"So is my Seven Spectral Lamps technique considered too dull in your eyes?"

  I knew that this woman will not let it go so easily.

  Ling Yun had previously called the techniques that Brahma taught before dull and mundane. Now all those times are coming back to bite him.

  Brahma had taken those remarks to her heart. Now everytime she teaches him something new she always asks this question, not letting him forget his earlier follies.

  "How many times must I apologise before you to put an end to it? I know I was foolish and wrong and shouldn't have said it."

  Ling Yun wasn't too proud to refuse admitting his faults. Even more, he really meant what he said. After going through those various experiences he had finally understood the value of Serene Ocean sutra and the Third Eye.

  Serene Ocean sutra was a great help during the process of cleansing souls. He couldn't have collected all those souls without the help of Third Eye.

  In short, back then I was a stupid idiot.

  "Hmmph. Consider it a lesson on speaking rashly without even having proper knowledge."

  Ling Yun had exited the forest and was now before a small pond near the village. After making sure that no one was near, he started stripping. Storing all his clothes in the bracelet, he jumped into the water.

  This pond was a great place to wash of the grime and the dirt accumulated after hunting. It was mostly used by demonic beast hunters.

  Soaking in the water, Ling Yun quietly ruminated on the Eternal Mourning Raven. This technique had performed wonderfully surpassing his expectations. The little reservations he had vanished after this afternoon.

  He could now easily face the demonic beasts that would make him turn tail and run before. Numbers didn't matter, he can kill hundreds of them in an instant.

  The Eternal Mourning Raven was made from a part of Ling Yun's own soul. Forget about Qi Refining cultivators, he could even kill early stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. The only way to avoid death was if the cultivator practices some soul defence technique or possesses a spiritual artifact of that kind. Otherwise it's instant death.

  But it had one glaring weakness. Every living being in its range would die immediately. Ling Yun cannot specifically target a single person. Everytime he uses this technique, it would be an indiscriminate slaughter.

  What if I end up getting surrounded by thugs like those before? I don't want to be forced in using Eternal Mourning Raven against people. I have to condense another lamp as quickly as possible.

  As he continued washing his body, Ling Yun sensed an unfamiliar presense in the distance. The soul was of a human so it must a person not a demonic beast. The person was just hovering in the air for quiet a while.

  What does that guy wants?

  This unknown preson irritated Ling Yun. He tried taking his mind off him but the person kept on staying there.

  He had wanted to bathe in peace but now this unknown presence was distracting him. He quickly finished and got dressed wanting to leave for the village as quick as possible.

  ***

  "Brahma what do you think?"

  Ling Yun was pretty spooked. The unknown presence had followed after him from the pond and finally left after he had entered the tea house.

  It had taken all of his composure to act indifferent along the way. Brahma advised him not to make any rash moves as to not alert it that Ling Yun could also sense the person back.

  The person was flying all the time so it was highly possible that the cultivator was of Foundation Establishment realm or above not a Qi Refining cultivator with a flying artifact.

  Why is someone stalking me? Are they friends of the blood fiend that have come to avenge him?

  "Ling Yun"

  Or is it someone else? But why? Did they saw my using Eternal Mourning Raven and wants it?

  "Ling Yun"

  Anything is possible. A rare sandwyrm attacking me, Chensha being a demonic cultivator. Maybe a Nascent Soul True Monarch is after me

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  "LING YUN! Will you stop overthinking for a second?"

  "Sorry master."

  Brahma huffed at his apology. "Never let anything send your mind in turmoil. Have some mental composure. At times like this don't try to take everything all at once, you should evaluate the information one at a time.

  "Now let's figure out about your stalker. I don't think it is related to the blood fiend in any way. The man was clearly working alone. He was just some riffraff that somehow got a blood path inheritance.

  "The chances that someone caught you using Eternal Mourning Raven is also pretty low. You always checked using Third Eye. The cultivation world is vast and there are limitless number of unique techniques but you must also have faith in your own power.

  "Still it is strange for an unknown cultivator to take random interest in you, a low Qi Refining cultivator. I believe it is someone related to Su Ning."

  The name of Su Ning brought uncomfortable feelings in his heart that Ling Yun had to take a moment to clear his mind.

  "Su Ning? But why would she do it? I don't think we have any reason to meet again."

  No. There is still one thing connecting us.

  His gaze fell on the silver bracelet adorning his left wrist. Brahma had told him that the spatial artifact was very valuable but for someone of her stature to worry about it that much to send someone to collect it didn't make much sense.

