"Miss Xiao You, Miss Chao Ci, I was in seclusion these past days and could not reply to your messages in time. Please forgive me."
"I have been in seclusion recently, and I only emerged this time because my cultivation reached a bottleneck, leaving me no choice but to seek an opportunity to break through."
"Also, thank you both for your invitations. If I have the chance, I will certainly visit Taisu Valley and Jade Balance Mountain."
"However, I have something very important to do in the coming days, so I likely won't be able to accept."
"As for the next battle with Xiao Huang, Xiao You, you and Chao Ci should both know very well that I truly need the Ziyang Pill. Being able to obtain it this way would actually be an immense stroke of luck for me."
"So there is no need to worry about the risks on my behalf."
"If either of you needs to reach me in the future, you can send a message to this Jade Slip. Once I have dealt with the matters at hand, I will reply regularly."
"Lastly, I wish you both flourishing martial fortune and success in all things."
Half a day later.
Inside an inn in the Ruin Market, Xiahou You and Qu Chao Ci quietly listened to Xu Taiping's message, then finally exchanged a somewhat helpless glance.
Qu Chao Ci sighed and said:
"It seems Daoist Taiping prefers to cultivate alone."
Xiahou You shook her head.
"He probably has something more important to deal with."
Standing by the window, Yan Xuanling spoke with a complicated expression:
"The Star Soul Body-Tempering Method the Great Sage taught him has probably entered its second stage. He needs to go into seclusion to grow accustomed to heavier star soul power."
Xiahou You