The ancient figure in wooden staff and straw sandals, wearing a bamboo hat and rain cape, turned around with his back to Li Qingyun and hesitantly made his way toward the distant thatched cottage...
Before Li Qingyun's eyes, the hazy dome and walls of the secret hall began to emerge. Gradually, he broke free of the dream and returned to reality.
"Child, this old man does not blame you either. Should you encounter any predicament in the future, call my name three times in your heart, and I will sense it. Perhaps I may be able to help you..."
At the final moment before the dream dissipated, that weathered voice seemed to come from some distant, unreachable place, echoing beside Li Qingyun's ear.
As the voice faded, calm swiftly returned to Li Qingyun's face, though his gaze remained thoughtful.
"Whoever that was in the dream, half of it was true and half false. If I cannot be certain, then I must keep my distance!
I have cultivated to this day not by relying on an Ancient Saint's favor and guidance, but by treading carefully every step of the way.
The occasional high-profile move was merely following the tide of the greater situation.
If Saint Shen Nong was alive, that was certainly wonderful news;
But if this was an ancient trap meticulously laid across the ages, then even if I do not throw myself into it, I can still remain untainted by the mire—and perhaps even confuse those chess players with sinister intentions..."
With his newly entered Hua Xuan Realm cultivation, he knew nothing of the methods of quasi-saints or Outer Void Saints. How could he dare reveal all his cards merely because some being claiming to be Saint Shen Nong had suddenly appeared in his dream?
Especially since there were