Having cultivated myself into an immortal, all I want to do is raise female disciples.

"What are you thinking? Why would I participate in some kind of competition between sects?" Yun Ping shrugged and explained, "I'm asking you for another plaque because I have another disciple who is in another place right now and it's not convenient for him to come over."

—Fan Luokui is currently taking Duan Chenxi to find her sister.

"So that's how it is..."

As his fear subsided, Fang Yan breathed a sigh of relief. He had really thought Yun Ping was going to take the stage himself.

If that's the case, then everyone might as well fight tooth and nail for second place.

After all, even his master, the pride of the imperial family, Chu Xin, admitted that he was no match for Yun Ping.

—If a real fight breaks out, the entire capital city might be demolished.

So Fang Yan gave Yun Ping another wooden plaque, and the latter nodded in satisfaction after confirming that he had not missed any disciples.

"Thanks, please give my regards to your master."

He left a message for Fang Yan, then turned to leave with the others.

But Fang Yan quickly stood up from his stool and called out to stop Yun Ping and the others—

"Senior, wait a minute!"

"Hmm? Is there something else?"

Faced with Yun Ping's calm and composed expression, Fang Yan paused, gritted his teeth, and mustered his courage to put his thoughts into words—

"Senior, if you don't mind, how about... you stay at the Imperial Palace in the capital?"

"……what?"

The sudden and enthusiastic invitation made Yunping and the others doubt their ears.

How did I suddenly get invited into the palace?

Fang Yan mistook everyone's astonishment for hesitation, and he quickly brought up Chu Xin.

"So, my teacher is the one you met earlier..."

"She is the third princess of the Lantian Empire, and..."

"I've wanted to see you all for a long time."

------

Three figures walked through the alleyway, in a shadowy area where the light could not reach.

Fan Luokui held Duan Chenxi's fair hand warily, her hostile gaze never leaving the tall woman's back.

This woman who claims to be the third princess of the empire is highly suspicious from any angle.

But suspicious is just suspicious; it doesn't necessarily mean the visitor has ill intentions. In the end, Fan Luokui only felt that the woman in front of her probably had impure motives, but she couldn't find any evidence to prove it.

despite this--

"Are there really such deserted places in the capital city...?"

Fan Luokui observed her surroundings out of the corner of her eye. Compared to the bustling capital, this place was more like a cold and desolate ruin. The tall and quiet gray buildings around her were like trees that had long lost their vitality, occasionally emitting a chilling aura that made one's hair stand on end.

As if sensing Fan Luokui's confusion, Duan Chenxi, the little girl who had been particularly happy about holding hands since earlier, spoke up to answer.

"This area should be considered uninhabited, right? The capital city originally planned to develop it, but for some reason... maybe it was put on hold because of the fierce competition among various factions."

"That's not entirely true."

Chu Xin, who was walking at the front, turned her head slightly and continued the conversation.

"No matter where you are, there will be shadows wherever there is light. Even in the capital, there are some dark places that cannot be cleared away. This place is both a no-man's land and a gathering place for some dark forces."

"For example, Yin Sha (煞)."

Upon hearing the familiar words again, Fan Luokui slowed her pace, her tone as cold as the surrounding wind, "You've been mentioning Yin Sha since just now, what exactly is that?"

Chu Xin paused, seemingly considering how to explain to Fan Luo Kui.

After a long pause, she lowered her voice—

"It's an organization hidden within the capital, but its influence extends far beyond the capital. If you have to categorize it, it should be considered an evil cultivation organization."

"Heretical cultivator?"

"Yes." Chu Xin nodded. "There are countless evil cultivators in the world who use crooked and evil methods to forcibly improve their cultivation level, and even commit cruel acts such as using human essence and blood to refine magical artifacts. Yin Sha is a particularly difficult sect to deal with among evil cultivators."

Fan Luokui searched her mind for the words "Yin Sha". Having thoroughly studied the library of the Judgment Palace, she should have some knowledge of many evil cultivation sects.

however--

She shook her head, returning to reality from her overwhelming memories. "I've never heard of the word 'Yin Sha' before."

"That's because Yin Sha hides very well. They leave almost no trace. They kill and devour bones, refine souls and drink blood. They can be said to be the most decisive and efficient among evil cultivators. Even we spent a lot of time to barely find Yin Sha's traces."

As Chu Xin spoke, she stepped into the dusty courtyard.

Fan Luokui and Duan Chenxi, who followed closely behind, finally got to see the place Chu Xin was taking them to.

Surrounded by walls on all four sides, within the gray walls stand several wooden houses, their roofs shrouded in the shadow of the Imperial Palace. In the pitch-black courtyard, there is a round table and several gray benches.

