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

Lin Peishan's brows furrowed even more, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, as she continued:

"To be honest, young master, Peishan has secretly received offers of help from many powerful forces."

Some offered valuable treasures, some offered high positions, and some... used the people of Peishan and Fengming Kingdom as bargaining chips, using both soft and hard tactics, coercion and enticement.

But I firmly refused them all.

For Peishan, Fengming Kingdom is not just home, but also her roots.

Now, villains run rampant, His Majesty is in seclusion for cultivation, and the country is leaderless.

With such strength, young master, if you were to step forward, you would surely be able to save Fengming Kingdom from its dire straits.

This grand competition is also an excellent opportunity to rebuild the prestige of the Phoenix Cry Kingdom and deter those treacherous outsiders.

Lin Fengmian listened and remained silent for a moment.

Wow, something like that actually happened. A grand competition to redefine territory... that sounds quite interesting.

It seems that no matter where humanity goes, it cannot escape the word "struggle".

With the Demon Abyss still unconquered, the seal not yet secure, and alien races eyeing them covetously, they still have the mind to engage in these scheming, power struggles, and other such matters.

He glanced at Lin Peishan, who had laid out the whole story. Although she spoke calmly, her tightly clenched fists and slightly white knuckles betrayed her inner tension and resentment.

Lin Fengmian nodded and cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you for telling me these confidential matters, Miss Lin. This information is very useful to me."

After saying that, Lin Fengmian didn't linger. His figure blurred, and he transformed into a streak of light, rushing towards the direction of the Absolute Spirit Sect.

The first step is to confirm the safety of Gu Qingge and Cang Yuwei.

After all, he discovered Qingming Zhenren's whereabouts here.

That old man is as cunning as a fox. If he were still alive, there's no guarantee he wouldn't betray his two young wives' affair.

The forces behind Qingming Zhenren are deeply entrenched and complex, so we must be wary.

I'll only feel at ease if I go and take a look.

As for the Human Race Competition, Lin Fengmian naturally wanted to participate as well. Not for resources or territory, but for Su Miaoyun. Since someone wanted to reshuffle the deck, they'd have to ask Lin Fengmian's sword if it would allow it first.

Meanwhile, in Black Cloud Abyss.

Lin Fengmian leaped into the air, his clothes fluttering, leaving the Black Cloud Abyss and returning to the familiar edge of the endless swamp.

After the spiritual energy was restored, things changed here as well.

In the once desolate swamp, many strange spiritual plants have grown, their leaves glowing with an eerie light, their roots embedded in the black water, and some even blooming with eerie flowers.

Yet the Blackwater was still shrouded in mist and swirling with miasma, and from afar it remained a desolate wasteland that sent chills down one's spine.

He stood there quietly for a moment, then his powerful divine sense instantly surged out, sweeping across every inch of the surrounding space like a tidal wave, not even missing a hundred feet underground.

The result was completely fruitless.

Immediately afterward, he summoned the Boundary-Breaking Pearl and poured spiritual power into it, but the pearl remained dull and unresponsive. It seemed that the spatial rift had completely disappeared.

Lin Fengmian shook his head in disappointment.

His gaze drifted into the depths of the abyss, and he suddenly remembered the little black snake he had found.

Little Black, you should belong to the Ten Thousand Demon Cave's faction now, right?

I wonder if you'll be bullied by other demons there. The demons in the Land of Desolation are all wild and exotic species, with fierce bloodlines, born and raised in nature, far superior to the domesticated spirit beasts of the outside world.

The power and resources of the Demon Cave are probably more terrifying than all of humanity combined. Thinking of this, Lin Fengmian couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

If he leaves in the future, he will definitely take Xiao Hei with him. But at that time, taking a demon from the Demon Cave will probably be quite troublesome.

He shook his head and chuckled, suppressing these thoughts for the time being.

The most urgent task is to go to the Soul-Severing Gate.

A streak of light pierced the sky!

Before long, the familiar, somewhat lonely mountain gate came into view.

However, as soon as he got close, Lin Fengmian frowned.

Not right.

The spiritual light of the mountain-protecting formation was dim and flickering, like a long-neglected fortress, with spiritual energy even becoming blocked in many of its key points.

There was no one on duty at the mountain gate, and a thin layer of withered leaves had fallen on the stone steps, indicating that it had not been swept for a long time.

Although the spiritual energy within the sect had become somewhat denser due to its recovery, the air was filled with a sense of oppression, decay, and even a faint hint of malevolence.

The disciples came and went in a hurry, their faces rarely showing smiles, but rather vigilance and numbness.

Occasionally, someone would look up, glance around, and then quickly look down again, as if saying or looking at something more would bring trouble.

This is far removed from the Jue Ling Men of my memory, a place that, despite its perilous location, united in its efforts to protect the seal.

"Halt! Who are you? How dare you trespass into my Jueling Gate!"

A clear, cold shout rang out, the voice exceptionally pleasant, like a nightingale singing in a valley, yet carrying an undeniable chill.

Lin Fengmian turned his head and saw a young woman in a pale yellow dress, with a pretty face but a frosty expression, blocking his way with a sword.

Her oval face was as white as jade, and her eyebrows and eyes were as beautiful as a painting, but her pretty eyes were full of vigilance. The tip of her sword was pointed directly at Lin Fengmian, and spiritual power flowed slightly on the sword. She was obviously serious.

Lin Fengmian smiled slightly, his divine sense having already silently swept across the entire sect, but his heart sank.

He did not sense the primordial yin energy of Gu Qingge and Cang Yuwei.

"My name is Lin Fengmian. I am passing through this place and have come to pay my respects to Sect Master Fu. Please inform him of my presence, Fairy." His tone was calm, and there was not a trace of anger on his face.

Upon hearing this, the woman's icy expression faltered, and she sized Lin Fengmian up and down. The wariness in her eyes lessened somewhat, but a complex and unfathomable meaning emerged, along with a hint of... panic.

"You... are Lin Fengmian?"

Her tone softened slightly, yet still carried a deliberate air of distance; her grip on the sword tightened slightly, her knuckles turning white.

"My father is recuperating in a quiet room on the back hill. Please come with me."

So she's Sect Leader Fu's daughter. Lin Fengmian sighed inwardly, followed her, and casually asked, "Sect Leader Fu, how did you get injured? What happened?"

The woman paused slightly and glanced at Lin Fengmian.

In that instant, Lin Fengmian clearly saw a flicker of struggle and humiliation in her eyes. She pursed her lips, and in the end, she simply whispered:

"When you see my father, you will naturally know."

She led Lin Fengmian to a secluded courtyard in the back of the mountain, then stopped and said softly, "My father is inside. Please make yourself at home, young master."

After saying that, her eyes were filled with panic, and she hurriedly turned and left, as if she didn't want to stay a moment longer.

The pale yellow skirt swayed gently in the mountain breeze, her pace quickened, and she almost ran until she disappeared at the end of the path.

Lin Fengmian's doubts deepened, and he pushed open the door to enter.

The courtyard was simple, filled with the fragrance of herbs.

An old locust tree leaned against the corner of the wall, its branches and leaves sparse.

A middle-aged man dressed in a simple scholar's robe and with a pale face was sitting cross-legged and meditating. He was none other than Fu Qingyun, the sect leader of the Jueling Sect.