Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen closed the window, retrieved Ye Bing's Communication Jade Slip, and initiated a transmission.
[Immortal Maiden Ye, have you boarded the ship?]
Ye Bing's reply arrived swiftly: [Of course I've boarded. I never imagined Fellow Daoist Gou Jun would still be concerned about me.]
Song Wen replied, [Immortal Maiden, your beauty rivals the moon and flowers, your elegance unmatched. Moreover, we've shared trials and tribulations, facing life and death together. How could I possibly abandon you?]
Ye Bing retorted, [Fellow Daoist, your words flow like honeyed silk. I suspect you're more concerned about the Earth Evasion Talisman and the Void Union Primordial Breakthrough Pill.]
Song Wen rubbed his nose, realizing this woman's sharp wit could be a double-edged sword.
He quickly changed the subject: [Immortal Maiden, has Jin Xiuqi caused you any trouble these past six months?]
[None whatsoever. I haven't seen him since then,] Ye Bing replied.
Song Wen was surprised. Jin Xiuqi had showered Ye Bing with attention before, so why had he vanished without a trace, never visiting her again?
Ye Bing's next message resolved his confusion.
[The day after you left, I departed from the Jin Family Inn and traveled to a remote mountain range tens of thousands of miles away. I spent half a year in secluded cultivation there, naturally avoiding any further contact with Jin Xiuqi.]
Song Wen replied, "So that's how it was. Immortal Maiden, your resourcefulness is truly admirable."
Ye Bing responded, "Even with all my cunning, I could never match fellow daoist's deep schemes and far-reaching plans."
Song Wen put away the jade slip, ending the communication.
Confirming Ye Bing's safety completely dispelled the lingering unease in his heart.
As they exchanged messages, the Giant Flying Ship had completed its acceleration, reaching a speed comparable to that of a Void Refinement Stage cultivator.
The world outside blurred past like streaks of light.
Half a month later, Song Wen, who was meditating, received another message from Ye Bing.
[Gou Jun, later tonight, a gathering of high-tier cultivators will be held on the seventh floor of the ship. Would you like to attend with me?]
After a moment's thought, Song Wen decided to go.
Such gatherings among cultivators of similar realms often revealed unexpected treasures.
[Very well! Which room are you in, Immortal Maiden? I'll come find you.]
"Eighth floor, Room 9," Ye Bing replied.
Song Wen was about to leave when he suddenly remembered that his current appearance was different from the "Gou Jun" Ye Bing had previously seen.
He retrieved an iron mask and donned it, then draped himself in a black cloak before stepping out of his room.
Reaching the eighth floor, Song Wen knocked on Ye Bing's door.
After a few breaths, the door swung open, revealing Ye Bing's figure.
"You're... Gou Jun?" Ye Bing asked, her tone uncertain as she gazed at the figure shrouded in the black cloak.
Before Song Wen could answer, she added, "It's just an exchange meeting. Why conceal yourself so thoroughly?"
Her certainty that the visitor was "Gou Jun" stemmed from recognizing the cloak—it had originally belonged to Xiao Ying.
This high-grade black cloak was capable of concealing one's presence even from the Spirit Sense of a Divine Transformation Stage cultivator.
Song Wen's gaze bypassed Ye Bing, glancing at the room behind her.
The room was far more spacious and lavishly furnished than his own.
"Immortal Maiden, when shall we depart?" Song Wen asked.
"The exchange meeting is about to begin. Let's depart now," Ye Bing said, stepping toward the door. Suddenly, she paused, as if remembering something.
She retrieved a veil and fastened it over her face.
"Let's go," Ye Bing said.
Guided by Ye Bing, the pair arrived at a grand hall on the seventh floor.
The hall spanned several acres, sparsely furnished with tables and chairs. Nothing else adorned the space.
Over twenty people were already present, including ten divine transformation stage cultivators and the rest nascent soul stage cultivators.
Some stood alone in corners, while others gathered in small groups, conversing in hushed tones.
Ye Bing led Song Wen to an elderly man in the late divine transformation stage.
"Fellow Daoist Ni Guang, I apologize for my tardiness," Ye Bing greeted him with a faint nod.
During their journey here, Ye Bing had explained to Song Wen that Ni Guang was a cultivator she had met aboard the Giant Flying Ship.
It was Ni Guang who had informed Ye Bing about this exchange meeting.
Having previously been confined to the Jiang Family, Ye Bing had never attended such privately organized cultivator gatherings. Concerned about potential risks, she had brought Song Wen along for support.
Ni Guang stood up, a kind smile spreading across his aged face.
"Fellow Daoist Li Yue, you're not late. The exchange hasn't started yet. And this fellow daoist is...?" Ni Guang gestured toward Song Wen.
Because Song Wen was wearing a cloak, Ni Guang couldn't sense his cultivation level. However, seeing Song Wen walking beside Ye Bing, he instinctively assumed Song Wen was a cultivator of the same realm—the Divine Transformation Stage.
"Junior Ye Hua greets Senior Ni Guang," Song Wen said proactively, revealing that he was merely a Nascent Soul cultivator. After all, he had presented himself as such when boarding the ship.
"Ah, so you're Ye Hua, young friend."
Ni Guang showed no disdain despite Song Wen's claim of being a Nascent Soul cultivator. He gestured toward an empty chair beside the wooden table.
"Please, both of you, take a seat."
"Thank you, Senior Ni Guang," Song Wen replied.
Song Wen pulled out a chair and sat down.
Ye Bing, however, was slightly slower. She only pulled out her chair after Song Wen had settled in.
She glanced at Song Wen, a hint of surprise in her eyes. He had given yet another new name.
Truly, he changes his name wherever he goes.
Combined with his masterful disguise techniques and miraculous methods for altering his aura, it was likely that few in the world knew his true identity.
"May I ask, Senior Ni Guang, have you ever visited Cloudveil City before?" Song Wen inquired.
Ni Guang smiled faintly. "This old man has visited Cloudveil City many times. Centuries ago, I even resided there for an extended period."
"In that case, Senior must be intimately familiar with Cloudveil City," Song Wen said. "This junior has never been there before and is deeply curious about the Qicang Domain's foremost metropolis. Would Senior be willing to share some insights?"
Ni Guang replied, "While Cloudveil City is vast, brimming with opportunities, and rich in resources, these advantages hold little significance for rogue cultivators like us. Securing a stable foothold in the city is no easy feat..."
As the three chatted casually, Song Wen seized the opportunity to glean information about the Dry Zen Temple and Veiled Moon Hall from Ni Guang.
As time passed, the hall gradually filled with more people, eventually reaching over forty individuals, including fifteen or sixteen divine transformation stage cultivators.
A male cultivator at the peak of the divine transformation stage stepped to the center of the hall, his body slowly rising until he hovered in mid-air.
"Greetings, everyone. I am Jin Xun, the captain of this Giant Flying Ship. As our journey is long and arduous, we've organized this exchange meeting to alleviate the boredom of travel. The meeting will be held monthly, providing an opportunity for you to trade cultivation techniques, secret arts, medicinal pills, spirit grass, and other treasures. However, I implore you to show respect for the Jin Family and myself by refraining from disputes or violence during the exchange meeting or aboard the ship."
(End of the Chapter)
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