Chapter 373 - 351: True Intent Jade Slip
Chapter 373: Chapter 351: True Intent Jade Slip
The Three Yin Illusionary Killing Array was suitable as a Protective Array for a cultivation cave, but unfortunately, it could only be set up in places with yin energy. Furthermore, since it was an item belonging to a Ghost Cultivator, it couldn’t be kept.
Steward Liu’s expression changed. A single glance at these three cultivation items revealed a sinister, evil aura, and he finally began to take Zhao Lin’s words seriously.
"Come, let’s go see the Prefect together."
No matter the circumstances, anything involving a Ghost Cultivator was an extremely serious matter.
The two of them left the Merit Hall and soon arrived at the Prefect’s residence on the mountain.
The Prefect was currently cultivating, so the two waited in the main hall.
The Cultivation Realm was unlike the mortal world. Cultivation was the number one priority; even those holding official positions didn’t "clock in" for work like mortals.
After waiting for a full hour, a middle-aged cultivator of average height, his robes embroidered with cloud patterns, walked into the main hall.
"Greetings, Prefect."
"Prefect, this junior, Zhao Lin, pays his respects."
Steward Liu and Zhao Lin bowed in unison.
"Dispense with the pleasantries. Get straight to the point."
The Prefect had a refined appearance, but his temperament was decisive and efficient, and he spoke quite directly.
"Yes."
Steward Liu responded before turning to Zhao Lin. "You should be the one to explain."
"Alright."
Zhao Lin then recounted the entire incident once more.
The Prefect didn’t react as dramatically as Steward Liu had, but his face was still full of suspicion. It was only after Zhao Lin took out the Ghost Cultivator’s items that his expression turned grave.
He immediately summoned a cultivator in charge of the storeroom and ordered him to store the items securely.
"How bizarre."
The Prefect and Steward Liu exchanged a glance, both finding the matter inconceivable. Their gazes toward Zhao Lin now held a new hint of respect.
It took considerable courage to slay a Ghost Cultivator at the Soul Refining Fifth Layer.
After a moment of contemplation, the Prefect spoke slowly, "This matter is of great importance. I must trouble young friend Zhao to make a trip to the Yinfeng Realm."
"This junior is happy to be of service."
Zhao Lin understood. ’Ghost Cultivators are a sect taboo. This has to be thoroughly verified before it can be reported.’
The Prefect then summoned Zhao Mufeng, the Hall Master of the Patrol Hall, to the main hall and instructed, "Hall Master Zhao, take a few of your men and accompany this young friend to the Yinfeng Realm."
Zhao Mufeng recognized Zhao Lin. He shot him a quick glance, then cupped his fist and said, "Yes. What are the Prefect’s orders?"
Seeing the Prefect looking at him, Zhao Lin had no choice but to explain the matter for a third time.
After hearing the story, Zhao Mufeng stood there, stunned.
Zhao Lin cleared his throat, snapping Zhao Mufeng out of his stupor. He quickly replied, "Alright, but we’ve already missed the time for the World Shuttle Vessel to enter the minor world..."
"No matter."
The Prefect produced a red Token. "Go now."
"Yes!"
Zhao Mufeng accepted the order. He took Zhao Lin to the Patrol Hall to gather three subordinates, and they rode the county’s Spiritual Vessel toward Yinfeng Valley.
The five of them arrived at the entrance to the minor world. The red-robed cultivator guarding the Array complained, "Why are you entering the minor world so late?"
"The Prefect gave the order. We have no choice."
Zhao Mufeng chuckled and casually handed over two Spirit Stones.
The red-robed cultivator accepted the Spirit Stones, his gloomy expression instantly brightening. He readily activated the transport Array and piloted the World Shuttle Vessel to send the group into the Yinfeng Realm.
"We’re here. Let’s stop here."
Standing at the bow, Zhao Lin directed the World Shuttle Vessel to stop a short distance from the cave.
To avoid revealing the cave’s location, they had deliberately landed several li away.
"You may go about your business."
Once the World Shuttle Vessel was stable, the red-robed cultivator gave a slight bow and then sat down on the spot to meditate.
Zhao Lin disembarked from the Flying Vessel and walked ahead, acting as the guide.
"This is the place."
He walked to the front of Big Belly Mountain, circled around to the western slope, pushed aside the foliage obscuring the cave entrance, and was the first to enter.
The four from the Patrol Hall had never imagined that such a hidden cave would hold a world of its own. They looked around curiously.
"I’ve been to the Yinfeng Realm many times, but I never knew there was a cave here."
"Yeah, nature’s wonders are truly amazing. By the way, Fellow Daoist Zhao, how did you find this place?"
Zhao Lin certainly wasn’t going to say a Yin Soul had shown him the way. He just smiled. "I stumbled upon it by accident."
Before long, the group walked into the innermost cavern.
