One person: Lu Jin, do I look like your master?

Chapter 63 Biyou Village

Inside the main hall, as Lu Jin and Lu Linglong left, the atmosphere, which had been somewhat tense yet warm, suddenly changed.

Almost simultaneously, Wang Xuan and the Old Celestial Master turned their gazes to Zhang Chulan, who was trying to hide in a corner and minimize his presence.

Locked in by the gazes of these two powerful figures, Zhang Chulan suddenly felt as if he were being crushed by two invisible mountains, and a layer of white sweat instantly broke out on his back.

He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, and seemed unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

What kind of person was the old master Zhang Zhiwei? How could he not see through this little rascal's thoughts?

He stroked his long, snow-white beard, a half-smile playing on his lips, and spoke, breaking the suffocating silence that had been hanging over Zhang Chulan:

"Chu Lan, don't cower there. Did you come all this way to see me, your advisor, or... perhaps you'd like to have a chat with your senior, Wang Xuan?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "senior" with a hint of teasing.

Zhang Chulan inwardly groaned. He had only intended to take advantage of Old Master Lu Jin's presence to become familiar with the area and perhaps subtly glean some information about Wang Xuan. Who would have thought he would witness such a "dramatic ethical drama"?

Now that the main character, Lu Jin, has left, he feels even more pressure facing these two than when facing the Quanxing demons.

"Uh! Master! Nothing...nothing special!"

Zhang Chulan quickly waved his hand, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

"I just... just came to see you, sir! And by the way... and to admire the demeanor of Senior Wang Xuan!"

"Yes, to admire your talent! Um... since you two still have things to discuss, I won't disturb you any longer! Master, Senior Wang Xuan, I'll head back now! Let's... let's keep in touch!"

He spoke very quickly, and without waiting for their response, he practically scurried away, disappearing from the main hall at top speed. His retreating figure seemed to be in a state of panicked escape, as if he were afraid of being caught if he was even a step too slow.

Watching Zhang Chulan's disappearing figure, the old Celestial Master shook his head helplessly and chuckled as he scolded:

"That little monkey is very cunning."

Then, he looked at Wang Xuan, his tone becoming calm.

"Young Wang, what are your plans for the future? If you have nothing else to do, why not stay a few more days at Longhu Mountain? I'd like to have more opportunities to exchange ideas and discuss the Dao with you."

Wang Xuan bowed slightly, politely but firmly declining the offer.

"Thank you for your kindness, Celestial Master. However, the matter in the mountains is now settled, and I have some insights that I need to calmly digest, so I will not bother you any further."

Upon hearing this, the old Celestial Master did not insist on keeping him, and nodded, saying:

"Since that's the case, I won't keep you any longer. The path of cultivation truly requires quiet contemplation. If you have any free time in the future, you are welcome to visit Longhu Mountain at any time."

Before leaving, at Wang Xuan's suggestion, the two exchanged contact information.

Looking at the newly added name "Longhushan·Zhang Zhiwei" in his phone's contacts, Wang Xuan found it quite interesting. This exceptional master was quite up-to-date in adapting to modern technology.

After bidding farewell to the old Celestial Master, Wang Xuan set off alone down the bluestone path.

As dawn broke, mist swirled in the mountains, and birds sang sweetly, creating a scene that seemed like a completely different world from the bloody battle of the previous night.

He walked leisurely, admiring the mountain scenery while mentally reviewing what he had learned from his trip to Longhu Mountain.

The biggest gain, of course, was obtaining "Six Treasures Immortal Thief," one of the "Eight Extraordinary Skills," from Baron as he had hoped.

The profound meaning of this extraordinary skill goes far beyond the superficial concepts of "perfect digestion" and "immortality."

What Wang Xuanzhen truly valued was its core ability to almost domineeringly absorb and devour the free "Qi" and even the vitality of all things in the surrounding environment in order to replenish and nourish itself!

This is simply tailor-made for him, making up for any shortcomings in the "Triple Rebirth" in terms of nourishing the source, and even helping to further optimize it!

In comparison, the so-called "immortality" effect brought by the Six Treasures Immortal Thief seems somewhat useless to Wang Xuan, who now possesses the Horse Talisman and whose reversal of life has reached a state of perfection.

He is still young, and has a long future ahead of him, so there is no need to worry about his lifespan for now.

"Next, it's time to find a quiet place to calm down and reflect."

Wang Xuan pondered to himself.

The recently acquired "Meditation Mantra" and "Six Treasures of the Immortal Thief" both require time for dedicated practice and integration.

With the foundation laid by using the experience orb, the "Meditation Mantra" has already achieved some success. What is needed next is to work diligently and thoroughly integrate it into daily practice to temper one's character.

