Chapter 352: Minor Dispute

Random Recommendation:Gazing at the white-robed youth before her, Lin Shanshan’s heart was filled with a peculiar sensation.

This feeling was one she had never experienced in her twenty-odd years of life.

"So it is Young Master Ning Zhuo. If you seek guidance, you should journey to Original Mountain. Why are you here in the rear mountains of the Great Contention Peak?"

Lin Shanshan tried to calm her emotions.

Ning Zhuo wore the Ten Thousand Mile Roaming Dragon around his waist.

Sun Lingtong, hidden within the Roaming Dragon, watched the spectacle unfolding. Hearing Lin Shanshan's question, he couldn't help but answer on his own behalf: "Of course, it's because I saw you and specifically came running over!"

Ning Zhuo had planned his journey based on the jade slip provided by Ning Jiufan and the fragments of information he had obtained from Meng Yaoyin.

Mist Concealment Mountain was the first stop, and Ten Thousand Medicine Valley was the second.

Years ago, the Ning family had migrated as a whole, cleverly traversing through underground dark rivers to bypass the blockade of powerful enemies on the surface.

The entrance through which they emerged from the underground dark river is now the Ten Thousand Demon Cave guarded by Linghu Jiu.

The arrival of the entire Ning family in Ten Thousand Medicine Valley caused a sensation at the time.

The large sect in Ten Thousand Medicine Valley, the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, was highly skilled in alchemy and healing. The Ning family, exhausted from their journey and at their limit, actively chose to stay in Ten Thousand Medicine Valley to rest for a considerable period.

At that time, Meng Yaoyin's qi movement was disturbed. Thanks to a treasure from the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect called the Embryonic Breathing Spirit Raft, she was able to avert danger and recover.

Meng Yaoyin had recounted this experience to Ning Zhuo when she was still lucid after becoming a Mechanical Buddhist Healer.

Ning Zhuo's main objective on this trip was the Embryonic Breathing Spirit Raft. Additionally, he also intended to search for the belongings of the entire Ning family during their time residing in Ten Thousand Medicine Valley.

Sun Lingtong controlled the Ten Thousand Mile Roaming Dragon, piercing through the void to reach Ten Thousand Medicine Valley.

He and Ning Zhuo had secretly emerged together first, disguised their appearances, and gathered a lot of information locally.

Therefore, Sun and Ning had a good grasp of the general situation of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect. They knew that this Lin Shanshan was the only offspring of the current Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, Lin Bufan, making her effectively the young lady of this large sect.

While not at the core of power, her influence on the upper echelons was extraordinary.

Thus, after deliberation, Sun and Ning contrived this current "chance encounter."

Divine Ability - Threads of Human Destiny!

The moment Ning Zhuo and Lin Shanshan met, he immediately cast his divine ability upon her.

Then, he used the Mark of My Buddha's Inner Demon, subtly influencing her and intensifying her favorable impression of Ning Zhuo himself.

Even in the early stages of Qi Condensation, Ning Zhuo could already draw upon a trace of the Mark of My Buddha's Inner Demon's power, influencing those beyond his realm like his uncle Ning Ze and the Three Ghosts of the Huang Family, and even resisting detection by Golden Core cultivators.

Now, Ning Zhuo was already a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and Lin Shanshan was only in the early stages of Foundation Establishment.

Being at the same level, Ning Zhuo could influence her with great ease.

Ning Zhuo quickly cupped his hands in apology, explaining that he had come from this direction, only wished to reach the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect as quickly as possible, and was unaware that this was the Great Contention Peak, thus having mistakenly entered the area.

Lin Shanshan smiled, walked towards Ning Zhuo, and indicated that it was no matter.

"The Great Contention Peak is no longer a restricted area."

"Many years ago, no demonic beasts emerged from the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, and it is now very safe."

"Ning Zhuo, you don't need to worry too much."

"Our Ten Thousand Medicine Sect has always welcomed external cultivators like yourself. Our sect's philosophy is inclusiveness and being benevolent and friendly to others."

Ning Zhuo immediately praised, "I have long heard of this and have always admired such an excellent and great sect. That's why I traveled so far to come here."

"To be honest, I was feeling uneasy."

"But seeing you, Miss, and hearing these simple words has given me great comfort."

"I am no longer so nervous, thank you, Miss Lin."

Lin Shanshan smiled: "You are too polite."

"It's never a fault to be too polite," Ning Zhuo said. At this point, he naturally took out a Mist-Veiled Orchid from his storage belt, "This is a small gift upon our meeting, for Miss Lin. As a newcomer, I would like to ask Miss Lin for a small favor."

Lin Shanshan did not accept the Mist-Veiled Orchid, merely smiling: "What favor?"

Ning Zhuo then said: "As I am new to this place, I am concerned about accidentally entering restricted areas. Seeing that Miss Lin is a local cultivator, I humbly ask if you would be willing to lead me to the Lesser Contention Peak?"

Lin Shanshan nodded: "This is a small matter, just follow me. As for this gift, I will not accept it."

