BAAF Chapter 73

Zhou Xuanlan was dazed for a while. When the palpitations in his heart slightly subsided, he looked at the person whose cheeks were flushed.

 

Shen Liuxiang blinked his phoenix eyes, lips slightly pursed, feeling somewhat embarrassed after the kiss. After thinking for a moment, he took the initiative: “How old are you? Still a child? Just this once, there won’t be a next time.”

 

Zhou Xuanlan curled his lips, unable to suppress a low laugh: “Alright.”

 

Shen Liuxiang opened his storage pouch, rummaged through it for a while, and found some spiritual medicine he had obtained from the Imperial Palace. He rubbed it in his hand, then gently pressed it against Zhou Xuanlan’s temple.

 

“My regenerative powers are strong, Master needn’t worry. It will grow back in a few decades or a hundred years.”

 

Shen Liuxiang pursed his lips without speaking. Cultivators have long lifespans; if cultivation continuously advances, several decades or a hundred years isn’t really too long. But he still felt it was too much time—who knows what circumstances would be like by then.

 

However, being able to fully recover was generally excellent.

 

Shen Liuxiang took out a brocade handkerchief to wipe the spiritual medicine from his hands. He heard Zhou Xuanlan ask: “Has Master learned the method to resolve the Love Flower Gu?”

 

An Qin came specifically, it could only be for Wenren Qin. The Love Flower Gu was her only bargaining chip.

 

Wenren Qin had been severely injured when the formation was broken. Even if he could survive, his cultivation would never advance by half a step in the future. Although he didn’t seem to pose a threat, for someone like him, giving even a sliver of opportunity could lead to endless future troubles.

 

Zhou Xuanlan intended to eliminate the root of the problem, and indeed had killing intent. But when it involved the Love Flower Gu afflicting his master, naturally the latter was more important.

 

“Spare Wenren Qin? Possible, as long as she reveals the method to solve the child Gu.”

 

Shen Liuxiang said straightforwardly: “She said dragon blood. The child Gu fears dragon blood.”

 

He raised his hand, curling his index finger, showing a thin gap between his fingertip and thumb. “When the child Gu becomes restless in the future, can you give me a tiny bit of blood?”

 

Drinking dragon blood would be wasteful and would invite divine punishment. After much consideration, Shen Liuxiang thought he could use a needle dipped in dragon blood to pierce the back of his neck. Once the child Gu sensed the dragon blood, it would surely not dare to move.

 

After hearing his animated explanation of the plan, Zhou Xuanlan said: “The blood that can stain a needle would be too diluted. Unless you pierce directly at the child Gu, it won’t feel threatened.”

 

Shen Liuxiang touched the back of his neck, smiling casually, “Simple. Since the child Gu hides under the love flower, I’ll just pierce needles all over the love flower. One of them is bound to hit it!”

 

Zhou Xuanlan: “Master wants to become a hedgehog.”

 

Shen Liuxiang was stumped, helplessly touched the tip of his nose, and said dejectedly: “Then I’ll think of something else.”

 

Fortunately, the child Gu had just been restless and wouldn’t show activity in the short term. Shen Liuxiang felt somewhat relieved and, remembering the group from Sword Sect, left the room to find them. Zhou Xuanlan needed to reorganize Qilin City, with mountains of tasks to handle, so he didn’t accompany him.

 

The Sword Sect group was in a corner of the street.

 

Except for Ye Bingran, the disciples made no effort to conceal their auras. Passing demons discovered they were people from the immortal cultivation world, and their gazes carried strange meaning. However, having just experienced a catastrophe, no one wanted to cause more trouble, so they minded their own business and walked away.

 

Ye Bingran cast a defensive barrier and coldly glanced around.

 

Qilin City was located in the middle region of the demon realm. Returning to the immortal cultivation world required crossing more than half of the demon realm. For him alone it would be fine, but bringing all the sect disciples back safely would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

 

Ye Bingran frowned. At this moment, a figure appeared in his vision. When the phoenix eyes saw him, they brightened, and the figure enthusiastically waved and hurried over.

 

The Sword Sect disciples’ faces were all pale as snow. After all, they had entered a demon’s den and felt they could be torn apart at any moment. Seeing someone approaching, they were like startled birds. When they discovered Ye Bingran had removed the defensive barrier, they quickly hid behind him.

