Chapter 58

Lin Yi's words made Su Lingshu burst into laughter. Although she was still somewhat worried, the atmosphere had finally softened.

"Well… my good husband… shouldn't you tell us how to send us to the Return to Void Realm…" Su Lingshu leaned over with a grin.

Lin Yi used his hand to support her head, preventing her from lowering it. "Stop messing around. We're in someone else's place. Won't you be embarrassed if you're overheard?"

"Hmph, they can't see us anyway." Su Lingshu pouted, but she didn't continue to lean in. She just hummed a few times and sat down in the seat nearby.

Seeing this scene, the originally tense expressions of Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan softened. Lu Jiajing's fingertips remained on Lin Yi's brow, using her spiritual energy to soothe his mood.

Just as Pei Yuhan was about to let go of Lin Yi, he grabbed her small hand with his backhand. Pei Yuhan glanced at Lin Yi but said nothing.

Lin Yi toyed with the jade-like fingers of his beautiful Master. Although she wielded a long sword all day, as a Cultivator, it was obviously impossible for Pei Yuhan to have calluses on her fingers.

Playing with Pei Yuhan's jade hand, Lin Yi pondered, "Before heading to the Northern Territory, we still need to visit one place."

"What place?" Lu Jiajing asked.

Pei Yuhan also silently watched Lin Yi.

"The richest family in Xialiang Kingdom, the Xia family." Lin Yi said calmly.

"We're going now?" Pei Yuhan asked.

"Yes." Lin Yi nodded.

"Then let's go." Lu Jiajing put away her spiritual energy.

The group clarified a few matters with the Elder of the Mingxu Sect, asked him to write a visiting card, and turned to leave the Taoist temple in the south of the city.

After all, it was a small border kingdom, so Yin Yang's reach did not extend here. Thus, the Dao of Immortality flourished in Xialiang Kingdom, and even the Sword Dao, which was currently viewed as an anomaly, seemed to have traces here.

Lin Yi and his group flew their swords into the capital of Xialiang Kingdom. Following the information previously obtained from the Mingxu Sect Elder, they stood before the main gate of the Xia family with the visiting card and presented it.

Seeing the ethereal, immortal-like appearance of the group, the servant dared not be the slightest bit negligent. He hurriedly said to wait a moment and ran into the residence with the visiting card.

Lin Yi swept his gaze over the massive residence and compared it to what he had seen while flying his sword over. He shook his head slightly.

However… this was quite common in this world.

Before long, an old man with white hair and beard came toward the main gate, surrounded by people.

"Hahahaha, so it is Palace Master Lu and Sword Fairy Pei!" The old man was accompanied by guards and retainers.

Pei Yuhan swept her gaze over the retainers beside the old man. She and Lu Jiajing exchanged a glance; they were all just Golden Core Stage Cultivators, and the strongest were only two Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators.

Nothing to worry about.

"You are too kind, too kind." Lin Yi was the first to cup his hands.

The old man's gaze fell on Lin Yi. He could see that the leader of Pei Yuhan and the others was this handsome young man. Although he looked young, considering the various miraculous abilities of Qi practitioners… the old man did not dare to underestimate Lin Yi.

A retainer beside him whispered in his ear. Lin Yi clearly heard the words "Nascent Soul Stage," so the old man's attitude became even more enthusiastic. "May I ask how to address you, Young Master?"

"Lin Yi."

After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Yi led Pei Yuhan and the others inside, accompanied by the old man. With strength, one could receive preferential treatment anywhere.

The group walked through the gardens, with maids and servants passing by. Everywhere was carved beams and painted pillars, looking elegant and luxurious.

Under the old man's guidance, Lin Yi and the others sat down in the reception hall. Maids and servants served tea. After having a cup, the atmosphere began to turn from enthusiastic to normal.

Lin Yi swept his gaze around. This old man was the current head of the Xia family. "I wonder if Old Master Xia… is familiar with the name Xia Zhijiu?"

"Xia Zhijiu?" Old Master Xia was full of vigor. He stroked his gray beard. "I have not heard of it. Does this Xia Zhijiu have a grudge against Young Master Lin or… shall I have my servants go look for him?"

For a businessman like Old Master Xia, making a deal or connection with Lin Yi and the others was perfectly normal.

Lin Yi smiled and shook his head. "No, it's just that I vaguely remember seeing such a person when I was traveling in Xialiang Kingdom. It seems I remembered wrong now."

"Oh? Young Master Lin has traveled in Xialiang before?" Old Master Xia began to chat with Lin Yi.

Lin Yi dealt with Old Master Xia while pondering.

That Xia Zhijiu was originally an admirer of Jiang Miaoxuan. Because he hadn't stated his father's name, Lin Yi wasn't sure if he had been born yet. Either the Old Master Xia in front of him was of his grandfather's generation or higher, or the plot had changed completely.

"Of course. Does Old Master have any impression of the name Jiang Miaoxuan?" Lin Yi asked casually.

Old Master Xia pondered slightly, then finally shook his head. "I have not."

