The Strange Person

However, looking at the man's demeanor, Sun Yigao felt that he was no ordinary tourist.

His steps were steady, his stance was solid, and his breathing was incredibly even and powerful.

In his spare time, Mo Yuanjiao had taught the people of the Lingxian Sect how to distinguish between ordinary folks, martial artists, and highly skilled experts.

Therefore, with just one glance, Sun Yigao knew this man must possess formidable martial prowess.

Moreover, judging from his walking posture, he was definitely not self-taught or from some unorthodox background.

Most importantly, this person actually had cultivation.

Even though it was only at the first layer of Qi Refining.

Having noticed the man's peculiarities, his spiritual sense stayed locked onto him without leaving.

Soon after, he saw the man stop before the Path of Heart-Questioning, looking utterly enchanted by its beautiful scenery.

Once the scattered tourists around him had left, he stepped right into the Path of Heart-Questioning.

Recently, because the Path of Heart-Questioning had never harmed anyone, only trapping them in a completely immersive and incredibly realistic dream,

people gradually became bold enough to step inside.

So far, however, among those who had entered, other than the ones pushed out by the path itself, not a single person had chosen to proceed up the mountain.

They believed it would be disrespectful to the immortal sect.

They all felt that experiencing such a realistic dream was already a blessing from the immortals.

They dared not climb the mountain and disturb the immortals any further.

But as for this man, Sun Yigao guessed that if he passed the Path of Heart-Questioning, he would very likely head straight up the mountain.

After pondering for a moment, he cast an illusion spell over the students sitting below, then took out a targeted sound-transmission talisman to send a message to Liu Yunan.

Afterward, he made no other moves. He merely split off a sliver of his spiritual sense to monitor the man's movements and turned his attention back to teaching his class earnestly.

Up on the mountain, Liu Yunan, who had been cultivating in the training room, received Sun Yigao's message. He simply ran straight to the ten-mile peach blossom tree at the entrance of the mountain path and sat down to meditate on the spot.

He cultivated while waiting to see if that person would come up the mountain.

He sat there all the way until the afternoon.

Wei San was a member of the Pusi Kingdom emperor's personal guard.

He had come this time under orders to investigate the immortal sect in Xiushui Village.

He had already gathered a lot of information about this Path of Heart-Questioning beforehand and could be considered quite knowledgeable about it.

When he learned that passing the trial of the Path of Heart-Questioning would grant unhindered passage up the mountain path, he decided to walk it himself.

However, he never expected the Path of Heart-Questioning to be so realistic, digging out the nightmares hidden deep in his heart and constantly shaking his resolve.

Of course, he only realized all this after he woke up.

While in the dream, he had completely forgotten that he was in a dream, that he was on a mountain path in Xiushui Village, and even forgot the imperial decree he carried.

When he finally broke free from the dreamscape and stood firmly on the Path of Heart-Questioning without being pushed out,

he looked at the dreamlike mountain path before him and gazed up at the towering, continuous mountain ranges ahead, a profound sense of awe rising in his heart.

For a moment, he almost hesitated, wondering if he shouldn't offend the immortals.

Yet, his years of ingrained dedication to executing imperial commands ultimately conquered his reverence, and he resolutely stepped forward onto the path up the mountain.

When he reached the entrance of the mountain path and had just caught sight of the flat ground ahead, the ancient and sturdy peach blossom tree, and the thatched roof in the distance, a voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

This is the restricted grounds of the Lingxian Sect. Mortals, retreat at once!

Hearing this voice suddenly explode in his mind, Wei San was not entirely surprised. After all, he had spent so long on the Path of Heart-Questioning that the sun was already slanting to the west.

Still, a trace of trepidation lingered in his heart.

There really were immortals here.

Originally, when the emperor heard news that a new immortal sect might be here, he hadn't quite believed it, assuming it was merely some remnant traces left behind by an immortal.

But he wasn't certain.

What if what the magistrate of Anqun County said was true?

Thus, he was dispatched to investigate in secret.

Thinking of this, his ingrained mission helped him suppress the fear in his heart. Taking a deep breath, he cupped his hands, bowed toward the empty space ahead, and said:

Please forgive me, Immortal. I am Wei San, a member of His Majesty the Emperor's personal guard. I have come by imperial decree and have an important matter to discuss with you.

At this moment, Liu Yunan was hiding in the shadows, holding Little Luan in one arm and Da Tao in the other, secretly observing the man.

Seeing that he had no intention of leaving, and instead claimed to be on an imperial mission to discuss something important, Liu Yunan pondered for a moment. He then put down Little Luan and Da Tao, gesturing for them to run off and play further away.

Then, he used the Cloud-Soaring Spell to float out from the shadows.

However, to Wei San, because Liu Yunan had been using a concealment spell, his appearance seemed to happen out of thin air.

Furthermore, this young man floated down to the ground...

For a moment, Wei San became even more cautious.

Liu Yunan did not lead the man into the sect. Instead, he stood before Wei San like a guardian deity and asked with feigned aloofness:

What is it?

Wei San pulled a scroll from his robes and, lowering his head with utmost respect, offered it to Liu Yunan.

This was written personally by His Majesty. Please review it, Immortal.

Seeing this, Liu Yunan thought for a moment and did not reach out his hand. Instead, he used the Object Manipulation Spell, which he had practiced repeatedly for efficient sowing, to take the scroll through thin air.

After taking the scroll, he stored it in his storage bag and immediately said to Wei San:

I will read this. You may go back.

Seeing that he did not open it right away, Wei San hesitated slightly:

Immortal, what about the reply...

Liu Yunan waved a hand at him:

Three days from now, go under the tree at the front of the village, and you will naturally receive a reply.

As soon as his voice fell, Wei San felt an intense wave of drowsiness wash over him, and he immediately closed his eyes, falling into a deep slumber.

Having just used a slumber spell, Liu Yunan looked at the man lying on the ground and silently sighed.

Then, he rolled up his sleeves, hoisted the man onto his shoulder, and carried him down the mountain.

It wasn't until late at night that Wei San finally woke up in a patch of tall grass at the entrance of Xiushui Village.

Seeing the bright moonlight overhead and recalling his previous memories, he suddenly couldn't tell if he was in a dream or reality.

So, he raised his hand and pinched himself hard.

Feeling the pain in his hand, he still couldn't quite believe it.

After all, back on the Path of Heart-Questioning, he had slashed himself many times. His whole body had ached, and he had believed it was reality without the slightest sign of waking up.

He felt as though he had only been in Xiushui Village for a single day, yet it seemed as if many years had passed.

He stood there in a daze for a long time. Then, as if remembering something, he hurriedly patted his body.

Upon discovering that the scroll the emperor had given him was no longer on his person, Wei San, wearing a dazed expression, stepped under the moonlight and made his way back to Cuifeng Town.