◎ Concentration, she is serious. ◎
In Li’s ancestral hall, there was nothing special.
Like most ancestral halls, it housed the ancestral tablets.
But at this moment, Huang Fuyuan and Lin Shuang were separately invited in by Li Lao.
“Sister, you go first?” Huang Fuyuan politely said.
Lin Shuang didn’t decline either, nodding appreciatively. Her voice even had a somewhat soft tone, “Thank you, Senior Brother, for letting me…”
Huang Fuyuan was taken aback.
Was it necessary for her to be so moved?
He let her go first, but the first to enter would be in more danger, right?
But Lin Shuang, with a grateful smile towards him, quickly walked into the ancestral hall, seeming quite eager.
She had completed all her tasks for the day, and the next step was personal rest.
Relaxation in moderation is the key to longevity.
What a joke, Zhenchuan still had to drag it out… It was too uncomfortable. She quickly entered the ancestral hall.
Li Lao was already waiting with his hands behind his back.
In front of him were a set of tables and chairs with paper and ink, as well as a mysterious gold Testing Spirit Stone.
Lin Shuang became anxious at a glance.
It seemed like this lecture would take a long time.
Li Lao revealed a friendly smile.
“It’s just a few questions, not many. After sitting down, pick up the Testing Spirit Stone.”
Lin Shuang’s eyes twitched.
“As an immortal, you should know that if you speak insincerely, the aura in your body will fluctuate. The spirit stone will show traces.”
Li Lao squinted.
Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow and quickly took her seat.
To Li Lao’s surprise, she generously rolled up her sleeves, picked up the Testing Spirit Stone with her right hand, and said, “Alright, come on, quickly!”
“…” Li Lao paused for a moment and then said, “Hold the Testing Spirit Stone and fully activate your Dantian. Now, open the rice paper on the table and answer the questions on it.”
Lin Shuang nodded and internally observed her Dantian.
Slightly furrowing her brows, numbers seven and eight were both depleted. Right after completing the trial clearance, she switched to number nine, letting seven and eight take an early break.
Now, she immediately fully activated the ninth Dantian.
Opening the paper, the water patterns on it deepened.
[Question One: How much of your true strength did you just use? Did you do your best?]
[Question Two: Among the following types of enemies, which one would you subdue first?
1. The nearest enemy
2. The enemy most easily subdued under your cultivation level
3. Someone who provokes you, a far-off enemy must be eradicated
4. Enemies obstructing your goal but pose no threat
5. Other, please specify]
[Question Three: How much impact do you think your performance in front of the ancestral hall had on the overall situation just now?
1. Stronger than Meng Zi
2. Between Meng Zi and Huang Fuyuan
3. Not as important as them.]
Lin Shuang swiftly read through the questions. These types of questions hardly required any thought; everything that had just happened was already stored in her memory.
She wrote rapidly.
The brightness of the Testing Spirit Stone in her hand remained consistent—the peak of Qi Refining Third level.
“Good, now go out and call Huang Fuyuan in.”
“Oh, sure.”
Lin Shuang walked out and paused again, “Li Lao, I came in to answer your questions, and I stayed in the hall longer than Senior Brother Meng Zi. Remember to settle the carriage and horse fee for these extra hundred breaths for me later, okay?”
Can’t spoil these puppets!
Li Lao’s figure stagnated, vividly showing signs of rolling his eyes.
“Huang Fuyuan, it’s your turn.”
Lin Shuang stepped out of the ancestral hall’s threshold with her left foot, and her right foot, Huang Fuyuan immediately coughed incessantly outside the door. She asked a villager for a chair, sat down, and called Huang Fuyuan, who was still coughing.
“Senior Brother, I asked the elder for extra time loss compensation. You better speak up too.”
She was thinking that in the mountain levels above Zhenchuan, there might be other puppet stages.
If every puppet required them to stay extra time for questioning, how much time would she lose?
She couldn’t bear it.
She had to wait for Meng Zi to answer, and she had to wait for Huang Fuyuan to answer.
Oh my, this is endless.
It must be made clear to these puppets that time is precious.
“…Alright, junior sister.” Huang Fuyuan glanced at her subtly.
Holding a hand warmer, wrapped in a furry white and gold fox fur collar, he walked into the ancestral hall.
Before long, he saw the questions, and his eyes became subtle.
But soon, he smiled and answered.
“What did Elder Li ask you to do? What are you discussing?”
Meng Zi, carrying a knife, couldn’t help but come over to ask Lin Shuang.
Why didn’t he ask him?
Was he discriminated against by old Li?
[I also want to know.]
[I don’t understand why there is no projection for this part of the ancestral hall. Is it a secret?]
