"Master Purple Jade, thirteen years remain until your agreed meeting with that Celestial Patrol Master. It is still too early to exit your secluded cultivation now."
"Old Snake and the second and third elders can manage things here; you don’t need to trouble yourself, Master Purple Jade."
"When the time comes, Old Snake will summon you out of seclusion."
This being who called himself Old Snake was She Shun, the Snake King of the Green-Scaled Rattlesnake clan, a Golden Core Level patriarch who had transformed into an elder with long white hair, leaning on a wooden staff shaped like a snake’s head.
At this moment, in front of the Purple Jade Demon Emperor, She Shun had none of the arrogance typical of a Golden Core Demon King. He appeared extremely respectful, carrying himself with humility.
The second elder was the Tiger King, the Red-eyed White Tiger.
The third elder was the Turtle King, the Martial Arts Star Shocking Turtle.
These three Demon Kings have followed the Purple Jade Demon Emperor for over a hundred years, all possessing the ability to transform into humanoid forms.
Demon Beasts, after reaching the Golden Core Stage, can initially transform into human shapes, resembling ordinary people with no visible differences, and it’s difficult for common people to tell them apart.
Listening to She Shun’s account, the Purple Jade Demon Emperor slightly narrowed his beautiful eyes, lazily resting his forehead on his hand and smoothing his long hair by his ear before speaking after a moment.
"I’ve just been in seclusion for too long, I’m a bit weary."
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned his back and gazed at the distant northern sky, seemingly looking towards a specific place, muttering to himself.
"Now, within the Chu Kingdom, a Nascent Soul Level human cultivator has emerged, destined to become the strongest adversary among the peers in the Southern Wilderness. I only wish to venture to the Demon Abyss as soon as possible, to obtain the Elemental Magnetic Blood Stone, and advance to mid-stage Nascent Soul sooner."
"By doing so, I wouldn’t need to fulfill the agreement and could escape this small Cyan Mountain Range, no longer fearing outsiders’ scrutiny."
As he said this, a gleam flashed across Purple Jade Demon Emperor’s eyes, with his entire aura becoming a shade sharper.
Noticing the brief change in Purple Jade Demon Emperor’s aura, She Shun lowered his head even more and said respectfully, "Master Purple Jade, the Human Race is known for their cunning nature. It is prudent for us to remain vigilant of that Celestial Patrol Master."
The title of Celestial Patrol comes from the Beidou Bureau.
Under its jurisdiction, the Beidou Bureau is divided into seven institutes.
Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Vega, Kaiyang, and Shaking Light each govern a state.
Lingxi State is governed by the Dubhe Institute.
While presiding over these seven institutes, the Beidou Bureau also established the role of Celestial Patrol to inspect the world and eradicate demons and evil.
Anyone who becomes a Celestial Patrol is an elite among the Human Race, with power no less than the Crystallization Stage Level.
The Celestial Patrol collaborating with the Purple Jade Demon Emperor naturally has equivalent power, with not much disparity.
While Purple Jade Demon Emperor and She Shun conversed, Lu Ping listened intently from the side.
Though it was just fragmented words, it wasn’t difficult to infer that the Demon Emperor before him was set to join forces with a formidable Celestial Patrol in thirteen years, heading to the Demon Abyss to obtain Elemental Magnetic Blood Stones - substantial information.
The term "Demon Abyss" was one Lu Ping had heard for the first time, unaware of its specific location or historical background.
But for the Purple Jade Demon Emperor to collaborate with the Celestial Patrol and to name it ’Demon Abyss’ indicated it was an extremely dangerous place, not something the Cyan Mountain Sect could meddle in.
Even at his peak, he would have to consider the strength required to tread there.
These are matters for the future, which Lu Ping didn’t intend to ponder on for now.
It wasn’t something he could participate in; he treated it as an overheard chatter.
At this part of the conversation, the Purple Jade Demon Emperor remained silent, instead taking out a guqin and sitting by the Deep Water Lake to play a few unknown melodies alone.
The tunes were ethereal and distant, with a pleasing sound of the guqin.
After soaking in the music of the guqin and wandering around, Lu Ping prepared to leave.
This central area had been thoroughly explored, and there was nothing else to linger for.
He now had one thought: finding Xuu Yi, then communicating with Lu Yuanshan to send a few disciples out, joining forces to gather the Spirit Medicines and Spirit Fruits discovered during exploration.
The locations of those six treasure troves remembered from earlier explorations.
Of course, the Celestial Spirit Fruit Tree guarded by the Purple-eyed Demon Ape was out of reach for now, and he had to wait with a watchful attitude, not taking rash actions.
The other five locations were not too challenging, with some effort, they could be completed.
Without further delay due to potential obstacles, he decided to act swiftly.
Upon leaving the central area of the Cyan Mountain Range, Lu Ping traced the location marked by the system where Xuu Yi was, finding that Xuu Yi was still within the range of the Cyan Mountain Range.
As long as he hadn’t left.
Though there was a shortcut available—using [Instant Teleportation] to reach Xuu Yi’s side directly—it would cost 5 Reputation Points, and saving where possible was preferred.
No matter how much he wandered, Xuu Yi was still on the outskirts of the Cyan Mountain Range, right?
There wasn’t much distance involved.
To save time, Lu Ping re-established communication with Xuu Yi, inquiring.
"Where exactly are you now? I am coming to find you."
On the Cyan Mountain Range’s outskirts, within a redwood grove, Xuu Yi had just slain a wild brown bear. Upon hearing Lu Ping’s voice again, he was visibly moved and slightly surprised.
Wasn’t this the kindly elder who had helped him days ago?
Or perhaps, it might be even the founding patriarch of the Cyan Mountain Sect?
Contemplating this, Xuu Yi dared not be negligent and described his present surroundings to Lu Ping.
Upon learning Xuu Yi’s approximate location, Lu Ping manipulated his consciousness body to rendezvous with him.
Meanwhile, on Xuu Yi’s side, having realized this, he no longer dared to run around aimlessly, feeling curious.
This kindly elder’s nature seemed somewhat peculiar.
With his strength above the Crystallization Stage, if he wished to know Xuu Yi’s location, he could have used his Divine Sense to probe. Why ask directly?
After weighing it up, it might not necessarily be due to a quirky nature.
Perhaps this person was just cautious by habit, avoiding unneeded exploration with Divine Sense for fear of disturbing the Demon Kings deep within the mountain range, to prevent unnecessary trouble.
Indeed, a senior is truly a senior.
To cultivate to such a realm, his way of doing things must be worth learning, seasoned indeed.
Spending about a day, Lu Ping finally reached Xuu Yi’s side.
After days apart, this kid’s clothes had become a bit dirty and disheveled, with some twigs and grass roots in his hair, indicating he hadn’t been idle in recent days.
Upon arrival, Xuu Yi was in the process of practicing to recover and regain energy, abstaining from unnecessary movement, awaiting Lu Ping’s arrival.
Seeing Xuu Yi in this state, Lu Ping did not disturb him.
After waiting for about half a moment until Xuu Yi finished his cultivation and opened his eyes, Lu Ping transmitted his voice again.
"In a moment, I will summon Lu Zhiwei and Lu Changfeng, along with several disciples. There is something that needs your attention."
Lu Ping got straight to the point.
"The location is right here in the Cyan Mountain Range."