Another eight hours later, Luo Qingxu and Ancestor Qingyan finally reached the summit of Hongmeng Mountain.
Like Yu Hongyan and her mother Cui Ranqing before them, the grandfather and granddaughter were exhausted and panting. Had Ancestor Qingyan not been a cultivator with an extremely high cultivation and tremendous physical strength, an elder of his generation would probably have given out halfway up.
Of course, how Ancestor Qingyan fared was not what concerned Lin Yu most. Right now, he wished he could devote his entire body and mind to Luo Qingxu.
Luo Qingxu's cultivation was weak, and she could not help collapsing to the ground as soon as she finished the climb. With her heavy breathing, her black gauze dress accentuated her exquisite curves all the more.
"Setting obstacles in front of Hongmeng Mountain really was a good idea!" Lin Yu grew increasingly certain of his idea.
Although Lin Yu had originally set up the obstacles before the mountain merely to increase the various cultivators' respect for Hongmeng Mountain, after visits from two groups, he felt more and more that it was a good idea!
As he thought this, Lin Yu did not stop moving his hands. With a wave, he restored Ancestor Qingyan and Luo Qingxu's spiritual power.
Looking ahead, they saw only Lin Yu within the mountain gate, so his identity naturally needed no further explanation.
Seeing Lin Yu's youthful appearance, Ancestor Qingyan was secretly startled. He had not expected the master of the Primordial Hall to be so young!
Although practicing Daoist arts generally made it impossible to judge cultivators' ages, the longer they cultivated and the longer they spent breaking through barriers, the older they would look.
Grandmaster Qingyan, for instance, appeared as a white-haired old man.
Ancestor Qingyan had originally assumed that the master of the Primordial Hall would look much like himself. Seeing how young Lin Yu was left him even more shaken.
This could only mean that Lin Yu had already been a cultivation genius before!
He had attained Sainthood at an extremely young age, then retained the appearance he had possessed at the time!
In the space of just a few steps, Ancestor Qingyan's thoughts had already taken a hundred and eighty turns.
"Luo Qingyan and Luo Qingxu of Qingyan Mountain Manor pay their respects to the Hall Master!" Ancestor Qingyan bowed respectfully to Lin Yu.
In the world of cultivators, seniority did not determine who stood above whom. Only strength could do that.
As soon as his strength had returned, Ancestor Qingyan had tried to probe Lin Yu's strength, but unfortunately, he had discerned nothing.
So young, yet his strength is already so unfathomable. Truly terrifying, Ancestor Qingyan mused inwardly.
With just one glance, Lin Yu had already seen through Ancestor Qingyan's purpose in coming.
He smiled and nodded. "Luo Qingyan, ancestor of Qingyan Mountain Manor, at the peak of the Radiant Body Realm!"
"I already know why you came. Granting your request is no problem, but just like the Night Moon Palace before you, you must agree to one condition."
Lin Yu went straight to the point, with no intention of beating around the bush with Ancestor Qingyan.
Ancestor Qingyan could no longer concern himself with how easily his thoughts had been seen through. After all, someone with Lin Yu's strength could divine everything in the world. His little thoughts might amount to nothing at all!
Hearing Lin Yu say this, Ancestor Qingyan forgot everything else, and delight could not help spreading across his face.
He had indeed placed his bet correctly!
Cui Ranqing of the Night Moon Palace really had obtained her opportunity to attain Sainthood through the Primordial Hall!
"May I ask what condition you have, Hall Master?" Ancestor Qingyan asked somewhat apprehensively.
He had originally thought the Night Moon Palace had exchanged Yu Hongyan for the opportunity, which was why he had specifically brought Luo Qingxu along this time. But now, looking at Lin Yu lounging alone in a recliner, he saw no trace of anyone else.
Could he have guessed wrong?
"Heh, rest assured, it's very easy. You saw that wasteland in front of Hongmeng Mountain, didn't you? I intend to build the greatest city in the Eastern Wasteland before the Primordial Hall!"
"My condition is that the Night Moon Palace and Qingyan Mountain Manor jointly supply the materials for constructing the city. The materials must be at the Spirit Condensation Realm or above."
Lin Yu spoke calmly.
When Cui Ranqing had come before, Lin Yu's condition had been for her to lead the people of the Night Moon Palace in building the city directly, but he had now changed his mind.
If he really followed ordinary cultivators' pace of construction, who knew how long he would have to wait?
As it happened, following the incident with the Supreme Sword Sect, the Primordial Hall's reputation points had increased considerably again. Lin Yu's access privileges had risen, expanding the area he could control. And now, Lin Yu intended to construct the city himself!
Yet when Ancestor Qingyan and Luo Qingxu heard Lin Yu's request, surprise appeared on both their faces. For a moment, they exchanged glances, unable to speak.
Seeing the grandfather and granddaughter staring at each other, Lin Yu frowned slightly and asked, "What, are you unwilling?"
"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare! Of course we're willing!" Ancestor Qingyan hastily nodded like he was pounding garlic.
Only then did Lin Yu nod in satisfaction, already beginning to plan the city's construction in his mind.
Pleased with his thoughts, he decided to have some tea. Just as Lin Yu reached out, a teacup at precisely the right temperature was passed to him.
Lin Yu followed the teacup with his gaze and saw a pair of slender, jade-like hands, then Luo Qingxu's smiling face.
"Hall Master, please have some tea," Luo Qingxu said sweetly.
Lin Yu accepted the cup naturally and drank without a word. Although he did not look at the grandfather and granddaughter, he already understood what Ancestor Qingyan was planning.
"Hall Master, I am Luo Qingxu, a fifty-eighth-generation disciple of Qingyan Mountain Manor." Before Lin Yu could speak, Luo Qingxu introduced herself with a beaming smile.
"Mm." Lin Yu nodded. The Primordial Hall could, of course, divine all this basic information.
"I accompanied the ancestor to the Primordial Hall this time, and the moment I saw you, Hall Master, I was won over. Might I be so bold as to ask you a question?" Luo Qingxu continued.
"Ask away." Lin Yu looked at Luo Qingxu. This young woman really was direct.
"I would like to ask whether you still need a maidservant at your side, Hall Master?"
Beside her, Ancestor Qingyan silently gave his granddisciple a thumbs-up in his heart. Luo Qingxu was indeed as clever as Luo Feizhou had said. If they could truly use this to establish a connection with the Primordial Hall, there would surely be endless benefits in the future.
"I do have a maidservant, but she's undergoing special training right now. I wonder whether she's learned her lesson yet." Thinking of Yu Hongyan, Lin Yu furrowed his brows.
He had been busy considering matters concerning the city these past few days, so naturally, he had no spare time to concern himself with Yu Hongyan's situation.
"Hall Master, might that maidservant... be Yu Hongyan?" Luo Qingxu asked cautiously.
Before coming to the Primordial Hall, Ancestor Qingyan had already spoken to her obliquely about the Night Moon Palace, which was why Luo Qingxu had guessed Yu Hongyan.
"That's right." Lin Yu nodded readily.