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Chapter 38: rm -rf

Regarding the little princess of Luohuang Mountain, although Liu Sanlang modestly claimed he did not know much, as they chatted along the way, he recounted various anecdotes and gossip as if he were reciting a family register.

Of course, it was not that he harbored any unrealistic longings for Si Qinglan despite his existing engagement. It was simply that... as a cultivator from Qiongzhou, unless one lived as a recluse in the desolate wilderness, ignoring the affairs of the world, one would inevitably be familiar with the gossip surrounding Si Qinglan.

As the most outstanding Dao Seed of the younger generation in Qiongzhou over the past ten, or even twenty years, Si Qinglan was actually the pride of many Qiongzhou cultivators.

Qiongzhou was located in the northeast of the Nine Provinces and had always been far from prosperous or wealthy. Five hundred years ago, the Desolate Barbarian Rebellion had scorched the earth for a thousand li, and to this day, it had yet to fully recover its vitality. Therefore, among the Nine Provinces, Qiongzhou always ranked at the bottom.

Fortunately, there was still Luohuang Mountain, which stood like a heaven-propping jade pillar, upholding the dignity of Qiongzhou. The structure of having three Spirit Transformation Realm experts in one sect had been maintained since five hundred years ago, never wavering, firmly securing its title as a first-rank immortal sect. Furthermore, the mountain frequently produced brilliant, talented cultivators who dominated their era.

When people from various regions discussed the merits of the immortal path or the strength of different provinces, the performance of a few leading figures often played a decisive role. And Si Qinglan was the very best material that countless Qiongzhou cultivators used to hold their own in debates against others.

A first-rank Spirit Root, Foundation Establishment in three years, the prospect of condensing a Golden Core before the age of twenty, and achieving the Nascent Soul realm within sixty years... these kinds of incredible legends made her seem like a Green Phoenix in the high heavens, lifting the confidence of all the cultivators in Qiongzhou!

Chatting along the way about the little princess of Luohuang Mountain, time slipped away unnoticed... Suddenly, the imperial carriage trembled slightly, and then the scenery outside the window was covered by that familiar, dazzling rainbow light. When they steadied their gaze, they saw only a gray, hazy sky.

Feng Prefecture, the Ten Thousand Li Gray Plains, was already beneath their feet.

Afterward, the carriage door opened, and the Green Phoenix let out a cry signaling the end of the journey. Only then did Liu Sanlang and Wu Ming step off the imperial carriage, still feeling that their conversation was unfinished, and set foot upon the Wutong Branch in a foreign land.

Then, they saw a familiar face.

"Sanlang, Wu Ming, long time no see."

A tall woman in red, with a gentle and sweet smile on her face, took the initiative to greet the two who had come from afar, then handed each of them a small incense bottle.

"This place is the extreme point of the earth vein in the Gray Plains, and it is not far from the Moli Immortal Mansion. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth here is tainted with some foreign substances, so it is best to use this incense regularly to regulate your mind."

Liu Sanlang took it first and thanked her.

"Miaomiao, thank you for your hard work in coming to scout ahead."

Zhang Miao smiled sweetly: "It is I who should thank Sanlang for being willing to share this immortal destiny with me."

Liu Sanlang said: "Between you and me, it is only right that we share such destiny."

On the other side, Wu Ming curiously toyed with the incense bottle, and even more curiously observed Zhang Miao.

It had been a while since they last met; had Miaomiao gone on a diet?

He and Liu Sanlang had just stepped out of the imperial carriage, yet she hadn't imagined any forced scenarios in a secret room?

Then he saw Zhang Miao bow gracefully to him: "I must also thank Young Master Wu for not minding my humble abilities and being willing to travel with me."

She paused, then added: "This immortal destiny was not easily obtained, and I will do my utmost to cherish it. Therefore, please rest assured, Young Master Wu, that during the exploration of the Immortal Mansion, I will only act in a supporting role and will never overstep my bounds."

"So, even if there is much joy in my heart, I will force myself to hold it back, keeping it firmly in my mind, and only... only savor it for myself after we return from the Immortal Mansion..."

By the time she finished, her face was slightly flushed and her body was trembling, as if someone had pressed some inexplicable switch, forcing her to suppress herself...

...Fine, so she's playing the endurance game now.

Zhang Miao really knows how to play!

Liu Sanlang could only shake his head helplessly. "Lead the way, Miaomiao."

"Mm~"

Afterward, the group of three walked down the jade steps of the post station from the parasol tree. As they descended, the sound of voices grew louder, and beneath the great tree, there was, surprisingly, a bustling small town! The houses in the town were packed close together, wine flags fluttered in the breeze, spiritual energy permeated the air, and peddlers and travelers filled the paths...

It looked nothing like a dangerous immortal mansion!

Seeing the look of surprise on the face of Wu Ming, Liu Sanlang couldn't help but smile and take the initiative to explain. "Since the day the Moli Immortal Mansion appeared, it has never restricted outsiders from entering. After hundreds of years of exploration, the risks in the outer areas have been greatly reduced, making it suitable for cultivators who aren't afraid of danger to challenge themselves and gain experience. The recent news that the Zhuoquan Immortal Mansion is about to appear has only sparked a craze for immortal mansions within the prefecture..."

Hearing this, Wu Ming understood immediately: it was just a maze town; the setting was very logical!

It was no wonder this trip required splitting the three of them into two groups, with Zhang Miao arriving half a day early. If it were just sleeping in the open, that would be one thing, but since there was a town here with all sorts of facilities available, there would naturally be all sorts of trivial troubles to go along with them.