 

“Who is this? What is he coming for!”

 

Amidst the panic, someone suddenly said: “He looks somewhat familiar, like the real person from some portrait.”

 

Everyone was stunned and looked at the approaching person a few more times.

 

The young man had a slender figure, his black hair tied with a red ribbon. His features were exquisitely pleasing to the eye, and the exposed skin was as white as jade. When he smiled, the corners of his eyes slightly curved upward, particularly dazzling and captivating.

 

Someone exclaimed in surprise: “It’s Immortal Lord Shen of Qingling!”

 

Shen Liuxiang paused his steps, raising his eyebrows slightly, curiously examining the still somewhat immature Sword Sect disciples.

 

Seven years ago, these kids weren’t even ten years old, yet they could recognize him. It seems that although he wasn’t in the immortal cultivation world, legends about him still persisted there.

 

Shen Liuxiang, with considerable depth, put his hands behind his back, slightly raised his chin, and curled his lips into a smile, saying: “That’s right, I am that…”

 

“What?! He is the legendary person entangled with our Sword Sect’s three pillars?!”

 

“I heard that Junior Master Uncle has been searching for him for many years.”

 

“I heard he has been persistently pursuing the Sword Lord for many years.”

 

“I heard that Senior Brother Zhao has been unable to forget him for many years!”

 

“He loves none of them! None of them! For the sake of his demon disciple, he was ready to challenge our sect!”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “…”

 

“Silence.” Ye Bingran’s voice rang out, cold as shattering ice.

 

The discussion abruptly stopped.

 

Ye Bingran looked at Shen Liuxiang: “I apologize. The disciples of our sect don’t know their manners. When we return, I will punish them.”

 

“It’s fine,”

 

Shen Liuxiang glanced at the wrist holding the sword, which still had blood marks that clearly hadn’t been treated. He took out a jade bottle from his storage pouch and handed it over.

 

“Apply some medicine.”

 

Ye Bingran shook his head and was about to refuse when his sleeve was lifted.

 

Shen Liuxiang flicked his thumb, opening the bottle with one hand, grabbed Ye Bingran’s hand and poured the spiritual liquid onto the frightening wound. “Although pain can be endured, if it can be healed, why leave it?”

 

Ye Bingran lowered his gaze, his eyes falling on the slightly trembling long black eyelashes, remaining silent.

 

After Shen Liuxiang had applied the spiritual liquid evenly, he withdrew his hand. His tone revealed no emotion: “Thank you.”

 

“No need for formalities. I should thank you,” Shen Liuxiang raised an eyebrow, lifting one corner of his lips. “For today’s great favor, I will repay it in the future.”

 

Ye Bingran: “It was a man called Xiong You and the young lady beside him who found me and showed me the way.”

 

Shen Liuxiang was surprised, then after a moment looked at the disciples behind him: “Come with me to Juanyun Pavilion, and we’ll make further plans.” A group of cultivators openly walking around in front of demons was like dancing on the edge of a knife.

 

Ye Bingran pondered briefly, then nodded.

 

Juanyun Pavilion hadn’t been affected, and Jin Xiaojiu and others were safe and sound. They were going about their business as usual when they saw the large group at the door, giving them quite a fright.

 

“Young Lord.” Jin Xiaojiu came forward first, surveying everyone.

 

“They’re all Sword Sect disciples,” Shen Liuxiang looked back, seeing their still-shocked faces. He touched his chin and instructed: “Have the kitchen prepare some food… Make them some noodles.”

 

A disciple said: “Immortal Lord, we have already undergone breath abstinence.”

 

“Even with breath abstinence, you can still eat,” Shen Liuxiang laughed lightly. “This is my territory, you need not be afraid. Eat a bowl of hot noodles, rest for a few hours, and perhaps there will be a way to return to your sect.”

 

The disciples looked at him, and unknowingly, the fear in their hearts lessened somewhat.

 

Hot noodles were brought shortly after, the aroma enticing. Even disciples who had claimed to have no appetite picked up chopsticks and began eating. The moment it entered their mouths, a warm current flowed from their teeth to their hearts, even giving a sense of rebirth.

