Deployment

Just then, footsteps sounded in the distance. Li Siyi appeared first before everyone, followed by Liu Yunhe, Han Ziyi, Zhu Xuejie, while Zhang Ziyan lagged behind, chatting and laughing with Yang Xiu's three protectors.

Upon seeing Su Yao, Zilin, and Yang Xiu's solemn expressions, the eight people immediately lost their relaxed demeanor and bowed respectfully.

Su Yao withdrew his gaze from the direction of Qixia Mountain, turned around, and raised his hand:

"No need for formalities. I've summoned you here because there are a few things I need to discuss."

The eight people responded in unison and lined up on both sides. The dim Bright Yang outside the hall streamed down from the sky.

Su Yao's gaze swept over the crowd below the steps, and then he said:

"Enter the main hall first; the three of us have something to say."

Liu Yunhe and the other eight immediately responded and followed Su Yao and the other two into the Embracing Rosy Clouds Hall.

Inside the hall, Su Yao took his seat in the main seat, placing the Jade Slip and jade bottle presented by Li Siyi on the table. He looked around at everyone and slowly said, "The cultivation Cultivation Method for Yang Zhao, Li Xu, Lin Shuang, Xu Qingluo have arrived. Yunhe, I entrust you with the safekeeping of this ' Vermilion Flame Condensed Truth Canon ' and four ' Crimson Brightness Bone-Swapping Pill.' You are in charge of arranging their cultivation transitions." He pushed the Jade Slip and jade bottle towards Li Siyi, adding, "Cultivation transitions are no small matter. You must prepare a quiet room for each of them. After they take the pills, protect them for seven days until the medicinal effects are fully absorbed before they can practice on their own. Their foundations are still shallow; if anything unusual happens during this time, report it immediately."

Liu Yunhe and took it, solemnly replying:

"Your subordinate obeys. I will personally protect the pill after it is ingested; there will be no mishap."

Su Yao nodded, then looked at Zhu Xuejie and Han Ziyi: "The envoy will return within ten days. During your shifts, you two need to pay extra attention to the movements around Golden Ao Mountain."

Han Ziyi his hands in acknowledgment and replied, "Your subordinate understands." Zhu Xuejie also nodded in agreement.

Finally, Su Yao looked at Li Siyi and Zhang Ziyan: "Siyi, you and Ziyan go to White Sand Mountain tomorrow to re-inventory the spiritual items and cinnabar in the storeroom and make a list. Although the envoy has already gone to fetch the pills needed for this seclusion, daily expenses still need to be allocated from White Sand Mountain. After the inventory is complete, give the list to Ziyan for filing. Even if it damages the Baisha ley lines and mineral resources, try to transfer as many resources as possible to Golden Ao, so that you won't have to leave the mountain in the future."

After the two men received their orders, Su Yao shifted his gaze from Zhang Ziyan and Li Siyi Yang Xiu the three guardians behind him who had remained silent, and said with a smile:

"Sanlang, I need to trouble you and your protectors to do me a favor."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu waved his hand casually and said:

"Fellow Daoist, please make the arrangements."

Upon hearing this, Su Yao nodded and looked at the leader of the three, a tall, thin middle-aged man named Lu Daoyuan, who cultivated the Cold Qi Dao.

"I need to trouble Fellow Daoist Lu to make a trip to Cibi Lake and pay his respects to the lake god."

His tone softened:

"Tell him that I stipulated back then that the Lu Household could not produce any spiritual cultivators for twenty years. Now that half of those twenty years have passed, let's wait until we've cultivated our Divine Ability powers and achieved the Purple Mansion realm before discussing the matter of the Lake God opening the secret realm, and then we can each get what we need. If he doesn't agree..."

Su Yao paused for a moment, then said loudly:

"Then we'll await my decree from the Qixia to reach the Dragon Palace of the South Sea."

Upon hearing this, Lu Daoyuan cupped his hands and said:

"It will not cause any problems."

Su Yao nodded, then looked at the other two:

"I would like to trouble you two fellow Daoists to accompany Xuejie and Ziyi to inspect the outside world."

Jing Xuanpu cultivated the Xun Wind Dao, and was taciturn by nature, only offering a fist salute; Gong Shouzhuo cultivated the Mystic Thunder, and was a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, who grinned and said:

"Don't worry, Su Daozi, not even a fly could get close to Golden Ao Mountain."

