Lin Yan accompanied them for another half a day before the alchemy cultivator arrived.
Once everyone was gathered, Qingfeng began to explain their destination for this journey.
It was a place where divine miracles had recently been reported. It was said that the villagers there, upon waking early in the morning, had witnessed an illusion in the mountain forest, with pavilions and towers appearing as if in a celestial realm.
"This news hasn't spread widely yet, but it's highly likely to be the cave abode of a senior, though it could also be a new secret realm," Qingfeng voiced his speculation.
"If it's a new secret realm, we'll be rich!" exclaimed Qinghe, one of his junior brothers.
"If it truly is a new secret realm…" Lin Yan hesitated. After all, the information came from Qingfeng, and their group was larger.
"It's alright, Junior Sister Wangshu, there's no need to worry about that. Treasures come to those who are fated to find them. If it's not meant for us, we won't be able to obtain it even if we reach it. You don't need to feel any burden," Qing Shuang comforted Lin Yan.
Lin Yan was a new addition to their team, but through their interactions over the past half day, she had gained some understanding of this Junior Sister Wangshu's personality.
Although she appeared aloof, she was actually quite decent, otherwise, Senior Brother Qingfeng wouldn't have invited her.
They weren't people who would hoard everything for themselves. Since they had accepted Junior Sister Wangshu into their team, they wouldn't mind even if it turned out to be a new secret realm.
Hearing this, Lin Yan ceased her polite refusals. Since they were willing to bring her along, she would repay their kindness.
"So, that's settled. Although Junior Sister Wangshu has only recently entered the Core Formation stage, her strength is considerable. We cultivators of magic might even have to rely on you, Junior Sister, so please don't underestimate yourself."
After speaking, Qingfeng introduced Lin Yan to the alchemy cultivator.
The alchemy cultivator's title was Wangyou. He was a very refined male cultivator, but his refinement didn't last long before Qinghe, standing beside him, exposed him.
"His given name has the character 'Xuan' in it. Apparently, when he was still in his mother's womb, she had a craving for spicy food and thought he would be a girl, so she named him Xuanxuan. Later, when he was born, they discovered he was a boy, but the name wasn't changed."
"Qinghe!" The cultivator Wangyou immediately made a move as if to strike him.
Only then did Lin Yan realize that Wangyou and Qinghe must have known each other since childhood. This made her, who had joined midway, feel somewhat out of place.
Qing Shuang and Qing Yu noticed her discomfort and moved to stand beside her on either side.
"Alright, let's rest for a bit and then set off. No need to waste time," Qingfeng intervened, stopping the playful duo.
"Let's leave tomorrow. I've been rushing here and haven't had a chance to rest!" Wangyou immediately gave up chasing Qinghe and sat down, ordering the waiter to bring him a pot of tea.
Qingfeng didn't mind his refusal and gestured for everyone else to sit down as well.
The group rested for a night at the inn. After browsing the market for another half day the following morning, they departed.
After Lin Yan left Lingxiao Sword Sect, the sect seemed to fall into a state of quietude. Many were disappointed that their senior disciple was no longer teaching, but after a few days, they rallied.
Those who needed to take on missions did so, and those who needed to cultivate continued their practice.
At Lin Yan's prompting, Wan Si Rui also began researching formations. He indeed had a talent for formations, or rather, the male protagonist seemed to have a talent for everything.
He used his accumulated monthly stipends to purchase materials for array discs and began setting up formations for sale, which somewhat alleviated his tight financial situation.
Compared to Wan Si Rui, who was meticulously saving money, Xu Yi was doing quite well. He was naturally a sociable person, so he quickly made many friends.
Not only newly initiated disciples but also senior disciples.
Xu Yi was generous with his spending, and the senior disciples were fond of this articulate junior brother. Thus, he quickly became familiar with the entire sect, even securing an early reservation for his sword embryo from an elder.
He was currently in the middle stage of Qi refinement. After consulting with the senior disciples he was acquainted with and being thoroughly briefed on the pitfalls of choosing a sword embryo, he went to the elder to reserve his own.
Many elders were fond of the spiritual wine from Xu Yi's family, especially the elder who forged sword embryos. After bribing the elder with a few jars of spiritual wine, Xu Yi received the elder's promise to collect his sword embryo in three months.
In the original novel, Wan Si Rui and his cohort were supposed to be accepted as disciples by elders shortly after their initiation. However, due to the urgent matters surrounding Lin Yan's Core Formation, the disciple acceptance was repeatedly postponed.
Later, the sect leader decreed that disciples would only be accepted after they reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
As a result, Wan Si Rui and Xu Yi, who were originally destined to be disciples of elders, were now merely ordinary inner disciples.
And although Wan Si Rui's cultivation was supposed to advance by leaps and bounds after he began cultivating, surpassing Xu Yi, due to personality issues, he didn't fare as well in the sect as Xu Yi did.
Furthermore, due to resource issues, he hadn't caught up to Xu Yi. Xu Yi, who was supposed to be a minor obstacle in the male protagonist's path, had become somewhat larger.
From a pebble that slightly chafed his foot, he had transformed into a roadblock hindering his progress.
After several days of travel, Lin Yan and her companions arrived at the village where the divine miracle was reported. By the time they arrived, other teams had already reached the location.
Lin Yan observed the somewhat dilapidated village becoming bustling with activity upon the arrival of these people. She couldn't help but recall some marketing tactics from her previous life.
However, she presumed they wouldn't dare to act in such a manner, as they were merely ordinary villagers, and their customers were cultivators.
Qingfeng and his companions did not seek lodging in civilian homes. He conjured several wooden houses from his spatial ring. As soon as the houses appeared, they grew to full size in the wind.
"Go inside and rest. I'll go ask them over there," Qingfeng said, glancing at the cultivators on the other side.
Qingfeng had always been well-connected. He recognized some familiar cultivators on the other side and intended to go chat with them.
"Alright, Senior Brother, you go ahead," Qinghe replied, and was the first to enter one of the wooden houses.
Lin Yan did not enter the wooden house. She noticed the gazes directed at her, but these gazes were filled only with admiration and appreciation, which Lin Yan did not find bothersome.
She wanted to talk to the local villagers. She had noticed earlier the eyes peeking out from behind door cracks when they arrived.
Although the arrival of these cultivators had brought some prosperity to the area, Lin Yan believed that these villagers likely did not desire such prosperity.
As expected, when Lin Yan walked towards them, the villagers who had been peeking from behind the doors immediately shut them tightly.
Lin Yan wandered around the entire village and stopped in front of a relatively clean courtyard.
She had already discerned through her divine sense that a mother and son resided there, and more importantly, the mother was not simple.