"The Six Treasures of Immortal Thieves" is a completely new field that requires careful study and cautious cultivation to avoid its devouring instincts from having an uncontrollable impact on one's mind.

But where to go?

As this thought arose, Wang Xuan paused slightly.

Since the passing of Old Man Wang, who adopted him and was a member of the Quanxing clan, that small house in the mountains could no longer be called a home.

The world is so vast that he felt a little lost for a moment, not knowing where to go or where to settle down.

A faint, rootless, drifting feeling quietly swept over my heart.

Just then, a place name suddenly popped into his mind—Biyou Village.

In my memory, it was a special village established by Ma Xianhong, the leader of the "New Intercepting Sect," and a place where a large number of extraordinary people and ordinary people gathered.

There is a divine machine that is said to be able to "transform the mortal into the extraordinary", and all kinds of strange and beautiful dolls. More importantly, according to the "plot" he knows, a big storm will soon be caused there because of Ma Xianhong's "body-cultivation furnace".

"When the stove breaks... it must be quite a spectacle, right?"

A barely perceptible smile curved the corners of Wang Xuan's lips. He wasn't one to join in the fun, but Biyou Village was a special case, a place where technology, people, and impending changes converged.

Perhaps it can provide him with some different perspectives and... a bit of fun? After all, the path of cultivation is long, and a little relaxation now and then is nice.

After all, spiritual practice should be relaxed and balanced; one should not simply isolate oneself and engage in unproductive practices.

More importantly, Biyou Village is relatively closed and independent, and Ma Xianhong seems to be a tech-focused "homebody," so he should be able to provide a temporary retreat without too much external interference.

"Okay, it's decided. I'll go to Biyou Village and stay for a while."

Having made up his mind, Wang Xuan no longer hesitated. He stopped and stood on a platform with a wide view halfway up the mountain, facing the rising sun, and took out his phone.

The screen lit up, and he skillfully opened the ticketing app and entered his destination—Guizhou.

With a tap of the finger, a plane ticket to that remote village about to be stirred up was confirmed.

A mountain breeze swept by, fluttering the hem of his white robe.

Wang Xuan's figure slowly disappeared on Longhu Mountain.

Chapter 64 Hobbyist

Liupanshui, Guizhou, airport exit.

As Wang Xuan stepped out of the somewhat noisy terminal, a damp mountain breeze carrying a hint of coolness swept over him, dispelling the stuffiness in the cabin.

He looked up and saw rolling green mountains all around him, and the sky was a hazy blue, as if it had been moistened by water vapor.

The air is filled with the fresh scent of earth and plants; for those accustomed to the dry climate of the north, the air here seems to be so moist it could be wrung out.

Looking at this familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar scenery, a barely perceptible emotion flashed in Wang Xuan's eyes.

Aside from the time I spent living with Old Man Wang in the deep mountains and forests after I came into this world, the longest period of my life was spent in Guizhou, especially around Liupanshui.

Although I didn't consciously try to remember every blade of grass and every tree here, they have left a deep imprint on my memory.

Instead of queuing for a taxi like ordinary travelers, he quickly determined the direction and started walking along a slightly remote road towards the approximate location of Biyou Village in his memory.

Biyou Village is located in an extremely secluded place, deep in the heart of the Miao Mountains. It is inaccessible by ordinary means of transportation and is even difficult to find on a map.

Taking a taxi there is not only impractical, but may also attract unnecessary attention.

For Wang Xuan, this journey was nothing; it was a good opportunity to re-experience the atmosphere of this land.

He walked slowly and leisurely, like a traveler wandering aimlessly.

Sometimes I would stop to admire the nameless wildflowers by the roadside, sometimes I would listen to the clear birdsong in the mountains and forests, and sometimes I would look up at the distant mountain peaks shrouded in mist, as if I were thinking about something.

The mountain roads are winding and sparsely populated. Occasionally, local villagers will ride by on motorcycles and give this young man in white, who has a unique demeanor and is hiking deep into the mountains, a curious glance.

After walking and stopping for about half a day, as the sun began to set and the shadows of the mountains lengthened, Wang Xuan finally arrived at the entrance of a valley surrounded by dense bamboo forests and ancient trees.

At the entrance of the valley stands an inconspicuous blue stone with three large characters engraved on it in ancient seal script: Biyou Village.

This is the headquarters of the "New Jie Sect" established by Ma Xianhong.

Wang Xuan stood at the village entrance, not in a hurry to enter, but quietly observing this seemingly peaceful village that was actually rife with undercurrents.

The houses in the village are mostly made of bamboo and wood, built against the mountain in a staggered manner. You can faintly hear the sounds of chickens and dogs, as well as children playing, creating a peaceful and tranquil pastoral scene.

