BABA

"!?"

At Third Young Master Liu's request, Liu Sanlang could only stare in utter astonishment.

Yi Yi's smile faded slightly, and his expression suddenly grew solemn.

"When exploring an Immortal Mansion, knowing a little is often worse than knowing nothing at all. All sorts of preconceived notions will only make you hesitate needlessly when it's time to decide. So, since you've chosen to follow us, you must trust our abilities and judgment. Otherwise, you'd be better off finding someone else."

Liu Sanlang sighed inwardly, but he didn't hesitate. He cupped his hands at once. "We'll follow your guidance in all things!"

Yi Yi smiled. "There's no need to be so formal, and don't call me 'Envoy.' I don't deserve it... Still, even if I'm not an official Immortal Guiding Envoy, I'm more than capable of leading the three of you through the Moli Immortal Mansion and helping you learn and gain experience. The outer regions of the Moli Immortal Mansion aren't particularly dangerous. As long as you follow the rules to the letter, even children who can't fight their way out of a paper bag can travel freely through the outer regions, let alone you, who've already made some progress in Qi Refining."

"Exactly. As long as you follow the rules to the letter... So next, I'll explain in detail the rules for exploring the Moli Immortal Mansion. You may not understand them, and you may doubt them, but please swallow those doubts and keep them to yourselves. Any confusion or doubt could prove fatal inside the Immortal Mansion—or even drag someone else down with you."

"You may hope I'll explain every detail. Sadly, I can't. Those who haven't experienced it can't form a proper understanding. As the saying goes, you can't talk about ice to a summer insect. To put it bluntly, right now, you're all summer insects."

"Of course, based on past experience, no matter how much I warn you here, you'll inevitably have ideas of your own. That's fine. Our job, essentially, is to give you room to make mistakes. So you can make mistakes, and we'll take responsibility for covering for you in the end. But you only get so many chances."

"By our usual rules, you get three chances to make mistakes—that is, three lives. Once those three lives are gone, our cooperation ends. We'll choose the next group of Dao Seeds in Qiongzhou and protect them instead."

At this, Liu Sanlang couldn't help asking, "Does that mean you'll save our lives three times? And our cooperation will continue until then?"

Yi Yi looked slightly taken aback, then shook his head with an amused smile. "Third Young Master, you've misunderstood. Those three lives aren't yours. With your abilities, once you enter the Immortal Mansion, we'd probably have to save you dozens of times in a single day. The three lives I meant are the times when, if necessary, we'll give our own lives to save yours—three times in all."

Before Yi Yi had even finished speaking, Liu Sanlang was gaping in astonishment.

He'd heard all sorts of legends about the Immortal Guiding Envoys, but seeing the man before him wearing a kind, easygoing smile while speaking of his own life as if it weighed less than a feather... Liu Sanlang still found it all unbelievably absurd.

Luohuang Mountain, the Immortal Guiding Envoys—just who were these people...?

Yi Yi smiled. "Heh. Third Young Master, if you want to understand us, you'll soon have the chance. That's a necessary part of exploring the Immortal Mansion, too. But before that, let me finish explaining the rules in order."

Seeing that Yi Yi had read his thoughts, Liu Sanlang stiffened and said no more.

Yi Yi continued, "First, you don't need to think too much about the Moli Immortal Mansion for now. Just remember one thing: inside the Immortal Mansion, never speak aloud, at any time. Moli—'silent departure.' So first and foremost, please abide by the word 'silent.'"

"As for how we'll communicate with one another, please take this first."

As he spoke, Yi Yi turned his hand over, and three tiny seashells, each smaller than a knuckle, appeared in his palm.

Liu Sanlang and the others took one each and swallowed them. They soon felt the shells dissolve in their mouths into countless cool fragments that clung to their throats... They felt no discomfort; if anything, it was rather soothing.

"Good. Next, these."

Yi Yi turned his hand over again, this time producing three pairs of wax earplugs.

Once they put them in, every sound around them vanished. Only Yi Yi's voice remained clear.

"How is it? Can you hear me?"

They all heard him perfectly well, but they could also see perfectly clearly that Yi Yi's mouth was closed!

"Inside the Moli Immortal Mansion, sound is the least trustworthy thing. So when we speak to one another, we'll transmit our voices through the Star Conch and then capture them with the Art-Sealed Wax Pills. That way, we can communicate without opening our mouths, while also keeping outside noise from mixing into what we hear."

With that, Yi Yi clapped his hands and smiled.

"Good. Since you've all swallowed the Star Conches and put in your earplugs, let's set off."

As he spoke, he strode ahead and left the courtyard in just a few steps. The other four Immortal Guiding Envoys silently followed, without the slightest pause!

