Chapter 208: Melancholy

Wang Lin's gaze sharpened. Elder Li, a Disciple of the Luohe Sect from the Fire Scorch Nation… These two phrases simultaneously surfaced in his mind, and a name that had existed in his thoughts long ago suddenly flashed forth.

"Impossible…" Wang Lin thought to himself. How could there be such a coincidence in this world? The fragile girl from yesteryear had transformed into an Elder of the Cloud Heaven Sect?

Wang Lin let out a self-deprecating laugh, thinking he had overthought things.

"This Elder Li can be said to be peerlessly beautiful. She already showed her prominence in the Fire Scorch Nation in her early years. Later, when the Fire Scorch Nation was counterattacked by the Xuanwu Nation, the entire Luohe Sect collapsed, and some Disciples fled. Otherwise, Elder Li probably wouldn't have come to the Cloud Heaven Sect," Cheng Xian said with a sigh of emotion.

Wang Lin nodded, remaining silent, and continued walking forward.

Cheng Xian blinked, quickly caught up, and chuckled, "Senior Brother, when are we going to the Western Courtyard?"

Wang Lin looked at the sky and said, "After I pay my respects to Grandmaster, I will naturally go to the Western Courtyard with you. However, I already said before that I am not acquainted with that little girl, and I don't even know her name. If we can't enter the Western Courtyard, then we'll have to give up."

Cheng Xian paused, but then his eyes darted around, and he immediately laughed, "It's fine, I know that little lass's name. When the time comes, just say you're looking for her. Brother, I trust my judgment, that little lass will definitely come out to see you."

Wang Lin didn't speak, walking towards the Southern Courtyard.

Along the way, Cheng Xian's mouth barely closed. It was clear he was a talkative person, and various gossip, rumors, and all sorts of information about the Cloud Heaven Sect continuously flowed from his lips.

This person spoke quite vividly, and Wang Lin listened without feeling annoyed. Just like that, the two quickly arrived at the Southern Courtyard.

"Speaking of Elder Li, she hasn't been in our sect for long, only about a hundred years or so. But her Alchemy skills are truly excellent. I've heard some Seniors say that Elder Li once competed against two fifth-grade Alchemists of the Cloud Heaven Sect alone and ultimately did not fall behind, refining the fifth-grade cultivation Devil Pill, one of our Cloud Heaven Sect's three treasures." When speaking of this Medicinal Pill, Cheng Xian's face showed a look of envy.

"cultivation Devil Pill?" Wang Lin was startled. The name of this Medicinal Pill was too peculiar. Could it be that after consuming this pill, one could Cultivate devils?

Cheng Xian saw Wang Lin's expression and immediately smiled proudly, saying, "Hehe, the name of this Medicinal Pill is indeed strange. When this pill was first refined, Sect Leader Grandmaster asked Elder Li to name it. After pondering for a moment, Elder Li came up with this name.

Although this pill is called cultivation Devil, its actual effect has nothing to do with Cultivating devils."

"What are the effects of this pill?" Wang Lin felt a bit strange in his heart. The pill's name was cultivation Devil, Elder Li, a Disciple of the Luohe Sect from the Fire Scorch Nation… there seemed to be some connection here.

"The effects of this pill, well, they're significant, but I don't actually know what they are." Cheng Xian shrugged his shoulders, self-mockingly, "With my seniority, how could I know the effects of this pill? This is one of our Cloud Heaven Sect's three treasures."

Wang Lin didn't pay it much mind. After nodding, the two had already arrived outside the Southern Courtyard. What appeared before him was an arched bridge, beneath which water flowed, emitting waves of Spiritual Qi that gave one a refreshing feeling.

In the flowing water, there were several seven-colored carp, leisurely wagging their tails and swimming.

"Actually, there's also a small rumor related to the cultivation Devil Pill. Brother, would you like to hear it?" Cheng Xian stopped before the bridge and smiled.

"I'm all ears." Wang Lin's gaze followed the arch bridge inwards. He saw white mist swirling within, obstructing his view, so he couldn't see too far. He could only vaguely discern carved railings and jade steps, an elegant environment, possessing the beauty of a peach blossom paradise.

"Legend has it that Elder Li once lived in the Cultivation Devil Sea for a period in her early years, and this cultivation Devil Pill was actually refined for a certain story of hers in the Cultivation Devil Sea. Of course, this is just a rumor. In fact, there are many rumors about Elder Li in the Cloud Heaven Sect. I'll tell you all about them when we have a chance," Cheng Xian said rather proudly.