As the young lady of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, Lin Shanshan had seen many rare and exotic flowers and herbs. This Mist-Veiled Orchid was ordinary, and she didn't value it at all.

Immediately, Lin Shanshan led the way for Ning Zhuo.

As the two walked through the mountains and forests, Lin Shanshan was slightly ahead, half a step in front.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, casting dappled shadows on the grass and forest path.

The mountain breeze gently blew, the leaves rustled, birds chirped clearly, and the stream gurgled, a picturesque scene.

Lin Shanshan took the initiative to introduce the general situation of the Ten Thousand Medicine Valley and the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect to Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo pretended to be unaware, asking a few questions whose answers he already knew, successfully creating a relaxed atmosphere for conversation.

"Miss Lin, wait a moment." Ning Zhuo suddenly stepped ahead to push aside the branches in front of Lin Shanshan.

Lin Shanshan's favorable impression increased by a trace, but under the influence of the Mark of My Buddha's Inner Demon, it increased by at least tenfold!

Ning Zhuo's tone was humorous and his words were interesting, making Lin Shanshan enjoy the conversation, and occasionally she couldn't help but let out a light laugh.

When Lin Shanshan was born, her father was already the Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect. Although she was five years older than Ning Zhuo, being twenty-one years old now, her life experience was far shallower than Ning Zhuo's.

One grew up in a honey pot, not knowing the wickedness of human hearts, while the other lost both parents at a young age, enduring the vicissitudes of life, and had long since honed his eloquence.

The entire conversation, from beginning to end, was firmly controlled by Ning Zhuo.

Lin Shanshan was completely unaware. It wasn't until she led Ning Zhuo to the foot of the Lesser Contention Peak and met the fellow disciples responsible for handling identities that she suddenly realized—how did they suddenly walk out of the rear mountains of the Great Contention Peak? How did time pass so quickly?

"Senior Sister Lin." The fellow disciple saw Lin Shanshan and quickly bowed.

In front of outsiders, Lin Shanshan restrained her smile, slightly turned sideways, and presented Ning Zhuo: "This young man has just arrived at our Ten Thousand Medicine Valley. I met him halfway and brought him here. I entrust you to arrange everything properly."

The fellow disciple, beaming, said: "Since Senior Sister Lin has brought him, Junior Brother will naturally handle everything properly."

"Hmm... how about temporarily residing in Cave Mansion number 328?"

The fellow disciple looked at Lin Shanshan with an inquiring gaze.

Lin Shanshan slightly opened her mouth, inevitably showing some hesitation.

Lin Shanshan had done many such things as leading outsiders, introducing them to the Ten Thousand Medicine Valley, and helping them settle in the Lesser Contention Peak.

In the past, fellow disciples would give outsiders a cave mansion with a higher ranking out of deference to her.

There were approximately five hundred cave mansions in the Lesser Contention Peak. Ranked by number, the cave mansions with lower numbers were naturally of better quality.

Cave Mansion number 328 was in the lower-middle tier among all cave mansions.

Cultivators like Lin Shanshan, who held an unusual position but lacked real power, would be arranged in cave mansions of this grade.

Lin Shanshan usually didn't care about such matters.

But this time, she had different thoughts. After all, Ning Zhuo had left her with such a good first impression that she couldn't help but want to help him more.

Lin Shanshan also knew that her actions had actually violated the sect's regulations. Would it be excessive to make a request?

The Mark of My Buddha's Inner Demon!

Ning Zhuo saw her hesitation and decisively acted, drawing upon a trace of the magic treasure's power.

Lin Shanshan's hesitation was broken, and she spoke directly: "Are there any cave mansions further ahead?"

The disciple was slightly startled. He hadn't expected Lin Shanshan to actually make a request.

"If I recall correctly, this should be the young lady's first time, right?" The disciple was surprised and couldn't help but quietly examine Ning Zhuo.

Seeing his white robe like jade and his extraordinary demeanor, the disciple became even more curious.

While pondering and speculating on Ning Zhuo's identity, he said, "Senior Sister Lin is right. How about number 281?"

Lin Shanshan had already regretted making the request at that moment. Hearing this, she nodded repeatedly: "Then that one will do."

Ning Zhuo received the token, and Lin Shanshan again felt the urge to go with Ning Zhuo.

"What's wrong with me?" Lin Shanshan shook her head inwardly, suppressing this impulse.

Ning Zhuo sensed that going too far was counterproductive, so he no longer activated the Mark of My Buddha's Inner Demon and let things unfold naturally.

Ning Zhuo bid farewell to Lin Shanshan and took out gifts, two Mist-Veiled Orchids. He wanted to present them, but Lin Shanshan waved her hand and refused with a smile.

Seeing this, the disciple sneered inwardly: "Just two Qi Condensation level Mist-Veiled Orchids, can the young lady possibly fancy them? This young man is really something else."

Little did he know, this was intentional on Ning Zhuo's part.

Lin Shanshan didn't feel the slightest offense or being looked down upon. Instead, she felt that this young man, Ning Zhuo, was simple and honest, with a somewhat endearingly naive quality.