After dinner, Luo Zi'ang, who had long been eager and secretly prepared, intercepted Luo Zihan, who was trying to chat, and cut in ahead to speak with Lin Wan.
"You can talk to him later. I need to ask him something first."
"You don’t mind, do you, Wan-ge?"
Luo Zi'ang provocatively asked.
Lin Wan had been contemplating the strange disturbance he sensed earlier. The more he thought about it, the more familiar it seemed, like something he had encountered before.
"Hmm, what?"
Luo Zi'ang's words interrupted his thoughts. Lin Wan smiled and said,
"Oh, it’s fine. You want to ask about formations, right? No problem."
Who’s asking you for advice?! That was just an excuse, yet he climbed so smoothly up the ladder!
This guy… Such nerve. He could probably only fool girls who don’t know much about formations. When we face off for real later, let’s see if you can still act so arrogantly.
Luo Zi'ang secretly rolled his eyes. Watching the admiration in Luo Zihan's eyes as she gazed at Lin Wan, the fighting spirit in his chest surged.
He couldn’t let his sister be fooled by this phony old man. Today, he was going to reveal the true nature of the person in front of him. He would show Lin Wan that titles like "formation master" or "talisman master" aren’t things you can throw around lightly!
Luo Zi'ang led Lin Wan confidently to his room, where his proudest formation and talismans from the past few years were on display.
Once inside, Luo Zi'ang closed the wooden door and watched as Lin Wan, eyes downcast, carefully examined his spirit-trapping formation. Luo Zi'ang couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.
Heh, seems like this guy has some knowledge. This spirit-trapping formation was derived from the Luo family’s ancient texts. Even in today’s cultivation world, it’s one of the top formations.
Back then, this formation amazed the old fogeys at the Celestial Master Association, and it was the very formation that earned him his reputation in the cultivation world. This formation was practically perfect…
"Hmm, this formation isn’t bad."
Lin Wan’s words interrupted Luo Zi'ang’s train of self-praise.
He paused, thinking about the current state of the cultivation world, and remembering that this was Luo Zixuan's younger brother. He then added a compliment.
"For someone your age, this is quite impressive. In today’s cultivation world, this should rank among the best."
Luo Zi'ang: ???
He was stunned.
What’s with that condescending tone?
To speak to me, a recognized formation master, like that? Do you even deserve to talk to me in that way???
Luo Zi'ang couldn’t take it anymore. He quickly stepped to the desk and pointed to a formation laid out there, challenging Lin Wan.
"I wouldn’t dare claim to be at the top. Since you’re so capable, there’s a formation I’d like to ask for your guidance on."
"Take a look at this incomplete formation and tell me how to fix it."
Heh, a formation recorded in the Luo family’s ancient texts, one he had spent ages studying to make some sense of. No way Lin Wan could figure it out so easily!
Why does he need to pretend to be a master in front of me? Isn’t one compliment enough?!
Luo Zi'ang thought angrily.
Why does this kid seem a bit sarcastic? Or was it just his imagination...
Lin Wan slowly glanced at Luo Zi'ang, then walked forward, took a few moments to examine the formation, and began explaining it.
“Look at this formation, it’s a typical spirit-gathering array. A part of the core is missing, but if you complete it like this, then…”
…
Wait?
Lin Wan’s movements were not stammering or hesitant as Luo Zi'ang had expected. Instead, every gesture flowed smoothly and proficiently, as if he was naturally skilled.
Watching Lin Wan explain while simultaneously filling in the array, Luo Zi'ang feeling a bit dazed called for a stop.
“Wait, wait! Why did you draw it like that at the beginning?” Luo Zi'ang instinctively asked.
Lin Wan glanced at him, noticing the confusion on Luo Zi'ang’s face mixed with a deep sense of hidden admiration. The hostility that had briefly flickered before was long gone.
So, all that tension before... was just his imagination?
Lin Wan put his thoughts aside and, noticing Luo Zi'ang’s slightly uneasy gaze, smiled lightly. Using the incomplete array on the table as an example, he gave Luo Zi'ang a crash course on the relevant knowledge.
Luo Zi'ang sat dumbfounded at the table, listening as Lin Wan patiently explained his doubts in a gentle tone, feeling the faint warmth and fragrance coming from his side. His brain was in a haze.
He sniffed, and belatedly echoed the sentiment shared by Luo Zihan.
Sniff, sniff… having an older brother is really great!
---
As Lin Wan explained, the ancient array beneath his hands was slowly being completed bit by bit.
