Central State.
Li Yingling surveyed the surroundings with her eyes. Besides the spiritual energy concentration being indeed higher, Central State didn't feel particularly special.
Everyone was a human cultivator. Besides the clothing styles seeming a bit more avant-garde, they basically followed the basic rules.
Everyone restrained their divine senses, not scanning wildly throughout the city.
It all looked quite orderly and thriving.
However, the proportion of cultivators in Central State was very high—cultivators and mortals were almost at a one-to-one ratio.
This was unthinkable in other continents.
But whatever. Besides the protective treasures Master had given her, she also carried a Tianyan Token in her spatial ring.
Li Yingling wasn't a cultivation newbie anymore, so she naturally understood what level of item the Tianyan Token in her possession was.
Unlike her Second Junior Brother who would feel embarrassed, if Li Yingling really saw Tianyan Sect disciples now, she would definitely go up to greet them and have the Tianyan Sect disciples help her inquire about information on Second Junior Brother.
After all, when Master gave her the token, he had specifically instructed her—don't be polite, Master paid for it!
However, this place was still somewhat far from the core area of Central State, so running into Tianyan Sect disciples probably wasn't easy.
Zhang Miaoyu closely followed behind Li Yingling. She was still somewhat nervous:
"Leader, where are we going to find your junior brother?"
Li Yingling's expression was somewhat relaxed. Zhang Miaoyu was obedient enough, so she didn't have to keep a cold face like before:
"Finding my junior brother is the backup plan. Having fun is the proper mission. First, let's find out which candied fruit shop is the best here."
"Yes!" Zhang Miaoyu instinctively agreed first, then curiously asked: "Leader, I have a rather personal question—may I ask it?"
"As long as it's not too offensive."
"You often ask me to buy a big bag of candied fruit. At first, I thought you liked eating them, but I've never seen you eat them."
"The candied fruit is for my Third Junior Sister. I haven't seen Third Junior Sister for a long time, so I somewhat miss her." Li Yingling's face showed some nostalgia. "I wonder if Master has corrupted her."
Zhang Miaoyu's gaze toward Li Yingling became even more fervent upon hearing this—what a wonderful Eldest Senior Sister... all-capable and kind to her juniors.
But regarding finding candied fruit, Zhang Miaoyu did have some expertise. When buying candied fruit for the Leader, she often tasted all of them herself first, then found the best ones.
Because she ate a lot and bought a lot, Zhang Miaoyu's research on candied fruit was now quite deep.
What made good candied fruit, she could now tell just by looking without tasting.
She answered confidently: "Leader, rest assured, I will perfectly complete the task you assigned!"
"This time is different—we have plenty of time. Let's stroll around a few times first. Earned plenty of spirit stones, so we should spend them."
Li Yingling's gaze casually turned, then locked onto a very luxuriously decorated restaurant.
It wasn't that Li Yingling was craving food, but on the second floor of the restaurant, there was an extended pavilion platform. In the pavilion, several disciples wearing Tianyan Sect robes sat calmly drinking tea.
Li Yingling hadn't recognized all the other eighteen immortal sects of Central State, but she had memorized everything from Tianyan Sect disciple robes to elder robes, even the sect leader's robes.
Mainly so she could recognize them at a glance when looking for people.
Hmm?!
A satisfied smile appeared on Li Yingling's face—today's luck was good.
She turned to Zhang Miaoyu and asked: "Hungry?"
"I'm Golden Core, I'm not..." Zhang Miaoyu instinctively answered, then immediately corrected herself as if remembering something, "Hungry, I'll treat the Leader to a meal."
"No need! Someone's treating today."
Li Yingling raised her head to signal Zhang Miaoyu to look at the pavilion beside them.
Zhang Miaoyu followed her gaze... Huh... weren't those Tianyan Sect disciples?
"You're from Tianyan Sect?" Zhang Miaoyu's expression showed some surprise. "Before when I asked you, you always said you weren't from the eighteen immortal sects of Central State."
"I'm really not. It's just that my sect has some connection with Tianyan Sect."
Li Yingling stepped into the restaurant.
Zhang Miaoyu hurriedly followed Li Yingling's footsteps, but her tone was very worried:
"Huh? Then wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to approach them like this? I heard the eighteen immortal sect disciples don't have good tempers."
"What are you afraid of? I have people above me."
Li Yingling stepped into the pavilion, refused the waiter who came up to serve, and went straight to the pavilion on the second floor.
There weren't few people on the second floor, but it was unusually quiet at this moment, and everyone was sitting relatively far from the pavilion where the Tianyan Sect disciples were.
Zhang Miaoyu followed behind Li Yingling entirely out of trust.
In East Pangu Continent, Zhang Miaoyu had to avoid people from Central State sects. Now, facing the Tianyan Sect among the eighteen immortal sects, it was even more so.
If Zhang Miaoyu encountered Tianyan Sect people alone, if the first glance was accidental, Zhang Miaoyu guaranteed her eyes wouldn't look toward the Tianyan Sect disciples a second time.
Only wandering cultivators understood that power represented strength.
Li Yingling led Zhang Miaoyu to the pavilion and cupped her hands to ask:
"Fellow Daoists, are you from Tianyan Sect?"
There were five Tianyan Sect disciples in total—two women and three men. The leader was a young man.
They were supposedly drinking tea, but the teacups before the five were empty, so presumably, they hadn't taken a sip.
The leader youth looked at Li Yingling with puzzled eyes and also cupped his hands to ask in return:
"What business does Fellow Daoist have? If nothing, please leave..."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Yingling directly took out the Tianyan Token from her spatial ring and placed it on the table.
The leader youth's eyes widened. With just a glance, he confirmed that the Tianyan Token before him was genuine, and this token was issued by Elder Bai.
Damn...
Was the person directing this operation sent by Elder Bai? Could such a small matter alarm Elder Bai?
The leader youth looked at Li Yingling again... though her cultivation seemed somewhat low, apparently only at Golden Core.
But whatever, how could Elder Bai's arrangement be wrong? Obedience was the way.
The leader youth stood up and cupped his hands: "Team number seven-seven-four-three, reporting to the commander, requesting next instructions from you."
Immediately after, the other Tianyan Sect disciples also stood up together and cupped their hands toward Li Yingling.
Zhang Miaoyu watched with wide eyes as the Tianyan Sect disciples—at least Nascent Soul level—reported to her Golden Core leader.
How could she not be from Tianyan Sect with this?
And her status in Tianyan Sect was definitely not low.
She looked at Li Yingling with some grievance—she trusted the Leader so much, yet the Leader still lied to her for fun.
However, when Zhang Miaoyu looked at Li Yingling, she discovered that her Leader also had a confused expression.
Li Yingling slightly frowned, her expression also somewhat surprised.
This... the Tianyan Token was this powerful? It could directly command Tianyan Sect disciples?
Originally, she just wanted to get a free meal for Master... but with this.
About finding her junior brother... perhaps?
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