Yun Ze had no idea what was happening. All he knew was that after hearing the words, "Miss, please don't," his entire world spun.
When he came to his senses, he found himself lying on the ground. No, to be precise, he was prostrating himself...
In the most standard, five-point-prostration posture!
He caught a glimpse of the old woman hurrying towards him from behind. A golden light flashed in her hand, and she swiftly pushed that drop of blood back, returning it to Wei Lanshu's brow.
The scar healed rapidly, leaving behind only a faint white mark.
If one didn't look closely, it would be imperceptible.
"Miss, what are you doing?"
The old woman stood beside Wei Lanshu, her face filled with anxiety. "Even if this person is truly the one the Oracle foretold, you shouldn't have..."
"I... I don't know how to say it."
Wei Lanshu was extremely excited. She slowly raised her right hand and placed it on the old woman's face, gently tracing each wrinkle.
This was a simple gesture, yet for some reason, the old woman froze on the spot, her eyes filled with disbelief!
"Miss, you... you're healed!?"
Wei Lanshu shook her head, as if sensing something, and quickly withdrew her hand.
Seeing this, the old woman quickly reached out, as if to verify something. But as her hand touched Wei Lanshu's right hand, she was repelled.
"It's back again?"
The old woman frowned. "Miss, this..."
"Only partially."
Wei Lanshu spoke again, looking at Yun Ze, who was still prostrating on the ground. "He helped me."
"Well, let's put the 'helping' aside for now."
Yun Ze's head was turned to the side, and it felt as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on him. He couldn't get up at all. "Can you at least let me up before we talk?"
"Li Po."
"Yes!"
The old woman was also excited. She responded with a wave of her hand, and Yun Ze felt the heavy weight on him disappear. With a swift movement, he stood up.
He looked at the old woman and the young woman before him. He already had a guess about what had just happened.
Firstly, the old woman and the young woman were not grandmother and granddaughter, but master and servant!
The old woman's strength was unknown, but at least it was above the Core Formation stage, otherwise Elder Sun wouldn't have called her senior. And to have a servant above the Core Formation stage, the young woman's family background was definitely extraordinary!
Secondly, the sword energy on the young woman...
This sword energy wasn't entirely beneficial to her; it also had some negative effects.
Judging from what the old woman had said earlier, the fact that he, a mere Qi Refining cultivator, could bear her sword energy meant he was the person she was looking for.
The Oracle.
That was likely the name the old woman had mentioned earlier.
The young woman must have been guided by this person to seek him out at the Guiwu Sword Sect.
He wondered what kind of existence this Oracle was, to be able to predict things so accurately!
And then there was that drop of golden blood!
Judging by the old woman's attitude, it was something extremely precious.
Wei Lanshu had actually intended to give it to him, which showed she harbored no ill will towards him. At least, not until she resolved her own troubles. His safety was not in immediate danger.
In conclusion, as long as the sword energy didn't cause him too much trouble, he could completely form an alliance with Wei Lanshu!
If he wanted to bring down Ji Kun within the Guiwu Sword Sect, having such an ally would be beneficial and harmless!
"Kid, what are you thinking about?"
The old woman frowned. With her years of experience, she could tell at a glance what this kid was plotting.
"Nothing."
Yun Ze didn't say much. He didn't yet know what the sword energy in his body was, so he turned to Wei Lanshu. "Wei Lanshu, you said you would tell me what this sword energy is."
"I..."
"I'll tell you."
Before Wei Lanshu could speak, the old woman stepped forward, blocking her and said, "Kid, if you want to know what this sword energy is, answer a few questions for me first."
Yun Ze remained silent, only letting out a laugh. He turned and walked towards the outside of the cave.
What a joke!
They were the ones who needed him now, and they still wanted to put on airs?
Heh!
But as Yun Ze took a step, the oppressive force returned!
He stumbled, and his entire body lurched forward, falling to the ground.
With his Qi Refining third-level cultivation, this fall was nothing serious, but... it was humiliating!
"I haven't let you go yet."
The old woman's footsteps sounded behind him. She slowly walked around to the front of Yun Ze and squatted down, meeting his gaze.
Her eyes were clear and ethereal, with a hint of coldness, unlike those of an old woman. This kind of gaze was very similar to Bu Bu's, but there were still some differences. Bu Bu's gaze held a detached coldness, indifferent to everything in the world.
But the coldness in this old woman's eyes was chilling!
It was as if everything in her eyes was dead. Yun Ze couldn't help but shiver at the sight!
"I know what you're thinking."
The old woman spoke slowly, her eyes still cold, even more so. "You think of yourself as a valuable commodity, planning to put on airs because we need you?
Today, I will teach you a lesson!"
"In the face of absolute strength, everything else is an illusion!"
"Do you understand?"
Yun Ze remained silent, feeling stifled!
