94: The vigilance of the reborn

Yaochi Holy Land, Saintess Peak.

Chu Qianqian returned to her Immortal Cave in a disheveled state.

She slumped onto a prayer mat, gasping for breath.

Recalling her encounter at the Hehuan Sect just now, her body still couldn't stop trembling slightly.

That feeling of being toyed with by others nearly caused her to break down.

However, she didn't dare to be the slightest bit negligent.

She didn't want to take orders from that "vile couple," but she had no choice but to bow her proud head.

"Mu Yun..."

She gritted her teeth, squeezing the name out from between them.

Although she didn't know why Lu Yi and the other were keeping an eye on a Holy Land Disciple, she had no other choice.

She immediately took out a golden communication talisman and infused it with Spiritual Qi.

Soon, several trusted Disciples who were loyal to her received their orders and departed.

She didn't directly order an arrest or interrogation, but instead used the excuse that "the Saintess cares for new Disciples and wishes to examine their character for potential promotion."

She arranged for these people to monitor Mu Yun's every move around the clock in secret... In a Personal Disciple's room in the outer court of the Yaochi Holy Land.

Yun Mu was sitting cross-legged on the bed, circulating the Cultivation Technique that had allowed him to dominate the Heavenly Profound Realm in his previous life.

As the technique circulated, the aura around him became ethereal and unpredictable, as if he had merged with his surroundings.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes.

As a former powerhouse of the Heaven-Reaching Realm, although his current cultivation was still shallow, his Divine Sense strength and intuition still far surpassed Cultivators of the same rank.

He keenly sensed that several faint, prying gazes had appeared around the room at some unknown point.

"Is this... surveillance?"

A cold sneer curled at the corners of Yun Mu's mouth.

He didn't show any panic, and he didn't even change his posture.

He subconsciously touched his pretty Face, which was perfectly disguised by the Thousand Illusions Divine Art, and thought to himself:

"It seems my performance lately has been too dazzling, attracting the envy and attention of some people."

"But... with just these few small fries, they think they can see through my background?"

He had absolute confidence in his Thousand Illusions Divine Art.

This was an ancient secret art; even if a Saint were to come in person, unless they performed a close-range inspection, it would be extremely difficult to see the true male nature beneath his female form.

Therefore, he simply treated this as a common factional struggle within Yaochi, or some small tricks played by Senior and Junior Sisters who were jealous of his talent.

He didn't take it to heart and continued to Cultivate with his eyes closed.

However, not long after.

A streak of light shot through the air and hovered in front of him.

It was a communication talisman.

Yun Mu reached out to catch it and sent his Divine Sense into it; a lazy yet somewhat majestic voice echoed in his mind:

"Disciple, come to the Main Peak quickly for a talk."

It was his cheap Revered Master, the Third Elder!

Yun Mu's heart stirred slightly.

This cheap Revered Master usually only cared about traveling the world.

Aside from giving a small meeting gift upon his entry, she was basically an absentee boss.

Why did she suddenly think to summon him today?

Although he was puzzled, he didn't dare to delay. He tidied his clothes and flew toward the Main Peak using an escape light... Inside the Third Elder's Main Peak Hall.

A beautiful woman dressed in luxurious robes, still retaining her charm, was sitting in the main seat sipping spiritual tea.

She was precisely the Third Elder of the Yaochi Holy Land.

Yun Mu entered the hall and bowed respectfully:

"Disciple Mu Yun greets Revered Master."

"Rise."

The Third Elder put down her teacup, her gaze falling upon Yun Mu.

There was less of her usual casualness in her eyes and more of a scrutinizing look.

Just half an hour ago, Chu Qianqian's people had subtly hinted to her.

They said someone reported that this Mu Yun had an unknown background and was acting suspiciously, advising her to pay more attention.

Although the Third Elder had a carefree personality, she didn't dare to be careless on major issues of right and wrong, especially those involving the safety of Yaochi and her own Face.

