That was an item Qin Yue frequently used, and it was now gently swaying with Qing Feng's movements.
Fairy Su Yan suddenly gave a light cough: "It's strange, but why did that Black Dog single out Luo-shixiong that day?"
The female cultivators giggled, covering their mouths with their sleeves, their bell-like laughter stinging Luo Tingjue's eardrums.
He forcefully suppressed the metallic taste in his throat, recalling the embarrassment of being chased around the mountain by the vicious dog three days prior, his sword art nearly crushed in his sleeve.
Qing Feng timely presented a jade box: "This is freshly picked Lanyang Grass, which, combined with century-old ginseng whiskers, is best for nourishing meridians." As he spoke, his eyes drooped at the corners, showing twelve parts sincerity.
Luo Tingjue stared at the faintly visible ice silkworm ribbon around Qing Feng's neck; it was something Yun Qingrao often wore before entering seclusion.
"Is Immortal Maiden Qin well?" he deliberately asked as he took the jade box, and as expected, saw Qing Feng's fingertips tremble slightly. This subtle flaw allowed Luo Tingjue to secretly breathe a sigh of relief; it seemed his plan had not completely failed.
From afar, the melodious sound of a jade chime echoed, and the seven-layered palace appeared faintly in the morning mist.
Luo Tingjue gazed at the flickering sword light deep within the sea of clouds, which was where Yun Qingrao was in seclusion.
He suddenly smiled broadly; now that he had connected with Su Yan, why worry about not being able to uncover Qin Yue's true situation?
As dusk stained the flower bushes, Qing Feng's silhouette as he played the zither seemed like an exiled Immortal who had stepped out of an ink wash painting.
Qin Yue, however, was like the evening breeze sweeping across the zither strings, heading straight for the martial arts arena, not even a single flower petal lingering for Luo Tingjue.
This proud son of Yixian Palace stood frozen in place until the next day when he extended an invitation using the Sect's official invitation card.
On the training platform, sword light and zither strings resonated together; for three days, though they faced each other day and night, an invisible barrier always separated them. Before noon on the fourth day, Qin Yue sheathed her sword: "I concede."
Luo Tingjue was about to employ a tactic when he suddenly saw a black shadow break through the air.
Everyone saw the usually dignified True Disciple stumble and flee, his embroidered golden robes turning into shredded rags between the dog's teeth.
By the time the Medicine Pavilion Disciple treated his injuries, the bite marks on his buttocks had clearly become the Sect's laughingstock.
"It was clearly a carefully planned accident." Luo Tingjue caressed the jade pendant at his waist, pondering how to leverage the situation to exert pressure.
Unexpectedly, Yun Qingrao had already presented the evidence to the Law Enforcement Hall: half a burned piece of agarwood.
"This incense has an aphrodisiac effect on demonic beasts." Fairy Su Yan gently stroked the incense ash, "Martial Brother Qing Feng's spirit dog is still in its juvenile stage..."
"It's all my fault for not disciplining him properly." Qing Feng approached, holding the trembling Black Dog, "If it offended Luo-shixiong with that dirty item, I will definitely castrate it as an apology." As he spoke, a gust of wind swept past the dog's tail, startling Great Black into whimpering and shrinking under the table.
Luo Tingjue sent him off with a warm smile, then turned and crushed the teacup in his palm. The stinging pain of the porcelain shards embedding into his flesh was far less than the whisper that drifted into his ears: "I heard Luo-shixiong's undergarments have a twin lotus pattern?"
"Your Lordship need not blame yourself; who could have known that mongrel dog actually contained the bloodline of a Heavenly Wolf and would resonate with the agarwood you wore?" The aide whispered.
"Incredibly foolish, do you really think that beast was out of control?" Luo Tingjue sneered, toying with his jade thumb ring, "That vicious dog avoided vital points with every bite; it was clearly a precise attack directed by someone."
"Should we temporarily suspend the plan?"
"Suspend? My head can't wait!" Luo Tingjue suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, "I should thank this farce; it has confirmed Qin Yue's importance in Qing Feng's heart. Order the Shadow Guards to concentrate resources on breaking through Qin Yue's defenses."
Cold sweat seeped from the aide's back as he looked at the surging desire in the Young Master's eyes, suddenly realizing that this humiliation had completely activated his desire for conquest; he had originally only regarded Qin Yue as a strategic chess piece, but now she had become a trophy that must be brought into his possession.
Qing Feng's camp.