"Then it seems they deceived me, claiming to be well-acquainted with Old Master Xia. Sigh…" Lin Yi shook his head, appearing as if he regretted it.

Pei Yuhan and Lu Jiajing both had the corners of their lips curl up as they watched Lin Yi's act. Whether true or false, the words spoken by Lin Yi were sometimes just idle chatter, but sometimes they were mixed with information he wanted to know.

At the end of the conversation, Old Master Xia insisted that Lin Yi and the others stay for a banquet. Lin Yi and the others declined as usual, but finally, under the enthusiastic hospitality of Old Master Xia, they had dinner.

Finally managing to escape, the group walked through the capital of Xialiang Kingdom. Su Lingshu held Lin Yi's arm, with Pei Yuhan and Lu Jiajing following behind.

"Jiang Miaoxuan is gone, Xia Zhijiu is gone, and that legendary story is gone too." Lin Yi shook his head, finally letting go of the lingering luck in his heart.

Things in the world are always eight or nine parts unsatisfactory. Lin Yi had long been prepared. Since Jiang Miaoxuan had not appeared here, it meant she had not suffered that millennium of pain. Wasn't that just right?

Lin Yi's Dao Heart became clear. He held Su Lingshu's hand and strolled through the streets. Although not as prosperous as Chengtian City, this tiny kingdom also had a touch of exotic charm.

Lin Yi bought a few hairpins and put them on Pei Yuhan and the others. Paired with the Fairy's pure and beautiful face, it added quite a bit of color, and the hairpins, which were of average quality, also produced a bit of clear radiance.

Lu Jiajing pursed her lips. Lin Yi always made her heart flutter at such moments. She turned her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the jade ornaments that swayed as they walked.

Su Lingshu was carefree, holding Lin Yi's hand as if they were just strolling and playing. Her demeanor made the atmosphere among the group lively.

Lin Yi cast aside his stray thoughts and accompanied the three women through the market. Pei Yuhan's originally cold expression also softened.

But…

Lin Yi paused. His gaze turned to a girl in a black dress standing at the street corner.

Chapter 98 New Task: Book of Strange Tales

The girl was like a deep black amidst the colorful city, her long hair like ink, draped over her shoulders, wearing a black dress that reached her ankles, just like a surging black tide.

Her slightly exposed small wrists were as glossy as moonlight. Her exquisite little face, aside from her deep eyes and a touch of light eyebrows, only had that vermilion red lip.

The girl was so pale she didn't seem like a person of this world, yet she was surrounded by a serene, bright aura. Her black dress and ink-colored hair contrasted, making her seem even more dreamlike.

In her hand, she held an ancient mirror, and she was looking at a Book of Strange Tales. Seemingly noticing Lin Yi's gaze, she lifted her eyes from the book and glanced at Lin Yi and the others.

Lin Yi's gaze met the girl's for a moment, and before Lin Yi could turn his steps, the girl disappeared from that street corner as if she had never appeared.

Lin Yi exchanged a glance with Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan. Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan disappeared from where they stood, while he pulled Su Lingshu and walked toward the place where the girl had just appeared.

A faint, elegant fragrance seemed to still linger. Lin Yi walked to the street corner; next to it was a small alley. He did not walk inside but looked at the object hanging on the corner of the eaves.

Two black tokens hung lightly on it, swaying slightly with the evening breeze. When they struck each other, they made a crisp sound.

Lin Yi reached out and took them down. One had the word "Yin" written on it, and the other had the word "Yang" written on it. Lin Yi felt the warm, smooth tokens at his fingertips, rubbing the "Yin" and "Yang" characters on them.

"This is…" A flash of surprise crossed Su Lingshu's bright eyes.

Lin Yi nodded. "yin-yang order."

These two tokens left behind were indeed yin-yang orders.

Lin Yi's gaze was deep as he looked at the dark night sky. Tonight there was no moon, nor stars; only the night filled this land, and only the city of this small border kingdom held the remnants of human civilization.

He put away these two yin-yang orders. So far, in addition to the one he obtained by killing that Yin-Yang Path Master, he had obtained two yin-yang orders from Xuanyuan Yi, and now two more from this unknown girl.

A total of five, and now they were all in his hands.

Lin Yi looked at the city at his feet. Su Lingshu, who was beside him, did not dare to disturb Lin Yi's thoughts. Before long, the graceful figures of Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan appeared.

"How is it?" Lin Yi asked, not holding much hope.

Facing Lin Yi's gaze, both Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan shook their heads.

Lin Yi silently closed his eyes, then opened them again. "Did we leave any traces along the way?"

Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan both understood what Lin Yi meant—simply whether they had been followed. They exchanged a glance, and finally, Pei Yuhan was the first to speak. "No. Jinger and I have always used our Divine Sense to cover thousands of miles around us. If someone were following us… we couldn't have failed to notice."

Lin Yi was silent. The group began to encrypt their messages with spiritual energy. Lin Yi pondered for a while, then spoke again. "Then she must have discovered us when we entered Xialiang Kingdom."

"She?" Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan looked at him with questioning gazes.

"Yes, it should be… Ji Chanxi." Lin Yi looked at the task notification that popped up on his System panel.

