Translator: CinderTL
Several figures stood suspended in the air above Yaotai City.
Leading them was a cold and beautiful young woman.
Unlike the others, who were levitating on swords, she stood motionless in mid-air, with nothing beneath her feet.
A chilling aura of "keep away" emanated from her, not only deterring cultivators passing through Yaotai City from approaching but also keeping her companions at a respectful distance. The male cultivators among them couldn't help but steal glances at her graceful back, yet dared not linger too long, as if fearing her notice.
Suddenly, a shuttle-shaped Giant Flying Ship appeared on the distant horizon.
The ship began slowing down from afar, approaching Yaotai City at a leisurely pace.
Seeing this, the cold and beautiful woman led her subordinates to intercept it.
Onboard the ship, Song Wen's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the approaching woman.
It was Cui Xinyi!
After a century and twenty years, she had already reached the Early Stage of the Golden Core realm.
Moreover, the arrogance that had once clung to her had completely vanished, replaced by an intimidating coldness.
"This humble one is Cui Kun, sent by the Cui Clan's Ancestral Patriarch to welcome the esteemed Fellow Daoists of the Wu Ji Sect," she announced in a clear voice, dispelling the energy barrier surrounding the Giant Flying Ship.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Cui. I am Meng Lengyu, hall master of the Zhenbao Hall of the Wu Ji Sect. Beside me is Gou Jun, Vice Hall Master of the Alchemy Hall of the Wu Ji Sect."
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Meng," Cui Kun replied after exchanging pleasantries with Meng Lengyu. Her gaze then turned to Song Wen.
Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a hint of confusion tinged her voice as she asked, "Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, have we met before?"
Gou Jun replied, "Fellow Daoist Cui must be mistaken. I have been cultivating in the Northern Region all this time and have never set foot in the Southern Region."
Hearing Song Wen's words, Cui Kun didn't press the matter further. "Then I must have been mistaken. Fellow Daoists, please follow me."
Under Cui Kun's guidance, the Wu Ji Sect group arrived at Eastern Peng Peak on Biluo Mountain.
Biluo Mountain was the core of the Cui Clan's domain, and Eastern Peng Peak was one of the eighteen peaks of Biluo Mountain, serving as its main peak.
The group entered a Great Hall atop the mountain peak. Seated on a throne in the center was an elderly man.
He wore a long black robe, his face was pale, and his eyes were deep and mysterious. A faint black mist swirled around him, exuding an eerie aura.
This was Cui Xuanjing, the Cui Clan's most powerful cultivator, at the Late Nascent Soul stage.
"Greetings, Senior Cui," the Wu Ji Sect disciples bowed in unison.
"Little friends of the Wu Ji Sect, no need for such formality," Cui Xuanjing said, looking at Meng Lengyu. "Little Friend Meng, I didn't expect you to have reached Peak Golden Core already. Core Formation is just around the corner."
Meng Lengyu replied, "Thank you for your kind words, Senior Cui. However, with my aptitude and talent, my chances of forming a Nascent Soul in this lifetime are slim."
"Why be so self-deprecating, Little Friend Meng? Countless cultivators exist in this world, and who dares claim absolute certainty in Core Formation?" Cui Xuanjing consoled. He then asked, "Are Fellow Daoists Yin Shuo and Ye Hua doing well?"
Meng Lengyu replied, "Both Ancestors are in excellent health. Before we left for the Cui Clan, Demon Sovereign Ye Hua asked me to convey his regards to you, Senior."
Cui Xuanjing nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Song Wen.
"Young friend, I haven't seen you before. May I ask your name?"
Song Wen replied, "This junior is Gou Jun, and I pay my respects to Senior Cui."
After brief formalities, Cui Xuanjing broached the main topic.
"Little Friend Meng, Junior Gou Jun. Regarding this transaction, the Cui Clan still hasn't fully prepared all the treasures. Therefore, I must ask you both to stay at the Cui Clan for a few days."
Meng Lengyu and Song Wen exchanged glances, both somewhat surprised.
Just then, Song Wen suddenly sensed a fluctuation in Spirit Sense.
Cui Xuanjing was using spiritual sense transmission to communicate with Meng Lengyu.
Song Wen's Spirit Sense cultivation was higher than Cui Xuanjing's, who was at the late Nascent Soul stage. If he forced himself, he could eavesdrop on the transmission.