"Being able to escape unscathed this time is entirely thanks to your timely feigned madness." The white-robed sword cultivator gently scratched the giant beast lying on the ground, "Next time you use being in heat as an excuse, be careful the Law Enforcement Hall doesn't really stew you for a meal."
"That hypocrite circles Immortal Maiden Qin all day, saying things like 'I can't bear to hurt her during sparring'; even this dog feels nauseous hearing it."
The Black Dog suddenly stood on its hind legs, its front paws gesturing exaggeratedly, "This Lord was merely going with the flow, eliminating a cultivation world Chen Shimei for the Three Realms."
Qing Feng flicked the dog's nose with his finger: "Watch your words. The two factions are currently in a honeymoon period of cooperation, and you publicly tore apart the chief Disciple's robes."
"Tch! How could that tiger cub be as soft as my fur? And the ginseng doll's licking is irritating." The giant beast suddenly sprang onto the stone table, its tail coiling around someone's teacup, which it then drank in one gulp. "Seriously, since that Luo fellow has his eyes on Immortal Maiden Qin, your mountain protection arrays should be upgraded."
The sword cultivator gazed at the faintly visible palace in the sea of clouds, his sword qi condensing into half a verse of "Phoenix Seeking Mate" between his fingers, then scattering into a sky full of starlight: "Let's see if he can pass the Jade Pond Martial Arts Assembly."
The smile on Qing Feng's lips suddenly froze, and his fingers sank deeply into the Black Dog's neck fur: "A thousand-year-old bachelor dog dares to laugh at me for being alone?"
Luo Qing, invisible in mid-air, almost burst out laughing, quickly covering her red lips with her fingertips. This scene of Qing Feng playing with his spirit beast was much more lively than she had imagined.
The Black Dog's tail coiled in supplication: "No more, no more!" Qing Feng held it by its ear tip in mid-air until it surrendered before letting go: "If you cause any more trouble, I'll refine you into a lightning rod."
"Are you really not worried about Immortal Maiden Qin being coaxed away?" The Black Dog shook its wet nose.
"Senior Sister has her own judgment." Qing Feng's fingertips condensed starlight, which flowed in his palm, "If he really bit someone, would Senior Sister have to visit daily to apologize?" His tone suddenly turned cold: "If you're going to strike, sever his cultivation foundation, understand?"
The spirit dog He shrunk his neck and fled to Chenming Peak, and Qing Feng leaned against the clouds, entering meditation. Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, a turtle shell inscribed with ancient runes was exhaling chaotic qi; this was his nightly cultivation.
Suddenly, a faint fragrance wafted, but Qing Feng's breathing rhythm remained undisturbed.
The newcomer could actually avoid his divine sense detection, meaning they were at least at the Void Refinement stage. If it were truly a Grand Ascension stage old monster, his small thatched hut might not be safe. However, remembering the Immortal Slaying Array personally set up by Elder Feng Dingshi, a smile curved at the corner of his lips.
At this moment, Luo Qing was approaching with her Illusionary Sound Flute, when suddenly, the spiritual patterns beneath her feet glowed brightly.
A pale purple mist instantly swallowed her vision, and even her divine sense was suppressed within three feet.
She immediately formed a hand seal, covering her face with a thin veil of spiritual power, but when her toes touched the ground, it felt as if she was falling into emptiness.
"It's actually the Myriad Illusions Maze Array?" The female cultivator's pupils constricted slightly, and the jade pendant at her waist emitted a faint light.
This array clearly contained hidden killing intent; rashly breaking it would surely result in a backlash. She suddenly understood why Qing Feng could sleep so peacefully.
The array patterns flowing around the thatched hut were clearly the work of a Tribulation Transcension stage mighty expert.
As dusk enveloped the Beast Taming Sect mountain gate, Luo Qing had already realized she had made a fatal mistake.
She pulled her night clothes tighter and stealthily moved along the mountain wall, but was still trapped by the Five Elements Sword Array in front of Qing Feng's thatched hut.
The Yixian Palace's secret Ethereal Steps left afterimages on the bluestone slabs, but this was, after all, a sacred place in the hearts of all sword cultivators in the world.
"Are Beast Taming Sect Disciples all so unkempt?"
Luo Qing waved her sleeve, dispersing the mountain mist that rushed towards her. As her pale fingers just touched the jade flute at her waist, five cold lights broke through the mist.
The five-colored sword qi of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth were linked end to end, actually dyeing the entire bamboo forest into flowing rainbow light.