A man from the Big Dipper, starting his charlatanship at Mount Tai.

Lin Xiu picked up a piece and handed it to Yan Ruyu, then picked up another piece for himself.

"Sweet but not cloying, it's really good."

Yan Ruyu ate in small bites, a genuine smile appearing on her face.

"I didn't expect that Xiao Zu would be so particular about food."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiu couldn't help but shake his head and laugh:

"If one cannot even satisfy one's appetite in this life, what is the point of cultivating immortality?"

"The myriad flavors of life are one of the great principles."

"The most powerful Heavenly Emperor throughout history must have had a bit of a foodie side."

As he spoke, Lin Xiu picked up another piece.

Yan Ruyu: "......."

Yan Ruyu subconsciously thought Lin Xiu was talking nonsense, but after carefully considering Lin Xiu's abilities, she felt that it was actually quite possible.

After leaving the pastry shop, the two strolled slowly along the river. The willows along the bank were newly green, and several small boats were moored at the dock, with the boatmen dozing off at the bow.

“Look at that boatman.”

Lin Xiu suddenly spoke, and Yan Ruyu followed his gaze.

"He earned thirty coins today, enough to buy rice and salt, and even a piece of malt candy for his grandson. When he returned home at night, his wife warmed some rice wine, and his grandson surrounded him, asking for candy... This is his way."

Yan Ruyu was taken aback.

On one hand, she felt the meaning of the mortal world, and on the other hand... she didn't expect Lin Xiu to be able to calculate others so comprehensively.

"Of the three thousand great paths, not all are high and mighty."

“In the sweet aroma of pastries at the alley entrance, in the footsteps of boatmen returning home, and in the smoke rising from the stoves of ordinary households, there are also traces of the flow.”

"Then, Yan'er... where is your path?"

Lin Xiu then changed the subject, turning his attention to Yan Ruyu.

"Is your path... simply for the revival of the Azure Lotus lineage?"

“I think it’s unnecessary, because the Azure Emperor is still alive. As long as the Azure Emperor is alive, the Azure Lotus lineage will always be prosperous.”

"Since it has been in a period of prosperity, there is naturally no need for revival."

"Therefore, you don't need to think about bearing the pressure for the entire Qinglian lineage. Just focus on finding your own path."

Lin Xiu's words came from the bottom of his heart.

In his eyes, the entire Azure Lotus lineage was not as valuable as Yan Ruyu. After all, Yan Ruyu had cultivated to the peak of Quasi-Emperor on her own, and now with his help, her innate talent had been improved. Before the Azure Emperor awakened, she was the best "Dao Bearer" of the Chaos Azure Lotus lineage. Such a useful Dao Bearer... Lin Xiu naturally had to cherish her.

"Where does my path lie...?"

Yan Ruyu glanced at Lin Xiu, then looked away, gazing thoughtfully at the bustling world not far away.

......

A few days later, the two climbed a famous river together.

The mountain path was rugged, with stone steps winding into the clouds. Lin Xiu walked with a leisurely pace, and Yan Ruyu followed half a step behind him, her black hair fluttering slightly in the mountain breeze.

It was dusk when I reached the summit. The sea of ​​clouds surged beneath my feet, and the setting sun dyed the clouds golden and red.

"When you reach the summit, you will see all the mountains below."

"Mountains connect with the heavens above, gather the earth's veins below, and unite the hearts of people in the middle, linking all things to form a great force."

“It can be said that the mountain itself is a manifestation of the great Dao between heaven and earth.” Lin Xiu stood with his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

Yan Ruyu stood beside Lin Xiu, seemingly sensing something, and asked softly:

"Why did Xiao Zu suddenly take me to travel to these places?"

She remembered that Lin Xiu's initial explanation was to solve her problem of not being able to cultivate properly. So why did he take her to travel in the mortal world?

Others may not know, but how could she not know where her problem lies?

Of course, what's important now is what Lin Xiu thinks is wrong with her, so that he has to solve the problem in this way.

......

Why?

Lin Xiu did not answer immediately.

A few seconds later, Lin restored the Heavenly Evolution Abacus and gently moved his fingertips across the beads. The abacus emitted a faint hum, with Daoist energy flowing through it.

After a moment, Lin Xiu put away the abacus and sighed.

Because... the result was exactly the same as last time. The Heavenly Calculation Abacus showed that Yan Ruyu's cultivation was hindered because of him!

With a sigh, Lin Xiu said softly:

"Yan'er, I know that your cultivation is hindered because of me."

"........"

"Why do you say that, Little Ancestor?" Yan Ruyu pursed her red lips slightly, her delicate hands unconsciously clenching.

Under Yan Ruyu's gaze, Lin Xiu said in a deep voice:

"Your spiritual practice has encountered obstacles, and your resolve to pursue the Dao is hindered."

"It's not because you lack the aptitude, nor because your cultivation technique is flawed, but because I put too much pressure on you."

