The courtyard entrance featured two verdant and gnarled welcoming pine trees. Following the stone path around the pines, the scenery of the courtyard suddenly became bright and beautiful, with the lake reflecting the sky and distant mountain views, displaying a turquoise blue color.

Fine white sand was spread along the edge of the lake, complementing the water in a delightful way.

Maple trees, seemingly frozen in an autumnal state, stood like beauties by the lake, their fiery red leaves extended, swaying gracefully in the wind.

The small building by the lake was also quite unique.

Peeking through the open small window, two girls dressed in gorgeous skirts were embroidering handkerchiefs while playfully teasing each other.

"There are others here?"

"Ying Shu didn't mention it!" Ye Chuxiao was taken aback.

Then the two girls also noticed Ye Chuxiao. They were initially stunned when they saw him, but then seemed to understand, and gracefully leaped out of the small building.

In mid-air, they both transformed into two light and beautiful butterflies, the colors of their wings matching the colors of the skirts they had been wearing.

The butterflies flew to Ye Chuxiao's side, then transformed back into beautiful girls, kneeling at his feet: "Yi Feng and Lan Ying greet Master!"

Butterfly demons?

Ye Chuxiao was still dazed.

But he did not feel any demonic energy from the two girls.

"That's not right! They can't be demons. There are no demons in the Divine Capital, or rather, almost every demon is registered in the special Demon Affairs Office, and there are people who come to inquire every month. The management is very strict."

"Since Ying Shu has hidden away such a villa, she wouldn't cause herself trouble. They should be 'spellcasters,' also known as 'shikigami.' Spell cultivators, beast tamers, demon sealers, and spirit mediums all have similar methods to transform spiritual beings into human form and control them."

"Compared to demons, these 'spellcasters' exist to depend on their creators, and they are far less independent."

"Of course, since they were transformed by Ying Shu, they can naturally recognize my identity at first glance based on the aura of the Heart Pill."

Ye Chuxiao spoke to the two butterfly spellcasters: "It seems you already know who I am. In the future, I will rely on you to take care of my daily life."

The two butterfly spellcasters immediately said in unison: "Yes!"

Ye Chuxiao didn't pay them much attention, and first walked into the waterside pavilion, found a comfortable spot by the window to enjoy the maple trees, and sat down.

The two butterfly spellcasters immediately brought tea and snacks.

"Go find all the books here about the Mystic Realm and the Death Seclusion, I want to read them," Ye Chuxiao said as he picked up a pastry and put it in his mouth.

Among the two butterfly spellcasters, Lan Ying, who looked round-faced and more innocent, with faint dimples when she smiled, swallowed a mouthful of saliva as she watched Ye Chuxiao's hand holding the pastry, and reluctantly followed her older sister to fetch the books.

When she turned her head, she even pouted her small mouth.

Before long, the two butterfly spellcasters brought two large stacks of books, which they piled up near Ye Chuxiao for easy reading. https:/

Then they looked at Ye Chuxiao expectantly, seemingly unsure of what to do next.

"Go play!" Ye Chuxiao waved his hand.

The two butterfly spellcasters immediately retreated.

Ye Chuxiao was completely immersed in the world of books.

He read for the better part of the day. By the time Ye Chuxiao came back to his senses, it was completely dark.

Among the butterfly spellcasters, Yi Feng, who seemed more mature, was carefully adjusting the wick of the lamp, her slender fingers holding a bamboo stick, gently nudging it, as if afraid that the weak flame would splash on her.

"There's no need to be so careful. Even if the night is pitch black, as long as there is a glimmer of light, I can see clearly."

"Where's Lan Ying?" Ye Chuxiao put down the book in his hand, stretched, and asked.

"She's already resting. Do you need me to wake her up?" Yi Feng asked cautiously.

From her appearance, she was not used to serving people, but was cautious and careful, without a very clear concept.

Clearly, Ying Shu had transformed them to manage the courtyard, then left them aside, letting them rest here freely.

