Shi Yao

The Jade Pool Pure Land was wreathed in clouds and mist, with waterfalls cascading down amid layers of verdant immortal mountains.

The spiritual energy here was dense, and countless auspicious rays shimmered through the air. Standing within it felt as though one had arrived in an immortal realm.

"You've broken into the Four Extremities?"

Not long after the Jade Pool Saintess flew away, Yang Yi tore through the air and appeared before Lu Zhou and the Black Emperor.

Presumably, the Jade Pool Saintess had gone to inform Yang Yi.

"I broke through not long ago!" Lu Zhou replied with a smile.

"Has the Saintess been well these past year or so?"

"Not bad. Stop calling me Saintess—I am no longer the Jade Pool Saintess. Didn't you just meet this generation's Jade Pool Saintess?"

"Woof, more than just met. That brat Lu just—"

The Big Black Dog was clearly trying to stir up trouble. Lu Zhou hurriedly clamped a hand over its mouth, preventing it from getting out the rest of its words.

"Dead dog, are you itching for another beating?"

"Woof woof woof! You brat just did something so indecent it'll give people sore eyes, and now her family has come looking for you. You still won't let this Emperor say it?"

The Black Emperor leaped about wildly, biting Lu Zhou like mad.

Lu Zhou truly wanted to slap this troublemaker to death. He was starting to regret letting this dead dog follow him.

Yang Yi was taken aback. Then she recalled Shi Yao's expression when she had come to see her not long ago. Yang Yi had clearly sensed that Shi Yao's emotions were in turmoil.

But upon hearing that Lu Zhou had arrived, she had not thought much of it and had hurried over to see him.

Now, it seemed that Shi Yao's emotional turmoil was somehow related to Lu Zhou!

As she considered this, Lu Zhou had already suppressed the Black Emperor and stuffed it into the Lihuo Furnace. He sealed it with the nine Emperor characters from the Dao Sutra, sending the dead dog to keep Fifth Master Zhang and the others company.

"What did you do to Shi Yao?" Yang Yi asked curiously.

"Shi Yao?"

"She is our Jade Pool's Saintess of this generation!"

"Oh? So her name is Shi Yao. That's a lovely name!"

"Don't play dumb. You still haven't told me what you did to Shi Yao. Why was she so emotionally unsettled?"

"Well... perhaps you should ask her yourself!"

Lu Zhou was certainly someone who dared to act and take responsibility, but this matter was truly difficult for him to explain. He did not mind, but it would not be good for Shi Yao.

He felt that Shi Yao probably did not want more people to know about it.

"What? Is there something inconvenient to say? You—"

At that point, Yang Yi seemed to suddenly remember something.

The Origin Master lineage... that eye-stinging indecent act... Origin Heavenly Perception...

She was stunned again, and the words slipped from her lips instinctively.

"Did you obtain Stone Gall? Did you just look at Shi Yao..."

She stopped there. Her expression shifted repeatedly, carrying traces of reminiscence, embarrassment, irritation, and speechlessness.

The moment he saw her expression, Lu Zhou understood at once. A gossiping grin appeared on his face.

So Zhang Lin had done the same thing when he was young!

Did that mean he had perfectly inherited the legacy of the fifth-generation Origin Master?

"Don't get any wild ideas. Zhang Lin was far more proper than you. I had a protective treasure garment; back then, he merely used Origin Heavenly Perception to see through my appearance!"

Yang Yi was extremely sharp. The instant she saw that inexplicable smile on Lu Zhou's face, she guessed what he was thinking.

"I wasn't thinking anything. I didn't say anything either!" Lu Zhou raised a brow, looking thoroughly wronged.

For some reason, Yang Yi suddenly wanted to punch Lu Zhou.

In the end, she held back. Perhaps it was because he had revived her with Immortal Medicine liquid, or perhaps because of Zhang Lin.

She warned Lu Zhou not to use Origin Heavenly Perception to bully Jade Pool's disciples. Otherwise, it would be difficult for her to step in and protect him.

Lu Zhou immediately swore to the heavens that he absolutely would not use Origin Heavenly Perception!

Seeing him go so far, Yang Yi could not say much more.