Yang Xiu laughed and scolded upon hearing this:

"You talk too much."

Seeing Gong Shouzhuo awkwardly shut his mouth, while Lu Daoyuan and Jing Xuanpu had slight smiles on their faces.

Su Yao smiled upon seeing this, and then said:

"Then I'll have to trouble you, fellow Daoist."

At this moment, Zilin interjected, laughing:

"Fellow Daoist, it would be best to send someone to inform Fellow Daoists Xuan Yan, Mo Li, Ying Qi."

She paused:

"After all, if you and I go into seclusion and the three fellow Daoists come looking for us, and all three of us—you, me, and Fellow Daoist Yang—are already in seclusion, wouldn't we have made a wasted trip?"

Upon hearing this, Su Yao pondered for a moment, then looked at Han Ziyi and Zhu Xuejie:

"When you two, along with fellow Daoists Jing and Gong, go to inspect the outside world, please split into three groups and send out a message."

Upon hearing this, the four men accepted the order.

Having made the arrangements, Su Yao surveyed everyone, his tone slightly somber. "The envoy shall return within ten days. Once the spiritual treasures and elixirs arrive, I will enter seclusion with Fellow Zilin and Fellow Daoist Yang to seek the Purple Mansion Realm. This seclusion will last at least several years, and possibly more than ten years. During this period, Yunhe will oversee all matters within the mountain, Ziyi Yunhe Xuejie will take turns guarding the array, Siyi and Ziyan will manage both internal and external affairs, and Fellow Daoists Lu, Jing, and Gong will assist in guarding the mountain. All visitors from outside should be politely refused; if enemies attack, the Soul-Losing Radiant Fire Formation will be the first line of defense. When I am not present, Fellow Zilin and Fellow Daoist Yang will also be in seclusion. If you encounter any unresolved matters, simply seal the mountain gate."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became heavy.

Liu Yunhe bowed first, his voice a few decibels deeper than usual. "Daozi, rest assured in your seclusion. We will guard the mountain; there will be no loss." The others responded in unison, even the usually jovial Gong Shouzhuo and solemnly clasped his hands in greeting.

Su Yao looked at the crowd below the steps, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly smiled:

"No need to be so tense. Ten years of pear blossoms in the snow, many spring breezes have passed. Since I've chosen Golden Ao Mountain as the venue, I trust you all." He waved his hand. "Go and prepare."

After everyone bowed and took their leave, Lu Daoyuan Liu Yunhe his two companions departed together. Liu Yunhe carried the Jade Slip and jade bottle and quickly left the hall. Han Ziyi and Zhu Xuejie walked side by side, discussing the matters of patrolling the mountain in hushed tones. Li Siyi and Zhang Ziyan walked and talked about the details of going to White Sand Mountain to check the warehouse the next day.

After the eight people disappeared, Yang Xiu said:

"The Divine Realm of Lake God of Cibi Lake...?"

Su Yao nodded upon hearing this, his face calm. He stood up, put his hands behind his back, looked out of the hall, and said in a low voice:

"When I first arrived here, the White Sand Lu Household crossed the border and injured people. I went to them to demand justice, and in a fit of rage, I wiped out all the cultivators in the Lu Household. At that time, the prime minister of the Lake God of Cibi Lake tried to stop me, but I killed him with a single sword stroke. Later, the Lake God emerged from seclusion and sent someone to visit me. He only replied through the gate of the Water Palace with one sentence—that I should spare a few members of the Lu Household to cultivate the Way of the Witchcraft Dao and open a secret realm for him. He didn't mention any other grudges, and he didn't even pursue the death of that turtle prime minister."

He paused:

"When I destroyed the Lu Household, I stipulated that no cultivators would be allowed to emerge from the Lu Household for twenty years. Back then, there weren't so many issues, and I didn't care about some of the secret realms. But now the situation has changed, and we should take what we can. Besides, for the past ten years, he has remained secluded, and I haven't come down the mountain to disturb him. In addition, we have often been in seclusion, so we haven't had time to discuss this matter with you two. But now that you and I are seeking the Purple Mansion, and this world is not short, things that need to be agreed upon should be discussed in advance."