Mortal: I possess a copy of the Jade Manual of the Sea of ​​Consciousness!

Yuanwu Kingdom.

Half a month later, Wang Xuan returned here after four years.

The former Shenxiao Pavilion has become the present-day Yunxiao Pavilion.

The shop owner has changed from Old Master Qi Zhen to Qi Yunxiao, who looks much more mature than he did four years ago.

Presumably, his grandfather's death taught Qi Yunxiao a lesson in his naive mind.

"Knock knock!"

Wang Xuan knocked on the door. Qi Yunxiao, who was still busy inside the store, looked up at Wang Xuan when he heard the noise.

Upon seeing Wang Xuan for the first time, Qi Yunxiao was somewhat incredulous, but then greeted him with a beaming smile, saying, "Senior Wang, you've arrived! Let me make you some tea."

Wang Xuan waved his hand, telling Qi Yunxiao not to bother with such formalities.

"You've become quite the smooth operator since I last saw you in over four years."

If Fellow Daoist Qi could know this in the afterlife, he would be extremely gratified.

Upon hearing Wang Xuan mention his grandfather, Qi Yunxiao's expression turned slightly saddened, and he sighed, "Since my grandfather passed away, I've seen many things more clearly in the past two years."

"In the cultivation world, strength is paramount, even though this market is protected by the rules of the Heavenly Star Sect."

But I, a mere Qi Refining cultivator, am utterly incapable of protecting the precious magical artifact left by my grandfather.

In just two years, those magical artifacts were forcibly bought and sold by others using spirit stones.

Now all I can do is renovate the shop and put some magic items up for sale; life is a bit more relaxed now.

Wang Xuan nodded slightly. It seemed that the other party had truly grown and had some ideas of his own.

"Your awareness is correct. In the cultivation world, people die for wealth, and birds die for food."

Your strength is too low, and you have no powerful backing or even a powerful figure to protect you, so it's certain that others will have their eyes on you.

I'm here for no other reason than to keep my promise to Fellow Daoist Qi to protect you.

However, cultivation knows no time, and I cannot always be by your side to protect you.

The only option left is to bring you into the Spirit Beast Mountain Sect. Under my name, no one in the outer sect will dare to provoke you.

This isn't for you to consider. In a few months, you'll come back to the sect with me. I need to go to the treacherous rapids of the Panlong River.

Wang Xuan did not mention Xin Ruyin's matter, nor did he ask Qi Yunxiao why he started selling formations.

All they told Qi Yunxiao was a predetermined outcome.

No matter what you choose, after I finish my business, you must come with me to the Spirit Beast Mountain to cultivate. You cannot refuse!

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao knew he couldn't possibly agree and immediately tried to refuse.

"senior……"

"Huh?!" Wang Xuan's eyes widened, forcibly silencing Qi Yunxiao's words.

"What, you still want to refuse? Old Master Qi is gone. With your cultivation level, do you think you can live peacefully in this perilous world of cultivation?!"

"I'm not discussing this with you. If you respect Old Master Qi's wishes, then come with me!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao felt both joy and anxiety.

He was overjoyed that Wang Xuan, this Foundation Establishment senior, cared so much about him, and even though his grandfather was no longer alive, he still kept his promise and protected him.

But what worries me most is who will take care of Ruyin if she gets sick after I'm gone?!

With Ruyin's abilities, let alone a thousand-year-old spiritual herb, it's uncertain whether she can even obtain a hundred-year-old spiritual herb.

After much deliberation, Qi Yunxiao gritted his teeth and made a decision.

"Senior, I'll go with you."

Wang Xuan hummed in agreement and said, "That's more like it. With Old Master Qi teaching you weapon-refining techniques, you'll definitely be in high demand once you enter the Spirit Beast Mountain."

With your skill in crafting artifacts, you shouldn't have to worry about spirit stones for the next few decades.

Qi Yunxiao expressed his gratitude, and then said, "However, I would like to ask you, senior, if you would allow me to take two more people with me."

Wang Xuan's heart skipped a beat, but he asked calmly, "You're bringing other people with you. What are their identities?"

Qi Yunxiao quickly recounted Xin Ruyin's past to Wang Xuan.

And how the two met, and when their feelings for each other became ambiguous.

However, Qi Yunxiao did not tell Wang Xuan about Xin Ruyin's illness.

They were probably afraid that Wang Xuan would feel it was inappropriate and wouldn't intend to take the other person away.

Wang Xuan's eyelids twitched twice.

