Lin Yu and the black-robed high priest continued walking towards the main hall. Just as they were about to reach the main hall, the black-robed high priest suddenly felt the surrounding space tremble slightly.
"Buzz... buzz... buzz..."
As if they had passed through a mirror, when they came to their senses again, the scene before them had changed drastically.
The magnificent main hall had vanished, replaced by a demure and elegant little pavilion. In the center of the pavilion sat a wooden table, beside which sat an elderly man with white hair and beard.
Although the old man sat on the wooden chair with his eyes half-closed, he had an otherworldly air about him and an extraordinary demeanor. Just one glance was enough to tell that he was completely different from ordinary cultivators, possessing an air of otherworldly detachment.
Lin Yu and the black-robed high priest exchanged a glance, both understanding each other's meaning.
The white-haired old man before them was none other than the elusive Daoist Shouyang, the very person they had come to find.
The high priest in black robes stepped forward and politely bowed to the Daoist priest of Shouyang.
Regardless of the true attitude of this Daoist Shouyang, since the High Priest in black robes has come in the name of the ancient Phoenix Clan, he still needs to maintain a show of politeness.
"I am the High Priest of the ancient Phoenix Clan. I have come here today without warning. May I ask if you are Daoist Shouyang? I have come here unexpectedly today because I have something to ask of you. I wonder if you could give me some guidance?"
"If you can enlighten my clan, I will be eternally grateful. In the future, wherever there is anything I can do to help, I will brave mountains of knives and seas of fire!"
The high priest in black robes gradually became agitated as he spoke. As Lineage that had continued since ancient times, it would be a lie to say they didn't have a sense of nostalgia.
Back then, the ancient Phoenix Clan was one of the top clans in the fantasy world. However, they later suffered various misfortunes due to the fragments of the Heaven-Mending Fragment. Now, the Phoenix Lord has been unjustly sealed, which is truly an undeserved disaster.
For so many years, the ancient Phoenix Clan has remained confined to its small territory in the Phoenix Ancestral Sea, a stark contrast to its former glory.
While the black-robed high priest was speaking, Lin Yu simply stood quietly to the side, and apart from initially bowing respectfully, he made no further moves.
He came with the black-robed high priest this time to help the ancient phoenix clan clear some obstacles, and ideally, to help Feng Nianzhi remove the seal within her body. He was not the protagonist of this story, so naturally he wouldn't say much.
However, the so-called Shouyang Daoist was quite different from what the two people had imagined.
Based on everything that had happened before, Lin Yu had assumed the other person would be an eccentric and arrogant old man, but now he saw that the man had a peaceful expression and a kind face, making him feel as if he were bathed in a spring breeze.
However, Lin Yu did not lower his guard just because the aura around Daoist Shouyang was peaceful; he remained cautious.
Don't forget, he and the black-robed high priest are currently in the Netherworld Celestial Realm. What demons, monsters, or evil spirits don't exist here?
If the Daoist priest of Shouyang were truly a kind person, how could he possibly stay here for so long?
Ordinary cultivators who fall into the Netherworld Immortal Realm live a precarious existence, their lives hanging by a thread. They may be fine today, but they could lose their lives tomorrow.
Everything is uncertain in the Netherworld Immortal Realm. After all, this world is filled with endless slaughter. If Daoist Shouyang truly lives in seclusion, it is impossible for him to remain untainted in the Netherworld Immortal Realm.
So although Lin Yu didn't say anything, he held his breath and waited, not letting his guard down, just to prevent the Daoist Shouyang from making a sudden move.
The same was true for the high priest in black robes. Now that he was in unfamiliar territory, he was naturally unsure of himself. He was only being polite on the surface, but no one knew what he was really thinking.
"Something's not right." Lin Yu frowned, thinking to himself.
Ever since the high priest in black robes finished his reminiscing, the atmosphere in the cave of Daoist Shouyang changed, and Daoist Shouyang remained silent for a long time, causing the entire world to fall into a brief silence.
Such actions naturally puzzled the high priest in black robes. For a moment, he didn't know whether to advance or retreat. However, the method of sealing away the soul and locking the spirit was best found to be broken through by the Daoist priest of Shouyang, which put him in a dilemma.
Just when the atmosphere was about to reach freezing point, the Daoist priest of Shouyang finally made a move.
"Since you have come from afar, you are all guests. Please come up and have a cup of tea," said the Daoist priest of Shouyang slowly.
Upon hearing this, the black-robed high priest glanced at Lin Yu, and seeing him nod slightly, he stepped forward.
This trip to the Netherworld Immortal Realm would not have been so smooth if Lin Yu hadn't been there and had gone alone.
From the very beginning, the black-robed high priest knew how difficult this matter would be.
Although they quickly arrived at the Netherworld Immortal Realm from the Phoenix Ancestral Sea, the most difficult thing was yet to come. Without Lin Yu's guidance, they might not even have been able to find the residence of Daoist Shouyang.
Add to that the subsequent entanglement with the guards and the checkpoints after entering the mansion, and everything becomes anything but simple.
I originally thought things would go more smoothly after finding the Daoist priest Shouyang, but now it seems that's not the case at all.
Despite everything that had happened before, the high priest in black robes still couldn't figure out the temperament of Daoist Shouyang. He only felt that the other party's temperament was really strange, and now that he had seen Daoist Shouyang, that strange feeling had not dissipated.
"Young friend, please come up and have a drink with me," the Daoist priest said with a smile to Lin Yu, who had remained silent.
Lin Yu nodded upon hearing this and followed.
Lin Yu and the black-robed high priest entered the pavilion one after the other. Two wooden chairs appeared silently inside the pavilion, and the two sat down. Suddenly, two teacups appeared on the table in front of them.
With a gentle wave of his hand, the Daoist priest Shouyang caused the teapot beside him to fly into the air, float above the two cups, and pour tea. Once the cups were full, the teapot floated back and landed peacefully on the table.
The Daoist priest of Shouyang smiled slightly and politely pushed his teacup towards the two of them.
The rich aroma of tea filled the air, soothing and comforting, but the high priest in black robes felt extremely nervous and agitated.
In contrast, Lin Yu appeared much calmer.
That's exactly the case, since this trip concerns the life and death of the ancient Phoenix Clan, and Lin Yu, being an outsider, naturally wouldn't be so nervous.
Moreover, Lin Yu is incredibly strong. With such a powerful trump card, no matter what tricks Daoist Shouyang plays, Lin Yu won't care and will treat it as just a trip to the Netherworld Immortal Realm.