However, this would undoubtedly alert Cui Xuanjing.
To avoid alarming him, Song Wen pretended not to notice anything.
After hearing Cui Xuanjing's spiritual sense transmission, Meng Lengyu spoke.
"We will follow Senior's arrangements."
Cui Xuanjing said, "Cui Xinyi, take the young friends from the Wu Ji Sect to Guest Glow Peak. Be sure to treat them well and show them every courtesy."
Cui Xinyi bowed and said, "Yes, Ancestor."
Guest Glow Peak was where the Cui Clan housed important guests. The guest rooms were individual small courtyards.
Song Wen and Meng Lengyu were assigned to two adjacent courtyards, while the ten Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Wu Ji Sect were housed together in another courtyard.
"Fellow Daoists, you must be exhausted from your long journey. Please rest for a while. Tonight, I will host a banquet for you at the Gluttonous Pavilion in Yaotai City. Their Sea Monster Banquet is truly exceptional. Since you've come so far, you absolutely must try it."
After extending the invitation, Cui Xinyi took his leave.
Watching Cui Xinyi's figure vanish into the high sky, Song Wen sent a spiritual sense transmission to Meng Lengyu.
"Hall Master Meng, something about this feels off."
Meng Lengyu seemed puzzled by Song Wen's words and replied through spiritual sense transmission, "Gou Jun, what do you mean?"
Song Wen said, "The deadline for this transaction was set long ago by Senior Cui Xuanjing and Demon Sovereign Ye Hua. Yet the Cui Clan hasn't prepared the spiritual objects for the exchange on time. Doesn't that strike you as unusual? Furthermore, the sect sent us—a Peak Golden Core cultivator and a Late Golden Core cultivator—to handle the transaction. In contrast, the Cui Clan has only sent Cui Xinyi, who just completed Core Formation, to receive us. This seems rather casual."
Meng Lengyu said, "Gou Jun, you're overthinking this. The transaction involves numerous treasures, so it's understandable that the Cui Clan might not have prepared one or two items in time. We just need to wait patiently."
Song Wen smiled faintly and said no more.
His earlier words had been merely a probe.
Now it seemed clear that Cui Xuanjing had told Meng Lengyu something during their spiritual sense transmission, which explained her calm demeanor.
Song Wen's suspicion of foul play stemmed from another reason he hadn't shared with Meng Lengyu.
During his meeting with Cui Xuanjing, Song Wen had noticed a fresh wound on the man's body.
"Junior Gou Jun, don't overthink this. Return to your room to meditate and cultivate," Meng Lengyu said.
Song Wen nodded and returned to his courtyard.
As dusk fell, Song Wen, Meng Lengyu, and Cui Xinyi emerged from the Gluttonous Pavilion.
As Cui Xinyi had promised, the Sea Monster Banquet was truly a culinary masterpiece.
The dishes were not only rich in Spiritual Qi but also exquisitely presented, fragrant, and flavorful, leaving Song Wen and Meng Lengyu's mouths watering and their appetites thoroughly satisfied.
"Fellow Daoists," Cui Xinyi said, "our Cui Clan's Yaotai City is in no way inferior to your sect's Shadow City. I urge you to take your time exploring. You might even find treasures to your liking. Tonight, all your expenses will be covered by the Cui Clan as a gesture of hospitality."
Meng Lengyu replied, "Then we thank Fellow Daoist Cui for your generosity."
At Cui Xinyi's urging, Song Wen and Meng Lengyu spent most of the day exploring Yaotai City, each purchasing spirit materials worth several High-Grade Spirit Stones.
As they reached the city's western district, Song Wen pointed to a small mountain outside the city walls and asked, "Fellow Daoist Cui, why is there a temple on that mountain?"
The mountain stood about a hundred feet tall, and the temple atop it was grand and imposing. The temple's main hall bore the inscription "Sun Moon Temple" in large characters. Behind the temple stood a golden Buddha statue, towering dozens of feet high.
Many people were coming and going on the mountain. But upon closer inspection, it was clear that nearly all the pilgrims were women, most of them young and beautiful.
Song Wen remembered clearly that when he visited Yaotai City over a century ago, this temple hadn't existed. Moreover, the Cui Clan specialized in the Ghost Dao. Building a temple next to a Ghost Dao power seemed utterly incongruous.
(End of the Chapter)
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