Chapter 1424: Deep Insight into the Dao of the Firmament, A Single Word Induces the Faint Aroma

Ah...

Outside Yujing, the seemingly endless queues that typically snaked around had vanished today, leaving the area unusually quiet.

The sun was setting in the west, and birds had all found their hidden destinations, their whereabouts unknown.

The golden osmanthus trees lining the path stood resiliently amidst the light snow, their yellow blossoms adorned with a layer of white gauze. A faint fragrance drifted from afar, now carrying an extra chill.

On the distant Linshan, a black-clad figure with a covered face let out a long "Ah," extending the sound for several breaths.

"... Achoo!"

A foot stomped down, kicking up a flurry of snow.

Finally, the sneeze was released.

Zhu Yike, with only his shifty eyes visible, rubbed his nose vigorously and gazed into the distance, where the South City Gate of Yujing appeared no bigger than a grain of rice.

"Who's thinking about me? It couldn't be cursing me, could it?"

"Tsk! That Li Fugui, hasn't even shown his face once, and he's already bossing me around, waving a chicken feather like it's a command arrow!"

"Does he even know who the real top contributor to Xūkōng Dǎo Zuì Yī Diàn is, or who the second-in-command of Tiānshàng Dìyī Lóu is..."

After muttering his complaints, Zhu Yike's gaze returned to the snowy ground, where he pondered the crisscrossing black shadows.

This nameless mountain, hundreds of *li* from the South City Gate, was now blanketed in white.

Whether due to the weather or other reasons, no outsiders had come here.

Yet, counting the shadows on the ground, there were over a hundred, as if enclosed within a large circle.

Most of these shadows hadn't moved for a long time...

But as time passed, more shadows intruded into this "circle," causing chaos before falling still, like they had lain down in the snow to sleep forever.

"So many people have died..."

"It looks like this time, the person won't be easy to save—maybe I'll end up getting dragged in too."

The sunlight faded behind the distant mountains, and dusk settled in.

Zhu Yike sighed deeply, tossing a small stone back and forth in his hands to ease his anxiety.

The stone turned into a leaf when it left his palm, then into a snowball as it flew up, and when it landed in his other hand, it became a pair of underwear he'd swiped from somewhere.

This was Tōu Tiān Huàn Rì, one of the core techniques of Jīn Mén Tōu Shù.

Zhu Yike was warming up; he had to prepare to steal his target right away and then make a swift escape.

As for where the target was...

Of course, right under his feet!

Those hundred-plus shadows on the snow were a projection of the battlefield near Dongji Tea Shop at Yujing's South City Gate.

The unmoving shadows were the array anchors in white robes.

The ones barging into the setup were members of Guǐshén Bāng and Xiāng Family dead men, like moths to a flame.

The only shadow that could move freely back and forth was naturally the one controlling the setup—Dao Qiong Cang.

This was Yí Xíng Huàn Yǐng, a technique that projected the target's shadow for indirect, direct observation from the side.

Though it was a two-dimensional shadow projection, as the sole inheritor of Jīn Mén Tōu Shù, Zhu Yike had mastered this to perfection.

From the shadows, he could directly visualize the battlefield in his mind, even imagining colors for a vivid scene.

Except for the lack of sound and expressions...

The rest were all advantages.

At least, it avoided ninety-nine percent of the special senses that direct observation might trigger from the target—truly the highest level of stealthy peeping for thieves.

"Why isn't it over yet..."

Unable to hear any sound, Zhu Yike scratched his head and back, feeling uncomfortable all over.

But he remained patient.

It had been a long time since he'd fought a tough battle like this—in the past, he'd just grab what he wanted directly, openly, without any detours.

This time, the target was the Dao Palace Master...

Forget it, he'd endure a bit longer!

At the South City Gate, in Dongji Tea Shop, inside the Bǎi Jiè Duàn Líng Array.

"The sun has already set, and I'm still waiting here."

"Normally at this hour, I'd have finished handling Saint Mountain affairs and started my leisurely post-dinner entertainment."

"For example, exploring the mysterious, playing chess, crafting, sculpting, embroidering, burning incense, fantasizing, savoring tea..."

Dao Qiong Cang paced back and forth, circling Xiang Yaoyao like a persistent fly, rattling off over a hundred examples, which annoyed her to the point of rolling her eyes.

Earlier, Dao Qiong Cang had left the array to check on Tiānréndàishān.

But as soon as he touched the mask, Tiānréndàishān self-destructed.

