The place where Ming Lan met Yu Ci was the Good Progress Hall in the central courtyard, where the most devout Divine Servants of the legendary Xuan Yin Immortal were worshipped. There were more than twenty of them, each with their unique appearances and divine presence, arranged on both sides. When Yu Ci stepped into the hall, Ming Lan was already seated among the shadows of the scattered divine statues, and with Yu Ci's vision, he could not immediately discern her features and expression.

Perhaps it was as the inner servant had said, Ming Lan was seriously ill, her voice was extremely hoarse and weak:

"Life has its own Karmic Method. I didn't expect to meet Immortal Yu again before departing for the Realm beyond illusion."

Yu Ci didn't understand what Ming Lan was saying, but he knew that he should not let others take control of the conversation today. He took a step forward, "I am here today to inquire about something with Master Bi Chao. If the master is not present, I would like to ask Master Ming instead!"

As he spoke, he finally saw Ming Lan's appearance, and his scalp tingled suddenly.

"Master Ming?"

It had been about three months since he last saw Ming Lan. Where was the Master Ming in his memory who, although no longer youthful, still retained her charm? The person in front of Yu Ci now had silver hair, a face full of wrinkles, and her skin seemed to hang on her bones. She was clearly an old woman on the verge of death!

The old woman slightly bowed, "Please forgive me for not being able to pay my respects due to my poor health. It's been several months since we last met, Immortal Yu's Cultivation Level has improved, reaching a higher level. Congratulations are in order."

Yu Ci was speechless for a moment. From the contours of the old woman's face, he could vaguely see the shadow of the former Ming Lan, and her demeanor was similarly close. Then he finally confirmed that the person in front of him was indeed Ming Lan.

"Master Ming, it's been a long time."

Yu Ci nodded, slowly sitting down in front of Ming Lan. Through these movements, he had steadied his emotions, but the doubt still remained: Had Ming Lan been afflicted by some evil power? Yu Ci knew there were several methods in this realm that could harm others' lifespan. But recently, Cliff City had been peaceful, and there was no news of Xuan Yin Sect clashing with anyone. Moreover, the previously mentioned "Realm beyond illusion" was unheard of.

At this time, Ming Lan had already served tea. Yu Ci took it, gently stroking the outer wall of the teacup, and pondered, "Is Master Ming's health alright?"

With a faint smile, Ming Lan's face was lined with wrinkles, yet she exuded an air of calmness, "My body might be frail, but my spirit remains vigorous."

Yu Ci glanced at her, indeed noticing the brightness in her eyes, a trait uncommon among the elderly. Furthermore, she gave off a subtly intriguing aura.

Puzzled, Yu Ci slightly closed his eyes, then immediately opened them again. In that brief moment, he activated his "Dharma Eye," a method to observe the "Divine Soul" level, which he had obtained from "Iceberg Information" and named "Observing Soul Dharma Eye." What he saw was different from before.

Within the realm of the Divine Soul, numerous blazing fireballs emitted hundreds of ripples like silk threads, influencing and intersecting with each other. These included the "Soul Sources" of more than ten individuals inside and outside the Shenjin Hall. Except for Yu Ci, all others were from the Xuan Yin Sect. Particularly upfront, a fireball radiated brightly, causing ripples that vibrated the void, subtly connecting with the Soul Sources of the Xuan Yin Sect cultivators on the periphery, and even affecting Yu Ci. This was the origin of the subtle sensation he had perceived.

"So, it is. Master Ming is quite different from before," Yu Ci noted.

Yu Ci demonstrated his keen observation: Ming Lan's current state might not necessarily be due to some wicked magic, but potentially the cultivation of a unique Divine Power. The brilliance of her Soul Source could compare with the most radiant ones Yu Ci had seen, all of which belonged to Golden Elixir cultivators!

However, Yu Ci decided to set this aside for now, to avoid distracting from the main purpose of his visit. He said, "Master Ming, you must already know why I'm here."

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Ming Lan responded, "The Xuan Yin Sect is grateful for the Immortal Elder's magnanimity in letting bygones be bygones. But I wonder what Immortal Yu wishes to inquire about. If it's something I know, I will certainly share everything."

"The matter is rather simple, we just need a clear response from your sect."

Yu Ci had already thought through the question, and delivered it in a casual tone, "The upheaval in Sky Rift Valley is nearing its end, and things must come to a conclusion. Recently, Immortal He tasked me with gathering detailed information on the Pure Water Sect. I thought, given that the Xuan Yin Sect and Pure Water Sect have coexisted in the city for many years, there might be some relationship between you two. So, I came to inquire, in preparation for future use."

Upon hearing this, Ming Lan was slightly taken aback, "Pure Water Sect?"

