Lin Xiao smiled lightly. "Sect Master Yun, you are still young. You haven't been to the Spirit Beast Forest yet, have you?"
Yun Jin shook her head. "Not yet."
A peculiar glint flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes. "Then you should go. Only the King Beasts of the Spirit Beast Forest possess these two things."
Yun Jin frowned.
Only the Spirit Beast Forest has these two spirit stones? That's not a problem. She had planned to go there anyway.
Still, why would Lin Xiao willingly provide such information?
Lin Xiao said no more and simply left with a smile.
Yun Jin stared at his back for a moment, her frown deepening. If Lin Xiao tells her something, it is never out of pure goodwill. Could it be that obtaining these two spirit stones comes with extreme danger? So extreme that Lin Xiao thinks she might even die in the Spirit Beast Forest?
"Sect Master, do not trust Lin Xiao's words lightly," Hong Ye whispered.
Yun Jin nodded. "I know. Let's go back and rest first."
The night was heavy and deep.
In her room, Yun Jin's expression was contemplative. She naturally would not trust Lin Xiao blindly. She sent messages to consult her three masters.
Unexpectedly, Ji Wusi, Qing Yun, and Liu Li all admitted to knowing nothing about these two material. Even Liu Li, who had the closest ties to the Spirit Beast Forest, had never heard of these stones existing there.
All three of them reminded Yun Jin of one thing. Regardless of whether the news is true, Lin Xiao voluntarily revealing it is undoubtedly ill-intentioned. Yun Jin must be extremely cautious.
Yun Jin knew very well that Lin Xiao harbored ulterior motives. However, the forging of the Tai'a Sword was urgent. The current Tai'a Sword, only five-star, was already falling behind her combat capability. Yun Jin planned to retreat for a few years, refining the Tai'a Sword all at once to eight stars.
An eight-star Tai'a Sword would serve her until the peak of Mahayana.
A nine-star Tai'a Sword? That would probably be the limit in this world.
That was not something achievable in just a few years or even decades; it would require fortune and opportunity.
The system's plan only used materials present in this world.
Therefore, the Xuan Yin Crystals and Tian Zhao Stones must exist.
Yet, these two materials were so rare that even her masters had never heard of them. The chance of obtaining them through exchange was practically zero.
The only clue was the information provided by Lin Xiao.
The King Beasts of the Spirit Beast Forest possess these two spirit stones.
But was this information true or false?
Should she go to the Spirit Beast Forest or not?
Yun Jin's gaze shifted, calculating.
The bright moon hung high but could not illuminate the room. In an unusually dark chamber, Lin Xiao stared expressionlessly at the man before him. His voice was cold. "Do you know Hong Ye from Wushuang Sect?"
The man had no immediate reaction, but Lin Xiao saw clearly. There was clearly some connection between Hong Ye and this man.
The man lowered his head, speaking softly. "Long ago, we had a brief encounter. After master told me to return to the sect for seclusion, I never saw her again. Counting the years, it has been thirteen hundred years."
Over thirteen centuries had passed. He had never imagined that Hong Ye would gain opportunities and now be a late Mahayana cultivator.
And himself?
He had consumed rare elixirs, practiced top-tier techniques, received guidance from his master and senior brother, yet over so many years, he had barely reached late Mahayana—and as the weakest among late Mahayana cultivators. If they fought, he feared he would not be her match.
He recalled many years ago being sent by his master to travel in the mortal realm, where he unexpectedly encountered Hong Ye. At that time, she had been cornered by several loose cultivators, forced to reveal the location of hidden Lingzhi. She had been beaten and wounded all over but refused to yield.
The cultivators, humiliated and enraged, were about to kill her.
For reasons he could not explain, he felt compassion and saved her. Later he learned that Hong Ye would rather die than hand over the Lingzhi, as it was the only thing that could save her mother's life.
He accompanied Hong Ye home, and her mother, also a loose cultivator, was critically injured. After taking the Lingzhi, her wounds healed. He saw this and bid Hong Ye farewell.
Ten years later, they accidentally met again.
This time, he had made a mistake in cultivating a technique and went to a secluded place to recover. For some reason, a group of wandering loose cultivators discovered him and attempted to kill him and seize treasures.
As he prepared to fight despite his injuries, Hong Ye charged with the large blade she always carried. Her strength had greatly improved. She fought half an hour in a blood-soaked battle and killed the loose cultivators, staying by him silently afterward.
He saved her once.
She saved him once.
Naturally, they began traveling together.
And feelings that should not have arisen began to grow.
He once forgot his identity and responsibility, wishing only to be with her until old age.
But…
All of it was an illusion.
Before returning to Qingxiao Pavilion, he told Hong Ye:
"I no longer wish to deceive you. I am a disciple of the sect, extraordinarily talented, and my master wishes to cultivate me as the next Sect Master. You are merely a loose cultivator of low talent.
The happy times we shared should be regarded as my gift to you. From now on, bridges and roads apart, we have no further relation. After all, I am the moon in the sky, and you are mud on the ground. This ending is best for both of us."
Then he was summoned back to Qingxiao Pavilion.
From that day, he never left.
Over the thirteen hundred years, his master suffered an accident and perished in madness. Senior Brother Lin Xiao became the new Sect Master.
When his master was alive, he paid particular attention to his cultivation. Now, the one constantly monitoring his cultivation was his senior brother. He sometimes felt that his former master and current senior brother were like two molds of the same person.
"A mere encounter?" Lin Xiao squinted.
The man nodded. "Naturally."
His expression was flawless, and Lin Xiao detected nothing amiss.
Lin Xiao spoke calmly. "Xuan Kong, do not blame your senior brother for being strict. You were once your master's most valued disciple because of your extraordinary talent. Yet your cultivation progress has never been satisfactory. If you were more diligent, the position of Sect Master would have been intended for you."
Xuan Kong lowered his gaze. "The position of Sect Master belongs to senior brother. Xuan Kong never considered otherwise."
Lin Xiao said lightly, "Why not? Recently, I have felt insufficient in handling matters. In a few years, this position should rightly be yours."
Before Xuan Kong could refuse, Lin Xiao continued, "You must practice the technique master taught you diligently and break through to the ninth level as soon as possible. The day you break the ninth level will be the day you inherit the position of Sect Master."
Xuan Kong's heart trembled, but no joy appeared on his face. He lowered his head and replied softly.
"Practice diligently," Lin Xiao instructed again. "Also, do not involve yourself with anyone from Wushuang Sect."
Xuan Kong nodded.
Only then did Lin Xiao let him leave.
Watching Xuan Kong's slightly dejected figure, Lin Xiao squinted. This body had been in use for over a thousand years. Being someone else's body, extended use naturally brings problems.
Once Xuan Kong reaches the ninth level, it will be time for Lin Xiao to change bodies.
Perfect timing.
Currently, Ji Wusi and the others were watching his current identity. Then, he could perform a death retreat, reducing their attention. Originally, he did not need to be in such a hurry. This body could still last another hundred years. If not for Yun Jin, he might not even consider a death retreat.
Three years from now, after someone eliminates Yun Jin, he would perform the death retreat, resuming life under Xuan Kong's identity.
The situation would eventually return to his control.
However, if Yun Jin dared to go to the Spirit Beast Forest now, he might be able to collect her remains without waiting three years.
A glint of interest flickered in Lin Xiao's eyes.
It all depended on how crucial the Xuan Yin Crystals and Tian Zhao Stone were to Yun Jin.
Would she go to the Spirit Beast Forest?