Ling Huayu and the others were busy until before dinner, sending off all the guests who had come today, each of them too exhausted to speak.
Even though the Ling family had all moved into the small world, the rules of the Ling Mansion had not changed. Within the small world, there were three areas designated for the direct lineage, collateral branches, and external relatives. In each area, there was a mansion used as a dining place.
When Ling Luoyi first saw it, she couldn't help but compare it to the mess hall in her previous life.
When Ling Luoyi arrived, she saw Ling Huayu and the others looking listless and exhausted. The younger generation had also cultivated all day and were all dispirited. Ling Luofan and the others, having no classes in the afternoon, had returned to the small world to spar with others, and were also full of fatigue.
The more Ling Luoyi looked, the more ashamed she felt. They were all busy, while she alone lived a leisurely life.
The meal was eaten in silence, with only the sounds of chewing and swallowing.
After dinner, everyone dispersed and returned to their rooms to rest. Ling Luoyi was no exception, but she returned to the Qingyin Pavilion of the Ling Mansion.
Not long after Ling Luoyi returned to the Qingyin Pavilion, Steward Liang arrived.
"Greetings, Eldest Miss," Steward Liang said, bowing first. He then placed several sheets of paper on the table and said, "Eldest Miss, these are the items that today's guests desired. The Family Head has already removed the items from the list you provided. These are all things not on that list."
"Thank you, Grandpa Liang. I will look at these tomorrow."
"Very good. The Family Head said that Eldest Miss need not rush," Steward Liang said with a smile.
Ling Luoyi and Steward Liang spoke for a few more sentences, and then Steward Liang left.
After Steward Liang left, Ling Luoyi briefly scanned the papers. They were filled with requests for pills that could turn mortals into cultivators, or pills that could repair spiritual roots or dantian. Many people wanted them, and each person requested quite a few.
She could provide some of the latter requests, but the first type... what were these people trying to do?
As Ling Luoyi looked at the words on the paper, her eyes turned terrifying. She had known from the beginning that Ling Luofu's matter would not be suppressed, and she had no intention of suppressing it.
Ling Huayu also knew that this matter had a significant impact, which was why he had quickly arranged for people to move into the small world upon learning that Ling Luofu could cultivate. The others were not stupid, so they had no complaints about moving into the small world, and the Ling family's seclusion had proceeded so smoothly.
Ling Luoyi did have a few such pills, but she had no intention of giving them out. Whether a person had spiritual roots or not was determined at birth. Growing spiritual roots through later methods was an act that violated the rules of the Heavenly Dao. If such things became common, the Heavenly Dao would not stand idly by. Although Ling Luoyi usually did not pay much attention to the Heavenly Dao, on this matter, she stood with it.
As for Ling Luofu, Ling Luoyi had risked her life to obtain it. It wasn't that she wanted to, but the consciousness of this body, upon learning that the tea tree being erased by the Heavenly Dao could allow mortals to grow spiritual roots, tormented her, demanding she retrieve some. When she refused, the consciousness of this body continued to torment her. Unable to bear it any longer, she went and retrieved some.
For this, she had even fought with the Heavenly Dao. The result? The Heavenly Dao was severely injured, and she almost died. To be precise, she had indeed died. It was precisely because the Heavenly Dao sensed her death that it left at that time.
Her resurrection was due to her two contracted beasts, Jingchen and Xintan, who exhausted all their spiritual and immortal energy to retrieve her soul. Weiyu and Guanyue forcibly inserted her soul into this body, and with the sacrifice of the Fengxi Bracelet by Little Fengxi, her soul was re-merged with this body.
The price was that Jingchen and Xintan fell into a deep slumber and had not yet awakened. She still hadn't found a way to help them. The Fengxi Bracelet was almost shattered, and Little Fengxi fell into slumber. She used the Primordial Chaos Fruit within the Fengxi Realm to ensure it only slept for two years, otherwise, who knew how long it would have slept. As for herself, she had been in a coma for nearly two months.