[Task "Book of Strange Tales (Phase 1)" detected]

[The Mortal woman favored by the Yin Yang Pavilion Master Ji Yitian gave birth to Ji Chanxi. Ji Chanxi watched with her own eyes as her mother died in the cold winter.]

[That day, Ji Chanxi cried by her mother's sickbed for an entire night. She hated Ji Yitian immensely, so from then on, she forgot what tears were.]

[Ji Yitian later brought her back to the Yin Yang Pavilion. Seemingly out of guilt, he treated her with every kindness.]

[But she was just a useless person unable to cultivate. Ji Chanxi understood that when she grew up, she would be nothing more than a pawn in Ji Yitian's hands.]

[Or perhaps… would Ji Yitian cast his gaze upon her too?]

[Fortunately, she had a Ghost Sister.]

[She said she was the Second Master of Shizhou City. She gave her power, and she sought herself for her.]

[Ji Chanxi was a person who had sealed her heart. All men in the world were nothing but petty, profit-seeking creatures, exactly the same as her father.]

[It's just… as the daughter of Ji Yitian, her fate had already been arranged. Either used for marriage alliances or to win over powerful officials, she understood; she had always understood… Ji Yitian, that is exactly the kind of person he is…]

[Especially as she blossomed more brilliantly, like a poppy flower, she felt the covetous gazes of those two Path Masters, those five Elders, and the thousands of Yin Yang Pavilion Disciples…]

[Book of Strange Tales (Phase 1): Open Ji Chanxi's sealed heart and help her fulfill her wish.]

[Reward: Yin-Yang Path Transcendent Realm.]

"Ji Chanxi?" Lu Jiajing frowned slightly. Su Lingshu blinked, while Pei Yuhan recalled the Yin Yang Pavilion Master, Ji Yitian, who had once had designs on her.

"But doesn't she have absolutely no cultivation?" Su Lingshu's question was exactly what Lu Jiajing wanted to ask.

"Didn't I already say so earlier?" Lin Yi pinched Su Lingshu's small face. "Her talent does not lie in these things. Furthermore, she is someone with a 'grandma' by her side."

A 'grandma' by her side? Su Lingshu learned a new term from Lin Yi.

"A wisp of Nan Qing's Primordial Spirit landed on Ji Chanxi, so… she has a 'grandma' by her side." Lin Yi rubbed Su Lingshu's head with a laugh.

"Oh, I see." Su Lingshu nodded.

"She practices the Ghost Path. The Book of Strange Tales she holds records all sorts of miraculous ghost stories. It's the so-called 'hidden dragon in the abyss,' not making a sound until it makes a move. Although she looks a bit ordinary, and doesn't even have any cultivation…"

"But with the help of Nan Qing behind her, she should be able to unleash power equivalent to the Soul Transformation Realm." Lin Yi's words made Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan ponder.

"Doesn't that mean… she stepped into the Soul Transformation Realm at such a young age?" Lu Jiajing suddenly asked.

"That is natural. Not to mention anything else, in just ten years, she can step directly into the Return to Void Realm." Lin Yi nodded.

Hearing Lin Yi's words, Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan felt complicated. They had wasted hundreds of years and were still only Soul Transformation Stage Cultivators. Seeing Lin Yi be so certain of Ji Chanxi's talent, they were slightly struck.

Lin Yi chuckled. "Alright, alright, with my help, you don't need ten years, or even five years, to step into that Realm."

Facing Lin Yi's smiling gaze, Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan's eyes rippled. Su Lingshu pouted. "That requires you, husband, to be willing to eat us up completely. You've clearly already been invited… yet husband, you declined… Is it… are you, husband…"

Lin Yi looked at the provocative Su Lingshu, his mouth curling up. "Shu'er, has your husband been slacking off lately, not doting on you properly?"

Su Lingshu looked disdainful, but seeing Lin Yi's handsome face with a hint of wantonness, her expression stiffened. Lin Yi's palm was already resting on her waist.

The provocation on Su Lingshu's face quickly faded, replaced by a tearful expression. "Husband, Shu'er was just joking… Hehehehe…"

Lin Yi shook his head as he looked at Su Lingshu's expectant gaze. "Husband, I am not joking…"

Su Lingshu instantly felt her perspective change. A warm embrace wrapped around her. Lin Yi pulled Su Lingshu's delicate body over, wrapped his arms around her, and walked straight toward the inn in the city.

Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan shook their heads slightly, but they followed behind Lin Yi and Su Lingshu. As for the Mingxu Sect?

Who cares about it? It wasn't a character worth mentioning.

The girl in the shadows watched Lin Yi and his group walk away. A tall female figure slightly revealed herself behind her, with a faint golden halo flowing over the figure.

"They've left." The girl's voice was serene, like water flowing in an ancient spring for a thousand years, like her skin, which was so white it was transparent, carrying a dreamlike luster.

The evening breeze lifted her skirt, like the surging tide beneath Fen Tian Peak, deep black. Her slightly exposed, smooth, fair calves were like the only bright color in the dark night.