The city was deep in the night with heavy dew, yet the Western Tower was ablaze with brilliant lights, presenting a scene of fire trees and silver flowers. Looking down from above, the entire building occupied a central position in the city, like a luminous moon pearl flashing with light all over its body, capable of instantly capturing everyone’s attention.

When Liang Yan and the others went to gather information, Xue Yu didn’t remain idle either. She stood outside the door, thought for a moment, then casually beckoned a servant boy and asked: “Where is your mistress?”

The young servant, seeing it was her, truthfully replied: “In response to the young lady, at this time of day, my mistress is usually waiting in the Apricot Viewing Pavilion.”

Xue Yu nodded her chin and said, “Lead the way.”

When Liang Yan and the others went to find the girls in this building to investigate, most of what they spoke about were rumors circulating in the marketplace. The information they obtained was abundant but also mixed and not necessarily reliable. In comparison, Liu Niang, as the owner of the Western Tower, was someone capable of negotiating deals with Xihe, so the information she knew naturally couldn’t be compared to what the girls in the building possessed.

In Xue Yu’s impression, Liu Niang was quite reasonable and an enthusiastic woman.

The Apricot Viewing Platform was behind a corner on the second floor of the Western Tower. Outside stood two girls in light gauze and thin shoes, delicate and charming as they waved their fans. Seeing the servant boy leading someone over, they all stood up. The one at the front recognized Xue Yu, curtsied in greeting, and was about to speak when they heard the pearl curtain in the pavilion being pushed aside and Liu Niang’s voice coming from within: “Please, young lady, come in.”

Without waiting for the servant boy to step forward and lift the pearl curtain for her, Xue Yu had already naturally reached out and pushed it aside, entering the pavilion.

“All of you retreat and stand guard at a distance,” Liu Niang spoke leisurely.

Inside the pavilion wasn’t as brightly lit as the building, with somewhat dim lighting. Xue Yu’s gaze swept over Liu Niang and discovered that today she had removed her elaborate and luxurious long dress, changing into men’s attire instead. Her long hair was bound high, holding a folding fan in her hand, smiling gently like warm jade.

“I went out to handle some business today. When I returned to the building, I felt lazy and wanted to rest in the pavilion for a while. I haven’t changed back from this outfit yet,” Liu Niang explained, seeing her surprise.

Xue Yu wasn’t curious about her reasons for wearing whatever clothes. Her time was urgent, but she still needed to make some obligatory small talk: “Mistress, you look beautiful – whatever clothes you wear have their unique charm.”

She was born with an enviably beautiful face, and her voice was pleasant when she spoke. However, her complimentary words were just those same few phrases repeated over and over, and her tone also displayed a kind of childish stiffness. This didn’t make people find her old-fashioned; instead, it gave people an urge to dig deeper.

The smile in Liu Niang’s eyes deepened.

After Xue Yu finished her compliments, she began to get to the point: “This time I’ve come to disturb you, mistress, because I have something I want to ask.”

“Please speak, young lady.” Liu Niang folded her fan in her palm and said, “Liu Niang will certainly tell you everything I know without reservation.”

“Do you know what lies in the eastern sea area of Purple Myrtle Cave Mansion?” Xue Yu recalled the mission information given by the Heavenly Secret Book and asked again: “And what is the Worldly Lamp?”

Liu Niang hadn’t expected her to ask about this. She was stunned for a moment before asking with apparent understanding: “Is this a mission assigned by the Heavenly Secret Book?”

Once this question was asked, anyone with a sense could guess the answer. Xue Yu didn’t deny it, humming in agreement: “As you know, mistress, the Sacred Lands don’t interfere with each other. Purple Myrtle Cave Mansion is close to Mountain Sea City and Xihe, but I’m not familiar with this area.”

Nobody likes people sticking their hands into their territory.

Sacred Lands are no exception.

“I see.” Liu Niang extended her slender white wrist, pointing with her long fingers in the air. Thick spiritual energy gathered in mid-air: “I’ll draw it out for you, young lady.”

The undulating landscape quickly took shape before Xue Yu’s eyes.

“Purple Myrtle Cave Mansion is located several hundred li east of Mountain Sea City, bordering both Mountain Sea City and Mist Arrival City. Both cities have quite large populations, and many people go to Purple Myrtle Cave Mansion to seek masters and learn skills. Because of this, Purple Myrtle Cave Mansion is considered the strongest and most prosperous cultivation sect within thousands of li.”

