Mist swirled through the grand hall.
Seated high above, Yan Haiyao's features were calm and serene.
Two handmaidens stood respectfully to the side, their delicate fingers plucking at a phoenix-headed konghou.
The three visitors exchanged glances but made no move forward.
Yan Haiyao, poised on the high seat, observed their silence and chuckled. "Why do you hesitate, young friends? Could it be that you fear me?"
Gu Baiyi bowed slightly and replied, "Senior Yan is a person of great virtue. Naturally, we juniors hold you in the highest regard."
"You jest," Yan Haiyao said with a modest smile. "I have merely lived longer. I can hardly claim to be of great virtue."
She studied them briefly before continuing, "But the three of you have exceptional talent, full of boundless potential. Given time, you will surely surpass me."
Ji Rong mused inwardly. This resurrected legend certainly had an eye for talent. The three before him were indeed rising stars in the game, but no matter how outstanding they were, they could never outshine him.
Even by the time the game's main storyline reached its thirty-eighth arc, the strongest of the new generation, Gu Baiyi, had only just reached the initial stage of the Infinite Realm.
Meanwhile, before his demise, Yan Haiyao had already been at the mid-stage of the Infinite Realm, ranking fifth on the previous generation's power list, an existence far beyond their reach.
In other words, if those past legends were still around, the protagonist wouldn't stand a chance.
The disparity in strength was undeniable.
Though doubts lingered in Gu Baiyi's mind, she maintained her respectful demeanor and cupped her hands. "Senior flatters us. This disciple is of meager talent and cannot be compared to you."
Qiu Sushuang and Ji Rong exchanged a glance before echoing, "We dare not presume."
Yan Haiyao smiled warmly at their response and sighed. "There is no need to be so guarded. I suspect you are wary of me because you are wondering why I am still alive."
Her words were blunt, even irreverent, but they struck true.
Ji Rong's face remained expressionless as she stared at Yan Haiyao.
No kidding. The game had already built a memorial tomb for this person, yet here she was, alive and well. How was this not supernatural?
Seeing Ji Rong and Qiu Sushuang remain silent, Gu Baiyi forced a smile and took it upon herself to respond. "Forgive our discourtesy, Senior. We are indeed puzzled by the mysteries of this secret realm."
As soon as she finished speaking, three figures emerged from the cavern beside them.
Leading them was a man clad in striking red, his radiant smile paired with a flamboyant folding fan that he waved theatrically, none other than Xie Bai himself.
Following closely behind was Ye Chuyang, his expression somewhat vacant. Beside him walked a woman unfamiliar to them.
Ji Rong's gaze landed on the red cinnabar mark on the woman's forehead. Something about it felt oddly familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before.
The woman, however, fixed her eyes directly on Ji Rong, her gaze filled with a deep melancholy.
Then, parting her red lips slightly, she spoke in a tone of grievance. "Master, have you abandoned me?"
Ji Rong: "..."
Uh... Do we know each other, beauty?
Wu Yan noticed the confusion flickering across Ji Rong's face.
Lifting a slender finger to the mark on her forehead, she murmured, "It's me, the white fox that has always followed you."
The explanation was shocking.
Ji Rong: "..."
Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that her lost pet would turn into a full-fledged human, and a stunning beauty at that.
The sorrow in the woman's eyes was unmistakable, evoking a strange illusion in Ji Rong's mind: as if she were a heartless scoundrel who had abandoned countless lovers, and this fox was the forsaken concubine left waiting in an empty chamber, yearning for her return.
Was she... the heartbreaker in this situation?
The thought lasted only a fleeting second.
The next moment, Ji Rong took in the ethereal surroundings, remembering that she was currently navigating a life-or-death main quest. This was hardly the time to get distracted by romance.
Damn it. Beauty was a dangerous distraction.
Feigning composure, she nodded slightly and accepted the situation. "Then come here."
Wu Yan looked momentarily surprised.
As expected, her previous master had been right, this new master of hers was no ordinary person. Not only did she remain unfazed by her transformation, but she also reacted as though she had foreseen it all along.
Obediently, she walked over to Ji Rong's side, stealing a glance at Gu Baiyi.
She found herself liking this person, though the feeling was not mutual, Gu Baiyi was studying her with narrowed eyes, an unreadable expression on her face.
A shiver ran down Wu Yan's spine. She had a bad feeling that this person was not as easy going as she seemed.