After listening, Wang Lin's expression remained calm, his gaze tranquil. He cupped his fist at Cheng Xian and stepped onto the arch bridge.

"Brother Wang Lin, we hit it off immediately! I'll wait for you here, don't forget, we still have important things to do later!" Cheng Xian quickly called out.

Wang Lin paid no heed and walked across the arch bridge.

After entering the Southern Courtyard, the mist here was even thicker; one couldn't see beyond three zhang. If Wang Lin's true body were here, he wouldn't even bat an eye, he could simply sweep with his Divine Sense to find the correct path.

But now, Wang Lin's Clone only had the cultivation of the eighth layer of Qi Condensation, so he could only slowly walk forward.

The deeper he went, the thicker the mist became. Gradually, his vision had shrunk from three zhang to one zhang.

At this moment, a faint, ethereal voice slowly emerged from within the mist.

"Southern Courtyard Forbidden Land! Outer Courtyard Disciples are forbidden from entering without a token!"

Wang Lin stopped, his expression unchanged, and said loudly, "Disciple Wang Lin, here to pay respects to Grandmaster Li."

After a brief silence from the voice, the mist in front of Wang Lin immediately seemed to be pushed aside by an invisible large hand, swirling to both sides, revealing a path wide enough for a person. This path twisted and extended deep into the Southern Courtyard.

"Follow this path, and you can reach Elder Li's residence. Go!" The voice appeared again. This time, Wang Lin had a feeling that there was a faint hint of envy in the voice.

Wang Lin didn't say another word and followed the path. A faint, almost imperceptible melody slowly drifted from afar. Following the music, it wasn't long before he reached the end of the path, where a pavilion made entirely of white jade appeared before his eyes.

Through the windows of the pavilion, a female figure could be seen sitting inside. She sat upright, and in front of her was a guzheng. However, there was a thin curtain on the windows, making it impossible to see her features clearly.

The moment Wang Lin approached, a heavenly melody emanated from the pavilion, flowing into one's body and mind like a small bridge and flowing water.

Wang Lin remained silent, listening quietly. After a long while, the music gradually faded, and an elegant, pleasant voice emerged from the pavilion: "Are you Wang Lin?"

When this voice reached Wang Lin's ears, his body trembled, and an expression of disbelief appeared in his eyes. But soon, his eyes regained their calm. After a moment of silence, Wang Lin slowly spoke, "Indeed!"

As his words fell, with a "snap," a string on the guzheng in the hands of the person inside the pavilion suddenly broke. Immediately after, the pavilion window suddenly opened, revealing a peerlessly captivating face.

Her face was like a hibiscus, her brows like willow leaves, as serene as autumn waters, accompanied by a gentle breeze like jade. Her hands were soft as tender shoots, her skin like congealed fat, her teeth like gourd seeds, her forehead exquisite, and her eyebrows like silkworms. If one were to compare, one could only say that this woman had a face like a flower, a voice like a bird, a spirit like the moon, bones like jade, skin like ice and snow, a posture like autumn waters, and a heart like music.

Her gaze instantly fixed on Wang Lin. After looking carefully for a long time, a hint of melancholy appeared between her brows, and she gently closed the window, once again obscuring her captivating face.

Wang Lin's gaze remained as calm as still water. The moment she spoke earlier, he had already recognized her identity. He never expected that after so many years, this woman would actually become an Elder of the Cloud Heaven Sect.

Although Wang Lin's Clone's cultivation was insufficient, his eyesight was sharp. This woman's cultivation had already reached the Early Stage Core Formation. If this were in another School, a Master and Disciple having similar cultivation would be an incredible thing, but not in the Cloud Heaven Sect's inner courtyard.

The standard for measuring everything in the inner courtyard was not cultivation, but Alchemy skills.

Therefore, in the Cloud Heaven Sect's inner courtyard, it was common for a Master's cultivation to be inferior to their Disciple's, it was just that the Cloud Heaven Sect's measuring standards were different from the outside world.

Of course, some Medicinal Pills required a certain level of cultivation to refine, so while cultivation wasn't crucial, sometimes it had to be forcibly raised for the sake of Alchemy.

In this world, how many people could, like Li Muwan, refine fifth-grade Medicinal Pills that only Alchemists above the Nascent Soul Stage could refine, with only Early Stage Core Formation cultivation?

Wang Lin sighed inwardly. The saying "things change, people change" was indeed true. Two hundred years, not long, but certainly not short either.

Her appearance was several times more beautiful than it had been back then. The events of two hundred years ago felt like yesterday, but countless mountains and rivers separated them, making it impossible to easily cross.

