232: Chapter 232 Arrival at Lingxiao Market!

"Changge, do you know?"

Lu Shiyin spoke silently in her heart, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.

"Our Ye Chen actually has the Kangjin Physique. Now, he has been taken in as a True Disciple by a Core Formation True Person."

"The True Person said that with his Physique, as long as he Cultivates well, there is great hope for him to achieve Core Formation in the future."

"That child, though only six years old, is very sensible. Before leaving, he was still thinking of his sister and begged the True Person to take Zhenzhen along as well."

"Now Zhenzhen has also been admitted into the Jinyang Sect as an Inner Sect Disciple. Although that girl's Spiritual Root is not as good as Ye Chen's, the True Person said she has a pure Heart-Nature. If nurtured well, there is great hope for her to reach Foundation Establishment in the future."

As Lu Shiyin thought of this, a sudden sense of urgency welled up in her heart.

She wanted to tell Ye Changge this good news immediately.

She wanted to see the expression of surprise and pride on his face.

She wanted to share this joy with him.

"Changge..."

She murmured softly, her gaze casting toward the distance.

"When will you finally come back?"

The morning breeze brushed past, fluttering her dress.

In the distance, the children's laughter was crisp and pleasant to the ear.

Lu Shiyin withdrew her gaze and looked at the small faces overflowing with smiles; the chaotic thoughts in her heart gradually settled down.

"Hurry and eat. After eating, we will continue our journey."

"Thank you, Auntie!"

On the flying boat, it was indeed much quieter without Ye Chen's crisp laughter and lively figure.

In the past, that little fellow always loved to lean over the gunwale, pointing at the mountains and rivers below and asking about everything. One moment he would marvel that 'this mountain is so high,' and the next he would shout that 'there are big fish in that lake,' keeping the entire flying boat in a state of unrest.

Lu Shiyin would complain about him being noisy, but in her heart, she felt it was better to have some liveliness.

Now that Ye Chen had entered the Jinyang Sect and become the True Disciple of a Core Formation True Person, only Lu Shiyin and a few other young children remained on the flying boat.

Most of those children had not yet reached the age for cultivation and were so frightened by the whistling wind outside the flying boat that they huddled in the cabin, not daring to move. Occasionally, one or two bolder ones would poke their heads out to take a look before shrinking back, their little faces pale.

Lu Shiyin sat by the gunwale, her gaze fixed on the distance.

Without Ye Chen's clamor, the journey was indeed peaceful, but it also felt somewhat lonely.

She sighed softly, feeling both proud of Ye Chen's opportunity and a faint sense of loss.

"I wonder if that child is getting used to the Jinyang Sect..."

Lu Shiyin murmured to herself, then shook her head, feeling she was overthinking.

With a Core Formation True Person teaching him personally and that girl Zhenzhen by his side, it likely wouldn't be too bad.

She pulled back her thoughts and focused on controlling the flying boat, flying toward the Lingxiao Market under the jurisdiction of the Lingxiao Sect.

...

Several days later.

A magnificent Immortal City gradually came into view.

Lingxiao Market.

Although called a market, its scale was already no less than that of a small Immortal City. The entire market was built against the mountain, stretching for dozens of miles. Pavilions and palaces rose in tiers, distributed in an orderly fashion between the mountainside and the foot of the mountain.

On the periphery of the market, a pale gold light shield, like an inverted glazed bowl, enveloped the entire market within it. Under the sunlight, it reflected a multicolored halo.

It was precisely the Grand Array of the Lingxiao Sect.

The flying boat slowly landed on the plaza at the entrance of the market.

Lu Shiyin led the children off the flying boat. Just as they found their footing, two Lingxiao Sect Disciples dressed in uniform green robes with long swords hanging from their waists approached them.

"This Fellow Daoist, do you wish to enter the market?"

One of the Disciples asked with a cupped-fist salute. His tone was polite, but his gaze swept over the children behind Lu Shiyin, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Lu Shiyin nodded slightly and took out the jade token Ye Changge had given her before leaving home, handing it over.

"I am Lu Shiyin of the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain. I have come to the market to find someone. This is my token."

The Disciple took the jade token and examined it carefully. His expression immediately became respectful.

"So it is a Fellow Daoist from the Ye Family, my apologies for the lack of respect. Please wait a moment; this Junior will register you now."

He returned the jade token to Lu Shiyin, turned to whisper a few words to the other Disciple, and then waved them through.

Lu Shiyin led the children into the market. As she looked around, she nodded inwardly.

The scale and prosperity of this Lingxiao Market far exceeded that of the White Bird Market, and it was even comparable to Qingxuan Immortal City. The streets were wide and flat, lined with shops on both sides. All sorts of signs were a feast for the eyes, selling everything from low-grade Magical Artifacts to high-grade Medicinal Pills.

But what she cared about more was the Aura of slaughter permeating the market.

The number of Lingxiao Sect Disciples patrolling the streets was clearly several times more than usual. There was a squad almost every few dozen steps, each with a condensed Aura and sharp gaze, alertly scanning the passing pedestrians. At the market entrance, several more checkpoints had been added. Every Cultivator entering the market had to undergo a strict inspection; anyone slightly suspicious would be pulled aside for questioning.

Lu Shiyin understood in her heart.

It seemed the matter of the Jin family had caused quite a shock to the Lingxiao Sect.

A False Core Family, protected by the Lingxiao Sect for generations, had actually secretly defected to the Demonic Path and remained hidden for a hundred years. If this matter got out, it would not only cause the Lingxiao Sect to lose face but also make the Sect's higher-ups deeply suspicious of the loyalty of the forces under their jurisdiction.

Strengthening security and strictly investigating passing Cultivators was only logical.

Lu Shiyin did not delay, leading the children to a quiet alley in the center of the market.

She took out the jade slip Ye Changge had left behind, held it in her palm, and took a deep breath.

This jade slip was something Ye Changge had specifically left for her before leaving home.

He had said that if she encountered any trouble within the Lingxiao Sect's jurisdiction, she could use this object to contact Xia Qingyue.

"Fairy Xia..."

Lu Shiyin murmured the name, and that figure as cold as snow surfaced in her mind.

That True Disciple of the Lingxiao Sect, with a Grade Four Ice Spiritual Root, the Taiyin Spiritual Body, and a Personal Disciple of a Core Formation True Person... whether in talent, cultivation, or appearance, she was a top-tier existence in this Zhao State Cultivation World.

She had seen Xia Qingyue a few times from a distance, and each time she was shocked by the other woman's ethereal and refined temperament.

Such a peerless woman was like a Fairy from the Nine Heavens descending to the mortal world, making others feel ashamed of their own inferiority.

But it was such a Fairy who, toward her husband...

Lu Shiyin shook her head gently, thinking no more, and injected a trace of spiritual energy into the jade slip.

The jade slip trembled slightly, a faint spiritual light flickering on its surface before it returned to calm.

The message had been sent.

Next was the wait.

...

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

An Aura as cold as snow swept over from the depths of the market.

The Cultivators on the street all looked over, their gazes fixed on the white light of a flight spell speeding toward them, their eyes full of amazement and awe.

The light settled.

A figure gracefully appeared.

It was a woman dressed in white clothes as white as snow.

Her jet-black long hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, loosely tied at the ends with a plain white silk ribbon. Her skin was fairer than snow, her features like a painting, each one exquisite as if it were the Creator's most proud masterpiece. Especially her eyes, clear and cold, like a cold pool in the mountains, untainted by a speck of dust.