I am cautiously cultivating immortals in a strange world

The frail woman was still tied up with a rope, just as before, with no change in appearance or figure.

It feels like the last time we met was just yesterday.

the difference is.

Chen Lin's senses were no longer suppressed, and he could clearly feel the other party's state.

This is a strong person.

Extremely strong.

However, perhaps because of the rope, the other party's terrifying energy was suppressed within their body, so if one's perception is not sharp, one might mistake them for an ordinary person.

"You actually managed to activate this ring; I underestimated you."

The slender woman walked up to Chen Lin.

He looked her up and down for a while.

"It seems she has a better eye than I do. In my opinion, you are nothing special."

"Who is he?"

Chen Lin's eyes flashed as he asked.

Last time, the other party thought he was sent by someone, and he had been guessing who that person was. After confirmation, it turned out that it was not Zossie from the three rooms.

"Don't you know?"

The slender woman showed a look of curiosity.

"Then how did you get here last time? It can't be a coincidence. This place isn't in the real world. Without special guidance, it's impossible to find it."

"do not know."

Chen Lin answered directly.

immediately.

He suddenly remembered something.

He asked in a deep voice, "Are you the Fisherman of Tianhu Lake?"

The last time I came here was when I came out of the Seven Star Realm. If you were to ask who could tamper with his position in the River of Destiny, besides Zosiwen, the only one most suspicious would be the Fisherman of the Heavenly Lake.

"hehe."

The slender woman chuckled softly.

"Is she still using the name 'Tianhu Fisherman'? She's really addicted to pretending to be an old man."

Pretending to be an old man?

Chen Lin became suspicious.

It seems that the old fisherman of Tianhu was behind it all. He was supposed to escape the River of Fate from the Shixing Village node, but instead he ended up here, with the purpose of 'introducing' this woman.

That means...

The old fisherman of Tianhu is not an old man; this title is just a smokescreen.

The fact that the Fisherman of Tianhu controls the Seven Star Realm is not for raising Gu to improve his cultivation; there must be a deeper secret behind it.

Rebel!
The word reappeared in Chen Lin's mind.

The woman before them, or the fisherman of Tianhu, one of them is very likely a Reverse Spirit, or both of them are.

But he didn't dare ask.

He didn't show the slightest abnormality.

He is unlikely to be a match for someone who can be hunted down by the Heavenly Dao, since the basis of a trial mission is that the mission level is one major realm higher than the recipient's.

"Correct."

"It's her."

“We’re best friends, but we have some differences in our beliefs, so she’s keeping me here and won’t let me out.”

Just as Chen Lin was thinking about how to extract more information, the slender woman took the initiative to speak.

His heart moved.

The Fisherman of Tianhu is a woman!
Who could it be?

Is it someone he knows or someone he doesn't know?

If he knew her, he had one prime suspect: Gu Siming.

"Oh, right."

Seeing that Chen Lin remained silent, the slender woman spoke again.

"Judging by the time, the Trial of Ascension should be starting soon, right? Do you know how much longer it will be?"

These words were spoken.

Alarm bells rang in Chen Lin's mind.

There's no need for further probing; the other party must undoubtedly be a Reverse Spirit, otherwise they would have been able to accept the mission.

"how."

"It's already started, or you just don't know?"

The slender woman paused for a moment, then asked with a half-smile.

"It's already begun. Haven't you received any missions?"

Chen Lin immediately retorted.

He didn't know if the other party was testing him. Moreover, this information was common knowledge, and even though the other party was trapped here, they might still have ways of finding out.

Therefore, it's best to answer truthfully.

As long as you don't reveal that you've accepted a mission to hunt down the Reverse Spirits, you'll be fine.

"It's been moved up?"

The slender woman frowned.

She then said angrily, "Such an important thing, and that brat didn't tell me. She really treats me like a breeding tool."

Done.

His gaze turned to Chen Lin.

"You possess special talent and are quite strong, so you must have been chosen, right? But you were able to come here. Could it be that this trial mission isn't in a private space, but rather allows for free movement?"

"Yes."

Chen Lin nodded.

At the same time, observe the changes in the other person's expression.

With his keen insight, he couldn't detect any trace of the other party putting on an act, and guessed that they genuinely didn't know about the trial.

"Tell me what your mission is, and I'll give you some advice."

The slender woman moved closer again.

If the rope weren't too short, it would have clung to Chen Lin, its eyes fixed intently on him.

