Chapter 0703: Elder Linglong

Chapter 0703 Elder Linglong

The massive black sphere that landed on the Sword Immortal Manor’s plaza looked like a tiny black star.

Jian Nanhu led Qin Yun to the western district of the manor. Glancing back, they could still see the enormous black sphere.

"What is that thing?" Jian Nanhu blurted out.

"It must be a powerful flying vessel—one that even pierced through the island and the manor’s barriers!" Qin Yun sensed the sinister demonic aura and felt a bad feeling.

"Forget about that. First, I’ll take you to meet that elder so you can hand over the Dragon Totem to her!"

Qin Yun had no idea what was happening in the plaza, only feeling mild curiosity.

Jian Nanhu brought Qin Yun to the western side of the manor, where numerous small hills were covered in flowers and lush greenery—a stunningly beautiful place.

This was exactly the kind of environment Ling Yuner loved. In Qin Yun’s illusory space, he had recreated a similarly enchanting landscape at her request.

"Jian Nanhu, what’s the name of that woman Runes Master in your Sword Immortal Pavilion?" Qin Yun asked, figuring this had to be the residence of a flower-loving woman.

"Jian Linglong… If you hung around in Runes Master circles, you’d definitely recognize that name!" Jian Nanhu gave him a puzzled look. "From your look, you’ve never heard of her before."

"Indeed, I haven’t," Qin Yun shrugged.

Following Jian Nanhu over several small hills, Qin Yun soon saw a six-tiered wooden tower in the distance.

"What kind of person is this Jian Linglong? Your grandfather once told me she was sweet and gentle!"

Back when Qin Yun was nearly expelled from the Immortal Armament City, Jian Shitian had tried to recruit him by describing the female Mystic Rune Master as gentle as water.

"Gentle? Just because of her name, you assumed she’s a gentle woman?" Jian Nanhu looked baffled. "Qin Yun, I’ll tell you this—there are no gentle women in the Jian family!"

"Gentleness is a complete myth when it comes to the women of our clan! You’ve already experienced Yan Sis’s short fuse, haven’t you? Elder Linglong is even fiercer and more ruthless!"

Qin Yun had indeed witnessed Jian Ruyan’s explosive temper, but he had also glimpsed her one-of-a-kind appeal.

"Your grandfather straight-up lied to me, claiming your Sword Immortal Pavilion had a gentle, water-like female Mystic Rune Master who was also an elder!" Qin Yun scoffed.

"Elder Linglong is the most talented Runes Master the Jian family has produced in years. So even though her temper is foul, the elders of both the Jian family and the Sword Immortal Pavilion have no choice but to tolerate it!" Jian Nanhu dragged his feet toward the tower.

"How old is this Elder Linglong?" Qin Yun suddenly grew very curious.

The moment he spoke, Jian Nanhu hastily covered his mouth and hissed, "Qin Yun, have you lost your mind? If Elder Linglong hears you, we’re both doomed!"

Then, via mental message, Jian Nanhu sternly warned, "Qin Yun, when you meet Elder Linglong, you must be respectful. Don’t look directly at her face! And never ask about her age—she despises that more than anything!"

"Jian Nanhu, are there any other taboos when meeting Elder Linglong?" Qin Yun decided to clarify further.

"Don’t speak louder than her, keep your tone polite, always smile, preferably lower your head when talking, and avoid staring at her face. Also, obey everything she says and don’t ramble… In short, grovel like a grandson in her presence!"

Jian Nanhu was clearly terrified of Elder Linglong.

Hearing this, Qin Yun frowned inwardly, cursing Jian Shitian for deceiving him with tales of a gentle female Mystic Rune Master.

"Disciple Jian Nanhu pays respects to Elder Linglong!"

Standing before the tower, Jian Nanhu bowed respectfully, forcing an overly polite smile.

He quickly transmitted to Qin Yun: "Quick, bow!"

Qin Yun could only comply, bending his waist toward the door.

"Spit it out or scram!" Jian Linglong's voice came through, calm yet laced with icy authority.

This sent Jian Nanhu into a full-body tremble as he blurted, "An Immortal Armament City disciple has the Dragon Totem and wants to give it to our Sword Immortal Pavilion! The sect leader’s tied up with a crowd, so he told me to bring him here!"

The door swung open the moment he finished.

"Get in here," Jian Linglong said, her voice frosty.

"Elder Linglong, this disciple’s got other business—gotta run!" Jian Nanhu took off like a shot, vanishing instantly.

Qin Yun, unfazed, strode inside. The door sealed shut behind him.

Inside the tower, Qin Yun felt a wave of blistering heat. Ahead lay a pool of boiling red liquid, like liquid fire.

"I’m Qin Yun from Immortal Armament City, here to hand over the Dragon Totem," he said, scanning the area but seeing no sign of Jian Linglong.

