Renting a Blessed Land

"I... don't know if he's a man or a woman." Song Wen paused noticeably.

"How could you not even know his gender?" Bai Jinge asked in surprise.

"He always wore a cloak, his voice was hoarse, and he never showed his face to me," Song Wen said.

"Such a secretive person must have something to hide. It's best to avoid contact with him. This time, I've repaid his kindness by providing him with information about the Fengdu Poison Sea, so I shouldn't associate with him anymore." Bai Jinge's tone had a rather domineering, housekeeper-like quality.

"Okay, whatever you say." Song Wen said indulgently.

Bai Jinge immediately beamed with joy and squeezed even closer into Song Wen.

"Jinge, you've been out for several days Jinge, and I'm afraid your sect is already looking for you. Why don't you return to your sect first, and while you're at it, inquire about the Fengdu Poison Sea and the matters concerning the Blessed Land?" Song Wen said.

"It's a trivial matter, no need to make a special trip! The intelligence and records of the Purple Star Immortal Sect are all under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Secrets Hall. I'll send a message to the Heavenly Secrets Hall, and he will have someone investigate all the information about the Fengdu Poison Sea and then send a message to me. As for the blessed land, it falls under the jurisdiction of the External Affairs Hall. The External Affairs Hall has a branch outside the city that specializes in handling leasing matters, so we can just go there directly."

After Bai Jinge finished speaking, he flipped his hand and took out a Message Jade Slip, sent a message, and then put it away.

"Alright. Just wait a little while, the head of the Heavenly Secrets Hall will surely reply. Am I amazing?"

Upon hearing Song Wen's heart stirred slightly.

Although he didn't know the head of the Heavenly Secrets Hall, he figured he must be a powerful Profound Immortal Yuxiao; yet Bai Jinge could order him around at will. This showed that, just as rumored, Bai Jinge's father doted on her, his only blood relative, which gave her enough confidence.

"Great!" Song Wen ruffled Bai Jinge's hair and said, "Let's not stay cooped up in this tea room, let's go to the External Affairs Hall to take care of some serious business."

"No," Bai Jinge said coquettishly, "I just want to be alone with you."

"Listen to me," Song Wen said. "We have a long future ahead of us; there's no need to rush."

"All right."

The two got up, dressed neatly, paid their bill, and left 'Xianfu Teahouse', heading south.

After leaving the city and traveling for several dozen miles, the two stopped above a high mountain.

At the top of the mountain stands a stone tablet inscribed with the three large characters "External Affairs Hall".

Bai Jinge pulled Song Wen along and they landed on a square halfway up the mountain.

In front of the square, several majestic pavilions stand in neat rows, attracting many people coming and going.

The two entered the first pavilion. The hall was divided into several small cubicles separated by transparent jade. Inside, cultivators could be seen asking servants about relevant matters, but their conversation could not be heard.

Bai Jinge looked around and saw that there were no empty cubicles and that there were still cultivators waiting in the hall. He then called out loudly.

"Someone come here."

As soon as she finished speaking, a Body Integration Realm maid walked over with a cold expression.

"Silence! No noise is allowed in the External Affairs Hall. If you need to conduct business, please queue up. Anyone who intentionally disrupts the order will be expelled, or imprisoned in the External Affairs Hall jail."

Bai Jinge frowned, flipped his hand, took out a Jade Slip, and threw it out.

"Get your manager out here to see me!"

The maid instinctively took the token, and saw:

The token has inscriptions on both sides; one side reads the characters 'Ziwei' and the other side reads the character 'Bai'.

The maid's face turned pale instantly, and her legs trembled.

"May I ask... are you Miss Bai, senior?"

"You don't need to know who I am. Just go and call the manager quickly," Bai Jinge said.

"Yes!"

The maid dared not ask any more questions, took the token, and slipped through a small door on the left side of the hall, disappearing without a trace.

About ten breaths later, the maid followed behind a middle-aged man and hurriedly arrived in front of Bai Jinge.

The middle-aged man, a cultivator at the Early Lingxu Dao Immortal Stage, respectfully presented the token to Bai Jinge with both hands.

"Miss Bai, please forgive us. Our servants have never seen your beauty before and have offended you. Please forgive them."

Bai Jinge took the token and, in a flash, slipped it away somewhere.

"Are you in charge of this branch?"

"I am Pan Ming, the manager here. May I ask what brings you here, Miss?" the middle-aged man said.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go to your study," Bai Jinge said.

"Yes, Miss, please follow me."

As he spoke, Pan Ming turned and walked toward the small door on the left.

"Extreme Yin, let's go."

Bai Jinge's attitude towards Song Wen beside her was infinitely gentler than her attitude towards Pan Ming.

Behind the small door is a long, narrow corridor with rooms on both sides.

Led by Pan Ming, the three entered a room deep in the corridor.

The room was clearly used for official business; besides a desk, there were only a few wooden chairs and a low table.

"Please, gentlemen, have a seat," Pan Ming said obsequiously, bowing.

Bai Jinge made no attempt to be polite, casually choosing a chair and sitting down, not forgetting to invite Song Wen to sit next to her.

Pan Ming then took out the copper kettle and teacups, preparing to pour tea and water.

"No need," Bai Jinge called out to Pan Ming. "We've come today to rent a Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land."

"Miss, what are the requirements for the blessed land?" Pan Ming stood aside like a servant, not daring to sit down.

Bai Jinge pointed at Song Wen.

"This blessed land was chosen for my... friend. He prefers to be alone and is Lingxu Dao Immortal. You can recommend a suitable one. But don't try to fob us off with some unwanted place."

"How dare I be so perfunctory, Miss?" Pan Ming chuckled awkwardly, then his gaze fell on Song Wen. "May I ask how you are addressed, fellow Daoist?"

"I am Extreme Yin, and I apologize for disturbing you. Fellow Daoist Pan, there is no need for such politeness. Please take a seat and we can discuss this further," Song Wen said.

Pan Ming's eyes flickered as he glanced at Bai Jinge.

If it were just 'Extreme Yin' coming alone, he certainly wouldn't be so polite, but with this young lady here, he dared not be presumptuous.

"You flatter me. Your presence is an honor, not a disturbance." After a few pleasantries, Pan Ming changed the subject, "Given your circumstances, the most suitable place is a 'Mysterious' Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land. Currently, the Immortal Sect has one hundred and thirty-two vacant cave abode blessed lands..."

Pan Ming was interrupted by Bai Jinge before he could finish speaking.

"Why only a 'Mysterious 'Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land? Even if you don't recommend a 'Heaven' blessed land, shouldn't it at least be an 'Earth' blessed land?"