Investment Return System, Start by taking Demon Empress as a Disciple

Chapter 120: The Crumbling Stone House and a Gift for You

In the previous moment, Leng Yanran's attack had bypassed Li Shenruo and struck the great hall behind her, causing it to explode into fragments. This sight brought tears to Li Yourong's eyes.

"This… It's alright. Don't you still have a stone house down the mountain?"

After a brief silence, Leng Yanran managed a wry smile, attempting to console her.

"Hmm? Senior Sister is right. Yourong usually doesn't stay in this great hall. Compared to the hall, I prefer the little house I built myself!"

Li Yourong, upon hearing her senior sister's words, first blinked in confusion. Then, wiping her eyes, she grinned.

Turning her head towards the small stone house below the Holy Mountain, Li Yourong and Leng Yanran both froze again.

After the great hall was obliterated, debris rolled down, charging straight for the little stone house. As the two watched, the debris inevitably crashed into the not-so-sturdy stone house, with impeccable precision.

"Boom—" A sound rang out, and the stone house collapsed as well. This resounding crash caused Li Yourong's heart to tremor in response…

"Sis... Senior Sister, now even my stone house is gone… Sob…"

Li Yourong's facade faltered, the smile that had graced her face became fixed in place, and in an instant, her composure crumbled.

"Sigh… Don't rush to tears, always look on the bright side. Out with the old, in with the new! Furthermore, you won't be staying on the Holy Mountain permanently, right? We still have to return to the Heavenly Dao Pavilion."

Seeing her junior sister's crestfallen expression, Leng Yanran felt a sudden sense of urgency. She hastily sought to console her with words of encouragement.

Li Yourong pursed her lips, absorbing her senior sister's logical reasoning. Yet, the thought of her painstakingly constructed abode, now fallen alongside the grand hall, overwhelmed her, and she couldn't hold back her sobs.

"Hmm? What's that fragrance? Senior Sister, can you smell it?"

Amidst her sobs, Li Yourong detected a hint of aroma, prompting her to search around frantically.

"Fragrance?" Leng Yanran was utterly baffled by her junior sister's rapid change of demeanor.

"The meal is ready! Senior Sister, Senior Sister, it's time to eat! Braised Giant Goose!"

Li Yourong's gaze finally settled on a nearby side chamber, shrouded in the tantalizing scent of cooking. Her eyes gleamed, and her mouth watered uncontrollably.

In an instant, all of her previous distress was cast aside. In the grand scheme of things, the paramount issue was a meal!

Under the astonished gaze of Leng Yanran, Li Yourong dashed off with boundless enthusiasm to partake in the feast, bellowing a command to leave the goose leg untouched by anyone else.

"Fairy Leng, if you don't mind, join us for a few bites. There's no hurry in cultivation."

Observing Leng Yanran's dazed state, the Great Elder stepped forward, politely extending an invitation.

By now, he no longer held the demeanor of an elder addressing a junior; he had been utterly awed by Leng Yanran's prowess. Even the holy sons he had encountered in the Central Region, though formidable at the First Heaven of Unity Realm, couldn't compare to the pressure Leng Yanran had exuded.

"I'll pass. Elder, if you could kindly show me the way to the cultivation chambers,"

Leng Yanran snapped back to attention upon hearing his words. With her junior sister out of harm's way, she could finally let her guard down. She shook her head slightly, declining the elder's offer.

Though she had yet to master the technique of sustained fasting, she often subsisted on nourishing elixirs during normal times. Every moment available was dedicated to her cultivation, a testament to her unwavering commitment to honor her master's trust and guidance.

Noting her decision, the Great Elder refrained from pressing further. He led Leng Yanran to the chambers, bowed respectfully, and departed after ensuring the doors were securely closed behind her.

"No wonder Fairy Leng possesses such strength. The unwavering dedication she displays in her cultivation makes even an old man like me feel inadequate. It's quite akin to Shenruo's approach." Several elders gathered together, the Great Elder mused with a tinge of admiration.

Had it not been for that final moment, when Leng Yanran diverted her attack, Li Shenruo would have met her demise without a doubt.

"By the way, where is Shenruo? Has she gone into seclusion again?"

When the Great Elder took Leng Yanran to meditate, Li Shenruo was still in a daze, her mind reeling from the terrifying power of that final strike. Now, however, she was nowhere to be seen.

"Not this time. Shenruo went to have a meal with Yourong." Another elder responded.

"Oh? How unusual. Given Shenruo's temperament, why would she suddenly want to dine with Yourong?"

"We thought that after being decisively suppressed by Fairy Leng's overwhelming strength, Shenruo would be in a low spirits for a while."

"Indeed, and this outcome is quite favorable." The Great Elder listened thoughtfully before stroking his beard and smiling.

In this battle, Li Shenruo confronted death head-on at the critical moment. Even in the face of death, she took a step forward, experiencing a significant breakthrough in her state of mind.

Though she suffered a resounding defeat, her gains were far from insignificant.

Before the dining table, Li Yourong gazed longingly at the braised giant goose laid out before her.

As she reached out to seize it, her hand froze midway.

A conflicted expression crossed her face.

"Sister, here's a goose leg for you…"

In the end, as if making some monumental decision, Yourong's face showed a hint of determination. She divided one of the goose legs and handed it to the silent Li Shenruo.

Staring at the goose leg in the bowl, Li Shenruo was momentarily frozen, experiencing an unfamiliar sensation. It suddenly dawned on her that, over these years of single-minded cultivation, this was the first time she had sat down to eat with her younger sister, Yourong.

"I neglected you before. However, I too have my reasons for needing to cultivate diligently… You may be aware of our parents' situation, but... sharing that information would only add to your worries."

Li Shenruo gazed at her sister, a helpless expression appearing on her face as she slowly spoke. Though she mentioned their parents, she refrained from revealing further details to Yourong.

"Sister, you go ahead and eat. I'll take a goose leg to Senior Sister and come back. Sister, please eat slowly…"

Yourong seemed a bit puzzled by her sister's words, only understanding that her Senior Sister hadn't eaten yet. She picked up another goose leg and a bit of spiritual rice, then hurriedly trotted to the meditation chamber where their Senior Sister was.

After a while, she arrived at the meditation chamber, handed the bowl to her Senior Sister, and left with just a quick reminder, 'Yourong must go back to eat the big white goose quickly'.

Inside the chamber, Leng Yanran looked at the bowl and chopsticks before her, feeling a warmth in her heart. Besides Master, Yourong was the person she was closest to. Even though she was a bit naive, as long as she was around, no one would dare to bully her. Even if she couldn't handle something, they had their Master to rely on.

"It does taste quite delicious."

Leng Yanran smiled, a rare sight, as she lifted the bowl and chopsticks, tasting the braised goose leg Yourong had been talking about.

…

Meanwhile, back at the dining table, as Li Yourong returned, she noticed that her sister's bowl of spiritual rice was empty, and there was an extra goose leg in her own bowl. There was even a small portion of extra spiritual rice.

"Go ahead and eat. Your sister doesn't like braised goose." Li Shenruo felt a bit uncomfortable under her sister's gaze and offered a casual explanation.