Chapter 86: The Parties Deeply Regret

He replied casually, eyeing Ji Linghan’s cave mansion with interest. The interior was simply furnished, with nothing but abundant spiritual qi, making it look quite plain. "Sigh, I thought as a girl your cave mansion would have some pink decorations." Upon hearing this, Ji Linghan’s beautiful big eyes narrowed. Today, Lin Ning seemed particularly dismissive of her. Although she and Lin Ning had a competitive relationship, there was usually basic respect. After all, they’re from the same sect, and Lin Ning, though inherently competitive, was still outwardly courteous. But now, entering her cave mansion like it’s her own home, speaking so imperiously, one would think she was the guest. "How is your Great Sun Flame Sword practice going? What stage have you reached with the Purple Flame Heart Scripture?" "Just so-so." "Is that so?" Ji Linghan became even more uncomfortable. Although she and Lin Ning had a competitive relationship, this nonchalant attitude towards cultivation made her unhappy. Especially since Lin Ning was still her disciple. "Then practice it for me; if there are any mistakes, I can correct them for you." Jiang Cheng could change his appearance and aura, but couldn’t replicate Lin Ning’s cultivation and martial techniques. The Purple Flame Heart Scripture was from the Red Sun Sect, and he originally copied Duanmu Hong’s entire power and didn’t cultivate any other techniques. He could only make an excuse: "Let’s not; I’m practicing well enough, no corrections needed." "Are you being arrogant now?" "Pfft..." Seeing her serious demeanor, Brother Cheng burst into laughter. Compared to his impression of Ji Linghan, this was quite amusing. "You’re taking your role as a master quite seriously, not bad!" After saying this, he knew he was in trouble. This wasn’t something Lin Ning was supposed to say. "Hmph!" As expected, Ji Linghan’s expression instantly turned cold like being covered in frost; the master’s authority fully displayed. "You came today and didn’t even call out ’Master’ once!" "Do we need to be so serious..." Jiang Cheng felt helpless; I’m the sect leader, calling you Master would be too embarrassing. "Although we made a promise, since you haven’t surpassed me yet, shouldn’t you still follow the etiquette of a disciple?" Ji Linghan pressed harder. This is a cultivation world; a cultivator without a master is as rare as a phoenix feather. Thus, they hold the master-disciple relationship in high regard. Ji Linghan was already lenient; if Jiang Cheng hadn’t changed to Lin Ning with such a flippant attitude, she wouldn’t have cared. But now, she felt the need to discipline this unruly disciple, teaching her some manners. Otherwise, if she eventually accepts the sect leader as her master, wouldn’t she upset the elder? "I..." Brother Cheng didn’t understand her good intentions; now he had beads of sweat on his forehead. Am I seriously being scolded by this girl? Her stern tone was no joke. "What ’I’?" Ji Linghan glared at him fiercely, her authority evident without anger. Two cold words came out. "Kneel!" Damn... Brother Cheng was truly unable to accept this. As the person involved, he was really regretful, extremely regretful. Should’ve chosen to become Luo Yuan instead. At least I wouldn’t be getting scolded like this. He couldn’t reveal his real identity. The awkwardness was secondary; if the disciples misunderstood him having a feminine nature, there went his reputation. "Um... Ah, the sect leader summoned me for something, I need to go..." After saying this, he hurriedly escaped the cave mansion, darting away until he was out of sight. Ji Linghan chased out after him. The sect leader summoned? Why didn’t I hear anything? Could it be a transmission? Is there something major happening? On the other side, Jiang Cheng fled recklessly into the depths of a mountain. After ensuring there’s no one within a thousand-mile radius, he patted his chest. "Ji Linghan, Brother Cheng gave you Tier Nine Spiritual Artifacts and Tier Eight Spiritual Artifacts, treated you well, yet you want me to kneel..." "Really spoiled you for nothing!" "Better change back first." The identity of Lin Ning is really hard to use. Opening the system panel, he clicked on transformation skills, but it was unclickable. "What’s going on, why is it gray?" "System, come out!" Spending 500 Points, he raised a crucial question. "Why can’t I change back?" "Transformation skills have a cooldown of three days. During the cooldown, the transformation button is gray and unclickable. Once three days are up, the host automatically returns to normal, and it doesn’t count towards transformation attempts." "What the heck? Are you messing with me? Is this an undefeated system or a prank system?" Without continuing to pay 500 Points to question, the system played dead, refusing to respond. Brother Cheng was dumbfounded. Is this transformation skill really so vexing? Although reverting doesn’t count as the next transformation, three days cannot be changed back. This means for these three days, he must maintain Lin Ning’s form for everyone. This felt like a lightning strike, leaving him deeply troubled. "Fine, just need to be careful avoiding Ji Linghan." In his view, that girl should hopefully return to her cave mansion to cultivate. Returning to the main hall, he discovered nearly all the disciples gathered there. A sharp-eyed disciple spotted him immediately. "Lin Ning!" "Lin Ning is here!" "Quick, ask her what’s going on!" Before he had time to land, he was surrounded by a crowd of disciples, layer upon layer. The person leading, none other than Ji Linghan. "You finally appeared; tell us, where did the sect leader go?" This... What’s going on? Little did he know that after he escaped, Ji Linghan thought the sect leader had urgent matters and rushed to the main hall. After searching and not finding Jiang Cheng, she checked other disciples’ cave mansions. Upon searching, everyone scoured several hundred miles nearby, actually finding the sect leader missing. Feixian Sect’s current success is entirely dependent on Brother Cheng’s unparalleled influence. If he’s missing, it’s like the sky falling. Furthermore, though he rarely manages affairs as sect leader, he’s exceedingly kind to all disciples, viewing him like a reborn parent. Learning he’s missing, some disciples even cried, and some initiated proposals to search outside. Ji Linghan’s only clue was that Lin Ning might know the sect leader’s whereabouts. "Lin Ning, where did the sect leader go?" "Quickly tell us, so we can be at ease!" Transforming into Lin Ning, Jiang Cheng was quite helpless, thinking, ’The sect leader is right before you, why the panic?’ But he couldn’t reveal the truth, or else the cross-dressing rumor would be solidified. He could only grit his teeth and continue the act. "The sect leader said he has urgent matters and left." Ji Linghan immediately pursued the inquiry: "Where did he go?" "I’m not sure; he just said not to worry." "How can you prove your words are true?" The speaker was the third generation disciple Wei Miao. When entering the sect, he was the first to receive a welcome gift from Jiang Cheng. From that day, he made an oath to brave life and death for the sect leader, and now, naturally, he was among the anxious ones. Du Yu, also a third generation disciple, was equally relentless. "Yeah, the sect leader usually gathers everyone and says a word when leaving; why only tell you this time?"