Chapter 37

“Good, it’s a deal. From now on, you are my Yin Linglong’s fiancé. When we return to the Yin family, after paying respects to our ancestors and completing the wedding rites, you will be my Yin family’s son-in-law, my true husband.”

Yin Linglong spoke decisively, then pulled a black finger ring, no more than an inch in size, from her waist, her expression solemn as she added:

“Extend your hand. This is the Yin family’s token; once you wear it, no one can deny you are one of us.” With that, the woman bit her fingertip lightly, letting a drop of blood fall from her pale, tender skin, which vanished in a flash into the black ring.

The ring emitted a soft hum and instantly grew slightly larger.

Wang Yu, surprised, extended his palm, and the woman seized one of his fingers, slipping the ring effortlessly onto it.

The black ring, which had been slightly loose, flashed with dark light the moment it touched his finger, shrinking slightly until it fit perfectly.

“Is this a magical artifact?” Wang Yu said, visibly moved.

“It’s an ancestral heirloom of the Yin family—not quite a proper magical artifact, but only the pure blood of our direct lineage can truly control it. It can track people and verify identity, quite useful. Don’t you dare lose it,” Yin Linglong warned.

“It probably isn’t easy to lose something like this,” Wang Yu tried to pull the ring off again, but it was rooted to his finger, immovable—he couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly.

“Removing it isn’t hard. Aside from Yin family pure blood, any Foundation Establishment cultivator or simply cutting off the finger can do it,” the stunning woman glanced at him and smiled sweetly.

That smile, full of grace and charm, bloomed like a thousand flowers, adding even more allure to her beauty.

Wang Yu froze, staring fixedly at her nearly perfect face, unable to tear his gaze away.

“Pfft, what are you staring at? Keep looking, and I’ll gouge out your eyes,” Yin Linglong said, a faint blush rising on her jade-like cheeks. Her words were sharp, but her tone was deeply shy.

“How else am I supposed to react when you smile so beautifully? Besides, I’m your fiancé now—what’s wrong with looking a little longer?” Wang Yu replied carelessly, his eyes still unwilling to leave her face.

“You look young, yet you’re so frivolous. By the way, what’s your real name? How old are you? Where are you from? I’m twenty-one, at Qi Condensation Fifth Layer. Lady Yin is actually my grandmother, but she died suddenly five years ago. I pretended to be her to earn more spirit stones, working as a covert guard in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.”

“My full name is Wang Yu. I’m thirteen—no, fourteen now. As for my origins, I’m from Huangshi City. I accidentally took a wandering cultivator as my master and only then learned that cultivators exist.”

“What? Impossible—you’re this young?” The stunning woman was stunned, clearly refusing to believe it.

“After my bloodline partially awakened, both my body and mind have matured faster than others my age. You can think of me as eighteen or nineteen. But now that you want to break off the engagement, it’s too late—I won’t agree.”

Yin Linglong stared at Wang Yu for a long moment, then suddenly raised a slender hand and pinched his cheek swiftly, her eyes twinkling as she laughed softly:

“A little husband isn’t bad—but you’d better listen to your big sister from now on.”

This time, it was Wang Yu’s mouth twitching.

This fiancée looked like an immortal fairy, but her inner nature didn’t seem gentle at all.

This behavior—was she truly convinced, or just pretending?

“By the way, Linglong, how did you manage to impersonate your grandmother? I couldn’t spot a single flaw. And how did you pass out earlier?”

The stunning woman frowned slightly at Wang Yu’s intimate address, still a bit unused to it, but quickly returned to her usual composure and replied:

“It’s the Illusion Transformation Great Art—a secret technique that alters a person’s appearance completely using spiritual energy and medicinal herbs.”

“This technique requires Qi Condensation Late Stage to cast, but it can only be used on others, never on oneself. Though it lasts a long time, one can only be transformed once in a lifetime. Once the illusion is broken, it can never be used again.”

“I was struck by Yu Bin’s anti-illusion artifact, which caused the Illusion Transformation Great Art to go out of control. The spiritual energy backfired, knocking me unconscious—but when I woke up, I was fine.”

“I see. Hmm, this Illusion Transformation Great Art sounds powerful. Does the Yin family have many such secret techniques?” Wang Yu murmured, full of envy.

“The Illusion Transformation Great Art is useful, but it’s merely a low-tier, unranked technique. As cultivators, we don’t waste time studying such things for self-preservation—we should master one or two ranked techniques and carry one practical ranked artifact. Even having just one of these allows us to easily defeat peers, even fight across tiers. The Four Fiends of Lanshan are a clear example,” Yin Linglong shook her head.

“Qiankun Zi’s Qiankun Bag is indeed powerful, and the Moonfall Daoist’s Moonfall Sword doesn’t seem weak either. But are ranked techniques really that effective?” Wang Yu recalled the recent battle, feeling doubtful.

Neither the dwarf nor the Moonfall Daoist and others had used any powerful techniques.

“Qiankun Zi and the Moonfall Daoist know only average techniques, but the Blood Witch’s Blood Concealment Escape and the Mad Hand Aunt’s Plague Manipulation are ranked techniques that make wandering cultivators tremble at the mere mention. Without a specific countermeasure, you’re as good as dead if you encounter them,” Yin Linglong explained patiently.

“At what Qi Condensation level can one learn ranked techniques?” Wang Yu thought of the green-robed girl’s elusive movements, nodding eagerly, deeply intrigued.

“Don’t rush. Theoretically, ranked techniques can be cast at Qi Condensation Mid Stage, but to truly master and use them effectively in battle, Late Stage is best. Otherwise, you’ll drain all your spiritual energy with a single cast.”

“Most importantly, ranked techniques aren’t something anyone can learn—they must match your elemental affinity and main cultivation scripture. Otherwise, you’ll waste effort, gain little power, and end up worse off than before,” the woman launched into a full lesson for her fiancé.

“I understand. But what’s your elemental affinity, Linglong? I know there are many types, but most fall under the Five Elements. Also, could you tell me what to watch out for when forming an elemental affinity?” Wang Yu perked up, asking his ‘fiancée’ with great eagerness.