Thus, she had this sudden summons.

"Disciple."

The Third Elder asked seemingly casually:

"I remember that when you first entered the sect, the place of origin you filled in was Yunzhou in the mortal realm?"

"Correct," Yun Mu answered respectfully, though his heart skipped a beat.

Why ask about this all of a sudden?

"Are there any elders left in your family? What kind of introductory Cultivation Technique did you practice? Why has your cultivation progressed so rapidly in just a few short years?"

The Third Elder's questions came one after another; they seemed caring, but were actually pressing him step by step, striking at the heart of the matter.

Alarm bells rang in Yun Mu's heart.

But he didn't show it on his Face at all, and even revealed a timely look of sorrow.

"In reply to Revered Master..."

His eyes reddened, and his voice choked up as he brought out the explanation he had practiced countless times in his mind, which was practically airtight:

"Disciple was originally a descendant of the Mu family in Yunzhou, but unfortunately the family fell into decline and my parents passed away..."

"Fortunately, a passing Loose Cultivator Senior took me in and raised me, teaching me some basic breathing techniques..."

"Later, that Senior also unfortunately perished. Disciple wandered the Jianghu and happened upon half a volume of a remnant scripture, which was how I stepped onto the immortal path..."

"As for the progress of my cultivation... Disciple doesn't know why either, it's just that every time I Cultivate, I feel the Spiritual Qi entering my body with extreme smoothness..."

As he spoke, he also timely squeezed out a few crystalline teardrops.

He perfectly portrayed the image of a girl with a tragic background yet exceptional talent and a strong will to seek the Dao.

The Third Elder was someone who responded better to soft persuasion than hard pressure; seeing her Disciple crying so pitifully, most of her doubts instantly vanished.

Furthermore, after investigating with her Divine Sense, she indeed found no trace of any Demonic Technique aura on Yun Mu.

"Alright, alright, stop crying."

The Third Elder waved her hand with a softened heart:

"I was just asking casually to show concern for your past."

"Since you've entered Yaochi, this will be your home from now on. Go back and Cultivate well; do not waste this talent of yours."

"Yes, thank you for your concern, Revered Master."

Yun Mu wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, bowed once more, and then withdrew from the hall.

However.

The moment he turned and walked out of the Elder's Peak.

The weak and pitiful expression on his Face vanished without a trace.

Replacing it was a look of extreme solemnity and gloom.

First, there was the inexplicable surveillance, followed immediately by Revered Master's sudden, census-like interrogation.

This was definitely no coincidence!

"Who on earth is targeting me?"

Yun Mu's heart was filled with uncertainty and suspicion.

"Could it be that I've slipped up somewhere? Impossible! The Thousand Illusions Divine Art has no flaws!"

"Or... is this the butterfly effect caused by my Rebirth?"

This situation, where the enemy was in the dark and he was in the light, made him—a Reincarnator with a strong desire for control—feel a powerful sense of unease.

His original plan was to follow the steps, pass the competition, and obtain a spot to enter the Yaochi Immortal Realm to reshape his Foundation.

But the current situation forced him to re-evaluate the risks.

"No, I can't wait any longer."

A flash of decisiveness and ruthlessness crossed Yun Mu's eyes.

To prevent any accidents, he had to cut his losses early!

"Within the Yaochi Holy Land, besides that Immortal Realm which requires a spot, there are several other hidden opportunities that only I know about from my previous life..."

"I originally wanted to wait until I was stronger before taking them slowly, but now it seems... I must intercept them ahead of time!"

"I'll take whatever benefits I can get first! If something goes wrong later and I'm forced to flee, at least I won't leave empty-handed!"

Having made up his mind, Yun Mu no longer hesitated.

He didn't return to his room. Instead, he turned and sneaked toward a sparsely populated Forbidden Ground in the back mountains of the Yaochi Holy Land.