[I’m afraid it involves the techniques of the two individuals. That’s my guess.]
“Well…” Lin Shuang pondered, “I’m afraid it will take more than thirty breaths for me to recount what happened to you. Why don’t you ask Senior Brother Huang Fuyuan?”
“…”
Meng Zi gave her a deep look, hmphed, and turned away.
“I don’t care to know!”
[…]
Huang Fuyuan soon walked out with a smile.
But Li Lao was still in the ancestral hall.
In the resting cave.
The pink-dressed woman watched the two answer the questions, and her expression gradually turned dark.
Curious, Zhao Keran leaned over to read.
[Question One—
Lin Shuang: Hmm, how much of my strength did I use just now… I went all out in the defense training of this tomato clock, and I am satisfied with myself.
Huang Fuyuan: I did my best. I haven’t done this much alchemy in the past year. How much of my strength…? In terms of alchemy, it’s everything.
As for the final blow, it’s less than a tenth compared to when my body was healed. Alas, my broken body…]
The veins on the pink-dressed woman’s forehead jumped.
[Question Two: Which type of enemy would you subdue first?
Lin Shuang: If there’s no life-threatening danger, it would definitely be the fourth type, those who disrupt my plans.
Huang Fuyuan: I choose ‘Other.’ Any specifics? For example, if they destroyed the drawings on my Three-Winged Spirit Chicken Cauldron?]
[Question Three:
Lin Shuang: Ranking the three of us… I would give myself the first place. I said I did my best, so I give myself a full score of one hundred.
Huang Fuyuan: My role is the least important, not as good as theirs. But considering my body has reached this level, I give myself the highest rating.]
The answers were different, yet unexpectedly similar.
After reading it, Zhao Keran felt a strange and subtle feeling.
—Senior sister and Senior Huang Fuyuan seem alike.
Was it because of the peculiar self-confidence expressed between the lines?
“Bang!”
The jade table in front of the pink-dressed woman instantly turned into ashes.
“Shameless!”
Zhao Keran: “…”
The woman in pink took a deep breath, “Lin Shuang is your Senior Sister, so it’s excusable if she’s sick. But this Huang Fuyuan, hehe, his cauldron is indeed broken.”
Zhao Keran was stunned.
Did he use divine consciousness to kill ten bandits? Just because the chicken drawing on his cauldron was destroyed? Really?
She thought it was a joke.
“Hehe.”
The woman in pink shook her head.
The more it looked fake, the more real it seemed.
She shot out a spiritual technique with her fingers.
Then, within the projection array, water ripples finally appeared.
[Lin Shuang: Qi Refining disciple.]
[Detail-oriented, well-versed in cracking the rules of the Li family village, triggered the Li family village hidden item — Three Hundred Youths!]
[She wasn’t the first immortal to arrive here, but she was the first one willing to patiently teach them techniques.]
Is this the bestowal of heavenly favor? The heavens have heard their prayers.
—This is what the people of Li Family Village thought.
Lin Shuang gained admiration and prestige in Li Family Village, and Elder Li decided to give Lin Shuang a reward of 2,000 spirit stones as travel expenses.]
[Lin Shuang’s profound and vivid sword techniques left a deep impression on the three hundred young people who had just embarked on the path of cultivation.
Are all immortals so patient?
In the future, if they go out to teach, can they be as patient?
—Lin Shuang triggered contemplation among the young cultivators.
Every bit of effort counts, but human effort can defy fate!
The horizons of the three hundred young cultivators were opened, realizing that self-isolation is not sustainable in the long run.
To maintain the prosperity of our human cultivation, it is necessary to pass on from generation to generation without extinction!
“The Sword of Returning Home” is worth 5,200 spirit stones. The young people pooled together and took out 2,800 spirit stones as their payment.
At the same time, Village Chief Elder Li, grateful for Lin Shuang’s guidance to the young people of Li’s village, seeing hope for the future of Li’s village, gave Lin Shuang an additional 500 spirit stones as a gratitude travel fee.]
[Battle reward:
In the first round, Lin Shuang didn’t move but learned the Five Steps Continuous Killing Formation on the spot. This spiritual achievement deeply moved Li’s village, and Li Lao took out 500 more spirit stones in admiration for the immortal.
In the second round, Lin Shuang roamed the entire field, playing a crucial role—]
The water ripples stopped at this point.
Only to see Li Lao walking out of the ancestral hall, smiling, and taking out the fourth big red silk bundle from behind!
Looking at Lin Shuang and Huang Fuyuan, he said with a smile, “Two immortals, this is an extra gift from me.”
Meng Zi opened his mouth.
