Chapter 48: Fairy Qimeng’s Challenge

The flowers and trees in Qimeng Courtyard appeared vibrant under the morning light; the sound of birds chirping drifted from afar, and the air was fresh.

When Lin Chen stepped into the courtyard, she saw Fairy Qimeng sitting on an exquisitely carved stone chair, holding a brush to paint with ink.

"Sister, Grand Elder Senior Bai, she… she…"

Lin Chen began, her voice gentle but struggling to speak the words.

Fairy Qimeng raised her head to look at Lin Chen, and a bad premonition surged in her heart.

She set down the scroll in her hand and said calmly, "Speak, Lin Chen, what happened to Teacher Bai?"

Lin Chen sighed and slowly explained the sequence of events one by one.

Bai Youyou had now turned into a young girl at the Golden Core Stage, and even her memories had been wiped.

Hearing this, Fairy Qimeng was stunned for a moment, the expression on her face complex.

"This… how is it possible? Does the world-breaking pendant actually have such immense power?"

Fairy Qimeng gently pressed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

Lin Chen replied affirmatively, "Yes, Sister. I went to Senior Bai's room personally; she is now completely a young girl. Not only does she not remember me at all, but her Realm is also only at the Golden Core Stage."

The panic within Fairy Qimeng caused her wrist to tremble instinctively, scattering ink and leaving a mess on the ground.

"I never expected that the first time using the world-breaking pendant would directly turn a Grand Elder at the Body Integration Stage into a young girl at the Golden Core Stage! The Southern Region is going to be in chaos!"

Fairy Qimeng paused, looked at Lin Chen with some worry, and continued, "This matter must not be known by others, otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable."

Lin Chen nodded, as she also deeply understood the complexity of the matter, "I will be careful and will not let outsiders know."

"That is good. By the way, Lin Chen, I am preparing to attempt a Breakthrough to the Void Refinement Stage in three days. At that time, I will need you, Lin Fan, and the others to act as Protectors for me. I fear this Breakthrough will be difficult, and I will likely need your help."

Lin Chen gazed at her sister's expression, feeling a surge of nervousness, "A Breakthrough to the Void Refinement Stage is no small matter. Sister, you must not force yourself to take risks because of Bai Youyou."

"Rest assured, Lin Chen." Fairy Qimeng smiled gently, her eyes revealing determination and trust, "I have my own preparations."

Lin Chen nodded, the anxiety in her heart easing slightly.

Although Bai Youyou's sudden change caught everyone off guard, at least Bai Youyou was now safely by her side.

However, regarding the situation ahead, more responsibility fell upon Fairy Qimeng's shoulders.

Without Bai Youyou, that powerhouse at the Body Integration Stage, the future of the entire Xuanyin Qin Sect rested on Fairy Qimeng.

Although Fairy Qimeng usually appeared like a delicate young girl, in the hearts of the many Disciples, she was already the pillar of the Sect, the one who was fearless and bore everything.

"I will arrange everything. Three days from now, I will definitely protect you, Sister, as you make your Breakthrough to the Void Refinement Stage."

Lin Chen sighed deeply and turned to leave Qimeng Courtyard.

In front of the round table on the first floor of Qinyun Pavilion, the atmosphere was cheerful and full of anticipation.

After a night's rest, all the team members had recovered their spirits and gathered together, ready to welcome a new day.

Mu Xueyan held that silver-white longsword, a faint smile on her face, though her eyes were somewhat unfocused.

She looked quietly at the tabletop in front of her and whispered to herself, "Master, I don't know how she managed it, but she was actually endowed with the identity of a Child of Heaven, and she's handling this hidden intelligence, along with that mysterious System specialist, Xiao Du. It's all becoming increasingly mysterious."

She gently raised her head and looked toward the jade crystal staircase, waiting for Lin Fan to appear.

Footsteps gradually came from the stairs, and Lin Fan, dressed in a dark gold open-front martial outfit, appeared at the top of the stairs.

Mu Xueyan immediately stood up and walked toward him with a smile, "Captain, what is today's mission? When will we use the world-breaking pendant?"

Lin Fan smiled slightly, walked straight to the table, and tapped the surface lightly.

A holographic projection immediately unfolded on the desktop, and the various details of the world-breaking pendant appeared clearly.

world-breaking pendant, incomplete teleportation artifact.

Civilization Rank: Level 7

Function 1: Detection

While in operation, the world-breaking pendant can discover entrances to small, independent worlds within a 1-kilometer radius.

Function 2: Return

By injecting Star Core-grade energy, the world-breaking pendant can, to a certain extent, allow the user to return to the real world.

Power Consumption: Consumes one Star Core-grade energy cell every thirty minutes.

Cooldown Time: The core parameters of this world-breaking pendant are incomplete; it requires a three-day cooldown after each use.

Current Cooldown Time: 55.2 hours.

Spiritual Essence Capacity: 1 million

The world-breaking pendant sometimes needs to break through space-time channels, or even resist space storms. Constructing space-time tunnels and defensive barriers all require Spiritual Essence. Please ensure that the Spiritual Essence is kept in a fully loaded state.

Current Remaining Spiritual Essence: 760,000.

Clearly, bringing Bai Youyou from before the Gregorian calendar, spanning several thousand years to the present, consumed 240,000 units of Spiritual Essence.