 

Some younger disciples ate while wiping away tears.

 

Shen Liuxiang picked up a bowl of noodles and walked toward Ye Bingran, about to speak when the other said: “Thank you, I don’t need it.”

 

Shen Liuxiang was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

 

He knew Ye Bingran definitely wouldn’t eat it; this bowl was for himself. He just came over because he had something to say.

 

Shen Liuxiang coughed: “In that case, I’ll eat it myself.”

 

With that, he sat across from Ye Bingran, picked up some beef from the bowl with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. After swallowing, he said: “Does anyone in Sword Sect know how to set up a teleportation array?”

 

Ye Bingran: “Yes. You mean to use a teleportation array.”

 

He had thought of teleportation arrays, but given the distance from the demon realm to Sword Sect, it would cost countless spirit stones, not to mention he didn’t know how to set one up.

 

Shen Liuxiang blinked: “That makes it much simpler.”

 

He asked Ye Bingran for a jade slip to contact Sword Sect, communicated with the sect’s array master, confirmed the array type, and determined that setting up arrays simultaneously on both sides would take about two to three days.

 

Shen Liuxiang finished his soup, had a satisfying meal, and returned the jade slip to Ye Bingran.

 

Ye Bingran: “You know how to set up arrays too?”

 

“Only teleportation arrays,” Shen Liuxiang admitted he knew nothing about arrays in general, but memories about teleportation arrays could surface in his mind. He guessed his original self had learned it, so he replicated it.

 

Afterwards, Shen Liuxiang found Zhang Miaomiao and asked him to be responsible for setting up the array in the backyard. The teleportation array would make quite a disturbance when activated; previously they worried about drawing the attention of neighbors, but now there was nothing to worry about.

 

Seeing this, the Sword Sect disciples hurried over to help.

 

Shen Liuxiang leaned idly against the railing, arms folded, watching the scene. Suddenly, the air beside him shifted with a concentration of spiritual energy. Turning his head, he saw a pair of peach blossom eyes full of concern. “I heard from Nan Xiang that you were afflicted by the Love Flower Gu,” the newcomer said.

 

Hua Jian extended his fox paw and placed it on Shen Liuxiang’s shoulder, giving it a suggestive squeeze as he spoke in a flirtatious tone: “I wouldn’t mind sacrificing myself to help you break the Gu.”

 

Shen Liuxiang narrowed his eyes slightly, not yet responding when Hua Jian suddenly let out a startled yelp. Clutching Shen Liuxiang’s arm, he pulled him away from the railing. Turning sharply, he hid behind Shen Liuxiang, shouting, “I was joking! Ever since Cheche hurt me, I’ve temporarily lost interest in beauties!”

 

At the far end of the corridor, Zhou Xuanlan was walking toward them.

 

He glanced briefly at Hua Jian before pulling Shen Liuxiang to his side. “Master, I’ve thought of a way to locate the Gu worm,” he said.

 

A look of delight appeared on Shen Liuxiang’s face. If they could pinpoint the child Gu’s exact location, they could simply pierce it with a dragon-blood-soaked needle. Zhou Xuanlan led him into the room, with Hua Jian shamelessly following behind, cheerfully adding, “I can be a consultant.”

 

Shen Liuxiang, ignoring him, turned to Zhou Xuanlan and asked, “What method?”

 

Zhou Xuanlan replied, “The Nascent Soul.”

 

Shen Liuxiang froze for a moment before understanding. When a cultivator reaches the Nascent Soul stage, a small Nascent Soul, formed from their essence spirit, condenses within their dantian.

 

It’s essentially a miniature version of oneself.

 

By activating the Nascent Soul, the entire body becomes crystalline and transparent, revealing even the subcutaneous blood vessels and bones. At that point, the child Gu’s hiding spot would be apparent at a glance.

 

Without hesitation, Shen Liuxiang closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment. A palm-sized Nascent Soul appeared in his hand.

 

It was dressed identically to him.

 

But its appearance was slightly different—like a younger version of Shen Liuxiang himself. The face was plump and tender, still carrying traces of childhood baby fat. Its little mouth was rosy, and its black, clear eyes were wide and bright.

