The white panel in front of him faded away. Lin Yi patted Su Lingshu, who was beside him. Su Lingshu quickly woke up from her slumber. She blinked her eyes and then looked at Lin Yi with resentment.

Lin Yi reached out and rubbed… The annoyance on Su Lingshu's face from being woken up was instantly replaced by a deep crimson. She glared at Lin Yi, slapped his hand away, and reached out from under the covers to grab the purple long dress on the cabinet nearby.

Lin Yi pulled back the covers, exposing the Fairy's lustrous, fair, and delicate body to the biting air of the cold winter.

Without waiting for Su Lingshu to protest, Lin Yi took her clothes from her hands. "Raise your arms."

Su Lingshu blinked, then obediently raised her arms.

Lin Yi faced the Fairy's soft and charming body without changing his expression, helping her put on her undergarments. "Raise your feet."

Su Lingshu lightly tapped her slender, rounded jade feet, and the delicate, smooth white silk stockings wrapped around them. Lin Yi let go. With a soft click, the cuff of the stockings bound her plump thighs, sinking in slightly and revealing an alluring curve.

The dissatisfaction on Su Lingshu's face was gradually replaced by a hint of a smile. She remembered that after being bullied, she had also been dressed by Lin Yi in this manner before.

The purple skirt swayed slightly, and Su Lingshu transformed back into that aloof and pure Fairy, like an orchid in a deep valley.

"Alright, let me help you too… leave the rest to me…" Su Lingshu snatched the long robe from Lin Yi's side. She giggled as she weighed the object that she had previously hated with gnashing teeth, but now loved with "gnashing teeth"…

Lin Yi looked at Su Lingshu, speechless. Su Lingshu blinked at Lin Yi without a shred of shame.

Lin Yi curled his lip. He simply sat back down on the edge of the bed and sat with his legs splayed out carelessly. Lin Yi glanced at Su Lingshu's lustrous lips, then gestured with his chin…

His meaning was clear. Last night, Su Lingshu had also been taught about such matters…

She had also realized for the first time that the things between a man and a woman were not just… but also… Su Lingshu pursed her lips.

She set down the white robe beside her and nimbly knelt on the somewhat cold floor. The slight chill of the floorboards made her consciousness grow increasingly clear.

Unlike last night, when she was dazed and coaxed by Lin Yi to do those shy-making things, this time, she was absolutely clear-headed.

Su Lingshu swallowed a mouthful of saliva. She subconsciously tilted her head up to look at Lin Yi, her hands already resting on his thighs.

Lin Yi smiled at her. Su Lingshu's eyes darted about, and she tremblingly reached out…

"I, I feel…" Following the words Lin Yi had taught her last night, Su Lingshu's warm breath gradually became rapid. Her beautiful eyes were like purple spring water, filled with a hint of haziness, as if a light rain were drizzling down.

Su Lingshu swallowed again.

Lin Yi took a deep breath of the mid-winter cold air. He was getting impatient. Just a "yo"… at most add a "nong"… was it really that hard?

Lin Yi placed one hand on Su Lingshu's head, ignoring her expression, which was like the hazy onset of spring after a cold winter, and applied slight pressure with his palm.

In the midst of Su Lingshu's caught-off-guard gaze…

In short, Su Lingshu understood once again why she had felt a bit thirsty last night.

By the time the two of them walked out of the inner room one after the other and entered the living room, it was almost the hour of Si.

Breakfast wrapped in oil paper was left on the table. Pei Yuhan and Lu Jiajing were sitting by the window discussing the Dao. Yu Xiaotang was in her own room breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Li Tiaodeng was holding a sword manual, gesturing with her fingers while practicing in her mind.

Seeing that Lin Yi and Su Lingshu had finally come out, the women in the living room paused their movements, glanced at Lin Yi and Su Lingshu a few times, and then went back to what they were doing.

Lin Yi didn't mind. He sat at the table with Su Lingshu, used spiritual power to heat up the already cold food, enjoyed the lingering charm of the Fairy, and while feeding her amidst her aggrieved gaze, looked at Lu Jiajing.

Chapter 56: Xuanyuan Xier

"Jinger, how is the visitation card from the Xuanyuan Princess going?" Lin Yi asked casually.

The Fuxue Palace Master was held by a princess of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, and Xuanyuan Xier was naturally a princess of the Xuanyuan Dynasty.