Another set of water ripples began.
[Lin Shuang and Huang Fuyuan cooperated to ‘seriously injure’ Dao Xi at the Foundation Establishment Stage 3; killed eighteen bandits, ranging from Peak Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment Stage 1.]
[Li Lao thinks that you two, in this battle, were equally matched and had excellent cooperation. An additional reward of two thousand spirit stones is given to Lin Shuang and Huang Fuyuan, and you can distribute it yourselves!]
[1720 levels, reward settlement complete.]
[Lin Shuang, Huang Fuyuan, and Meng Zi, triggered the hidden magic treasure—Three Hundred Puppets, Shrunken Sand Table, passed with a first-class rating.]
[Received the highest spirit stone gratitude fee for the Little Fang event in Li’s village, temporarily ranking as the level master!]
The water ripples dissipated, turning into a golden beast head in an instant, flying to the chest of Lin Shuang and the others!
The fourth beast’s head, with the number 1720 on its forehead!
Three beast heads lined up.
This one had already formed a new line on their robes!
【…!】
【I’m convinced.】
Lin Shuang was just about to leave when the defeated figures of Dao Dong, Dao Xi, and Dao Bei quickly appeared in the wheat field opposite.
They had pale faces and floated in steps, but after preliminary treatment, they were no longer in danger.
Meng Zi had too much to say, ultimately looking at Lin Shuang and Huang Fuyuan, combining his words into one sentence.
“I’ll settle the score with you later.”
“Now, let’s draw the technique book. Who’s going? Let me check my luck today—it’s not bad.”
With the spirit stones in his hands, he wanted to go draw!
Meng Zi exuded an eager-to-move aura.
Huang Fuyuan raised an eyebrow, holding a hand warmer, standing still in place.
Lin Shuang had closed her eyes and slumped in a nearby chair, waving her hand.
No more requests, all her Pomodoro sessions for the day were done.
…
Meng Zi blushed and cleared his throat, “So, shall I go then?”
Dao Dong, Dao Xi, and Dao Bei glared at Meng Zi with clenched teeth, then shot an angry gaze at Lin Shuang.
“Why do you also know the Five-Step Chain Killing Formation?”
Lin Shuang, with her eyes still closed, shook her head, then quickly shut them again.
“Do you know what brain development is?”
“What?!”
Lin Shuang sighed.
As long as one persists in brain development training, the human ability for image memory will improve rapidly. Modern people can do it, let alone her… after ten years of cultivating in this world, nurturing 108 strands of divine consciousness—equivalent to 108 brains!
For many years, almost every day was filled with the schedule of studying, practicing, and reviewing talismans.
Can’t remember a third-order formation?
These three seemed to be questioning her learning ability.
Lin Shuang looked at Dao Dong.
“It’s better not to insult me casually, or I’ll get angry.”
Dao Dong: “???”
“How could you learn it so quickly! I only perfected it when I entered Zhenchuan this time—”
Lin Shuang struggled to open her eyes.
Her defensive spiritual qi had clashed with the sword qi several times, and now she was truly tired.
It not only consumed the seventh and eighth elixir fields but also kept 108 strands of divine consciousness running at high speed…
Constantly calculating the angle and intensity of the sword qi, adjusting her spiritual qi. At the same time, she had to recall two newly learned techniques and apply them.
There was also the ‘defensive’ Five Steps Formation that the opponent insisted on drawing in front of her, trying to make her accidentally learn… This kind of continuous causes the opponent to lose blood ‘defense’ formation—You hit me? You can slowly bleed. Even if it’s fast memorization, it still consumes a lot of energy.
“How did you learn it? Well, that’s VIP-exclusive content, can’t tell you. I’m tired, need a short nap, don’t bother me.”
“!”
Lin Shuang took out a soft couch from her mustard seed bag, tucked herself in, pulled the small cotton quilt tighter, and closed her eyes to sleep.
“Meng Shixiong, when you leave this level later, can you move me next to my junior sister Zhao Keran?”
“I’ll give you fifty spirit stones.”
“???”
“!”
Meng Zi almost drew his sword, “Am I your Dao disciple—Hmm, fifty? Alright, I’ll do it for you. Senior Brother Huang, how about you? Are you tired? You’re a male cultivator; I’ll charge you seventy-five spirit stones?”
“…”
While Meng Zi was talking, he walked in front of Dao Xi and casually patted him when he wasn’t paying attention.
“Borrowing your technique for a look, thanks.”
Huang Fuyuan narrowed his phoenix eyes.
“The most valuable thing on the three of them is probably the formation books. Junior brother Dao Dong likely obtained ancient formations in the Zhenchuan trial, thus perfecting his own Five Steps Formation.”