Chen Lin shook his head.

"I can't say."

"The mission prompt clearly warns that you are not allowed to disclose any information, otherwise you will be eliminated."

"Please understand."

"Humph."

"Don't worry, this ring I'm giving you will protect you from being wiped out by the rules even once, and the so-called Great Dao won't be able to find it here."

"Please feel free to speak."

But Chen Lin did not respond.

Even if the other party wasn't a Reverse Spirit, he wouldn't believe them on something so important.

"Don't you want to talk about it?"

The slender woman waited for a while, but when Chen Lin didn't reply, she couldn't help but pout.

"let it go."

"However, I'm quite bored here all by myself. You can stay and keep me company from now on. That girl, no, the Fisherman of Tianhu sent you here hoping that I would choose you to leave a seed for our clan. This is a good opportunity to see if you are suitable."

Chen Lin remained expressionless.

He leaped backward, moving out of the opponent's range of movement.

But it was discovered very quickly.

There is an invisible barrier at the exit of this cave, which cannot be broken even by using the Green Heart Aperture and the Sea-Suppressing Sword Technique.

"No need to waste my energy. If I could walk, why would I have waited until now?"

The slender woman found a rock and sat on it without any regard for her image.

He crossed his legs.

"Although the Old Fisherman of Heavenly Lake is annoying, his methods are not weak. There are restrictions she set up here that can isolate the Heavenly Dao from your senses. You don't really think your methods are stronger than the Heavenly Dao, do you?"

"If she were really that strong, she wouldn't need to hide."

Chen Lin answered calmly.

I thought about it.

Instead of immediately taking out the God-Slaying Staff, he pretended to be unable to leave and dejectedly returned to the cave. His face darkened as he said, "What will it take for you to let me go?"

"It's very simple."

The frail woman shook the rope around her neck.

"Either you tell me the trial mission and do something for me, or you stay here with me and I'll let you go whenever I'm happy."

"Then how can you be happy?"

Chen Lin's face grew even more gloomy.

"That's hard to say, it depends on your performance."

The slender woman stood up. "But I'm easy to talk to, I won't make things too difficult for you. I've just been alone for too long and wanted someone to keep me company."

"But my time is limited."

"The trial will end in a few years. If you fail to complete the mission by then, you will be eliminated."

"Could I come and spend time with you after I finish my mission?"

Chen Lin looked completely sincere.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

The slender woman glanced at Chen Lin.

"It seems you don't trust me. Didn't I already tell you that the ring can prevent you from being eliminated, and it won't be detected by the Heavenly Dao if you stay here, making it safer than if you were outside?"

Chen Lin pondered the truthfulness of the other party's words.

If it's true, it would be a good thing for him, at least he could save his life. Otherwise, even with a secret order, he couldn't be sure he could get through.

Moreover, he was secretly instructed not to use it in the first level.

But he definitely can't stay here.

After a moment's thought.

Chen Lin took out the drawing paper with the Rubik's Cube drawn on it from his sleeve.

After unfolding it, he asked, "Do you recognize this item?"

"Oh."

The slender woman glanced at it and let out a sneer.

"The Six-Eared Square Pagoda... It seems the Heavenly Dao hasn't given up searching for this item. What a pity..."

She stopped abruptly halfway through her sentence and said to Chen Lin, "Forget about getting this item. Tell me about the other tasks, and I'll give you some advice."

"I never said this was a trial mission; I was just curious about this item. Could you tell me what its purpose is?"

Chen Lin vehemently denied it.

According to the confidentiality rules, as long as he does not voluntarily disclose the details of the mission, it is not considered a violation. Regardless of whether the Heavenly Dao's perception can be blocked here, he must act in accordance with the rules.

"Too timid."

The slender woman made a comment.

But she changed her mind and said, "Okay, is there anything you're missing, or anything you've been wanting to do lately? Since we're destined to meet, I can give you some advice."

Thank you.

Chen Lin bowed and thanked him.

After waiting for a while to make sure that he hadn't aroused the aura of the Heavenly Dao, he continued to speak.

"I need to gain experience, and the best way to do that would be to repair the crack in the sky. But I don't know where to find such an opportunity or how to repair it. Could you teach me, young lady?"

When he needed someone's help, Chen Lin changed how he addressed them.

The slender woman rolled her eyes.

He said calmly, "The rift in the sky is quite distinctive; there are sealing symbols at its edges. You'll know when you encounter them. As for where they are exactly..."

