A tall figure approached them.
He clapped and cheered.
The figure froze.
Meng Zhi, standing not far away, cupped his hands in salute. "Elder Fox."
Venerable Chuiyun, controlling the Nascent Soul body, stared at the newcomer, then glanced at the respectfully saluting Meng Zhi. A look of realization appeared on his face.
He said blandly, "Boy, you are seeking your own death. Without my help, you cannot refine the Tiger Demon Sacred Heart Soul, much less escape the demon's control."
After seeing the surprise in Meng Zhi's eyes, Chuiyun grew even more doubtful. It seemed this boy had not told Tu Shan Jun.
Chuiyun's pupils abruptly contracted. He said gravely, "You saw through my scheme long ago?"
The Main Soul shook his head. "I did not know what means Fellow Daoist intended to use."
"I merely felt that Fellow Daoist would not do something useless." Chuiyun's surprise faded. "So even from our first contact, you already knew?"
The Main Soul said, "I knew. You wanted to use Meng Zhi to leave the Shoreless Returning Ruins. I happened to want to find Meng Zhi a guide."
"His visualization method had not been tempered nearly enough."
"I feared he would die while refining the sacred relic, so I did not stop you from interfering. On the contrary, it was precisely because of your interference that he was able to grow so outstandingly."
"Like a child, one must eventually learn some of the important matters at home before one can swiftly mature and shed one's skin into an adult. Only by participating in the family's decisions can one remain unmoved by favor or disgrace before other major matters."
"Sometimes, such twists and turns are indispensable."
"This is the first lesson I want to teach you."
The Main Soul looked solemnly at Meng Zhi.