Chapter 944: People Related to Mr. Ji

Aze carefully observed the two grey-robed cultivators but ultimately did not accept their offer.

"No, thank you. I'd like to explore on my own, then I'll find a suitable time to take a realm ferry out of here."

"Where will you be heading, fellow Daoist? I heard the Xuanxin Manor's flying boat is docked at the port. Are you perhaps going to the Starfall Minor Continent?"

"It doesn't matter where. I haven't decided yet. Please excuse me for now!"

Aze smiled, bowed, and then departed on his own. The two grey-robed cultivators remained in place, watching him leave, with no intention of following.

"Big Grey, you weren't just making it up, were you? About this person having a connection with us? I find him rather eerie myself."

Little Grey asked, and Big Grey shook his head.

"Of course I wasn't making it up. We're using the Divine Lord's method to experience the Spirit Body Transformation; it's very sensitive. If only you'd practice more often, you wouldn't fail to notice it. Still, I can't quite pinpoint what that strange feeling is. Perhaps our Eldest Senior Brother could figure it out if he were here."

Big Grey folded his arms, one hand tucked under his armpit, gazing into the distance. He murmured to Little Grey.

"It's truly strange today. That fairy seems to subtly emit a hint of demonic energy, and this Nine Peaks Mountain disciple also appears to subtly radiate a touch of dark energy. Yet, both possess human forms and immortal bodies, with no signs of their souls being possessed. Relatively speaking, the woman is more dangerous. This one might have lost control of his inner cultivation, showing signs of deviating from the correct path and falling into depravity."

Little Grey rubbed his nose.

"Are you sure that woman doesn't just have body odor? Maybe she's a transformed fox."

"Body odor, my foot! Let's get back to our own business."

The two also turned and left, heading back towards the port, though in a different direction. That was where the newly opened Spiritual Treasure Pavilion was located, and the Jade Embrace Treasure Pavilion next to it had been established around the same time.

Besides the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion and Jade Embrace Treasure Pavilion, which were almost ready, there were at least a dozen other shops in that area also being decorated, most of which had some connection to the Jade Embrace Treasure Pavilion and the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion.

"Big Grey, this Clan Head Wei is truly a big financier, extending his reach everywhere, yet he still manages to keep up energetically. He also has a close relationship with our Sect Master, and I hear his cultivation isn't even that high. It's truly impressive how he commands so many masters!"

Big Grey chuckled and whispered.

"Sister Ya Ya told me that Clan Head Wei used to frequently visit the Grand Lord's Dwelling of Peace, always showing great diligence."

"So he knows the Grand Lord!"

Little Grey's eyes widened, while Big Grey nodded gently. The two of them had actually seen the Grand Lord a few times before, but at that time, although their spiritual wisdom had awakened, they weren't clever enough and were very shy. They always avoided people, and thus never managed to get close to the Grand Lord.

Thinking of this, Little Grey became very dejected.

"Oh, Big Grey, don't you think it would have been wonderful if we had run to the Grand Lord's lap or rubbed against his feet when he visited back then?"

"Don't be silly. Focus on your cultivation. Once we can truly transform, this spirit body will help us undergo a complete metamorphosis. We should be content with the Divine Lord's blessing; why still crave the Grand Lord's favor?"

Big Grey tapped Little Grey's head. The latter rubbed his head, grinned, and fell silent.

Meanwhile, Lian Ping'er was not waiting in the inn. Instead, she had arrived at a grand courtyard in the center of the island, enveloped by a formation. She was warmly welcomed by its owner, invited inside for a long conversation, and then very formally escorted to the entrance of the house.

If Ji Yuan were here, he would recognize that the elder speaking with Lian Ping'er in this grand courtyard of a cultivation family was another senior brother of Min Xian. However, the elder now appeared several times older than before, with loose, sagging skin on his face.

The elder personally escorted Lian Ping'er to the entrance, which was also the access point for the formation.

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Lian, I forgot to mention earlier, the Sea Pavilion is indeed almost ready. However, my master finds it inconvenient to act. Eldest Senior Brother also said that our esteemed Lord will not force Master, so we will need a bit more effort from you, Fellow Daoist Lian!"

"Hmm?"

Lian Ping'er's expression subtly changed as she looked at the elder, who appeared energetic but in reality suffered from severe vital energy depletion.

"Didn't you just say it was foolproof?"

"With the Lian family involved, it's naturally foolproof, isn't it? Cough, cough, cough..."