But Lu Zhou had something to say.

"I heard that Jade Pool fairies have precedent for marrying outside the sect, though the conditions are very strict. I wonder what those conditions are?"

"What? Have you taken a liking to Shi Yao? Do you want to marry her?"

"I do have that intention!"

Before Yang Yi, one of Shi Yao's own people, Lu Zhou showed no embarrassment whatsoever and nodded readily in admission.

"You..."

Yang Yi did not know what to say. She had only intended to tease Lu Zhou, yet she had not expected him to genuinely have such intentions.

She could not help asking herself, Was this the fated entanglement between the Origin Master lineage and the Jade Pool lineage?

At the same time, this was the first time she had encountered someone so straightforward—asking her, right in front of one of Shi Yao's own people, what conditions were needed to marry Jade Pool's Saintess.

She had truly seen it all.

Suddenly, her expression became somewhat dazed. No one knew what she had thought of.

Lu Zhou interrupted her reverie, pressing his question.

"You still haven't told me what the conditions are."

Yang Yi smiled and looked Lu Zhou up and down, like a mother-in-law sizing up a prospective son-in-law for the first time. Only then did she speak.

"You should ask Shi Yao about that yourself!"

The moment she finished speaking, Lu Zhou immediately followed up.

"Will you help me?"

"Huh?"

Yang Yi was stunned, her expression freezing. She pressed a jade-like hand to her forehead, half amused and half speechless. She truly did not know what to say; this was the first time she had seen someone so shameless.

Lu Zhou actually wanted her, one of Shi Yao's own people, to play matchmaker and clear away obstacles for him in the process of marrying Jade Pool's Saintess.

The situation left her dazed again. Perhaps she was thinking of her past with Zhang Lin—if only back then...

"That depends on how you behave!"

After a while, she said those words.

Then she deliberately changed the subject and asked why Lu Zhou had come to Jade Pool to find her this time.

"The descendants of our patriarch have always lived near Purple Mountain, but Primordial Beings are sealed within Purple Mountain."

"I estimate that those Primordial Beings will eventually break their seals and awaken. If they continue living near Purple Mountain, it will be too dangerous. I want to find them a safe place where they can thrive and multiply!"

"So I thought of you. Looking across the entire Northern Region, there is nowhere safer than the area around your Jade Pool!"

Lu Zhou believed that if Yang Yi looked after the people of Stone Village, Fifth Master Zhang and the others should have no worries in the future.

After hearing Lu Zhou's purpose, Yang Yi nodded without hesitation.

"Leave them to me. I will find an oasis near Jade Pool and settle them properly!"

"Good! But aside from this matter, there is one more thing I need to trouble you with!"

"What is it?"

"I want to borrow Jade Pool's domain gate to teleport to the Southern Territory!"

"The Southern Territory? Are you also preparing to formally travel the world?"

Upon hearing Lu Zhou say he was going to the Southern Territory, Yang Yi's first thought was that he was preparing to roam the world, compete against his peers, and officially step onto the stage of the Eastern Wasteland.

"More or less!" Lu Zhou nodded and continued.

"I heard that the descendant of the Demon Emperor is currently in the Southern Territory."

"And the Ji Family has also spread word that their divine body has taken initial form. Before long, he will leave the Ji Family and seek discussion of the Dao with his peers."

"On top of that, the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters of several great sects and sacred lands are also preparing to venture out. With something this lively happening, how could I be left out?"

Lu Zhou's words made Yang Yi nod slightly. Then she said, "Now that you have achieved success in both source arts cultivation and broken into the Four Extremities, it is indeed time for you to go out, discuss the Dao with your peers, and display the bearing of the Origin Master lineage!"

"However... where is your protector? Don't tell me you plan to travel alone?"

Yang Yi had already carefully sensed the area, yet there were no hidden experts nearby.

With her current cultivation, and with this place being within the range covered by the Western Emperor Tower, unless Lu Zhou's protector was a Saint and deliberately concealing himself, there was no way she would fail to sense him.

Thanks to Fengjing from Qyue for the reward of 300 book coins!

Thanks to Singh for the gifted monthly vote!

Thanks to Kong Shen for once again gifting a monthly ticket!