Even a semi-saint like Dao Qiong Cang couldn't stop it; he could only clean up the aftermath and return, covered in ashes.

His preparations hadn't been enough; he'd underestimated the Tūnshì Zhī Tǐ...

No! It was that guy who was too vigilant and decisive, self-destructing and cutting off all his backup plans.

If only he'd been a bit slower...

Oh well!

If he couldn't catch the small fish, he'd hold onto this big one—there would always be bigger fish on the hook... Dao Qiong Cang never lost heart; the stronger the opponent, the more excited he got.

The buzzing in her ears was endless, but Xiang Yaoyao couldn't close her eyes or cover her ears.

It was as if invisible fingers were prying her eyelids apart; her spiritual senses were immobilized, forcing her to watch Dao Qiong Cang slowly vanish from the left, appear on the right, vanish from the left again, and reappear on the right...

Over and over, endlessly frustrating!

Around her neck was a necklace with a token inscribed with the character "Jìn."

For Xiang Yaoyao, this single martial suppression token was enough to completely suppress her spiritual energy, spirit, and soul—all the forces in her various paths of cultivation.

Right now, she was like meat on the chopping block.

Dao Qiong Cang hadn't dared to force her to speak, but everything else was under his control.

"Oh, right, you probably don't know how to make Xiangjian Jin Gui Fish, do you?"

Dao Qiong Cang perked up at this topic, gesturing with his hands as if stir-frying in mid-air:

"The perfect way is to slice it open from the middle, along the bones, into two halves, then flip and fry until it's golden crisp..."

"Finally, sprinkle on my exclusive 'San Xiang Powder'—tsk tsk, that flavor, that texture..."

Dao Qiong Cang finished, but Xiang Yaoyao showed no reaction.

From the hundred-plus white-robed figures behind, however, came a series of gulping sounds.

Several stomachs grumbled, clearly hungry after waiting all afternoon.

On the ground lay a twitching, despairing Guǐ Miàn.

Around him were not just the Xiang Family and Guǐshén Bāng members turned into "fried fish," but also several waves of "rescuers" whose identities had been checked by the dark agents.

Dao Qiong Cang didn't mind revealing his achievements to everyone right now.

From what Guǐ Miàn had overheard, there were remnants from the old "Chá Lóu" and even earlier "Fén Qín."

What a pity—they'd all met their end here, exposing their backing forces.

Dao Qiong Cang stayed put, but Saint Mountain's dark and foreign divisions were on the move, capturing what needed capturing and killing what needed killing.

Following the vines, who knew how many more people they'd root out.

"Ah, talking about it has made me hungry..."

Dao Qiong Cang took a sip from a teapot to moisten his throat, glanced at the corpses on the ground, then looked at the silent, pursed-lip Xiang Yaoyao, and continued casually:

"By the way, I'm really curious about one thing. You escaped from the Sì Xiàng Mì Jìng, so why run straight to Yujing? Isn't that just asking for death?"

Xiang Yaoyao's expression froze for a moment, then she sneered inwardly: Isn't it because your Saint Emperor is scheming in the shadows?

Seeing no response, Dao Qiong Cang went on by himself:

"Are you thinking I used the Saint Emperor's guidance?"

"Actually, no. Dealing with you doesn't require it yet."

He wagged his finger and chuckled:

"I've set up barriers in all the directions you might escape."

"Including various teleportation arrays leading to the East Region, South Region, or even Crossroad Corner..."

"You didn't go to any of them and chose the worst option, Yujing. It was quite unexpected."

"But people are like that—emotions are the most complex and unpredictable things."

"Maybe it's because you miss the Xiang Family, or perhaps Guǐshén Bāng?"

Dao Qiong Cang pointed to the collapsed Guǐ Miàn:

"For them, you chose to come back; for you, they chose to rush to their deaths..."

"Such touching loyalty."

Xiang Yaoyao took a deep breath, her eyelids starting to twitch, but she said nothing.

"I wonder if Shén Yì is the same kind of loyal person."

Dao Qiong Cang added quietly.

"Pah!" Xiang Yaoyao couldn't hold back and spat at the unguarded Dao Qiong Cang, but he dodged it with a laugh.

"Do you still remember Yan Er?" Dao Qiong Cang changed the subject. "Your little companion in the Sì Xiàng Mì Jìng."

Xiang Yaoyao's eyes turned cold.

"What did you do to her?" She swallowed the words.