As these words came out, Dao Dong’s figure slightly paused.
Dao Xi stood breathless, his expression stiff.
Meng Zi nodded, lowered his head to look at the scroll in his hand, and chuckled.
He raised it high towards Huang Fuyuan.
In his hand was the “Eight Arrays of Rivers and Rivers.” “I’ve never made a mistake when it comes to spirit stones. Just a sniff, and I know which one is the most valuable.”
Meng Zi happily grinned, Huang Fuyuan smiled, and Lin Shuang lay down.
The three of them, Dao Xi, Dao Dong, and Dao Bei, felt despair.
“Next time, don’t look so nervous as if you’re carrying something valuable, Dao Xi Senior brother.” Meng Zi arched his hand towards him, “Thanks for this time.”
Above a thousand layers, giving away heads, giving away treasures, giving away rewards!
The three of them were about to collapse.
\[“Damn it! Is this Meng Zi, the disciple who doesn’t join unless he gets paid even at the low level of Foundation Establishment!?”\]
\[“? This Senior Brother seems very excited. Could you be one of the Ten Sons of Dao Mountain, white-haired and biscuit inside?”\]
\[“…Well, the other Senior Brothers of Dao Mountain’s Ten Sons are indeed watching this projection.”\]
\[“Calm down. Senior Brothers with white hair and biscuit-like appearance from above the three thousand levels of Zhenchuan cannot challenge disciples below three thousand.”\]
\[“Ah, encountering three hundred puppets and locust Meng Zi, Dao Xi, Dao Bei, and Dao Dong are indeed unlucky.”\]
…
The projection completely disappeared.
Meng Zi, who returned fully loaded, had already left the trial level and returned to the rest cave.
As soon as he entered the hall, he looked cautious, as if carrying precious treasures.
He pushed a bamboo chair with his left hand, on which sat Huang Fuyuan, coughing and with a thick white blanket on his legs.
He carried a soft pallet on his right shoulder, on which Lin Shuang lay in a daze, covered with a pink small quilt.
A big knife was clamped under his armpit.
As a cultivator of the Dao of the Blade, he was steady with both hands.
Lin Shuang was placed next to Zhao Keran and didn’t feel the slightest shake. She was still asleep.
Huang Fuyuan was also very satisfied.
“Auntie, let me check Cave 1700,” Meng Zi smiled and grinned at the pink-dressed woman behind the counter.
“…”
The pink-dressed woman looked at the three of them as if they were sick, her hands trembling.
Zhao Keran hurried forward to ease the atmosphere. “I’ll take care of it.”
She looked anxious, fearing that Meng Zi and Senior Uncle would quarrel.
If that happened, it would affect her next shift, and she probably couldn’t have a meal with her senior sister.
Zhao Keran took the introduction jade slip of Cave 1700 from the pink-dressed woman and placed it in front of Meng Zi.
Unlike the plain text of the previous jade slips, the introduction of Cave 1700 had a vivid ‘model’ map.
It could rotate 365 degrees to view the situation of every room in the cave, and even see the simulated surrounding spiritual energy environment.
“The Inner Sect cafeteria is right next to Cave 1700, and you can walk there,” Zhao Keran said, deeply influenced by Lin Shuang.
It sounded great as if advertising convenient transportation.
“If you don’t want to go out, the cafeteria offers a Dao Disciple delivery service for an additional 10 spirit stones. Door-to-door delivery takes only about a dozen breaths.”
Lin Shuang opened her eyes instantly as she lay on the soft couch, casting her gaze toward this cave.
Sensitive words were triggered, and she woke up.
Although the Fasting Pill could keep one full, it lacked the healing effect on one’s mood, and the lack of sugar could lead to depression over time.
Better to go to the canteen.
This delivery service was not available for Outer Sect disciples.
“This sounds good,” Meng Zi was a bit tempted, “Ten spirit stones for one delivery. If I ask everyone to pay five spirit stones, wouldn’t everyone choose me for the delivery?”
Zhao Keran: “…”
Lin Shuang: “…”
Huang Fuyuan: “…”
However, Meng Zi calculated with his fingers and felt that this cave was much better than the previous one. “I’m close to the canteen. If I deliver meals to a hundred people three times a day, that would be…”
Zhao Keran interjected, “A lot of spirit stones.”
Meng Zi laughed and slapped his thigh on the spot. “Thirty days would be forty-five thousand spirit stones. The annual rent for this cave is two hundred thousand.”
By delivering for five months, it’s like getting a free stay for a year!
Lin Shuang’s mouth twitched, and Huang Fuyuan also pressed his temples.
