Starting at the Nascent Soul stage, a rogue cultivator is incredibly poor.

The capital of the Wanxian Dynasty, "Tianqi City".

The city wall is a hundred feet high, and the bricks are all made of blue rock, with dense protective patterns carved on the surface.

The eight city gates were open day and night, bustling with people and carriages.

The city is filled with towering buildings, with spiritual light emanating from between the eaves and brackets. Several giant spiritual veins also run through the ground, making the concentration of spiritual energy in the entire city far exceed that of the outside world.

Qingyouzi, dressed in a gray robe, concealed his aura to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm and followed the crowd into the South Gate.

The streets are wide and lined with shops on both sides.

There are markets selling elixirs and magical artifacts for cultivators, as well as restaurants and teahouses run by ordinary people. Cultivators and ordinary people live together in an unusually harmonious way, which is quite different from the pure gathering place of cultivators in Xuanxian City.

"Would you like a bowl of tofu, sir?"

At a street stall, a middle-aged man greeted customers warmly. A wooden sign in front of the stall read "Lingdou Tofu," and behind it, a large pot steamed with the aroma of soybeans.

"We use only the finest spirit beans, resulting in tofu that's tender and delicious, and even beneficial for cultivation!" the man laughed. "Would you like it savory or sweet, sir?"

Qingyouzi glanced at the white and tender tofu and suddenly remembered the bowl of tofu pudding drizzled with chili oil and sprinkled with scallions from the street in her previous life.

He pointed and said, "Give me a spicy one."

"Alright!" The man worked quickly, scooping up tofu, adding seasonings, drizzling on special chili oil, and finally sprinkling on some bright green scallions. "Enjoy your meal, sir!"

Qingyouzi sat down and took a bite.

The tofu was indeed tender and smooth, with the unique fragrance of the green beans blending with the spicy and savory flavors, exploding on the tongue. It wasn't particularly amazing, but it evoked some distant memories.

He slowly finished eating and put down a spirit stone.

With a flash, he disappeared into the bustling crowd.

Qingyouzi's visit to Tianqi City was certainly not just for a bowl of tofu.

The main purposes are twofold: first, to obtain the Hundred Flame Falcon cub that Tang Lingyu promised back then; and second, to find the materials needed for the subsequent cultivation of the Seven Chapters of Refining the God, especially the "Spiritual Consciousness Fruit".

During his eight years in Xuanxian City, he searched extensively but only managed to gather enough Divine Grass.

The Spirit Fruit grows in secluded places rich in spiritual energy. Such places are either forbidden areas of sects or extremely dangerous and perilous locations, and are almost never seen on the market.

The Myriad Immortals Dynasty has existed for thousands of years, and its royal treasury may contain some treasures. Even if not, the capital city is a melting pot of people and well-informed, offering a better chance of finding clues than Xuanxian City.

He found an inconspicuous inn in the west of the city and stayed there. He went out early and returned late every day, seemingly strolling around, but in reality, he used his divine sense to subtly scan the major markets, auction houses, and even the underground black market.

Three days passed, and Ling Shiguo still had no clue.

I have heard quite a few details about the internal strife within the Ten Thousand Immortals Dynasty.

The capital city appeared calm on the surface, but underneath, tensions were high, with a noticeable increase in patrols and even a curfew at night.

The fourth day at dusk.

Qingyouzi walked to the main street outside the imperial city.

This area was mostly occupied by the residences of high-ranking officials and nobles, with high walls and deep courtyards, heavily guarded. Just as he was about to turn and leave, his divine sense suddenly detected a familiar aura at the edge of his body.

Inside a silk shop on a street corner, a woman dressed in plain clothes is looking down and selecting fabrics.

Tang Lingyu?

Qingyouzi raised an eyebrow slightly.

Why is she here? And all alone?

After a moment's hesitation, he walked into the teahouse across the street, sat down by the window on the second floor, ordered a pot of tea, and quietly locked his senses onto the other person.

The woman stayed at the silk shop for about half an incense stick's time, selected two bolts of brocade, paid with spirit stones, and then left with her bundle.

She walked lightly and calmly along the main street toward the imperial city.

As they reached the entrance of a quiet alley, Qingyouzi appeared in a flash, blocking their way.

"You...who are you?"