"I sent someone to deliver it this morning." Lu Jiajing estimated the time, "If you want, we can set off now."

Lu Jiajing still felt a sense of urgency. That Dao Master didn't need to be mentioned; dead was dead. Pavilion Master Ji Yitian of the Yin Yang Pavilion was only at the Peak of the Soul Transformation Stage, and with Pei Yuhan here, she didn't care much about him.

But the Xuanyuan Dynasty was different. Relying on the imperial Luck, they had managed to patronize two great Cultivators at the Return to Void Realm!

Although once they left the capital of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, their Realm would instantly drop, it was still a form of deterrence.

"Then let's go visit the Princess later." Lin Yi said calmly, feeding Su Lingshu.

Those two Return to Void Realm Cultivators of the Xuanyuan Dynasty generally wouldn't make a move. They didn't care at all who the Emperor of the Xuanyuan Dynasty was, let alone a mere Third Prince.

As long as they could cooperate with them, they wouldn't care even if guys with other surnames took over the Qianming Palace.

And because the Third Prince had been disposed of by him, no one had even discovered that he was already dead.

Lin Yi still had plenty of time.

"Mm." Lu Jiajing nodded.

"Are we going too?" Pei Yuhan, who was sitting opposite Lu Jiajing, suddenly asked.

"Together. At the very least, Master, you need to wave the banner of Ye Linyuan; you are, after all, Ye Linyuan's only Disciple." Lin Yi clapped his hands, and with a swirl of spiritual power, the grease was wiped away.

Li Tiaodeng put down the sword manual in her hand. She had returned to her room last night, and because Lin Yi's sword wave had passed through the wood at that time, it hadn't caused any damage to the inn.

When he killed one of the five Great Elders of the Yin Yang Pavilion, there was no public announcement, so naturally, no one knew that a great Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage had died here.

"Are we leaving now? Master?" Li Tiaodeng stood up and put away the sword manual. She glanced at Su Lingshu without leaving a trace. Just now, she had appeared to be immersed in the sword manual, constantly practicing sword techniques, but…

Her mind was full of the faint noises that had drifted out from the inner room last night. No one even knew that she had stood in the living room for half the night… No, perhaps Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan knew.

It wasn't until this morning that she wanted to find Su Lingshu to have a word, but it was already high noon before she saw Su Lingshu.

She remembered her Master saying before that they would only stay in Chengtian City for three to five days, but if they counted the night they arrived, it was already the third day…

Li Tiaodeng didn't know when the help her Master's wife had spoken of would come. Her heart was in chaos.

Lin Yi looked at Li Tiaodeng, then nodded, "Tiaodeng, go call Xiao Tang. If we go now, after we finish talking, we can just go to the Princess's place and mooch a meal."

"Oh." Li Tiaodeng nodded. She glanced at Su Lingshu again, and this time Su Lingshu returned her gaze. Li Tiaodeng went off to find Yu Xiaotang.

… Nothing more needs to be said about the journey.

Lu Jiajing presented the visitation card first, and they were led by a servant into Fuxue Palace. In the great hall, Lin Yi finally saw this Fuxue Palace Master.

She was poised and graceful, with a hint of heroism between her brows. She was not the beautiful young woman who had appeared in the original story; or rather, this was Xuanyuan Xier's true appearance.

The appearance of that beautiful young woman was also a disguise she used to hide her true identity.

"Sister Lu, what brings you here to see me today?" While Lin Yi was sizing up Xuanyuan Xier, Xuanyuan Xier had already come up to greet them.

"And, who are these…" Xuanyuan Xier had a polite smile on her face, looking at Lu Jiajing with a probing gaze. Lu Jiajing wore an inscrutable smile.

"Pei Yuhan." Pei Yuhan stepped forward and introduced herself calmly, "The others are all Disciples of the Cold Palace."

"So it is the Cold Palace Sword Fairy; I have long admired your name." Xuanyuan Xier's heart stirred, and she gestured for them to be seated.

Lin Yi and the others knelt on the cushions, and Xuanyuan Xier sat at the head. She waved her hand, dismissing all the maids who had brought in tea and fruits. As the door was pulled shut, the atmosphere began to become familiar.

Led by Xuanyuan Xier, they exchanged a few compliments. After a cup of tea had passed, she straightened her posture slightly.