This person, they didn’t know him.
Huang Fuyuan reluctantly looked at this cave, “It does indeed… look better here. However, the spiritual energy is still a bit less compared to inside Rong Bao Pavilion, and there’s no immortal crane mount.”
Hearing this, Meng Zi hesitated again, “Senior Brother is right. Two hundred thousand is still money; I have to be careful. If I don’t live there, I can also deliver meals. Junior Sister Zhao, I’ll think about it later.”
Zhao Keran finally understood the pain of her pink-dressed Senior Uncle.
Just looking and not buying or renting is fine.
But every time you think it’s about to be sold, and then it’s not, it’s too difficult.
“Okay, welcome to come and see other caves next time, Senior Brother.”
But when she was about to put away the jade slip, Lin Shuang stopped her.
Zhao Keran was surprised. When she turned her head, she saw Lin Shuang sitting on the soft couch, draped in an outer robe, covered with a brocade quilt, looking awake and interested.
“Sister, you’re awake? Do you want to rent this place?”
She figured it out at once; her senior sister was very tempted. After all, three meals a day, and going to the martial arts hall at most once a day.
Being close to the canteen made her senior sister salivate even more.
After ten years in the Outer Sect, her senior sister should have quite a bit of savings.
“I’ll calculate the discounted price for Senior Sister. How many spirit stones do you need?” Zhao Keran was invigorated in an instant.
But thinking that she would also live with her sister in the future, she looked at Cave 1700 and felt a bit… complicated.
Indeed, there was no immortal crane mount, and it was inconvenient to go to the management hall.
It was not conducive to her senior sister’s time management.
Her senior sister deserved something better.
Zhao Keran hesitated, but Lin Shuang spoke, “How close is it to Zhenchuan?”
Meng Zi and Huang Fuyuan were stunned.
“I need to venture into Zhenchuan for at least seven or eight days. Going back and forth between the Outer Sect and Zhenchuan every day is time-consuming.”
When Lin Shuang reached the end of her classes, she began to worry about going home.
Zhenchuan was at the west gate of Clearwater Sect, quite far from the Outer Sect’s 99th wooden house at the east gate.
She didn’t want to run around.
“Are there model houses in the Inner Sect? Around 1700.”
Zhao Keran was puzzled, “Model houses?”
The pink-dressed woman passing by heard this and rolled her eyes, “The model houses you’re talking about are dwellings with a similar environment and spiritual energy configuration. They’re used as examples for disciples to inspect. Even if they exist, they’re only for disciples to visit, not for you to live in, right?”
Huang Fuyuan pondered, “Similar to the treasures displayed at Rong Bao Pavilion’s counter.”
Lin Shuang gave a thumbs up, “Indeed, you guys are remarkable, the ace sales in the sales department, and the shopkeeper at Rong Bao Pavilion!”
“…”
“You’re thinking too much!” The pink-dressed woman raised her eyebrows, “There are no model houses! Even if there were, they’re only for disciples to visit. You think I’d let you live in one!?”
But Lin Shuang nodded vigorously, “Yes, let me live in one.”
The pink-dressed woman: “?”
“I can promote Inner Sect caves among the twenty thousand Outer Sect disciples, Meng Zi can promote them in the Inner Sect and the patrol team and Huangfu can promote them at Rong Bao Pavilion.”
“We can also pay several days’ rent. Isn’t this a perfect opportunity for the Inner Sect sales department? A comprehensive gain.”
“Such a good opportunity, the sales department shouldn’t miss it, right?”
The pink-dressed woman: “!”
Make a comprehensive gain on your ancestor!
Li Dao Wei, how did the Outer Sect produce such shameless disciples?
But what she said made sense.
The pink-dressed woman took a deep breath and looked at the increasing number of Foundation Establishment disciples lingering in the resting cave.
Previously, most disciples didn’t come here to rest; they rushed to the next level of assessment.
But now, more and more people heard about Lin Shuang, an Outer Sect disciple, and Huang Fuyuan, an invalid, continuously winning four levels and defeating the third disciple of Dao Shan… they all came to watch.
Lin Shuang and the others were now one of the most eye-catching groups among the Foundation Establishment disciples below the three thousand levels of Zhenchuan!
The pink-dressed woman took a breath.
Holding the spirit key of Cave 1700 that she had thrown out, Lin Shuang sat on the soft couch and quickly rolled out with Meng Zi and Huang Fuyuan.
Meng Zi carried the soft couch and wheelchair, no, bamboo chair, flying away with them.
Afraid that the pink-dressed woman might regret it!
In an instant, the three disappeared from the resting cave in Zhenchuan.
