From the fake emperor to the concubine

Zheng Yi left the inn and strolled around the city. He observed his surroundings while using his divine sense to search for useful information.

The monks on the street were gathered in small groups, discussing the ancient ruins.

"Have you heard? Someone went into those ruins, but was quickly teleported out."

"Yes, I heard there are powerful restrictions inside, and you can't get in without sufficient strength."

"Moreover, the ruins are divided into several layers; the deeper you go, the more precious the treasures become, but the greater the danger also."

After listening to this information, Zheng Yi gained a general understanding. It seemed that this ruin was indeed extraordinary and needed to be treated with caution.

As he walked, he suddenly saw a restaurant ahead called "Drunken Immortal Abode." The restaurant was bustling with people, its business thriving. Zheng Yi thought for a moment, then went inside.

The restaurant was elegantly decorated, with a main hall on the first floor and private rooms on the second. Zheng Yi went up to the second floor, found a seat by the window, and ordered several jugs of spirit wine and a few side dishes.

He sipped his wine while listening to the conversations of the other guests, gathering various pieces of information.

Just then, light footsteps came from the stairs. A woman came up.

Zheng Yi glanced at it subconsciously, and his eyes lit up immediately.

She was a beautiful woman who looked to be around thirty years old. She wore a light blue long dress, had a graceful figure, and an elegant demeanor. What was most striking was her appearance—willow-leaf eyebrows, phoenix eyes, a delicate nose, cherry lips, and skin as white as jade; she was breathtakingly beautiful.

What's even more remarkable is the unique aura she exudes, possessing both the charm of a mature woman and the ethereal quality of a Taoist practitioner. These two qualities blend perfectly, making it impossible not to take a second look.

The woman seemed to notice Zheng Yi's gaze and turned to look at him. Their eyes met in mid-air, and Zheng Yi smiled slightly and nodded in acknowledgment.

The woman returned a faint smile and then walked towards Zheng Yi.

"Fellow Daoist, do you mind if I sit here?" The woman's voice was clear and melodious, like pearls falling on a plate.

Zheng Yi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course not, please have a seat."

The woman sat down, and the waiter immediately came over to inquire. She ordered a pot of spiritual wine and a plate of spiritual fruit, then looked at Zheng Yi: "Fellow Daoist, are you from an outer realm? Judging from your attire, you don't seem to be from the Xuan Tian Domain."

Zheng Yi nodded: "Indeed. My name is Zheng Yi, from the Zheng family of Taixu Peak. I have come to the Xuantian Domain this time for that ancient ruin."

"The Zheng family?" The woman thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Never heard of them. But to come to the Xuan Tian Domain from the outer realms, they must be no ordinary people."

Zheng Yi laughed, "The Zheng family is just a small clan, not worth mentioning. But young lady, judging from your demeanor, you must be a local from the Xuan Tian Domain, right?"

"Young lady?" The woman covered her mouth and chuckled. "Fellow Daoist, you're quite the talker. I'm already this old, why would I call myself a young lady?"

Zheng Yi examined her carefully and said, "In my opinion, you are no more than thirty years old. Moreover, your temperament is ethereal, like a fairy; calling you 'young lady' is not an exaggeration at all."

The woman shook her head and said, "Fellow Daoist, you are mistaken. I am already one hundred and twenty-three years old this year."

Zheng Yi was taken aback, then suddenly realized. That's right, cultivators' lifespans far exceed those of ordinary people, especially those who reach the Nascent Soul stage or above; their appearance hardly ages. This woman looks young, but her actual age is likely much older.

"Then I have been presumptuous," Zheng Yi said, bowing slightly. "May I ask how I should address you?"

"Just call me Sister Liu," the woman said with a smile. "Or, if you don't mind, you can call me Ruyan."

“Liu Ruyan?” Zheng Yi repeated the name. “A good name, like smoke and mist, ethereal and illusory.”

"Thank you for the compliment." Liu Ruyan picked up her wine glass. "Since we're sitting together by chance, why don't we have a drink?"

"I couldn't ask for more." Zheng Yi also raised his glass, and the two clinked glasses and drank.

This spiritual wine tastes sweet upon entry, then transforms into a warm current that flows throughout the body. It contains pure spiritual energy, which is very helpful for cultivation.

"Good wine," Zheng Yi praised.

"Fellow Daoist is also a lover of wine?" Liu Ruyan's eyes lit up.

"I know a little bit," Zheng Yi said with a smile. "In my spare time, I enjoy tasting wine. It's just that the spirit wine from my area is generally of average quality, not as good as the one here."

Liu Ruyan became interested: "Then you must try the fine wines of the Xuan Tian Domain, fellow Daoist. There are many kinds of spiritual wines here, some brewed with thousand-year-old spiritual fruits, and some blended with the essence of demonic beasts; each one has its own unique flavor."

