Chapter 1414: Chapter 1414: Sun Lin
Fang Bai’s explanation didn’t last long, but both Huang Zhong and Gu Ming gained significant insights.
During their prior cultivation, both had encountered nurous problems, often choosing to avoid or bypass them temporarily, leaving them for future study and exploration.
Fang Bai’s explanation was enlightening, akin to a thunderclap amidst deafness, giving both of them a sense of an Ambrosia Baptism. The problems that had troubled them before were resolved effortlessly.
“Brother Fang, you’re truly hiding your talents!”
When Fang Bai finished speaking, Shi Ming looked at him with newfound respect and said, “My forr master’s explanations of the Martial Dao Arcane were dry and incomprehensible, like deciphering ancient scrolls—it left utterly perplexed. Yet your explanation, I understood completely after hearing it just once! I believe that upon returning, if I seclude myself and reflect for three to five days, my strength will significantly improve. I might even advance to the Foundation Establishnt Realm ahead of schedule!”
As he spoke, he stood up from the stone table, cupped his fists, and bowed deeply toward Fang Bai, his expression solemn. “In the realm of the Martial Dao, the accomplished must co first. Brother Fang, your teachings today have cleared my confusion, akin to the grace of a ntor. Please accept this bow as a token of my respect!”
Fang Bai and Gu Ming had similar cultivation levels, and they had entered Lingxu Palace at the sa ti. According to age, Gu Ming should have been regarded as Senior Brother, but Shi Ming had resolutely declined, so they addressed each other as equals.
“I must also thank Senior Brother Fang.”
Standing nearby, Huang Zhong quickly stood up as well and bowed deeply to Fang Bai.
Compared to Gu Ming, Huang Zhong benefited even more from Fang Bai’s explanation and ca to nurous realizations. He felt like a volcano ready to erupt: as long as he could break through his blocked ridians, his cultivation would see a significant improvent. Although it might not imdiately propel him into the Foundation Establishnt Realm, it would at least raise him to the Half-Step Foundation Establishnt Realm like Senior Brother Shi and Senior Brother Fang.
In Lingxu Palace, achieving the Half-Step Foundation Establishnt Realm ant shedding the identity of a nial servant and earning a place in the External Courtyard, freeing oneself from the ridicule and bullying of fellow disciples.
Although Huang Zhong understood that breaking through his blocked ridians wouldn’t be easy, Fang Bai had shown him hope, and his gratitude toward Fang Bai ran deep.
Though young in age, Huang Zhong was exceptionally intelligent. During his ti spent with Fang Bai, he ca to perceive this Senior Brother, only a few years older than himself, as imnsely knowledgeable and nearly omniscient. Huang Zhong speculated that Fang Bai would achieve even greater heights in his Martial Dao journey than Senior Brother Shi.
Huang Zhong could even foresee a day when Fang Bai entered the upper echelons of Lingxu Palace. If that day ca, Fang Bai would control vast cultivation resources, and there was a chance he might help Huang Zhong open his blocked ridians.
The thought left Huang Zhong flushed with excitent, and his respect for Fang Bai grew even deeper.
Soon after, Shi Ming and Huang Zhong, brimming with enthusiasm, left to return to their residences to ponder and reflect on the Martial Dao Arcane they had learned from Fang Bai.
Watching them depart, Fang Bai closed his bamboo house’s door and wandered alone to a nearby herb garden, intending to scout for any noteworthy spiritual dicines and perhaps seize an opportunity to discreetly harvest so.
“Hmm? Could it be her?”
While pacing through the herb garden, Fang Bai suddenly sensed a faint Martial Artist Aura. Fixing his gaze on the source, he saw a slender figure dressed in a red blouse and skirt standing amidst a sea of flowers in the distance.
The young lady was slender, her long hair cascading to her waist, with a seemingly frail disposition. Though facing away from Fang Bai, he instantly recognized who she was.
