Chapter 1769: Eating Clean Without Acknowledging The Bill

After a brief exchange with Yueyao, Lu Ye felt relieved that she had no intention of making things difficult. Soon, he followed Haitang into Mount Fangcun.

From the outside, Mount Fangcun appeared to be a floating landmass shaped like a small mountain, common in the starry sky. However, upon entering, one realized it was an entire world.

Haitang continued forward, leading Lu Ye as they flew.

Lu Ye asked, "Where are we going?"

Haitang remained silent for a moment before replying, "Senior Brother, I'd like to ask you to come back to the Eastern Region with me!"

Lu Ye had already suspected that since the three divisions of Mount Fangcun could communicate, it was certainly possible to travel to the Eastern Region from here.

"Of course, I won't force you if you don't wish to," Haitang added.

Lu Ye remained silent.

Haitang had implied so much, practically telling him to go see Su Yuqing in the Eastern Region. As a direct disciple, Haitang didn't want to, and perhaps shouldn't, interfere in this matter. However, seeing her master's changes and being unable to help alleviate her worries deeply distressed Haitang. Now that such a rare opportunity presented itself, she didn't want to miss it.

Even if her master punished her later, she would act first and report later!

She believed Lu Ye wouldn't refuse; not if he had any sense of responsibility...

Lu Ye, of course, couldn't refuse. He followed Haitang silently; his lack of protest was itself a form of consent.

Not long after, they arrived in a valley where a massive altar-like structure stood, covered in intricate patterns. Lu Ye immediately recognized the marks of Void Spirit Runes.

Beside the altar, a figure sat motionless.

Sensing Lu Ye and Haitang's arrival, the person slowly opened their eyes, their gaze as sharp as lightning.

Though radiating no overt power, Lu Ye instantly realized this person was a Sunlit Realm cultivator!

The Western Region truly possessed profound power. Four Sunlit Realm cultivators had already appeared, and now another remained here guarding the domain. This meant at least five Sunlit Realm cultivators, not to mention any others who might be hidden.

Haitang brought Lu Ye down before the altar and bowed respectfully, "Uncle Zhang!"

At the same time, she telepathically informed Lu Ye, "This is Martial Uncle Zhang Kun!"

Lu Ye followed suit with a bow.

Zhang Kun glanced at them and smiled slightly, "Little Haitang, why are you back? Have you sold all the spirit talismans?"

"Not yet," Haitang replied, then indignantly looked at Lu Ye, "I met my dao companion in the Myriad Manifestation Sea. He took advantage of me and doesn't want to admit it! I'm taking him back to the Eastern Region to have Master sort things out!"

Cold sweat immediately broke out on Lu Ye's forehead. When had he taken advantage of her and refused to acknowledge it...? Haitang was definitely hinting at him again.

Zhang Kun's gaze turned cold. "Oh? Your dao companion, the human from the last Black Abyss martial arts demonstration? To meet again in the Myriad Manifestation Sea, what a small world. Would you like me to break his limbs?"

Haitang jumped in alarm and quickly waved her hands. "No, no need! I'll just take him to see Master; Master will decide what's fair." If Lu Ye were actually beaten, it would be too unfair.

Zhang Kun nodded. "You're right, this is your affair after all, and it wouldn't be proper for me to overstep. In that case, come on up!"

Haitang quickly grabbed Lu Ye's arm and led him onto the altar.

Zhang Kun waved his hand, and spirit crystals suddenly flew out, embedding themselves around the altar. Immediately, his spiritual power hummed around him, and he announced loudly, "The process might be a bit uncomfortable; please bear with it!"

Haitang nodded, "Disciple understands!"

She had experienced it once before when coming from the Eastern Region, and the sensation was indeed unpleasant.

Zhang Kun's spiritual power surged, and the spirit crystals around the altar visibly diminished, transforming into pure energy that poured into the altar.

The entire altar began to hum, and the void around it distorted.

Lu Ye vaguely sensed that this was likely a form of wormhole-like teleportation. Due to the unique nature and inherent connection between the various divisions of Mount Fangcun, both ends of the "wormhole" were anchored within different parts of Mount Fangcun.

He had experienced this kind of teleportation before; the situation was similar when he entered the wormhole from the Changyun Galaxy into the Mist Dragon domain. Unstable wormholes made the teleportation experience very uncomfortable.

Lu Ye was now experiencing a similar sensation, feeling as if he were drunk, with everything spinning around him.

Haitang, beside him, was no better off; her face was pale, and she seemed unsteady on her feet.

Abruptly, Zhang Kun's angry shout rang out, and his spiritual power surged even more violently.

Then, just as suddenly, the spatial distortion on the altar vanished. As Zhang Kun's spiritual power subsided, the chaotic space returned to normal.

Lu Ye and Haitang were still standing on the altar. Haitang looked bewildered, as Zhang Kun was still standing before her, meaning the teleportation had failed!

"Martial Uncle, what happened?" Haitang asked, confused.

Zhang Kun only stared at Yaya, who was sitting on Lu Ye's shoulders, and asked, "Lad, what's with this little girl?"

He hadn't noticed anything unusual about Yaya earlier, so he hadn't paid much attention. But when he tried to send Lu Ye and Haitang to Mount Fangcun in the Eastern Region, he sensed something was wrong!

With such teleportation, the higher the cultivation of the transported individual, the greater the cost. Normally, it wouldn't be too strenuous for Zhang Kun to transport a Moonlit and a Constellation Realm cultivator. However, the recent attempt felt like more than just a Moonlit and a Constellation Realm!

There was actually a Sunlit Realm cultivator among them!

