"Sect Elder Zhao, Elder Fang, Elder Liu, Elder Chen, Elder Su, you don't need to see me off."
Xu Yi looked at the string of elderly figures following behind her, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation, and had to stop them again.
"Ancestor, you've only been here for less than three months, why are you leaving again?"
"Ancestor, the outside world is dangerous, you must be very careful."
"Ancestor, the sect's affairs are still waiting for you to handle upon your return..."
"..."
The first few sentences were quite touching to Xu Yi, but as the elders continued, their true intentions were revealed. Xu Yi flinched, summoned her flying boat, and leaped aboard in a flash.
Standing on the boat, Xu Yi waved goodbye to the reluctant elders.
Only when their figures grew smaller and smaller did Xu Yi sigh in relief and slump onto the deck.
"Finally escaped the elders' clutches, it wasn't easy, not easy at all."
If it weren't for these elders, Xu Yi wouldn't have known how many matters the sect had to handle every day.
Because of this, her opinion of the sect leader, who hadn't shown his face in a long time, grew even stronger.
Was Ji Buwang really in seclusion?
Why did she feel the truth wasn't as simple as she imagined?
Before she could ponder further, the transmission disk at her waist suddenly vibrated.
"Hongjing?"
"Xu Yi, are you passing by Myriad Buddha Sect?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll wait for you at Myriad Buddha Sect. How about we meet up and depart together?"
"Okay."
Ever since she encountered demons in the Myriad Buddha Sect's secret realm last time, Xu Yi had wanted to get a clear answer from that Second Elder. This time, passing by Myriad Buddha Sect, she decided to visit.
After Xu Yi arrived at the nearest city, she traversed four teleportation arrays and finally reached the gates of Myriad Buddha Sect. Hongjing was already waiting there.
"Hongjing, how did you know when I would arrive?"
Xu Yi looked at Hongjing, whose aura had changed slightly, and asked in surprise.
"I don't know, but waiting is also a form of cultivation," Hongjing replied with a smile.
Xu Yi's smile froze.
After more than a decade, why had Hongjing's speech become so similar to that Second Elder?
Right, the Second Elder!
"Is your sect's Second Elder here? I wish to pay him a visit."
Under Xu Yi's expectant gaze, Hongjing gently shook his head. "The Second Elder heard you were coming and has gone into seclusion."
Xu Yi: ...
What a cunning monk.
"Never mind, let's go. I've already arranged a meeting place with others."
Since the Second Elder didn't want to see her, Xu Yi naturally wouldn't force him. She decided not to dwell on it and headed with Hongjing to the place where the seven of them had agreed to meet, Fairy City in Shizhou.
Although Fairy City was located in Shizhou, bordering the demon territory, it was quite famous. This was because it was the place where Liu Jinghong had signed the peace treaty with the demon and beast races, hence the name Fairy City.
Hundreds of miles away from Fairy City, the first thing Xu Yi saw was not the city's silhouette, but the statue in the center of Fairy City, which almost reached the heavens.
Xu Yi examined it carefully and nodded silently. This statue was not only larger than the one in the demon servant trial space under Yangshen Trench, but its craftsmanship and details were also more refined, perfectly displaying Liu Jinghong's beauty and presence.
Because of this statue, many cultivators visited every year.
Xu Yi and Hongjing still had to queue to enter Fairy City.
"They haven't arrived yet. How about we find an inn, book a room, and discuss matters once they get here?" Xu Yi suggested while looking at the shops on both sides of Fairy City.
"Alright."
Seeing that Hongjing had no objections, Xu Yi nodded and turned her attention to the goods sold in the shops, her gaze gradually becoming strange.
This was truly a peculiar place.
Perhaps because the merchants doing business here knew that most cultivators came for Liu Jinghong, they marketed all sorts of items under the banner of Fairy Jinghong.
One shop claimed their spirit wine was drunk by Fairy Jinghong a thousand years ago.
Another claimed the paper and ink sold in their shop were the very ones used to establish the peace treaty.
Some even held inexpensive spirit pills and herbs, calling them treasures left behind by Fairy Jinghong, which made Xu Yi stifle her laughter.
"Fairy Pavilion."
Xu Yi looked at the name of the inn and chuckled, saying to Hongjing behind her, "Hongjing, shall we stay at this inn?"
Hongjing's gaze lingered on the words "Fairy Pavilion" for a moment, then he said, "Good."
"Oh, welcome, esteemed guests. Please come in."
As Xu Yi and Hongjing stepped over the threshold, a waiter immediately greeted them. "Fairy, we have standard rooms and fairy rooms. May I ask which you prefer?"
"Oh, there are fairy rooms too. What's the difference between a fairy room and a standard room?" Xu Yi raised her eyebrows.
"Oh my, the difference is quite significant! These fairy rooms are decorated by us according to the legendary rooms where Fairy Jinghong stayed in Fairy City. It will absolutely let you experience a room identical to Fairy Jinghong's."
The waiter spoke enthusiastically, winking at Xu Yi as if he was certain she would be swayed by this explanation.
After all, it was an identical experience to Fairy Jinghong's!
Xu Yi suppressed her laughter and pointed at Hongjing, saying, "Alright, then I'll take two fairy rooms, so he can also experience Fairy Jinghong's identical room."
"Certainly, it will definitely satisfy the Fairy and this... Master. Esteemed guests, please!"
The fairy rooms were located on the top floor of the inn, offering the best view.
The first thing Xu Yi noticed upon entering the room was not the interior decoration, but the conspicuous statue outside the window.
She inwardly mocked herself, thinking she was truly surrounded by Liu Jinghong now.
"Fairy, are you satisfied?"
The waiter at the door asked cautiously.
"It's alright," Xu Yi replied. She then exchanged a few pleasantries with Hongjing, such as "Rest well," closed the door, and examined this identical fairy room to Fairy Jinghong's.
"There doesn't seem to be anything particularly unique." Xu Yi commented frankly.
It was understandable; this was just a gimmick created by merchants.
Xu Yi shook her head, glanced at the statue outside the window again, and then closed her eyes to meditate.
...
On the flying ship, Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yu Xiaoyu huddled in a corner, trembling as they looked at Ji Buwang, who was exuding a chilling aura at the bow.
"Why is he so angry?" Yu Xiaoyu whispered.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang shook his head like a rattle drum.
Neither of them had provoked him.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang recalled that ever since they informed Lu Zaiye of the meeting point being Fairy City, Lu Zaiye had been acting rather strange.
But Fairy City was indeed the closest place to Zhuzhou, and there was a statue of Fairy Jinghong from their Xuánjī Sect in Fairy City. What was there to be unhappy about?
Xiong Zhuangzhuang couldn't understand, but he knew better than to provoke Lu Zaiye's temper. So, he sat obediently by the side with Yu Xiaoyu, not daring to speak.
"Fairy City, Fairy City."
Ji Buwang repeated the name, a desire to destroy everything surging within him.
Ever since he had woven that dream, all of Xu Yi's unusual actions towards Liu Jinghong had been explained.
Thinking that Liu Jinghong would reappear before Xu Yi in a manner that attracted attention, Ji Buwang's rage intensified.