Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Formidable Body

The new day was no different for Zhou Luo.

Although the clan’s punishment decision marked the end of the poisoning incident,

the secrets of the spiritual mine and the clan’s internal strife still weighed on him heavily. He hadn’t slept well for several days.

Fortunately, he was now a top-level first-level Pill Master; otherwise, working for the spiritual mine in this state would have been difficult.

The only comfort was that cultivating here was vastly better than at the clan compound.

Thanks to the small vein, he could clearly feel his strength progressing rapidly.

Since he couldn’t leave anyway, he decided to calm his heart and cultivate seriously.

At least staying indoors all day shouldn’t get him suddenly killed.

But how could one stay immersed in peace while caught in a storm?

Just as Zhou Luo sat cross-legged on the mat cultivating, his door was knocked once more.

It wasn’t mealtime yet; who could be visiting?

Zhou Luo grew alert and opened the door.

Loomed before him was Lin Xi’s stunning face.

It momentarily stunned him into stillness.

"It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?"

Lin Xi gave a soft laugh, her clear eyes shimmering. It was heart-stopping.

"Fifth Miss? Why are you here?" Zhou Luo asked instinctively.

Then it hit him abruptly.

Lin Xianlong had said the fourth floor was where the main family arranged for core descendants to cultivate. Since she was the family head’s direct lineage, she was likely here to cultivate.

But why seek him out specifically?

Could this be part of the main clan’s investigation too?

The thought sent a shudder through Zhou Luo, and a layer of caution settled over him.

"I’m the one administering your flogging punishment," Lin Xi said with a gentle smile.

Only then did Zhou Luo remember the clan’s sentence.

But why specifically Lin Xi?

Though bewildered, he still bowed respectfully. "Then I beg Fifth Miss to go lightly with the whip."

"Grandfather sent me precisely to ensure it doesn’t get too heavy." Lin Xi’s gaze drifted past him into the room. "Aren’t you going to invite me in?"

Zhou Luo hastily stepped aside. "Fifth Miss graces my humble dwelling—I couldn’t wish for more."

A smile adorned Lin Xi’s face as she gracefully entered the room.

The moment she crossed the threshold, she spotted the Snow Mountain Spirit Cat sprawled on the bed.

"You actually keep a kitten?" Lin Xi exclaimed in delighted surprise. She hurried forward, intending to scoop Little White into her arms.

Little White, who had been dozing off, suddenly opened its eyes and was about to resist. But upon receiving Zhou Luo’s command, it immediately became docile and allowed Lin Xi to scoop it into her arms.

"What a beautiful little cat," Lin Xi remarked softly as she gently stroked its smooth fur.

"When bored, I deliberately brought this little one along to pass the time,"

Zhou Luo said while brewing her a cup of spiritual tea.

Lin Xi naturally sat down, looking down at Little White, her clear eyes brimming with delight. "When I was little, I had a kitten too, quite similar to this one. Sadly, it ran away later on."

A flicker of surprise crossed Zhou Luo’s eyes.

He thought, do all those from the main family like keeping cats?

"Perhaps this is fate,"

Zhou Luo said, sitting opposite her and watching the pure and elegant Lin Xi.

"Maybe, though that kitten was a bit bigger than this one," Lin Xi responded.

Zhou Luo smiled without a word.

Lin Xi, still stroking Little White, lifted her head to look at him. Her clear eyes reflected his figure.

"I didn’t expect you to be so bold, daring to poison the Great Elder’s man."

Her seemingly sweet voice crashed upon Zhou Luo’s ears like thunder, shaking his very soul.

His face blanched with panic. He sprang up like a spring, his voice quivering. "Fifth Miss, t-that was just an accident!"

Lin Xi gave a faint smile. "Don’t be nervous. That matter is already over."

Zhou Luo looked relieved but inwardly kept thinking.

Back then, this Fifth Miss said she disliked family conflict, yet it seems she’s involved now.

This also made Zhou Luo realize the main family’s probing was still ongoing.

