Translator: CinderTL

"This item didn’t come from my sect," Mi Man said, sensing Song Wen’s interest in the Formless Weak Water. "It has another origin. Once you help me cleanse its Yin Energy, I’ll reveal the truth to you."

Song Wen smiled faintly and sat back on the bed.

"Fellow Daoist Mi Man, you’re being delusional if you think a mere piece of information is enough to make me help you."

"Then what do you want?" Mi Man asked.

"One hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones," Song Wen replied.

Mi Man’s face froze. Not long ago, she had made a similarly outrageous demand of Song Wen.

"One thousand high-grade spirit stones—that’s my final offer. The Spirit Jade Palace may not cultivate thunder magic, but many families under our banner specialize in it. A thousand high-grade spirit stones is enough to hire any Divine Transformation Stage expert."

Song Wen pondered for a moment, then sighed softly.

"Fine, I accept. Who can resist your charms, Fellow Daoist?"

Mi Man rolled her eyes, clearly unconvinced by Song Wen’s flattery.

"Fellow Daoist Mi Man, please set up a concealment formation in the courtyard to prevent interruptions while I cleanse the Yin Energy," Song Wen added.

Cleansing the Yin Energy from the Formless Weak Water was a trivial matter for Song Wen, so he saw no need to find another secluded place.

Mi Man nodded and turned to leave the room, immediately beginning to set up a formation in the courtyard.

As a hazy gray barrier rose around the courtyard, she suddenly noticed another barrier had appeared around the house, blocking her entry and preventing her divine sense from penetrating.

"Lei Yue, what’s going on?"

"Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment. I simply wish to avoid any disturbances," Song Wen’s voice drifted out.

Mi Man’s almond-shaped eyes widened as she glared at the door, but she didn’t force her way in. After a moment of silence, she turned and walked over to the stone table in the courtyard, sitting down.

She had expected Song Wen to need three to five days for the task. However, just a few hours later, as dusk settled, the door suddenly swung open.

She immediately rose to greet Song Wen, who was emerging from the room.

"Lei Yue, how did the refining of the Formless Weak Water go?"

"It’s inside. Fellow Daoist, see for yourself."

With that, Song Wen brushed past Mi Man and settled at the stone table in the courtyard.

Mi Man entered the room. After a few breaths, she returned to the courtyard, the jade box containing the Formless Weak Water floating before her.

"Lei Yue, I didn’t expect you to be so efficient. In just a few hours, you’ve completely purged the Yin Energy from the Formless Weak Water."

Song Wen raised his gaze, scrutinizing Mi Man’s delicate features with a knowing smile.

"Fellow Daoist, you should know better than anyone how quickly I work. Why don’t we forget about the thousand spirit stones? I could give you another demonstration of my speed."

Mi Man froze for a moment, then her cheeks flushed crimson as she retorted angrily, "Here are your spirit stones!"

She tossed a storage pouch at Song Wen.

He caught it, his expression tinged with regret.

"Now, tell me where this Formless Weak Water came from."

"Fu Hongwen gave it to me," Mi Man replied.

At the mention of Fu Hongwen, Song Wen immediately recalled the Nascent Soul cultivator who had been utterly bewitched by Mi Man, his divine soul completely addled. Fu Hongwen’s father, Fu Chengye, had died by Song Wen’s hand.

"Fu Chengye was just a Nascent Soul cultivator. Where did he obtain the Formless Weak Water?" Song Wen asked.

"I’m not entirely sure," Mi Man said. "Apparently, the Fu Clan recently explored some perilous territory and stumbled upon it. Knowing I’d been searching for this substance, he brought it to me as a gift. If you want more details, I could summon him here to explain? He should still be in Great Tan City."

Song Wen rose to his feet and walked over to Mi Man, reaching out to wrap his arm around her waist.

"Fellow Daoist, you truly don’t wish to rekindle our past affections?"

Mi Man was completely absorbed in observing the Weak Water within the jade box and didn’t react until Song Wen had already made his move.

Her willow-leaf brows instantly arched in anger as she took a swift step back, instantly putting a zhang of distance between them and escaping Song Wen’s clutches.

"Lei Yue," she snapped, "I may be a bit greedy, but I’m no wanton woman."

With that, she turned to leave the courtyard, continuing as she walked, "If you want to see Fu Hongwen, follow me. I can’t meet him here."

Slightly disappointed, Song Wen followed Mi Man out of the Jade Cauldron Pavilion.

Guided by Mi Man, they crossed the street and entered a grand-looking restaurant.

After settling into a private room and ordering spirit wine and fine cuisine, Mi Man produced a Communication Jade Slip.

After sending several messages, she put the jade slip away and announced, "Fu Hongwen will be here shortly."

"Thank you for your trouble, Fellow Daoist," Song Wen replied.

As Mi Man had predicted, a knock came at the door about fifteen minutes later.

Song Wen rose from the table, walked to the door, and opened it to find three figures standing outside.

Besides Fu Hongwen, who was only at the Nascent Soul Stage, there were two Void Refinement Stage cultivators.

One was a middle-aged male cultivator at the early-stage Void Refinement Stage.

The other was a gaunt young man whose aura was extremely restrained, as if concealed by some treasure. Song Wen could only sense that he was at the Void Refinement Stage, but his exact cultivation level remained impossible to determine.

"Junior Lei Yue greets both seniors," Song Wen said, bowing respectfully.

The gaunt young man glanced at Song Wen and immediately dismissed him, his gaze settling on Mi Man, who was still seated at the round table.

He strode into the private room and approached Mi Man.

Having already noticed the two Void Refinement Stage cultivators, Mi Man hastily stood up and bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, seniors."

"No need for such formalities, little friend," the gaunt young man replied, his eyes burning as he scrutinized Mi Man, as if he wished to pierce through her robes.

"Fairy Mi Man, Senior Lei Yue, this is our Fu Clan’s Ancestor, Fu Kaiyu," Fu Hongwen announced as he and the middle-aged male cultivator entered the room.

The person he introduced was none other than the middle-aged man standing beside him.

Next, Fu Hongwen introduced the gaunt young man.

"This is our Fu Clan’s newly appointed Supreme Elder from an outside lineage, Daoist Jing Bei." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Song Wen suddenly recalled that after Fu Chengye’s death, Fu Clan had been left with only one Void Refinement Stage cultivator, Fu Kaiyu. Now, they had suddenly gained a Supreme Elder from an outside lineage, whose cultivation seemed to surpass even Fu Kaiyu’s.

Why would the Fu Clan hire someone whose cultivation surpasses their own Ancestor? Aren’t they afraid this outsider might usurp their authority and seize control of the clan?

"Greetings, Senior Jing Bei. Greetings, Senior Fu," Song Wen and Mi Man said in unison, bowing respectfully.

"No need for such formalities, young friends," Daoist Jing Bei replied.

Fu Kaiyu also took a seat at the round table, his gaze similarly sweeping over Mi Man, though his scrutiny was less blatant than Jing Bei’s, carrying a hint of appraisal.

"Fu Hongwen mentioned you, Fairy Mi Man, a beauty from the Spirit Jade Palace. Now that I see you in person, your allure is indeed remarkable. No wonder my foolish nephew would squander the clan’s treasures and spirit stones, all in the hope of winning a smile from such a beauty."

The visitor comes with ill intentions!

The thought flashed through Song Wen and Mi Man’s minds almost simultaneously.

Song Wen, however, adopted a detached, almost amused attitude, as if watching a play unfold.

Mi Man, on the other hand, felt a growing sense of dread.

(End of the Chapter)

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