"Li Po."
Wei Lanshu's voice rang out. From her tone, it seemed she disliked the old woman's method.
"Miss, please don't mind."
The old woman looked up at Wei Lanshu, her eyes devoid of any coldness, only warmth. "Master instructed that as long as it concerns your safety, you must listen to me."
She then lowered her head again and looked at Yun Ze. "Kid, do you understand?"
"You dare not kill me."
"Hm?"
"I said, you dare not kill me!"
Yun Ze looked up at the old woman, a smile on his lips. "You've been at the Guiwu Sword Sect for fifteen years, waiting for me, right?
Since that's the case, it means only I can solve the problem with your young lady! Therefore, you dare not kill me!"
"Heh, I dare not kill you, so what?" the old woman retorted.
"Then answer my questions first!"
Yun Ze had originally wanted to make the old woman kneel!
But after thinking about needing her help to deal with Ji Kun, he decided not to push things too far. He just needed to establish his strong position.
However, the old woman's next words made Yun Ze's smile freeze completely.
"But not killing you doesn't mean I can't imprison you."
The old woman said with a smile, "Kid, if I were to ask the Grand Elders of the Guiwu Sword Sect for a disciple, claiming to take him for cultivation, would they come looking for you?
Would they offend me for an outer disciple?"
Yun Ze's smile instantly froze.
The answer was clearly... no!
If he were truly imprisoned and 'touched' by Wei Lanshu every day, what kind of revenge could he even talk about? Escaping her clutches alive would be good enough!
This old woman's cultivation was even higher than Ji Kun's!
"Cough, cough."
Yun Ze coughed twice to cover his embarrassment and quickly smiled. "Senior, what do you want to ask? This junior will tell you everything without reservation!"
As the saying goes, a true man can bend and stretch!
Just as the old woman said, in the face of strength, everything else is an illusion!
If I bow my head today, after my cultivation surpasses hers, I will definitely say the words I left unsaid!
"You resent me?" The old woman's eyes narrowed, and the coldness returned!
"No! How could I! Don't think nonsense!"
Yun Ze denied it three times in a row. But surprisingly, the old woman didn't mind and even encouraged him.
"Having goals is a good thing. If you have the ability, then I'll accept it. However... you are not worthy yet!"
"Indeed, Senior, please ask whatever you wish!"
"First."
The old woman did not remove the pressure on Yun Ze. She asked, "Did the sword energy enter your Qi Sea?"
"It did."
"You also have sword energy within you. Did the two collide?"
"They collided, and I was injured."
"How is it now?"
"They are separated at opposite ends, minding their own business."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
The old woman's eyes narrowed. After a few moments of thought, she spoke again. "...You truly don't know?"
"I really don't know."
Yun Ze could never reveal the existence of the Immortal Jade, so he could only bluff!
He didn't know why, but his bluffing skills were becoming more and more proficient. He could even face the old woman's pressure without changing his expression.
After hearing this, the old woman stopped asking questions. With a wave of her hand, she let Yun Ze stand up again. "Don't you want to know what that sword energy is?"
Yun Ze stood up again, his attitude much more respectful. "Yes, please enlighten me, Senior."
"It is a curse."
"A curse?"
What kind of curse could protect the entire body, instantly kill Foundation Establishment cultivators, resist Core Formation, and be unbreakable by Golden Core?
If this is a curse, please give me more of it!
"The sword energy can protect the body, as well as the meridians, Qi Sea, and even flesh and bone."
A hint of sadness flashed in the old woman's eyes. She turned to look at Wei Lanshu. "Xiao Shu has carried this sword energy since birth. Besides enjoying the so-called 'protection' of this sword energy, she has also endured the pain of the sword energy attacking her body incessantly.
You should have felt it just now."
Just now?
Yun Ze immediately recalled the feeling of the sword energy drilling into his body earlier and couldn't help but shiver!
He didn't want to experience that kind of pain a second time!
He couldn't help but turn to look at Wei Lanshu, a trace of pity in his eyes...
Since birth, incessantly!
Heaven knows how much pain this girl had endured.
But when Wei Lanshu saw his gaze, she couldn't help but frown.
"Don't look at me like that!"
For the first time, Yun Ze saw anger on her face.
"I don't need anyone's pity."
Wei Lanshu clenched her fists, and her sword intent surged, making the entire secluded room tremble. "I can save my own life!
We are just in a transaction!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yun Ze saw a pouch fly towards him.
He caught it and opened it. Inside were twenty second-grade spirit stones, which was exactly two thousand first-grade spirit stones.
"Miss..."
"Li Po, you know what you need to know. He only asked you to protect me. The rest, I can handle myself."
Wei Lanshu interrupted her and then looked at Yun Ze. "Yun Ze, I only have one question for you."
"Do you still wish to help me?"