After enduring for several breaths, Wei Mingyi ultimately couldn’t hold back and reached out to grab the swaying whisk tassels.
With one hand resting on her knee, she tilted her head slightly upward, gazing intently at Wu Chongyun.
“What are you doing?” Wu Chongyun felt uncomfortable under her stare and wanted to pull the whisk back, but sensing a pulling force, she simply released her hand, letting the whisk be controlled by Wei Mingyi.
“Looking at Shizun.” Wei Mingyi flashed a radiant smile. She imitated the way Wu Chongyun held the whisk, flicking it to drape it over the crook of her arm. But her perked-up body quickly relaxed again. After playing with the whisk for a while, she leaned forward, bracing her hands on the meditation cushion on either side of Wu Chongyun. But this posture made her a head shorter than her master, forcing her to look up.
“What was Shizun like before? If Shizun gets better, will she say more words to me?” Wei Mingyi asked. She couldn’t resist exploring Wu Chongyun’s past, wanting to walk into her heart, which seemed so frozen.
Wu Chongyun frowned slightly. At the mention of ‘before,’ her expression grew somewhat dazed. She remembered clearly what temperament her old acquaintances had, but her own past self—she couldn’t recall clearly. Had she possessed the dazzling charm of a spirited youth? The unrestrained wildness of young recklessness? After a long while, she finally looked at Wei Mingyi and said, “Then go find someone who talks a lot.”
Wei Mingyi: “…” This answer was also within her expectations. She leaned further toward Wu Chongyun, almost burying her head in her embrace. She said, “Other people aren’t the same as Shizun. Even if Shizun truly never spoke a single word, I would still follow Shizun forever.”
Wu Chongyun gave a soft snort, not believing much of it. She lowered her head slightly, realizing their proximity had grown very close, and reached out to steady Wei Mingyi. Wei Mingyi narrowed her eyes, simply spreading her arms wide and wrapping them around Wu Chongyun’s waist, nestling against her. Wu Chongyun blinked. Her fingertip poked Wei Mingyi’s arm, but she didn’t push her away. Instead, she asked, “Did Lang Fengya tell you?”
“Mm-hmm,” Wei Mingyi hummed softly, knowing Wu Chongyun was asking about the Divine Sand. With her eyes half-closed, she added, “The Heavenly Dao’s Paragon Debate is in March next year. I have to reach Foundation Establishment before then.” Self-reliance was best, but if it truly came down to it, she could only resort to adding points. The Talent Points she possessed now were sufficient.
But first, she had to wrap up the land sale.
Then she could wholeheartedly enter secluded cultivation.
Fortunately, the Heavenly Dao Alliance didn’t drag things out either. A few days later, He Yaoluo arrived at Yangchun Terrace with the Heaven-rank Frost-Dispelling Flower.
He Yaoluo didn’t want to reveal the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s involvement, and specifically concocted a new story for Wei Mingyi explaining the flower’s origin. But Wei Mingyi simply smiled at her.
Make up whatever story you like; she’d already concluded the Heavenly Dao Alliance was behind this.
As long as the goods were in hand, the rest didn’t matter much.
While He Yaoluo was speaking, Wei Mingyi spent a thousand Achievement Points to unlock the land plot. Soon, a place called “Imaginary Village” appeared on her panel. It was rather far from both Yangchun Terrace and Fire Element Dwelling, like an isolated island. Wei Mingyi glanced at the description. This was also a place the Tai Yi Daoist had once visited, but unfortunately hadn’t been able to claim. The spirit vein was still Yellow-Tier. The random special effect assigned to Imaginary Village was “Ice.”
“Fellow Daoist, could you first lead me to see it?” He Yaoluo asked again.
Wei Mingyi blinked. She certainly didn’t want to leave Yangchun Terrace; what if she ran into danger? “Does Fellow Daoist He not trust me? Could it be that anyone would dare deceive an aristocratic family?” Wei Mingyi showed her refusal, adding, “I can swear a Heavenly Dao Oath.”
But He Yaoluo was unwilling to yield on this point. She said seriously, “The Heavenly Dao Oath is not all-powerful. Land in the Wild Domain is rare, and a Heaven-rank Frost-Dispelling Flower is also one of the world’s rarities. Seeing the land once before the transaction is good for both sides.”