The moment the array was fully restored, a powerful wave of energy erupted. Every cultivator in the capital felt a sudden jolt and collectively turned their gaze toward the Luo family’s residence.
At the Tianshi Association, a group of middle-aged men in colorful robes were gathered around, marveling at the array laid out on the table before them.
“Look at this circuit, this structure! That boy from the Luo family is truly becoming more and more remarkable. The younger generation is indeed to be feared!”
“Exactly! Look at this…”
Before he could finish speaking, the wave of energy caused by Lin Wan’s completion of the array spread over.
Everyone: !!!
This energy wave... something significant has appeared!
They looked in the direction of the wave and, seeing it was coming from the Luo family, immediately rose to head over.
If a precious treasure had appeared, they needed to help suppress the commotion. In case the Luo couple wasn’t home, they wouldn’t want the two kids at home to be bullied…
By the time the group of middle-aged Celestial Masters rushed over, the Luo couple had already been standing in the courtyard for a while.
Seeing the group that had come to help, the Luo couple’s expressions softened, and they nodded in greeting.
“What happened? Why such a big commotion?”
The Celestial Masters who had arrived looked curiously at the Luo residence, where the energy wave was still emanating.
Upon hearing this, Luo’s father chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of pride that the group didn’t quite understand.
“Oh, that? Well,” Luo’s father glanced at them with a sense of superiority, “my son, Zixuan, just returned after his tribulation a while ago, and he brought back a daughter-in-law. The commotion you just felt was caused by Wan as he explained an array to Zixuan.”
“As for this array… you know the incomplete one in our family? Yes, yes, the one that stumped all of you!”
“Not to brag, but let me tell you, Wan’s expertise in arrays is truly incredible! He just glanced at it, only a few glances, and he managed to complete it! Isn’t that impressive?”
Luo’s father held back the Celestial Masters, forcing them to endure his bragging session.
As the color of their faces began to turn a bit green, Luo’s mother discreetly nudged Luo’s father, signaling him to stop while he was ahead and not overdo it.
Luo’s mother invited them inside for some tea.
After they entered, Luo’s father, under his wife’s death stare, stubbornly headed upstairs, determined to call Lin Wan down for another round of showing off.
Luo’s mother sighed as she watched, turning to the Celestial Masters with an apologetic look.
“Sorry, Old Luo has been a bit excited these past few days. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No problem, no problem.”
Hearing this, the men sitting on the sofa shook their heads, though their eyes gleamed with anticipation as they looked upstairs.
They knew they would be shown off, but the important thing was, they’d get to meet the master!
As the saying goes, ‘A conversation with a wise man is worth more than ten years of study.’ Sometimes, a small piece of advice from a master could solve problems that had been troubling them for years.
Besides, having such an outstanding daughter-in-law… they could understand the urge to show off.
They imagined themselves in the same position and thought if their less-than-promising descendants ever found a partner like this, they’d probably be flaunting it every day too!
While the group of Celestial Masters downstairs sipped their lemon-flavored tea with envy, a shout of disbelief came from upstairs.
“What did you say? Wan has been kidnapped?!”
“What??!!”
Immediately after, a shocked exclamation came from the entrance.
Luo’s mother turned toward the door and saw her eldest son standing there with a grim expression.
“Mom, what happened? Wan was kidnapped?!”
%%%%
Let’s rewind to three minutes earlier—
At that moment, Lin Wan had just completed the array, and a powerful wave of energy shot into the sky. Luo Zixuan was on his way home, about three minutes away. Meanwhile, the masked man had already set up an array, and Xing Qisen was smirking as he activated it.
As soon as the wave of energy appeared, Luo Zihan, who had been playing with voodoo dolls in the adjacent room, was suddenly startled. Grabbing her sword, she rushed over.
Could it be that Luo Zi'ang, in his frustration over not being as skilled as Wan, had lashed out in anger?
The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. Without hesitation, she kicked open the door to Luo Zi'ang’s room and charged in, ready for anything.
Once inside, she saw Luo Ziang excitedly flushed, chatting with Lin Wan about the formation again. She silently lowered her sword.
She never expected to see such a spoiled display on Luo Ziang’s face one day.
"What are you doing barging in here?!"
Luo Zi'ang glared at the door, which had been kicked askew, his face green with anger.
"Why the hell did you kick my door down? Are you crazy?!"
"Bah! You're the crazy one; your whole family is crazy!"
"Are you stupid? We’re family; if you insult me, you’re insulting yourself too, haha!"
"You! You…"
While the two were bickering childishly, Lin Wan suddenly sensed a familiar fluctuation again.
