Mortal: Starting with the Falling Cloud Sect, I proved my Dao through gacha pulls.

Xuan Gu was shocked. He never expected that the ruthless Tang Laomo in front of him was the same person as Xiao Yan who had broken into his hiding island that day.

After parting ways at Ghost Abyss, Xiao Yan disappeared without a trace. He assumed that the junior had taken the spiritual medicine and left, never expecting that the person had changed his appearance and transformed into this.

This person's ability to conceal his form was truly exceptional, managing to deceive even the spiritual senses of all the Nascent Soul cultivators present. Even now, he couldn't distinguish which of Tang San's and Xiao Yan's appearances was the other's true form.

Having figured out the key points, Xuan Gu fell silent for a few breaths before speaking again, his tone filled with bitterness.

"So that's how it is. You've certainly shrewdly planned this. It seems I've fallen into your trap from the very beginning. Was everything within the Void Heaven Palace orchestrated by you? But the Void Heaven Cauldron is hailed as the number one treasure of the Chaotic Star Sea; why did you so easily abandon it?"

Su Mu simply smiled faintly and did not answer, but he really didn't have any particular thoughts about the Void Heaven Cauldron.

To wield this treasure, one must first refine the Azure Ice Flame and then cultivate its exclusive Treasure-Gathering Technique. Even with initial mastery, one must have a foundation of mid-Nascent Soul cultivation.

With his extraordinary abilities, once his cultivation reaches the mid-Nascent Soul stage, this cauldron will probably be of little use to him.

Moreover, the Void Heaven Cauldron was originally a key that Fairy Ice Soul made to unlock the inheritance of the Heavenly Cauldron Palace in the Spirit Realm. This matter is too distant and unrealistic for him now.

Therefore, he didn't care at all when Han Li took the Void Heaven Cauldron. Besides, without the Azure Ice Flame, even if Han Li obtained this treasure, he would probably be helpless and unable to activate it.

Su Mu shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the now empty Hanli Terrace, then he raised his hand and gently placed it on Xuan Gu's shoulder.

"You old devil, you talk too much nonsense. Those Nascent Soul stage monsters will return soon. I'll take you away from here first."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Qiankun Disc in his hand suddenly rippled with a faint spatial fluctuation, and a gentle yet irresistible spatial force enveloped the two figures.

The next moment, the two figures vanished into thin air, leaving no trace.

Inner Star Sea, the sea area near Tiantai Island.

The void above the sea surface distorted slightly, and two figures appeared without warning.

Holding the Qiankun Disc, Su Mu gazed at the faint outline of Tiantai Island on the distant sea horizon, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Speaking of which, this Tiantai Island was the first large island he saw when he first entered the Chaotic Star Sea, and it was also the first island coordinates he personally noted down. He felt a bit of a special feeling about it.

He glanced sideways at Xuan Gu beside him, who appeared expressionless but was actually experiencing turbulent emotions. His expression instantly returned to indifference, and he spoke softly.

"Alright, hand over everything that belongs to me."

Xuan Gu's expression suddenly stiffened. Despite his immense resentment, his body was beyond his control. He could only grit his teeth, pat his chest, and take out all the treasures he had kept on his person, handing them to Su Mu.

Su Mu glanced around casually and saw that among these treasures, besides the azure ice bead formed from the Dry Blue Ice Flame, there was also a small green arrow made from Golden Thunder Bamboo, and the complete and flawless Xuan Yin Technique. Everything was there.

He nodded in satisfaction, waved his sleeve, and pocketed all the treasures. Then, looking at Xuan Gu, whose face was full of resentment, he said with a half-smile:

"You old devil, you've got a good plan. If you really manage to cultivate the Asura Sacred Flame, once you return to the Nascent Soul realm, you'll probably stir up quite a storm in this Chaotic Star Sea."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Gu forced out an extremely ugly smile. He had already realized the situation and knew that he was powerless to resist. He accepted reality in an instant, and his expression became extremely obsequious.

"I've only served as a stepping stone for you. Your scheming must be for a great purpose. I wonder how you intend to deal with me? Although my cultivation level has declined, I've spent many years in this Chaotic Star Sea and should still be of some use to you."

Su Mu glanced at him with a half-smile, not at all surprised by the old demon's change in attitude. This man had survived to this day and was very good at judging the situation. At this moment, he was probably afraid that Su Mu would kill him to silence him.

"Don't worry, you old devil, you still have some use. I know you have an irreconcilable hatred for that Extreme Yin. As long as you behave yourself, I will help you get rid of him!"

Xuan Gu was initially relieved, then overjoyed, and replied excitedly, "Good! As long as you can help me kill Ji Yin, I am willing to serve under you without any disloyalty!"

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Su Mu's expression suddenly turned cold. He stared at him and sneered. A faint red light flashed in his eyes, and the soul restriction was activated instantly.

"You old devil, you're quite the actor. Do you think that by feigning compliance, you can eventually find Liu Dao and Wan San Gu to lift the soul restriction? Your thoughts and intentions are laid bare before me. You're simply delusional!"

Xuan Gu's mind sank suddenly, utterly horrified. He never expected that this strange soul restriction could see through his inner thoughts, leaving no secrets hidden.

Before he could even utter a word in defense, he felt a sudden numbness in his soul, his perception of the outside world vanished instantly, and a searing pain, like ten thousand insects gnawing at his body, surged from the depths of his soul. His consciousness rapidly became sluggish, and he felt as if he were falling into boundless darkness.

A moment later, the light returned, and he regained his sense of the outside world. Only the lingering pain deep in his soul clearly reminded him that the torment he had just experienced was no illusion.

Xuan Gu trembled uncontrollably from the extreme pain, gasping for breath, his eyes filled with undisguised fear as he looked at Su Mu.

At this moment, Su Mu's cold, emotionless voice slowly entered his ears.

"This is a one-time exception! Find a secluded place and cultivate as soon as possible to return to the Nascent Soul realm. I will make arrangements for you in the future."

Xuan Gu immediately lowered his head, no longer daring to harbor any disloyal thoughts. He bowed respectfully to Su Mu and replied in a deep voice, "Yes, I will obey your orders."

After the Xuan Gu's escape light turned into a gray streak and flew away rapidly until it disappeared, Su Mu stood on the sea surface and pondered for a moment.

"Those Nascent Soul stage monsters must have already discovered the disappearance of the Void Heaven Cauldron. In addition, during the opening of the Void Heaven Palace, the Reverse Star Alliance has been making frequent moves in secret. Soon, the Inner Star Sea will be in great chaos."

Thinking of this, Su Mu shook his head, chuckled, and then raised his hand to activate the Qiankun Disc in his hand again.

"Enough. Chaos is about to break out. It's best to return to Tianxing City as soon as possible, be a good alchemist, and observe how things unfold."

......

Two weeks later, in Tianxing City.

Su Mu, dressed in a silver-trimmed white robe in the style of the Star Palace, stood outside Han Li's cave and sent a sound transmission talisman inside.

"After waiting for half a month, I'm finally back."

After being teleported back to his cave in Tianxing City from near Tiantai Island that day, he first went into seclusion for several days to recuperate, and then officially joined the Star Palace and obtained a position as a retainer in the Star Medicine Pavilion.

Just today, upon noticing some unusual activity at Han Li's cave, he knew that the man had returned to Tianxing City and was probably preparing to flee.