The Heavenly Dao left because it thought she was dead, but it didn't expect her to come back to life. However, it had already punished her for taking the tea leaves, so it had no reason to act against her again. Thus, it had always been displeased with her.
On the eve of Ling Luofu growing spiritual roots, she had another conversation with the Heavenly Dao. The Heavenly Dao had initially disagreed, but seeing that Ling Luoyi had helped it with some matters before, it reluctantly agreed. Therefore, Ling Luofu's heavenly tribulation was so simple. Otherwise, at that time, not only Ling Luofu but also Ling Luoyan beside her would have been erased.
Thinking of the consequences, Ling Luoyi couldn't help but feel a chill down her spine. She could guarantee that if she dared to take out those pills on this continent, the Heavenly Dao would definitely not let her off easily. The last time she defied the Heavenly Dao, it was out of coercion, and she had no choice. But this time, these people were not worth her taking such a risk.
Ling Luoyi put away the papers and went upstairs to her room. Feeling that the stern gaze had never shifted, Ling Luoyi said softly, "Don't worry, I have no intention of helping them."
Upon hearing this, the gaze finally stopped staring intently at Ling Luoyi, but it did not intend to let her go and continued to watch her.
Ling Luoyi let it be. As long as it wasn't like looking at a criminal, it was fine.
For several consecutive days, the Ling family's visitors never ceased, and their identities became increasingly high. Visitors from intermediate and upper-tier countries were commonplace. These people mostly discussed similar matters, which were undoubtedly pills.
With experience, Ling Huayu and the others were able to handle them appropriately, neither appearing fawning nor overly distant.
On this day, shortly after the second watch of the afternoon, before other visitors had left, a strange old man arrived at the entrance of the Ling Mansion. The old man's hair was completely white, and his beard was grizzled. He looked to be eighty or ninety years old, but his face was exceptionally young, at most forty.
The visitor was none other than the Dean of the Gu Ling Academy – Wen Zonglin.
As Wen Zonglin stood just outside the Ling Mansion's gate, Ling Luoyi, who was reading in the Qingyin Pavilion, suddenly smiled. Finally, he's here. He's really slow.
At this moment, Wen Zonglin stopped, took a deep breath, and shouted into the Ling Mansion, "You stinky girl!!!"
The Ling Mansion's barrier only prevented outsiders from hearing or seeing inside, but those inside could clearly hear the movements outside. Wen Zonglin's shout was earth-shattering and echoed through the heavens. How could they not hear it? Thus, everyone came out.
People outside the barrier also heard this heaven-shattering sound and discerned the dissatisfaction within it. Thinking that someone had come to cause trouble at the Ling family again, they all rushed over, hoping to obtain another pill.
At this time, there were not many visitors to the Ling family, so Ling Huayu and the others were discussing matters in the main hall. Upon hearing this voice, they dared not delay and rushed over, even using spiritual energy in their steps.
As Wen Zonglin's shout landed, the Ling Mansion's attendant saw more and more people gathering around. Feeling that this would have a negative impact, and seeing Wen Zonglin's unattainable aura, he trembled in his heart but still suppressed his fear and stepped forward to inquire, "Sir, are you also here to discuss matters with the Ling family? Allow me to escort you inside."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zonglin frowned. If he went in himself, it would imply that he had come to see that stinky girl! How could that be?! That girl should come to see me personally!
Seeing Wen Zonglin frown, the attendant's heart tightened. He had seen many important figures in the past few days, and while they were not exactly polite to him, they did not look down on him. But this one, he couldn't gauge him.
Seeing the attendant trembling slightly, Wen Zonglin's frown deepened. Was he that terrifying? Did the servants in that stinky girl's family have so little courage?
Wen Zonglin did not make things difficult for him. He waved his hand and said, "No need. I'll wait for her here."