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On the summit of the Cloud Mountain, Lin Junjun was painting an extremely life-like evil dragon onto the canvas before her.
The evil dragon was sprawled across over a mountain and under its malicious, powerful black claws was a man who looked like he had just received a pummelling.
Lin Junjun smiled lightly and painted a pained expression onto the man’s face.
She appeared to be extremely happy, as if she was painting an image that was greatly appealing to her.
“That’s what you get for bullying me, how does that feel?!”
Lin Junjun aimed a ferocious glare at the man on the canvas.
She soon recalled her voice transmission a few days ago with Jiang Anlan.
“He has been in there for more than seven days but he still hasn’t come out. What’s taking him so long? Could it be that something happened to him?” She thought to herself with concern.
She then humphed lightly with a cold sneer.
“It would be great if he died there, then he won’t be able to bully me again!”
…
Meanwhile, Jiang Anlan was lying on the grass by the White Cloud Lake and gazing up at the clouds in the sky with a relaxed expression.
“Mr. An Lin has been in there for seven days; that’s a record in terms of numbers of days spent in the ruins. Of course, that’s not counting the trial-takers who are still yet to return.
“Hmm, I wonder how much information An Lin will bring back this time.
“Hehe, would Master Tianyu dare to see him…”
Jiang Anlan chuckled to himself as he recalled the last time An Lin was here, when Master Tianyu had been bullied to the point of tears. He was beginning to get a little excited about what was going to happen next.
A series of huge waves suddenly rose up on the surface of the White Cloud Lake.
Countless air bubbles rose to the surface and the ground began to tremble as well.
“What’s going on?”
Jiang Anlan immediately got up and looked on with furrowed brows at the surging water in the lake.
Immediately afterward, a huge splash exploded forth and two people leaped out from the water.
Huge waves churned and the ground quaked underfoot.
Wispy white objects converged rose up from the bottom of the lake and converged toward a white figure in the air before shrinking drastically shrinking.
Boom!
A resounding boom reverberated throughout heaven and earth as if something had collapsed, or perhaps something had been emptied.
The ground began to cave in, and the White Cloud Lake also began to recede.
Huge waves surged amid a series of earth-shattering booms.
Jiang Anlan’s mouth fell open as he stared in incredulity at the scenes unfolding before him.
He raised his head to find a familiar figure on dogback as well as another unfamiliar figure.
This was an extremely beautiful woman in a white dress and a black bead in her hand. The wispy white objects from before had all flown toward that mysterious black bead in her hand.
“The 88th Purple Star Research Institute has been successfully retracted into the main core.”
Bai Ling held the black bead with a sad expression on her face.
An Lin offered up genuine words of congratulations with a smile on his face. “Congratulations, Big Sister Bai, you have now gained the initiative to be able to choose from a vast range of potential trial-takers to which you can impart the remaining inheritances.”
Bai Ling smiled lightly in response but didn’t reply.
Right at this moment, a middle-aged man with a dragon horn on his head flew hurriedly toward them.
Xiao Chou reverted back to his miniature form and settled onto An Lin’s shoulder.
“Mr. An Lin, what… What’s going on here?”
Jiang Anlan didn’t even know what questions he should ask first as he looked at the two people before him with shock and amazement.
“Haha, Brother Jiang, there’s no need to be alarmed,” An Lin responded with a chuckle. “Come, I’ll introduce you to one another. This Celestial Maiden here is the mastermind of the 88th Purple Star Research Institute, Bai Ling! This is the guardian of the White Cloud Lake, Jiang Anlan.”
A warm smile appeared on Bai Ling’s face as she nodded lightly. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Jiang Anlan’s eyes almost bulged out of his head after hearing An Lin’s introduction. “You… You’re the mastermind of the Purple Star Research Institute?!”
“That’s right,” Bai Ling responded honestly and concisely.
Jiang Anlan gripped his chest in shock. He was at a complete loss for what to do.
Oh dear!
What is this world coming to!!!
Jiang Anlan had originally thought it would be quite a feat for An Lin to gather some information about the Purple Star after venturing into the ruins.
