The Way of The Dao

The day passed quietly without anyone else disturbing them.

"Hehe~, really?"

A soft and delicate giggle was heard in the room. Xuanyuan Ling covered her mouth as she tried to control her laughter after listening to Ling Tian. However, one could completely notice the amused and joyful expression on her.

Both of them had come out and sat by the small table in the courtyard, taking in the soft and comforting sunlight as the sun was receding into the horizon. Xuanyuan Ling had removed her veil, feeling that there was no need to wear it when being with Ling Tian.

Ling Tian nodded with an equally amused smile and added, "Little Tianjing had tricked Little Xiang in order to be the winner, but in the end the one who won was Little Bingluo who was smarter and more cunning than both of them." He couldn't help but widen his smile, remembering such funny moments from the past with his disciples back then.

Xuanyuan Ling blinked her bright eyes, laughing softly while keeping a very cheerful smile on her. Ling Tian and she had been chatting for hours and their distance had been cut considerably, becoming closer as they interacted with each other and put aside formalities.

Xuanyuan Ling thought that her Grandmaster really was amusing, something different from the concept she had of him. It seemed that instead of being a Grandmaster and a Granddisciple, they were friends who were sharing moments filled with joy and happiness. She felt more and more that the distant and serious image she had towards her unknown Grandmaster in the past was fading away and gradually Ling Tian's attitude and gentleness reshaped the image of him in her heart.

Even Xuanyuan Ling felt that Ling Tian could be a great friend besides being her Grandmaster.....

"Then, do we have to wait for the scripture energy to recover so that we can travel to another Cultivation World?" Xuanyuan Ling asked after chatting with Ling Tian on various topics.

Ling Tian nodded gently and said, "That's right, Xuanyuan Ling. I have to recover the aura and power of the Sacred Heavenly Scriptures to be able to tear space and be able to move in the void before creating the cracks in the void to enter other worlds. That or repair my Dantian and Meridians and increase my strength again."

Xuanyuan Ling nodded slowly, understanding a little more about the heavenly object Ling Tian possessed. Then, her face flushed slightly before she said in a slightly hesitant voice, "Grandmaster, you can call me Ling'er like my Masters..."

"Uhmm?" Ling Tian raised his eyebrows and smiled again, nodding softly, "Then I'll call you Ling'er too."

They barely knew each other and Ling Tian wouldn't be so confident to call her in such a way even if she was his own Grand Disciple. Only people who were close and had good relations would affectionately call each other without a problem.

"Enm," Xuanyuan Ling nodded with a slight blush on her face, smiling softly again.

Ling Tian watched Xuanyuan Ling's reaction all this time and smiled inwardly. Although Xuanyuan Ling might show an indifferent expression, she was still a young woman who was beginning to develop and experience new things. She reminded him a lot of his female disciples when they were just little girls and growing up.

"Di Ji, you may retire and go to rest."

After a few seconds, Ling Tian frowned slightly before sighing and looking at Di Ji.

"Then Di Ji is retiring, Young Master, Young Miss." Di Ji bowed, saying goodbye to Ling Tian and Xuanyuan Ling.

Di Ji's nervousness had calmed down a lot in all this time and she was no longer trembling with nerves or excitement. Di Ji had also been surprised that behind Xuanyuan Ling's veil there was such a beautiful, fine and delicate face, leaving her in shock for a long time before she got used to it.

Di Ji withdrew from the personal courtyard and a strange quietness filled the place. The sun had already set and the moon was in the sky, mysteriously illuminating the horizon along with the stars.

"Grand Master..." Xuanyuan Ling whispered lightly as she narrowed her gaze, glancing sideways towards a specific direction.

"I know." Ling Tian nodded quietly before lifting the teacup and taking a sip, then after a few seconds said in a calm voice that easily spread throughout the personal courtyard, "Why don't you come out at once? We're alone now."

Ling Tian's eyelids opened and he looked in the same direction as Xuanyuan Ling.

"Hehe, looks like little friend is very perceptive~"

An evil laugh was soon heard as a silhouette moved through the shadows, slightly altering the space where it passed.

A man in his 40s wearing black clothes and a somewhat short sword in his hand appeared in front of Ling Tian and Xuanyuan Ling, as if he no longer cared about showing himself after being discovered. His gaze looked for a few seconds at Ling Tian before he shifted to Xuanyuan Ling and showed a lascivious look full of lust and desire.

Although there was one more person, the man thought it would still be easy. After all, what could mere youths who were just starting to grow up do to him, plus obviously his target was a complete cripple. The young woman should have been a mere girl that Ling Tian should have found and invited into his personal courtyard.

Xuanyuan Ling scowled in disgust before putting her veil back on, hiding her face.

"Mh? Looks like you really have some good stuff left by that expert..." The man tilted his head as he licked his lips, seeing that he could no longer see through Xuanyuan Ling's veil. His mind filled with excitement as he thought of Ling Tian's storage ring!

"Who sent you? It seems that you really can't wait to get rid of me, eh?" Ling Tian smiled faintly, putting down the teacup on the table and turning to look at the man.

"Someone who is about to die doesn't need to know!" The man sneered and advanced towards Ling Tian.

"Seeing your courage in infiltrating here, you should be one of the top ranks of the major families of this city... Half-Step Golden Core, uhm?" Ling Tian lifted the corner of his mouth subtly, glaring mockingly at the man without even getting up from the chair.

Instantly, the man stopped as he felt a sense of death, informing him that if he took another step further, he would definitely die!

His spirit sense broke free and confirmed that Ling Tian didn't even have a cultivation aura, letting out a small sigh of relief inside. But when he subconsciously looked at Xuanyuan Ling, the man swallowed nervously when he saw that he couldn't see her cultivation level!

The man thought that Xuanyuan Ling was the one who gave him that feeling of death and terror!

Impossible! How could a young woman have a more powerful cultivation than him? It was clearly impossible!

However, what he didn't realize was that the aura really didn't come from Xuanyuan Ling...

"If you talk, I might spare your life~" Ling Tian glared, a mockery evident on his face.

"Don't get cocky, kid!" The man tightly clenched the short sword in his hand before finally lunging towards Ling Tian. His cultivation essence was mobilized and a powerful Chi spread from his body towards the sword in his hand in just a few seconds!

The man thought that these two young men must be using an unknown artifact to make him feel that chilling sensation, so it would be over if he got rid of them quickly!

"Haa..." Ling Tian rolled his eyes before sighing and looking indifferently at the man, raising his arm just before he felt a slight fluctuation of energy coming from behind him.

A powerful spiritual energy shook the space slightly as a giant hand appeared out of nowhere in mid-air, easily grabbing the man in mid-air!

"Cultivation Essence Giant Hand... Great Ascension Expert..."

A terrified voice filled with fear came out of the man's mouth as his face paled and he felt like he couldn't move an inch.