Zhang Kun immediately understood that the problem lay with the seemingly ordinary little girl.

"What about her?" Haitang asked, puzzled.

Zhang Kun stated calmly, "She is a Sunlit Realm cultivator!"

Haitang's face filled with astonishment; she almost thought Zhang Kun was mistaken. However, Zhang Kun himself was a Sunlit Realm cultivator, and the recent teleportation had indeed failed, which undeniably indicated an issue.

Lu Ye paused for a moment, then transmitted a message to Zhang Kun, explaining Yaya's situation.

Learning that Yaya was indeed a powerful Sunlit Realm cultivator, but her Sea of Consciousness had been damaged by Soul Devouring Aphids, leading to impaired intellect and making her behave like an ordinary child, Zhang Kun couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

As a fellow Sunlit Realm cultivator, he felt that if he were to fall into Yaya's situation, he would rather die quickly and get it over with.

After a brief deliberation, Zhang Kun said, "The cost of teleporting a Sunlit Realm cultivator is too great. Leave the little girl here."

Yaya immediately shook her head vigorously, "No, I don't want to! I want to be with Daddy!"

Zhang Kun's eye twitched as he looked at Lu Ye with uncertainty. "What did she call you?"

Lu Ye gave a wry smile, "Martial Uncle didn't mishear. When she opened her eyes, she saw me, so..."

Zhang Kun sighed, "Fine, fine. I'll send all of you over together then."

A Sunlit Realm cultivator calling a Moonlit Realm cultivator "Daddy" was simply preposterous.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle!"

Zhang Kun began to activate his spiritual power again. This time, there was no interruption. A short while later, the space on the altar was extremely distorted. When it settled again, the figures of Lu Ye and the other two had vanished.

Zhang Kun's face was slightly pale, as if he had just fought a fierce battle. He quickly sat down and took out spirit crystals to restore his spiritual power.

Dispelling the various discomforts, Lu Ye looked up to find that the figure before him was no longer Zhang Kun, but Chen Xuanhai from the Eastern Region!

Beneath his feet was an altar similar to the one he had just seen, clearly guarded by Chen Xuanhai.

"Lu Yiye?" Chen Xuanhai undoubtedly remembered Lu Ye, but he was puzzled by his sudden appearance here with Haitang.

"Martial Uncle Chen!" Lu Ye and Haitang bowed together.

"How did you come from the Western Region?" Chen Xuanhai asked.

Haitang explained on Lu Ye's behalf, and only then did Chen Xuanhai understand the full story.

"So, why did you bring him here this time?" Chen Xuanhai looked at Haitang.

"To pay respects to Master!" Haitang didn't mention anything about him taking advantage of her this time, lest Chen Xuanhai also threaten to break Lu Ye's limbs.

Chen Xuanhai nodded slightly. "Indeed, you should go see Junior Sister Su!"

Haitang blinked. From her perspective, she had brought Lu Ye to pay respects to her Master.

But Martial Uncle Chen actually said Lu Ye should go *see* her Master...

Paying respects and simply seeing someone were two different things. The former implied a junior addressing a senior, while the latter implied peers.

Haitang suddenly realized, did Martial Uncle Chen know something? Otherwise, why would he say that?

Suppressing the urge to ask questions, Haitang said, "Martial Uncle, we'll head back to Immortal Spirit Peak now. We'll trouble you to send us back later."

"A small matter!" Chen Xuanhai waved his hand.

Haitang then summoned her Star Shuttle, carrying Lu Ye and Yaya, and flew towards Immortal Spirit Peak.

As they flew, Lu Ye looked out, his thoughts drifting back to over a decade ago. At that time, he had recently advanced to the Constellation Realm, and like other Constellation cultivators of the Nine Provinces, he began exploring the surrounding starry sky. His very first time leaving the Nine Provinces, he encountered many extraordinary events.

He also recalled Feng Rumou, who had been pursued by a flying sword. He wondered how that senior was doing now.

It was thanks to that senior's guidance that he had been able to find the Ghost Ship.

The Star Shuttle cut through the air, and Haitang was very quiet. By now, she wasn't sure if what she was doing was right or wrong, but the arrow had been shot; there was no turning back. She just hoped she hadn't made a mistake.

Immortal Spirit Peak was soon reached. Haitang, familiar with the way, led Lu Ye to the front of a grand hall, then sweetly called out, "Master!"

After a few breaths, Su Yuqing's voice came from within the hall, "What is it?"

Haitang pursed her lips and announced, "Your disciple, accompanied by my dao companion Lu Ye, has come to pay respects to Master!"

The instant her words fell, both Haitang and Lu Ye distinctly felt Su Yuqing's aura in the hall fluctuate for a moment!

This further confirmed Haitang's long-held suspicions.

Immediately, a faint, almost imperceptible divine sense emanated from within the hall, extended briefly, and then retracted, clearly probing the situation outside.

After another moment, Su Yuqing's voice sounded again, "Go to the Immortal Shadow Hall!"

"Yes!" Haitang gave Lu Ye a look and led him to the side.

Inside the Immortal Shadow Hall, Lu Ye sat calmly, waiting. After a good while, a figure slowly emerged.

Looking up, he saw her in a snow-white robe, her hair elegantly piled high, a few strands of black, waterfall-like tresses falling beside her cheeks. Her dignified demeanor exuded an ethereal purity.

Compared to their last meeting, Lu Ye suddenly noticed that Su Yuqing seemed to possess an indescribable charm.

Haitang stared blankly at her Master. Although there wasn't much adornment, as a direct disciple, she could tell at a glance that her Master had carefully tidied her appearance before coming out.

There was indeed something going on between Master and Senior Brother Lu!