"I've already booked our lodging at the White Jade Pavilion in the east of the town. We have an entire courtyard. Although it's a bit secluded, it's rare to find one with a spiritual vein and full defensive arrays, and the place is quite large... The Immortal Guiding Envoys have also arrived early and are staying nearby."

As Zhang Miao led the way, she briefly introduced the situation.

"This town is nominally managed by the Dinghuang Prefecture of Feng Prefecture, but in reality, daily affairs are left to the local immortal sects to govern together. Generally speaking, as long as you don't cause trouble, everyone can live in peace. However, there have been a lot of outsiders pouring in recently, and it's said that the town isn't as peaceful as it used to be. Fortunately, we're staying in a more secluded area, so we should have fewer troubles."

"I originally intended to buy some pills and talismans suitable for use in the immortal mansion at the town's apothecary and workshops. But the Immortal Guiding Envoys said it wasn't necessary. They are responsible for all consumption during the exploration of the immortal mansion, and they said that if we were to purchase and use things on our own, it would only cause them trouble..."

While they were talking, the three of them had passed through several streets and alleys, gradually moving away from the bustling area around the post station, and arrived at a vast and quiet field. Not far away stood several small buildings with gray bricks and blue tiles, each enclosed by high walls. More than half of the courtyards already had semi-circular mana barriers erected, signaling that strangers were not welcome.

Only one, which was exceptionally spacious, had its gate wide open. In front of the gate stood a very tall masked woman. Seeing the three of them approach, she nodded slightly and turned back into the courtyard.

Zhang Miao whispered tremblingly, "That is one of the Immortal Guiding Envoys."

Without needing a reminder, Liu Sanlang had already unconsciously braced himself, his steps becoming heavier, and the flow of mana around his body quickened a fraction.

Wu Ming couldn't help but widen his eyes, his breathing growing rapid.

Although it was only a glance from afar, the pressure from the masked woman had already permeated the air from a distance.

The feeling was quite subtle. Since she was an Immortal Guiding Envoy capable of entering the Moli Immortal Mansion, her strength naturally wouldn't exceed the Qi Refining stage. Yet, the deterrent force she revealed in that split second made Wu Ming's mind flash back to the image of his Senior Sister...

A moment later, as the three of them cautiously stepped into the courtyard, they instantly felt a wave of coolness wash over them. The lingering, subtle pressure left behind by the masked woman was instantly blown away by the cool breeze and ceased to exist.

Everyone felt as if a burden had been lifted from their hearts, and their bodies felt a bit lighter.

Then, they saw five cultivators waiting in the center of the courtyard. The three in the front—two men and one woman—appeared to be around twenty years old, all wearing specially made, form-fitting robes in gold and red. The two in the back, a man and a woman, were dressed in black and wore masks.

Seeing Wu Ming and the others enter, the man in the center took a half-step forward and chuckled. His features were flat, and he looked somewhat unremarkable; however, as his smile bloomed, it was as if a few fragrant flowers had been scattered into the cool breeze blowing through the courtyard, making the atmosphere instantly much more relaxed.

"Are you Third Young Master Liu, Miss Zhang Miao, and Fellow Daoist Wu Ming? I am Yi Yi. A pleasure to meet you."

Before the group could even return the greeting, Yi Yi continued, "Those who cultivate need not be bound by worldly formalities. I have never been fond of idle chatter, so let us keep this brief and speak plainly. How does that sound?"

Without waiting for Liu Sanlang to nod in agreement, Yi Yi went on.

"First, may I assume that before arriving here, you all did your homework and have a basic understanding of the Moli Immortal Mansion?"

Liu Sanlang nodded first.

In truth, it was far more than just a basic understanding. As a young master of a noble family, he had relied on his family's channels to collect a vast amount of information. He possessed an extremely detailed awareness of the dangers within the Moli Immortal Mansion.

Three hundred years ago, when the Moli Immortal Mansion appeared, Celestial Master Sanqing deciphered a Moli Proverb from the Heavenly Records, which served as the key hint for exploring the mansion:

Do not speak to strangers.

It seemed like an unremarkable sentence, but in the short time that followed, it became a nightmare for countless people.

Initially, people interpreted the proverb literally, refusing to speak to any "strange entity" within the mansion, or even remaining completely silent throughout their journey. But they soon discovered that even on the outskirts of the mansion, the voices of those strange entities were pervasive. They could always find inconceivable ways to stir up the most irresistible desires deep within a person's heart.

And once someone struck up a conversation with a strange entity, they never returned.

Later, people tried every possible method to cultivate both internally and externally, practicing asceticism and restraint. At the same time, they formed groups to watch over one another, hoping to pull back companions who had gone astray in time... and they finally managed to venture a bit deeper than their predecessors.

But as the exploration deepened, even more terrifying things began to happen.

Once those who traveled in groups crossed a certain invisible boundary, they would gradually be eroded by the invisible laws of the immortal mansion, leading to the withering of their memories... and then, they would begin to become strangers to one another. Until, at some point, people would suddenly realize with a jolt: who exactly is this person who has been by my side all this time, appearing so intimate?

And the moment they realized it was the moment they were completely lost.

To this day, there is no perfect solution to this erosion of memory... Of course, after hundreds of years of accumulation, the major immortal sects have mastered some ability to resist it. However, those belong to the closely guarded secrets of each sect.

Liu Sanlang's knowledge of the Moli Immortal Mansion went about this far. While it was hard to say how practical it was, it was already ahead of most people in the world.

At the very least, in this Gray Plain town adjacent to the immortal mansion, the understanding most people had of Moli was still stuck at the first stage.

Yi Yi nodded with a smile.

"Very good! Third Young Master is truly worthy of his noble upbringing... Then, from this moment on, I must ask you to forget everything you have learned. Do not leave a single thing behind."