"Is that right?"

"........"

Yan Ruyu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word.

She had thought Lin Xiu had calculated something precisely, but now it seemed that Lin Xiu had only calculated a rough estimate and then stopped calculating.

......

While Yan Ruyu was pondering, Lin Xiu continued:

“I know you’re under a lot of pressure with me, your little ancestor, above you. You feel you have to do everything perfectly so as not to disgrace the Qinglian lineage.”

"But you've forgotten, even if the sky falls, there's always someone tall enough to hold it up."

"The Azure Emperor is still alive and well in the Desolate Tower. If anything serious happens, let him go first. If he's not going to make it, there's still Ye Fan, that kid, who is the reincarnation of an Emperor. He's very resilient."

"Huh? Is this how you try to shift the blame?"

Yan Ruyu was amused by Lin Xiu's words and burst out laughing. She thought Lin Xiu was going to say something else, but it turned out to be him shifting the blame? That's really his style.

Yan Ruyu's smile was like a magnolia blossoming on a branch, her eyebrows curved, and shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks. The faint gloom that had been lingering between her brows for days vanished in that smile.

"Little Ancestor, you should only say these words to my face, and don't let the Emperor Ancestor hear them..." Yan Ruyu reminded him with a smile.

"So what if I hear it?" Lin Xiu raised an eyebrow.

"He can't possibly crawl out of the abandoned tower and beat me up, can he?"

"I think that if given the chance, the first thing Emperor Ancestor would do after climbing out of the Desolate Tower would be to beat up Little Ancestor." Yan Ruyu knew all too well these past few days that Lin Xiu's favorite activities were eating, sleeping, and beating up the Azure Emperor.

Although every time it's bloody, a victory is a victory.

"Haha~ Let him come then!"

"If he comes, I'll release Ye Fan immediately!"

Lin Xiu felt that even with his involvement, it would be tens of thousands of years before the Azure Emperor was willing to emerge from the Desolate Tower.

When that time comes, let alone Ye Fan, even he, as long as he is still alive at that time, will not be afraid of the Azure Emperor!

........

"Little Ancestor, I thought you were going to face the Emperor Ancestor yourself. It turns out you're releasing Brother Ye?"

Yan Ruyu laughed so hard her chest bounced, because she remembered the first time Lin Xiu brought Ye Fan to the Qinglian lineage.

It seems that tricking Ye Fan is in Little Ancestor's nature.

"What's wrong? Shouldn't I have let him go?"

"If it weren't for me, would he have been able to travel to the Forbidden Land of Desolation, Purple Mountain, and the Bronze Immortal Palace for outings? Would he have enjoyed so many blessings?"

"Alright, alright, it's all thanks to Little Ancestor, is that alright?"

Yan Ruyu smiled helplessly and gave Lin Xiu a slightly playful eye roll.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

A mountain breeze swept by, and the sea of ​​clouds churned. Yan Ruyu suddenly felt a lightness in her heart, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

Yes, if the sky falls, someone taller will hold it up. She just needs to do what she's supposed to do and move forward step by step.

Yan Ruyu could understand Lin Xiu's desire to relieve her stress.

The only problem is... Lin Xiu went in the wrong direction. Her cultivation was hindered, and it wasn't because of the so-called pressure.

Fortunately, the outcome was good.

Although she went in the wrong direction, by sheer luck, Yan Ruyu felt that the distance between her and Lin Xiu had narrowed considerably, and she was no longer as affected as before.

......

After descending the mountain, the two continued their journey.

As they passed through an ancient forest, Lin Xiu suddenly stopped. He dug out a section of jade-like root from the base of a thousand-year-old tree. The root had natural Dao patterns on its surface and exuded pure wood spirit energy.

“This 300-year-old Jade Poria cocos will benefit your cultivation.” Lin Xiu handed the root to Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu took it, and when her fingertips touched the root, she could feel the abundant life essence within. She looked up at Lin Xiu, her eyes sparkling: "Little Ancestor, you've found quite a few rare and precious herbs for me along the way."

"Just doing it on the spur of the moment," Lin Xiu waved his hand.

"Your improvement in cultivation is also a good thing for the Azure Lotus lineage."

Lin Xiu spoke casually, but Yan Ruyu knew that each of these treasures she had "casually" found was of immense benefit to her. Some could nourish her bloodline, some could temper her soul, and some could help her comprehend the Great Dao of the Azure Lotus.

What she didn't know was that every time Lin Xiu gave her a treasure, after she consumed it, Lin Xiu would copy her Daoist aura into his Daoist space and then carefully sense the changes in her Daoist aura.

The Azure Lotus lineage possesses a unique constitution, with a trace of the Chaotic Azure Lotus's essence contained within its bloodline. Every time Yan Ruyu refines a plant-based natural treasure, that essence grows stronger, creating a profound resonance with her Daoist techniques.