The entire sect is obsessed with love, but I'm the only one who's truly insane.

Lin Du not only obtained the list of the two hundred and seventeen cultivators, but also their individual characteristics, strengths, and techniques.

Judging from the city lord's skeleton alone, his cultivation level was no less than that of the 217 cultivators, which means that perhaps at the beginning, these people really wanted to save the world.

The one who was meant to save the world ultimately became the one who destroyed it in order to save his own life.

This lingering regret was nearly exhausted after the list was given.

Lin Du pondered for a moment, "City Lord, your obsession is to save the world, but the world is already dead. However, I have a request. Those 197 people were defying the heavens. They are an extra thing to our Dongming Realm. It is hard to say what they might do in order to conceal the secrets of heaven. I am but a nobody and need a stronger piece of evidence."

She took out a piece of Soul-Nourishing Wood from her storage ring. This thing was precious, and most importantly, it was not usually used. If she were not a formation master, she would never have brought it.

"Would you be willing to save the people of our Insightful Realm?"

"We who cultivate the Tao understand life and death, seek the righteous path, punish evil and promote good, and benefit all living beings. We should do our best."

Lin Du bowed respectfully and invited the faint remnant spirit into the Soul Nourishing Wood.

"Junior Uncle?" A thoughtful look flashed in Yuan Ye's eyes. "What's this?"

"We need some evidence." Lin Du pointed to himself. "How credible do you think the words of a junior disciple are? Elder Ju Yuan might believe us, but there are countless sects large and small in Zhongzhou. Will they believe us?"

Even if the demon willow eats people, who can prove that all 197 people actually escaped?

Who would spend time and energy to verify and hunt down the 197 people they mentioned, even to the point of mutual suspicion?

Yuan Ye always felt that his junior uncle seemed to be full of doubt about the world.

She had just gained the city lord's trust by claiming to be the number one sect in Zhongzhou, but she herself did not trust the credibility and influence of the number one sect in Zhongzhou among the various sects in Zhongzhou.

She pondered first, sought the truth later, and carefully considered every step of the way, just like her uncles who tried every means to make the emperor believe that there were bad people. But how old is her junior uncle this year?

Even members of the royal family, at this age, would probably not be so suspicious of people's hearts.

Lin Du had no idea what Yuan Ye was thinking, and even if she did, she would just smile and let it go.

The two walked side by side toward the inner treasury of the city lord's mansion.

"Junior Uncle, tell me, how much of what the city lord said is true? If it's true, why didn't those people kill him?"

"Because they don't want to waste it."

"What?"

Lin Du repeated, "They don't want to waste the power sacrificed by a living high-level cultivator."

If he dies prematurely, then the city lord becomes worthless.

Before the sacrifice, they all wanted people in this world to live well.

Lin Du broke through the formation and then, together with Yuan Ye, ransacked the entire inner treasury.

All materials and elixirs returned to Lin Ferry, magical artifacts and spirit weapons returned to Yuan Ye, and spirit crystals and gems were divided equally.

"We still carry the lingering resentment of the city lord; isn't it a bit inappropriate to just plunder his belongings like this?"

As they walked out of the city lord's mansion, Yuan Ye suddenly felt a pang of conscience and asked in a low voice.

"It's alright, I put it in another storage ring, he can't see it." Lin Du stretched out his hand, his index finger and thumb spread out, two simple wide silver rings shining with a simple luster.

Yuan Ye felt inferior and realized he was still inferior to his junior uncle.

He has some conscience, but not much.

The two parted ways again. When Lin Du entered a pharmacy, he found someone already inside. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard a gentle, delighted female voice call out, "Lin Du?"

Lin Du turned his head and saw Du Shao dressed in the nine-leaf lotus-colored disciple robe of the Jishi Sect, with a crystal peony hairpin in her hair, and a joyful smile between her brows and eyes.

"Finally, I've run into you. I wanted to say hello earlier, but there were too many people around, and it wasn't convenient for you to see me."

Lin Du nodded to her, stood at the doorway, and glanced towards the alley entrance. "Sister Du Shao, how have you been lately?"

"Alright, come in. I haven't finished searching this pharmacy yet."

Lin Du nodded. "Coming right now, sister, please take your things first."

Upon hearing this, Du Shao continued searching. A short while later, Lin Du asked from the side, "This pharmacy's inner storeroom has a protective seal. Did you break it?"

She shook her head. "This pharmacy seems to be the best in the city. They even use jade boxes to store the medicine, so the medicinal properties are intact. Is there anything you need? I can get it for you."