Wang Lin had no intention of stepping forward to acknowledge her. His appearance was also no longer that of Ma Liang from back then, so Li Muwan couldn't recognize him based on that.

"What is it?" Li Muwan's voice from within the pavilion, even her voice, carried a hint of melancholy.

Wang Lin took a deep breath, a bitter smile in his heart, and sighed, saying, "Dis…Disciple…" Facing an old acquaintance, Wang Lin truly found it hard to utter the word 'Disciple'.

Li Muwan, in the pavilion opposite, trembled again upon hearing Wang Lin's voice. She waved her right hand, and a purple veil immediately appeared on her face. Then, she opened the pavilion door, walked out, and stared blankly at Wang Lin.

"This Disciple's Pill Furnace is broken," Wang Lin said calmly and slowly.

Li Muwan looked at Wang Lin, examining him carefully for a long time before retracting her gaze. A complex expression appeared in her eyes as she asked, "Are you from Chu State?"

Wang Lin was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Li Muwan sighed softly, her demeanor returning to normal. She said, "Your Pill Furnace breaking is certainly because your spiritual power rose too quickly, causing the earth fire to become unstable. This phenomenon is very common; you only need to persevere for a period, and it will resolve itself." After speaking, she pondered for a moment, opened her Storage Pouch, and took out a Pill Furnace.

"Since you are Zhou Lin's Disciple, I will give you this Pill Furnace. Using this furnace for Alchemy, it will not break within a hundred uses. If you still cannot control the earth fire freely after a hundred uses, it means you have no talent for Alchemy. Give up early and go Cultivate in the outer sect."

After Li Muwan finished speaking, she pushed the Pill Furnace forward, and it floated before Wang Lin.

Wang Lin took it and immediately put it into his Storage Pouch. Although his expression was normal, his heart was extremely complicated. Staying here for even one more breath felt as unbearable as being tormented by fire and water. At this moment, he cupped his fist and turned to leave.

"Ma Liang…" Li Muwan suddenly called out softly.

Wang Lin's face showed a stunned expression. He looked back, then gazed at Li Muwan with confusion.

Li Muwan sighed inwardly and said, "You may go. If you have any questions, you can come and ask me." After speaking, she turned and walked towards the pavilion. Not long after, strains of guzheng music once again emanated from the room.

This time, the music carried a hint of melancholy, a touch of decline.

A complex expression appeared in Wang Lin's eyes. He looked up, taking a deep glance at the figure in the pavilion window, sighed softly in his heart, and turned to leave.

Inside the pavilion, Li Muwan lowered her fingers. After a moment of silence, her eyes suddenly narrowed. She rose, pushed open the window, and gazed into the distance. After a long while, her delicate brows furrowed, and she murmured to herself, "No! How could there be someone in this world with such a similar voice? Even if there were, it's impossible for their expressions to be identical. Especially Wang Lin just now, his demeanor was clearly too calm. An ordinary person would never be able to achieve that."

Her eyes flashed, and she pointed at her glabella with her right hand. Instantly, a drop of fresh blood flew out from between her eyebrows. This blood was crimson, but it exuded a chilling aura.

This was precisely a trace of extreme realm Divine Sense from the Soul Blood that Wang Lin had given her when he left, to ensure her temporary safety. In fact, if not for this trace of extreme realm Divine Sense, Li Muwan would not have been able to escape from Xuanwu State's attack.

"But if it really is him, then why did this Soul Blood not react at all just now?" Li Muwan bit her lower lip, and after a long time, she let out a faint sigh.

Just then, a clear voice suddenly came from outside the pavilion: "Junior Sister, could you come out for a moment?"

Li Muwan frowned slightly and pushed open her door. She saw a middle-aged Cultivator with an immortal-like demeanor, looking at her with a smile. This person was gentle and refined, quite handsome, and naturally exuded an approachable aura.

Upon seeing Li Muwan, his eyes openly revealed a hint of admiration, and he said gently, "Junior Sister, a month ago I heard you say you lacked a certain Dragon Rock Ganoderma. I searched all of Chu State and finally found this Dragon Rock Ganoderma on the outskirts of the Shattered Stone Mountain Range in the Immortal Remains Land." As he spoke, this person took out a jade box from his Storage Pouch. Inside the box lay a purplish-red ganoderma, as thick as an arm.

Li Muwan's gaze was indifferent; she didn't even look at the jade box. She said, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Sun, but I have already found a substitute and successfully refined the Medicinal Pill three days ago. You should keep this item for yourself, Senior Brother."

