Within the restricted rear courtyard of the Slaughter God Pavilion's Xuantiān Domain branch, Lin Che set up three layers of sound-proofing barriers. With a serious expression, he retrieved a peculiar jade book from his storage ring. Its cover depicted a vague image of a celestial maiden soaring through the skies, and faint streams of Yin and Yang energy swirled between its pages. This was the "Nine Heavens Dual Cultivation Art," evolved from the "Nine Heavens Celestial Maiden Painting."
[Ding! Detected host viewing forbidden material "Nine Heavons Dual Cultivation Art" alone late at night. Mood: Excited with a hint of perversion. System prompt: Cultivation requires a partner. Viewing alone can cause… inflammation. Recommend purchasing the system's "Clear Heart and Curb Desire Pill," on sale for 999 Killing Intent Value!]
"Piss off!" Lin Che cursed inwardly, annoyed. "I'm handling serious business, looking for clues about Qingyao!"
He carefully turned the pages, skipping over the arousing illustrations of couples in harmonious union, and immersed his divine sense into the book, attempting to sense the thread of karma related to Sū Qīngyáo.
Luò Jiāyīn approached, carrying a cup of spiritual tea. Spotting the jade book in Lin Che's hands, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she spat lightly, "You scoundrel! Not sleeping in the middle of the night, studying this… improper technique again!"
Lin Che's face reddened, and he coughed twice. "Jiāyīn, you misunderstand. I'm trying to use the 'Karmic Tracing' method recorded in this 'Nine Heavens Dual Cultivation Art' to sense Qīngyáo's possible location. Although this book is a dual cultivation method, it also involves the soul's origin and the Dao of Karma. There might be a sliver of hope."
[Ding! Host's skin thickness +100! Forcibly explaining "studying dual cultivation illustrations" as "exploring the Dao of Karma"! Shamelessness level has reached new heights! Reward: Killing Intent Value +250!]
Luò Jiāyīn rolled her eyes at him but knew the matter was important. She leaned in for a closer look. As Lin Che's divine sense fluctuated, the light pink lotus mark in the book representing Sū Qīngyáo seemed to emit an almost imperceptible ripple under the stimulation of his spiritual power, vaguely pointing southeast.
"There's a reaction!" They looked at each other, seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
Early the next morning, at the Hall of Myriad Knowledge.
Lin Che, flashing his status as the Slaughter God Pavilion Master, was respectfully ushered into a top-floor private room with Luò Jiāyīn and Lín Yǐng. The elder, Wàn Shìtōng, greeted them with a smile.
"Pavilion Master Lin, your presence honors us. What information do you seek?"
Lin Che pondered for a moment before describing, "I'm looking for someone. A woman with a light pink lotus birthmark on her shoulder. Its form is special, containing a trace of innate Dao charm."
Upon hearing this, a barely noticeable strange glint flashed in Wàn Shìtōng's eyes, and the hand stroking his beard paused slightly.
[System Alert! Detected target "Wàn Shìtōng"'s heartbeat accelerated by 0.3 seconds and pupils constricted upon hearing "Lotus Birthmark"! Conclusion: This old fox definitely knows something! He's playing dumb! Recommend host increase pressure, dazzle him with spirit stones!]
Lin Che sneered inwardly. Without changing his expression, he pushed a pouch filled with top-grade spirit stones forward. "A small token of appreciation, please accommodate. Any related rumors, no matter how absurd, I want them all."
Wàn Shìtōng took the pouch, scanned it with his divine sense, and his smile instantly became ten times more sincere. "You are too kind, Pavilion Master! In that case, this old man recalls a century-old matter…" He then divulged everything about the Yáoguāng Immortal Sect and the news of its possible offshoot ending up in the Qiánlóng Abyss.
The clue seemed to point to the Qiánlóng Abyss to the southeast.
After leaving the Hall of Myriad Knowledge, Lin Che decided to find Old Ma. The old rogue was well-traveled and knowledgeable; perhaps he could provide more information about the Yáoguāng Immortal Sect or the Qiánlóng Abyss.
