The fairy's inner demons are amazing!

Chapter 35 Protecting the Master

Ignoring Lin Zhiyuan, Ning Xiuyang and Ye Yin, along with Hei Zi, took the lead and walked at the very front.

Time passed slowly.

When he reached the 7000th step, Ning Xiuyang's blood and qi surged, his energy became disordered, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

With his cultivation at the early stage of the Blood Nourishing Realm, he was already clearly unable to withstand the overwhelming sword intent pressure from the Myriad Swords Step.

However, under the tempering of sword intent, his physique was visibly enhanced.

[Cultivation Level]: Blood Nourishing Realm 0.45

Every thousand steps, the tempering effect doubles, and his cultivation level alone has reached 0.45. Ning Xiuyang is confident that if an adult who has never cultivated were to cut him with a sharp knife, he would probably only leave a few marks on his skin and would hardly draw blood.

At this moment, Ning Xiuyang felt a ringing in his ears, as if the sound of swords echoing in the air. His knees were weak and his legs felt heavy as if they were filled with lead. It was as if there were heavy waves of air squeezing his body in the void. Every step forward required a great deal of effort, causing his blood and qi to gradually deplete. As a result, his internal energy began to surge uncontrollably.

He knew that after climbing another thousand steps, he would probably reach the limit of his current physical strength and cultivation.

"If you really can't hold on any longer, then take a blood-nourishing pill!"

At this time.

Suddenly, a clear, ethereal voice rang in my ears.

It is a leaf sound.

She looked at Ning Xiuyang with concern and gave him instructions.

Not only was Ning Xiuyang unable to withstand the strain, but among the people who followed behind, only Chen Ziyi and Ye Yin were as relaxed as before. Others, such as Ye Jingxuan, Ye Wenjing, and even Lin Zhiyuan, were not as relaxed as before, only slightly stronger than Ning Xiuyang.

Ning Xiuyang did as instructed, took out the last blood-nourishing pill, and fed it directly into the mouth.

As the potent medicinal power exploded in his throat, he immediately felt much more relaxed.

Then, he patted Hei Zi's head and laughed, "You little beast, you're quite fast."

Ye Yin paused, her face flushing slightly, and a different emotion flickered in her almond-shaped eyes. A glimmer of spring light flashed by. This bastard, could he be talking about me?

Almost subconsciously, she recalled the conversation she had with that bastard before she sent Jin Huan to find his dog.

Lin Zhiyuan, who was following closely behind, also frowned when he heard Ning Xiuyang's teasing remark, thinking that Ning Xiuyang was pointing at the dog and cursing him again.

He immediately retorted angrily, "Ayin, don't blame me for showing you no mercy. This man has humiliated me time and time again. If I remain indifferent and let him leave the secret realm alive, what will become of the Lin family's reputation, and how will the Hundred Herbs Alliance stand?"

Lin Zhiyuan originally planned to make his move after climbing another thousand steps. By then, Ye Yin would surely be exhausted, and a sudden attack would surely kill the horse handler.

But he didn't want to wait any longer.

Seeing that the horse handler was still alive was a disgrace to him!

Seeing him and Ye Yin so intimately in front of him only fueled his jealousy!

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly drew his sword and thrust it upwards towards Ning Xiuyang's back. This angry strike contained almost all of his strength. Although it was greatly reduced at the Ten Thousand Swords level, he was confident that with his early Inner Strength cultivation, killing a tired Blood Nourishing Realm martial artist would be no problem.

"Woof~"

The first to react was the Xuanlang dog Heizi, who was completely unconcerned about the pressure of the Ten Thousand Swords level. With a howl, it pushed off with its hind legs and its agile figure shot down like an arrow, directly attacking Lin Zhiyuan's lower body as he drew his sword. Its fangs were cold and it bit his thigh directly.

"brute!"

Lin Zhiyuan hurriedly shouted angrily, about to change his sword moves to kill Hei Zi.

It's too late to say.

A streak of cyan sword light was faster than him, blocking the sword aimed at Hei Zi and deflecting Lin Zhiyuan's killing intent with a flick and a parry.

The next moment, the cyan sword light pierced through the void and aimed directly at Lin Zhiyuan's throat.

"Ah Yin..."

Lin Zhiyuan's expression changed drastically, his face turned deathly pale, and he stared at Ye Yin in disbelief, as if he couldn't believe that she would actually turn on him with a sharp blade for a mere horse groom.

Ye Yin's expression was cold, the tip of his sword pressed straight against Lin Zhiyuan's throat.

Almost the instant Lin Zhiyuan drew his sword, she moved as well.

To kill someone right in front of you, and to say it so grandly, do you really think you're made of clay?

