Chapter 946: Random Adaptation

Wei Wuwei was not well-known in the immortal cultivation world, but the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion’s reputation was considerable. This time, with the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion and Jade Embrace Treasure Pavilion jointly opening branches on this island, some well-informed individuals had heard that a plump immortal cultivator named Wei Wuwei was in charge of the Jade Embrace Treasure Pavilion.

It was said that Wei Wuwei was an anomaly even within Jade Embrace Mountain. His cultivation was very low, yet in a sacred land of immortal sects, he surprisingly focused on supporting his family. Despite this, the high-ranking figures of Jade Embrace Mountain confidently entrusted him with various miscellaneous tasks and offered him strong support, which left people wondering why.

The business conducted by Jade Embrace Treasure Pavilion was similar to that of Spiritual Treasure Pavilion. While it also possessed some prized treasures, it was generally a tier below Spiritual Treasure Pavilion. There were even rumors that it complemented Spiritual Treasure Pavilion, maintaining a close relationship without being subordinate to it. This made outsiders even more perplexed, unsure of the true nature of the relationship between Jade Embrace Mountain and Spiritual Treasure Pavilion.

The manager of Immortal Cloud Pavilion tentatively asked, as the person before him matched Wei Wuwei’s cultivation and appearance. Wei Wuwei bowed again.

“Indeed, I am Wei. I wouldn’t dare presume to be senior in front of you, Manager; I am merely a junior.”

The manager put down his brush and returned the bow to Wei Wuwei.

“Jade Embrace Mountain is a renowned sacred land of immortality under heaven. Family Head Wei is an exceptional individual among them; we rogue cultivators can only hold you in the highest respect!”

Wei Wuwei still wore a kind smile.

“You flatter me, Manager. I presume you know something about me. I would never do anything to harm the business of my fellow cultivators. There aren’t many cultivators like us who enjoy commerce.”

People can be flexible, and the manager of Immortal Cloud Pavilion was no exception. He also very much wanted to befriend Wei Wuwei of Jade Embrace Mountain. He had a good friend in Spiritual Treasure Pavilion who had privately mentioned that Family Head Wei was extraordinarily capable. The praises from the higher echelons of Spiritual Treasure Pavilion for him exceeded a certain level, and they seemed to have a personal fondness for Wei Wuwei that surpassed their regard for Jade Embrace Mountain itself.

The manager had originally planned to specially visit Jade Embrace Treasure Pavilion after its opening to see if he could establish a connection with the Wei clan. He hadn't expected Wei Wuwei to be on this island already. Hearing Wei Wuwei’s small request, he naturally found it negotiable.

“Hmm, indeed, many male and female cultivators visit this pavilion. Most recently, they have been regulars. However, a Xuanxin Manor flying boat arrived today, bringing many new faces. Among them, very few pairs consist of one male and one female. There are only two such pairs, I believe, in one of the Spirit Mountain private rooms on the third floor. Several of the small spirits in my hall are quite hesitant to approach them, saying the man makes them somewhat afraid. Perhaps he is not of the righteous path.”

Wei Wuwei frowned slightly. The man isn’t of the righteous path, but the woman is fine? How is this the opposite of what Grey Daoist said? Could they be mistaken, and the couple isn’t here?

“Oh, thank you for informing me, Manager. I know my limits. By the way, I forgot to order wine earlier. Besides sending a jar of good wine to my private room, please bring me ten jars of your best wine; I will take them with me when I leave.”

“Very well, they will be prepared for Family Head Wei.”

Wei Wuwei smiled.

“Just call me fellow Daoist!”

The two chatted pleasantly, then Wei Wuwei turned and left, while the Immortal Cloud Pavilion manager resumed handling his accounts.

Wei Wuwei did not return directly to his private room. Although he said he wouldn’t cause any trouble, he still intended to confirm things. After all, Grey Daoists were not ordinary cultivators; they practiced the secret arts of Yunshan Temple. Their two walking bodies were pure Yang bodies imbued with divine power by Divine Lord Qin. Many things might seem amiss to them, but something they sensed as having ‘fated connection’ was quite subtle.

So, when Wei Wuwei casually asked and learned that the couple might be here, he decided to confirm it himself. As he walked into the corridor, a golden coin in his sleeve emitted a misty light. In the next instant, Wei Wuwei’s flesh began to shrink, his height slightly decreased, and the patterns on his clothes began to change.

Within a breath, the original Wei Wuwei disappeared, replaced by a young woman in white. Wei Wuwei’s luxurious clothes still fit her perfectly, and he then took a white fur scarf from his sleeve, draping it over her shoulders to cover the only slightly incongruous collar.

‘This is Master Ji’s transformation art. If it’s seen through instantly, that’s my bad luck!’

Wei Wuwei thought this. Even if he were seen through, it wouldn’t mean much; he had ways to deal with it. He walked through the labyrinthine Immortal Cloud Pavilion, ascending from one of the stairwells.

Upon reaching the third floor, he felt as if he were walking inside a cave dwelling as soon as he stepped off the stairs. The corridor occasionally featured openings through which one could see distant spiritual mountains and beautiful waters, as if they weren’t on an island at all, which seemed quite marvelous.

Along this cave-like walkway, every so often there was a grotto, either curtained with beads or entwined with vines, each distinctive and equally enchanting.