"Your self-cultivation isn't quite there yet. It seems she means a lot to you..."

Dao Qiong Cang shook his head with a smirk. "If I were a bad person, I'd have grabbed her and started torturing her just based on that look in your eyes."

He spread his hands: "Luckily, I'm not. Don't worry, Yan Er is doing great right now, slaughtering alien ghosts left and right. She might even become a promising talent for the Saint Palace someday."

After a pause, Dao Qiong Cang smiled ambiguously: "Do you still remember Gui Gui?"

Xiang Yaoyao froze, her pupils contracting slightly.

Gui Gui... She had almost forgotten that name!

It was one of the three in her team when she used the alias Xiang Xiang during the Sì Xiàng Mì Jìng trial.

But unlike Yan Er, Gui Gui couldn't resist the temptation after leaving the Ran Ming ruins and ended up joining.

That was from way back.

How could Dao Qiong Cang possibly know?

"I know everything."

Dao Qiong Cang's face grew serious as he leaned in, whispering like a demon.

Soon, he dropped the villain act and mocked: "Oh, Xiang Yaoyao, you built Yōu Guì Gé, but you're not ruthless enough!"

"Not just Gui Gui—if I investigate Yan Er, I could dig up something too."

"Not just Yan Er—the alien ghosts you slew in the Sì Xiàng Mì Jìng, the spiritual techniques you've used, your aura, your scent, everyone you've ever met... All of it could expose you!"

"If I were you, I wouldn't speak to anyone in the Sì Xiàng Mì Jìng. Even if I did, I'd erase their memories before parting, let alone help them for free."

"Today, if you manage to escape, remember to be cleaner next time you enter the game. Even small players are players—don't capsize in the gutter."

Dao Qiong Cang laughed.

Xiang Yaoyao couldn't even close her eyes, letting out a long sigh that sounded helplessly resigned.

Running into such a nauseating person... She thought she'd done well enough, but now she had to admit defeat.

"But I have to thank you."

Dao Qiong Cang seemed unable to stop, spilling any information that might catch Xiang Yaoyao's attention:

"Through Yan Er, I found where Gui Gui went after you parted and entered the Zhǎn Shén Guān ruins."

"Probably after about a quarter of an hour..."

He paused, seeing Xiang Yaoyao focus on him, and Dao Qiong Cang pursed his lips with a half-smile:

"Guess what happened?"

You son of a... Xiang Yaoyao was furious, her chest heaving as she turned her eyes away, then back: "What happened?"

Even knowing she shouldn't engage, she had to ask now.

It involved the Ran Ming ruins—Shén Yì was still in there.

Dao Qiong Cang was annoying, but his intelligence-gathering skills were clearly superior to hers; she desperately needed this information.

"Oh, so you're not mute after all?"

Dao Qiong Cang feigned surprise, covering his mouth as he laughed: "As an exchange, one question... You know I keep my word."

"Spit it out!" Xiang Yaoyao replied gruffly.

The hundred-plus white-robed figures behind stirred slightly.

After being pestered by Dao Qiong Cang all afternoon, they'd thought Xiang Yaoyao's lips were sealed for good.

Who knew...

Turning an iron rod into a needle—Dao Qiong Cang's persistence was extraordinary; he'd actually succeeded!

Dao Qiong Cang glanced at the bodies around him and asked casually: "Did you also notify Xu Xiaoshou?"

The sudden mention of "Xu Xiaoshou" felt so out of place.

Xiang Yaoyao's gaze sharpened, her heart nearly skipping a beat.

But she controlled every subtle reaction!

She'd prepared for this earlier; even now, drawn into Dao Qiong Cang's question, she didn't relax, afraid her body language would be read by this perceptive man.

Faced with the question, Xiang Yaoyao hesitated:

Answering "yes" outright—with this showy old Daoist's suspicious nature—might make him overthink and assume the answer was actually "no."

Answering "no" could seem like a cover-up, so maybe it was better to stay on the first level and let him wonder which level he was on...

Her thoughts raced in a flash, and as her red lips parted, Xiang Yaoyao's words were about to spill out.

Dao Qiong Cang stared at her, his smile serene, then suddenly shushed her with a finger, speaking unhurriedly: "No need to answer..."

"This palace already has the answer."

Xiang Yaoyao was furious.

How did you figure that out?

I didn't hesitate at all!

I hadn't even spoken—my instinctive reactions were all controlled. How could your eyes see through it?!

How did you know... The hundred-plus white-robed figures behind were baffled too.