If not for Lin Chen placing a Spiritual Essence collection point in the Star Shatter Belt.

This single consumption alone would have been enough to empty Lin Fan's Operation Center, and it still wouldn't have been enough.

Mu Xueyan frowned slightly, staring at the cooldown number on the projection, and said in a low voice, "Captain, this cooldown time is 55.2 hours. Did you use the world-breaking pendant yesterday?"

Lin Fan nodded, a trace of helplessness appearing in his eyes, "I did use it once yesterday, but the situation was special, and I had to."

Mu Xueyan blinked, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness, "Hmm? Captain, that expression of yours! Did something embarrassing happen?"

Lin Fan sighed lightly and reached up to rub his temples, "Yesterday, we lost a powerhouse at the Body Integration Stage."

Dan Xiner and Ye Youming, upon hearing this, stared straight at Lin Fan, "You mean, Grand Elder Bai Youyou of the Qin Sect."

"Yes! It is her. The situation was somewhat special, and we had to use it at the time."

"This…"

The group looked at each other; this was getting ridiculous.

Dan Xiner couldn't help but speak up, "This… a mighty figure at the Body Integration Stage is almost an immortal existence. How could she just be 'lost' like that?!"

"The world-breaking pendant brought Bai Youyou from before the Gregorian calendar to the present. She has now turned into a young girl at the Golden Core Stage."

As these words fell, the room immediately fell into a dead silence.

Dan Xiner's lips moved, but she couldn't say anything.

Ye Youming drew a soft breath, staring at Lin Fan with a complex gaze, "This kind of thing is simply unbelievable… Even a Body Integration Stage powerhouse can be reduced to the Golden Core Stage. This world-breaking pendant is truly… dangerous enough."

The space suddenly rippled, and then a cute, dazed voice drifted over.

Xiao Du's round figure walked out from the ripples, holding a small notebook in its hand, staring at everyone with a serious expression, "Don't listen to Lin Fan's nonsense!"

Dan Xiner and Ye Youming exchanged a glance, somewhat bewildered. Mu Xueyan raised her head, her tone filled with curiosity, "Xiao Du, what do you mean by that?"

Xiao Du huffed and patted the small notebook, "If Bai Youyou hadn't turned into a Golden Core Stage girl, that would be the real danger! Her consciousness had already been invaded by Mirror Venerable! The Bai Youyou brought back from before the Gregorian calendar is the version that hadn't been invaded. In the end, we saved her, we didn't lose her!"

Mu Xueyan said in a low voice, "Her consciousness was invaded by Mirror Venerable? So… this use of the world-breaking pendant was actually a successful rescue mission?"

"That's right!" Xiao Du nodded, a hint of pride in its tone, "The first use of the world-breaking pendant was a successful first battle. Although the Spiritual Essence consumption was a bit high, at least Bai Youyou has escaped Mirror Venerable's control. Although she is only at the Golden Core Stage now, this is an opportunity for her to start over."

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but suddenly realize the truth. Dan Xiner asked with a look of surprise, "So that's how it is! But if she hadn't been rescued, wouldn't she have become a Puppet for Mirror Venerable?"

Xiao Du nodded and said, "Exactly! If she, as a powerhouse at the Body Integration Stage, had been controlled by Mirror Venerable, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Ye Youming narrowed her eyes, her tone steady and calm, "Then the problem has changed. Although Bai Youyou is safe, a part of Mirror Venerable's plan has also been exposed. We don't know which other hidden powerhouses have already had their consciousnesses invaded by Mirror Venerable."

Xiao Du's expression became serious, and its voice dropped a few degrees, "This is the most serious problem. If Mirror Venerable can mobilize those powerhouses he controls, they will inevitably come to attack the Qin Sect. Without Bai Youyou as a pillar, the situation of the Qin Sect will become extremely dangerous."

Mu Xueyan said in a low voice, "In that case, isn't the Qin Sect in great danger? It could be besieged at any moment!"

Xiao Du held the small notebook and said earnestly, "So, your task going forward is very clear—improve the overall strength of the Qin Sect as quickly as possible, while simultaneously finding those hidden powerhouses and mapping out Mirror Venerable's sphere of influence. Fairy Qimeng's Breakthrough in three days is particularly critical; there cannot be any mistakes."

Dan Xiner's brows were tightly locked, her eyes filled with worry, "If Mirror Venerable can truly control powerhouses at the Body Integration Stage, then we…"

She stopped mid-sentence, her words revealing an indescribable pressure.

Lin Fan, however, clenched his fists, his eyes filled with a trace of determination, "No matter how many difficulties there are, we must block this crisis. The Qin Sect cannot fall."

Xiao Du looked at Lin Fan's expression and suddenly laughed, its tone becoming much lighter, "Oh my, don't be so nervous! Although Mirror Venerable is a big problem, you still have this instructor here! As long as you listen to my commands, there is still a chance of winning!"

Lin Fan sighed helplessly, "Then, Instructor, how should we arrange things next?"

Xiao Du immediately flipped open the small notebook and waved its hand, "From now on, none of you are allowed to rest! Give me some serious training over the next two days, especially regarding coordination! Your performance against Lin Yue was absolutely terrible!"

The group was instantly speechless, and could only accept it with a bitter smile.