 

Shen Liuxiang and the Nascent Soul stared at each other, big eyes locking onto small ones. He weighed the small figure in his palm for a moment, then reached out with his other hand, intending to pull down its tiny shoulder garment to inspect the love flower mark.

 

The Nascent Soul blinked and, with a quick dart of its eyes, leapt from Shen Liuxiang’s hand. It glanced left and right with its tiny head, then climbed onto the nearby table, found a cup of tea, and lowered its head. Pursing its small lips, it made a show of touching the tea with its mouth. Afterward, it hopped back to the floor and began running in circles around the three people in the room.

 

Shen Liuxiang: “…”

 

Something’s not right!

 

It was Hua Jian’s first time seeing such a strange Nascent Soul. “What’s it doing? Nascent Souls are supposed to obediently stay near their true form and act according to its will. Why does it seem like your Nascent Soul… is problematic?”

 

“I have no idea,” Shen Liuxiang replied, then looked at Zhou Xuanlan. “Can you release your Nascent Soul?”

 

He wanted to compare and figure out what was wrong with his own Nascent Soul.

 

Without hesitation, Zhou Xuanlan raised his hand, and a palm-sized Nascent Soul appeared.

 

This Nascent Soul was a perfect miniature version of Zhou Xuanlan. After it was casually placed on the table, it sat upright, closed its black eyes, and began meditating with a calm, serious expression.

 

Hua Jian exclaimed, as if he’d found irrefutable evidence: “Look! Look! *That* is how a normal Nascent Soul behaves!”

 

Shen Liuxiang awkwardly touched the tip of his nose, then looked at his own miniature Nascent Soul, which had jumped onto the windowsill and was enthusiastically pulling out some spiritual grass while cheerfully shouting, “Heave-ho, heave-ho~”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “…”

 

He focused his spiritual control and moved the little Nascent Soul back into the room. It landed suddenly on the cold floor, its snow-white cheeks puffing up slightly in displeasure.

 

But the moment it noticed the other tiny figure in the room, it was immediately captivated. It leaped onto the tea table and crouched in front of Zhou Xuanlan’s Nascent Soul, blinking its big eyes curiously.

 

It stretched out its little hand and gently poked the other’s cheek.

 

Shen Liuxiang felt a faint sensation in his fingertips, which made his heart tremble slightly. When he looked up, Zhou Xuanlan’s gaze met his, prompting Shen Liuxiang to cough awkwardly. “My Nascent Soul is disobedient, a bit mischievous. Yours is much better—disciplined and quiet.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, his Nascent Soul poked the meditating miniature Zhou Xuanlan again, displaying the annoying attitude of “I’ll keep bothering you until you pay attention to me.”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s lips twitched slightly.

 

He couldn’t believe this was his essence spirit—it completely ruined his image. Shen Liuxiang was *not* some pesky little troublemaker!

 

Unable to tolerate it, Shen Liuxiang reached out, intending to grab his unruly Nascent Soul and stop its antics.

 

But just then, Zhou Xuanlan’s Nascent Soul opened its eyes abruptly, grabbed the little hand poking its face, and scowled with a stern, handsome expression.

 

Shen Liuxiang’s heart skipped a beat, and his gaze shifted to Zhou Xuanlan.

 

His Nascent Soul appeared completely normal, meaning its movements aligned with Zhou Xuanlan’s intentions.

 

Could it be… his apprentice was angry and about to strike back?!

 

Shen Liuxiang quickly tried to intervene, but it was too late.

 

In his line of sight, his cheeky little Nascent Soul was suddenly tackled to the ground, letting out a soft “Ow, it hurts!”

 

The miniature Zhou Xuanlan, now pinning it down, wore a cold expression. His black eyes carried a trace of hostility as he leaned down and planted a kiss on the plump, pale cheek of Shen Liuxiang’s Nascent Soul.

 

With a fierce tone, he growled, “Don’t bother me again!”

 

Both Shen Liuxiang and Zhou Xuanlan froze simultaneously, their faces filled with disbelief. Hua Jian, standing nearby, stared wide-eyed, as though he had just witnessed the most bizarre spectacle in history.

 

Even Nascent Souls… can get entangled like this?!

 

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