Song Wen and his Heaven-and-Earth Avatar flew out of the city, keeping several hundred li apart.
After traveling several thousand li from the city, Song Wen landed in a dense forest, withdrew his Heaven-and-Earth Avatar, and disguised himself as "Gou Jun." Only then did he change direction and head toward the lake where he had agreed to meet Wang Qiuyue.
When he reached the lake, Wang Qiuyue was already standing in midair. Clearly, she had been waiting for some time.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Senior. Please forgive me," Song Wen said.
Wang Qiuyue looked Song Wen up and down for a moment before asking,
"Is this your true body or your avatar?"
"How could I dare meet you with an avatar, Senior? Naturally, I came in my true body," Song Wen said.
"Really?" Wang Qiuyue remained somewhat skeptical.
But rather than press him further, she circulated her magical power and formed a soundproof barrier around them.
"Tell me, how can you help me comprehend the Soul-Slaying Spike?"
Song Wen turned his hand over, produced a jade slip, and passed it to Wang Qiuyue.
"Please take a look, Senior."
Wang Qiuyue accepted the jade slip. After examining it, a trace of delight appeared on her face.
"So the Soul-Slaying Spike is an incomplete technique. There is another technique preceding it, the Soul-Concentrating Spike. But where did you obtain this Soul-Concentrating Spike?"
"I came across it by chance several hundred years ago," Song Wen said.
Wang Qiuyue paid no mind to his somewhat perfunctory answer. After carefully examining the Soul-Concentrating Spike, she put away the jade slip and looked up at him.
"You handed over the Soul-Concentrating Spike so readily. What do you want me to do for you?"
"I would like you to guard me while I attempt to