With Heaven-Defying Talent, I Actually Became Lu Xueqi

Qi Hao turned away without paying any further attention to Tian Ling’er.

With a gloomy expression, he stared coldly at Lin Jingyu, who had just emerged from a corner, and said in a frosty voice,

“Lin Jingyu, why are you here?”

Lin Jingyu sneered,

“If Senior Brother Qi can be here, why can’t I? No offense, Senior Brother Qi, but at your age, still trying to deceive a senior sister from Dazhu Peak—have you no shame?”

Qi Hao was instantly enraged by Lin Jingyu’s words and roared,

“Shut up, Lin Jingyu! What do you know? We cultivators live long lives. I’m just over a hundred years old—not exactly on my deathbed—why shouldn’t I seek a companion?”

Lin Jingyu let out another cold laugh.

“Oh, so you do know you’re over a hundred? At your age, you'd be someone’s great-grandfather in an ordinary family, yet you're here trying to deceive Senior Sister Tian Ling’er. Truly shameless.”

With that, he stopped paying attention to Qi Hao and turned to Tian Ling’er.

“Senior Sister Tian, do you remember me?”

Hearing Lin Jingyu’s words, Tian Ling’er felt a trace of goodwill toward him. After all, Lin Jingyu had spoken up for justice.

Earlier that day, she had received Qi Hao’s invitation. She hadn’t intended to come, but memories of what had happened in her past life had filled her with resentment, compelling her to meet him for closure.

However, this Qi Hao seemed different from the one in her previous life—like a piece of clingy flypaper. No matter what she said, he would brush it aside, utterly unreasonable. It struck Tian Ling’er as strange.

Just as her patience was wearing thin and a confrontation was about to erupt, Lin Jingyu had appeared, easing the pressure on her.

Tian Ling’er said,

“So it's Junior Brother Lin Jingyu. Of course I remember you.”

Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Lin Jingyu’s face. He thought to himself.

‘As expected, I’m more popular than Qi Hao. If I push a bit harder, maybe I can win over Tian Ling’er.’

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Qi Hao shouted.

“Lin Jingyu, don’t push your luck!”

Lin Jingyu paid no attention to Qi Hao’s outburst and replied coolly.

“Senior Brother Qi, how am I pushing my luck? I merely came out to uphold justice. If you have any complaints, feel free to report me to the Discipline Hall.”

Lin Jingyu knew full well that Qi Hao wouldn’t dare report tonight’s meeting with Tian Ling’er to Cang Song, nor go to the Discipline Hall. After all, sneaking out in the middle of the night for a private rendezvous wasn’t exactly honorable.

Qi Hao's expression faltered upon hearing this.

He then glared viciously at Lin Jingyu and gritted his teeth.

“What exactly do you want?”

Lin Jingyu sneered.

“I don’t want anything. I’m just here to admire the night view of Tongtian Peak. If you and Junior Sister Tian have business, please continue. I’ll just stand here—won’t get in your way.”

Qi Hao clenched his teeth and stared daggers at Lin Jingyu. The spiritual energy around him began to churn violently, as though he could strike at any moment.

Lin Jingyu grew wary, worried that Qi Hao might launch a surprise attack.

Tian Ling’er also grew tense upon seeing Qi Hao’s movements.

In her heart, while Qi Hao’s character was lacking, his strength was undeniable. Judging from the aura he was currently emitting, it was clear that he had already reached the Ninth Level of the Jade Purity Realm and was on the verge of breaking through to the Upper Purity Realm.

That worried Tian Ling’er a little.

Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows, Zhang Xiaofan sensed Qi Hao’s intent to strike at Lin Jingyu and Tian Ling’er. His own spiritual power began to ripple faintly, as if ready to intervene at any moment.

In this life, Zhang Xiaofan cultivated the Daoist, Buddhist, and Demonic paths simultaneously, augmented by the power of the Heaven Book.

Though his realm was only at the Seventh Level of the Jade Purity Realm, his actual combat strength was no less than someone at the Ninth Level of the Jade Purity Realm, meaning he had a real chance of defeating Qi Hao.

Qi Hao’s aura surged wildly. After scanning his surroundings, he cast one last venomous glare at Lin Jingyu and Tian Ling’er.

