Walking down the corridor, Su Xuanxuan walked alongside Chu Yunlan.
Her scarlet lips parted slightly, her voice condensing into a single line as she sent a Sound Transmission into Chu Yunlan’s ear:
“Young Master, how much more intelligence have you gathered regarding that evil cultivator?”
Smelling the faint, alluring fragrance that wafted from the Fox Venerable from time to time, Chu Yunlan swallowed his saliva.
Maintaining a composed gait, he stared straight ahead and replied:
“Reporting to Fox Venerable, to my knowledge, that evil cultivator has been in close contact with the Crown Princess recently.”
“Yesterday, they even stayed in the same room, not stepping out for the entire night.”
“I fear that evil cultivator intends to control Her Highness and plunge the Immortal Dynasty into chaos.”
Su Xuanxuan’s eyelashes fluttered:
‘In close contact with the Crown Princess of the Immortal Dynasty?’
‘Even stayed in the same room all night long?’
‘Could it be that the Crown Princess has realized the Holy Son’s identity and wants to use this to swallow the resources of my Sacred Realm?’
At the thought, Su Xuanxuan’s murderous intent spiked.
Sunlight leaked through the carved lattice windows of the corridor just then, casting the light and shadow in a dance across her bewitching face.
However, the Fox Venerable quickly calmed herself:
‘No, no! Yuan’er’s appearance is plain, and his Spirit Root is not particularly outstanding; he shouldn’t be caught in such a scheme.’
‘Could it truly be an evil cultivator Possession?’
‘That is impossible. If that were the case, the protection seal I placed within Yuan’er would have taken effect.’
‘Even if the seal were useless, I would at least be able to sense it.’
‘So why has the situation turned out like this?’
‘No! This matter must be investigated by me personally!’
With this thought in mind, Su Xuanxuan continued to ask:
“Since that is the case, do you have any arrangements for what to do next, Young Master?”
Chu Yunlan pondered for a moment, his transmission carrying a tone of careful consideration:
“In this junior’s opinion, it would be a pity to simply kill that person.”
“Our Sacred Realm and the Immortal Dynasty have always maintained a good cooperative relationship.”
“If we can gather evidence and expose that person’s wolfish ambitions in front of the Crown Princess, it will surely be of great benefit to future cooperation between the two powers.”
“If Fox Venerable is willing to act, perhaps you could first approach that evil cultivator to extract some intelligence.”
He turned his head to glance at Su Xuanxuan, his gaze respectful and restrained:
“Of course! The final decision rests with you, Fox Venerable.”
Hearing this, Su Xuanxuan finally felt at ease:
‘It seems this fake Young Master has not yet discovered Yuan’er’s true identity.’
‘If that is the case, there is room for maneuver in many things!’
The Fox Venerable smiled lightly:
“Very well! I shall take responsibility for that evil cultivator who has possessed a child of the Chu Clan.”
She paused, her tone shifting to one of concern:
“As for you, Young Master, since arriving in Xuanji City, it seems you have gained new insights into your path of emotion?”
“Judging by the situation, you are nearing the critical moment for forming your Golden Core.”
“When do you plan to go into seclusion? Do you require me to act as your guardian?”
Chu Yunlan’s expression remained unchanged, though his heart tightened slightly:
‘The Fox Venerable is volunteering to be my guardian?’
‘What is she planning?’
‘Could it be that she wants to probe my path of emotion?’
‘That absolutely cannot happen!!!’
Although Chu Yunlan intended to maintain good relations with the Supreme Guardian branch, their current bond was not deep.
For a practitioner of the path of emotion, the greatest fear is having one’s Dao Heart corrupted.
The Supreme Guardian’s seduction techniques were precisely the most adept at doing exactly that.
Therefore, he had hidden his practice of the [Jealousy Dao] incredibly well for many years.
To outsiders, he appeared gentle as jade and refined in all his actions, but no one knew his true foundation.
Regarding the Fox Venerable’s potential probing, Chu Yunlan politely declined:
“Fox Venerable has keen eyes. This junior has indeed gained some insights, but before forming the Golden Core, the path of emotion cannot be truly sensed; I still need to polish it further.”