Looking at Qi Yunxiao's smug, almost obsequious expression, he suddenly couldn't laugh anymore.

He is now twenty-five years old, and his combined age across his two lifetimes is forty-five.

To this day, he has never had a romantic relationship. His interactions with female cultivators are either to extract information or for mutual benefit.

I have no one I can confide in, and I'm still single.

Wang Xuan's expression was slightly complicated, and he coughed to remind Qi Yunxiao.

Qi Yunxiao snapped to attention and quickly straightened his posture, awaiting Wang Xuan's reply.

"You said Xin Ruyin is proficient in formations; do you have any finished products I can see?"

Qi Yunxiao nodded twice, went to the shelf, rummaged around, and took out a wooden box.

Upon opening it, an exquisite array plate appeared in Wang Xuan's sight.

However, although this array plate looks very exquisite, it actually lacks spiritual energy and is a defective product.

Although Wang Xuan knew that this was an unfinished version of the Inverted Five Elements Formation.

After examining it for a moment, he still frowned and said, "The structure of this formation is indeed very sophisticated, but it's a defective product. How am I supposed to inspect it?"

Seeing this, Qi Yunxiao remained calm, took the array plate from Wang Xuan, and fiddled with it for a bit.

A thin layer of spiritual energy shield enveloped the shop.

Qi Yunxiao explained, "Senior, the finished product of this formation is called the Inverted Five Elements Formation."

"It can defend against external enemies from within, and even a Core Formation cultivator cannot break through it in a short time!"

Outside, it can trap and kill enemies, displaying its supernatural powers with the power of the five elements of heaven and earth, making enemies lose their way in illusions and making them impossible to defend against!

This unfinished magic array was created by Ruyin, but unfortunately she contracted a strange illness that no amount of famous doctors could cure.

Now I can only stay at home and recuperate, and I have no heart to research and create formations anymore, alas…”

Wang Xuan showed an interested expression at the right moment and said, "This woman actually has such ability, and can independently develop an array of this level. She must be a genius herself."

"A strange illness... Everything in this world has a cause and effect. Would you mind taking me to see this woman?"

Qi Yunxiao had no choice but to gamble on Wang Xuan's character.

"Of course, senior. Please follow me."

Led by Qi Yunxiao, the two arrived at a secluded forest.

After crossing the muddy path and walking for several dozen feet, the view suddenly opened up.

After Qi Yunxiao took out a token and infused it with spiritual power, a gap suddenly appeared in front of him.

Upon entering, you'll find a simple wooden house nestled in the surrounding peaceful scene.

They're quite good at choosing locations to build their businesses.

"The environment is quite nice, quiet and elegant, which is indeed a preference of cultivators who study formations."

"That concealment array from earlier was quite good; I didn't even detect it for a while with my divine sense. Interesting."

The two pushed open the door and entered, whereupon a little girl in a red dress hurriedly ran over.

"Young Master Qi has arrived? Miss's illness is getting worse and worse. If we don't get the thousand-year-old spiritual herb to suppress her condition, I'm afraid..."

The little girl ran and cried out, but when she saw Wang Xuan, she fell silent.

The reason is simple: Xiaomei herself is also a Qi Refining cultivator.

She could vaguely sense a sense of oppression emanating from Wang Xuan, a figure of authority!

Xiaomei just stood there, staring blankly.

It wasn't just because Qi Yunxiao had suddenly brought a stranger into this place that they were at a loss, but also because the person in front of them was likely a Foundation Establishment senior!

As for Wang Xuan being a mortal, haha, only a fool would think that.

Wang Xuan glanced at the pretty young girl in front of him, then looked at Qi Yunxiao.

Qi Yunxiao sensed Wang Xuan's gaze and began to introduce himself.

"Senior, Xiaomei is Ruyin's maid, and one of the two I mentioned."

Ruyin's illness is very strange. Even with the medicinal properties of the thousand-year-old spiritual herb, it can only be forcibly suppressed, and the illness will relapse over time.

After introducing Xiaomei, Qi Yunxiao introduced Wang Xuan to her.

"Xiaomei, this is Senior Wang, whom my grandfather once mentioned. He provided that thousand-year-old spiritual herb."

Xiao Mei suddenly realized, blinked curiously at Wang Xuan, and relaxed her guard slightly.

"Junior Xiaomei greets Senior Wang!"

Wang Xuan released a burst of spiritual energy, stopping Xiao Mei's bowing motion.

"Take me to see your young lady. I'm also very curious about what kind of illness she has that even a thousand-year-old herb can't cure."