Perhaps, if Ye Chuxiao hadn't mentioned it, Ying Shu would have forgotten about this courtyard long ago, and the two butterfly servants she transformed on a whim.

"I'm a little hungry, is there anything to eat?" Ye Chuxiao shook his head and asked Yi Feng.

Yi Feng said: "The silver that Master left behind has been used up. The pastries that Master ate just now were exchanged for by me and Lan Ying for doing needlework. Now they are all gone... But there is still the honey that me and Lan Ying brewed ourselves, does Master want some?"

Ye Chuxiao nodded, and also casually untied the money bag from his waist and handed it to Yi Feng.

"You can use this money first, and you can also buy and replace things in the courtyard."

"If the money is not enough, ask me for it!" Ye Chuxiao said.

Yi Feng took the money bag, and a very obvious look of joy appeared on her face.

The strength and ability of a spellcaster are determined by the cultivator who transformed them.

When Ying Shu transformed the two butterfly servants, she only intended to use them as maids, so naturally she didn't give them much ability.

After Ying Shu forgot about them, although they didn't have to eat three meals a day like ordinary people, it was still very difficult to live in this huge Divine Capital.

Now that they had welcomed Ye Chuxiao, a new master, who seemed to have a good temper... More importantly, he finally gave them money, which made Yi Feng greatly relieved.

Seeing that Ye Chuxiao looked tired, Yi Feng took the initiative to ask: "Does Master have any confusion?"

Then she continued: "I have read most of the books in this courtyard, and I remember some of the content, maybe I can help Master answer questions."

Ye Chuxiao thought for a while, and then said: "The book says that all cultivators need to enter a Death Seclusion to enter the Mystic Realm from the Ability Realm. The so-called Death Seclusion is to feel the Way of Life and Death, sit in death and look forward to life, respond to the thoughts of all beings, and enter the wonders of boundless life."

"What is the meaning of boundless life here?"

The knowledge that Ye Chuxiao learned in elementary school was actually very general, and more detailed things still needed another way to get answers.

In fact, it is extremely rare for a cultivator to start from elementary school, without other support, and set foot in the Ability Realm.

A few civilians who are able to purchase spiritual roots and enter the Ability Realm of cultivation are also attached to wealthy families, and someone will naturally teach them.

If Ye Chuxiao has questions, he can of course ask Jin Sanniang and others, but since Yi Feng is here, asking her may be the same.

"The meaning of boundless life is a lifespan that is not disturbed by the outside world. Cultivators who sense the thoughts of all beings, sit in Death Seclusion, and enter the Mystic Realm, in addition to the normal prolonging of life, also have boundless life. This life is only related to their own soul thoughts and does not involve external things."

"That is to say, even if their life is exhausted, and the Mystic Realm cultivator has died in the eyes of everyone, their thoughts are still not scattered, and they still echo in the void and boundless place, until the boundless life is exhausted before they completely disappear."

Hearing this, Ye Chuxiao immediately understood.

What the Mystic Realm enhances is the cultivator's soul life, also known as boundless life.

Even if the physical body dies, if the soul life is still there, they can still survive in another way.

In a sense, this is somewhat close to the concept of 'ghosts,' but it is not a ghost.

In the world of cultivation, those ghosts in the conventional sense are not the continuation of the living after death, but the remaining obsessions of the living after death, combined with some unique Yin energy and turbid air in the world. In fact, they are a new type of 'energy life,' inheriting certain memories and knowledge of the living, but the personality has undergone earth-shattering changes.

"Because of boundless life, some cultivators can have the means to be reborn, or turn to ghost cultivation. Only by entering the Mystic Realm can the possibilities of cultivators be expanded, and can they have a more true sense of 'past and present lives.' As for those below the Mystic Realm, after death, everything is over!" At this time, Ye Chuxiao did not dwell too much on his own existence.

It is meaningless to think too much about problems that cannot be figured out for the time being.

Just treat it as a golden finger that brought him across and allowed him to be reborn!

"How many ways are there to enter Death Seclusion?" Ye Chuxiao asked Yi Feng again.

