Mortal: Starting with the Falling Cloud Sect, I proved my Dao through gacha pulls.

Inside Su Mu's cave on the thirty-ninth floor of Tianxing City.

Su Mu's figure materialized from the ripples in the void, and he slowly stretched, causing his spiritual energy to surge.

The clone, who had been waiting quietly for a long time, immediately stepped forward and handed him a jade slip with both hands.

Over the years, Su Mu's main body has been away training for many years, leaving only an avatar to guard Tianxing City and handle the city's social and miscellaneous affairs.

He claimed to be in seclusion, only occasionally returning via teleportation using the Qiankun Disc to briefly appear in public, thus concealing his true intentions. Over the years, he kept a perfect facade, never revealing the slightest flaw.

Su Mu took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense. He immediately understood all the major and minor changes that had recently occurred in Tianxing City.

"Has Han Li already transcended the tribulations of the mortal world?"

A thought stirred within him: in this way, the seventy-two Green Bamboo Peak Cloud Swords must also be nearing completion.

The demonic cultivators of the Chaotic Star Sea will soon encounter a traveling wholesaler of Golden Thunder Bamboo.

Thinking of this, Su Mu shook his head slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. He slightly dispersed the aura concealed by the Dream Ring, revealing his cultivation level as the early stage of Core Formation.

He then flicked his finger, and a sound transmission talisman shot out and flew straight towards Jin Qing's cave.

The next day, at Jinqing Cave.

At the banquet, where the host and guests were enjoying themselves, Jin Qing laughed heartily. As he put down his wine glass, he looked intently at Su Mu, his envy undisguised.

"I never expected that Fellow Daoist Xiao, after years of seclusion, would break through to the mid-stage of Core Formation in one fell swoop. Congratulations!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mu waved his hand gently, a look of relief on his face, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"Brother Jin, you flatter me. To achieve this, I exhausted my resources and consumed several rare pills, barely managing to break through to this point. Now that my resources are depleted, I'm eager to leave seclusion and find some resources as soon as I've stabilized my cultivation."

Changing the subject abruptly, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked, "By the way, I received a communication talisman a few days ago. Judging from Brother Jin's movements, could it be that you have commissioned me to refine some pills?"

Jin Qing's expression brightened, and he leaned closer, saying excitedly:

"No, that's not it. This time, Lao Hu and I discovered the ruins of an ancient cultivator. We thought that Fellow Daoist Xiao had a wide range of knowledge about ancient books, so we wanted to invite you to go with us. Unexpectedly, it was such a coincidence that we arrived just as Fellow Daoist was coming out of seclusion."

Su Mu smiled inwardly. He had deliberately chosen this time to emerge from seclusion, but on his face he still showed a look of curiosity.

"Oh? Ancient monks' ruins?"

Jin Qing nodded, then took out a white pearl about the size of a thumb and handed it to Su Mu.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, please take a look! This bead was discovered by Lao Hu and me five years ago. There are two of them, and together they form a complete map. Over the years, we have searched everywhere and finally found the site marked on the map."

Su Mu took the pearl and probed it with his divine sense. Sure enough, half of a mottled ancient map was hidden inside. This ancient method of sealing maps with spiritual pearls was only commonly used by ancient cultivators, which explained Jin Qing's excitement.

He knew perfectly well that the cave indicated by the map contained no rare treasures, only the mysterious bones of a thousand-year-old ghost. And this person was precisely the true purpose of his trip.

Su Mu remained calm and composed, handing the pearl back to Jin Qing and saying indifferently, "Since that's the case, I'm quite interested. May I ask when Brother Jin plans to set off?"

Jin Qing's expression stiffened slightly upon hearing this, then she gave an awkward smile.

"To be honest, Fellow Daoist Xiao, the outer perimeter of that ruin is shrouded by an ancient array. Old Hu and I were at a loss, so we prepared to each invite an array expert to break the array."