Lin Du smiled but did not accept her offer. Instead, he stepped through the lattice door and said, "I'll give it a try."

As she spoke, she probed the barrier, then punched the weakest point of the barrier. The barrier dissipated, and she calmly pushed open the door.

"Let's go inside."

Du Shao stared blankly at the broken door frame, "Your hand?"

"It's just spiritual energy, it's fine." Lin Du had already begun skillfully looting things.

Du Shao didn't believe it, so she went over to take a look. Her right hand was indeed fine, with only a slight redness at the joints, one of the few traces of color on her body.

"Your complexion looks pale, which suggests a problem with your heart meridian. You must be careful when using spiritual power and avoid overexertion."

Medical cultivation manuals are complicated, and even after five years, one can only learn the basics. Du Shao wanted to help Lin Du, but now she could only offer some advice.

Lin Du smiled and agreed. Just as the two were about to leave, they suddenly heard a burst of laughter.

Before Du Shao could react, Lin Du raised his hand to stop her.

Before she could ask, a cold spiritual energy entered her throat, like a snowflake falling on the tip of her tongue on a snowy day. It quickly disappeared, but the cold taste of snow remained, and her vocal cords stopped making any sound.

Lin Du had read many miscellaneous books, and this spell didn't harm anyone. If one were to forcibly break it with spiritual power, it would be possible. She explained using divine sense, "Wait a moment, I'll undo it for you in a bit."

Du Shao looked at the boy helplessly, only to realize with surprise that the boy, who was previously half a head shorter than her, had grown to be the same height as her in just one year.

What did this child eat at the sect? He's growing so fast!

But soon, Du Shao's expression turned serious.

The male voice outside seemed to be her fiancé, Li Dong.

Li Dong's sect only had two spots, so she wasn't surprised that a man and a woman were traveling together.

But what they said made Du Shao's eyes widen, and she even forgot to think about why Lin Du had pulled her to hide in the pharmacy's inner storeroom instead of going out to meet Li Dong.

"How are you? Do you still feel cold after taking the medicine?" the woman asked with concern.

"It's still a bit, but it's nothing. I'm a man, I can handle it," the man said nonchalantly. "But this Lin Du is really crazy. You should talk to the sect leader when you get back. Just because he's a disciple of the Supreme Sect doesn't mean he can bully our small sect like that, does it?"

Ni Si sneered upon hearing this, "That Lin Du is indeed hateful. He extorted money from us and then froze us under that man-eating willow tree without helping us. Fortunately, we escaped safely. When we get back, I will definitely ask my father to get justice for us."

"Ugh, I don't know why, but I always feel cold. Sisi, aren't you cold?"

"I'm fine. If you're cold, why don't you go ask your sister at the Jishi Sect for some pills? Didn't you say she promised to exchange Foundation Establishment Pills for you after this training trip?"

"Does what you said before, that you would propose to my father after returning from the secret realm, still stand?"

Small sects lack medical practitioners, and elixirs are scarce. A Foundation Establishment Pill is extremely expensive outside, and there is a certain chance of failing to establish a foundation. Only Ni Si, the sect leader's daughter, can afford it.

Li Dong hesitated for a moment. He was certain that Du Shao would give it to him, but last time he mentioned it briefly and Du Shao didn't realize he was asking for it.

Du Shao has already reached the Great Perfection of the Phoenix Beginning Realm and is about to establish her foundation.

"I'll ask her for it when I run into her later, Sisi. After I successfully establish my foundation, I'll immediately ask the sect leader to marry you as my Daoist partner. But I'm worried that I won't have enough resources and will fail to establish my foundation..."

Li Dong lowered his voice, his tone sincere, "Believe me, I truly like you. It's just that only after I successfully establish my foundation will I be qualified to ask you for your hand in marriage, isn't that right?"

Ni Si softened her voice upon hearing this, "My father only cares about whether I like it or not, he doesn't care about your cultivation level. But what you said is also true, then I'll go back and ask my father to give you more cultivation resources so that you can successfully establish your foundation."

The two were talking in the outer room when suddenly a muffled sound came from inside.

"Who?" Li Dong frowned, gripping his spirit sword. "Eavesdropping on others' conversations? That's rather immoral."

"Morality?" A very familiar, casual tone came from inside, and the hem of a blue robe swayed past the edge of the inner lattice door.

"Fellow Daoist Li, it's immoral to have your cake and eat it too, don't you agree?"

Lin Du walked out alone, a pleasant smile on his face.