The slip of paper unfolded.
"The Xiao Xuantian and Great Xuanyu Secret Realms have both collapsed in succession. Someone is stirring trouble from the shadows. The Shui Xi Palace, slumbering for tens of thousands of years, is about to open. Return at once!"
Pu Yehai's lips tightened until they turned pale. His handsome face was drained of all color.
"At this timing, of all things…"
His voice was hoarse, weighted with exhaustion and helplessness.
The Taiyi Divided Eye Bell vanished from sight. Pu Yehai lifted his gaze toward the black mountain's peak, swept a glance across the kneeling crowd, then turned and left, riding his needle-shaped artifact into the distance.
…
When the worship finally ended, Jiang Shengxiang and the others slowly rose to their feet.
A reverent light still lingered in their eyes.
The motes of radiance drifting around their bodies gradually faded away, vanishing without a trace.
…
Elsewhere.
The light had no source, yet Yao Ranran descended lightly onto a swing. She lifted her pale fingers, studying them in the sunlight, and slowly curled her hand into a fist. Softly, she murmured, "It feels like I've gained some strange power… yet it also feels like I've gained nothing at all."
Doo—doo—
Her storage pouch at her waist trembled.
Yao Ranran tugged it open and extended her spiritual sense inside. The object vibrating within was the Dark Underworld Marrow, the black stone she had long forgotten and tossed into a corner.
"What's that supposed to mean? Is the rock about to explode?"
Cautiously, she tossed the Dark Underworld Marrow away.
The black stone smoked like a steaming bun fresh from the pot. Dark qi spilled out, rising into the air and twisting into a few lines of text.
Instinctively, Yao Ranran read them aloud:
"Rumors say a Divine Transformation Zūnzhě has appeared in Shiyan City. True or false? Both major secret realms of the Eastern Wilderness have collapsed. The Shui Xi Palace is about to open. Hurry. What is your current cultivation?"
"…This black rock can send messages?" Yao Ranran blinked in disbelief, walked over, and picked the stone back up.
"The clipped wording… this definitely sounds like Li Luoqi's style," she muttered.
"He's asking about my cultivation? If I reply 'first layer of Qi Refinement,' he might die of rage. And that rumor about a Divine Transformation Zhēnzūn in Shiyan City… was he referring to me? That's got to be fake news. As for the Shui Xi Palace… where even is that?"
It struck her that, despite living in the Eastern Wilderness, she knew far less about current events than an outsider demon cultivator. She had been relying too much on her faint knowledge of the novel's plot, and neglected to gather information about her surroundings.
"Well, anything that can catch Li Luoqi's attention definitely won't be an ordinary secret realm. I'll ask Zhou Shengqian and Zhou Lili later. They must have heard something."
Muttering to herself, Yao Ranran then frowned down at the Dark Underworld Marrow. "But… how do I even send a reply with this thing?"
She fiddled with the black stone in silence.
…
A while later.
In the Western Sea Demon Palace.
Li Luoqi watched as several words slowly appeared in the air. His brows knitted tightly.
[When truth seems false and false seems true… I'll go. It's fine.]
"Yao Ranran… Since when did this person start talking so succinctly?"
Li Luoqi glared at the first line of what sounded like nonsense poetry, his expression darkening further.
"So the Divine Transformation Zūnzhě is false? Or does one really exist… what exactly am I supposed to make of this?"
His jaw clenched in frustration.
…
In Bishui Village.
Yao Ranran shared the news about the Shui Xi Palace.
"Shui Xi Palace? What kind of place is that?" Xiao Rong and Tang Xiangyin exchanged confused looks.
Yao Ranran hesitated. "Maybe… a good place."
"Shui Xi Palace? That's no ordinary place!" Nie Rong practically leapt out of a nearby house in shock. "That palace has been buried in slumber for tens of thousands of years, unseen by any soul. And now it's about to open?"
Yao Ranran gave him a look. "You know about Shui Xi Palace?"
Nie Rong twirled his fan with a grin. "Your disciple knows a little, yes!"
Yao Ranran: "I don't recall having such an old disciple!"
"Fairy Ranran! Fairy Ranran! We've confirmed it! Let's head out at once!" Zhou Shengqian came running over with Zhou Lili in tow.
"The Shui Xi Palace is right above Langan City. A massive water-patterned cloud has already appeared in the sky there!"
A crease of worry formed between Yao Ranran's brows. "It came too quickly. We're not prepared at all. What if we get bullied inside Shui Xi Palace?"
Silence.
"If even you get bullied, how are the rest of us supposed to survive?!"
Nie Rong broke the tension with his usual cheer. "No need to worry, Master! Shui Xi Palace isn't like other secret realms. I've heard that every time it emerges, it's to accept disciples!"
Yao Ranran tilted her head. "Accept disciples? There's an ancient inheritance inside?"
Nie Rong stroked his chin. "Perhaps!"
Yao Ranran's eyes widened. "Then won't that spark a bloody scramble?"
Nie Rong chuckled slyly. With his handsome features, the smirk only served to make him look less refined. "An inheritance goes only to those fated. Even if millions scramble for it, the palace's master will choose only the one they like.
So Master, we should hurry! Who knows, you might even be accepted by an ancient powerhouse. Then I'd become the disciple's disciple, basking in your glory as Shui Xi Palace's grand-disciple!"
Before she could refuse, Nie Rong had already tossed out a flying gourd, pulling Yao Ranran onto it.
"Wait for me!" Xiao Rong wrapped his vines around the gourd's base and clambered aboard.
Tang Xiangyin clutched him and followed.
Zhou Shengqian and Zhou Lili were just about to summon their flying artifacts when Nie Rong flicked his fingers. The golden gourd shone brilliantly, swooping down to scoop them up.
"I still need you two to guide the way," Nie Rong said, glancing at Zhou Shengqian's earlier artifact. "But as the master of a sect, isn't it a bit shabby to be flying around on a ninth-tier tool?"
Zhou Lili quickly defended her father. "That's because he gave me his third-tier flying treasure. He had no choice but to use the ninth-tier!"
Nie Rong's eyes widened in mock realization. "Ah, so the greatest treasure in your whole sect is only a third-tier?"
Zhou father and daughter: "…" This man's tongue is vicious!
Xiao Rong nodded in solemn agreement. "As the master of Shiyan City's dominant sect, Zhou Zongzhu's flair is indeed a little lacking."
Zhou Shengqian twisted his sleeve hem, feeling wronged. "It's not easy to make money, alright!"
Yao Ranran cast her gaze over the golden gourd. It was a fifth-tier artifact: fast, smooth, and steady. For a loose cultivator to possess such a tool was impressive indeed.
Her opinion of Nie Rong rose slightly. This carefree, narcissistic rogue cultivator did have some skill after all.
As they flew, her gaze dropped toward Longyin Village below. She called out, "Jiang Shengxiang is still down there. Let's bring him along."
"Alright!" Nie Rong steered the gourd downward.
Jiang Shengxiang froze when he saw the golden gourd descending. Then, spotting Yao Ranran's familiar face, he brightened with excitement. "Fairy Ranran, where are you going?"
Yao Ranran answered, "We're heading to Langan City. It's said the Shui Xi Palace is about to open, perhaps containing ancient inheritances. Come with us."
But Jiang Shengxiang didn't move. A few villagers stood behind him.
He smiled and shook his head. "Fairy Ranran, you all should go on ahead. I'm old already. What business do I have fighting others for some inheritance? If it were a treasure, maybe I'd try my luck, but inheritance? Forget it. You all should hurry."
Yao Ranran paused, silent.