I originally intended to invite Fellow Daoist Han to join me in breaking the formation, but he is currently in seclusion, perhaps refining some treasure, and it would be inconvenient to disturb him. I can only wait a few more days.”

"I see."

Su Mu smiled knowingly and raised his hand to refill their wine glasses.

"Very well, then we'll wait for Fellow Daoist Han to emerge from seclusion before heading there together."

"If Fellow Daoist Xiao wishes to go, we would certainly welcome him!"

Jin Qing laughed loudly, his eyes full of anticipation.

"If there are indeed ancient spiritual materials at that time, I would appreciate your expertise, fellow Daoist!"

......

After Jin Qing left, Su Mu sat quietly for a moment, pondered for a moment, and then took out a lustrous white jade pendant from his bosom.

This item was a token given to him by Ling Yuling when they first met. He has kept it safe all these years and has never touched it.

Su Mu condensed a wisp of magical power and slowly poured it into the jade pendant, truly activating this token for the first time.

At the same time, on the eighty-first floor of the Holy Mountain, the place with the most abundant and pure spiritual energy in the entire Tianxing City.

Ling Yuling, dressed in a moon-white long dress, was in seclusion deep within the cave, meditating. A few strands of her black hair fell beside her cheeks, making her face look gentle and adding a touch of charm.

The jade hairband on her forehead remained, but it had lost its former casualness, revealing the unique nobility and elegance of the young master of the Star Palace.

Just then, as if sensing something, Ling Yuling opened her phoenix eyes slightly and took out a jade pendant that resonated with her from her storage bag.

"Is this... that Alchemist Xiao from the city?"

After a moment's thought, she remembered the owner of the token, and a hint of surprise flashed across her eyes.

"That's strange, he actually took the initiative to contact me."

Ling Yuling smiled slightly, then stood up and made a hand seal. A flash of spiritual light appeared around her, and she had changed into a plain white robe in the style of the Star Palace. She completely concealed the gentle charm that she had inadvertently revealed just now and returned to her elegant demeanor.

She channeled another wisp of magic power into the jade pendant, and her figure transformed into a pale white streak of light, rushing straight towards the thirty-ninth level of the sacred mountain.

Upon seeing Ling Yuling again, Su Mu still secretly admired her outstanding beauty, noting the refined elegance in her eyes and brows. He chuckled softly and bowed respectfully.

"It's been many years. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Ling, on your successful advancement to the Core Formation Realm. I have come here abruptly with this invitation because I have important matters to discuss with you. I hope you will forgive my abruptness."

Ling Yuling first glanced casually outside the cave, and when her gaze fell back on Su Mu, she sensed that he had already entered the mid-stage of Core Formation. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly concealed it.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, you flatter me. I left this item behind that day simply to facilitate future connections. How can you blame me?"

Su Mu nodded slightly, turned to the side, and raised his hand to guide him.

"Fellow Daoist Ling, please come inside for a detailed discussion."

"it is good."

Ling Yuling smiled freely and stepped into the cave.

After the two were seated and exchanged a few pleasantries, Su Mu stopped beating around the bush and directly expressed his desire to join the Star Palace.

Ling Yuling was not surprised to hear this; instead, she looked at him with a hint of curiosity.

"The Star Palace has been trying to recruit you for years, and this shouldn't be difficult. Why did you specifically seek me out?"

Su Mu thought to himself, "Of course you're here because of your status as the young master of the Star Palace," but he only sighed softly on the surface.

"Fellow Daoist Ling is surely aware that the situation in the Chaotic Star Sea is becoming increasingly tense. Forces such as the Six-Linked Palace have undergone successive changes, and rumors about the Two Saints are rampant, making everyone feel insecure. Having lived in Tianxing City for a long time, I naturally wish to find a reliable backer to seek protection."

He paused, his tone calm and natural.

"Although I do not know your exact identity, I knew at first glance that you must hold a very important position in the Star Palace. Therefore, I would like to ask for your help to save some troublesome procedures."