Yi Feng immediately rattled off the methods: "Usually there are drinking poison, being buried alive, drowning, suffocation, sealing orifices, congealing blood, and tortoise breathing. In addition to these seven methods, due to different cultivation methods, one can also use the power of weapons and spells to forcefully enter Death Seclusion, but this is a cruel method, with the meaning of burning one's boats, and is too dangerous and should not be taken unless absolutely necessary."

Ye Chuxiao nodded.

Death Seclusion is not really seeking death.

It is just to feel the moment of life and death, so as to open the mind and open the door to the Mystic Realm.

Therefore, those methods that try to preserve the body as much as possible and can be 'half-dead' are the usual methods for entering Death Seclusion.

Among them, the most used is 'being buried alive.'

The cultivator will find a cave or grotto, and completely bury themselves, sensing the moment of life and death in absolute darkness and silence, accompanied by the approach of the footsteps of death.

Of course, they will also explain to familiar relatives and friends, and set a time. If they do not emerge from the seclusion by the time, the relatives and friends will dig them out, and then push their power through the blood, and forcibly wake them up.

Other methods, such as drinking poison, drowning, suffocating, and sealing orifices, are also used in similar ways in practice.

They all leave a way out in advance, and then accurately time it to enter Death Seclusion.

Therefore, the person responsible for waking them up, the protector, must be chosen carefully.

If the person entrusted is unreliable, then it's over.

Throughout history, there have been many such unlucky people who have truly lost their lives in Death Seclusion.

This is also the reason why ordinary civilian cultivators rarely stand out and reach the height of the Mystic Realm.

As for those cultivators from wealthy families, their protectors are often their parents and elders, and the safety is sufficiently guaranteed.

Death Seclusion can be more reassuring and bold.

Civilian cultivators also have parents, but most of their parents are not cultivators. Even if they have the heart to be this protector, they are unable to do so.

Ye Chuxiao did not really not understand the method of Death Seclusion, that's why he specifically asked.

Rather, he also wanted to get some different answers from Yi Feng.

After all, because of the Nine Deaths Demonic Art, these commonly used methods of Death Seclusion are ineffective for Ye Chuxiao.

Ye Chuxiao, who was beaten into pieces in an instant, can be resurrected by the Nine Deaths Demonic Art. What use can these methods of being buried alive, swallowing poison, drowning, and sealing off air have for him?

"Sometimes being too invincible is also a problem."

"I am not really an immortal body now, but rather, conventional death attempts are useless to me. The energy consumed by withstanding damage in an instant is not as much as the automatic absorption of the spiritual root to the energy of heaven and earth."

"But if you really go looking for death and provoke those opponents that you can't afford to provoke, you may be truly defeated continuously, and die completely. At that time, there will be no chance to enter Death Seclusion and break through the Mystic Realm. Even if you break through, you can't kill enemies beyond your level, and you will still be beaten to death."

"This is really a headache." Ye Chuxiao rubbed his brow, thinking about countermeasures.

At this time, Yi Feng stepped forward and took the initiative to place her cool fingers on both sides of Ye Chuxiao's temples, gently kneading them.

"Master! I have heard that near the Spring Rain Pavilion on Yao Mountain outside the city, there is an old tavern that sells a wine called Drunken Life, Dream Death, which is said to make people drunk and unable to wake up. It is a good thing to use for Death Seclusion! I have acquaintances in the old tavern who can help," Yi Feng said.

Ye Chuxiao opened his eyes: "Drunken Life, Dream Death?"

"Yes! I also know that the most important ingredient in Drunken Life, Dream Death is Drunken Dragon Grass."

"However, it is rumored that people who want to drink Drunken Life, Dream Death have to do something for the owner of the old tavern," Yi Feng said.

Ye Chuxiao slapped the Six Fan School waist tag on the table: "This! Can't you get a jar of wine for free?"

Yi Feng glanced at the silver badge of the Six Fan School: "Master! If you change it to a gold badge, there might be a slight possibility. If it's the Divine Arrest badge, then it's foolproof."