The two began to chat, from spirit wine to cultivation, and from cultivation to the general trend of the world. Zheng Yi discovered that Liu Ruyan was not only exceptionally beautiful, but also extremely knowledgeable. No matter what he said, she could always respond, and often had unique insights.

"What do you think of the ancient ruins, fellow Daoist?" Liu Ruyan asked.

Zheng Yi pondered for a moment and said, "Opportunity and danger go hand in hand. That's the cave dwelling of a Mahayana stage senior; the treasures inside are certainly tempting, but the dangers shouldn't be underestimated. Moreover, too many people are going there, so the competition will be fierce."

“Indeed,” Liu Ruyan nodded. “As far as I know, more than a dozen major powers in the Xuan Tian Domain have already sent people there. Among them are many experts at the Integration Realm, and even some Grand Ascension Realm elders are secretly observing.”

"The Mahayana stage?" Zheng Yi frowned. "They'll make a move too?"

“We won’t directly intervene, but we will send disciples in,” Liu Ruyan explained. “The cave dwelling of a Mahayana stage senior has special restrictions; only cultivators below the Integration stage can enter. If a Mahayana stage cultivator forcibly enters, it will trigger the cave’s defensive mechanisms.”

Zheng Yi breathed a sigh of relief: "That's much fairer."

"Fair?" Liu Ruyan laughed. "Fellow Daoist is too optimistic. Even without Mahayana stage cultivators, Fusion stage experts are terrifying enough. Moreover, Fusion stage cultivators in the Xuan Tian Domain are generally stronger than those in other domains."

Zheng Yi asked curiously, "Why?"

"Because of resources and traditions," Liu Ruyan said. "The Xuan Tian Domain has abundant spiritual energy and resources, and its cultivation techniques are more refined. Cultivators raised in this environment are naturally stronger than those from other domains."

She paused, then added, "However, it's not absolute. There are geniuses in the outer realms too, some even surpassing their peers in the Xuan Tian Domain. Fellow Daoist, reaching the late Nascent Soul stage, you must be an exceptional individual."

Zheng Yi was taken aback: "How did you know I was in the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm?"

Liu Ruyan smiled without saying a word, simply looking at him.

Zheng Yi suddenly understood something, and a sweep of his divine sense revealed a startling truth. This Liu Ruyan was actually at the late Nascent Soul stage! Moreover, her aura was so well concealed that it was impossible to detect her without careful examination.

"Excellent technique," Zheng Yi praised. "They were able to completely conceal their presence; even I didn't detect them."

"Likewise," Liu Ruyan said. "Your aura is also very well concealed. If you hadn't released your divine sense just now, I would have thought you were just a Nascent Soul cultivator."

The two exchanged a smile, both feeling a sense of mutual appreciation.

"Waiter, bring two more jugs of good wine," Zheng Yi called out.

"Alright!" The waiter quickly brought over two jars of even better spirit wine.

Zheng Yi poured Liu Ruyan a full glass of wine and said, "It's rare to meet such a kindred spirit; let's drink a toast together."

“Fellow Daoist is right.” Liu Ruyan raised her cup. “Come, bottoms up.” The two drank it down in one gulp. This time, the spiritual wine was even more mellow, and the spiritual energy was even more concentrated. After drinking it, Zheng Yi felt warm all over, an indescribable comfort.

After a few drinks, the two had more and more to talk about. They discussed everything from cultivation experiences to insights into life, from the general trend of the world to the local customs and traditions.

Zheng Yi discovered that Liu Ruyan was an extremely interesting person. She was experienced, knowledgeable, and had an open and generous personality, lacking the reserve often associated with female cultivators. Chatting with her was easy, pleasant, and stress-free.

"How many years have you been cultivating, fellow Daoist?" Liu Ruyan asked.

“Over a hundred years,” Zheng Yi said after a moment’s thought, “but it’s only in the last few years that I’ve truly begun to refine my skills.”

"In recent years?" Liu Ruyan asked curiously, "What has happened?"

Zheng Yi briefly recounted his experiences, omitting the details of the Time Realm and the Time-Space Clan's heritage. He only mentioned that he had obtained an opportunity during an adventure, which allowed him to break through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

"I see," Liu Ruyan nodded. "It seems you, fellow Daoist, are also a person of great fortune."

"Luck?" Zheng Yi laughed. "I think it's more about hard work. Without daily, arduous practice, even the best opportunities won't be seized."

“Well said,” Liu Ruyan praised. “Many people only see the opportunities others have had, but they don’t see the effort they put in.”

The two chatted for a while longer, until it grew late. The restaurant became increasingly crowded and noisy.

"It's getting late," Liu Ruyan stood up. "We had a very pleasant chat today; let's get together again another day."

"Wait a minute." Zheng Yi also stood up. "Miss Ruyan, I still don't know what you do."

Liu Ruyan smiled and said, "He's just a carefree cultivator, traveling around."

"A leisurely cultivator?" Zheng Yi was somewhat skeptical. "A leisurely cultivator at the late Nascent Soul stage is quite rare."