"I do not know."

"You can ask the old fisherman of Tianhu. She knows more about this world than I do. However, these cracks are all in the River of Rules. Even if you know the location, it will be difficult to repair them."

Chen Lin's heart skipped a beat.

It turns out it's within the River of Rules; no wonder there's no relevant information outside.

"How about this?"

The slender woman pondered for a moment and said, "If you do me a favor, I can give you a spiritual essence that can eliminate the abnormal energy interference from the crack in the sky, making the repair much easier."

"Please speak, young lady."

Chen Lin immediately inquired.

The Six-Eared Pagoda couldn't be found, and the chances of obtaining the Acacia Dust were slim. Of the remaining three tasks, this one was the simplest: exploring the Abandoned Land and hunting the Reverse Spirits were both beyond his capabilities.

"I need you to go to the Abandoned Land and retrieve something for me."

The frail woman's request left Chen Lin speechless.

He only agreed to the deal because he didn't want to go to the Abandoned Land, but he didn't expect the other party to make such a condition. After going around in circles, he came back to the same place.

"I don't have that ability."

Chen Lin spoke frankly.

"I have no idea where the Abandoned Land is, and according to legend, no cultivator who enters there, not even a high-level ruler, ever comes out again."

"It's not that dangerous."

"The Abandoned Land simply means that you can't use your supernatural powers. As long as you're careful and use your brain, surviving won't be a problem. As for your statement that even high-level rulers can't get out, that probably means they don't know how to leave."

"Oh, right."

"There is one more thing to pay attention to, and that is one's innate lifespan."

"Once you get to that place, you will consume your innate lifespan. Insufficient lifespan is also a major cause of death. You need at least sixty years of innate lifespan."

Chen Lin seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this.

It's hard to tell whether what the other party said is true or false, but the fact that they can't use supernatural powers is the same as the rumors circulating outside.

It does have some credibility.

"So, you know how to leave that place, young lady?"

"of course."

The slender woman nodded.

"Actually, there's nothing special about it. There's a mountain range there, and to the left of the highest peak, there's a valley with a rather peculiar shape, and there's a cliff there."

"All you have to do is stand in front of the cliff and shout 'Open Sesame' three times."

Chen Lin looked at the other person with a suspicious expression.

He could accept any strange way of leaving, but the slogan "Open Sesame" gave him endless associations.

Is it a coincidence?

No.

It absolutely cannot be a coincidence.

"Open Sesame" is not a common phrase, but a classic line from a fairy tale from a past life. If you weren't someone from a past life, you simply couldn't say it.

Could the abandoned land be Earth?
Chen Lin had an idea and immediately asked, "Miss, you know so much about this place. Could you perhaps have been there? Could you tell me the details?"

"I've never been there."

The slender woman immediately denied it.

Then he said, "I've heard this news before, but it's absolutely accurate. You just need to make sure you have enough lifespan, don't cause any trouble after you go in, and head straight to the valley after you find the items I need. The success rate will be over 80%."

How do I get in?

Chen Lin pressed for an answer again.

The slender woman seemed impatient.

"How did you cultivate to your current level? And why would the Fisherman of Heavenly Lake take a liking to you? Do I have to teach you this kind of thing? Just create a tribulation and accept the summons of the Whispering Voice."

Chen Lin didn't care about the other party's attitude.

I kept asking.

"What is that whispering sound? Why can it pull people into the Abandoned Land? Isn't it said that there are no supernatural powers in the Abandoned Land? Logically, such a mysterious situation shouldn't occur."

"Who said there are no supernatural powers there?"

The slender woman spoke softly.

"It's that you cultivators can't use extraordinary energy there, not that there's no extraordinary power there. Don't get that confused."

Chen Lin's expression immediately changed.

"You mean to say that there are other systems of energy in the Abandoned Lands?"

"Then what's the difference between me going in and sending myself to my death?"

No matter how clever you are, it's useless to fight against the extraordinary with a mortal body. One force can overcome ten techniques, and even a Qi Refining cultivator is not someone an ordinary person can withstand.

"There aren't many living beings left there. Who would care about an ant like you? Don't think too highly of yourself."

The slender woman sat back down on the rock.

He swung his legs across his back and said, "Whatever. Go if you want, don't if you don't. I'm just curious about that item; it's no big deal if I don't get it." (End of Chapter)