In their world, Dao Qiong Cang asked the question, Xiang Yaoyao tried to speak, and was stopped.

Nothing was revealed in between—how did he know?

Despairingly...

Dao Qiong Cang had no desire to share or explain at that moment.

He skipped the questioning entirely and gave the answer directly: "A half hour later, Gui Gui came out and returned to the original spot."

He even added a free piece of advice: "If someone comes to save you later and succeeds, no matter who it is, remember to tell them not to join Ran Ming unless they can face the Five Great Saint Emperors after emerging."

Xiang Yaoyao took a deep breath, like a normal one, to ease all her irritation and suppression.

But now, everything in her mind about "Gui Gui" and "Shén Yì" had vanished; she didn't want to continue on the Ran Ming ruins topic at all.

Her mind and eyes were filled with just one thought: "Damn it, Xu Xiaoshou absolutely cannot come!"

"I'm curious, what answer did you get?" Xiang Yaoyao's red lips curved, smiling brightly as she asked.

"The answer you don't want to know." Dao Qiong Cang also laughed.

"Oh? How did you get it?" Xiang Yaoyao pressed, unwilling.

"From the moment you became curious."

The scene seemed to freeze for a second, and Xiang Yaoyao's smile froze too.

If looks could kill, Dao Qiong Cang would have reincarnated eighteen times, each ending in a thousand cuts.

Soon, she smiled again like a flower: "I lost, but I really want to know if you got the answer from the moment I became curious?"

Xiang Yaoyao was truly unsatisfied!

She still felt her reaction was flawless.

Dao Qiong Cang looked like he didn't want to say, but he finally answered honestly, perhaps to set up for better questioning next time: "Actually, no."

"Oh? Then when?"

"When I asked the question."

"Why?"

"Your thinking, your lack of hesitation, the expressions you tried so hard to control..." Dao Qiong Cang chuckled. "Sorry, I couldn't hold back—it's just so obvious and funny."

Xiang Yaoyao's mouth twitched, but she asked without shame: "So, if I really didn't know, what reaction should I have?"

"I don't know." Dao Qiong Cang shook his head. "But not knowing is not knowing, and knowing is knowing—the two feelings are completely different... You know that 'feeling,' right? I can't describe it much; it's something you can only understand, not explain."

Xiang Yaoyao's face turned cold: "Old Dao, you've become quite chatty."

"Haven't I always been talkative?" Dao Qiong Cang was taken aback.

"That 'feeling,' you know." Xiang Yaoyao mirrored his expression, something only understandable, not explainable. "You're hiding something—don't lie to me, or I won't say another word."

You've said that before... Dao Qiong Cang restrained his urge to retort, knowing that if he did, Xiang Yaoyao probably wouldn't reveal anything more.

He pondered for a moment and said calmly: "Actually, that wasn't really a question."

"My intention was just to make you panic and realize that when I asked that 'question,' I was already prepared to deal with Xu Xiaoshou..."

Dao Qiong Cang gazed at Xiang Yaoyao, choosing his words carefully: "Regrettably, our focuses seem to be on different points."

Is that saying I didn't even notice the main point?

"Uh!" Xiang Yaoyao suddenly straightened her chest.

"What's wrong?" Dao Qiong Cang was startled.

"Give me a basin..."

Dao Qiong Cang was confused but pulled one from his spatial ring and handed it over.

Once he lifted the restraints, he saw Xiang Yaoyao lean forward and vomit a rainbow into the basin.

How...

Dao Qiong Cang was stunned—this was completely unexpected.

Morning sickness?

Xiang Yaoyao is pregnant with Shén Yì's child?

That can't be—when they interacted before, Xiang Yaoyao's pulse showed no sign of that crucial detail—it had been checked!

"Are you okay?"

After Xiang Yaoyao finished vomiting, Dao Qiong Cang hesitated and offered a handkerchief.

"Get lost!" Xiang Yaoyao snatched the handkerchief and glared at Dao Qiong Cang with fierce eyes. "You make me sick!"

"Pfft..."

Someone in the group of white-robed figures behind laughed.

Dao Qiong Cang was about to turn back when his gaze shifted to the shadow fading under his feet, then quickly lifted.

Not yet...

But!

"He's coming!"

Thanks to Northern Region genius Jiang Na Yi for the ten thousand rewards to Li Fugui. Li Fugui: "Jiang Neiyi, you should go wait outside the city to receive him too."

(End of chapter)