The elder suddenly began to cough violently, his face instantly turning pale, and his expression becoming extremely pained. Wisps of unpleasant-smelling smoke billowed from his mouth and nose. During this, Lian Ping'er did not offer to support the seemingly tottering elder but instead walked a few steps away.

After coughing intensely for a while, the elder managed to suppress it. He took a jade bottle from his sleeve, opened the stopper, and poured out a pill that exuded a strong chilling aura. He swallowed it, and only as its medicinal power diffused did he feel much better, his face regaining its healthy color.

"Hoo..."

The elder let out a long breath, as if he had just come back to life.

Lian Ping'er suddenly smiled.

"Heh heh heh... Senior, the Extreme Yin Pill must be losing its effectiveness soon, right? I wonder what other methods your esteemed master can use to prolong your life? Your life is quite important, after all!"

Lian Ping'er deliberately emphasized the last few syllables, yet her expression remained very gentle. The elder looked up at her, sneered, and said nothing more.

"Fellow Daoist Lian, take care. I won't see you out!"

Having said that, the elder returned directly inside, and the large door slowly closed. Outside, Lian Ping'er wore a mischievous grin and quietly muttered a single phrase.

"How pitiful!"

Aze did not seek out Lian Ping'er, but the latter would find him. Initially, this was an ineffable intuition, but after meeting Aze and observing him for a while, she understood why.

However, when Lian Ping'er found Aze again, she discovered he had changed his attire. He had swapped the Nine Peaks Mountain disciple's robe, which had some restrictions infused into it, for a simple, ordinary white long gown. It somewhat resembled a Confucian scholar's attire but was more flowing. He wasn't wearing the headscarf most scholars preferred; instead, his hair was gathered into a small bun at the top of his head, adorned with a jade hairpin.

Watching Aze's posture as he walked down the street and observing the smile on his face, Lian Ping'er, who had quietly approached him, burst out laughing.

"Pfft, ha ha ha ha ha..."

"You are... that senior from earlier?"

Aze only reacted when he heard the laughter, instantly turning and stepping back. Although he didn't entirely trust the two grey-robed cultivators, their mention of her had made him wary of this female cultivator too. After all, he had long ago heard the saying: "There's no such thing as a free lunch." This wariness applied to both the grey-robed cultivators and this female cultivator.

Lian Ping'er, with one hand on her hip and leaning slightly, covered her mouth with the other, shaking with laughter as she looked at Aze. Despite covering her mouth, her smile wouldn't fade, and she transmitted a voice message to Aze's ear, her tone full of mirth.

"You're imitating Ji Yuan, aren't you?"

The woman's tone was light, but upon hearing her words, Aze instantly felt as if struck by lightning. His body trembled, and he looked at Lian Ping'er with agitated eyes.

"You... how did you know?"

Lian Ping'er finally suppressed her laughter and replied very casually.

"Oh, of course I know. I know Ji Yuan far too well. The way you were just now was exactly like him. Next time I see him, I'll definitely tell him. Heh heh heh..."

Aze was first stunned, then delighted. Looking at the female cultivator, she definitely seemed to know Mister Ji.

"You know Mister Ji? Do you know where he is? Can you take me to see him? I haven't seen him in almost twenty years. In this world, only Mister Ji and Sister Jin have been good to me. I have so many questions for him, and so much to tell him!"

Lian Ping'er observed the excited expression on Aze's face, and combining it with her observation of his qi, she deduced his age. She merely offered a gentle smile.

"Have you not been doing well all these years at Nine Peaks Mountain?"

Aze's eyes widened. He felt both wronged and excited, but with emotions surging and his attempts to restrain them, he was momentarily speechless. Lian Ping'er, who had already undergone a transformation and appeared even more gentle and mild, offered him a silk handkerchief.

"Even when grown up, sometimes crying is just a deliberate release. Oh, I forgot to mention, my name is Ning Xin, and I'm not a bad person."

Facing the handsome Aze, Lian Ping'er's tone was almost like coaxing a child. He pushed the silk handkerchief away, lowered his head, and quickly said.

"My name is Aze, I..."

"I know. Ji Yuan mentioned you to me. You miss him dearly? Well, so do I..."

Lian Ping'er's tone became a little wistful, seeming to carry emotions from her memories.

"This isn't the place to talk. Come, tell me how you've been all these years."

"You... you and Mister Ji are..."

Aze followed the woman's moving footsteps and asked in a low voice. She smiled at him.

"You could say I'm his Dao companion..."

Aze was stunned again by her words. Then, the woman in front of him seemed to remember something, and half her face instantly flushed red as she looked at Aze.

"Don't get the wrong idea..."