Chapter 706 - 366: Affection Is Feigned, Profit Is Real
Chapter 706: Chapter 366: Affection Is Feigned, Profit Is Real
"South District, Venue Dingshu No. 5, Feiyun Sect, Zheng Mulin versus Loose Cultivator Ming Chou, begins now!"
The South District of the Celestial Tao Fighting Arena was filled with cultivators who had already competed in one round, drawing the attention of many in the stands.
"Is this Zheng Mulin?"
"The youngest elder of the Feiyun Sect, truly a graceful presence!"
"He’s also a lovestruck soul; back then, when his Senior Sister lost her way in the Northern Wilderness, he ventured there seven times in search of her, and to this day has not sought another partner!"
"Wow, such high cultivation, so handsome, and so dashing, truly a perfect man!"
Many female cultivators were buzzing with admiration, their gazes filled with adoration for Zheng Mulin.
Qin Gengyun and others rushed to the platform below, hearing the surrounding discussions, Liu Su snorted:
"The more despicable a person is, the better they can disguise themselves."
Fang Xue looked towards the small figure on the platform, her eyes full of worry:
"Third Senior Sister..."
On the battle platform, Zheng Mulin smiled warmly, calmly accepting the countless admiring glances around him, and turned to the petite female cultivator opposite him, smiling:
"Taoist Friend, shall we stop at just exchanging pointers?"
At this moment, Si Minglan had transformed into the appearance of Ming Chou, and Zheng Mulin did not recognize her, instead mistaking her for a Loose Cultivator of good temperament.
"Heh."
Si Minglan sneered, suddenly asked:
"Taoist Friend Zheng, I heard you once had a Dao Companion named Yin Qiaoqin?"
Zheng Mulin paused, "How does Taoist Friend Ming know this?"
Si Minglan pointed below the platform: "Taoist Friend Zheng’s loyalty is known to everyone, isn’t it?"
Zheng Mulin sighed, his expression timely showing a look of sorrow: "Indeed, Senior Sister Yin and I pledged eternal love, deeply bonded, yet she was captured by villains of Spirit Corpse Mountain, leaving no trace. It’s all my fault for being unable to protect her."
He spoke sincerely, even to the point of teary eyes, making countless female cultivators below feel empathetic.
"Senior Brother Zheng is truly deep in love!"
"Such a good man deserves his position as an elder!"
"Only those deeply in love can reach the pinnacle of the Dao, no wonder Zheng Mulin reached the Nascent Soul Realm so young!"
Hearing the surrounding praise, Zheng Mulin showed a look of shame on his face, saying to Si Minglan:
"Taoist Friend Ming, I lost my composure, shall we begin?"
Si Minglan said flatly: "I heard Taoist Friend Zheng ventured into the Northern Wilderness seven times just to find your Dao Companion?"
Zheng Mulin nodded: "Indeed, though my cultivation is inadequate, I never managed to find Senior Sister Yin, a great regret of my life! If by chance I manage to ascend one day, I must find Senior Sister Yin’s remains and ascend with her to the Immortal Realm!"
"Wow!!"
Hearing his words, the female cultivators around screamed:
"To ascend with the remains of his Dao Companion, so passionate!"
"Truly a legendary romance!"
"When can I have a Dao Companion like Taoist Friend Zheng?"
Amidst the admiration and love for Zheng Mulin, Si Minglan spoke again:
"But I’ve heard that on your seven trips to the Northern Wilderness, the first time you found a Spiritual Marrow Treasure Land, the second an Ancient Immortal Sword, the third a Fifth Grade Immortal Cloud Grass, the fourth..."
Her voice was calm, yet it overshadowed all the surrounding noise, each word sinking into everyone’s ears.
She mentioned every gain Zheng Mulin had from his seven trips to the Northern Wilderness.
Qin Gengyun instinctively looked at Qiu Zhihe, who transmitted her voice: "Xue Wu is good at investigating, I had him help Si Minglan investigate."
At this, everyone around showed a look of astonishment.
"What does this mean?"
"How is this female cultivator so familiar with Senior Brother Zheng?"
"Isn’t it said that Zheng Mulin ventured into the Northern Wilderness seven times to find his Dao Companion? How did he end up finding Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures each time?"
"So was he looking for his Dao Companion or treasure?"
"Could it be that all the profound love was fake?"
Some people reacted, shockedly looking at Zheng Mulin on the platform.
Zheng Mulin’s expression changed slightly, coldly looking at the female cultivator in front:
"Taoist Friend Ming, my seven trips to the Northern Wilderness were for the search for Senior Sister Yin, these finds were mere coincidences."
Si Minglan sneered: "Each treasure you found is extraordinarily precious, even a large Treasure Hunting Team might not find them, why do you happen to ’coincidentally’ obtain them each time?"
"Zheng Mulin, you say your trips to the Northern Wilderness were for Yin Qiaoqin, then even if you couldn’t find her, you should’ve found some clues, right?"
The surrounding people nodded in agreement to Si Minglan’s words:
"This female cultivator makes sense, going there seven times, you should’ve found some traces."
"Senior Brother Zheng must’ve found clues, Senior Brother Zheng, quickly tell that woman and shut her up!"
Zheng Mulin’s face was gloomy, coldly responded: "Taoist Friend Ming, this is a private matter, why should I declare it publicly?"
Si Minglan said: "You use Yin Qiaoqin’s name to become famous, gaining preferential resources within the Feiyun Sect and advancing to Nascent Soul when young, by exploiting Yin Qiaoqin to build your reputation of deep love, it’s no longer a private matter!"
"Today, do you dare clarify everything you did on your seven trips to the Northern Wilderness before all the cultivators?"
"Were your feelings for Yin Qiaoqin sincere or mere exploitation?!"
Si Minglan’s voice was calm, but it spread throughout the entire Celestial Tao Fighting Arena.
For a moment, besides the cultivators in combat, everyone else turned to look this way.
On the high platform, Lin Yuan and Wu Zheng were also looking over here.
Wu Zheng chuckled: "Empress, this Ming Chou is quite interesting."
Lin Yuan smiled slightly: "A mere Loose Cultivator, to dare question an elder of Feiyun Sect, is commendable in bravery."
She glanced at a palace maid beside her, who nodded in understanding, quietly descending the high platform to softly speak to a guard:
"Have someone keep an eye on that Ming Chou."
Wu Zheng seemed not to notice this scene, still smiling broadly and eagerly watching Si Minglan and Zheng Mulin on the battle platform.
At this time, on the battle platform, Zheng Mulin’s face was ashen, coldly spoke:
"My seven trips to the Northern Wilderness were for Senior Sister Yin, yet the Spirit Corpse Mountain’s movements are mysterious, I found no clues!"
"But my deep affection for Senior Sister Yin is not something an outsider like you can defile unfoundedly!"
Si Minglan suddenly raised her hand, taking out a jade hairpin from her bosom, "Zheng Mulin, do you recognize this item?"
Zheng Mulin was shocked: "This is..."
Si Minglan said: "I grew up in the Northern Wilderness, a few years ago, I encountered a dying female cultivator while hunting a demonic beast, she said her name was Yin Qiaoqin, from the Feiyun Sect, attacked during a sect trial by Spirit Corpse Mountain."
"Her Junior Brother Dao Companion abandoned her, she was captured by Spirit Corpse Mountain and suffered greatly."
"By fortune, she escaped, yet did not have long to live, she said she did not blame her Junior Brother, she wished to return to Feiyun Sect to reunite with him, but her injuries were too severe, and she couldn’t hold on."
"This jade hairpin, was their token of love!"