Only Lin Shuang’s voice came from afar, “Little Junior Sister, after your shift, don’t take a detour back to the Outer Sect. I’ll keep the door for you at 1700~”
Zhao Keran was moved, and the pink-dressed woman’s chest heaved.
“Three hundred spirit stones per day, deducted from their accounts.”
“!”
…
In the resting cave on the sixth thousandth floor.
Disciples with fish-scale foreheads, and others like Bai Yu, all stared at the projection screen on the seven hundredth floor.
【I was here】—one text comment after another floated by.
They frowned instantly.
-The Elder monitoring the puppet-related matters.
-Starting today, collect all information about the Puppet Division.
-Also, I have exposed some of my strength, luring the snake out of its hole.
-Strengthen your guard.
“Let’s go!”
“Inform all the clans!”
*
After leaving Zhenchuan, Meng Zi and the others entered directly from the west gate of Clearwater Sect.
Within this gate were all Inner Sect areas.
Because Meng Zi and Huang Fuyuan were both present, the disciple guarding the mountain gate today didn’t scrutinize Lin Shuang too much.
Mainly because the guarding disciple was also quite bewildered.
Meng Zi carried two people.
One lay down as if half of their body was paralyzed. One sat as if half of their body was paralyzed.
Because they were fellow disciples, the guarding disciple didn’t want to ask these ‘apparently disabled’ individuals to come down for inspection.
Meng Zi took advantage of this and swiftly entered.
Suddenly, several tall mountains and flowing rivers appeared before Lin Shuang’s eyes.
The nearest cave, at the foot of a mountain and river, was only a dozen steps away from the west gate.
It was the cave they had seen before, number over one hundred—Sixth Ring, no, at least Seventh Ring now.
Lin Shuang watched while lying down.
On the same mountain, there were many caves from the foot to the top.
The numbers at the foot were the smallest, slightly larger halfway up the mountain, and the numbers at the top were the largest within that mountain.
It could be seen that in this cultivation world, everyone could fly on swords, equivalent to having elevators on every mountain.
Everyone liked the mountaintop for the good scenery and convenience, with such locations having the highest prices.
And between mountains, there were differences; some mountains were slender, with fewer caves.
Some were majestic and broad, with four or five caves at the same height.
But now, as they went along, most caves had tightly closed stone doors, and no disciples were seen coming in or out.
“They’re all in the Zhenchuan trial.”
Early resting like Lin Shuang was also quite rare.
Meng Zi moved swiftly, carrying them on a soft couch and a chair. In about half an hour, they saw a suspended mountain with an open view. It somewhat resembled the design of a resting cave.
On the mountain, there was a two-story loft. Through the antique-style window frames, one could vaguely see tables and cushions.
A sign that read ‘Chui’ was hung outside the loft.
At this moment, the aroma of food wafted over.
“This is the Inner Sect canteen.”
Meng Zi didn’t stop, casually mentioning it to Lin Shuang, an Outer Sect disciple.
Around the canteen, there were six high mountains surrounding it.
Number 1700 was one of these six, situated halfway up the mountain.
Lin Shuang was carried by Meng Zi on a flying sword, looking up.
[Mount Ling—Cave 1700]
A spacious cave was opened in the rugged mountain wall, large enough for five adult men to walk in side by side.
The sound of flowing water came from the mountaintop, resembling a waterfall.
Unable to resist, Lin Shuang’s gaze moved upward, and she saw the plaque for [Mount Ling—Cave 1799] at the mountain peak.
Number 1799 was obviously superior to 1700, with mountains and water.
“Above number 1500, the mountains have spiritual springs.” Huang Fuyuan sat on a bamboo chair, a large piece of snowy fox fur draped over him.
As if unable to withstand the wind brought by Meng Zi’s fast flight, he coughed lightly twice.
“The prices of caves are closely related to the size and quality of the spiritual springs.”
Lin Shuang nodded in understanding.
Below number 3000, they were mostly residences for low to mid-level Foundation Establishment disciples.
That’s why the canteen was so close to number 1700 because most high-level disciples had no worldly desires.
In essence, the canteen was just making some spirit stones from low-level disciples.
“The Inner Sect’s Transmission Hall, the Administration Office, and the Closed-door Contemplation Tower are all between 5000 and 6000.”
“The annual rent for those caves is over a million, mostly occupied by Foundation Establishment high-level disciples.”
Places like the Administration Office were closer to the core disciples of the sect.
They took on more sect tasks.
Further in were the caves numbered from 6000 to 9000, where those who reached the 6000th layer in the Zhenchuan trial resided.
These Qi Refinement seniors often closed themselves off and paid little attention to worldly affairs.