"In truth, whether you intended it or not doesn’t really matter," Lin Xi said, continuing to rub Little White’s head. "You should know the secret of the spiritual mine by now, right?"

"What secret?" Zhou Luo wore a look of utter bewilderment.

Lin Xi lifted her clear gaze to him, a smile curling at the corner of her lips. "Marry me, and I’ll tell you this secret."

"Fifth Miss, you…" Zhou Luo’s face paled slightly, showing immense shock.

He hadn’t expected this pure, elegant, extraordinary beauty before him to be so blunt.

Is she trying to win me to the main family’s side?

Or… is this another test?

Zhou Luo’s mind raced.

Just then, Lin Xi covered her mouth and chuckled lightly. "Look how scared you got. I was teasing you!"

Zhou Luo gave a bitter smile. "Fifth Miss, you genuinely startled me."

"Alright, prepare for your punishment now,"

Lin Xi shook her head slightly, finding the whole exchange quite amusing.

"Right now? Right here?" Zhou Luo exclaimed in surprise.

"What? Do you want everyone to see you with your skin torn and flesh lacerated?" Lin Xi retorted with a laugh.

Zhou Luo hurriedly shook his head.

"Get on the bed," Lin Xi indicated.

Zhou Luo obediently moved to the bed and lay face down upon it.

Lin Xi placed a round object on the desk.

Zhou Luo had seen this object before; Lin Xuanfeng had taken it out previously when questioning him about Lin Xianlong. It was probably something specifically used for recording images.

Next, Lin Xi set down Little White and retrieved a thorn whip meant for punishment from her storage bag.

This whip was crafted from resilient thorns, its surface densely covered in sharp, tiny spikes. These spikes were as keen as sword points. An ordinary person might well perish from a single lash.

Even a typical Qi Refinement cultivator, aided by spiritual energy, could likely withstand only a dozen lashes or so.

Even so, skin torn and flesh lacerated was unavoidable, the pain excruciating.

Gripping the thorn whip, her small face serious, Lin Xi walked towards the bed. A faint shimmer of spiritual energy flickered around her slender right hand, lending her a distinct little devil vibe.

"Starting now," Lin Xi announced, raising the thorn whip and bringing it down sharply onto Zhou Luo’s back.

The whip’s surface glimmered faintly as it sliced through the air with a crisp whoosh.

Zhou Luo lay motionless. Not even a flicker of spiritual energy showed upon him.

Thwack—

The thorn whip struck heavily upon his clothing, producing a sharp sound, yet Zhou Luo himself remained completely unharmed.

Lin Xi’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "You’re actually wearing protective gear too?"

Zhou Luo tilted his head sideways, replying awkwardly, "The Great Elder gave it to me."

"Take it off," Lin Xi commanded, her grip firm on the thorn whip, her tone brooking no argument.

Resigned, Zhou Luo removed the protective robe, leaving only a thin white undershirt.

Lin Xi struck again, lashing the whip downward once more.

This time, the thorn whip instantly shredded the white undershirt and collided forcefully with Zhou Luo’s broad back.

Yet, he remained entirely unscathed; not even a scratch of a blood mark appeared.

"How is your physical body this strong?" Lin Xi asked in astonishment.

"Got bored at home before… practiced refining the physical body a bit," Zhou Luo answered truthfully.

Lin Xi pursed her lips and unleashed several rapid whips in succession.

After these lashes, the white undershirt was torn to shreds, but Zhou Luo’s back, faintly glowing, was still completely untouched.

Seeing that it was about time, Zhou Luo ceased using the Bear Body Refinement Technique.

Thwack—

The seventh lash landed, and a swell of pain surged through him instantly. Without the assistance of the Body Refinement Technique, a shallow blood mark finally appeared on his back.

Still, the blood mark was quite faint, and the pain was manageable.

His physical body remained robust even without the Body Refinement Technique.

Observing this, Lin Xi paid it no mind and continued dispensing the punishment, still using only fifty percent of her strength.

All the while, the round object on the desk shone brightly, faithfully recording everything.