The words of Yu Ci carried a heavy undertone of implications. Phrases such as "gathering information" and "for future use" were clear hints that He Qing harbored discontent towards the Pure Water Sect and intended to act against them. The term "friendship" in his speech was even more tantalizing, inviting one to ponder over its layered meanings.

Ming Lan was aware that Shi Song had hosted a banquet for Yu Ci and Zheng Yan at Cinnamon Cliff today. By her calculations, the banquet had just ended, and Yu Ci had promptly arrived at You Qiu Palace. His apparent attitude was worth contemplating.

However, Yu Ci didn't afford her much time to think: "Indeed, it's about the Pure Water Sect. Immortal He has shown great interest in them, such as Master Yi Xin's background, his relationship with Lu Mingyue, the details of his disciples, etc. As for the movements of these individuals during the turmoil in Sky Rift Valley, they must also be carefully monitored. How much of this, Master Ming, are you aware of?"

As he spoke, Yu Ci's gaze was intense, fixated on Ming Lan's face, as if he intended to excavate more information from the creases etched across her features.

Ming Lan surely didn't know; her understanding of the situation was beyond the ordinary. If Ming Lan chose to conceal information, or to defend the Pure Water Sect, it would only prove that Xuan Yin Sect's friendly overtures to Lichen Sect were merely expedient measures, and their true intentions lay elsewhere. Combining this with Yu Ci's exclusive information, would He Qing be interested?

This was Yu Ci's double-sided calculation, likely to satisfy He Qing's requirements.

At this moment, he heard Ming Lan speak slowly: "Master Yi Xin has never disclosed his background, but the origins of his methods and the backgrounds of his disciples have been somewhat collected by our sect. If Immortal Yu is interested, I can have the records brought to you. As for the information about Sky Rift Valley before and after the turmoil, which aspects would Immortal Yu like to know?"

Yu Ci looked up to see Ming Lan's calm demeanor, clearly having made a decision. He smiled, "Tell me everything, spare no detail."

***********

By the time Yu Ci left You Qiu Palace, night had fallen. The carriage he had arrived in was still waiting outside. The coachman, a well-trained individual, hopped off the carriage to greet Yu Ci as soon as he saw him. The disciples and attendants of Xuan Yin Sect also paid their respects and bid farewell to Yu Ci as he departed.

Just as Yu Ci was about to board the carriage, a thought suddenly struck him. "I have something else to attend to. You may go back on your own," he said.

The coachman quickly acknowledged his command. Yu Ci gave him a nod, then instead of heading towards the city, he began to stroll towards the outskirts. He walked all the way to the mountains outside the city. From his elevated vantage point, he looked into the distance. In the darkness of the night, the silhouette of the You Qiu Palace was barely discernible.

"What are you doing at the Xuan Yin Sect?"

The voice abruptly rang out next to his ear, its tone slightly cold. However, Yu Ci was not startled. He turned around and gave a respectful bow, "Immortal He."

He Qing, dressed in a plain grey-green robe, maintained her usual simple appearance. Yet, her starry eyes sparkled with a formidable aura. Her gaze pierced through several miles of void, briefly resting on the You Qiu Palace before she said indifferently, "I recall instructing you to deal with Zheng Yan."

"Immortal He, today in the You Qiu Palace, I had a conversation with the Xuan Yin Sect's law propagating Immortal teacher, Ming Lan. I gained some insights from it," Yu Ci replied.

With that, he presented a Jade Slip that he had prepared beforehand. It contained several valuable pieces of information he had recorded during his conversation with Ming Lan. There were about seventeen or eighteen pieces of information in total, all related to the Pure Water Sect's Monk Yi Xin, Monk Zheng Yan, and a few other disciples, including Lu Mingyue, who was known as the top Lone Cultivator of Cliff City.

The information was purely descriptive, devoid of any conjecture. Although it seemed dry and lacked detail, He Qing first furrowed her brows, then slowly nodded in approval.

"The Xuan Yin Sect has done a good job. The fact that you were able to find this is even more commendable. Well done!"

He Qing was not annoyed that Yu Ci had not followed her instructions. In such matters, she was more interested in what Yu Ci had achieved, rather than how he had achieved it. This was the essence of the Empirical Department's principle. Under this principle, she was even more adept at getting into the right mindset than Yu Ci.

"Which direction do you think we should take within the next five days?" she asked.

Yu Ci was surprised. "Is the timeline that tight?"

He Qing glanced at him and said, "In half a month, the Vacuum Walking Cultivators of the Sect will be dispatched in batches to the Outer Realm of the Nine Heavens for cultivation, to absorb the essence of the Xuan Zhen. They will be gone for years, and these worldly affairs will have to be put on hold. The longer the night, the more dreams there will be. Naturally, we must make a swift decision!"

...