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

In the following time, Shen Ruyan led Wang Daqi and Xu Yan to the Curved Blade Lake.

The vast expanse of the lake shimmered in the sunlight, resembling a giant scimitar embedded in the earth.

Upon reaching the lakeside, Shen Ruyan's expression became more solemn.

She gave a soft shout, and a faint blue-gold light shone in her eyes!

It is the "Azure Water Golden Eyes" that is a secret technique passed down in the Shen family.

She stood on a high point by the lake, using her internal energy to observe the flow of water and the distribution of spiritual energy, searching for the best irrigation hub.

Not far away, Xia Chunlian was with several junior sisters.

Holding a complex array compass in his hands, he was constantly moving and calculating under the scorching sun.

They were attempting to design a robust psionic array for this lake.

Compared to these busy people, Wang Daqi and Xu Yan seemed to have nothing to do.

The two men knew perfectly well that they were just there to make up the numbers.

With nothing else to do, the two decided to practice their magic in an open area by the lake.

The abundance of moisture here makes the practice of water-based magic twice as effective.

Therefore, Wang Daqi taught Xu Yan how to use the Xuan Shui Arrow.

A series of crystal-clear water arrows condensed in Xu Yan's hand, then shot into the lake with a whooshing sound, stirring up waves.

After a busy afternoon, Shen Ruyan stopped practicing her martial arts and took the two of them to stroll around the market near Curved Blade Lake.

Only then did Wang Daqi and Xu Yan truly realize how profound the Shen family's foundation was.

This entire area, spanning a radius of hundreds of miles, is within the sphere of influence of the Shen family.

The number of ordinary people and low-level cultivators who depend on this place alone is in the hundreds of thousands.

The bustling atmosphere of the market town was in no way inferior to that of the small town under the sect.

Shen Ruyan was in a great mood today. She dragged Xu Yan around the various stalls and bought a lot of jewelry, spiritual fruits and pastries.

Even in a long-established magic artifact shop, Shen Ruyan took a liking to a pair of first-grade low-level spiritual power boots and bought them on the spot, giving them to Xu Yan.

"These boots can enhance movement speed, making them extremely useful for escaping danger," Shen Ruyan said with a smile.

Xu Yan touched the exquisite boots, beaming with joy, and thanked them repeatedly.

At this moment, in her heart, Shen Ruyan was no longer any rival who stole her man.

She's practically like a real older sister to me.

As night fell, the three returned to their lodgings.

Not long after dinner, Shen Ruyan arrived as promised.

She gently knocked on the door, her face still beaming with that same smile, her tone tinged with a hint of pitifulness: "Daqi, Yanyan, it's so lonely in my room. I just can't seem to sleep alone. I don't know if it's because I've been working too hard on the water conservancy projects these past few days, and I'm feeling restless..."

This time, Xu Yan was more proactive than anyone else.

She quickly stepped forward, took Shen Ruyan's hand, and pulled her into the house with a beaming smile:

"Since you can't sleep, Senior Sister, don't go back. There's no need for such formalities between us sisters. Come in quickly, Daqi and I are waiting for you."

After saying that, Xu Yan half-heartedly pulled Shen Ruyan directly to the bed. Her enthusiasm made Shen Ruyan pause for a moment.

Watching this scene, Wang Daqi couldn't help but sigh: Sure enough, even the most aloof cultivators cannot escape the allure of real money and the exchange of benefits.

However, he was naturally happy to see this harmonious atmosphere.

The candlelight flickered inside the room, and the three people's presence once again mingled in the small space.

To repay Shen Ruyan, Xu Yan also helped to support her.

…………

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…………

this day.

As dawn broke, it was the perfect day to set off for the Xu family, the place of immortal cultivators.

After bidding a reluctant farewell to Shen Ruyan, Wang Daqi and Xu Yan followed closely behind Xia Chunlian's escape light, the three of them soaring through the sky.

When they flew out of the Shen family's territory and into a remote valley, Xia Chunlian signaled to descend from the clouds.

They descended into the depths of the forest, where all was quiet and still.

"Let's stay here. If we go any further, we might run into the Xu family's patrolling members," Xia Chunlian said solemnly.

Wang Daqi nodded.

He quickly took out Xu Taibing's clothes, which had been prepared in advance, from his storage bag.

Those were several finely crafted long gowns embroidered with the Xu family's distinctive crest.

He changed into the robe with practiced ease. Although there was a slight difference in his physique, it was not noticeable under the loose robe.

Then, Xia Chunlian took out an exquisite jade box from her bosom.

Upon opening, a thin, almost transparent membrane lay quietly inside.

"Junior Brother Daqi, this is a rare treasure that I obtained by chance many years ago, called the 'Phantom Mask'."

Xia Chunlian handed the mask to Wang Daqi, her tone solemn, "This item is extremely rare. When worn and combined with your aura techniques, it is enough to perfectly simulate the appearance and demeanor of others. Today, I am giving it to you."

