The system panel showed that An Xiao had successfully formed a bond with Lin Tian. Now, Lin Tian could see what her emotional level looked like.

It felt like starting from the beginning, but for An Xiao, it was clearly different.

Her cultivation had already reached Peak Foundation Establishment, making her the cultivator with the second-highest cultivation level in the Lingxian Sect.

With her more experienced understanding of cultivation and magic techniques, she could help An Yue and the other disciples a lot.

Even so, Lin Tian had no intention of making her an elder yet.

He would observe An Xiao’s situation and development for several months first, then decide what her status in the sect would be.

The two stopped shaking hands, and Lin Tian invited her out of the stone hill cave. An Xiao did not know what Lin Tian was going to do.

Once they arrived outside, Lin Tian summoned white qi light at the tip of his hand and swung it sideways.

The four-sided formation wall protecting the hill began to weaken and disappear on its own.

An Xiao clearly saw the formation, the four-sided formation that had protected the hill where they destroyed the sealing array.

When she thought about the sealing array, worry appeared again in An Xiao’s heart.

"About the sealing array and Yun Zhao, what if they come to take revenge?" An Xiao asked.

"The Sky-Protecting White Dragon Formation is active in the Lingxian Sect. Its power increases as my cultivation level rises."

"So, as long as they aren’t Mid Nascent Soul, they won’t be able to cause trouble in our sect?" An Xiao asked curiously.

Lin Tian turned and looked at An Xiao’s face. His left hand rose and gently patted An Xiao’s right shoulder, accompanied by a faint smile on his face.

"You don’t need to worry."

"Let’s go."

An Xiao nodded with a smile. Lin Tian flew using the power of his qi flight manipulation, while An Xiao still relied on her flying qi sword.

Their flying speeds were clearly different. An Xiao moved slower than Lin Tian.

However, the man had no intention of leaving her behind. He began adjusting his flying speed so he could stay balanced with An Xiao.

Of course, it was so both of them could arrive at the Lingxian Sect together.

While the two were flying through the sky, cutting through the dark and cold night, Lin Tian accidentally heard a vibration that sounded very familiar.

He turned to his right and saw An Xiao’s face blushing red, embarrassed because her stomach had made a sound from hunger.

"You haven’t eaten?" Lin Tian asked.

"The process of destroying the sealing array drained a lot of strength, both physical and spiritual qi," An Xiao revealed.

"But it’s fine. I can endure it until we arrive at the sect later," An Xiao added.

"No," Lin Tian replied. "The Lingxian Sect will take half a day to reach at our current flying speed. You might pass out from hunger later."

Lin Tian’s attention focused ahead. There was a small city in front of them, glowing brightly with lanterns in the night.

The man pointed forward and directed An Xiao to go there. An Xiao kept refusing, but Lin Tian insisted that they go there and rest for a while.

In the end, An Xiao could not refuse Lin Tian’s suggestion.

The two arrived in the city and landed slowly, without creating any qi shockwave at all.

An Xiao looked ahead, her pupils widening as she saw the liveliness of the small city.

My body stiffened and my mouth hung open.

Lin Tian turned and realized that An Xiao was amazed by the bustling city. It seemed a little strange to him.

"Do you rarely go to the city?" Lin Tian asked.

An Xiao turned to him and shook her head.

"I was locked inside the sect and was not allowed to leave."

"This is my first time arriving in a city after being trapped in the sect for years," she revealed.

That was cruel treatment.

"I don’t know... how I should act."

"Stay calm and stay close to me," Lin Tian said.

An Xiao nodded in understanding.

The two of them walked along the city’s main road, crowded with residents, both mortals and cultivators.

Lin Tian stopped walking when they arrived at a small restaurant that released the fragrant smell of spices.

An Xiao glanced to the side and saw the restaurant, then stepped inside together with Lin Tian.

Although the restaurant’s front appearance did not look very promising, the inside was spacious, clean, and the tables were neatly arranged.

One female server came over to them.

"Welcome. Would you like to eat?"

"Yes."

"I don’t know what to order, so just bring us your best dishes," Lin Tian said firmly.

"I will, Master Immortal."

Lin Tian and An Xiao walked toward an empty table and sat there while pouring tea from a teapot.

An Xiao seemed to enjoy this moment, feeling the comfort of the restaurant while waiting for their food to be ready.

There was no worry on An Xiao’s face. Seeing that expression was enough to make Lin Tian feel calm.

"Is An Yue living well?" An Xiao asked.

"Yes. She has already broken through to the 10th Layer of Qi Condensation. An impressive achievement, in my opinion," Lin Tian praised while lifting a wooden cup filled with green tea.

An Xiao smiled. She had thought An Yue would remain trapped forever in the lower realm of cultivation.

However, Lin Tian’s presence as the Sect Master of the Lingxian Sect had brought many changes, not only to the sect, but also to its disciples.

"How did you know I was in the Shuzhou Sect? I’m sure An Yue didn’t want to tell you about this, right?"

"I learned about you from Ren Xia," Lin Tian answered.

"Oh, so it was her. I already guessed that An Yue would refuse to talk about me," An Xiao explained.

"I believe everyone has their own sadness that is difficult to tell others. Maybe An Yue didn’t know where to start, or maybe she didn’t want to trouble anyone else," Lin Tian replied.

"Even so, I understand An Yue’s sadness enough. So, after I learned about you, I didn’t want to ask her directly."

"Let my actions be enough to erase the sadness in her heart," Lin Tian said.

An Xiao smiled and nodded. She felt that An Yue was very lucky to have a sect master like Lin Tian.

Besides being strong, he was also understanding. It was rather rare to find a Nascent Soul cultivator with that kind of attitude.

"She will definitely be happy. I’m sure An Yue will feel indebted to you," An Xiao said.

Lin Tian fell silent, then lifted his cup and drank the green tea inside.

"I don’t need her to repay this debt. I only want her to cultivate peacefully without having to keep crying at night."

"May that day come when you arrive there, An Xiao." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

An Xiao softly agreed.

"I will stay by her side from now on and never leave her again."