"Young Master, are we returning to Mo City now?"
"Yes, we'll go back one more time."
At dawn, Chen Xiao returned to Mo City with Qing Lin, only to find that the inn where they had stayed the night before had opened its doors early. Against the backdrop of the tightly shut houses on either side, it stood out conspicuously.
Chen Xiao thought back, confirming that he currently had no enemies in the Jia Ma Empire. Qing Lin had just activated her Azure Snake Three-Flower Pupils, and the news hadn't leaked, so it shouldn't attract ill-intentioned individuals so quickly. Only then did he step into the inn.
His gaze swept across the room. The male innkeeper was dozing behind the counter.
At a small table in the lobby, a figure in a familiar black robe was waiting quietly.
The vigilance in his heart quietly subsided. Chen Xiao patted the girl's back.
"Qing Lin, you go up and rest first."
The little girl glanced curiously at the black-robed figure, then nodded obediently and went upstairs.
Chen Xiao slowly walked over, pulled out a chair at the black-robed figure's table, and sat down.
"I had something to attend to in the desert last night. I apologize for making Sect Master Yun wait."
"I thought the first thing you'd say upon seeing me was to ask what I wanted."
Yun Yun gently pulled back her black robe with her jade-like hand, revealing a beautiful face with a faint smile.
Chen Xiao smiled politely but didn't answer.
While interacting with the group of powerhouses a few days ago, he had noticed that this Sect Master Yun paid quite a bit of attention to him.
That look wasn't romantic; it was simply similar to Hai Bo Dong's appreciation for him.
At that time, Chen Xiao knew that if he wanted to join the Yun Lan Sect, it would likely be a matter of just saying the word.
However, Yun Yun's return and her deliberate wait of several days until Hai Bo Dong and Teng Shan left before showing up surprised Chen Xiao slightly.
"I'm not good with words, nor do I like beating around the bush. I came back this time simply to ask if you are willing to cultivate in my Yun Lan Sect. I can guarantee that I will provide you with the top-tier resources in the entire Jia Ma Empire."
Without any detours, Yun Yun spoke her mind directly.
In her position, she had to act accordingly.
As the Sect Master of the Yun Lan Sect, encountering a promising talent and not trying to recruit them would be somewhat negligent.
Although she also knew that Chen Xiao had even refused Hai Bo Dong, who was most compatible with him, so he likely had no interest in the Yun Lan Sect either.
Just as Yun Yun expected, Chen Xiao shook his head and politely declined.
"Thank you for your regard, Sect Master Yun, but I have no intention of joining any force in the Jia Ma Empire."
The Yun Lan Sect was indeed a behemoth in the Jia Ma Empire.
Unfortunately, those within the hub didn't know the hub.
In a few years, when Nalan Yanran went to the Xiao Family to annul the engagement, a basketful of troubles would follow.
Chen Xiao had no hobby of being a peacemaker, nor did he have the habit of cleaning up after others.
Therefore, compared to the Yun Lan Sect, the Jia Nan Academy held infinitely higher status in his heart.
Yun Yun nodded gently, her expression unchanged.
"As expected. Since you already have a plan, I won't force you. Your not joining the Yun Lan Sect, the imperial family, or even the Mitre Family is actually a good thing for the overall situation of the Jia Ma Empire."
Chen Xiao took another look at this Sect Master Yun.
He hadn't had much contact with Yun Yun; all his understanding came almost entirely from memory.
Frankly speaking, although this Sect Master Yun was somewhat indecisive, she was generally upright and not as bad as many people imagined.
"Something just occurred to me. I wonder if Sect Master Yun would be interested in hearing about it."
Yun Yun, who was about to take her leave, temporarily suppressed the thought and nodded slightly.
"Go on."
"It's like this. Some time ago, while I was training in Tagor, I happened to meet a mercenary who had fled from Yan City in the northeast. From his mouth, I heard some rumors about the Mo Family in Yan City."
"According to that mercenary, the Mo Family in Yan City, relying on the prestige of the Yun Lan Sect and the blessings of their ancestor, the Alchemist, is now flourishing. Especially in their base, Yan City, the Mo Family is the only voice."
"Their Great Elder, in particular, enjoys using some unorthodox transplantation tricks. Now, transplanting Magical Beast limbs is no longer enough for him; he has already set his sights on humans. The mercenary I met had a younger brother whose right arm was merely much stronger than ordinary people, and it was severed, leaving him without a complete corpse."
"It is said that the Mo Family's Great Elder has the identity of an outer disciple of the Yun Lan Sect, and is considered a branch force of the Yun Lan Sect."
Seeing Yun Yun's face grow increasingly somber, Chen Xiao stopped at the right moment and changed the subject.
He said, "Of course, this matter is just hearsay. At most, I can be eighty percent sure. Today, Chen Xiao has been too talkative. Sect Master Yun can just listen and doesn't need to take it to heart."
The saying "serve dishes according to the person" meant that only when facing Yun Yun did Chen Xiao dare to say so much.
If it were Yun Shan, Chen Xiao guaranteed he wouldn't say a single word more.
In the original trajectory, the Great Elder of the Mo Family in Yan City coveted Qing Lin's eyes and forcibly abducted her. Although Xiao Yan rescued the little girl, the battle also attracted the attention of powerhouses from the Heavenly Snake Mansion, and consequently, Qing Lin was still taken away.
Now that Qing Lin's Azure Snake Three-Flower Pupils had just been activated, although the Mo Family in Yan City hadn't discovered it and hadn't courted death yet, this didn't prevent Chen Xiao from causing them some trouble.
This could be considered preventing trouble before it happened.
"The Mo Family in Yan City, I know of them. However, whether what you said is true still needs to be investigated to confirm. Since you have no intention of joining the Yun Lan Sect, I will take my leave first."
Yun Yun suddenly stood up, her expression serious as she dropped a sentence, then quickly walked out of the inn, spread her Dou Qi wings, and headed northeast.
Clearly, this relatively naive Sect Master Yun would not allow anyone to commit evil under the banner of the Yun Lan Sect. She was working hard to become a qualified sect master, striving to make the Yun Lan Sect last forever.
Unfortunately, the final outcome was contrary to her wishes.
Chen Xiao stood at the entrance, gazing in the direction Yun Yun had left, smiled slightly, turned around, and went back upstairs to his room.
If Yun Yun could clean up the Mo Family, he would naturally applaud.
Conversely, if the Mo Family miraculously escaped...
It wouldn't be a big problem either.
...
Back in the room.
Chen Xiao cast aside distracting thoughts and immersed his consciousness in his mind.
The advance opportunity couldn't be wasted. Just last night, he had learned about many ice-attribute spiritual and rare items. It was time to choose a suitable one to break through to the Dou Ling realm.
[Ice Spirit Jade, cannot be advanced.]
[Frost Bloom Spirit Crystal, cannot be advanced.]
[Heavenly Cold Qi, can be advanced.]
...
[Purple Spirit Cold Qi, cannot be advanced.]
...
[Ice Spirit Cold Spring: Can be advanced.]
[Subsequent Advance:
① Go to Black Rock City and kill Gu Te.
② Go to Black Rock City and reach a deal with Gu Te.
Completing either one is sufficient.]
[Current available advance times: One!]
[Advance?]
This subsequent task wasn't difficult.
Black Rock City wasn't particularly far from Mo City. He could just take a slight detour on his way back.
As for the deal...
There was already a ready-made answer to copy.
Preliminary estimates suggested it could be completed in as little as three to five days, or at most within ten days.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly and immediately made a decision.
"Advance!"
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