After briefly introducing Purple Myrtle Cave Mansion, Liu Niang changed the subject to speak about that eastern sea area: “There is indeed a sea area to the east of Purple Myrtle Cave Mansion. That sea has a name – it’s called Thunder Sea.”

“The reason it’s called Thunder Sea is that the sea begins to boil at regular intervals. Every time there’s a heavy rainstorm, the sea becomes shrouded in mist with towering waves, capsizing countless fishing boats. Not only that, but whenever this happens, the entire sea area is covered by hundreds and thousands of lightning bolts, often affecting surrounding small cities and villages, causing villagers to complain bitterly and cry out in distress.”

“Young lady, look – it’s this area here.” Liu Niang pointed to a certain spot on the map, her eyes shifting slightly as she continued: “They couldn’t solve this problem, yet were unwilling to leave their homeland for other cities. So they all approached Xihe Sacred Land and the renowned Purple Myrtle Cave Mansion, hoping capable people would step forward to resolve their predicament.”

“When Xihe and Purple Myrtle Cave Mansion heard of such matters, they both sent outstanding young talents from their sects to examine Thunder Sea, but all efforts were in vain. That sea was simply too vast – they couldn’t discover in a short time what was causing the trouble. Moreover,” Liu Niang paused, “that thunder seemed to know in advance when people were coming. Every time people from the Sacred Lands went, that period would be calm and peaceful. Forget lightning – it wouldn’t even rain, with sunny skies day after day. As soon as they left, it would return to its old ways, continuing exactly as before.”

“After several attempts, an elder from Xihe learned of this matter and prepared to make the trip personally. Just at this time, an important figure from Purple Myrtle Cave Mansion also made a trip there, taking action to build a tower on the surface. The tower was empty inside, with only a single lamp lit. Ever since this lamp was lit, although Thunder Sea still frequently experiences wind and waves, the phenomenon of lightning dancing wildly has never appeared again.”

“This lamp is the Worldly Lamp.”

The more Xue Yu listened, the more tightly her brows furrowed. After Liu Niang’s voice completely faded, she pondered for a moment before asking: “Have you heard any news about the Worldly Lamp recently, mistress?”

“Are you referring to the matter of the Worldly Lamp going missing, young lady?”

“Yes.” Xue Yu nodded: “Please tell me the details, mistress.”

“Does the young lady still remember the day you first arrived at the Western Tower, when I told you that you came at just the right time?”

Xue Yu had a good memory. Now that Liu Niang mentioned it slightly, she recalled the general situation and said: “I remember. That day, you said I came at the right time, that Mountain Sea City would have a Wind Prayer Festival in a few days that would be very lively, and you had a servant boy take me to see it.”

But at that time, she had shut herself in her room for several days. When she came out, the Sacred Land had just opened. Forget witnessing the Wind Prayer Festival scene – she hadn’t even heard a whisper about it.

Liu Niang continued: “Actually, not only does Mountain Sea City celebrate the Wind Prayer Festival, but Mist Arrival City does too. Every year at this time is the liveliest period in both cities. Most people follow the crowd. When there are many activities among city residents, those living in rural villages and deep forests are not to be outdone and join in one after another, usually playing until very late before returning home.”

“Who would have known that the villagers living near Thunder Sea had just returned home and barely lay down when they heard thunderous crashes coming from the sea. The noise grew louder and closer. By the time they realized what was happening, lightning had already struck their villages.”

“When dawn broke and the villagers whose homes had been destroyed went to the seaside to look, that tower was still there, but the lamp inside was gone.”

“So this lamp’s function was only to prevent Thunder Sea’s lightning from coming out to cause trouble.” Xue Yu thought to herself, if that was the case, why did the Heavenly Secret Book have her search for the lamp? It could have had her find other methods to resolve Thunder Sea’s hidden dangers.

Either find the root cause and solve the problem, or use other spiritual treasures to suppress it – either would work. There was no need to get overly entangled with the Worldly Lamp.

Among all missions, Xue Yu liked this type of searching for things.

For example, the Worldly Lamp – she had never even heard of it before, only knowing it was a lamp. She wasn’t even clear what it looked like, so searching for it was no different from looking for a needle in a haystack.

It made people feel restless and anxious, and was particularly time-consuming.

“This I don’t know,” Liu Niang smiled apologetically and said: “For specific details, young lady, you’ll probably need to ask the local villagers.”

After thanking Liu Niang, Xue Yu returned to the third floor.

She had just sat down when the jade talisman hanging at her waist began to burn. She picked it up and looked, seeing the three characters “Lu Chengze” clearly written on it.

Xue Yu’s expression immediately turned ugly.