At that moment, he seized the opportunity. As soon as the fluctuation appeared, Lin Wan decisively locked onto it.
In the basement of the capital, Xing Qisen, who had activated the teleportation formation, was met with a chilling sight—
In the dim basement, the half-expanded teleportation formation emitted a faint glow. But this light was unstable, flickering like a nightclub disco, forcing the dark and quiet basement into an unwelcome party atmosphere.
Xing Qisen: ??? #￥@##!
Seeing this, a thousand heads of grass mud horses galloped through his mind, twirling and leaping in sync with the flashing lights.
What the hell is going on?!
Furrowing his brow, Xing Qisen increased the flow of spiritual energy, but as he pumped in more energy, the flickering of the teleportation formation intensified.
In the end, the formation blinked at a dizzying frequency, its bright light blinding Xing Qisen.
He stubbornly closed his eyes and persisted, but after a loud bang, the teleportation formation… shattered.
Shattered???!
After all the effort he put into this plan over the years, this crucial formation just broke apart?!
What kind of low-quality product is this?! It was supposed to be a divine artifact from the upper realm, and now it’s broken? Isn’t that just a scam?!
Xing Qisen’s mentality crumbled, but before he could rage in frustration, a tall figure slowly emerged from the collapsing formation.
"Hello, little curly hair. Long time no see. This time, you won't escape."
Learning from the last time, Lin Wan immediately locked down the entire space as he appeared.
Seeing Xing Qisen’s pale face and the iron-faced man blocking his path, Lin Wan’s almond-shaped eyes curved gently, his tone exceptionally soft.
"Can you please come clean? I'm in a hurry."
??? How can you be so arrogant?!
Xing Qisen tried to rally his strength to retaliate, only to be horrified to find that despite his “god-level” prowess, he couldn’t break free from Lin Wan’s suppression.
How is this possible? He was a god!
"I’m already at the god level, but you’re even stronger than me. You… you’ve reached a level above godhood?!" he mumbled.
???
Hearing this, Lin Wan looked at him as if he were a fool.
"Wake up. What kind of dream are you having? You're only in the combined body stage. You haven’t even reached the tribulation stage, yet you think you already a god?!"
Lin Wan scanned Xing Qisen from top to bottom, his tone very gentle.
"Sometimes, you know, it’s better to be realistic."
"…"
While Xing Qisen was attracting most of Lin Wan’s attention, a streak of black light shot toward the exit from a corner.
Just as it was about to escape, an invisible force enveloped it, pulling it back toward Lin Wan.
Snap!
Lin Wan firmly grasped the streak of black light.
The shadowy mass struggled fiercely in his palm for a moment before reluctantly revealing its true form.
"Saint Book? Were you trying to abandon us just now?!"
Xing Qisen displayed a wounded expression upon seeing this.
"You can’t abandon your loyal followers!"
The ancient book, held in Lin Wan’s palm, trembled violently at these words, a sense of disdain quietly spreading through the small basement.
"Stop whining; this book isn’t anything good."
The moment the book revealed itself, Lin Wan understood why the previous fluctuations felt so familiar—
Why was this book here? Because it had escaped during Lin Wan’s attack before!
Lin Wan poked the limp black book in his hand and smiled gently.
"Causing trouble in the cultivation world before, and now in the Earth realm? Don’t worry; this time, you won’t escape."
"QAQ"
Feeling the pitiful aura from the ancient book, Lin Wan remained unmoved, solidifying the seal before locking it away in his space.
He remembered that the fluffball seemed to eat anything, so this book could serve as a snack for the fluffball…
Ripping sound—
In the silent basement, a ripping sound suddenly rang out.
Lin Wan turned to see Luo Zixian and a group of anxious people rushing over.
"You scared me to death."
Luo Zixian tightly hugged Lin Wan, his tone heavy with some grievance.
"Don’t worry; it’s all fine now."
Rubbing Luo Zixian’s head, Lin Wan spoke gently.
"It’s okay; everything will be fine from now on."
"We’ll be alright from now on."
“Mm.”
“Then don’t be angry with me for lying to you before.”
“...Okay.”
“Then you have to give me a kiss every morning when you wake up, and another one before you sleep at night!”
“...Okay.”
“Then you…”
“Luo Zixuan, don’t push your luck.”
Seeing the gossiping eyes of the people behind Luo Zixuan, Lin Wan felt his face burning.
“If there’s anything, let’s talk about it at home!”
“Okay"
Holding Lin Wan’s hand tightly, Luo Zixuan felt a sense of peace in his heart.
From now on, he would spend his life with his lover.
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