Fantasy, starting with a treasure bowl

"Brother Lu, I didn't mishear, did I? You don't even know this woman's background...?!"

Faced with Lu Feng's question, Han Buli was also stunned, his eyes widening as if in disbelief.

"Ahem, I truly do not know."

Lu Feng coughed again, his expression somewhat unnatural.

After all, aside from his secluded cultivation, he spent his days refining pills to make money and rarely paid attention to outside affairs. So it was perfectly normal that he knew nothing about the white-clad woman's origins!

"This woman's name is Zhong Lingyu. Not only does she come from the East Academy, the top of the four academies, but she is also the East Academy's number one expert, consistently ranking first on the leaderboard. She is virtually unbeatable, and even some senior academy deacons are no match for her!"

Seeing that Lu Feng still looked puzzled, Han Buli didn't keep him in suspense and immediately explained.

"So she is Zhong Lingyu, the top student in the East Courtyard!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng's heart tightened, and he looked again in the direction where the woman in white had disappeared, a look of apprehension flashing across his face.

At this moment, all the mysteries were finally revealed!

No wonder he sensed a deadly killing intent from the woman in white. It turns out that she was none other than Zhong Lingyu, the number one expert of the East Courtyard and the pride of heaven, whom Ren Lingyun and others had mentioned before!

"Yes, yes!"

Nodding as well, Han Buli still looked uneasy and said, "Besides that, this woman's background is also a mystery, even the elders in the academy don't know anything about her...!"

"Even the elders in the academy don't know Zhong Lingyu's background?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Really? Not to mention that Elder Yin Baili of the Punishment Hall is always cautious, Elder Liu Lanyu of the Scripture Hall is even more righteous and intolerant of evil. They shouldn't be so casual as to allow someone of unknown origin to join Falling Star Academy, right?"

"Well...! Actually, I'm not quite sure either...!"

Scratching his head again, Han Buli looked somewhat embarrassed, and then said, "I've only heard that the person who took in Zhong Lingyu back then wasn't one of the elders of the academy, but rather Dean Chu himself. Perhaps he knows a little about the inside story...?"

"Fellow Daoist Han, do you know anything else about this woman's background?"

Faced with Han Buli's explanation, Lu Feng nodded, and then said something else, as if he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"No, that's all!"

Faced with Lu Feng's series of questions, Han Buli shook his head repeatedly, seemingly hesitant to mention anything about Zhong Lingyu.

After all, Zhong Lingyu is the number one expert in the East Courtyard. If the other party finds out that Han Buli is gossiping behind his back, the latter will most likely be finished!

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Han."

Seeing Han Buli looking utterly timid, as if he had been terrified by Zhong Lingyu's "formidable reputation," Lu Feng didn't say anything more. He simply cupped his hands in greeting and then turned to leave.

"Oh, right! There's one more thing!"

Just as Lu Feng was about to leave, Han Buli slapped his forehead, as if he had suddenly remembered something, and said in a low, weak voice, "Brother Lu, I've heard that this woman was born mute and cannot speak. Moreover, she has an extremely aloof and cold personality, rarely interacts with the outside world, and has no friends, only some small animals for company..."

"Small animals?"

Lu Feng raised an eyebrow again, a hint of surprise on his face. "Could it be that this woman also knows the art of beast taming and keeps some demonic pets by her side?"

"Uh, maybe...!"

"However, these rumors are ultimately just hearsay, and as for whether they are true or not, I, Han, am not quite sure either..."

Faced with Lu Feng's questioning, Han Li simply shook his head and then weakly said that he had only heard about it secondhand.

"I understand, Fellow Daoist Han. Goodbye."

After learning a part of Min Lingyu's past, Lu Feng didn't waste any more words. He bid farewell to Han Buli and continued walking deeper into Baibaoxuan Street.

At present, although the superior alternative to Ice Heart Grass, "Overlord Flower", has been found, it is ultimately only a main ingredient. To refine a batch of "Beautiful Jade Ice Skin Pill" of excellent quality, it is clear that relying on only one main ingredient is far from enough!

Therefore, Lu Feng needs to browse around the Hundred Treasures Pavilion a bit more for now, and also look for other suitable medicinal herbs to supplement his diet.

"Heh, Lu family lad, what's this? You've got your eye on that girl again?"

No sooner had Lu Feng left than Gu Canyang's mocking voice slowly drifted from inside the treasure basin, seemingly implying something.

"Old Gu, what do you take me for? I just want to know myself and my enemy, so that I'll be safe in all things. Besides, it's always better to have one more friend than one more enemy..."

Faced with Gu Canyang's mockery, Lu Feng simply spread his hands outwards, his face full of innocence.

After all, Zhong Lingyu is not only beautiful, but also has considerable strength and cultivation. If Lu Feng could get to know such a beautiful and powerful woman, it would be entirely beneficial for him!

This is also why Lu Feng took the initiative to inquire about Zhong Lingyu's background. After all, there is an old saying that goes, "Make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible." This is the best way to conduct oneself in the world!

"Hmph, don't even try!"

Seeing that Lu Feng was still pretending, Gu Canyang snorted coldly again, seemingly disdainful of the former's explanation, "Don't I know you, kid? You've got your eye on that young lady!"

"Otherwise, why were you wasting your breath talking to that guy named Han Li... no, Han Bu Li?"

"Alright! Whatever you say, I admit defeat!"

Faced with Gu Canyang's insightful words, Lu Feng stopped being stubborn and shrugged helplessly.

Indeed, his initiative to inquire about Zhong Lingyu's background was not only to befriend her, but also for a selfish reason.

After all, any normal man would be interested in such a beautiful girl, unless that man is the reincarnation of Wei Zhongxian or Li Lianying!

...

Baibaoxuan, a street corner

"This is a fifty-year-old medicinal herb, honey fruit, not bad...!"

"This medicinal herb seems to be okra, one of the main ingredients in the seventh-grade 'Detoxifying and Lung-Clearing Pill.' The quality looks quite good, and it's over eighty years old, but there are some insect damage marks on the roots and stems. What a pity...!"

"Hmm? I didn't expect to find a rare medicinal plant here that's a hundred years old—a Bodhi seed? Looks like my luck is pretty good today!"

Lu Feng moved with the speed of the wind, wandering among the stalls, pausing from time to time with a thoughtful expression, seemingly searching for the best materials to refine the Jade Ice Skin Pill.

Swish, snap!

Just as Lu Feng reached out to grab a spiritual herb from a stall, a fair hand suddenly emerged from the side. The two palms gently met, and a cold sensation instantly surged from their fingertips, causing Lu Feng to be momentarily stunned.

"what?"

Feeling the icy chill on his fingertips, Lu Feng instinctively looked up. When he saw the other person's stunningly beautiful face, his pupils constricted in surprise. "It's you...!"