Fan Luo Kui immediately became extremely vigilant. She stared ahead and asked in a low voice, "Where is this place?"

Faced with Fan Luokui's obvious questioning, the tall, red-haired woman slowly turned around and said calmly, "Yin Sha's previous stronghold."

"The previous one?"

"When we arrived, all the Yin Sha people had already fled, leaving only a few useless baits to clean up the traces left by Yin Sha."

She seemed completely unconcerned about the cherry-haired woman's wariness and suspicion, and casually found a stool and sat down.

With her long, slender legs crossed, the stunningly beautiful woman gazed at Fan Luokui and Duan Chenxi, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Yin Sha is a rather ruthless evil cultivation organization. They will not let go of any creature that comes into contact with them. Perhaps that is why they have their eyes on Chen Xi."

Upon hearing this, Duan Chenxi's delicate body trembled slightly. She pressed her soft body against Fan Luokui's, her small hands tightly gripping Fan Luokui's red and white shrine maiden robes.

She still remembers the days when she was constantly on the run, fearing being chased by those shadowy figures.

She also remembered the tragic deaths of the guards who sacrificed their lives to protect her.

Duan Chenxi had no idea what would happen to her if she fell into the hands of those people, and she never wanted to know.

"..."

The little girl's timid appearance made Fan Luokui sigh. She squatted down slightly, stroked Duan Chenxi's head, and comforted the little girl who was like a frightened rabbit.

At the same time, a sharp, cold light shot out from those pale golden eyes—

"So why did you bring us here?"

"To tell you all this."

Chu Xin spoke calmly.

"If it really was you who snatched Dawn from Yin Sha's hands, then there will inevitably be a fight between you and Yin Sha, one of you will live and the other will die. Yin Sha's terror and power are not something a mere individual can withstand..."

An individual...?

Fan Luokui smiled as she recalled her senior brothers and sisters at Yuntian Academy, as well as that unreliable young man.

"I am not alone."

“That’s the most terrifying thing.” Chu Xin’s face turned cold. “The Yin Sha won’t just take revenge on you alone. They will try every means to slaughter your family, your friends, and everything around you in the most cruel way… They won’t be so kind as to only target you.”

Fan Luokui didn't react at all to this, and instead changed the subject.

"What are you trying to tell me after all this?"

Seeing Fan Luokui so calm, Chu Xin couldn't help but narrow her eyes.

She had intended to continue using this method to put pressure on the cherry-haired girl in front of her, but now it seemed to be having no effect on her.

So she simply accepted Fan Luokui's words.

"I just want to tell you that there is now a conflict between the capital and Yin Sha. From one perspective, we are on the same side as you—provided that you are not a spy for Yin Sha."

"You want me to join you and help you eradicate the evil spirits?"

Chu Xin nodded solemnly and repeated the sentence again.

"Provided that you are not our enemy."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

My cold isn't better, but I still chose to update.

Old Yu was so diligent all those years ago, you guys... you know what I mean, right?

87. Jiang Qinghua?

The Imperial Palace in the capital.

As the palace of the royal family of the Lantian Empire, the magnificent architectural complex is beyond description in terms of luxury and is enough to dazzle most people.

Even if you've prepared yourself mentally beforehand, once you step into the palace, the ubiquitous luxury goods and Roman-style architecture make even a small courtyard look almost like a castle.

Beneath my feet are jade-colored bricks covered with a comfortable, bright red carpet; intricately carved artworks are clearly visible on the stone pillars lining the road; wallpaper gleams with shimmering gold; and skylights so high they seem to reach an endless distance.

All of this gave Ye Yuchan the illusion that she was not in a world of cultivation, but in a medieval kingdom.

From any perspective, isn't this excessive wealth?!

"I originally thought that a post station costing 50,000 gold coins a night was luxurious enough, but I was still taken aback by the antique sandalwood tables and carved blue wooden doors inside..."

As a genuine country bumpkin, Ye Yuchan began to doubt whether her previous understanding of wealth was somewhat flawed after entering the palace.

In her mind, a businessman with tens of millions in assets could be considered a millionaire, but compared to the royal palace...

Ten million or something, that's probably just half a month's salary for a servant who cleans floor tiles in the palace.

Thinking of this, Ye Yuchan's eyes immediately lit up as she stared at Fang Yan, who was leading the way to the side. "Hey you, the one who steals kills, let me ask you, can I work here? Even if you don't provide food and lodging, it's fine!"

"what?"

Fang Yan immediately looked embarrassed, as if he had eaten expired food, and turned to Ye Yuchan, who was currently extremely excited, "Why did you suddenly ask that..."

"because……"

"Because this kid's brain is messed up."