The princess gown Xuanyuan Xier wore wrapped around her curvaceous and gorgeous body. Although she looked like a young girl, she possessed a voluptuousness that even Pei Yuhan and the others could not match…

A vermilion mark was imprinted on her brow; it did not appear gaudy, but rather added a touch of nobility. Xuanyuan Xier looked towards Lu Jiajing.

"I wonder… what brings Sister Lu and Sister Pei to my place today?" Xuanyuan Xier knew that Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan had a history; after all, they were both friends and family of that Sword Cultivator from over four hundred years ago.

But today they had come together… Xuanyuan Xier's eyes flickered; she was also aware of the slight crisis they were facing.

Lu Jiajing did not speak, but merely shifted her body slightly, revealing Lin Yi. Just moments ago, it had been Pei Yuhan and Lu Jiajing talking with Xuanyuan Xier, while Lin Yi had only been watching from the side.

Xuanyuan Xier's gaze narrowed slightly. As she looked at Lin Yi, Lu Jiajing's actions undoubtedly told her that among their group, this young man was the true backbone.

She sized up Lin Yi; he was the very picture of a handsome young Sword Cultivator, possessing the sharp aura peculiar to Sword Cultivators, along with an indescribable feeling that made one want to look at him every now and then.

But… a Golden Core Cultivator? Was it he who asked Lu Jiajing and Pei Yuhan to come find her?

Xuanyuan Xier was no fool. "This Young Master…"

"Just call me Lin Yi." Lin Yi smiled and shook his head.

"Young Master Lin," Xuanyuan Xier said again, "I wonder what business brings you here to visit today?"

Lin Yi pondered for a moment, then stood up and walked to the front of the hall. Although he had already prepared his speech, this posture was necessary to make the negotiation tense.

He was not here to beg Xuanyuan Xier; casually stating his demands would only make him look lesser for no reason. Negotiation also required technique.

Xuanyuan Xier's gaze followed Lin Yi as he moved, and her brow furrowed.

"I wonder, Palace Master Xuanyuan… are you aware of the matter of the Yao Beast invasion in the Northern Territory?" Lin Yi's gaze was calm as he looked at Xuanyuan Xier.

"This… naturally, I am aware of it." Xuanyuan Xier nodded hesitantly. In this Chengtian City, there was likely no one who was unaware. At the same time, a rumor had also been spreading. Xuanyuan Xier glanced at Lu Jiajing.

Chapter 57: Do Not Underestimate Humans

Lu Jiajing's gaze was indifferent; she seemed not to notice Xuanyuan Xier's look, merely watching Lin Yi in front of the hall.

Rumors? What other rumors could there be, other than her acting as a martyr to save the entire Xuanyuan Dynasty?

Lin Yi's voice pulled Xuanyuan Xier's gaze back. "To save the Xuanyuan Dynasty, which is currently in a precarious position like eggs piled high, I have three strategies: the superior, the middle, and the inferior…"

It wasn't quite as precarious as eggs piled high; that was just a figure of speech to describe the severity of the situation. As a princess of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, Xuanyuan Xier was attentive to the major affairs of the Dynasty.

Especially in this world without that little fox, she naturally had not run off with the Yao King named Hushan.

"Please enlighten me, Young Master Lin." Because of that indescribable aura, Xuanyuan Xier's heart tightened.

Lin Yi looked at Xuanyuan Xier. "The first is the superior strategy…"

Xuanyuan Xier blinked. She looked at Lin Yi with some surprise. Generally speaking, shouldn't one state the inferior strategy first? The superior strategy was usually the goal the persuader wanted to achieve, but Young Master Lin had stated the superior strategy first…

"Only if the Xuanyuan Clan is united from top to bottom, and the common people of the world work together with one heart, with those two Old Ancestors stepping out of the Worship Hall, the crisis will naturally be resolved." A faint smile played on Lin Yi's face.

"Young Master Lin, you must be joking." Xuanyuan Xier was amused. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly. Seeming to feel that this was somewhat lacking in etiquette, she picked up her teacup and lightly covered her clear, beautiful face with her sleeve.

If it were truly as simple as Lin Yi said, the Xuanyuan Dynasty would not need to fear that Holy Land in the sky. No matter how heroic one might be, it was impossible to achieve what Lin Yi described.

