Fairy, don't be afraid, I, Wang Daqi, am truly an honest man.

Before we knew it, the sky outside the window had turned from dusky yellow to pitch black, and the inky night enveloped the entire Lingyun Peak.

Xu Yan, who had been diligently practicing the "Azure Wave Qi Refining Technique" at the door, stopped her practice and gently pushed the door open to enter.

Seeing Wang Daqi frowning with worry in front of a jade slip, his forehead covered in sweat, she felt a pang of sympathy and stepped forward to wipe his sweat with a handkerchief.

Seeing this, Wang Daqi simply stopped and told Xu Yan about the bottleneck he had encountered with a wry smile.

Xu Yan looked completely bewildered after hearing this.

The highest level of cultivation she had ever encountered was only the Xuan-rank, how could she possibly understand the profound mysteries of the Earth-rank, such as "Qi is divided into reality and illusion, and shadows move with the heart"?

For a moment, the couple stared at each other in the dim light, and a brief silence fell over the room.

"Daqi, don't be in such a hurry."

Xu Yan gently advised, "This is a Rank 1 technique. If it were really that easy to learn, wouldn't everyone in our sect be a top expert? Such a good thing always requires an opportunity to comprehend it."

"Yeah, I understand the logic, but I just feel like I'm being scratched by a cat."

Wang Daqi sighed, and was about to put the jade slip away and rest.

Just then, the communication talisman in his arms suddenly flickered slightly, emitting a cold light.

Wang Daqi scanned the area with his divine sense, and his previously tense expression faltered slightly: "It's Junior Sister Shen Younan who sent a message."

"Junior Sister Shen?" Xu Yan leaned closer. "Is something urgent?"

She said she knew I had returned safely from the mine, and that she had found some rare spiritual fruits in the mountains beforehand, saying she wanted to give them to me personally as a congratulatory gift.

Wang Daqi read the message as he spoke.

"Oh dear, Junior Sister Shen is too kind. Those spiritual fruits are really good things, you should go quickly!!!" Xu Yan's expression lit up with joy upon hearing this.

She had witnessed the benefits of that spiritual fruit firsthand.

She had given Wang Daqi a few before, and Wang Daqi later gave her two more, which completely stabilized her Qi Refining Level 7 cultivation after her advancement, and even made her skin much smoother.

Since the other party was willing to make friends and there were benefits to be gained, Xu Yan was naturally overjoyed and pushed Wang Daqi out the door.

Of course, Xu Yan also understood that her junior sister Shen Younan was ill, and her husband would probably have to work hard again tonight.

Wang Daqi also felt a pang of longing for his junior sister Shen, who seemed cold and aloof but was actually very thoughtful.

Of course, he had other ulterior motives too!

That was the unique aura of Shen Younan's dual ice and fire spiritual roots.

If he could have the opportunity to get close to it again and absorb that strange spiritual power, he could further enhance his spiritual root talent.

He inquired about the location using a message talisman.

He originally thought that Junior Sister Shen would be cultivating in Senior Sister Shen Ruyan's cave.

However, the location sent by the other party was a desolate mountain cave east of Lingyun Peak.

"The barren mountains to the east?"

Wang Daqi recalled that the place was remote and the spiritual energy was extremely thin. There were neither precious mineral veins nor decent spiritual herbs.

Even monsters are too lazy to settle there.

Apart from a cool, clear river running through it, it is usually deserted.

However, before Wang Daqi became famous, he often carried a fishing rod to the river to fish, escaping the hustle and bustle of the sect.

"Why did Junior Sister Shen choose that place to meet me?"

Although Wang Daqi had some doubts, he didn't think much of it.

After all, being in the wilderness was actually a better place to discuss private matters, and there was no fear of being discovered by other disciples.

He put on his coat, and with a swift movement, he ran quickly towards the desolate mountains to the east, taking advantage of the moonlight.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Wang Daqi activated his Azure Water Golden Eyes, and a faint golden light flowed in his eyes.

In the dim light of the night, every rock and every path on the desolate mountain was clearly visible.

He skillfully took a hidden shortcut, passed through a patch of withered bushes, and spotted Nangong Ling standing by the riverbank in the distance.

At this moment, Nangong Ling's mind was in complete turmoil.

As a noble figure with an extraordinary status within the sect, who usually wouldn't even glance at ordinary men, she should have been extremely reserved.

But ever since Wang Daqi returned safely from the mining area, her once dormant Dao heart has been stirred with restless ripples for some reason.

She had originally planned to go find him in two days.

But today, while meditating in the cave, I couldn't calm my mind no matter how much I tossed and turned.

They then used the excuse of "sending spirit fruit" to hastily summon him to this desolate place.

To avoid being recognized, she put on the mask again, transforming back into the delicate-skinned, bright-eyed, and lively young girl.

"Junior Sister Shen, why did you choose to meet here???"

Wang Daqi leaped out of the woods, curiously looking around. "You can't even see a bird in this place."

"Senior brother, although this place is remote, it's a hidden paradise."

When Nangong Ling saw him arrive as promised, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up slightly.

This smile was like the first melting of ice and snow, carrying a hint of naivety that was only shown in front of Wang Daqi.

If her disciples and followers, who are usually so cautious, were to see this, they would probably be utterly astonished.

"A hidden paradise? Could there be some secret cave here?" Wang Daqi asked curiously.

"That's right. Senior brother, please come with me."

Nangong Ling didn't shy away from it and naturally grabbed Wang Daqi's arm, half-pulling and half-dragging him to lead the way forward.

A moment later, Nangong Ling, carrying Wang Daqi, leaped into the air and landed directly on a cliff overlooking the river.

On that cliff, there was a very prominent boulder that could serve as a foothold.

The jagged rocks seem to naturally block one corner of the mountain, but a closer look reveals a small, elegantly designed wooden door hidden behind them.

"This...is there really a cave here?" Wang Daqi asked, somewhat surprised.

"That's right, it was set up privately by one of my cousins ​​and her Daoist partner."

Not only is it secluded, but most importantly, it doesn't require paying spirit stone rent to the sect, ensuring absolute quiet.

Nangong Ling made up an excuse on the spot.

In fact, she had personally carved out this place from inside the mountain some time ago to make it easier for her to meet with Wang Daqi in private.

Its internal formations are far more ingenious than those of ordinary cave dwellings.

However, with Wang Daqi's keen eyesight, he naturally wouldn't be able to notice these things.

As Nangong Ling pushed open the door, a refreshing fragrance wafted towards him.

The interior of the cave was not as desolate as its exterior; on the contrary, it was decorated with great care.

The entire mountainside has been hollowed out, spanning several tens of feet, and dozens of large moonstones are embedded on the top, emitting a soft yet bright light that illuminates the cave as if it were daytime.

The ground was perfectly flat, having been divided using ritual implements.

In the innermost position, there was a stone couch, which exuded a faint warmth, and was surrounded by light purple gauze curtains.

Against the wall is a row of rosewood bookshelves, on which are placed many antique scrolls and incense burners, with incense burning in the burners and wisps of smoke rising.

This is hardly a simple hiding place; it's clearly a very nice private boudoir.

Wang Daqi stared blankly for a while before stammering, "Your cousin and her Daoist partner... they certainly know how to enjoy life."