"...Huh?"

Liu Sanlang stood in the courtyard, gaping.

So they were really moving this fast?! He'd only just arrived in town, and hadn't even had a chance to settle in, yet they were already heading to the Immortal Mansion?!

And hadn't Yi Yi said he'd explain the rules of the Moli Immortal Mansion? He'd only explained a few! He hadn't even taught them the incantation for transmitting voices through the Star Conch!

Even if he'd promised to trust the Immortal Guiding Envoys' judgment, this was just too baffling!

Yet while Liu Sanlang hesitated, Wu Ming had already followed after them with great enthusiasm, as though he couldn't wait to skip every unnecessary hassle.

Liu Sanlang and Zhang Miao exchanged a glance and could only smile wryly.

Exploring an Immortal Mansion alongside the Immortal Guiding Envoys from Luohuang Mountain sounded like a windfall of Immortal Fate. But being swept along by the current, with no idea what was going on, was truly nerve-racking.

Fortunately, with that person up ahead, even the greatest difficulties seemed insignificant.

Before long, the group followed the five Immortal Guiding Envoys out of the White Jade Pavilion's courtyard. They crossed several dirt roads in town, climbed a small hill, and reached the Ten Thousand Li Gray Plains.

Ash stretched as far as the eye could see, as if a fire that had scorched heaven and boiled the seas had burned away the world in ancient times.

Yi Yi stood on the hill, watching Wu Ming and the others catch up. He nodded lightly.

"Good. You followed promptly and decisively. Please keep that judgment in the future. Inside the Immortal Mansion, you must follow our instructions to the letter. Don't entertain any unnecessary ideas... Now, I'll divide you into groups. Third Young Master Liu, you're with me. Miss Zhang, you're with Junior Sister He Lu. Wu Ming, you're with Junior Brother Han Gang."

As he spoke, the young man and woman beside him, both dressed in red-and-gold Daoist robes, stepped forward and went to stand with their assigned partners.

The one who approached Wu Ming was a burly man, with similarly flat features and an unremarkable face. His air was much steadier than Yi Yi's.

Wu Ming nodded to him. The man merely grunted and touched his throat.

Then Wu Ming heard a low, rough voice.

"I'm Han Gang. From now on, you'll act with me. Don't listen to anyone else—not a word—and don't respond to anyone but me. Understood?"

Wu Ming nodded earnestly.

"Good." Han Gang then turned and gave Yi Yi a look.

Yi Yi smiled and clapped his hands again. "Good. The groups are set. Now we'll officially enter the Moli Immortal Mansion. We'll only take a brief tour of the outer region this time, to get acquainted. There won't be any danger, so there's no need to feel nervous or uneasy... Finally, if you have any questions, raise your hand and ask as quickly as you can."

Zhang Miao hesitated, then couldn't help raising her hand.

Beside her, the Immortal Guiding Envoy He Lu shook her head and crossed her hands to make an X.

Yi Yi laughed. "Haha, Miss Zhang, you fell for it! Junior Sister He Lu should've told you just now: don't listen to anyone but her, and don't respond to anyone else... That includes me, of course!"

Only then did Zhang Miao understand. She gave He Lu a slight nod, her face apologetic.

On the other side, Han Gang looked at Wu Ming in some surprise.

From beginning to end, Wu Ming's gaze hadn't left him. He'd completely ignored Yi Yi's trap!

This Desolate youth adapted to rules remarkably quickly—far faster than Han Gang had expected. He'd partnered with Yi Yi for many years and served countless talented Dao Seeds inside and outside the mountain gate. Of the ten people Yi Yi had just tried that trick on, eight would have fallen for it!

And the more quick-witted they were, the more likely they were to stumble into such an inconspicuous trap!

With such a keen instinct, it was no wonder he'd wrested the Immortal Fate of a Dao Seed from the Liu Family.

But how far would that instinct carry him in the Moli Immortal Mansion...? As an "Immortal Guiding Envoy" from Luohuang Mountain, Han Gang had seen too many examples of skilled swimmers drowning.

After centuries of exploration, the outer regions of the Moli Immortal Mansion were indeed not very dangerous—but that was only true for mediocre people who had no desire to venture deeper. If they advanced when the opportunity arose and retreated when they encountered danger, they were safe enough. But for those who always dreamed big, the dangers of the Moli Immortal Mansion were just as severe as they'd been three hundred years ago!

Those three chances to trade their lives for someone else's might seem generous, but many so-called Dao Seeds from immortal sects would gladly use up all three in a single exploration!

Heh. He could only hope the youth before him would last a little longer!