Li Shuang pondered for a moment, then respectfully asked, "Senior Brother, I wonder if these tasks, once accepted, must be completed? If they cannot be completed, what are the consequences?"
At Li Shuang's words, everyone looked at him with some trepidation.
Although they didn't know what kind of being Lin An was, his power was undeniable. Moreover, he was a terrifying figure who would kill at the drop of a hat.
They certainly had questions about the tasks, but who dared to ask them directly like Li Shuang?
Lin An glanced at Li Shuang. Although his expression seemed unchanged, everyone keenly noticed that Lin An's attitude towards Li Shuang was significantly better than towards the others!
Lin An was very patient with Li Shuang: "Each task has one chance to be abandoned. But if it's accepted a second time after being abandoned, it cannot be abandoned again. If it cannot be completed after being accepted a second time, immediate obliteration. All tasks must be cleared before sunset. Otherwise, obliteration."
Everyone's hearts trembled!
What a scam!
If Li Shuang hadn't asked, Lin An hadn't planned to mention such crucial information, had he?
"Thank you, Senior Brother," Li Shuang said earnestly. "Since that's the case, I'll accept all three tasks first."
"You may," Lin An said. "If there are still uncompleted tasks at sunset, remember to abandon them."
"Understood," Li Shuang replied. She accepted three tasks and turned to leave.
Another person, seeing the situation, quickly approached: "Senior Brother, I'll also accept all three tasks first."
Lin An looked at him coldly: "With your ability, being able to complete one task is already a blessing from Heaven. Are you sure you want to accept three tasks?"
The man said stiffly, "Yes."
Lin An sneered: "Presumptuous. I'd like to see how capable you are of completing three tasks!"
Although he still allowed it, his attitude... was poles apart.
Everyone fell silent.
Is the double standard that strong????
What is Li Shuang's background, that even Lin An treats her differently?
Is there a genius of this caliber in the Central Continent?
After Lin An gave his answer, most people followed Li Shuang's example and accepted three tasks first. After all, they each had one chance to abandon before sunset.
A small number who only wanted to coast through directly took on a task worth one point and went to clean the steps.
Only after leaving Lin An did people dare to discuss quietly.
"What exactly is Li Shuang's background?"
"She must have extremely high potential, far exceeding all of us."
"...Speaking of someone who can dominate the whole scene, I'm reminded of someone."
A silence fell over the scene.
The next moment.
Someone cautiously said, "Li?"
This sudden emergence and instantaneous dominance of the whole scene always gave them a familiar feeling!
"Do you think... Li Shuang could be Li?"
"No, no, that's not quite right. Li hasn't appeared for nearly ten years. The last time she appeared on Dao Mountain, she was in her thirties. Even now, she'd only be in her forties. Moreover, when Li was at the Divine Soul Golden Altar, she was already at the peak of the Soul Transformation stage!"
"Li Shuang's token... shows that when she obtained it, she was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, or even not yet at Foundation Establishment."
Another silence fell over the scene.
If Li Shuang was Li.
Then how terrifying would her cultivation speed be!
"Actually... it's not impossible," one person said weakly. "I wonder if you remember, when Li first appeared on Dao Mountain, she was only at the Golden Core stage."
Another wave of silence.
Three years, from Golden Core to Soul Transformation. Li was also a super-monster.
So.
Li Shuang... is Li?
Their names even sound a bit similar!
This, it seems, might not be impossible!
But now was not the time to investigate Li Shuang's true identity. Everyone just discussed for a while, then hurried off to explore.
Feng Yu smiled slightly: "Cang Yin, do you think Li Shuang is Li?"
Cang Yin was somewhat silent.
She had indeed suspected as much in her heart.
After all.
For two peerless geniuses capable of dominating an era to appear at the same time, the probability was infinitesimally close to zero.
Cang Yin's eyes flickered: "More important than whether Li Shuang is Li, is to get the reward or to leave this place."
This was undeniable.
Feng Yu and Yan Lie looked at the sky, then quickly split up to act.
Cang Yin, however, did not go exploring by herself. She chased after Li Shuang in the direction she had left.
Li Shuang walked at an unhurried pace, leisurely observing her surroundings. On the surface, one would never guess she was in a perilous secret realm; it was more like she was out for a stroll after a meal.
The Langya Sect in the daytime was bustling, with disciples passing by from time to time.
They walked and talked cheerfully, as if the Langya Sect had never been destroyed.
But with careful observation, one would discover.
These people!
All were merely soul bodies!
Their true bodies had likely perished countless years ago.
Cang Yin hesitated, then walked over: "Earlier, thank you."
Li Shuang turned to look at her: "For what?"
Cang Yin felt a bit awkward: "About the house."
Li Shuang said calmly: "It's nothing. I didn't want to be struck by lightning myself."
Cang Yin said: "Regardless, I still owe you my thanks."
She pondered for a moment, then said: "As a token of my gratitude, I can share a piece of information with you."
"Oh?" Li Shuang seemed indifferent.
Cang Yin continued nonetheless: "When the Langya Sect forcibly ascended, all proponents of ascension died in the heavenly tribulation. All dissenters were imprisoned. This is a verified fact."
Li Shuang nodded.
Cang Yin lowered her voice to a whisper: "But I've read some remaining archives of the Langya Sect. The chief disciple of Langya Sect was indeed named Lin An. Fifty thousand years ago, this Lin An was also a peerless genius of his time, with swordsmanship that was truly astonishing."
Li Shuang glanced at her: "So... what are you trying to say?"
Cang Yin gave a bitter smile: "Lin An is real, and all the rest of them are probably real too. Everyone in the current Langya Sect... I'm afraid..."
Just as Cang Yin was about to say something, the surrounding Langya Sect disciples subtly looked in their direction.
Cang Yin quickly shut her mouth, and the strange gazes vanished.
"I understand. Thank you for the warning," Li Shuang said.
Cang Yin breathed a sigh of relief: "Consider that repayment for the favor then. I'm off to do my task."
With that, Cang Yin left without looking back.
Li Shuang watched Cang Yin's retreating figure.
She was somewhat surprised that Cang Yin had suddenly approached her to say all this.
However.
Li Shuang had already somewhat guessed the situation within the Langya Sect.