Zhao Lin shouted, "Fellow Daoist Li!"
"It’s me, Zhao Lin..."
After he had called out a few times, a voice rang out, "Fellow Daoist Zhao is a man of his word! I am eternally grateful!"
Li Yuanyou "floated" into view before them.
Zhao Lin stood his ground, but Zhao Mufeng and the others’ faces paled as they instinctively took a few steps back.
It wasn’t that they had never seen a Yin Soul before, but this was the first time they had seen a thousand-year-old one of this size.
Seeing this, Zhao Lin prompted, "Fellow Daoist Li, you should show them your former appearance."
"My apologies, that was thoughtless of me."
Li Yuanyou extended his tendrils, which coalesced into the form of a cultivator in his thirties. He bowed to the group. "Greetings, fellow Daoists."
Zhao Mufeng and the others stared blankly at the illusion, utterly astonished. It took them a good while to recover, and they couldn’t help but click their tongues in wonder.
"This is a real eye-opener!"
"To think a person can become a Yin Soul... and still talk."
A young patrolman suddenly asked, "Does this mean if you die in the Yinfeng Realm, you can become a Yin Soul and live for a few hundred more years?"
Li Yuanyou thought for a moment before answering seriously, "I don’t think so. I only survived as a sliver of a soul by a strange twist of fate. It was only by a fortunate encounter with Cultivator Zhao that I recovered some of my consciousness."
"Anyone else would likely not have been so lucky."
The patrolman wanted to ask more, but Zhao Mufeng barked, "Stop asking nonsense! Are you thinking of cultivating some evil art?"
The patrolman flinched and quickly said he wouldn’t dare.
After a few more words, Zhao Mufeng took out a jade slip—as blue as the sea and crystal clear—from his storage bag. He placed it on a large rock nearby and injected a stream of Spiritual Power into it.
The jade slip immediately shot out a fan-shaped halo of light that enveloped everyone present.
’A True Meaning Jade Slip!’
Zhao Lin’s heart stirred as he recalled the memories in his mind about True Meaning Jade Slips.
Zhao Mufeng cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and began to question Li Yuanyou systematically about his origins, his experiences, what he had seen and heard in the Yinfeng Realm, and the details of Zhao Lin’s battle with the Ghost Cultivator.
Li Yuanyou couldn’t remember his life before death, so he only spoke of what happened after he entered the Yinfeng Realm.
As Zhao Lin had instructed him beforehand, he didn’t mention Wei Shi or Sheng Jinlong at all.
"People’s hearts are treacherous, and the world is full of strange events. Fortunately, you have finally gotten your revenge."
After finishing his questions, Zhao Mufeng sighed with emotion. He made a grabbing motion in the air, and the True Meaning Jade Slip flew into his hand.
Zhao Lin quickly asked, "Hall Master Zhao, could you let me take a look at the True Meaning Jade Slip?"
"First time seeing one?"
Zhao Mufeng laughed heartily and handed the True Meaning Jade Slip to Zhao Lin.
Zhao Lin said his thanks and immersed his Divine Sense into the jade slip.
At first, he could only see a field of mist and clouds.
But soon, the clouds parted and the mist dissipated, revealing a circular image within the jade slip.
The image showed everyone who was present, and the entire conversation from just now had been recorded.
The sound was clear and the picture was vivid, making one feel as if they were right there.
"Thank you. That was very enlightening."
Zhao Lin returned the True Meaning Jade Slip to Zhao Mufeng.
"Don’t mention it. I should be the one thanking you for your help, young friend. Let’s head back now."
Zhao Mufeng arranged for two of his men to stand guard at the cave, then returned to the World Shuttle Vessel with one subordinate and Zhao Lin.
The red-robed cultivator was a little curious when he saw only three people returning, but seeing that none of them seemed inclined to explain, he tactfully pretended not to notice.
On the way back, Zhao Lin asked Zhao Mufeng, "Hall Master Zhao, do you think Li Yuanyou can leave this place?"
"Li Yuanyou?"
Zhao Mufeng paused for a moment before remembering that Li Yuanyou was the Yin Soul. He shook his head. "I’m afraid not."
Zhao Lin said, "With so many Golden Core and Purple Mansion cultivators in the sect, is there no one with that ability?"
Zhao Mufeng smiled. "If you put it that way, someone could certainly do it. With enough resources piled up, is there anything that can’t be done?"
"But helping a Yin Soul leave the Yinfeng Realm and survive in the outside world is no easier than helping someone with a Mortal Spirit Root reach Foundation Establishment. Who would do such a thing?"
Zhao Lin nodded. "I understand."
It was late in the night by the time they returned to Qiuyang County, so they rested at an inn.
「The next day.」
Zhao Lin went to the Patrol Hall to bid farewell to Zhao Mufeng. The evidence gathered was sufficient to clarify the situation, so he was free to leave.