Then he retracted his aura and turned to leave without looking back.

After all, this was the plaza outside the Jade Purity Hall on Tongtian Peak, one of the most central areas of the sect.

If he dared attack Lin Jingyu and Tian Ling’er here tonight, the consequences would be severe.

The sect would surely punish him harshly. His strength wouldn’t exempt him.

Seeing Qi Hao walk away, both Lin Jingyu and Tian Ling’er exhaled softly in relief.

Tian Ling’er turned to Lin Jingyu and said gratefully,

“Thank you for your help tonight, Junior Brother Lin.”

Lin Jingyu shook his head.

“I’m also a disciple of Longshou Peak. I just couldn’t stomach Qi Hao’s character, that’s all.”

Lin Jingyu looked at Tian Ling’er and said,

“I truly didn’t expect it, Senior Sister Ling’er. You’ve already reached the Sixth Level of the Jade Purity Realm. As expected of one of the rare prodigies in our Qingyun Sect.”

Tian Ling’er shook her head helplessly at his words.

“Junior Brother Lin, don’t say that. I’ve been cultivating longer than you, yet my cultivation is weaker.

I’m not exactly sure what level your cultivation has reached, but judging from the aura you just unleashed, you must be at least at the Seventh Level of the Jade Purity Realm, if not higher.

My modest achievements are hardly worth mentioning in comparison.”

Lin Jingyu shook his head and replied,

“No need for such self-deprecation, Senior Sister. With your talent, you’ll surely become a pillar of our Qingyun Sect in the future.”

He then asked,

“Will you stay here a while longer, or are you planning to leave now? Though Qi Hao has left, I worry he may still make a move later.”

Tian Ling’er nodded in agreement. After thinking for a moment, she said,

“Thank you for your help tonight, Junior Brother Lin. I’m heading back to rest now. Farewell.”

With that, she turned and left, giving Lin Jingyu no chance to stop her.

Lin Jingyu watched her departing figure without trying to hold her back.

He had already left a good impression on Tian Ling’er tonight. Pursuing her in the future would be much easier.

In Lin Jingyu’s memory, although Tian Ling’er once had feelings for Qi Hao, she hadn’t shown any romantic affection toward others. She did treat Zhang Xiaofan differently, but he believed it was more of a sibling bond than anything romantic.

With that in mind, as long as he kept a close eye on Qi Hao, Tian Ling’er would eventually fall into his hands.

Thinking this, Lin Jingyu also turned and headed back toward his quarters on Tongtian Peak.

He had a match the next day and needed to rest and recover.

Though his strength made him fear no opponent, Qi Hao was still a formidable rival—he needed to be fully prepared.

After Lin Jingyu left, silence fell once more over the area beside the cold pool of clear water on Tongtian Peak.

Hidden in the shadows, Zhang Xiaofan, seeing the situation settled, was about to leave.

Just then, ripples appeared on the surface of the cold pool.

The Water Qilin and Fire Qilin leapt out, their gazes locking onto Zhang Xiaofan’s hiding spot.

It turned out that earlier, while Zhang Xiaofan was worried for Tian Ling’er and Lin Jingyu during their confrontation with Qi Hao, a trace of Demonic Path aura had leaked from his body while activating his cultivation technique. The Water Qilin had detected it.

Feeling the Qilin’s gaze, Zhang Xiaofan grew wary, like facing a great enemy. He smiled bitterly to himself in resignation.

In his past life, witnessing Qi Hao and his senior sister fall in love had driven him to despair. In his grief, he had triggered the Soul-Devouring Staff, releasing demonic energy. In this life, although his senior sister had changed and he hadn’t activated the staff, a stray demonic aura had still drawn the Water Qilin’s attention.

After a brief moment of thought, Zhang Xiaofan stepped out calmly and suppressed all traces of the demonic aura on his body.

The Water Qilin, seeing him emerge on its own, snorted and moved in closer to sniff him carefully.

Meanwhile, the Fire Qilin suddenly turned its head sharply and looked in another direction.

It had sensed Lu Xueqi’s presence. A glint of joy flashed in its eyes, and with a low growl, it bolted off in her direction.

Seeing this, Lu Xueqi sighed softly and stepped out from the shadows.