Chapter 637: Taiyi Realm

After another bow, the two of them stumbled off, looking as though they couldn't even tell which way the road went.

That was perfectly normal.

After all, the 'chaos' and 'disorder' of an unfamiliar realm were far beyond the differences in the world's rules that an Ascension Emissary felt when carrying out a mission.

Even with their current cultivation, it would still take them several days to readjust and adapt.

Watching the two of them leave, Ning Ruo turned to Xu Xing:

"In that case, how about staying at Ling Yin Fang for a while?"

"Mm."

Bie Xuening's expression didn't change, but a faint light stirred in her eyes.

As for Xiang Yuanjun, her eyes were covered by a layer of white gauze, so her expression couldn't be made out.

Neither of them spoke, since in their previous 'clashes' with Ning Ruo, they had always ended up on the losing side.

Besides, this time was different from before…

Sure enough, Master Mei Zu spoke first.

"Since Fellow Daoist has decided to stay, then this concubine shall also linger at Ling Yin Fang for a while. I haven't really gone out in all these years, so be sure to arrange a place for me to stay."

As she spoke, she raised her right hand.

A Mysterious Candle Fruit, glowing with a faint radiance and immaculately white, appeared quite abruptly in her hand.

She lightly bit through the skin, and the pure, hazy flesh, like colored clouds of dawn, flowed out.

"This fruit tastes rather nice. You should have quite a stock of them, right? Give me some."

Although she had eaten the Mysterious Candle Fruit, she didn't spout clouds of dawn from her mouth like Chi Jiuyu had before.

She was, after all, a True Immortal!

Ning Ruo: "…"

This woman really wasn't the least bit polite.

"Don't worry, don't worry! This concubine won't take yours for nothing—I'll trade you with wine I brewed myself!"

A jade wine jar was produced by her, the wine inside gently swaying like a rainbow of dawn, looking extraordinarily wondrous.

"My wine is delicious. Not only does Fellow Daoist like it, even Sword Sovereign's disciple Jiuyu likes it very much."

Ning Ruo glanced at Bie Xuening.

Bie Xuening's face was expressionless.

"…" After a moment of silence, Ning Ruo said lightly, "How many do you want?"

"Of course, the more the better."

"Three hundred?"

"That works, that works."

Master Mei Zu nodded slightly, then took out two more jars and set them beside the first.

"Then this concubine will trade you three jars of wine for them."

"Fine." Ning Ruo didn't waste words either. "I'll have Ning Wanyin take you to pick them out."

As the words fell, Ning Wanyin appeared behind Ning Ruo.

"Wanyin, take her to pick out three hundred Mysterious Candle Fruits."

"Yes."

Ning Wanyin answered with a taut face, then only after that did she walk around the table to Master Mei Zu's side.

"Senior, please follow me."

And so, Master Mei Zu left with Ning Wanyin.

After Ning Ruo had dispatched the most troublesome one, she stood up and looked toward Xiang Yuanjun and Bie Xuening.

"Since you came to Ling Yin Fang together, Senior Sister and Yuanjun should also stay on for a while longer." Xu Xing suddenly spoke up. "Once matters here are settled, we'll head back together."

Ning Ruo paused, a flicker of surprise flashing through her eyes.

She hadn't expected the Fellow Daoist who had been avoiding all this to actually say something like that.

Was it 'Dao Bewilderment'?

Or had he decided…

Ning Ruo guessed inwardly, looking at the two of them:

"What are your thoughts?"

……

……

Some time later.

Xiang Yuanjun followed Ning Ruo to her laboratory to help adjust the Immortal Net, and to optimize a few projects along the way.

As for Master Mei Zu, after successfully picking three hundred fresh Mysterious Candle Fruits under Ning Wanyin's guidance, she returned to the place next door to her arranged lodging and found Bie Xuening.

As for Xu Xing…

He had come to the outer gate of Ling Yin Fang.

"How is it? Their decision is…?"

Inside a park at Ling Yin Fang.

Across from Xu Xing sat a man of ordinary appearance and mild temperament.

It was Huo.

That's right, he had also come to Ling Yin Fang.

"Still considering. After all, they just got back, so we should let them rest for a while first."

"I see…"

Huo's tone carried a trace of regret.

He felt that Yuan's two confidantes held some misunderstandings about him.

Back then it had been exactly like this — clearly he had only wanted to chat more with Yuan, get to know each other a little better, and he had even helped block Gu's prying gaze for him.

In the end they had misunderstood him, and later they had even gone to find Xiang Yuanjun to sever their karmic ties and avoid him…

After all these years, he had thought the misunderstandings were already cleared up, yet Yuan's confidantes still harbored deep wariness toward him.

Sigh~

No matter how you looked at it, he was Yuan's closest friend — how could he possibly want to harm him?

"Speaking of which, Fellow Daoist, didn't you previously say you weren't planning to let me get involved in this matter? Why the sudden change of heart?"

"They should at least be given a chance to choose." Xu Xing paused, then continued, "Honestly, I'm also a little curious — why are you so invested in Yuan's affairs?"

Because of certain things he had experienced in the past, Huo's way of doing things was somewhat… capricious.

As far as he recalled, even those people he had bestowed 'Fortune' upon had never seen him this invested.

"Is it because he bears some resemblance to Fellow Daoist 'Chengxi'?"

Hearing this, Huo paused, the smile on his face stiffening for a moment, but he quickly returned to his natural expression:

"Why would Fellow Daoist think such a thing?"

"I want to find Yuan simply because he is my good friend."

"Besides… Yuan doesn't really resemble him."

Hearing this, Xu Xing said nothing more and turned to walk out of the park.

"No matter what decision they make, I'll notify you right away."

"Then many thanks, Fellow Daoist!" Huo called out to Xu Xing's retreating back.

Only when Xu Xing's figure completely vanished around the corner did Huo's smile gradually fade; he walked over to a bench beneath a snow mulberry tree and sat down.

Looking up ahead, a few tourists were taking photos beneath the snow mulberry tree as a memento.

Chengxi…

A trace of absent-mindedness flashed through his eyes.

It had been many years since he had heard that name.

"You and I were both wrong — how could those despicable, lowly demons and wild beasts possibly be trusted…"

He murmured softly.

……

……

Time flew by, and several days later had already arrived.

Ning Ruo and Xiang Yuanjun, based on the unfamiliar realm information brought back by Ming Yu and Ning Wan Zhu while they were setting up the Immortal Network connection nodes, readjusted the Immortal Network.

Along the way, they also optimized the Immortal Cleansing Pool, the Ascension Platform, and some of Ning Ruo's experimental items.

After these few days of rest, Ning Wan Zhu and Ming Yu had finally adjusted their condition.

At the same time, they also decided to use that wisp of Doubt-Light condensed into a Doubt Avatar, to head beyond the planned range of that realm for investigation.

"Although the 'Doubt Avatar' formed through this method can briefly borrow Huo's power to help you cross realms, the avatar will not receive the Immortal Network's enhancement."

Ling Yin Fang Ascension Hall.