Wei Mingyi frowned. After thinking for a moment, she finally took out a map scroll, pointed to the spot marked Imaginary Village, and said, “Then in three days, come to this location.”
He Yaoluo swept her gaze over the map, suspicion rising in her heart. On the He family’s side, she was the one who frequented the Wild Domain and was thus most familiar with the territories cultivators could traverse. This place Fellow Daoist Wuwang indicated—she’d been there before. There was nothing but forest, trees, and scattered stones. Still, having reached this step, it wasn’t good to question further. In three days, the truth would be known.
“What a hassle,” Wei Mingyi muttered a few times after He Yaoluo left. Luckily, she could teleport via the Teleportation Array. But this array—after the deal was done, she’d still have to shut it down. As she pondered, Wei Mingyi remembered another matter and abruptly slapped her forehead. There would be Wicked Wraiths inside Imaginary Village to deal with! Were they supposed to sweep it completely clean of wraiths within three days?
Very quickly, Wei Mingyi gave up.
Clearing the Wicked Wraiths—that would require an additional fee.
Three days later, Wei Mingyi arrived at Imaginary Village through the Teleportation Array.
Fearing any unforeseen trouble, she had specifically brought along Xie Xianqing, who was cultivating back at the sect.
This was a genuine Nascent Soul cultivator, effective against both Wicked Wraiths and other Nascent Soul beings.
Xie Xianqing was entering the Wild Domain for the first time. Her understanding of the Domain wasn’t deep, but she knew the basics. The Chongyuan Sect harbored a passage to the Wild Domain, and possessed several outposts within it—each of these utterly unbelievable facts stirred a storm in her heart. Unfortunately, Wei Mingyi had no time to explain to her.
“Fellow Daoist, only you may enter. Oh, and be careful of the Wicked Wraiths inside,” Wei Mingyi transmitted to He Yaoluo.
He Yaoluo: “?” She understood the first half, but the word “Wicked Wraiths” made her eyelids twitch.
What they wanted was a wraith-free land like Yangchun Terrace, wasn’t it? If there were Wicked Wraiths inside, was this really what they needed?
In the end, He Yaoluo still entered Imaginary Village. The Daoists from the He Clan and the Heavenly Dao Alliance had no intention of following Wei Mingyi’s terms; they planned to enter alongside He Yaoluo. But at that invisible “boundary,” they were suddenly blocked by an intangible force. Although they had been able to pass through these parts just fine in the past.
He Yaoluo didn’t try to dissuade her companions; in truth, she also meant to test the waters. The moment she stepped into Imaginary Village, she immediately sensed its benefits. Outside, if one wanted to resist the encroachment of primal chaos, they had to either constantly protect themselves with magical power, or take pills. Inside, though the Breath of Chaos was still present, it was not violent, and she also perceived the existence of spiritual energy. He Yaoluo tried to circulate her cultivation method. After a few breaths, her expression grew even more solemn.
There was a spirit vein below! Although it was only Yellow-Tier, this was still an epoch-making feat! As long as a spirit vein existed, the realm entangled by the Breath of Chaos would sooner or later transform into a pure land suitable for cultivators to train.
She didn’t rush further inside, but first signaled the Daoists outside. The He Clan Daoists understood. Immediately, they released a group of previously captured Golden Core Wicked Wraiths, using drugs to drive them to attack that invisible barrier. A moment later, the result was clear. What people couldn’t do, the Wicked Wraiths couldn’t do either. They too were isolated outside by the power of the forbidden array!
Seeing this, He Yaoluo’s suspended heart finally eased somewhat. She looked no more at those outside, instead stepping further into Imaginary Village. Along the way, she encountered several Golden Core Wicked Wraiths, but having been forewarned by Wei Mingyi, she didn’t suffer any setbacks. After easily resolving the Wicked Wraiths, He Yaoluo’s heart surged with more questions. The Wicked Wraiths inside seemed somewhat different from those outside.
Her mind filled with doubts, she didn’t dare delay further and rapidly sped toward the meeting place arranged by the other side. But the moment her feet touched down, an eerie, hair-raising sensation washed over her, as if some sinister presence had locked onto her. He Yaoluo’s heart pounded, barely daring to breathe deeply. Only several breaths later did she compose herself and look toward the smiling, carefree Fellow Daoist Wuwang, and beside her, the Nascent Soul Daoist coiled with a green snake!
