After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

Lin Fengmian's eyes lit up.

This Gu worm was practically tailor-made for him!

He cultivates the way of the sword and also possesses the art of nurturing the sword, so sword energy is his forte.

If further enhanced by this magnificent sword energy—

"But... don't let it starve to death! Remember to feed it with pure sword energy regularly."

Zhao Yun'er added:

"It feeds on sword energy. When you cultivate each day, just set aside a wisp of sword energy to feed it."

Lin Fengmian nodded thoughtfully.

He secretly clicked his tongue in amazement.

This girl's background is indeed extraordinary.

Seeing him staring blankly at the jade bottle, Zhao Yun'er assumed he was disgusted. She bit her lip and whispered:

"You...you shouldn't think I'm stingy! This is the only one that suits you here."

Zhao Yun'er was telling the truth; the several items left by her grandmother were mostly for women.

Lin Fengmian snapped out of his daze and couldn't help but laugh when he saw her looking so afraid of being misunderstood.

He reached out and ruffled her hair, saying softly, "No, thank you, Yun'er."

Zhao Yun'er stiffened from his rubbing, then lowered her head and muttered softly:

"Who...who told you to call me Yun'er?"

Despite saying that, he didn't dodge it.

A moment later, she looked up, put away the three jade bottles, and picked up another jade bottle from the stone platform, holding it in her hand.

"Lin Fengmian, I'm leaving."

Her voice was soft, but a hint of disappointment inevitably showed in her eyes.

"My identity is special. If I leave here and am searched by the sect, it will be very troublesome. I..."

She wanted to say something more.

But the next moment——

Lin Fengmian suddenly stepped forward, lowered his head,

He gently cupped her face in his hands, directly capturing those two soft lips.

"Ugh...!"

Zhao Yun'er's body stiffened abruptly.

She instinctively raised her hand, wanting to push him away.

Her body grew weaker and weaker, and her hands gradually lost their strength, leaving her only able to limply rest her head on his shoulder.

My mind went completely blank.

She had never felt this way before.

Lin Fengmian felt a little amused as he held the stiff, stone-like body in his arms.

This young lady is indeed a complete novice when it comes to matters of the heart.

Then his hand began to wander.

"No, not there..."

The sound was so soft it was like a mosquito humming.

Lin Fengmian looked at her, both embarrassed and annoyed.

She blinked, a pitiful expression on her face.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Yun'er felt a sudden tightness in her chest.

She bit her lip and explained softly:

"The cultivation technique I practice cannot be broken before I reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Otherwise... otherwise all my efforts will be wasted..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

"After I reach Foundation Establishment, if you...you..."

She couldn't continue.

If any other man dared to kiss and touch her, she would definitely tear him to pieces.

It could be Lin Fengmian instead...

She found that she just couldn't bring herself to be ruthless.

Lin Fengmian felt a surge of tenderness in his heart as he looked at her conflicted expression. He stepped forward and gently took her hand.

"Yun'er, I will come to find you then."

Zhao Yun'er felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this.

But thinking of her identity and the dangers of that place, she shook her head and whispered:

"You...you'd better not come. It's very dangerous where I am."

"It's alright." Lin Fengmian smiled, his eyes full of confidence. "I will become stronger."

Zhao Yun'er stared blankly at his clear and determined eyes.

After a moment, she said softly:

"I belong to the Five Poisons Sect in the Yu Kingdom. You... it's best not to come looking for me before you reach the Core Formation stage."

After saying that, she looked down at the jade bottle in her hand.

Inside the bottle was a pure white Gu worm, a keepsake left by her grandmother.

Because her previous owner was her great-grandmother, they were connected by blood, making the refining process easy.

She opened the bottle, and the Gu worm transformed into a beam of light, disappearing into her brow.

Zhao Yun'er closed her eyes, then opened them a moment later, her eyes showing a different look than before.

She gave Lin Fengmian one last, deep look.

Then--

She vanished from the spot in a flash.

……

A desolate mountain thousands of miles away from the secret realm.

Suddenly, space distorted, and a petite figure fell from the void.

Zhao Yun'er steadied herself and determined her direction.

To the east lies the State of Yu.

She took a deep breath and flew off in that direction.

……

Dongfuzhong.

Lin Fengmian stared at the disappearing figure, remaining motionless for a long time.

After a long silence, he sighed deeply.

"Zhao Yun'er... Five Poisons Sect... Core Formation..."

He murmured to himself and shook his head.

None of this matters.

The important thing is that he will become stronger.

Strong enough to go anywhere and meet anyone.

He looked down at the jade bottle in his hand.

Inside the bottle, the Gu with its magnificent sword aura was slowly wriggling, the sword-shaped pattern on its back faintly glowing.

Lin Fengmian opened the bottle, and the Gu worm crawled out from his fingertip, gently wriggling in his palm.

This was the first time he had observed the Gu worms so closely, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder.

This thing will be my partner from now on?

He shook his head, and with a flash, entered the jade pendant space.

Sitting cross-legged under the mystical willow tree, Lin Fengmian began to refine the Gu worm according to the method taught by Zhao Yun'er.

The method is very simple.

By constantly nurturing and refining it with its own spiritual power, it gradually becomes familiar with its aura and eventually submits completely.

Lin Fengmian placed the Gu worm in his dantian and slowly enveloped it with his spiritual power.

Perhaps it was the pure sword energy in its dantian that attracted it.

Perhaps it had been in the jade bottle for too long and was a little hungry, because the Gu worm did not resist at all, but instead happily absorbed the sword energy.

The refining process went surprisingly smoothly.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lin Fengmian felt a strange connection being established between himself and the Gu worm.

He could clearly perceive its state.

Hungry or full; excited or tired.

It can also be controlled by thought.

Lin Fengmian opened his eyes, a thought flashing through his mind.

The Gu worm flew out from his dantian and hovered in front of him.

According to Zhao Yun'er, the Gu worm's ability is to gather sword energy.

When activated in battle, it will respond according to the sword energy released by its master.

The more attacks you perform, the higher the damage you inflict.

The more hits you get, the higher the damage.

A flicker of excitement flashed in Lin Fengmian's eyes.

This Gu worm is practically tailor-made for me!