Eight Hundred Li Forbidden Zone

An eight-hundred-li lockdown across Azure Prefecture.

This was not something he had never encountered before...

Xie Xuanyi pressed his fingers to his brow, finding it somewhat ironic.

Ten years ago, when he had been hunted by the entire world, it had been much the same. The borderlands were sealed tight, countless stationed officials stood ready in battle formation; the spectacle back then should have been even greater than it was now.

Only, the situation today differed from the past.

The stationed officials of Fengsui City did not know the reason for the lockdown. This strict inspection was not meant to ferret out some cultivator with a name and reputation.

So this eight-hundred-li forbidden zone was simply a precaution against the Demon Race?

"You look quite young, sir."

Yue Chen studied Xie Xuanyi anew. He kept feeling that this face looked familiar. Scratching his head, he gave a simple-minded grin. "Could you be one too..."

"Where would there be so many Reincarnated Adepts?"

Xie Xuanyi touched his cheek and explained with a smile, "I merely began cultivating early and spent most of my time meditating in blessed grotto-heavens."

"That makes sense. Daoist masters all look very young."

Yue Chen looked at Xie Xuanyi once more, and suddenly realized whom this face resembled. "Eh?"

The instant that thought sprang forth.

Cold sweat began seeping down the stationed official's back.

"Stationed Official Yue? What is it?"

Xie Xuanyi asked with a smile.

"N... nothing."

Yue Chen hurriedly shook his head. Inwardly, he warned himself not to let his thoughts run wild and invite bad luck.

That young Great Sui sword immortal surnamed Xie had been confirmed dead and gone ten years ago...

"This is a 'Purification Talisman' from All-Under-Heaven Pavilion."

Xie Xuanyi took another talisman from his robes and placed it in Yue Chen's hand. Gently, he said, "Inject vital energy into it while cultivating. It will keep your mind focused, letting you achieve twice the result with half the effort."

The journey was long.

In his spare time, Xie Xuanyi had also drawn several talismans. After all, he currently had no vital energy; if a fight broke out, he was essentially no different from a Qi Refiner.

This so-called Purification Talisman was actually the "Silence Talisman" he had taught Deng Baiyi.

These two talismans sounded simple, but they were tremendously useful. Once one had learned them thoroughly, they could be further developed into many marvelous applications.

The talisman arts of the world were divided into many ranks.

The Daoist sect held the undisputed top position, with no one able to stand shoulder to shoulder with it.

Thus... whether "Purification" or "One Breath," both could be called secrets never passed on by the Daoist sect.

The moment Yue Chen accepted the Purification Talisman, his state of mind abruptly cleared, and he felt a wave of relief.

This was absolutely an authentic Daoist work!

"Thank you, Adept, for this gift."

He clasped the talisman between his palms, bowed once more with utmost respect, and no longer had any reservations in his heart.

Xie Xuanyi nodded and said no more, leaving just like that.

"Why is Fengsui City investigating so strictly? Did something happen?"

The moment Xie Xuanyi returned to the carriage, Shen Yan impatiently spoke up.

"That need not concern Miss Shen."

Xie Xuanyi said flatly, "Miss Shen only needs to remember one thing. I will take you to Taian City to see Xu You. Once it is done, Xu You must pay five Azure Origin Pills as compensation."

"..."

Shen Yan was helpless. Gritting her teeth, she asked, "Lord Xie, can you make it a little cheaper?"

At the thought of the price of five Azure Origin Pills, her heart ached.

Entering through Fengsui City's checkpoint had been easier than she had imagined.

It was like a residence's front gate being jammed shut: you called a locksmith and agreed on a price beforehand... but the locksmith opened it far too quickly and easily, making it hard not to want to go back on your word.

"Of course. You need not pay a single pill now."

Xie Xuanyi called out, "Baiyi, turn the carriage around and take Miss Shen back."

"Got it!"

Deng Baiyi, who had been propping up her chin and watching the show from the side, rubbed her fists together eagerly. She had long wanted to do exactly that.

Shen Yan wailed, "Five, then. Five it is!"

She gave up all thought of bargaining.

This Xie Zhen would not yield to soft tactics or hard ones, like oil and salt that could not soak in. She was beginning to wonder... was this fellow even human?

"That's it? Why don't you act a little tougher?"

Deng Baiyi was deeply disappointed. She sat back down, her tone carrying a strong sense of frustration at iron's failure to become steel.

Shen Yan had nothing to say. This time, it was her turn to leave in indignation.

At first, she had stuck close to Xie Xuanyi because she had seen that this white-clad youth held the highest status and the greatest say.

If she wanted to travel with them, she had to obtain his approval.

The journey from Northern Prefecture to Azure Prefecture was long, with time to spare. If she could spend day and night with Xie Xuanyi, she would have plenty of chances to make this youth fall for her and let him taste the power of beauty, that sugar-coated cannonball.

Now, however, she had completely abandoned all hope.

Rather than stay with Xie Xuanyi and run into walls everywhere, getting shot down with every sentence, she might as well go elsewhere. At least she could have some peace and quiet.

Xie Xuanyi did not stop Shen Yan from leaving the carriage, instead letting her go.

Not far away, Deng Chicheng was overjoyed. Never had he expected such good fortune to fall into his lap. He happily accepted this distressed young lady's "throwing herself into his arms." For a time, their carriage filled with laughter, but before long, it returned to silence—and a long-lasting silence at that.

"Shen Yan is far too goal-oriented."

Deng Baiyi said irritably, "Only my foolish father would believe that this woman was harmed because she was innocent and kind. How could anyone who built up such a household on Lingluo Mountain be any sort of good person?"

"Deng Chicheng is not as foolish as you think."

Xie Xuanyi smiled.

Though two carriages separated them, he could clearly sense the movements inside the foremost carriage through the flow of vital energy.

At first, Deng Chicheng had politely greeted Shen Yan and welcomed her. The two conversed quite pleasantly.

Then Deng Chicheng asked about some matters concerning the Shen household.

Shen Yan was happy to answer, dispelling his doubts and proving that she truly came from Lingluo Mountain.

But Deng Chicheng did not ask much. He soon ended the subject, then spent the rest of the time bent over the table in the carriage, writing something with intense concentration.

Xie Xuanyi had no interest in exactly what he was writing... He had vaguely glimpsed it, and it seemed to be something like account books.

The Deng household had already left Jade Pearl Town and was preparing to settle elsewhere, yet at a time like this, he was still calculating accounts?

Xie Xuanyi only felt that Deng Chicheng was quite interesting.

Aside from the matter of the account books.

There was one more point.

Although Deng Chicheng appeared somewhat unreliable, wearing the look of a man whose wits had been clouded by lust, after Shen Yan boarded the carriage, whether in conversation or action, he had not entertained a single improper thought from beginning to end.

With Shen Yan's disposition, she would not sell her body for no reason.

If there was value in it, she was willing to throw herself into someone's arms.

If there was no value, one likely would not even get a chance to hold her hand.

If Deng Chicheng truly wanted to take advantage and made a mistake, Shen Yan would probably seize upon it at once, come to him in "tearful distress," and complain—

After all, the deal for five Azure Origin Pills had been made. Before reaching Taian City, he had to look after her to some extent.

Although Deng Baiyi did not know exactly what was happening on her father's side.

She had heard the initial laughter very clearly.

Remembering how Deng Chicheng had insisted on letting Shen Yan board the carriage earlier.

She gave an irritated snort and muttered softly, "Men—what good are any of them?"

"Zzzz—"