Ye Chuxiao said: "A tavern opened outside the city, is it so tough?"

Yi Feng said: "That's because the old man who runs the tavern is an old dragon!"

"It is said that he is the Cloud Mist Dragon Lord of Yao Mountain. He used to be the Dragon King of Yunmeng Daze. After being driven out of Yunmeng Daze by his own younger brother and his wife, he opened a tavern on Yao Mountain to help Daheng sort out the dragon veins of Yao Mountain, ensuring good weather within a thousand miles, in exchange for a place to live on Yao Mountain."

Ye Chuxiao sat up straight and carefully looked at Yi Feng.

Seeing that she had beautiful eyebrows, charming eyes, and a plump figure, although she was of the mortal world, she was the best of the human desires.

"It seems I have underestimated you!" Ye Chuxiao said with a smile.

Yi Feng did not stop massaging Ye Chuxiao, but moved her fingers from the temples to the shoulders and arms, carefully kneading them, and lowered her head shyly, saying: "My sister and I have to live these years. Because we are different, we also deal with some different people. We know some small gossip inside and outside this Divine Capital."

"Okay! Then you will accompany me out of the city tomorrow to the old tavern on Yao Mountain to see this Cloud Mist Dragon Lord," Ye Chuxiao made a decision.

In fact, in his current state, there are not many more choices.

After all, the methods of Death Seclusion in the conventional sense are of no use to Ye Chuxiao.

Without words overnight, the next morning, Ye Chuxiao, along with Yi Feng and Lan Ying, took a carriage out of the Divine Capital and went straight to Yao Mountain.

The Divine Capital is located at the foot of Yao Mountain, and Yao Mountain is the ancestral vein of the Daheng Mountains, the king of all peaks.

Yao Mountain, as the starting point of the Daheng Dragon Vein, is naturally valued by the royal family. From the mountainside to the top, most of the places where the energy of heaven and earth is thick and accumulated have owners.

It was not granted to which county king, or rewarded to which princess, even those important officials in the court rarely can get a manor on Yao Mountain.

On Yao Mountain, in addition to the villas and manors of the princes and princesses everywhere.

There are also a dozen temples and Taoist temples belonging to the royal family, in which are enshrined some Buddhist and Taoist masters attached to the royal family.

Some of these temples and Taoist temples face the secular world and are open to tourists to come in and enjoy flowers and worship Buddha during good times.

But there are also some that completely avoid the world and are shrouded in formations all year round and cannot be seen.

The old tavern in Yi Feng's mouth is located on Cui Feng on the north side of Yao Mountain, near the Spring Rain Pavilion, one of the 108 scenic spots of Yao Mountain, located halfway up the mountain.

At Spring Rain Pavilion, light rain is like mist, never fading all year round. When the sun shines, a large amount of rainbow light jumps and grows in the mountain stream, which is lively and intoxicating.

After passing the Spring Rain Pavilion, from a distance, you can see a seemingly ordinary three-story pavilion.

Perhaps because it is midsummer and the weather is hot, there are more tourists who come to the mountains to escape the heat.

The old tavern is also full of guests at this time.

From inside to outside, it is full of guests.

Tourists sit on the side of the mountain cliff, enjoying the cool breeze, drinking and eating, and watching the scenery, which is very pleasant.

On the other side of the old tavern, a long line of cultivators is kneeling, extending directly from the side door to the side of the Spring Rain Pavilion.

"They are all here to ask the Old Dragon Lord for Drunken Life, Dream Death!" Yi Feng whispered to Ye Chuxiao.

"So many people need Drunken Life, Dream Death? Is the risk of the conventional methods of Death Seclusion so high?" Ye Chuxiao asked in surprise.

Yi Feng chuckled: "Master! These people are not going to drink it themselves, but want to resell it for a good price, and are pretending to be miserable here for the Old Dragon Lord! Moreover, some of them are guests of dignitaries in the Divine Capital and are stationed here all year round, in order to earn a fortune if the Dragon Lord is in a good mood and gives a chance."