"Why gift something so precious to our Sword Immortal Pavilion? What’s your angle?" Her voice cut through the air.

"I need your Sword Immortal Pavilion’s protection..." Qin Yun gave her the short version.

After a pause, she said, "Rumor has it you’ve got the Flamefury Rune Soul too."

"Correct," Qin Yun admitted.

"Want to see me? Take a dive into the Sword Burial Pool!"

Qin Yun didn’t need it spelled out—that boiling pool was the Sword Burial Pool.

"Elder, I’ll just etch the Dragon Totem onto hide and leave it. No need to meet." A chill ran down his spine as he eyed the pool.

"Scared of a little dip?" Mockery dripped from her words.

"Kinda."

He had zero intention of jumping. Hand over the totem and bolt—that was the plan.

"Cut the crap. Get in here now, or you’re not going anywhere! You don’t want to see me? Too bad—I want to see you!"

Grudgingly, Qin Yun pulled out a Water-Avoiding Pearl and leapt.

But instead of falling, he was yanked upward. The pool’s ceiling swallowed him whole.

Next thing he knew, he stood baffled on the second floor—a bare but well-lit hall with black iron floors and chairs.

Then he saw her.

She wore a simple light-green robe. Stunning, with a fair oval face radiating mature elegance, her hair in a loose braid draped over her chest. Warm, tender eyes glimmered at him.

Despite her delicate name, she was anything but—towering at Qin Yun’s height, well over six feet.

Qin Yun was thrown for a loop. Jian Nanhu had painted her as a fire-breathing tyrant, yet here she stood: gentle, gorgeous, and downright mesmerizing.

Here’s the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

"That brat Jian Nanhu must have warned you not to stare at me like this!" Elder Linglong sat on a chair, smiling at Qin Yun.

"Senior Jian Shitian once tried to recruit me to the Sword Immortal Pavilion to be your disciple. Back then, he said you were gentle as a lamb!" Qin Yun chuckled. "But on the way here, Jian Nanhu told me... you're anything but gentle!"

"What else did he say?" Elder Linglong asked with a smile that seemed to burn.

"He said the Jian clan doesn't do gentle women!" Qin Yun replied.

Elder Linglong laughed. "True, the Jian clan doesn't do gentle women! Sit down."

Once Qin Yun sat down, he asked, "Can I start carving the Dragon Totem now?"

Elder Linglong walked over, standing in front of Qin Yun with her arms crossed, looking down at him with an icy edge to her voice. "When Jian Shitian tried to recruit you back then, why didn’t you come?"

"I wanted to! But our Supreme Elder from the Immortal Armament City stopped me. She’s an Immortal—you've heard of her, haven't you?" Qin Yun said with a helpless shrug, feeling the pressure from Elder Linglong.

"You’re here now. You don’t have to go back," Elder Linglong said.

"Well... I promised the Supreme Elder I’d stay in the Immortal Armament City. I can’t break my word." Qin Yun had just won a few Immortal Essences—not that he could stay anyway.

Elder Linglong seemed very interested in Qin Yun. She placed her smooth hand on his head and smiled. "If you stay, I guarantee you’ll see the gentle side of the Jian family’s women!"

Qin Yun’s pulse quickened—Elder Linglong actually wanted to keep him here.

Seeing his shocked expression, Elder Linglong gave a winning smile. "I’m harsh to others because they can't hold a decent conversation with me. But you’re different—you’re a talented Runes Master."

Qin Yun felt as if Elder Linglong seemed like a whole new person, appearing genuinely gentle now.

"Elder Linglong, there's probably trouble outside. I need to give you the Dragon Totem quickly and go check on it!" Qin Yun had Qi Meilian on his mind.

"We Runes Masters should stay out of the fighting," Elder Linglong said softly, smiling. "Just stay here and keep me company."

"Elder Linglong, I have many things to do!" Qin Yun wrinkled his brow.

"Fine, I won’t force you," Elder Linglong let out a soft sigh, disappointment in her voice. "Carve the Dragon Totem for me. I want to watch you do it."

"Alright!"

Qin Yun quickly took out the beast hide, placed it on a table, and set to work with quick strokes.

Elder Linglong’s eyes shone with fascination as she smiled. "You little devil, you even have a Beast King Rune Soul! The Dragon Totem is incredibly complex, yet you carve it with lightning speed!"

Qin Yun went still, realizing he had been exposed.

"I have a Rune Soul too, though not as good as yours. Mine is a Dao Lord Rune Soul," Elder Linglong said.

"A Dao Lord Rune Soul is still amazing!" Qin Yun exclaimed.

The Dao Lord Rune Soul allowed a Runes Master to achieve twice the results for half the work when carving Dao Runes. "But it’s useless for carving totems!" Elder Linglong said disdainfully. "Carving Dao Runes is child's play. Your Flamefury Rune Soul and Beast King Rune Soul cover a wide range, handling both runes and totems."