Tang Lingyu seemed startled, taking a half step back and placing her hand on her waist, where it was empty, with no spirit beast ring.

Qingyouzi chuckled and lowered his bamboo hat a little further:

"What, haven't you recognized me in all these years?"

Tang Lingyu was stunned for a moment, then her face lit up with surprise:

"It's you, senior! Thanks to you for bringing back the Nascent Soul Pill last time, my great-grandfather has already gone into seclusion to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. He might even emerge as a Nascent Soul cultivator!"

Her tone was cheerful, and her eyes were filled with genuine gratitude.

Qingyouzi's gaze was calm, and he nodded slightly, but his divine sense had already thoroughly scanned her from head to toe.

The aura was indeed Tang Lingyu's, and her late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation was also correct.

but……

"Where's your spirit beast?" he asked casually. "Let me release it and take another look."

Tang Lingyu scratched the back of her head, an embarrassed look on her face:

"Um... Senior, my father found out that I sneaked out last time. In a fit of anger, he confiscated my spirit beast ring, so I didn't bring it out today."

Qingyouzi said "Oh," and then asked:

"Did those earth dragons ever have any offspring? They promised to give me one back then."

"Earth dragon?" Tang Lingyu was slightly taken aback.

She immediately waved her hand and smiled:

"Yes, yes, yes! But... if you don't mind the trouble, could you please wait a little while? I think my father will personally present the cub to thank you for your great kindness."

A cold glint flashed in Qingyouzi's eyes.

When he saved her back then, he clearly killed a Black Scaled Earth Dragon, while her spirit beast was a Hundred Flame Falcon.

She even got this wrong?

Either he's a fake, or... he's mentally unstable.

Something is very, very wrong.

He nodded, his expression unchanged.

"Alright. I'll wait for your message at the inn across the street."

He casually pointed westward, then his figure flickered and disappeared into the alley.

Tang Lingyu stood there, gazing in the direction he had disappeared, a barely perceptible glint of something else flashing in her eyes.

She quickly wiped the smile off her face and strode towards the imperial city. Her steps revealed traces of a magic escape technique, something no Foundation Establishment cultivator could possess.

Qingyouzi did not return to the inn.

He rode his escape light, circled the city several times, and after confirming that no one was following him, he concealed his aura and sped off to the north.

Since this "Tang Lingyu" is problematic, we cannot linger in Tianqi City. As for whether the real Tang Lingyu is alive or dead, it is none of his concern; he did not come here to save anyone in the first place.

However, we'll probably have to find another way to get information about the Spirit Fruit.

The light flew a thousand miles away, already far from the boundaries of Tianqi City.

Below are rolling hills with sparse trees.

Just as Qingyouzi was about to accelerate, his divine sense suddenly issued a strong warning!

Behind us, a powerful aura was rapidly approaching!

Peak of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm!

The newcomer was incredibly fast, closing the distance to within ten miles in just a few breaths. His aura was chilling and sharp, carrying undisguised killing intent, and he was locked onto Qing Youzi.

Qingyouzi's eyes turned cold.

Sure enough, there was an ambush.

Instead of fleeing, he activated his escape technique and landed on a desolate mountaintop.

He turned around and stood with his hands behind his back.

Three breaths later, a dark shadow broke through the air and hovered a hundred feet away.

The newcomer was dressed in a tight-fitting black outfit, with an ordinary face, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. He stared at Qing Youzi, his voice hoarse:

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave, fellow Daoist?"

Qingyouzi looked at him indifferently:

"Who are you? Why are you chasing me?"

"I'm following orders," the man in black said indifferently. "Please come with me back to Tianqi City. There are some things that require your 'cooperation' in the investigation."

"What if I don't go?"

"Then I'll have no choice but to... use force."

Before he could finish speaking, the man in black made a fist with his right hand!

A jet-black longsword materialized from the void, its blade wreathed in gray-white malevolent energy. The moment it appeared, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and the vegetation was instantly covered in frost!

Qingyouzi narrowed her eyes.

This person's cultivation has reached the peak of the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and the murderous blade in his hand exudes a terrifying aura, making him no ordinary cultivator.

It seems things won't end well today.

He slowly raised his right hand.

From within her sleeve, countless threads slithered out like green snakes, and ancient green demonic fire flickered and burned faintly at her fingertips.