Listening to these words, Su Xuanxuan inwardly sneered:
‘This fake Young Master hides his secrets deep indeed.’
She had practiced the path of desire for many years and believed she could see through the emotional foundations of most people.
But this Chu Yunlan appeared gentle on the surface, yet remained an unfathomable deep well on the inside.
Of course, she had only been making a polite offer and had no intention of digging deeper.
After all, this boy’s fate was destined to be crushed into the mud by the Holy Son Yuan’er she was cultivating, never to rise again.
Seeing her fall silent, Chu Yunlan assumed she was waiting for his response and added:
“Seclusion will take at most a few months, or potentially many years.”
“You are a person of great importance, Fox Venerable, so it is already a great honor that you spared the time to come.”
“How could I trouble you to act as my guardian? Once this trip to Xuanji City concludes, I will make my own arrangements.”
Su Xuanxuan withdrew her thoughts and nodded lazily:
“Very well. It is good that you have your own plans, Young Master.”
The two had reached the courtyard at the end of the corridor.
Chu Yunlan cupped his hands:
“This is the courtyard I specifically had cleaned up for you; I hope Fox Venerable finds it to her liking!”
Su Xuanxuan stopped in her tracks, the morning light passing by her side and illuminating her bewitching face in half-shadow as she laughed:
“I like it! Anything arranged by the Young Master, I will naturally like. Enough! You may stop here! I will take full responsibility for the matter of the evil cultivator.”
After speaking, she turned and walked into the courtyard. As she moved, her nine fluffy tails swayed and brushed past Chu Yunlan’s nose.
That intoxicating, bewildering fragrance lingered around him for a long time.
Watching that alluring figure grow distant, he couldn’t help but lick his thin lips:
‘You vixen! Once I ascend to the position of Holy Lord, I will surely take you as my furnace to achieve my path to immortality.’
With that thought, Chu Yunlan departed.
On the other hand, once Su Xuanxuan entered the room, she set up a magical array to shield it from prying eyes.
Just as she sat down, she sensed something.
With a flip of her jade hand, a pitch-black Command Medallion appeared in her palm, with the words “Demon Path Alliance” carved upon it.
As a member of the Demon Path Alliance, she was not truly an evil cultivator.
For her, protecting the Chu Clan’s bloodline was the most important priority.
As it happened, the Demon Path Alliance also harbored designs on her own [Taixu Sacred Domain].
Rather than guarding against them everywhere, it was better to infiltrate behind enemy lines herself.
She could also use the Demon Path Alliance’s intelligence network to gather more information for the Sacred Domain.
After many years of hard work, Su Xuanxuan had become [Daji] within the alliance.
If she continued this undercover work, she felt she could even contend for the position of Alliance Leader.
Now, seeing the medallion glowing with a faint light, Su Xuanxuan frowned:
‘What has happened now?’
As she infused her Divine Sense into it, Su Xuanxuan asked in confusion:
“Who is it???”
An aged voice from within the medallion echoed into her Consciousness Sea:
“It is I! Ziya, how is it that you, a Daji, are also in Xuanji City?”
Su Xuanxuan’s heart skipped a beat:
‘Great Elder?’
‘This old fool is usually impossible to find, why did he suddenly look for me?’
‘Wait! He just said “also”?’
Su Xuanxuan reported:
“Reporting to Grand Elder Ziya, Young Master Yunlan sent me here to investigate some matters.”
“It just so happens that the Divine Grade Auction is approaching, so I thought I would come to join in the fun.”
“But why are you in Xuanji City, Elder? Is it for the Divine Grade Auction?”
“Did you not send others to handle that matter? Has something gone wrong?”
Mentioning this, the old man sighed:
“I was going to come and oversee it myself! As for the auction, an accident did indeed occur.”
Su Xuanxuan immediately became somewhat interested and asked curiously:
“Oh? What sort of accident occurred?”
The old man asked in return:
“Do you remember who [Shenbao] is?”