The Passerby Female Supporting Character – Chapter 60

Robbery

[Refresher: Cultivation Levels: Qi Refining > Foundation Establishment > Golden Core > Nascent Soul > Divine Transformation > Integration > Great Ascension > Tribulation Transcendence]

Several days passed, and it was time for another morning lesson.

            

Today was overcast; there was no harsh sunlight, and a gentle breeze carried the pleasant fragrance of grass, trees, and flowers. The temperature was comfortable—truly a day suited for sleeping in.

Towards the very back of the morning lesson, in the last few rows, Song Linlin sat listlessly​¹ on a wooden stool. It was still early, the air filled with the dampness of mountain dew. The lesson had just begun moments ago.

In such cool weather, surrounded by quiet, only the lecturer at the front droned on with obscure and difficult-to-understand scriptures. But to Song Linlin’s ears, this sound undoubtedly became the best lullaby. Sleepiness soon crept back into her mind, and she yawned repeatedly.

            

“So sleepy…”

Song Linlin yawned again. Relying on her position in the back row, far from the lecturer, and with a tall figure in front blocking her, her eyes were now nearly closed, her head nodding continuously like a chick pecking grain​².

Just as Song Linlin was about to meet the Duke of Zhou​³ in her dreams, the person beside her suddenly nudged her with an elbow. The movement wasn’t large, but it was just enough to startle Song Linlin awake as her head was about to hit the desk.

            

Song Linlin abruptly lifted her head and subconsciously turned to look right. The person beside her had long, silver-white hair and red eyes that stared at Song Linlin, making her feel the embarrassment of being caught sleeping in class by the teacher​⁴.

She could only give Chi Qianning an awkward smile, sit up straight, and force herself to appear alert. She looked somewhat like she was listening attentively, but as for what the lecturer was actually saying, Song Linlin couldn’t understand a thing.

Perhaps sensing the dull and oppressive atmosphere in the classroom, with a portion of the students clearly absent-minded, the old man sitting at the very front cleared his throat loudly twice. The sound was extremely distinct in the quiet environment, managing to attract the attention of many whose minds had been wandering among the clouds​⁵. Even the distracted Song Linlin looked up towards the front.

            

Seeing the gazes of those below gathered on him, the old man finally spoke slowly, saying unhurriedly, “What this old man​⁶ has lectured on today, I fear none of you enjoy hearing. In that case, let’s talk about something you might be interested in.”

Someone in the audience immediately wanted to flatter the lecturer, clearly having been distracted themselves just moments ago, yet now preparing to say they weren’t uninterested at all. However, the lecturer waved his hand, signaling everyone to be silent. He then reached up to stroke his beard and said, “Everyone, the Sect has decided to open the Profound Yin Realm in half a month. All disciples below the Nascent Soul stage may enter…”

As soon as these words came out, the originally quiet morning lesson immediately erupted into excitement.

            

Song Linlin naturally heard the lecturer’s words clearly too. Unlike the excitement of those around her, however, she frowned. After thinking carefully for two seconds, she instantly remembered what this so-called Profound Yin Realm was.

Similar to the previous Mirror Moon Secret Realm, the Profound Yin Realm was also a type of Secret Realm, though its scale wasn’t as vast as those naturally formed secret realms. It was a Secret Realm created in earlier years by powerful experts of the Sect, specifically for inner disciples to enter for training.

After all, naturally formed Secret Realm were few in number, and most appeared only once every several decades. Getting a chance to enter truly depended on luck.

            

Thus, Secret Realm personally crafted by Sect experts became the best alternative. The level of danger within these realms was controllable, making them countless times safer than natural Secret Realm. Moreover, there were no cultivation realm​⁷ restrictions, and if trouble arose inside, the Sect’s experts could intervene promptly.

Currently, the Sect hadn’t yet announced the news about opening the Profound Yin Realm, but it had already spread among the Sect Elders. This wasn’t classified information, and it was estimated that a public notice would inform the disciples in two days, which was why the lecturer revealed the news in advance.

Back when the Mirror Moon Secret Realm expedition was announced, there were only twenty spots. Many disciples had put their all into cultivating, yet most weren’t selected in the end. In the following days, they inevitably felt somewhat discouraged and slacked off in their practice.

            

Furthermore, the Mirror Moon Secret Realm had shown unprecedented dangers this time, and those who returned looked utterly wretched​⁸. The atmosphere for cultivation within the Sect had grown even more sluggish recently. It was entirely understandable that the higher-ups decided to open the Sect’s internal Secret Realm to stimulate the disciples’ cultivation.

But upon recalling what this name represented, Song Linlin immediately remembered the corresponding main storyline, and her expression instantly turned ugly.

If Song Linlin remembered correctly, this plotline would likely be extremely dangerous!

            

In the original book’s plot, after the Profound Yin Realm opened, because the Secret Realm contained a large number of demon beasts and yin-evil creatures, many disciples would choose to form teams to venture inside. The protagonist Ye Tingran’s team, however, basically had plot armor​⁹ and fought their way directly to the core area of the Secret Realm. There existed an extremely rare Tongyou Fruit​¹⁰. This fruit was essentially the core of the Secret Realm; if taken, the Secret Realm would collapse before long. Such an important place would naturally be guarded by an Elder.

As luck would have it, when Ye Tingran’s team arrived at the core, they directly encountered the book’s villain, Hong Ye, who had come to snatch the Tongyou Fruit. [LP: She’s right beside you, lmao]

The Elder assigned to guard the place was naturally no match for the villain. Even though Hong Ye was clearly heavily injured, the Elder didn’t last long before being smoothly killed.

            

And that deceased Elder had shown kindness and recognized Ye Tingran’s potential, helping her quite often. Ye Tingran witnessed the Elder’s death firsthand. Moreover, as a Sect disciple with a strong sense of justice, seeing someone invade and attempt to forcibly steal the Sect’s property, Ye Tingran had no reason to back down, no matter what.

So, just as Hong Ye grabbed the item and prepared to retreat, having just finished killing all the guardians, she was intercepted by Ye Tingran.

Hong Ye failed to kill this disciple, whose cultivation realm was far below her own, in one strike. Instead, Ye Tingran managed to inflict a wound on her. This act thoroughly enraged the villain. In the end, she went on a killing spree within the Secret Realm, resulting in heavy casualties among the disciples near the core.

            

Being the protagonist, Ye Tingran wasn’t so easily killed, but she still suffered serious injuries. Ultimately, it was the rarely seen Sect Master who arrived in time. Hong Ye, in bad shape and heavily injured, deemed it unwise to fight the Sect Master and chose to retreat. Ye Tingran luckily escaped being killed by the villain.

But because of this incident, Hong Ye completely set her sights on Ye Tingran, and the two became mortal enemies.

Song Linlin completely tuned out whatever else was said during the remainder of the morning lesson. She followed Chi Qianning back to their room. Now, inside the bedroom, Song Linlin lay on the bed, her head pillowed on Chi Qianning’s lap. She held the storybook she had bought down the mountain to pass the time, but her thoughts drifted far away; she didn’t even notice she was holding the book upside down.

            

Sitting there, Chi Qianning noticed Song Linlin’s worried expression. This girl had been acting preoccupied​¹¹ ever since the morning lesson. Usually, she could chatter non-stop even when talking to herself, but now she was silent. Chi Qianning couldn’t help but reach out and poke Song Linlin’s shoulder, asking, “What are you thinking about?”

“Is it because of that Profound Yin Realm?”

Other than this, Chi Qianning couldn’t think of any other reason, since Song Linlin had started brooding right after hearing the lecturer mention it.

            

Previously, Song Linlin and Chi Qianning had always been quite intimate, but there seemed to be a layer like window paper between them, a thin barrier of distance. After the incident of accidentally ingesting the Hehuan San, that paper seemed to have been pierced. If one had to point out a change, it was probably that their physical closeness​¹² had become much more natural.

So now, Song Linlin could comfortably lie on Chi Qianning’s lap reading a book, and Chi Qianning didn’t stop her, just letting the other girl stay close.

Song Linlin put down the book, frowning. She nodded and sighed before saying melancholically, “This Secret Realm trip will be very dangerous!”

            

If only it were the kind of Secret Realm with limited spots. The competition would be fierce, and it wouldn’t be her turn to go. But this was the Sect’s internal Secret Realm. Adhering to the principle of treating everyone equally​¹³, everyone below the Nascent Soul stage had to go.

As a disciple at the Golden Core Stage, Song Linlin naturally couldn’t escape. She would have to enter the Profound Yin Realm, even if she didn’t want to.

“The Profound Yin Realm hasn’t even opened yet. How do you know it will be dangerous inside?” Chi Qianning chuckled lightly.

            

Song Linlin had said the same thing when the Mirror Moon Secret Realm was about to open. But in Chi Qianning’s view, this was purely an excuse Song Linlin made up for her laziness. While others were diligently cultivating, only Song Linlin was slacking off​¹⁴.

Although the later events in the Mirror Moon Secret Realm did turn out as Song Linlin had said, being several times more dangerous than in previous years, that was due to uncontrollable natural factors.