“These disciples are long gone, and between 6000 and 9000, more than half of the caves are vacant.”
It’s either feast or famine.
Meng Zi shook his head.
Lin Shuang, however, felt quite pleased.
The entire Inner Sect map of the sect seemed to meet her needs for time management.
But her joy was short-lived. Hence, she needed to find a place in the Inner Sect that was close to the canteen, administration office, and Transmission Hall at the same time, which was impossible…
“Sister, you can buy teleportation talismans.” Huang Fuyuan smiled.
Lin Shuang’s eyes lit up.
When Meng Zi was about to land at number 1700, she stopped him. “I’ll go to the canteen to buy dinner. I won’t leave the cave later.”
…
Cave number 1700 had four rooms and two halls.
Huang Fuyuan usually lived in Rong Bao Pavilion, but he didn’t mind having a cave.
He and Meng Zi each chose a room facing south.
Lin Shuang occupied the middle bedroom, which was convenient for both the practice room and the meeting hall.
After placing the dinner, she bought in the canteen on a warming talisman, she recharged three days’ worth of spiritual energy usage fees at the spirit stone gathering point at the entrance.
Then, she lay down.
At the place where she could see the sunset from the entrance of the cave, she lay still on the soft couch.
Meng Zi was immersed in exploring every corner of the room, stepping through every part.
In a cave that cost 200,000 spirit stones a year, he left plenty of traces.
“Lin Shuang, Senior Brother Huangfu.”
He completed a full circle before finally walking out with the valuable spirit tea cup in hand.
It blocked the sunset glow that shone on Lin Shuang’s dazed face.
“It’s been a day.”
“It’s time for you both… to confess.”
Meng Zi lowered his head, looking around at them.
To Lin Shuang’s left was Huangfu Yuan, whom he had moved to her bedside.
Huangfu Yuan helplessly opened his eyes.
“If you still want to move around in Zhenchuan, you better tell me the truth now.”
Meng Zi put down the teacup, squinting his peach blossom eyes.
“What cultivation level are you two, exactly?”
The pupils of Huangfu Yuan, reflected in the glow, overflowed with a blood-red color.
Meng Zi looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath.
“Lying to others is fine, but trying to deceive me, Meng Zi, whose nose is more sensitive than a dog’s, is thinking too much.”
Huangfu Yuan’s pupils contracted.
“No one should think about taking away a spirit stone from me, Meng Zi.”
“And you two receiving so many red envelopes in the Li family village! More than several hundred, even over a thousand spirit stones, better than my cultivation at the Fourth Layer of Foundation Establishment. Are you in the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment initial stage? Is that possible?”
Meng Zi gestured with his hands, becoming angrier as he spoke.
Huang Fuyuan’s eyes momentarily lost their bloody color, his pale face appearing strangely.
“Junior Brother Meng, just because we received more spirit stones, you suspect us of falsely reporting our cultivation level?”
“Then what else could it be?”
Meng Zi angrily lowered his head, glaring at the two of them.
Huang Fuyuan: “…”
Under the snowy blanket, his hand slowly loosened.
“That’s fine then.”
“???”
Meng Zi slapped the table, “Why is it fine?!”
“With each level in Zhenchuan, the danger increases. Didn’t you realize? In the Li family village, the wooden puppets at the Foundation Establishment initial stage were already over twenty.”
“What about the trials above? You might encounter real heavy injuries, life-threatening crises…”
Meng Zi took a deep breath. “I love spirit stones, but I also need to stay alive first to earn more spirit stones.”
Huangfu Yuan narrowed his phoenix eyes.
“If you decide not to say, we’ll part ways here! I’ll go challenge the two-thousandth level alone!”
“Tomorrow, I will never bring you up again!”
Meng Zi’s words resonated through the room.
“The more you go up, the more dangerous it becomes. You two, think about it carefully. Facing over ten bandits in the Li family village, Dao Xi… Senior Huang Fuyuan, Lin Shuang, think about it well before you speak to me again.”
Meng Zi wasn’t stupid.
The higher they went, the more obstacles they encountered.
They exposed more of their strength.
Huangfu Yuan helplessly cast a Silencing Spell.
“Junior Brother, Junior Sister, actually I—”
Meng Zi pricked up his ears.
Lin Shuang looked at the sky.
But then a drip sound.
【Calling Lin Shuang for the fifth time, triggering automatic reply.】
【Hello, Lin Shuang is currently in a state of meditation.】
“???”
Meng Zi and Huangfu Yuan were both stunned, slowly turning their heads.
Did they discuss this for so long?
She didn’t say a word, wasn’t listening at all?
