Gu Yuan's forehead was covered in cold sweat. He said ingratiatingly, "Lord City Master. A misunderstanding, this is all a misunderstanding. No wonder Li's talent is so astonishing; it turns out she was personally taught by the Lord City Master. I had no ill intentions, merely wishing to take her as a disciple and pass on my legacy. Now that I think about it, with Li's talent, how could someone like me possibly teach her? It was indeed my arrogance."
"Yes, yes, yes. Only the City Master could cultivate such an astonishing and brilliant disciple," Qing Yan quickly chimed in.
The others didn't even have the courage to speak, merely bowing their heads and trembling.
The City Master glanced indifferently at the two and slowly said, "Li is not my disciple; her master is someone else. I am merely teaching on their behalf."
"Yes, yes, yes." Gu Yuan's heart tightened, and he said fawningly, "Li's master must also be an extraordinary figure. We absolutely had no intention of offending the senior."
"Today's matter, you indeed harbored no malicious intent, so I will spare your lives," the City Master sneered. "Otherwise, Gu Yuan, I fear you wouldn't have been able to withstand that lightning bolt just now."
Gu Yuan's body trembled slightly, and he quickly agreed, "This junior would never dare again."
The City Master looked at the two of them, then turned to Li Shuang and said, "Those three pieces of Thunder Marrow also have the effect of keeping the divine soul clear. From now on, you need not worry about anyone using soul control techniques on you. Unless, of course, that person's soul cultivation is far above mine."
As she spoke, a mocking smile appeared at the corners of the City Master's lips.
Someone whose soul cultivation is far above hers?
In this world, such a person hasn't even been born yet!
This Li is a good seedling for cultivating the Rebirth Art, and she naturally doesn't want this person to perish too early.
However, with three pieces of Thunder Marrow, plus the backing she provided today, she had already done more than enough.
If Li still perishes midway, then it would be her incompetence.
An incompetent person cannot control the power of rebirth.
"Thank you, City Master," Li Shuang respectfully replied.
The City Master nodded indifferently, "The Divine Soul Golden Altar is about to open. Don't disgrace me."
As her voice faded, her body slowly became ethereal, and she vanished directly from the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws.
A voice reached Li Shuang's ear.
"Take out the Thunder Marrow, call my name, and you can communicate with me. My name is..."
The voice paused for a moment.
Then, a voice filled with endless desolation sounded.
"Embers."
Li Shuang's heart trembled slightly.
Embers?
This was the City Master's name?
When the faint red embers burn out, loneliness gazes upon the passing years.
Just these two words, an indescribable desolation and sorrow, overwhelmed her.
Li Shuang couldn't help but feel a little curious.
How long had this City Master lived?
Her cultivation had reached its peak, yet she guarded this City of Ten Thousand Laws day and night, never going out, and rarely showing herself.
During those long, solitary times, what was she thinking about?
Was she thinking about her... prematurely deceased sister?
Li Shuang dared not think further. She had heard that for top-tier cultivators, even just thinking their name in your mind could attract their attention.
This City Master was never someone who needed others' pity.
After the City Master left, the people kneeling on the ground slowly stood up, still feeling a sense of dread.
Li Shuang looked at these people.
These people, who had originally looked down on her, now became kind and benevolent because she was the City Master's "daughter of an old acquaintance."
This was the cultivation world.
A real yet cruel world.
"Li, you should have mentioned your acquaintance with the City Master earlier. See, now this has caused an unnecessary misunderstanding," Daoist Qing Yan said with a chuckle.
Gu Yuan also had a smile on his face: "Misunderstanding, indeed, it was all a misunderstanding. Previously, I was indeed in the wrong. I see that your precious sword is of extraordinary quality. How about this, I'll give you a ninth-grade Frost Moon Stone. When your sword advances, you'll eventually be able to use it."
A dazzling stone appeared directly in Gu Yuan's palm.
This stone was very compatible with Li Shuang's spiritual root attribute. Lili, smelling its aura, was already drooling madly.
"I also have a welcome gift for you," Qing Yan said, and a ninth-grade spirit herb appeared in his hand. "With this spirit herb, as long as you have a breath left, you can recover."
The others also crowded around.
Li Shuang soothed the drooling Lili, then calmly said, "It was just a misunderstanding before, it's nothing serious. I won't accept the gifts."
Li Shuang was very calm.
The City Master had just appeared and proactively given her an identity; their previous transaction was already over.
She could use this title to protect herself.
But if she were to use this title to gain benefits, what would the City Master think if she knew?
She wouldn't do something that was like picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons.
Moreover, these old foxes wouldn't do business at a loss. Whatever they gave her, they would surely expect her to return it someday.
Li Shuang was not that foolish.
Her attitude was firm, and only then did Gu Yuan and the others stop insisting.
After the crowd gradually dispersed, Li Shuang finally had time to take stock of her gains this time.
This time, she had obtained 110,000 points, directly soaring to the genius榜 (Genius Ranking).
In this City of Ten Thousand Laws, she was now somewhat famous.
She used 100,000 of those points to purchase the second stage of the Rebirth Art.
After two years of cultivation, five of her green lotuses had fully bloomed, which was a sign of reaching great accomplishment in the first stage.
To cultivate further, two conditions needed to be met.
First, obtain the method for the second stage, and second, break through her divine soul to the Integration Stage.
It was easy for her divine soul to break through to the Integration Stage now, but Li Shuang always felt that she could do better.
With a wondrous item like the Heaven and Earth Furnace, if she were just an ordinary Integration Stage cultivator, it would be a great waste of a heavenly treasure.
She was determined to wait until she was fully prepared before breaking through to the Integration Stage.
At that time, her spiritual power cultivation would also catch up.
Once she broke through, it would be a complete Integration Stage.
The cultivation of the Rebirth Art would have to be put on hold for now.
She now had 10,000 points left.
What could these 10,000 points be used for?
Li Shuang opened her All-Seeing Eye to check the available supplies for exchange.
Suddenly, her eyes flickered slightly.
Originally, among the resources she could exchange, there was no such wondrous item as a cross-continental teleportation talisman.
However, the City Master had said that she had given her special permission, and her All-Seeing Eye should now be able to see new supplies.
Indeed, as soon as she entered the All-Seeing Eye, she found that some new supplies had been added to what she could exchange with points.
Li Shuang immediately saw the cross-continental teleportation talisman that the City Master had mentioned.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
This teleportation talisman had only one destination: the Central Continent.
No matter which continent it was used on, it could instantly reach the Central Continent!