Wei Wuwei appeared to walk at an unhurried pace along the cave passage, but in reality, his peripheral vision was meticulously scanning every grotto entrance. Some “doors” were closed, some were open, and most had no one inside.

As fate would have it, before Wei Wuwei could do anything, as he passed a grotto, his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of Aze and Lian Ping’er sitting opposite each other at a table laden with delicacies. Aze was holding some profound, lustrous pearls in his hand.

A thought flashed in his mind, and almost in the very next moment, Miss Wei moved.

“Wow—!”

A shriek burst from Miss Wei’s mouth. Her agile body, like a white shadow, instantly darted into the Spirit Mountain private room. As Lian Ping’er’s expression hardened and Aze was momentarily stunned, Miss Wei knelt unguardedly before the table, her eyes seemingly sparkling, staring intently at Aze’s deep-sea pearls.

“Are these the legendary mermaid’s tears? So, so beautiful…”

The woman before them trembled slightly, her eyes fixated on the pearls. Her hands seemed to want to reach out but dared not, then she suddenly looked at Lian Ping’er and Aze with a panicked expression.

“I’m so sorry, so sorry! I was rude, I was truly rude, I apologize!”

The woman quickly stood up, turning repeatedly from side to side, bowing to Aze and Lian Ping’er. Throughout this process, she subtly scrutinized every detail about them, yet her expressed gaze never left the pearls.

This was Wei Wuwei’s skill. He indeed lacked high-level immortal cultivation to project divine sense and perceive information, but his attention had been trained to an arbitrary degree, and acting this way would not provoke resentment from high-level cultivators.

“Who are you?”

Lian Ping’er scrutinized the newcomer in the depths of her eyes, but on her face, she wore a kind smile and gently inquired. Wei Wuwei straightened up, revealing a delicate face with a strand of hair still clinging to the corner of her mouth, gazing longingly at the pearls on the table.

“This Immortal Cloud Pavilion is like a labyrinth. I found it amusing, so I wandered around, and then I saw mermaid’s tears… I’ve always wanted these… so beautiful…”

Seeing the woman’s reaction, a hint of joy welled up in Aze’s heart. Perhaps Sister Jin would also really like them.

“Sister, you are so blessed. Your Dao companion has found mermaid’s tears for you…”

At this remark, Aze was startled.

“No, no! Aunt Ning is Master Ji’s Dao companion; she is my elder. Please don’t speak nonsense, young lady; that’s highly disrespectful!”

Wei Wuwei slightly parted her lips, making a flustered expression.

“Oh dear, I’ve caused trouble again! Please forgive me, both of you. I—I didn’t mean to. These mermaid’s tears are so beautiful they made me lose my composure…”

The woman before them had low cultivation but was also pure-hearted. Lian Ping’er chuckled softly.

“Young lady, these aren’t mermaid’s tears. They are merely deep-sea pearls collected by mermaids. True mermaid’s tears are exceptionally rare. However, these pearls are indeed priceless. If you like them, I can give you some too.”

As she spoke, Lian Ping’er took out the wooden box again and opened it, revealing the pearls inside.

“Take as many as you like.”

Wei Wuwei’s small mouth was now wide open, her eyes seemingly glazed over as she stared at the pearls in the box. These pearls occasionally glowed with a misty aura within the private room.

“Young lady? Young lady?”

Aze called out twice.

“Uh, oh? Oh, I… this… is this really okay? I, I mean, I…”

Biting her lip and clutching her clothes, as if after an intense struggle, the woman cautiously picked up one pearl.

“Thank you, Sister. Thank you, Senior. I only need this one, just one is enough. Thank you both…”

The woman profusely thanked them, looking like a mortal girl who had just entered the world of cultivation and hadn’t yet seen its wonders. After leaving the private room, she suddenly hurried back.

“My name is Cai’er!”

Leaving that remark, she performed another deep curtsy and then hastily fled, which Aze found not at all off-putting, only very endearing.

“What a clumsy girl. See, Aze, now do you believe me? Girls really like them, don’t they? Miss Jin will surely like them too.”

“Yes, she certainly will!”

Meanwhile, in a corridor of the Immortal Cloud Pavilion, Wei Wuwei was still the bright-eyed young woman, but her thoughts were ceaselessly racing. Lian Ping’er could discern some things from Aze’s attire, and so could he. And that one sentence was crucial.

‘Master Ji’s Dao companion? Hmph, since when did I know about this!’

However, Wei Wuwei’s apprehension lingered. This woman dared to impersonate Master Ji’s Dao companion; she was utterly audacious. And audacious individuals often possessed audacious abilities.

‘I’m afraid this is beyond my ability to handle…’

Wei Wuwei’s thoughts flashed rapidly. Although the two Grey Daoists had pure Yang bodies created by Divine Lord Qin’s borrowed magic, they were merely castles in the air; their own cultivation hadn’t yet reached the Daoist realm, and they lacked worldly experience. Wei Wuwei could deal with them when serious, so they certainly wouldn’t be useful here.

While two of his friends from Spiritual Treasure Pavilion also had decent cultivation, frankly, Wei Wuwei felt they wouldn’t be of much help either. Still, he could count them in. In this unfamiliar Thousand Reef Island region, he didn’t seem to have many available hands. Returning to Cloud Continent would disrupt Wei Wuwei’s current plan, but more importantly, it was too far.

‘No!’

Wei Wuwei’s eyes lit up slightly. There was one more person he could rely on.

‘Empress Ying doesn’t seem too far away…’