This time, it was the Xuanyun Sect’s internal Secret Realm. The difficulty level was completely within the Sect’s control. Unless the Sect was bored and had nothing better to do​¹⁵, they wouldn’t set the difficulty extremely high just to watch their own disciples all die inside.

            

Moreover, there was no cultivation realm restriction for this Secret Realm. Even if something really happened, someone would go in to rescue them. Chi Qianning couldn’t imagine what danger could possibly exist inside.

As expected, Song Linlin saw the disbelief on Chi Qianning’s face. But she couldn’t blame her; after all, she had previously left Chi Qianning with the impression of being lazy. Furthermore, this was the Xuanyun Sect’s territory. As a major sect known throughout the world, who could imagine that in half a month, someone would actually dare to forcibly break into the Sect’s internal Secret Realm and go on a killing spree inside?

Incidents like this had rarely occurred in the Sect’s history. Most of the powerful Elders remained within the Sect. Such an act of robbing the enemy deep within their headquarters was simply too appalling.

            

Song Linlin sat up, staring at Chi Qianning with a serious expression. “What I’m saying is true! It’s really not a lie I made up just because I want to be lazy.”

Afraid the other wouldn’t believe her, Song Linlin continued, “Actually, at the core of that Profound Yin Realm, there’s a Tongyou Fruit. The Secret Realm relies on the Tongyou Fruit to sustain itself. You definitely know what a Tongyou Fruit is, right?”

“Tongyou Fruit?”

            

Chi Qianning raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. Of course, she knew what it was. This fruit was an extremely rare type of heavenly material and earthly treasure​¹⁶. The fruit contained the world’s purest form of yin energy​¹⁷. Because its growing conditions were too harsh, only a few had been discovered back in ancient times. This was the first time in many years that Chi Qianning had heard of the Tongyou Fruit’s whereabouts.

She hadn’t expected the Xuanyun Sect to possess such a good thing?!

“Yes! The Tongyou Fruit!”

            

Seeing the other’s reaction, Song Linlin was certain Chi Qianning knew what the Tongyou Fruit was. The Profound Yin Realm was created by the Founding Ancestor back when the Sect was first established. For this item to become the core of a Secret Realm, it naturally wouldn’t be anything ordinary.

Seeing Chi Qianning’s interest piqued, Song Linlin immediately added, “You might not believe it, but after the Profound Yin Realm opens, a powerful but very evil person will come to steal this Tongyou Fruit. She will go on a killing spree in the Secret Realm then. This Profound Yin Realm is simply even more dangerous than the previous Mirror Moon Secret Realm!”

“Someone will come to steal the Tongyou Fruit?”

            

Chi Qianning still found it hard to believe. Those with the strength to commit such robbery were undoubtedly famous figures of old, all of whom she knew. Righteous path individuals wouldn’t possibly do such a thing. As for the major figures from the demonic path, daring to do so would likely mean wanting to provoke a great war between the righteous and demonic paths. Right now, the demonic path organizations were loosely structured, and their overall strength was insufficient. How could anyone dare to do such a thing?

So Chi Qianning immediately retorted, “How do you know?”

If Song Linlin hadn’t told her, even Chi Qianning wouldn’t have known that the core of the Profound Yin Realm was a Tongyou Fruit. This information certainly hadn’t circulated; likely only a portion of the Elders knew.

            

“Uh…”

Song Linlin was rendered speechless. Although she knew the plot, she really couldn’t explain it. She couldn’t possibly say she was a transmigrator…

That reason was even more ridiculous; people would probably think she had mental problems.

            

Song Linlin could only force an excuse, saying boldly and confidently​¹⁸, “I dreamed it!”

Chi Qianning: ……

“Don’t disbelieve me! My dreams are very accurate. Like that time with the Mirror Moon Secret Realm, it was because I dreamed beforehand that it would be dangerous there. Otherwise, if I had rushed over to join the fun, I definitely wouldn’t have made it out!” Song Linlin patted her chest, looking completely serious, as if it were true.

            

Chi Qianning didn’t want to argue with Song Linlin on this topic and nodded somewhat perfunctorily. “Alright, I don’t disbelieve you.”

Although she said that on the surface, Chi Qianning still found it incredible. Unless it was some reckless youth, like newborn calves unafraid of tigers​¹⁹, who didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth​²⁰ and dared to rob a major sect, they would probably be slain by the guarding Elder before even getting close to the Tongyou Fruit.

Wait, Chi Qianning suddenly had an idea. Who else besides herself would dare to do such a thing?

            

The Tongyou Fruit was a good thing, very useful for her current self. Why could others dare to rob it, but she couldn’t?

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The author has something to say:

The identity reveal​²¹ plotline is coming soon.

            

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