Wang Daqi took the mask and felt its cool, silky texture.

Xia Chunlian pointed to the mask and explained, "This mask is extremely special; it can only fuse three faces in a lifetime. I already used two of them when I was hiding from pursuers. Take a look."

Following Xia Chunlian's instructions, Wang Daqi probed a wisp of spiritual energy into the mask.

Two unfamiliar figures instantly flashed into my mind.

One face was that of a still-charming, sharp-eyed noblewoman!

The other image shows the face of a young man with fair skin and a slightly effeminate appearance.

These two faces are so lifelike, they seem almost alive.

"Next, you need to use this last chance to depict Xu Taibing's appearance."

Xia Chunlian then transmitted a complex manipulation incantation to Wang Daqi through her divine sense.

"Remember, a mask is only a superficial disguise. To be absolutely sure, you must use your 'Concealing Breath Technique' to adjust your own aura fluctuations to match the state in Xu Taibing's memory."

A moment later, Wang Daqi had completely grasped the secret.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister. I understand now."

He took a deep breath and slowly pressed the phantom mask onto his face.

The transparent mask melts and penetrates the skin like flowing water the moment it touches it.

Wang Daqi closed his eyes, and in his mind, he sketched out the image of Xu Taibing.

At the same time, the "Concealing Breath Technique" was running wildly within the body, forcibly suppressing and altering the frequency of one's own spiritual energy.

Just a few breaths later, to the astonishment of Xu Yan and Xia Chunlian, Wang Daqi's facial bones and muscles began to twitch slightly.

When he opened his eyes again.

The gentle yet resolute face had vanished.

Instead, there was the face of the late Xu Taibing, a face that was tinged with arrogance and frivolity!

Even the slightly unrealistic aura he exuded in his every move was exactly the same as the original Xu Taibing.

"Good, very good!" Xia Chunlian circled around him, praising him with admiration, "It's absolutely flawless. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, even I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between the real and the fake."

Xu Yan was stunned. If she didn't know the truth, she probably would have thought that her husband had been switched.

"In that case, let's set off." Wang Daqi felt the unfamiliarity brought by his new appearance, and his tone became calm.

"Walk!!!"

Xia Chunlian gave a clear shout, and the three of them transformed into streaks of light once more, speeding towards the Xu family's ancestral land.

…………

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…………

The Xu family, a family of cultivators, is also a powerful clan with a Nascent Soul ancestor presiding over them.

But the true depth of this world is always determined by comparison.

In terms of the size of the clan or the strength of its core members, the Xu family was ultimately inferior to the Shen family.

If it weren't for the Shen family's covert support and cooperation in recent years, the Xu family would probably have already lost out in their fierce battle with their arch-rival, the Hao family.

Xia Chunlian was clearly not visiting the Xu family for the first time.

She skillfully led Wang Daqi and the other man through the city's heavy defensive formations, avoiding the bustling trade district, and flew straight towards a lush and verdant spiritual field area.

"Xu Taibing's house is just ahead."

Xia Chunlian transmitted her voice to Wang Daqi, pointing to a magnificent mansion in the distance, nestled against the mountains and beside the water.

"Look, that house was specially bestowed upon him by the Xu family after he achieved Foundation Establishment. In this spiritual field area spanning a hundred miles, this mansion is considered the most respectable."

The three descended in a burst of light and landed on the bluestone avenue in front of the mansion.

Since Xu Taibing was a rare Foundation Establishment stage expert in this area, a true master who rose from the bottom, Wang Daqi's appearance immediately caused quite a stir.

"Brother Xu! Brother Xu is back!"

"Senior Xu Taibing has returned home after leaving the pass? Look at him, his demeanor is truly extraordinary!!!"

Many low-level Xu family cultivators who were tending to the spirit fields or passing by showed surprise and respect as they gathered around to greet them.

Although Wang Daqi felt a little strange, he maintained the inherent arrogance that Xu Taibing had possessed when he was alive.

He simply nodded indifferently, letting out a barely audible hum.

He continued walking without stopping, heading straight for the gate of the mansion.

This aloof attitude actually made those around him feel that this was the proper demeanor of a Foundation Establishment senior.

Before they could even step over the threshold, they heard a series of hurried and disorderly footsteps coming from inside the gate.

An elderly man with white hair and a frail appearance stumbled out, supported by two maids.

It was Liu, Xu Taibing's biological grandmother.

"Grandson...is my old soldier grandson back?"

Liu shakily stretched out her hand, leaving it partially covered in the air.

Her eyes were slightly white, cloudy and lifeless, clearly indicating that her vision had been severely damaged to the point of almost being unable to see.

Wang Daqi looked at the old man and sighed inwardly.

Although he wasn't actually Xu Taibing, seeing the old man's longing expression, he quickly stepped forward and took the old man's arm.

"Grandma, it's me, I'm back." Wang Daqi deliberately lowered his voice, adjusting it to Xu Taibing's slightly hoarse tone.