A month later, in an exquisite, elegant pavilion at the Tuoba headquarters.
Disguised as a tall, thin old man, Xiao Yu passed through layer upon layer of restrictions and entered a spacious hall under a maid's guidance.
The maid who led Xiao Yu inside was a fair-skinned, beautiful female cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Once they reached the hall, she dipped into a slight curtsy and said softly:
"Senior Huyan, please wait here a moment. I will inform Her Holiness at once."
"Thank you for the trouble!" Xiao Yu stroked his few sparse whiskers.
After the maid left, Xiao Yu examined the furnishings with interest. Silver and white dominated the decor, and every ornament and furnishing radiated nobility and elegance.
Before long, a stunning woman in silver robes appeared soundlessly at the hall's entrance. She was none other than the Heavenly Tempest Saintess, Lin Yinping.
Xiao Yu, who had been studying the room, immediately acted in accordance with his assumed identity. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Lin Yinping:
"Greetings, Your Holiness!"
"Dispense with the formalities, Martial Nephew Huyan. What important matter brought you to me in such haste?" Lin Yinping nodded and spoke in a cool voice.
"Your Holiness, I happened upon traces of a large number of Gold-Eating Insects," Xiao Yu said directly, without beating around the bush.
"Gold-Eating Insects! What happened? Tell me in detail." Lin Yinping's formerly placid expression froze, and her voice rose an octave.
"Yes! Yesterday, while returning from an errand, I saw someone near Thousand-Leaf Ridge raising golden beetles the size of walnuts. There were several thousand of them," Xiao Yu recalled respectfully.
"Are you certain they were Gold-Eating Insects, rather than some other spirit insect?" Lin Yinping interrupted, her eyes fixed intently on Xiao Yu.
"Absolutely certain! I was