When they turned, they saw the woman lying on the soft couch, gazing at the sky and the night scene of the mountains.
It seemed that something was in her ears, and her eyes were vacant within the smile as if she couldn’t see them reaching out and shaking her.
【Lin Shuang has attached a one-way glass talisman to herself, and she has cast a soundproofing spell. At this moment, she can’t see you and can’t hear your voice.】
“???”
“???”
【If you have any questions, during her meditative phase, Xiao Ai will automatically respond to you.】
“…”
“Lin Shuang!” Meng Zi shouted, “Get up and explain your cultivation level!”
He shouted, and Huangfu Yuan frowned.
But Lin Shuang seemed oblivious, still smiling and looking at the sky.
Indeed, she couldn’t hear or see anything.
“…”
【Ding, the keyword ‘cultivation level’ has been captured. If you want to inquire about 1. Lin Shuang’s cultivation level, 2. Zhao Keran’s cultivation level…】
“One! One!” Meng Zi hurriedly interrupted.
【Lin Shuang’s cultivation level has been queried with the latest record. After walking out of the Zhenchuan trial today, the content is ‘I should be equivalent to…’ Ding, the following content is VIP…】
“…”
Meng Zi pressed his temple; he had never been so irritable before, something not even a hundred spirit stones could fix.
“Zhenchuan is full of crises. Alright, alright, if you two want to be like this, I won’t care about life or death later!”
【Ding, keywords ‘crisis’ and ‘death’ detected, related to ‘Lin Shuang’s cultivation level’ issue. Are you Lin Shuang’s life-and-death buddy?】
Meng Zi was stunned, and Huangfu Yuan also turned to look at the smiling Lin Shuang in the ‘one-way glass talisman.’
“…I…” Meng Zi was speechless.
What life and death buddy…? He felt goosebumps all over.
【Spiritual energy scan verification in progress… Not the life-and-death buddy level- I, Zhou Xuanwu, not the life-and-death buddy level- I, Xiao Qi.】
“…”
“…”
Meng Zi and Huangfu Yuan both showed a complex and relieved expression.
But the fleeting sense of loss in their hearts, what was that about?
【Ding, found life-and-death buddies level- II, Zhenchuan Meng Zi, life-and-death buddies level- II, Zhenchuan Huangfu Yuan.】
Meng Zi and Huangfu Yuan’s expressions changed simultaneously.
The little fleeting loss, not yet fully thought about, suddenly disappeared.
Did she consider them as life-and-death… senior brothers?
He used to scold her a lot.
He used to make her take the blame for many things.
In the eyes of both, a trace of entanglement and shame flashed at the mention.
【Level II answer as follows: I’ll play a dedicated answer recording for you. Here is Lin Shuang’s real voice.】
“Two senior brothers, when you hear this recording, it is likely that you are in a life-threatening crisis in Zhenchuan and can’t find or wake me up—”
Huangfu Yuan: “…”
Meng Zi: “…”
“About my cultivation level, listen carefully: at the moment of life and death, you can consider me as—”
There was a moment of silence in the voice, then it resumed.
“—Ninety-seven twin Harmony Qi Third Layer peaks, born as one entity, forming the attack and defense Lin Shuang with a power of ninety-seven times.”
“?”
“!”
The author has something to say:
“Zhao Sect Master’s Notes 30”: Even when daydreaming, the senior sister is extremely serious. Do you understand what concentration is?
—Meng Zi: …
—Huangfu Yuan: …
*
Draw a ‘hand-drawn’ map of Clearwater Sect.
East Gate—Outer Gate wooden houses—Mountain wall barrier—Inner Gate Rong Bao Studio—Inner Gate 9000 → No. 1 (numbers decreasing)—West Gate—Zhenchuan
Apart from the East and West Gates, Clearwater Sect also has North and South Gates (located on the north-south central axis around the five to six-thousand-numbered caves).
Private setting: Each mountain in the Inner Gate has a Gathering Spirit Array and Spiritual Spring.
Although it seems that the Outer Gate and Inner Gate intersect, the Outer Gate does not have a Spirit Mountain, and there is a big difference in spiritual energy.
According to Lin Shuang’s quickest learning style, she should prefer the six thousand-numbered caves. The central position of the sect, the time to go anywhere is almost the same, and then fill the teleportation arrays to various places…
Huangfu Yuan is in the noble 9000-numbered cave villa area next to Rong Bao Zhai—a bit like the taste of a supermarket owner in a villa area, how did that happen?
Meng Zi and Xiao Bai were in the pitiful West Gate suburb (one stingy, the other without a record of Zhenchuan ten years ago).
*
