Xuanming sent out a divine-sense transmission. Before long, a beautiful middle-aged woman carrying a storage bag entered the cavern.
After taking the storage bag from the woman and dismissing her, Xuanming handed it over to Patriarch Youquan.
After inspecting the storage bag, Patriarch Youquan paid Xuanming more than two hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones.
Afterward, the two chatted for a while longer before Patriarch Youquan rose to take his leave.
Xuanming did not urge him to stay and escorted Patriarch Youquan out of the underground cavern.
He watched Patriarch Youquan's departing back for a long while. Only after the latter had completely vanished did he return to the cavern.
As for Patriarch Youquan—
After leaving the underground cavern, he sped another five hundred thousand li westward and arrived above a Lake.
The Lake spanned some tens of thousands of li, yet ghostly qi hung thickly over it, and its waters had all been dyed a murky gray-black.
Patriarch Youquan hovered above an island in the Lake and called out loudly.
"Brother Wang E, this little brother has come to pay an unannounced visit. I hope you will grant me an audience."
More than ten breaths later, a figure flew out from the island.
The man was a handsome young man, but not a trace of color could be seen on his face. He was frighteningly pale.
"Youquan, it has been many years since you last came to my Island of Forgetfulness. Since you have come today, I shall naturally entertain you properly. Come! Quickly, enter the island."
The handsome man named Wang E paid no heed to Patriarch Youquan's reaction and led him down into a cave dwelling on the island.
What happened next in the cave dwelling was essentially identical to everything that had happened in Xuanming's cavern.
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