However, Wang Xuan's keen senses detected that beneath this peaceful scene, there were many subtle and unique fluctuations of Qi, as well as some unnatural, faint sounds resembling the operation of mechanical devices.

In the air, several seemingly ordinary flying insects flew with a mechanical precision, and their compound eyes occasionally reflected a barely perceptible metallic luster.

Meanwhile, deep within the village, inside the most spacious bamboo building, which also functions as a workshop.

Ma Xianhong was deep in thought, staring at a complex design drawing, his brows slightly furrowed.

Suddenly, the device he was wearing on his eyes reacted, clearly showing Wang Xuan's figure standing at the village entrance.

The images were transmitted from a high-altitude mechanical reconnaissance unit disguised as an insect.

"This guy?!"

When Ma Xianhong saw the familiar yet complex face on the screen, he was stunned, and the charcoal pencil in his hand stopped moving.

Ma Xianhong had very conflicted feelings towards Wang Xuan. During their last encounter, Wang Xuan had "educated" him with his absolute strength, and more importantly, Wang Xuan had ruthlessly pointed out the huge hidden dangers and potential risks that his taking in Chen Duo had brought.

At the time, he was quite dissatisfied, but after returning to Biyou Village, he calmly considered the matter for a long time, especially considering Chen Duo's uncontrollable primal Gu poison and the company's inevitable tough stance on the matter.

He had to admit that Wang Xuan's words, though harsh, hit the nail on the head.

Taking in Chen Duo was indeed an extremely unwise, even reckless, decision that put the entire Biyou Village in danger.

The awkwardness of being exposed, the fear of Wang Xuan's overwhelming strength, and a complex mix of emotions—including a hint of something indescribable about Wang Xuan's ability to see through the world—made Ma Xianhong's mood quite delicate at this moment.

He sighed and put down his charcoal pencil. In any case, they had already reached the village entrance. With Wang Xuan's abilities, he must have already noticed the village's surveillance cameras. There was no way to hide, and it was also difficult to pretend he hadn't seen them.

Ma Xianhong straightened his robes and stepped outside.

Soon, he arrived at the village entrance and met Wang Xuan, who was standing quietly waiting.

"What are you here for?"

Ma Xianhong looked at Wang Xuan and asked directly, his tone neither warm nor hostile, but rather a guarded calm.

Wang Xuan maintained his nonchalant smile, seemingly oblivious to the distance in Ma Xianhong's tone, and calmly stated:

"I've been having nowhere to go lately. While the quiet life in the mountains is nice, I'd like a change of scenery. I've heard that Village Chief Ma's place is quite peaceful, so I'd like to come and bother you for a while. Would you be so kind as to do me a favor?"

Ma Xianhong stared at Wang Xuan for a long time, seemingly trying to discern a deeper purpose from the other's eyes.

But Wang Xuan's gaze was clear and calm, without any hesitation, as if he really was just looking for a place to stay temporarily.

After a moment of silence, Ma Xianhong finally nodded.

On the one hand, he couldn't figure out Wang Xuan's true intentions, and a hasty refusal might cause unnecessary conflict; on the other hand, Biyou Village had already taken in many extraordinary people who had difficulty finding a place in the outside world.

It wouldn't hurt to have another Wang Xuan, as long as he doesn't break the village rules.

"Haven't you asked yet?"

Ma Xianhong then remembered that he had parted in such a hurry last time that he didn't even know the other person's name.

Wang Xuan simply gave his name.

"Wang Xuan..."

Ma Xianhong silently repeated the name to himself and nodded again.

"Alright, come with me. Although Biyou Village isn't wealthy, we can still find you a place to stay."

After saying that, Ma Xianhong turned and walked towards the village. Wang Xuan didn't say anything more, carrying his simple luggage, and leisurely followed behind him.

Wang Xuan didn't care about Ma Xianhong's lukewarm attitude.

His purpose in coming here was not to get to know Ma Xianhong better, but simply to find a relatively quiet place away from too much worldly disturbance so that he could focus on cultivating the newly acquired "Six Treasuries of Immortal Thieves" and further refine the "Mind-Calming Mantra".

The secluded atmosphere of Biyou Village suited him perfectly.

The two walked one after the other on the cobblestone path in the village.

Many villagers cast curious glances when they saw Ma Xianhong bring in a young man in white with an unfamiliar face, but no one went forward to disturb him.

Soon, Ma Xianhong led Wang Xuan to a relatively isolated courtyard at the east end of the village, where they saw a young man with striking short white hair and a lean build polishing a metal component in the courtyard.

Ma Xianhong called out.

The white-haired man—who was fond of Brother Qiu Rang—raised his head upon hearing the voice, saw Ma Xianhong, immediately put down his work, and respectfully replied: