363: Chapter 363 Making Things Difficult? Do You Think I'm Just for Show?

Early next morning, sunlight filtered through the mist and spilled into Qixia Valley, plating everything in a soft golden hue.

Xu Ruyu stood outside Tingquan Residence and stretched his body.

He had slept well last night and was full of energy today.

He glanced back into the room—Xiao Nianyin had already risen at some point and was quietly tidying up the room. Seeing him look over, she lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

Xu Ruyu didn't pay it much mind and turned to walk outside.

Yue Ling and Taihao Clan were already waiting at the valley entrance. Yue Ling was still wearing a moon-white dress, her temperament ethereal. Seeing him walk over, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a gentle smile.

Taihao Clan was holding a spirit fruit larger than her own head, gnawing on it, her mouth full of juice. Seeing Xu Ruyu approach, she mumbled indistinctly, "What are you dawdling for? I've been waiting for ages."

Xu Ruyu laughed, "Senior Taihao, you are a Saint Realm Artifact Refiner, please pay attention to your image."

Taihao Clan rolled her eyes, "Image? Can you eat that thing?"

Yue Ling covered her mouth and chuckled, reaching out to poke her Disciple's forehead, "All you know is eating."

The three chatted and laughed as they walked out of the valley.

Xu Ruyu had a plan today—he wanted to go to the Taihu Clan's Transmission Monument Forest to take a look.

The ancient Cultivation Techniques he had completed were carved onto the stone tablets in the Transmission Monument Forest.

Although he had comprehended those techniques within the Legacy, he had been focused on completing and upgrading them at the time, without carefully experiencing the original appearance and Concept of those techniques.

Now that he had time, he wanted to go and take a good look; perhaps he could gain new inspiration from them.

Additionally, he also wanted to be with Elder Qingli.

After all, that was an important area of the Taihu Clan, and having Elder Qingli with him could avoid many unnecessary troubles.

"Going to find your Sister Qingli?" Yue Ling asked softly.

Xu Ruyu nodded, "Yes. She is familiar with these places. With her there, it saves me from being given a hard time by others."

Taihao Clan curled her lip, "Difficulties? Who would dare give you a hard time? The Clan Chief is your Dao Protector, and those Elders have already benefited from the techniques you completed; they are too grateful to do anything else."

Xu Ruyu smiled without explaining.

He knew that not everyone was grateful.

Some people, the better you treat them, the more they feel you owe them. Mo Feng and his group were the best examples.

The three arrived at Elder Qingli's Yuehua Stream, but were told by the maid guarding the gate—

"Elder Qingli? She went to the Transmission Monument Forest half a month ago, saying she wanted to comprehend the newly completed Cultivation Techniques, and hasn't returned since."

Xu Ruyu was slightly stunned, then felt a bit disappointed.

He had wanted to go with Elder Qingli, but didn't expect she had already gone. Now, as an outsider going to the Transmission Monument Forest alone, he feared some people might make an issue of it.

Seeing the hesitation in his eyes, Yue Ling said softly, "Ruyu, if you want to go, then go. With me accompanying you, no one will dare say anything."

Xu Ruyu shook his head, "You don't understand. The Taihu Clan has many rules, and I am an outsider after all. Last time I went to the Illusory Moon Well, it was because Sister Qingli had made arrangements. This time, if I go to the Transmission Monument Forest without someone leading the way, I fear those Disciples guarding the gate will give me a hard time."

Taihao Clan rolled her eyes while listening from the side.

She threw the half-eaten spirit fruit on the ground, clapped her hands, and swaggered over.

"I say, Xiao Yuer," she mimicked Yue Ling's tone, deliberately drawing out her voice, "Have you forgotten who is standing in front of you?"

Xu Ruyu was taken aback.

Taihao Clan pointed at her own nose, looking arrogant, "Me, Taihao Clan, Saint Realm Artifact Refiner of the Taihu Clan, having lived for over ten thousand years! Throughout the entire Taihu Clan, how many have a higher seniority than me? How many are more qualified than me?"

She pointed at Yue Ling again, triumphantly, "And there's my Master, the Artifact Spirit of the Illusion Moon Well, the Guardian Holy Spirit of the Taihu Clan! With me and my Master here, even if you want to go to the ancestral grounds of my Taihu Clan, who would dare stop you?"

Xu Ruyu looked at this "Saint Realm Artifact Refiner" who was holding a wine jar, gnawing on a spirit fruit, and had no image to speak of, and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Yue Ling covered her mouth and chuckled from the side, but did not refute.

Xu Ruyu thought about it; it seemed... that was indeed the logic.

These two, one was an existence at the level of the Taihu Clan's Old Ancestor, and the other was the Taihu Clan's Guardian Holy Spirit. With them accompanying him, what kind of trouble was he worried about?

"Then... then let's go," he laughed.

Taihao Clan proudly lifted her chin and was about to say something when she suddenly received a knock on her forehead.

"Ouch!" She clutched her forehead and looked at Yue Ling aggrievedly, "Master, why did you hit me?"

Yue Ling withdrew her hand and looked at her reproachfully, "Who were you calling Xiao Yuer just now?"

Taihao Clan was stunned and scratched her head, "Xu Ruyu, what else should I call him if not Xiao Yuer?"

Yue Ling raised her hand and knocked her again, "Call him Master's Husband!"

Taihao Clan was completely confused.

"Master's Husband?" She blinked her eyes, looking puzzled, "What is a Master's Husband? Is it a cane for Master?"

Yue Ling's face flushed slightly, and she raised her hand to knock her again, this time with a bit more force, "Naughty! Just call him what I tell you to, why so many questions!"

Taihao Clan clutched her forehead, looking at Xu Ruyu aggrievedly, muttering, "Master's Husband... what a strange form of address..."

Xu Ruyu watched from the side and couldn't help but smile. This pair of Master and Disciple was truly interesting.

Disturbed by her Disciple, the blush on Yue Ling's face deepened.

She coughed lightly, regained her dignified appearance, and said to Taihao Clan, "Alright, stop messing around. Since Xiao Yuer wants to go to the Transmission Monument Forest, as an 'Old Senior' of the Taihu Clan, you lead the way."

Taihao Clan rubbed her forehead and muttered, "Hitting me and then making me lead the way, Master, you really know how to order people around..."

Although she said this, she still obediently walked to the front, leading Xu Ruyu and Yue Ling toward the direction of the Transmission Monument Forest.

...

The Transmission Monument Forest was located in the depths of the Tianyin Mountains, within a valley shrouded by a Formation.

Over a hundred stone tablets were erected here, with a Taihu Clan Cultivation Technique carved onto each one.

Some were complete Cultivation Techniques passed down from ancient times, some were insights and realizations left by past sages, and some were those incomplete saint tablets that Xu Ruyu had completed some time ago—after being re-engraved, they were also placed here.

This was one of the Holy Lands of the Taihu Clan, and only those at the Elder level or above, or Core Disciples who had received special permission, could enter to comprehend them.

When the three arrived at the entrance of the monument forest, they saw a light screen shrouding the entire valley. Runes flowed on the light screen, emitting a powerful aura of Restrictions.

In front of the light screen stood four young Disciples dressed in the attire of the Law Enforcement Hall, holding Magical Artifacts, looking stern.