But who would have thought he would take the f*cking mastermind of the research institute with him as well!
“Then… Mr. An Lin…” Jiang Anlan pointed with an uncertain expression toward the White Cloud Lake below them, as well as the ground which had sunken in and was lined with cracks around the lake. “Is all this also because of the Purple Star Research Institute?”
“That’s right. The Purple Star Research Institute has already been stored into Bai Ling’s bead and she’s about to leave here soon.” An Lin nodded and continued, “In other words… You can retire now, Brother Jiang. The world is your oyster, and you’re free to go wherever and do whatever you like!”
Jiang Anlan blinked a pair of bright eyes as An Lin’s word rang in his ears.
The Purple Star Research Institute was gone? He could retire?
“Oh dear, am I dreaming right now!?”
Jiang Anlan yelled before biting down viciously onto his own finger.
Spurt…
Blood squirted all over his face. He began to laugh with a slightly deranged expression as he felt the pain shoot through his finger.
An Lin noticed the astonishment etched on Bai Ling’s face and provided an exasperated explanation.
“Er..my friend here might’ve just gone into shock, don’t think too much of it…”
“Hehe, he must be the person assigned here by the Heavenly Court to guard the research institute, right? Something like this would result in a huge transformation in his life, so it’s understandable that he’s in a bit of shock.” Bai Ling nodded.
She knew that the Heavenly Court would definitely be extremely interested in the Purple Star’s research and would try to collect any information they could about the Purple Star. This was another way through which information about the Purple Star could be spread into this world so she didn’t oppose to the Heavenly Court’s attempts to gather this information.
Jiang Anlan’s excitement began to subside a little, and he directed a scorching gaze at Bai Ling before speaking in a fawning voice, “Celestial Maiden Bai Ling, would you be so kind as to travel to the summit of the Cloud Mountain to chat with Master Tianyu? If you’re willing to cooperate with the Heavenly Court, we can definitely negotiate an arrangement that’s desirable to both parties.”
Bai Ling shook her head. “There’s no need for that. I know what the Heavenly Court wants. All the information in the 88th Purple Star Research Institute is in An Lin’s head, you can exchange it from him.”
Jiang Anlan drew in a sharp breath as he turned his gaze toward An Lin with undisguised shock on his face.
An Lin possessed all the information about the 88th Purple Star Research Institute?
Did this little bastard take Bai Ling as his Dao partner? What the f*ck is was going on here!?
Holy crap, holy crap…
Jiang Anlan’s dragon horn was trembling with elation as he turned to An Lin with an admiring gaze.
An Lin didn’t know what Jiang Anlan was thinking and he joined his hands in salute. “Bai Ling is going to travel the continent now. I’ll accompany her for a while then get back to you at a later date.”
“Of course, of course, have fun on your trip together…” Jiang Anlan stammered as his words tripped over themselves.
“I don’t need you to accompany me!”
Bai Ling pursed her pretty lips with a cold expression before flying away with a flash of white light.
“Just give me a chance to express my gratitude, Big Sister Bai! Wait for me!”
An Lin was extremely enthusiastic and continued to chase after Bai Ling on dogback despite her words of rejection.
…
At the summit of the Cloud Mountain, Lin Junjun finally finished her artwork of a scummy man being pummeled into submission by an evil dragon.
Not long after, she sensed powerful ripples in the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth and even the Cloud Mountain trembled slightly.
“Huh? Did something happen?”
She recalled the fact that a certain person was still in the Purple Star Research Institute and began to grow a little concerned.
She decided to contact Jiang Anlan via voice transmission talisman to inquire about the situation.
She dialed for Jiang Anlan on her voice transmission talisman and enquired, “Jiang Anlan, is there something going on at the White Cloud Lake?”
“There are a lot of things going on at the lake,” Jiang Anlan stammered.
“What happened?” Lin Junjun immediately focused her attention.
“An Lin came out of the ruins with all the information from the research institute. He then ran off with the mastermind, Bai Ling!”
Lin Junjun: “…”
Crack!
Her delicate paintbrush was once again snapped in half.