  "It is just a hunch of mine but I believe this has the highest probability. Her acquaintance must be of the righteous path so there is no danger to you. Still stay sharp, anything can happen."

  Brahma is right. There is no use continuously worrying about the unknown.

  Suddenly his eyes widened and his heart started beating faster. The unknown cultivator was back. His chest tightened and his breath started getting shallower as the cultivator got closer and closer to the tea shop. He sensed another person with the cultivator.

  They are inside the shop.

  Chanting the Serene Ocean sutra, Ling Yun kept himself busy in the kitchen. He was tempted to peek outside but was too afraid to make any rash moves.

  Uncle Ping called for two orders of Jasmine tea. It must be ordered by them.

  Watching the pot boil, Ling Yun kept thinking of their motives. Uncle Ping came and took the order to serve.

  One minute, then another minute passed. The wait was driving Ling Yun crazy.

  Seriously, what do you want? Just hurry up and get over with it.

  Another line of thought entered his mind. Was he being too paranoid? Maybe it was all just a coincidence and that guy came here just to enjoy tea.

  The tension deflated and he was about to begin to work on a different order when Uncle Ping called for him to come outside.

  All his anxiety came rushing back. With hesitant steps he cautiously stepped outside the kitchen to face the unknown cultivator.

  ***

  Something fishy is going on here.

  An Ning looked at her friend sitting across her quietly sipping tea. An Ning had known her for a long time and now her friend had been behaving strangely.

  She was thirty five years old, 7th realm of Qi Refining. Using her familial connection, she got work in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. On her first day, she was told that her only job was to serve each and every demand of the genius alchemist, Mu Feixue so that she keeps working with them.

  An Ning still couldn't believe how they both became such best friends. She was just low level manager in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion while Mu Feixue was late stage Foundation Establishment realm cultivator. More than that she was renowned as one of best alchemist in Jiang region.

  But ignoring status and even seniority, Mu Feixue took a liking to her and with time they got closer. Recently her friend has been sulking due to break up with her Daoist partner.

  It wasn't a clean break; things had gotten pretty ugly between the couple and the situation had nearly erupted into a fight. Thinking a change of pace would be beneficial for her friend, An Ning took an assignment to go to Gingko village and dragged a reluctant gloomy Mu Feixue with her.

  Mu Feixue was ill tempered the whole way which An Ning quietly endured knowing her friend was going through troubled times. Upon arriving Mu Feixue had left for a walk leaving her to arrange for the accomodations all alone.

  While she was settling in, Mu Feixue came back in a rush and started insisting that they should go for tea. All these years, An Ning had never known Mu Feixue was a tea lover. Also her demeanor had drastically changed.

  The gloom that surrounded her was gone and there was a bright gleam in her eyes. Furthermore the way she was insisting was strange. Still she kept these thoughts to herself and was happy that her friend has cheered up.

  They entered the tea shop, the Jasmine Dragon and ordered two cups of Jasmine tea. Their arrival, or specifically Mu Feixue's arrival, sent all the employees and customers in a tizzy. Even the owner personally came to serve them.

  After both of them finished their tea, Mu Feixue called the owner. "The tea is pretty good."

  "Thank you for your compliment Fairy. Gracing this humble shop with your presence is the biggest achievement in this one's life."

  "Can you call the one who made the tea? I would like to show my appreciation personally."

  An Ning frowned at all of this. The tea was fine but she had much better in the Blue Moon city. She couldn't make any sense of Feixue's behaviour.

  Just what is she thinking?

  "Ofcourse fairy. Oi Ling Yun! Come out here."

  Even though for the outsiders it looked like Mu Feixue was sitting in the chair calmly but An Ning could see excitement radiating off her. This even got her curious on the identity of the maker. She didn't have to wait for long as a nervous looking boy came into view.

  The boy was a bit handsome but he didn't look particularly like someone special in her opinion. So what was Feixue so excited about? Failing to come up with an answer, An Ning decided to directly ask her friend what all the fuss about later.

  An Ning turned to look at her friend but she was a bit shocked to see that Mu Feixue's eyes were glued the boy. She was watching very intently each step the boy took as if not wanting to miss a single moment. The boy reached them when Feixue shocked her even more. She pulled the boy with her hand and made him sit very close to her.

  What is happening?! Why is she being so touchy with a stranger? Who is that boy?

  The boy was also very surprised when her soft white hand lifted his chin bringing his face too close to her own.

  "Hmmm. So your name is Ling Yun."