"Random Heart Pavilion? For Elder Xie and me?"

Yu Ci took the object in surprise. As soon as he held it, he suddenly realized what it was. Despite Bao De's presence, he probed it with his spiritual sense, scanning the information within. The message was simple:

"Substitute items are coming with the team. Please prepare, Elder Xie and Yu. On the fifth day of April, both wealth and goods will arrive."

Even though Yu Ci had anticipated this, he was still startled upon seeing the message. It would be incomprehensible to others, but Yu Ci understood. The message meant that there was finally a response to his agreement with Zhou Youde of the Random Heart Pavilion, and it was indeed good news:

On that day at the Sky Wing Tower, Zhou Youde had promised to find an item in the Random Heart Pavilion that could extend Yu Zhou's life. Now, it was coming with the Random Heart Pavilion's trade caravan from the west, and would be revealed to everyone at the night feast on the Sky Wing Tower on the fifth of April.

"Good!" Yu Ci clapped his hands and stood up abruptly, startling Bao De.

With a smile at Bao De, Yu Ci was in high spirits. He had only hoped for the best, but he didn't expect such good news to fall from the sky. Just as he was about to speak, a thought flashed through his mind like a bolt of lightning, freezing his smile.

"Junior Brother Yu?" Bao De found Yu Ci's behavior strange and called out to him.

Yu Ci stared at him: "Senior Brother Bao De, is Elder Xie not at the Sect's Mountain Gate now?"

"Uh, yes, the Sect ordered Elder Xie to go north."

"And Master Jie Xian?"

"They went together!"

Bao De found his promising junior brother's behavior inexplicable. This matter had been known for a couple of days, so why ask again?

Yu Ci didn't speak anymore. After a while, he walked out with his head down, in a hurry. He bumped his shoulder against the door frame, but didn't notice.

Bao De was dumbfounded.

**********

Yu Ci found himself a bit disoriented, his forehead throbbing.

"Why does it have to come at such a critical time?"

The Treasure Exchange Banquet was scheduled for the fifth day of April. It was already early March, leaving less than a month. The Fish-Dragon he had prepared for the exchange had already had its Qi of the Heavenly Dragon True Form taken by him, causing its value to plummet. If he used the "little guy" for the exchange, he feared he would be laughed at.

The urgent task was to find a treasure of the same value as the life-extension item. If Xie Yan and Elder Jie Liang were here, Yu Ci probably wouldn't have to worry. But now that the two were ordered by the Sect to go north and were already thousands of miles away, how was he supposed to find the treasure?

Yu Ci couldn't help regretting. At the Mountain Moving Cloud Boat Dock, because he was healing, he didn't catch the Fish-Dragon in time. Even though that was also a gamble, it was better than being at a loss now.

Having traversed the two courtyards, he felt slightly more composed. After some thought, he turned and headed towards the peak.

Originally, on Cinnabar Cliff, White Sun Mansion had gathered more than ten Spirit Vein Caves. Each location was equipped with courtyards and Secret Chambers for the mansion's inhabitants to cultivate. After the fall of White Sun Mansion, the Wan Ling Sect and others did not immediately take over. Instead, they made minor repairs and offered this spiritual vein treasure land to the Immortal Elders of the Lichen Sect for residence.

Among them, the "De Fang Residence" on the cliff top was considered one of the most precious places. The current resident was not the highest-ranking He Qing, but a distinguished guest from the Three Lakes region of the North.

Yu Ci was fortunate. He visited late at night and happened to arrive at the De Fang Residence when Gan Shi Zhen was in between her cultivation sessions, meeting her swiftly.

Entering the Vacuum Walking Realm seemed to have left no traces on the female cultivator, Gan Shi Zhen. She remained as delicately quiet as ever. Upon seeing Yu Ci enter, she merely smiled gently, exuding an endless tranquility and gentleness.

In contrast, Yu Ci was much more anxious. After exchanging a few words in the hall, he asked, "Master Gan, is that item of mine still here?"

He was referring to the fine gauze he had confiscated from Nan Songzi. Reminded by Yan Chu that day, he realized that this unusual Magical Instrument, originally possessed by the Yin Demon, seemed to have more secrets. Thus, he examined it in the Cloud Floating Carriage. However, Gan Shi Zhen woke up at that time and, noticing the evil energy flowing on the gauze, took it away for his sake, displaying an unusual elder's demeanor.

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Seeing his eagerness, Gan Shi Zhen was a bit puzzled but nodded nonetheless. She went to the back and brought out a carefully folded Red veil, softly saying:

"This is your fine gauze. I've examined it carefully, and it is indeed the legendary Five Yin Bewildering Spirit Barrier. Countless lives were harmed to refine this evil object. Even if it is a treasure, it should be destroyed. However, if we disregard the evil refining method used, the object itself is woven from the Sun-Eating Silkworm Silk of the Six Barbarian Mountain, which is extremely rare. Additionally..."

She paused slightly, then continued, "From the traces on the gauze, it seems that it was originally a refined Magical Instrument, created using the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Refining Method. It was later wiped and suppressed with an evil method. In other words, the Five Yin Bewildering Spirit Barrier is not its original form. As for the truth, you'll need to investigate."

With that, she handed over the fine gauze, lightly smiling, "I've removed all the evil demonic rituals on it. You can use the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha refining method to restart the process. Perhaps you can restore its original form. I believe it should be a rather powerful Magical Instrument. Ah, you don't like it?"