Ye Chuxiao said: "Didn't you say before that as long as you do something for the Old Dragon Lord, you can get a jar of Drunken Life, Dream Death?"

Yi Feng said: "The things that the Old Dragon Lord needs people to do, how can ordinary people do it? Most of them can't get into the Old Dragon Lord's eyes."

Saying that, she changed the topic: "Master, you are different. With your ability and demeanor, the Old Dragon Lord will definitely be willing to form a good relationship with you."

Good words are useless. Things have to be so smooth.

Entering the tavern, before seeing the Old Dragon Lord, he saw a strong man with thick arms and black hair, walking sideways, looking at them as if his eyes were on the top of his head: "If you want to eat and drink, please line up and wait. There are ten tables of guests in front of you. It is estimated that you will have to wait about an hour for a seat."

"If you are here to ask for Drunken Life, Dream Death, then leave your name, identity, and the skills you are good at, and make a record. If the Dragon King needs it, he will ask someone to look for you."

Ye Chuxiao was slightly stunned.

This is not quite the same as what he had imagined!

Shouldn't it be that the Old Dragon Lord has been waiting for him, the destined one, for a long time?

Then, not only give him generous rewards, but also give him a difficult and adventurous task?

That's how it's written in the novels!

What is this waiting in line for notification?

Yi Feng first stepped out, with a pretty smile on her face: "Are you General Xie!"

"I am the sister recognized by Sister Bang, and I am here to visit my sister today."

The strong man's eyeballs, which originally seemed to be stretched to the top of his head, fell down, glanced at Yi Feng, and the previously business-like, no-strangers-allowed expression became much better.

"Since you are Sister Bang's sister, then go in! Wait in Box B3 first, and we will bring you some wine and dishes. When Sister Bang is done, she will come to see you," the strong man said.

There was also a group of people waiting next to them, who looked like tourists from other places, and their clothes were not bad. When they heard the strong man directly arrange a private room for Ye Chuxiao and others, they immediately became unhappy and meant to make trouble.

The strong man squinted his eyes and said: "If you are unhappy, then get out! Who is patient to serve you?"

These tourists from other places were about to make trouble, but were stopped by their local friends next to them.

Then they were dragged out of the tavern door.

The foreign tourists were still not happy, and shouted outside the door: "I am in the Kuocang Sect, and I have never been insulted like this."

Following the strong man's guidance, the three of them sat in a not spacious private room.

After a while, a puppet waiter brought the cooked wine and dishes, which smelled and looked delicious... but they were all vegetables, beef, mutton, and pork, and there was no trace of river seafood.

Pushing open the window, the cool breeze outside the window, swaying along the distant trees, was sent into the private room, and the refreshing feeling offset the dullness in the private room.

The three of them did not move their chopsticks much, just chatting.

After waiting for about half an hour, they saw a fat woman, carrying two plates of dishes, walked in with a warm face.

"Oh my! My good sister, after so long, you finally remembered to see your god sister." The fat woman came in with a smile on her face and greeted Yi Feng.

At the same time, she said to Lan Ying: "Little sister Lan also came! That's great! Stay a few more days, and sister will take you to eat, drink, and have fun, and wander around."

"There are forty-nine secret realms in this Yao Mountain. Although most of them have been occupied and reduced to private scenery, there are still a few to see. This season is the most beautiful."

Saying that, this fat woman finally noticed Ye Chuxiao, looked at him with a probing look, then nodded and greeted him, and then said to Yi Feng with a narrow look: "Is this your lover?"

"He looks a bit strong, not like an unreliable guy."

"But his eyes are ruthless, and he is another guy who only cares about cultivation and has no affection. Sister... if he treats you badly, sister will teach him a lesson for you."

The fat woman spoke without politeness, and seemed very confident.

Yi Feng said shyly: "Sister, what are you talking about, this is my master!"

"This is your master? He doesn't look like he has the ability to transform you... I'm afraid he inherited it from somewhere!"

"Looks like a young master from a noble family!" The fat woman's eyes towards Ye Chuxiao added a few more scrutinies.