Rulers and subjects were naturally antagonistic; the ruler wanted the people's wealth, and the people wanted the ruler's power. Xuanyuan Xier took a sip of clear tea; this was the reason she had suddenly laughed. "Please enlighten me on the middle and inferior strategies, Young Master Lin."

Lin Yi naturally knew that the Xuanyuan Dynasty could not achieve such a thing, otherwise, it would not have led to being besieged both internally and externally.

That was why when he spoke, he couldn't help but laugh; he really couldn't hold it in. Lin Yi gave a light cough. "The middle strategy is very simple: request the Holy Land to issue that once-in-a-century celestial peace decree. This is also the strategy the Xuanyuan Clan is currently pursuing."

The celestial peace decree was one of the two great decrees of the Floating Island. The other was the god king order; the latter need not be mentioned for now. The former could force all clans in the world to cease war and conflict for ten years; if any side did not comply, they would be suppressed together.

It was originally issued thousands of years ago by the three heads of the Floating Island together with Shizhou City in the South Sea to resist the Yao demons of the South Sea. At that time, the world was in constant conflict, internal friction was severe, and the Qi practitioners were retreating steadily, hence the creation of this celestial peace decree.

"However… for one thing, the Xuanyuan Dynasty will become a vassal of the Holy Land, never to rise again. Who the clan in Qianming Palace serves will also be in the palm of the Holy Land's hand." Lin Yi watched with a smile as Xuanyuan Xier's expression turned solemn.

She understood what he was saying; this was also the reason why she was unwilling to agree to the plan of the old Emperor, Xuanyuan Yi.

At the same time, she had not opposed Xuanyuan Yi's plan, only sitting and watching the changes, because she had no better plan herself. Either watch the world be devastated by Yao Beasts, or watch the Xuanyuan Clan become the Holy Land's watchdog.

The two were not much different. After all, no matter what, the Yao Beasts could not harm this Chengtian City; the Xuanyuan Clan still had some foundation, but the common people of the world would suffer…

By then, a few sparse words in the history books would suffice to summarize it, nothing more than "Yao Beast disaster, the people's livelihood withered"…

"Then what about the second?" Xuanyuan Xier sat up straight. She looked at the young man standing in the hall, dressed in white like snow, his ink-black pupils shining with a brilliant light.

Li Tiaodeng and the others had already heard Lin Yi talk about these things several times. Although they were slightly shaken, compared to Xuanyuan Xier, they still had some psychological preparation.

"The second is that the Yin-Yang Path will inevitably prevail, while all other Daos will wither away. And Your Highness, the Palace Master, you… will also have to switch from the Immortal Dao to the Yin-Yang Path. I probably don't need to say much about the filth involved in that." Lin Yi's expression was indifferent.

In the Qiongming Domain, there had once been legends of stepping into the Dao Integration Realm, all involving spreading one's own Dao, letting all the people of the world cultivate it, and then gathering the incense of the world to step from the Return to Void Realm into the Dao Integration Realm.

If the Floating Island completely controlled the Qiongming Domain, the Yin-Yang Path cultivated by Yin Yang, the head of the God King Palace, would drive out all other Daos, and the entire Qiongming Domain would fall into a turbid and filthy state!

By then, polygamy, polyandry, and group marriages would likely be the most basic operations, and things like humans and Yao Beasts… countless bottomless acts would be committed.

Do not underestimate humans.

Xuanyuan Xier's gaze constricted, and her face turned slightly pale. She was also clear about the actions of the Yin Yang Pavilion. By then, she would inevitably be like Lu Jiajing… required to offer herself for the masses to cultivate…

She had thought about the Xuanyuan Clan becoming a vassal, but she had never thought about this aspect. She could run, but where could she run to?!!

By then, the entire Qiongming Domain would turn into a purgatory. You must know, if one wants to go to other domains, one must pass through the teleportation arrays between domains, and by then, those teleportation arrays would all be in the hands of the Floating Island.

Not to mention that she was only a small Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator; she couldn't even run out of this Chengtian City!

She would probably be caught and brought back the moment she stepped out!

As for running away now… having lost the protection of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, she would likely end up quite miserable; after all, this world was not very friendly to female Qi practitioners…

Xuanyuan Xier's delicate body bent slightly. Following that, she asked in a somewhat dry voice, "I wonder what the inferior strategy is?"