After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

Lin Fengmian was speechless for a moment.

In this woman's eyes, was he really such a frail and vulnerable person? Did he need someone to protect him?

Moreover, she spoke so gently today, with an apologetic expression, as if she were afraid he had suffered some injustice.

You should know that Su Miaoyun's beautiful face always showed only coldness and aloofness, and she never had any other expression.

Today he's been stammering again, explaining himself so much. Could it be that he's been completely captivated by my charm?

However, Lin Fengmian did not press the matter on the spot, but simply nodded perfunctorily:

"Alright, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Su Miaoyun froze. Yes, why was she suddenly so concerned about him?

She shook her head slightly, offering no explanation, and suddenly stepped forward, taking out an ancient talisman from her sleeve.

She reached out and grasped Lin Fengmian's wrist directly. Her fingertips were slightly cool and soft, as if boneless. Then she whispered to him:

"Come with me first."

Lin Fengmian was puzzled, but he still took a step closer. The next moment, Su Miaoyun activated the talisman—

"Buzz—"

Lin Fengmian felt the scene before him suddenly blur and distort, a low buzzing sound came to his ears, and the surrounding space was also fluctuating violently, as if it were being kneaded and folded by an invisible hand.

In a short while, the world spun around, and when I opened my eyes again, the scenery around me was completely different.

This is a solitary peak, so high that even the clouds only reach halfway up the mountain.

A fierce wind howled across the mountain peak.

The wind made his robes flutter loudly.

Before us lay an extremely ancient bluestone square, its surface covered with a thick layer of moss, clearly untouched for countless years.

An ancient and weathered atmosphere wafts over you, as if this square has stood here since the beginning of time.

What truly shocked Lin Fengmian were the nine enormous stone sculptures standing in the square.

The stone sculptures, carved from an unknown material, each exuded a chilling aura of power.

The nine stone sculptures are arranged in a mysterious and profound way, vaguely forming a huge and complex array.

The stone sculptures are diverse in form: there are women holding swords, old men holding seals, arhats wielding knives, and seated fairies.

Each one is so lifelike, it seems as if it might come to life at any moment.

What alarmed Lin Fengmian even more was that the entire plaza was covered with a dense array of extremely complex restrictions and runes, all intertwined and interconnected.

It formed the core of an array far beyond his comprehension. Even the residual power it emitted was something he had never seen before.

It is even more magnificent and vast than the fourth-order protective array of the Hehuan Sect. This array has probably already surpassed the scope of the fourth order.

"Where am I?"

Lin Fengmian was utterly shocked and couldn't help but ask. Su Miaoyun, however, did not answer immediately.

She simply took his soft, boneless, cold little hand and slowly pulled him into the center of the square. Just as they stepped into a certain area—

A round, benevolent-looking stone sculpture suddenly began to speak. The voice was old yet gentle:

"Miaoyun, you've finally arrived."

Immediately afterwards, a tall, slender, angular stone sculpture next to it also spoke, its tone carrying a hint of scrutiny:

"Hmm? Why are you with someone today? This kid... could he be the husband you mentioned last time?"

No sooner had the words been spoken than another stone sculpture, its face covered in a thick beard and its imposing presence, burst into a thunderous laugh:

"Hahaha! Miaoyun has good taste!"

Although I am now nothing but a stone body, my eyes are not yet blind! This young man's blood and energy are like a furnace, his yang energy is at its peak and soaring to the heavens... He actually possesses a pure yang holy body, a rare find throughout the ages! Interesting, truly interesting!

The fat stone sculpture remained silent, but inwardly it was filled with suspicion and doubt:

"Wait... something's not right. The aura around this kid is strange; there's a faint dragon energy swirling around him."

It was as if I had formed some subtle resonance with the natural world of this small universe… How strange! Could I be mistaken?

Lin Fengmian was instantly stunned.

Stone sculptures...can actually talk?

And you could see right through his constitution at a glance?

But having seen his share of storms, he quickly regained his composure. Considering the strange array formation here and Su Miaoyun's identity, he already had some guesses in his mind.

He immediately composed himself and respectfully bowed to the nine stone sculptures:

"Junior Lin Fengmian pays respects to all seniors! You seniors have sacrificed yourselves to guard this place and protect all living beings. You are truly the backbone of humanity, and your merits are immeasurable! Junior admires you the most!"

Upon hearing this, the three speaking stone sculptures suddenly fell silent for a moment. The fat stone sculpture's tone became somewhat subtle:

"Miaoyun...you even told him all this?"

The slender stone sculpture slowly said, "It seems you two have a good relationship; you can talk about anything."

Su Miaoyun shook her head slightly and replied earnestly:

"Grandpa Hu, Grandpa Li, Grandpa Sun, Miaoyun never told them a single secret about this place."

"Oh?" The stone statue of the bearded man looked at Lin Fengmian with interest. "So how did you find out, kid?"

Lin Fengmian pondered for a moment, then pointed to the array patterns on the ground and the location of the stone carvings, and said sincerely:

"I have some knowledge of formations."

This formation is a powerful sealing formation that seizes the essence of heaven and earth. It uses nine as its extreme number and requires nine seniors with extraordinary cultivation to guard the core of the formation in order for it to function.

The auras of the seniors were perfectly integrated with the stone sculptures, which were formed from their physical bodies... It must have been because the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had gradually thinned out in those days, making it insufficient to support the seniors in maintaining the operation of the formation with their flesh and blood for a long time.

To ensure the seal of the Demon Abyss remained unbroken, the venerable elders resolutely abandoned their physical bodies, sealing their souls and cultivation within stone sculptures, thus continuing to guard the core of the formation in this near-eternal way.

He paused, his tone filled with genuine respect and regret:

"But in this way, with the erosion of time, the stone sculpture is ultimately just a stone sculpture... the vitality of the flesh has long been extinguished."

Although the spiritual energy has now recovered, and the souls of all the seniors have been reawakened, restoring their true physical bodies... will be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

"Hahaha! Well said!" The stone sculpture he called "Grandpa Hu" burst into loud laughter. "Young man, you have good eyesight and a good character! I believe you now; Miaoyun was right about you!"

The other two stone sculptures also sighed softly, their tone revealing their approval of Lin Fengmian. Su Miaoyun's gaze towards Lin Fengmian softened as well.

She spoke softly:

"Lin Fengmian, you come from the outside world and have broad knowledge. I have heard that there are many talented people in the outside world, especially those who are good at alchemy."

If you are able to leave the Land of Desolation in the future... could you try to find a top alchemist and obtain or refine the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill that can reshape the physical body?