"I don't care what your identity is. If you want to rely on your identity to treat my two sisters badly, this old clam spirit will not be polite to you," the fat woman said to Ye Chuxiao.

Ye Chuxiao said: "It's just an ordinary employment relationship, Sister Bang, please rest assured."

Yi Feng said: "Sister! My master wants to find the Old Dragon Lord to exchange for a jar of wine. I wonder if you can help us think of a way?"

The fat woman said softly to Yi Feng: "You came at the wrong time. Now is the season when rain is frequent. In previous years, the Dragon King had to get drunk and unable to wake up. This year, it is expected that it will be no exception. That wine... he doesn't have enough to drink himself, so where can he have extra to give away?"

"If you can wait, then wait for a few more months. When it gets to the dry season in winter, I will ask the Dragon King for some face and give you some, okay?"

It's only summer now, and there are more than half a year before winter. How could Ye Chuxiao be willing to wait so long outside the Mystic Realm?

Cultivation is all about racing against time.

Besides, Daheng now has Tang Sudong sacrificing herself to complete the Heavenly Dao, and there are only twenty years left before and after.

Now, at most, there are about eighteen years left, so how can we allow such delays?

"Sister Bang! If it's convenient, can you introduce me to the Dragon Lord?"

"I am Ye Chuxiao, a silver badge from the Six Fan School, and also the chief of the prison of the Ministry of Justice. I also have some abilities and can do some practical things for the Dragon Lord," Ye Chuxiao said politely, and at the same time did not hide his identity and directly took out his advantages.

Sister Bang said: "A silver badge is nothing, a gold badge is nothing more than that! If you are a Divine Arrest, then you can see the Dragon King immediately."

"Actually, sister is also doing it for your own good. The Dragon King is definitely drinking a little too much at this time. If he sends you to Yunmeng Daze to deliver a letter to the Princess, I'm afraid you will have no return."

Ye Chuxiao thought in his heart: "Good guy! This is still a 'licking dragon'!"

"Before, I heard Yi Feng say that the Old Dragon was driven out of Yunmeng Daze by his own younger brother and wife, lost the position of Dragon King, and I thought he was just unlucky, and the dragon horns on his head were green. Now listening to this tone, he still misses his wife who betrayed him?"

"It can't be that he still wants to get back the mattress!"

"In that case... then we are disturbing you!" Ye Chuxiao did not force it. If he couldn't get Drunken Life, Dream Death, he could think of other ways.

Cultivation is not just one path to take, so there is no need to be stubborn.

Rather than getting entangled here with an old 'licking dragon' who has been betrayed and suffered emotional trauma, Ye Chuxiao might as well think about whether he can ask a Divine Arrest to take action and beat him to the brink of death, and then take the opportunity to enter Death Seclusion and break through the Mystic Realm.

"Wait! You can't leave!" A voice suddenly sounded outside the private room.

A cultivator broke in.

"This private room was originally ours. You snatched our seat, and you want to leave without leaving something behind?" the cultivator asked, with a smell of alcohol and some evil intentions.

The fat woman sneered and clapped her hands.

Two tall and thin men immediately flashed out from the side, sandwiched the cultivator, and were about to drag him out.

"Let go! I am the young sect leader of the Kuocang Sect! How dare you be disrespectful to me?"

"I'll let my dad destroy your tavern," the cultivator shouted loudly.

It seems to be a spoiled big 'child.'

But, in an instant, Ye Chuxiao suddenly felt the spread of 'death energy,' and the sword intent of the Longevity Blade naturally rang in his heart.

After the Heart Pill possessed him, feeling death energy has become Ye Chuxiao's 'instinct.'

"Something is wrong! He is deliberately making trouble, I'm afraid he wants to attract attention, and someone else is causing trouble elsewhere. The person who came is not good... although he is not aimed at me, but he must be aimed at the old tavern," Ye Chuxiao looked at the cultivator. His body has death lines crisscrossing, densely packed... there is no need to use the Longevity Blade at all.

This also means that the spread of death energy is not directly triggered by this cultivator.

He is just a fuse!