The middle-aged man smiled slightly, placed the jade box aside, and his voice remained gentle as he said, "Junior Sister, Grandmaster also has good intentions. After all, you are not a direct descendant of my Cloud Heaven Sect. If you wish to obtain more profound Alchemy techniques, you must choose a direct Disciple to form a Dual Cultivation partnership with. We have known each other for a long time, and I believe Junior Sister is aware of my feelings for you."

A cold glint flashed in Li Muwan's eyes. She stared at the middle-aged man and said, word by word, "Do not mention this matter again!"

The middle-aged man quietly watched Li Muwan. After a long time, he said calmly, "Junior Sister, when you came here from the Fire Burning State, if I hadn't saved you, you would probably have perished by now. How have I treated you all these years? I want to know why you are so resolute?"

Li Muwan was silent for a moment, and a figure involuntarily appeared in her mind. After a while, she slowly said, "No reason…"

The middle-aged man sighed, his voice as gentle as ever, saying, "Junior Sister, the matter personally ordered by Grandmaster is already decided. Please consider it carefully." After speaking, he gave Li Muwan a deep look, shook his head with a bitter smile, and turned to leave.

Li Muwan stood quietly outside the pavilion, silent for a long time. She then turned and returned to the pavilion, her back appearing so desolate, so melancholic.

Wang Lin left the Southern Courtyard with a complicated heart. As soon as he crossed the arch bridge, he saw Cheng Xian looking out for him. The moment he spotted Wang Lin, Cheng Xian immediately approached, saying with a fawning expression, "Senior Brother, how was it? Did things go smoothly?"

Wang Lin glanced at him and said, "Let's go."

Cheng Xian was waiting for just that sentence. He immediately beamed and quickly said, "Senior Brother, it's getting late. We should hurry. You wait here; I'll call two mounts." After speaking, he put his right hand to his mouth and blew hard, and a piercing whistle immediately spread out.

Immediately after, several beast roars came from afar. Wang Lin looked up and saw two black shadows, one large and one small, suddenly leaping from the distance and rushing over.

Not long after, the black shadows gradually approached, landing ten zhang away from Cheng Xian. They were two spirit apes, the larger one nearly one and a half zhang tall, and the smaller one nearly a zhang. Their arms reached past their knees, and both had red eyes, baring their teeth at Cheng Xian with indignant expressions.

Cheng Xian coughed dryly and said loudly, "Isn't it just that I borrowed your things and haven't returned them? Is it really that big of a deal? We've had over ten years of friendship, haven't we? How about this: you carry the two of us to the Eastern Courtyard, and I'll give you that thing, alright?"

The two spirit apes breathed heavily, roaring wildly. Finally, after looking at each other, one of them suddenly swiped a claw at Cheng Xian.

Cheng Xian didn't dodge, allowing the claw to grab him. The larger spirit ape grabbed Cheng Xian's clothes, tossed him up, and placed him on its back. Immediately after, its figure moved like lightning, leaping and running into the distance.

At this time, the smaller spirit ape looked at Wang Lin, its eyes showing indignation. After a few roars, it lunged at Wang Lin. Wang Lin's eyes flashed, and he moved his body to the side. At the same time, he lifted his foot and leaped onto the ape's back. The ape didn't mind and immediately sped off like thunder, chasing after the other ape.

The spirit ape's speed was extremely fast; riding on its back felt like soaring through clouds. Cheng Xian, who clearly often enjoyed this, let out a few strange cries, then actually took out a pouch of wine from his Storage Pouch, took a big gulp, and laughed loudly, "Riding an ape to the Eastern Courtyard—among the entire Cloud Heaven Sect, only I, Cheng Xian, can do such a thing, haha."

Wang Lin smiled bitterly. Although Cheng Xian was a bit sly, he wasn't annoying. Although Wang Lin was disturbed by him, he didn't pay too much attention. On the contrary, seeing Cheng Xian like this at the moment, the complex feelings in his heart after encountering an old acquaintance somewhat eased.

Cheng Xian threw the wine pouch in his hand backward, tossing it towards Wang Lin. Wang Lin raised his right hand and caught it. After glancing at Cheng Xian, Li Muwan's melancholic expression echoed in his mind, and he involuntarily put the wine pouch to his lips and took a big gulp.

—

Today I was being careless. My cold wasn't better, but I insisted on taking a shower. As a result, after coming out, the wind blew, and my cold worsened when I got back. My head is even more painful and muddled than before. It's really infuriating! I gritted my teeth and wrote 5000 characters in a daze. I really can't continue. If I feel better tomorrow, I'll make up for it.