The scene that greeted him in the newly built, most luxurious "Elder Ma's Exclusive Courtyard" on the back mountain, however, was jaw-dropping:
Old Ma was actually directing several paper puppet servants, busily building a massive, multi-level barbecue setup right in the center of the courtyard! Piles of various spirit beast meats and wine jars were stacked nearby.
"Hehe, perfect! Now I can host barbecue parties without leaving home! Grill Dragon-Scale Lamb on the left, stew Purple Jade Ginseng on the right… delightful!" Old Ma rubbed his hands together, practically drooling.
[System Snark: Detected target "Old Ma" implementing "Barbecue Stall Expansion Plan" at a key stronghold of the Slaughter God Pavilion. Safety Hazard Rating: High! Recommend host immediately confiscate his barbecue sauce as a warning!]
A vein throbbed on Lin Che's forehead. "Old Ma! I made you the Pavilion Master so you could enjoy yourself?!"
Old Ma jumped in fright. Seeing it was Lin Che, he immediately switched to a pained, earnest expression. "Ah! Pavilion Master Lin, you don't understand! This is me developing a new revenue stream for our Slaughter God Pavilion! Think about it, if we monopolize the barbecue industry in the Xuantiān Domain, the profits will flow in daily… Ow!"
Before he could finish, Lin Che thwacked him on the head.
"Enough nonsense! I'm asking you a serious question. Have you heard of the Yáoguāng Immortal Sect or the Qiánlóng Abyss?"
Rubbing his head, Old Ma's eyes darted. "Yáoguāng Immortal Sect? Think I've heard a whisper. A bunch of mystical female cultivators, long gone. That dump, Qiánlóng Abyss, is a mess, all sorts of shady characters there… But," he suddenly lowered his voice, sneaking a glance around, "I heard you can buy all kinds of 'good stuff' on the black market there, even diaries of Body Unity stage old monsters are for sale! There might be clues about the Yáoguāng Immortal Sect!"
[System Prompt: Credibility of intel provided by target "Old Ma": 30%. However, the description of "diaries of Body Unity stage old monsters" most likely stems from his personal, undisclosed collecting hobbies. Recommend host exercise caution.]
Lin Che couldn't be bothered with this old scoundrel. He turned and left. Old Ma shouted after him, "Hey! Remember to bring me some of the Qiánlóng Abyss specialty 'Drunken Dragon Saliva' back for marinade!"
That night, Lin Che decided to try the sensing method from the "Nine Heavens Dual Cultivation Art," with Luò Jiāyīn guarding him.
However, when he circulated the technique and his divine sense touched the lotus mark in the book again, a sudden change occurred!
The lotus mark suddenly brightened, shooting out a faint pink light that pointed not southeast, but straight northwest! Completely contradicting the clue obtained from Wàn Shìtōng during the day!
"What's going on?" Lin Che's eyes snapped open, and he and Luò Jiāyīn stared at each other in disbelief. "Wàn Shìtōng said southeast, the Dual Cultivation Art points northwest?"
[Ding! Detected critical information conflict! Triggered optional quest: "The Mystery of Yáoguāng"!]
[Option 1: Believe Wàn Shìtōng, head to Qiánlóng Abyss (Southeast). Reward: High probability of encountering various characters, triggering side quests. Low probability of obtaining clues about Yáoguāng Immortal Sect offshoots.]
[Option 2: Believe the "Nine Heavens Dual Cultivation Art," head to the unknown Northwest region. Reward: Unknown risks and opportunities. Potentially directly related to Sū Qīngyáo's true form or core legacy.]
[Option 3: I want it all! Split up? Reward: Host gains title "Time Management Master," but triggers "Internal Conflict" probability +99%.]
[System Friendly Suggestion: Children make choices. A mature host should learn to… let clones take the risks! Inquire about consuming 10,000 Killing Intent Value to generate a temporary water clone?]
Looking at the system panel, the corner of Lin Che's mouth twitched.
"It seems the waters of the Xuantiān Domain are deeper than I thought. We can't ignore either direction."
He looked out the window at the dark night sky, a flicker of resolve in his eyes. Splitting up might be the best choice for now. And he himself had to go check out the northwest direction strongly indicated by the "Nine Heavens Dual Cultivation Art."
New mysteries already shrouded the path ahead.