“Is Fellow Daoist He satisfied now?” Wei Mingyi smiled. The Mountain Protection Array had repelled a few unwelcome guests, probably people from the He Clan or the Heavenly Dao Alliance.
He Yaoluo nodded, then quickly asked, “Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of these Wicked Wraiths within the array?”
Wei Mingyi swept her a glance and replied matter-of-factly, “Don’t Daoists who come to the Wild Domain wish to train by slaying Wicked Wraiths? Fellow Daoist, you’ve just fought them and clearly noticed they are suppressed by the forbidden array, their strength considerably weakened. Thus, this place is suitable for cultivators who don’t want to fall into extreme danger to practice.” She looked at the thoughtful, frowning He Yaoluo and added, “Of course, if Fellow Daoist doesn’t want them, that’s fine too. We can clear out the wraiths. However, that will be at an additional cost.”
He Yaoluo’s eyelid twitched, fearful the other might demand a second Heaven-Tier spiritual herb. There were Wicked Wraiths roaming inside, but not many; the He Clan could handle them on their own. After thinking a moment, she asked another question: “Why isn’t there a ‘Thousand Autumns Enterprise’ outside?” Ordinary vending machines that automatically sold pills could indeed be crafted by some in the Heavenly Dao Alliance, but they required a Daoist to garrison and maintain them—after all, the Wild Domain was full of dangers. The reason for using such tools was to save time and effort; if they still needed to assign a Daoist, it defeated the purpose. But the “Thousand Autumns Enterprise” at Yangchun Terrace was different—it was flawless.
Wei Mingyi: “?” There wasn’t a Thousand Autumns Enterprise at the Fire Element Dwelling either! She said, “Fellow Daoist He, we are only conducting a land transaction. With the Heavenly Dao Alliance present, that Thousand Autumns Enterprise is of no use to all of you, is it?”
He Yaoluo masked her thoughts and gave a faint laugh: “I was presumptuous.”
Wei Mingyi snorted softly, unwilling to waste more words with He Yaoluo. She asked, “The Frost-Dispelling Flower? Did you bring it, Fellow Daoist?”
He Yaoluo was equally straightforward. Within her clan, there were many dissenting voices, some suggesting using an ordinary Frost-Dispelling Flower as a substitute, or simply reneging on the deal… He Yaoluo found those people utterly absurd. A mysterious sect that could establish a foothold in the Wild Domain and hadn’t yet been uncovered by the Heavenly Dao Alliance—could it possibly be deceived by such tricks? Even if they achieved their goal momentarily, what kind of price would they have to pay later?
In any case, a spirit vein in the Wild Domain, along with a robust Mountain Protection Array, was worth far more than a single Heaven-Tier spiritual herb.
Wei Mingyi didn’t recognize Heaven-rank Frost-Dispelling Flowers, but luckily, the Assistant Master knew how to authenticate them. While He Yaoluo took out the item, Wei Mingyi lit a stick of Spirit Incense. If it were a genuine treasure, the incense would induce a special fragrance.
” No need to test it. It’s real,” Xie Xianqing said. Scratching her green snake’s scales, she took a single glance and threw out the remark. Her role was purely to “hold the fort”; during Wei Mingyi’s exchange with He Yaoluo, she hadn’t uttered a word. Only upon seeing the Frost-Dispelling Flower did a ripple stir in her eyes.
Wei Mingyi nodded.
She looked at He Yaoluo and swore a Heavenly Dao Oath with her.
This was the most powerful oath under heaven, relying on the ubiquitous force of natural law. Even if someone could evade or break free, the price to pay would be excruciating.
With the Frost-Dispelling Flower in hand, the authority over Imaginary Village was transferred to He Yaoluo.
On the map, Imaginary Village became faint, just like the Fire Element Dwelling. As long as the transaction held, He Yaoluo would control that place.
Wei Mingyi gave a slight nod toward He Yaoluo, activated the Teleportation Array, and vanished together with Xie Xianqing.
The two disappeared extremely fast, leaving not a single trace behind. He Yaoluo’s heart felt as if an earthquake was roiling within her. She paced several circles on the spot before finally snapping out of her daze.
Imaginary Village—the Mountain Protection Array was now under her control.
He Yaoluo lowered her eyes, staring at her own hand.
Under the sunlight, her five fingers closed into a loose, gentle grip, as though she were holding onto something.
–