Meanwhile, Xie Bai continued fanning himself, though his usual nonchalant demeanor faltered.
Initially, he had intended to greet Ji Rong with his usual teasing remarks, but the moment he noticed Yan Haiyao seated above, his expression shifted. The frivolous smile on his lips faded, revealing a rare moment of solemnity.
He was a little surprised. Hadn't the leader of the Tianyin Division been dead for a hundred years? How could he appear in the Tianshui Secret Realm?
Ye Chuyang remained expressionless as she bowed toward Yan Haiyao, who sat high above. "This junior greets Senior Yan."
Yan Haiyao nodded, his gaze sweeping over the group with a look of appreciation. His eyes were gentle at first, but the moment he saw Ji Rong's face, he faltered slightly.
For a brief moment, his complexion seemed to pale.
But it lasted only a breath before he regained his composure. His tone remained calm as he asked warmly, "May I ask, little friend, is your surname Yue?"
Ji Rong didn't answer right away. She wasn't entirely sure if this powerhouse was speaking to her.
After a long pause, she realized Yan Haiyao was still looking at her, unwavering.
Now she was even more confused.
What kind of question was that? Was he asking if she was related to Yue Qianqiu?
Ha. No way. If the original owner of this body had any connection to the Yue family, she wouldn't have ended up getting stabbed through the heart by the heroine.
With that thought, Ji Rong replied calmly, "This junior is unworthy. My surname is Ji."
Yan Haiyao studied her face for a long moment before smiling. "Looking closely, little friend, your features bear some resemblance to Brother Ji. Could it be that you have some ties to Xuanzhi City?"
Ji Rong nodded. "Senior Yan is quite perceptive. My father is Ji An of Xuanzhi City."
"I see."
Yan Haiyao smiled thoughtfully, his words as smooth as flowing water. "With such poise, little friend, you are indeed worthy of being Brother Ji's daughter."
Ji Rong's expression remained neutral, but inwardly, she was full of complaints.
This senior was interrogating her like a census officer. What exactly was he thinking?
Besides, she had a sneaking suspicion that even if she had claimed to be from 'Jiming City' or 'Thief's Den Village,' Yan Haiyao would have praised her all the same.
Just as Ji Rong was speaking with Yan Haiyao, footsteps echoed through the cave.
A group of disciples emerged from the dim passageway, their eyes widening in shock at the grand hall before them, which looked like something out of a celestial paradise.
Of course, the most striking presence was none other than Yan Haiyao, seated high above.
At first, the disciples were stunned, but then they hurriedly dropped to their knees in reverence. "Forgive our rudeness! We have long admired Senior Yan's great name!"
Ji Rong swept her gaze over the group, quickly realizing they were just a bunch of unremarkable NPCs.
Instantly, she felt at ease.
Ha. The way they all spoke in unison, this had to be scripted.
One particularly clueless disciple, his face full of admiration, suddenly blurted out, "Senior Yan! This junior is a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect. I have always revered you! My greatest wish in coming to the Tianshui Secret Realm was to meet you and inherit your legacy!"
Ji Rong was stunned.
He came to the Tianshui Secret Realm just to see Yan Haiyao?
Before this moment, he probably thought the man had been dead for a hundred years!
And besides, Yan Haiyao was still alive, so why was this disciple already talking about inheriting his legacy?
The other Xiaoyao Sect disciples were so embarrassed they quietly shuffled away, unwilling to associate with him.
Yet Yan Haiyao wasn't offended in the slightest. Instead, he smiled with patient kindness.
The grand hall was vast and empty.
Mist swirled around them as Yan Haiyao's voice took on a dreamlike quality. "I have indeed been considering taking on a disciple to pass on my teachings. However, I have only ever accepted one final disciple in my lifetime, and even now, if I were to take another, it would be only one."
"Moreover, the melody of 'Jinse' is a masterpiece that can only be played by a single person."
Ji Rong knew about this. In the game's storyline, Yan Haiyao had only ever taken in one final disciple—Meng Ruo. That piece, 'Jinse,' was composed solely for her.
His voice, as clear as jade striking stone, echoed throughout the hall.
The disciples looked up at him in awe, but no one spoke.
Ji Rong, watching the shift in their expressions, couldn't help but feel a thin layer of sweat form on her palms.
Only one disciple…
Was this senior planning to make the NPCs fight each other to the death?