Chapter 290: Aftereffects of the Heart Demon

Ye Tinglan's mind couldn't process it for a moment, and Little Bai Mao's CPU was directly burned out.

What is this?

Am I supposed to call him my Grand-Grand-Uncle now?

I just got dizzy from healing; how is the Tianyao Holy Land still alive?

Wait, no, maybe this is a good thing. That shameless master of hers is eating the young grass; let her try eating her elders instead? Maybe she'll keep a straight face and dare not act.

Amidst the varied expressions of the crowd, Du Gu Qingli went straight to the Ten Thousand Swords Grave to be confined, while Ye Tinglan swept her sleeve, and a gentle wind wrapped around Lu Xingzhou, making them both vanish instantly.

Only her words remained in the air: "Disciples sparring; you will preside on my behalf. Report the winner to me."

The rest of the people in the arena looked at each other, all feeling the Sect Master was a bit hasty; she was gone for so long and finally returned, wasn't it natural for her to preside over a disciple spar?

But then again, the dispute over the third grade might indeed be trivial in the eyes of the number one under heaven; perhaps only a pervert who could turn a Cloud-Ascending Tribulation into a five or six-layer tribulation could truly catch her interest. Having already watched the geniuses fight, her enthusiasm for watching ordinary disciples must be lacking; it is understandable. Honestly, even the elders themselves felt a bit bored.

After quite a while, Elder Xu finally presided on her behalf: "Since the Sect Master has spoken, it is better to seize the day than wait for another; let the selection begin."

A little girl poked her head out: "Old grandpa, can I participate?"

"You?" Elder Xu looked Ah Nuo up and down, revealing a kind, uncle-like smile; few people could see this little thing for the first time without smiling: "Little sister, whose disciple are you? Would you like to enter my sect?"

"I am the disciple of that unregistered disciple from just now."

"..." Elder Xu looked at Ah Nuo seriously again, and shock finally flashed in his eyes: "Fourth grade, upper stage... how is this possible... how old are you?"

Ah Nuo put her hands on her hips.

Elder Xu hesitated: "Fourth grade, upper stage is still a bit of a stretch... you are still young; would it be better to watch your senior brothers and sisters compete first?"

"But old grandpa, isn't being young exactly what proves the strength of the Tianyao Holy Land..."

"Eh..." Upon hearing this, the elders who had been smiling and watching the chubby little girl exchanged glances, all feeling somewhat tempted.

A fourth grade, upper stage cultivator so young, even if she just stood there as a mascot, would be enough for the Tianyao Holy Land to show off...

A group of Tianyao Holy Land high-level members understood each other's glances; before the disciple competition even began, the fastest consensus on the predetermined outcome was born.

Over there, a gust of wind from Ye Tinglan pulled him outside her sleeping palace and set him down on the ground. Many disciples guarded the outside; the two walked past the disciples in front of them, one after the other, with serious expressions.

In front of the hall was a large clear pool; something seemed to be lying in the water, a dark, indistinct mass when looked down upon. A stone bridge crossed over the pool, leading to Ye Tinglan's sleeping palace.

Ye Tinglan led Lu Xingzhou onto the stone bridge and casually took a piece of Black Snake flesh from her ring, handing it to Lu Xingzhou: "Throw it into the pool."

Lu Xingzhou took it, confused; why not just throw it down yourself? Why make me do it?

But with so many guards present, he didn't ask much and just threw it down.

As the snake meat entered the water, the black shadow in the pool moved, appearing to devour it.

"This is our Sect-Protecting Dragon Turtle; the Black Snake bloodline shares a slight connection with it; feeding it is beneficial." Ye Tinglan explained calmly, crossing the bridge without looking sideways.

Lu Xingzhou understood.

Letting him feed it was giving him a chance to show goodwill to the Sect-Protecting Divine Beast. At least in the future, when crossing this bridge to find her, he wouldn't be blocked...

Otherwise, the landing point before could have been chosen at the other end of the bridge; why walk across an extra bridge...

After crossing the bridge, the area ahead was even more filled with ethereal mist, clouds and fog wrapping around, with rocks and flowing water, like ascending to the immortal realm. Behind the rocks was a row of flying eaves; there were no carved beams, painted pillars, or golden glazed tiles, just very ordinary wooden houses and stone pillars, green tiles and moss, but the area was vast.

Some young girls were sweeping and trimming flowers and plants; seeing the Sect Master bring someone, they all curiously glanced over secretly.

This was the sect residence of the number one under heaven, the sleeping palace of the Holy Land's master.

Under the gaze of the young girls, Ye Tinglan looked around with a stern expression; the girls were frightened by the Sect Master's dignity and lowered their heads, daring not to look directly. Ye Tinglan opened the door and said expressionlessly: "Follow."

Lu Xingzhou wore an expression of surprise and joy at receiving the Sect Master's guidance, lowered his head, and followed inside.

As soon as the door closed, the solemn Sect Master was pinned against the door by Lu Xingzhou and kissed: "Mr. is too tempting like this..."

"Stop that." Ye Tinglan covered his mouth, biting her lower lip herself with considerable emotion, stubbornly saying: "I am not your Mr.; you have mistaken me for someone else."

Just a quarter-hour ago, she was discussing with others whether the person sent to the grand competition was too old and might be laughed at, and here a twenty-year-old male student had just broken through. Moreover, he thoughtfully provided a challenge match for the entire sect to see, making her selection of him seem perfectly natural.

And he was truly outstanding.

Ye Tinglan, who had seen many geniuses and was a top genius herself, never imagined someone could break through to Cloud-Ascending and cross a tribulation with five layers just by watching a combat technique, learn another combat technique on the spot and apply it directly, and collect the Red Lotus Tribulation Flame.

Then he defeated Zhang Qingxiang with just one palm strike.

Who doesn't love an excellent man... making the Holy Land Master's heart flutter; she truly wished to press him into her embrace, and the corners of her mouth still hadn't been suppressed, just like Lu Xingzhou's boat oars.

Lu Xingzhou immediately provided a stepping stone: "So Mr. also has to pretend to be the Holy Land Master of Tianyao here..."

"Mm, mm." Ye Tinglan almost laughed out loud: "Do you know why I called you here alone?"

Wasn't it a contrasting secret affair? This was more thrilling than back when she and Pei Xiaolv were on campus.

Instead, Ye Tinglan pulled him to sit by the table, placed her hand on his pulse to examine it carefully: "Indeed, you forcibly crossed the Heart Demon Tribulation and have some aftereffects; I was right not to misjudge."

Lu Xingzhou felt a chill; that thrill of contrast instantly flew to the nine heavens: "What do you mean?"

"You usually act cautiously, especially in a new place like this where you would be even more low-key, but immediately challenging an opponent whose background you don't know right after crossing the tribulation is somewhat inconsistent with your nature—you only act this impulsive when it comes to the Huo family." Ye Tinglan said: "At that time, I thought it must be that the Heart Demon had not faded, releasing a recklessness and wildness far beyond your usual self."

Lu Xingzhou was stunned for a moment, reflected, and indeed it was true.

He had always clamored that he disliked fighting battles where he didn't know the enemy, yet this time he didn't even think about it.

Ye Tinglan asked: "Other heavenly tribulations can be seen by outsiders, but things like the Heart Tribulation cannot be seen by outsiders; what kind of Heart Tribulation did you encounter?"

Lu Xingzhou coughed dryly, lowered his head, and dared not look at her.