he hid were so advanced that he couldn't see through them at all! The latter possibility was truly terrifying upon further thought!
"Ling Yun," Elder Qīngsōng slowly began, a natural trace of the Suppression of a Late Foundation Establishment cultivator in his voice, pressing down on Ling Yun like a mountain, trying to give him a show of dominance and force out any abnormalities. "I heard that in the Outer Sect Competition, your performance was... quite outstanding?"
This Suppression was more than ten times stronger than Zhao Song's from yesterday! The air in the hall instantly solidified. The Steward and Zhao Song beside him felt their chests tighten and subconsciously took a step back, circulating their energy to resist.
However, Ling Yun, at the center of the Suppression, seemed completely unfazed. He even raised a hand to scratch his forehead and smiled somewhat "awkwardly." "The Elder praises me too much. It was just good luck, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse. Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."
Elder Qīngsōng's eyes flashed sharply!
He's fine?! He's completely unaffected?!
He secretly increased the Suppression again! Using almost eighty percent of his strength! Such Suppression would make a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage turn pale, and a Body Refining stage disciple should have their bones creaking and collapse to the ground!
But Ling Yun... was still acting as if nothing happened. He even looked left and right, as if searching for a chair to sit on.
Elder Qīngsōng was inwardly horrified! This child is definitely problematic!
Refusing to believe it, he was about to use his full strength! But at this moment, Ling Yun suddenly exclaimed, "Huh?"
Ling Yun's body began to tremble slightly, his face turned "pale" at a visible rate, and even "beads of cold sweat" appeared on his forehead. His breathing became somewhat "rapid," and he looked like he was suddenly bearing immense pressure, staggering, almost unable to stand.
"E-Elder..." Ling Yun's voice carried a hint of "difficulty" and "fear." "Disciple... disciple suddenly feels unwell... It feels like... like a great force is pressing down on me... I can't breathe..."
His performance was vivid and lifelike, portraying the reaction of a Mortal Disciple at Body Refining Stage 1 suddenly subjected to immense Suppression with profound skill!
Elder Qīngsōng was taken aback and subconsciously retracted the Suppression.
As the Suppression disappeared, Ling Yun immediately felt "relieved," "panting" heavily. He even wiped his "cold sweat" with his sleeve, looking terrified and still shaken. "You scared me to death... What just happened? Did I eat something bad yesterday? Or didn't I sleep well?"
Elder Qīngsōng: "..."
Zhao Song: "..."
Steward: "..."
The three of them looked at Ling Yun's "shaken" appearance and for a moment couldn't tell if he was genuinely feeling unwell or... acting?!
Elder Qīngsōng's expression flickered. His retracting the Suppression and Ling Yun's sudden discomfort happened almost simultaneously. The timing was unbelievably coincidental! If he was acting, his reaction speed was too fast! If it was real... then why was he completely unfazed by his eighty percent Suppression just now?
This was utterly baffling!
Elder Qīngsōng had lived for over a hundred years and had never encountered such a strange and unfathomable situation!
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and his expression returned to calm. "Perhaps it's due to overexertion in your cultivation recently. Since that's the case, you may return and rest well."
He couldn't see through this child for the moment and dared not test him again casually. He needed to plan carefully.
"Oh, alright. Thank you for your concern, Elder." Ling Yun readily agreed, nodding immediately. He turned to leave, his steps light, showing no sign of the "discomfort" from just moments ago.
Watching Ling Yun's rapidly disappearing back, Elder Qīngsōng's face sank completely.
"Master, he..." Zhao Song couldn't help but speak.
"Shut up!" Elder Qīngsōng barked coldly, casting a sharp glance at him. "Do not speak of this matter to anyone else! Regarding everything about Ling Yun, do not make any rash moves without my command!"
Zhao Song trembled under the reprimand and quickly bowed his head in agreement, but his heart was filled with even greater unwillingness and resentment.
Elder Qīngsōng gazed deeply outside the hall, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of his chair.
"Ling Yun... what secret are you hiding?"
Meanwhile, Ling Yun, who had successfully slipped out of the Cultivation Hall, stretched lazily, in a good mood.
"My acting skills have improved again. It seems the "An Actor's Self-Cultivation" the System gave me wasn't in vain," he muttered to himself. "But dealing with these petty characters is quite annoying. Should I find an opportunity to 'slightly' reveal some 'strength,' like Body Refining Second Level? Hmm... I'll wait a bit longer."
His invincible life was spent leisurely, passing through countless boring tests and perfect acting performances.
It was just that he didn't know, or rather, didn't care, that Elder Qīngsōng's probing was just the beginning. Gazes from higher levels had already begun to fall upon him, a mere Mortal Disciple.