Chapter 25: A Mysterious Old Man Visits

Zhuge Lingyun and Mu Bai did not act rashly. They stood in place, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on Ye Xiao.

However, as the mist grew denser, Zhuge Lingyun’s brows furrowed deeply. A moment later, he withdrew a square seal from his robe and tossed it into the sky. It expanded against the wind until it hovered directly above Bamboo Mountain. A faint shimmer of light rippled out, wrapping the entire mountain in a barrier, rendering it impossible for anyone on the outside to see what was happening within.

Standing at the entrance of the main hall of the Yin-Yang Academy, Yang Ye frowned as he looked toward Bamboo Mountain, his face etched with confusion. "What is Zhuge Lingyun up to? Why such a commotion?"

Ye Xiao, who was focused entirely on the internal state of his body, was naturally oblivious to all that had transpired outside. He watched as the liquefied profound energy within his dantian filled the space completely and began to solidify. After about half an incense stick’s time, the energy had fully solidified, and he gradually ceased absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy. As he continued to cycle his cultivation technique, cracks began to appear within his dantian.

*Boom!*

A loud explosion echoed within his body, and Ye Xiao felt his vision go dark, nearly losing consciousness. As his senses returned, he hastily turned his focus inward. His dantian was no longer the silent, empty void it once was. Above a vast ocean, an island now floated. On this island stood a stone statue with an indistinct face, possessing three heads and six arms, all of which were empty.

As if responding to a stimulus, the sound of a sword hummed, and the Broken Sword appeared abruptly within his dantian. Sensing the stone statue, the sword flew straight toward it and was caught in one of the stone hands. Pure profound energy rose from the ocean, flowed into the statue, transformed into a crimson hue, surged into the Broken Sword, and finally returned to the sea.

"Is... is this the Foundation Establishment Realm?" Ye Xiao looked at his dantian, a flicker of excitement crossing his face.

The so-called Foundation Establishment Realm involved shaping one's dantian into a sanctuary capable of nourishing a natal artifact. What puzzled Ye Xiao, however, was that he had heard others’ statues typically only possessed one pair of arms—meaning they could only nourish two natal artifacts. Why did his have three heads and six arms? Did that mean he could nourish six? He soon brushed the thought aside; surely, being able to nourish six natal artifacts could only be to his benefit.

As his consciousness drifted closer to the statue, he was astonished to discover a faint, crimson thread pulsing with light upon it. If he hadn't looked closely, he might never have noticed. "This is... the first bloodline?" The Blood Scripture required the construction of thirty-six bloodlines; could this be the first? It seemed that with just a bit more beast essence, he could successfully complete the first one.

After a final observation, finding nothing else, Ye Xiao slowly opened his eyes.

When he stepped out of his room, he saw Zhuge Lingyun and Mu Bai sitting under the shade of the bamboo, sipping tea and watching him. Seeing Ye Xiao emerge, Zhuge Lingyun gently waved his folding fan, a satisfied smile on his face, while Mu Bai ran over with excitement.

"Tell me, Little Ye, what kind of technique are you cultivating? This progress is way too fast!" Mu Bai remembered that when they met at the tea stall, Ye Xiao had only been at the third level of the Profound Practitioner Realm. Yet, in such a short time, he had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. Moreover, the commotion caused by his breakthrough was more exaggerated than someone advancing to the Spirit Realm.

Ye Xiao scratched his head, unsure how to respond.

"Enough, why must you always pry into such matters?" Zhuge Lingyun, seeing Ye Xiao’s awkwardness, stepped in to smooth things over. He beckoned Ye Xiao over with a gentle smile. Ye Xiao sat down beside him, and Mu Bai followed, still eyeing him with curiosity.

"Ye Xiao, you may head to the Haoran Tower tomorrow. As for whether you can obtain the Haoran Righteousness Stone, that will depend entirely on you."

A flash of excitement crossed Ye Xiao’s eyes. Now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, if he could secure the Haoran Righteousness Stone, he would be able to fight without restraint during the upcoming Spirit Path trial.

At that moment, Zhuge Lingyun’s brow furrowed slightly, and the barrier enveloping the mountain vanished. In his perception, someone was walking slowly up the mountain—a person whose aura was so peculiar that he could not even discern their cultivation level.

"Master, what is it?" Mu Bai asked, curious; it was rare to see his master display such an expression.

Zhuge Lingyun pondered for a moment before saying, "Mu Bai, go prepare the best tea. We have an honored guest."

"An honored guest?" Mu Bai started to ask more, but seeing his master’s expression, he swallowed his questions and hurried away.

"Master, who exactly is it?" Ye Xiao was also curious. In the few days he had spent with them, he had realized that even if he didn't know Zhuge Lingyun's exact strength, the man was certainly formidable—otherwise, he wouldn't be able to suppress the likes of the proud swordsmen. To see him looking so grave meant this visitor was extraordinary.

Zhuge Lingyun shook his head. "I am not sure. I only know that this person must be unfathomable."

"I am rarely in the Academy; I didn't expect there to be such an expert here," Ye Xiao mused. A thought occurred to him: could the person capable of making Zhuge Lingyun act this way be the old man from the tavern?

Before long, Mu Bai returned with a tea set, placed it on the table, and stood to the side. Ye Xiao rose as well.

*Tap, tap, tap.*

As the footsteps grew closer, Ye Xiao and Mu Bai watched the stone steps. Soon, an elderly figure appeared, leaning on a cane.

"It really is him!" Ye Xiao felt a jolt. It was the mysterious old man from the strange tavern. Was he here to ask him to look for something in the lake behind the mountain? But if he had already entered the Academy, why not retrieve it himself?

As the old man reached the final step, Zhuge Lingyun stood and said with a smile, "I did not expect Bamboo Mountain to receive a visit from a senior such as yourself. Please, come and rest for a moment."

The old man did not speak; he merely cast a faint glance at them and sat down on a stool. Zhuge Lingyun was not offended and sat down with a light smile. Mu Bai quickly poured tea for both of them.

Looking at the steam rising from the fragrant cup, the old man finally spoke: "Where is your Lay Scholar of Fallen Leaves these days?"