“Xue Yu.” On the other side of the jade talisman, Lu Chengze seemed to laugh angrily: “You don’t need to be like this, do you?”

He was referring to Xue Yu sending word to people in the imperial palace at Chi Shui to rescue Song Heng.

“Like this?” Xue Yu said coldly, word by word: “Tell Song Heng that in the future, every time he appears before my eyes, I won’t be polite.”

Having finished speaking, she was impatient to listen to Lu Chengze’s chatter about grand principles, so she reached out and extinguished the fire burning on the jade talisman.

On the other side, Chao Nian, having finished the tasks Xue Yu had assigned him, hurriedly slipped up from the second floor. He was still young in years, and really wasn’t up to dealing with the flowery, elaborately dressed young ladies. Some matters, when he asked about them, would have girls reaching out to pull him into their rooms, frightening him into running away and causing the girls to burst into laughter.

He was the first to return. Liang Yan and Qing Luo were still busy downstairs inquiring about information. Now in the room, besides him, there was only Su You.

Chao Nian had sharp eyes and immediately spotted the manual held in the pale, thin hands of the young man. He seemed accustomed to this and didn’t show any surprise, but still came over to take a look, asking: “Did the young lady just give this to you?”

Su You nodded, the emotions in his eyes difficult to discern. As if deliberately waiting for Chao Nian, he asked with apparent hesitation in a soft voice: “Can we use Sacred Land manuals?”

He was born with excellent features and bone structure. Even when fallen and destitute, he still retained a certain charm. With a little tidying up and changing into proper clothes, combined with this voice as clear and cold as flowing stream water, his golden appearance and jade quality, graceful as a jade tree in the wind, could easily bewitch people into lowering their guard.

“Naturally not,” Chao Nian denied flatly.

Su You’s long eyelashes swept downward as his gaze fell on the manual in his hands. He thought, so his guess was correct – that young lady from Yedu had him practice Sacred Land manuals because she had something she needed him to do.

He could finally set his mind at ease somewhat.

“So this kind of thing must not be known by outsiders,” Chao Nian looked left and right, then said: “If people found out, our young lady would be punished.”

Su You was slightly stunned, his hand gripping the manual, slowly tightening with some force.

“The day I went to fetch you, didn’t I tell you that our young lady is truly kind-hearted?” Chao Nian proudly lifted his chin and said, “In all of Yedu, except for those pedantic and rigid old men, everyone else, including the demons of Hundred Crowd Mountain, all love our young lady.”

“Are you all also practicing this?” Su You was quiet for a moment before asking.

Chao Nian scratched his head and gave him a simple introduction to Sacred Land manuals: “This manual’s mental techniques are divided into Heaven Character Formula and Earth Character Formula. The Heaven and Earth Character Formulas are further divided into upper and lower levels. We lack talent – even with the Heaven Character Formula placed before us, we can’t comprehend it. We all practice the Earth Character Formula.”

“I’ve observed that you have excellent natural talent and comprehension. Our young lady’s rescue of you was probably motivated by appreciation for talent, wanting you to—” Chao Nian wanted to say ‘reform and turn over a new leaf,’ but when the words reached his lips, he remembered that the person before him looked docile but was someone who killed without batting an eye. So the words on his lips took a turn: “wanting you to cultivate great achievement, to right the world’s injustices and save the world’s innocent people.”

Childishly laughable words.

Su You showed no expression and didn’t argue with him at all. He only inadvertently steered the conversation toward what he wanted to ask: “Is she usually this generous with you all, too?”

“This way with us, not this way with others,” Chao Nian thought for a moment, then said: “Actually, that’s not entirely true either. When those big demons at Hundred Crowd Mountain, who like to fight, get injured, our young lady will also secretly go see them and bring healing medicine.”

“All these things come from our young lady’s private treasury. The more she gives away, the less she has left. So our young lady wants to complete the Heavenly Secret Book’s missions, otherwise she’ll have to pay a large fine in spirit stones.”

The words from his mouth described a world completely unfamiliar to a demon ghost who had tasted all the bitter hardships of the human world – a world full of false illusions and bubbles.

Su You quietly gripped the scroll of the manual. When he neither spoke nor moved, he was like a finely detailed painting.

After his meridians were repaired, the singing and full-house cheers from this building kept pouring into his ears. After a long while, the beautifully featured young man finally frowned as if unable to bear the disturbance.

Was there truly such a Sacred Land inheritor in this world?

Among that group of base people who placed themselves in the position of lofty righteous ones while constantly emanating malice, how could they have taught such a young lady?

This question – in just two short days, Su You had asked himself countless times.