"Aren't you the same, fellow Daoist?" Liu Ruyan asked in return.

Zheng Yi was taken aback by the question, then smiled and said, "That's true. So, Miss Ruyan, you've also come for the ancient ruins?"

"I suppose so," Liu Ruyan said. "I'm not really interested in the treasures; I'm mainly here to see the spectacle. A grand event like this at the cave dwelling of a Mahayana stage senior isn't something you see every day."

Zheng Yi nodded: "Indeed. Then we might meet in the ruins."

"We will meet again if fate allows," Liu Ruyan said, then turned and went downstairs.

As Zheng Yi watched her retreating figure, he vaguely sensed that this Liu Ruyan was no ordinary person. Although she claimed to be a carefree cultivator, her speech and demeanor suggested she was definitely not an ordinary individual.

However, everyone has their own secrets, and Zheng Yi wouldn't pry.

He paid the bill, left the restaurant, and returned to the inn.

Back in his room, Zheng Bowen and the other two were already waiting for him.

"Master, have you found out anything?" Zheng Bowen asked.

Zheng Yi recounted the news he had heard that day, and then mentioned Liu Ruyan again.

"Liu Ruyan?" Xiao Tianxing's expression suddenly changed upon hearing this name. "Patriarch, what did you say her name was?"

"Liu Ruyan, what's wrong?" Zheng Yi asked, puzzled.

Xiao Tianxing gasped, "Patriarch, do you know who Liu Ruyan is?"

"Who?" Zheng Yi became interested.

"One of the top ten prodigies of the Xuantian Domain, the young lady of the Liu family!" Xiao Tianxing said. "The Liu family is one of the strongest families in the Xuantian Domain, and the patriarch is a Mahayana cultivator. Liu Ruyan is the most outstanding genius of this generation of the Liu family, having reached the peak of the late-stage Nascent Soul realm at the young age of one hundred and twenty, only one step away from the Integration Realm."

Zheng Bowen and Zheng Hongzhi were also stunned. They never expected that the woman their patriarch had casually met at a restaurant was actually a renowned prodigy in the Xuan Tian Domain.

Zheng Yi was also somewhat surprised, but he quickly came to terms with it. No wonder Liu Ruyan had such an outstanding temperament and was so knowledgeable; she was a young lady from a prominent family.

"The Ten Great Prodigies?" Zheng Yi asked, "What does that mean?"

Xiao Tianxing explained, "The Xuan Tian Domain has a Prodigy Ranking, which lists the most outstanding young cultivators in the Xuan Tian Domain. Those who can make the list are geniuses one in ten thousand. Liu Ruyan is ranked seventh; she is very strong, and it is said that she has a generous personality and many friends in the Xuan Tian Domain."

Zheng Yi nodded: "I see. It seems I've met a benefactor today."

He recalled his conversation with Liu Ruyan and understood many things. No wonder she knew so much about the situation in Xuantian Domain; she was a young lady from a prominent local family.

“However,” Zheng Yi added, “since she is a young lady from the Liu family, why is she hiding her identity?”

Xiao Tianxing thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps she doesn't want to be exposed. Although the Liu family is powerful, a tall tree catches the wind, and they have many enemies. Liu Ruyan is probably using an alias when she travels outside."

“That makes sense.” Zheng Yi nodded. “Then let’s not make a fuss and just pretend we don’t know her identity.”

"Yes," the three replied in unison.

As night deepened, Zheng Yi sat cross-legged on the bed, reflecting on the day's events.

Meeting Liu Ruyan was indeed an unexpected bonus. This woman was not only exceptionally beautiful, but also intelligent and knowledgeable, and Zheng Yi found conversation with her very pleasant.

More importantly, establishing a connection with the Liu family would also benefit the Zheng family's development. Although the Liu family is a powerful force in the Xuan Tian Domain, having more friends means having more options, and they might be able to use them in the future.

"Interesting," Zheng Yi murmured. "The Xuan Tian Domain is indeed extraordinary."

He closed his eyes, began circulating his internal energy, and adjusted his state. Tomorrow, they would be heading to the ancient ruins. What opportunities and dangers awaited them, no one knew.

But no matter what, he will do his best.

Outside the window, the bright moon hung high, and the stars twinkled. The night in Cloud City remained bustling with activity. Countless cultivators gathered here, preparing for an important event to come.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Liu Ruyan returned to her residence.

"Miss, why are you so late?" a maid asked as she approached.

"I went for a drink," Liu Ruyan said casually. "I met an interesting person."

"An interesting person?" the maid asked curiously. "What kind of person would you find interesting, Miss?"

Liu Ruyan thought for a moment and said, "A cultivator from another region named Zheng Yi. Although his cultivation is only at the late Nascent Soul stage, he speaks eloquently and is very knowledgeable. Moreover, I sensed a special aura emanating from him." (End of Chapter)