Fang Bai hesitated briefly, then stepped forward to stand beside the young woman and greeted her with a smile, “Senior Sister Sun, what brings you to such a serene place today?”
The young woman, of similar age to Fang Bai, had almond-shaped eyes, a delicate nose, and a fair yet sickly complexion. Her eyebrows were furrowed in evident distress, exuding an air of deep sorrow.
The young woman was none other than Sun Lin, granddaughter of Elder Sun Jing who presided over the Elixir Hall and an External Courtyard disciple of Lingxu Palace.
Fang Bai had caught a fleeting glimpse of Sun Lin during his first days in Lingxu Palace and had heard of her tragic past from External Courtyard disciple Zheng Hong, though he hadn’t paid much mind to it.
Initially, Fang Bai assud he would have little interaction with Sun Lin, yet here they were eting again.
This frail and sorrowful beauty, standing amidst the sea of flowers, appeared harmoniously integrated with the surrounding Baihua blossoms in a way that was utterly enchanting.
“And you are…”
Turning to look at Fang Bai, Sun Lin furrowed her brows even tighter, her eyes showing traces of confusion.
Fang Bai smiled warmly, “My na is Fang Bai. I recently joined Lingxu Palace as a disciple. It’s understandable that Senior Sister wouldn’t recognize .”
Sun Lin, who was once a cheerful and lively girl, had turned inward and lancholic ever since sustaining grave injuries that left her nearly crippled. She avoided interaction with anyone, isolating herself in gloomy solitude.
This garden of flowers was Sun Lin’s favorite place. Each day she ca here to spend so ti before returning to her residence.
“Oh.”
Perhaps Fang Bai’s harmless smile ward her spirit; Sun Lin’s mood improved slightly. She nodded to him and scrutinized him before remarking, “So young and already part of the External Courtyard… Truly impressive!”
Fang Bai replied, “Senior Sister Sun entered the External Courtyard at rely ten-sothing years old; you’re far more impressive!”
At Fang Bai’s words, Sun Lin’s eyes dimd. Looking down at the flowers blooming at her feet, she sighed faintly after a long pause and said sorrowfully, “That was my past. Now… I’m nothing but a useless cripple!”
Rembering her sorrowful past, her lips trembled slightly, tears streaming down her tender cheeks.
Seeing this, Fang Bai let out a wry smile, silently lanting how his conversational choice had inadvertently touched a nerve.
Just as he was about to offer words of consolation, he suddenly detected a high-rank Foundation Establishnt cultivator’s presence closing in. Turning his gaze, he saw Elder Sun Jing, who presided over the Elixir Hall, striding swiftly toward them.
“Fang Bai, what are you doing here? What have you done to Lin’er?”
Arriving near them, Elder Sun Jing’s gaze fell on her teary-eyed granddaughter, mistaking Fang Bai for the cause and demanding with a stern tone tinged with anger.
Sun Lin understood that a re External Courtyard disciple like Fang Bai could never withstand the wrath of her grandmother and hurriedly wiped her tears, saying, “Grandmother, it’s not his fault. I just… suddenly thought of my own past…”
Only then did Elder Sun Jing’s expression soften slightly. She whispered tenderly, “Lin’er, don’t dwell on those thoughts. I have good news for you: I recently gathered new ingredients to refine a Marrow Cleansing Pill and plan to open my furnace and refine an elixir for you.”
Sun Lin knew that over the years, her grandmother had exhausted countless cultivation resources and endured countless worries in the pursuit of healing her injuries. While failures were constant, she had never given up.
However, Sun Lin also understood that her grandmother, an alchemist who had learned the craft later in life, produced elixirs with an extrely low success rate. On the rare occasion of success, the pills were only low-grade Holy Grade products, which were essentially ineffective for curing her injuries.
“Thank you, Grandmother! But there’s no need to worry so much. After so many years… I’ve gotten used to it… It’s not urgent…”
Sun Lin forced a smile as she spoke.
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