Moreover, if I hesitate this time like last time, who knows how that bastard Ning Xiuyang will punish me again!

Thinking back to the last time at Li Huailin's residence, he hesitated for only a moment, and this guy noticed. After leaving the servant's room that night, his buttocks were swollen for several days, making it difficult to sit or lie down normally.

If she made this kind of silly mistake again, she couldn't imagine what kind of "punishment" she would face.

Ye Yin stood protectively in front of Ning Xiuyang, her eyes coldly fixed on Lin Zhiyuan. A hint of disgust flashed in her eyes as she said indifferently, "Lin Zhiyuan, this is your last chance. You are a young master of the Lin family, and I am a young lady of the Ye family. Do you care about your reputation? Should I, Ye Yin, be allowed to trample on my face?"

Lin Zhiyuan was stunned.

He didn't understand. Although Ye Yin's attitude towards him wasn't exactly close before, it had never been so distant.

What's going on today?

Just because of a lowly horse groom?

Seeing the astonishment on Lin Zhiyuan's face, Ye Yin raised an eyebrow. She knew that Lin Zhiyuan was pursuing her. There were many people pursuing her in the entire Qinzhou Prefecture. Before, she had only interacted with him because of the Lin family's Hundred Herbs Alliance, but it was far from enough to make her fall in love. In the past, apart from worrying about her secret being discovered, her mind was entirely focused on martial arts. She had been determined since childhood to surpass her eldest sister and even the Holy Empress of the Great Qi Dynasty, to become a cultivator who could roam the world. She had no time for romance.

Although the situation has changed, causing her to lose her innocence and be manipulated by that bastard Ning Xiuyang, her aspirations have not changed.

And it was precisely because of Ning Xiuyang's existence that she was even more aware that she should draw a line between herself and suitors like Lin Zhiyuan and keep her distance.

It wasn't to flatter or ingratiate herself with this bastard; she simply didn't want the servant to misunderstand and cause any further trouble.

"Sixth Sister!"

"Ah Yin!"

Ye Jingxuan and Ye Wenjing shouted almost simultaneously.

Lin Zhiyuan was the young master of the Hundred Herbs Alliance. If he died at the hands of Ning Xiuyang, the Ye family could still argue. But if he died at the hands of the Ye family, it would undoubtedly be a complete feud!

Ye Jingxuan looked tense, his eyes fixed on the sword in Ye Yin's hand, as if afraid that Ye Yin might lose her balance and cut Lin Zhiyuan's neck.

As a member of the Ye family, although they competed with each other for the position of heir, he deeply understood that if the young master of the Hundred Herbs Alliance died at Ye Yin's hands, it would be absolutely detrimental to the Ye family. Although it would be beneficial for him to inherit the position of family head, once they made an enemy of the Hundred Herbs Alliance, the Ye family would not be as strong as it is now, and the price would be too high!

While Ip Man-ching appeared tense, there was little urgency in his eyes; in fact, there was a hint of mockery hidden beneath them, as if he were quite pleased to see this scene.

Ye Yin was naturally well aware of this.

She frowned slightly, staring at Lin Zhiyuan, and said calmly, "I don't want the Ye and Lin families to become enemies. If you remain stubborn, don't blame me for being ruthless with my sword. Killing him is as easy as turning my hand, and killing you is just as easy as snapping my fingers. I urge Young Master Lin to have some self-respect..."

Behind.

Ning Xiuyang, who witnessed this scene firsthand, couldn't help but be surprised as he looked at Ye Yin, who was dashing and full of pride.

It seems that the previous warning and punishment had an effect.

His eyes suddenly darted around, and he feigned a look of panic and unease, as if his legs were exhausted. He stumbled and fell directly down the steps.

"puff!"

The sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh suddenly rang out on the Thousand Swords Steps.

"Young Master Lin!"

"Lin Zhiyuan!"

"..."

Ye Jingxuan and Ye Yin spoke almost in unison.

Ye Yin was stunned.

Watching her sword pierce Lin Zhiyuan's throat, her clear, almond-shaped eyes were filled with astonishment.

"Oh dear, sorry, sorry. Climbing these Ten Thousand Sword Steps was really tiring. My cultivation is too low to support me, and I accidentally fell. Hei Zi, come here and let me help you up..." Ning Xiuyang leisurely supported himself on the sword steps to get up, muttering to himself as he called Hei Zi over. At the same time, he brushed non-existent dust off his robe. When he stood up and turned around, he saw Lin Zhiyuan's throat pierced by a sword, his eyes, which were losing their light, filled with fear, resentment, and confusion. He was startled and exclaimed, "Sixth Miss, you, how could you really kill Young Master Lin?"