"No, how could that be?"

Upon seeing the female cultivator furrow her brows, Yu Ci, a male cultivator, quickly suppressed his disappointment and reached out to accept the object. The moment the delicate gauze touched his hand, he felt warmth. The malevolent aura of the Yin Demons that once lingered on it had indeed vanished. It easily resonated with his own energy, and he knew that refining it would no longer pose any obstacles.

Although it is often said that destruction is easier than construction, refining a magical instrument to the level of fifty or sixty layers, a feat that could take one or two hundred years, is no small feat. In this case, it is a process that melds the method of refinement with the magical instrument itself. To erase the results of such refinement is no easy task. Only Gan Shi Zhen, a female cultivator, could have accomplished this. If it had been him, he might not have been able to do it even in three to five months.

Holding the magical instrument, Yu Ci was at a loss whether to feel happy or worried.

His original intention in retrieving the delicate gauze was to use this nearly sixty-layer refined magical instrument as a bargaining chip at the Treasure Exchange Banquet on the fifth of April. Regardless of whether it was for an exchange or a mortgage, his first priority was to secure a life-extension treasure.

However, this plan was no longer feasible. Yet, he could not show his disappointment. He did not want to put pressure on Gan Shi Zhen, so he could only bow and thank her, "Thank you, Master Gan."

The female cultivator shook her head, "It's nothing. You've saved my life several times. These are just minor deeds, no need to mention them."

Even in his low spirits, Yu Ci couldn't help but chuckle, "When did I save you so many times?"

Gan Shi Zhen was very serious, "You did, I remember all of them."

Yu Ci smiled but didn't say anything more, he stood up to leave.

Gan Shi Zhen looked surprised, "You're leaving already?"

Feeling anxious, Yu Ci hastily found an excuse, "It's about time, I need to go practice with Immortal He."

The female cultivator understood and did not try to keep him, watching as he left. Just as Yu Ci was about to step out of the hall, Gan Shi Zhen hesitated, then suddenly said, "Aunt Qing achieved enlightenment through the Fish-Dragon path, her way of thinking is quite different from ordinary people. You should discern it carefully."

"Huh?"

This time, Gan Shi Zhen didn't want to elaborate and simply said, "I heard you say before that you've only been in the Nature-Connecting Realm for about a year. Such progress is indeed extraordinary, but you must not neglect the meticulous work of refining your Yin Spirit. Otherwise, when Heart Demon arises, years of cultivation might go down the drain."

Yu Ci vaguely remembered that He Qing had said something similar before his cultivation a couple of nights ago, so he nodded, "I will be careful, Immortal He often reminds me."

"Since Aunt Qing has told you, I won't say more."

The female cultivator felt relieved and sent him off with a smile.

As Yu Ci stepped out of De Fang Residence, he let out a bitter laugh. Looking up at the sky, where the moon and stars shone brightly, he realized it was already deep into the night. Apart from Immortal Elder He Qing, he really had nowhere else to go.

In the garden pavilion, He Qing sat with her eyes closed, meditating. Yu Ci stood respectfully by her side, not daring to disturb her.

These past few days they had been practicing the Great Dream Yin-Yang Method, with He Qing guiding Yu Ci's Yin Spirit. This made him increasingly aware of the profound depth of He Qing's cultivation level. He realized that she was in no way inferior to Xie Yan and others, and he held her in high esteem.

After a while, He Qing opened her eyes. In the darkness, they sparkled like lightning. "Your aura is fluctuating, and you seem troubled. What has happened?" she asked.

Yu Ci was momentarily at a loss for words. He had been facing difficulties, but he had not sought He Qing's help first. He had his reasons. He could see that Xie Yan, Elder Jie Liang, and even Yu Zhou held some reservations towards He Qing. There seemed to be some grudges between them that he did not understand. Normally, he would let it go, but in a matter of life and death, if something went wrong, he would regret it deeply.

However, considering the current situation, he feared that things couldn't get any worse. If he missed the chance to give Yu Zhou a life-extending treasure due to lack of resources, he would never forgive himself.

As he hesitated, He Qing showed great patience and just watched him silently.

Finally, Yu Ci made up his mind. "Master He, I have a problem concerning Taoist Yu," he said.

Once he started, it became easier. He explained the situation clearly and concisely, emphasizing the current predicament, then respectfully asked He Qing for her guidance.

The pavilion fell silent for a while before He Qing finally spoke, "Elder Brother Yu is not aware of this matter, is he?"

Her voice was elusive, difficult to grasp. Yu Ci was puzzled how He Qing could deduce this, but he simply replied, "Yes."

At this moment, He Qing's tone turned cold. "Perhaps you're not aware, but the Sect does not support the use of medicines or treasure artifacts to extend a disciple's life."

"Why not?"

"When one's lifespan is nearing its end, using such methods to defy the heavens and prolong life is considered a step towards the demonic path. It brings no benefit to a Daoist sect's cultivation. Even if one continues to cultivate in hopes of a breakthrough, most likely it will only delay the inevitable and increase the risk of demonic possession. Do you understand?"

Yu Ci shook his head, "Even if there's a small chance, it's worth fighting for."

"Yes, it's worth fighting for, which is why the Sect has not explicitly forbidden it. However, they absolutely do not allow the allocation of Sect resources for this purpose."

Yu Ci nodded slowly, beginning to understand why Xie Yan and others, despite their status within the Sect, were eyeing the Fish-Dragon.

*********