Master of Dreams, the moon is bright and the stars are sparse
"Revered Master, there's no need to be so polite. This is what a Disciple should do."
Lin Xingyun felt an inexplicable joy seeing her finally reveal a relieved smile.
But then, he cupped his hands towards Liu Qiuyan.
"That's right, Revered Master, before descending to the Lower Realm this time, this Disciple still has one matter to conclude, and I would like to ask Revered Master for assistance!"
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That day, at noon, inside the Yaochi Holy Land's Headmaster Hall.
The Peak Revered Masters of the four peaks, along with all Elders above the Saint Realm, had already gathered in the hall.
Liu Qiuyan was already dressed neatly, in a crow-blue Headmaster's robe, wearing a cyan-gold Dharma Crown, seated majestically at the head of the table. Her immense imperial might radiated without anger, making everyone in the hall as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to make the slightest move.
However, with the Headmaster finally out of seclusion and presiding over the Holy Land, most of them felt much more at ease.
After everyone had finished their salutations, Yang Zhi, as before, began to report his duties to Liu Qiuyan.
Lin Xingyun, meanwhile, stood by Liu Xinyan's side, with the Wen Jian Peak group.
At this moment, he watched his Revered Master as she listened to and instructed the Peak Revered Masters and Elders, her demeanor both majestic and noble.
He felt as if the fragrant and alluring experiences of the past five years were merely a dream!
"Perhaps soon, after returning from the Lower Realm..."
"I'll be able to relive those old dreams..."
As Lin Xingyun's thoughts wandered, he quickly shook his head.
He tried his best to control himself and stop thinking about those things.
And when all the Peak Revered Masters and Elders had finished their reports, Liu Qiuyan suddenly cast a cold glance at Yang Zhi.
"Peak Revered Master Yang, I heard that you accepted a Disciple named Tang Yu, who once attempted to harm a fellow Disciple?"
"Reporting to the Headmaster, that is indeed true. I handled it fairly at the time, imprisoning Tang Yu in the Extinguish Sin Bitter Prison to serve his sentence. He will be released in just over three years..."
Yang Zhi replied nervously, a series of ominous premonitions already rising in his heart.
"No need for three years."
"To even attempt to harm a fellow Disciple, such an utterly vicious person must not be leniently treated!"
"You don't need to concern yourself with Tang Yu anymore. I will handle this person myself."
"From now on, properly discipline your Disciples and don't let them act recklessly again."
Liu Qiuyan declared coldly, a rare hint of killing intent flashing in her eyes.
"Yes... I respectfully obey the Headmaster's command!"
Although Yang Zhi bowed respectfully and responded, his face had turned a shiny dark black, and he was roaring inwardly!
Discipline his Disciples?
How was he supposed to discipline them?!
Now, his two direct Saint Disciples, Lu Ming and Chu Hang, had already died in the Immortal Fire Secret Realm, and their bones were nowhere to be found...
And listening to the Headmaster's tone, Tang Yu was also doomed!
Thinking of his Disciples suffering one after another, he instinctively looked towards Lin Xingyun, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.
"This brat... He's been in the Holy Land for less than seven years, and three of my Disciples have died!"
"If he stays here for seven hundred years, wouldn't three hundred of my Disciples die?!"
But Lin Xingyun didn't even bother to look at him.
He was focused on admiring Liu Qiuyan's protective and biased demeanor.
His eyes were filled with emotion and fervor.
"Revered Master, even if you are unwilling to accept this Disciple, it doesn't matter."
"This Disciple will still try every means and exert all effort to repay your kindness!"
He had seen Liu Qiuyan's destiny, coupled with the Fourteenth Ancestor's incredibly detailed strategy guide.
He already knew that his Revered Master, having been abandoned by her father since childhood, most lacked paternal care.
The strategy guide even recorded that.
When his Revered Master was young, she would sleep in the same bed as the Fourteenth Ancestor, often hugging his Fourteenth Ancestor in her sleep and calling out for her father...
"When this Disciple returns from the Lower Realm..."
"This Disciple will definitely help you fulfill your dream and make you completely satisfied!"
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That night.
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and the magpies flew south.
It was a good time for killing and plundering treasures!
A white-furred Immortal Beast flew through the air, carrying a man and a woman on its back, pressing tightly against each other.
"Xiaowu... relax a little, my waist is about to break..."
"It's all your fault! We... we haven't seen each other for five years... It's so late at night... why did you bring me out here?!"
Su Qingwu complained angrily, her long legs wrapped tightly around Lin Xingyun's waist as if to vent her frustration.
After a while, she saw that they were already high in the sky.
And there were only the two of them on Baize's back.
She seemed to recall some pleasant scenes from the past...
After hesitating for a moment, she blushed and boldly reached out to tug at Lin Xingyun's lapel.
"We still have serious business to attend to later, so stop fooling around for now."
Lin Xingyun, however, pulled her wrist, shaking his head.
"Wh-what serious business?!"
"You'll know when we get there."
"You—!"
Su Qingwu was both annoyed and anxious. Her legs tightened again, making Lin Xingyun involuntarily gasp.
"Ugh—!"
Lin Xingyun could only lower his head and press his lips against hers.
Relying on his practiced eloquence, he finally managed to temporarily appease her, and the long legs around his waist relaxed a little...
Moments later, Baize descended directly into a hidden area in the northwestern corner of the Yaochi Holy Land.
This place was unusually gloomy and cold, filled with bloody Evil Qi. A hundred-zhang-tall pale bone gate stood majestically at the very center of this place.
A withered gray-robed old man, as usual, sat with his eyes closed, not emitting any Qi.
It wasn't until Baize, carrying Lin Xingyun and Su Qingwu, stepped into this place that he slightly opened his eyes.
He made no movement, but with a thought, the bone gate behind him rumbled open.
Then, a black wooden token flew out from his sleeve, landing in Lin Xingyun's hand in a blink of an eye.
"The Headmaster has given instructions that the Sword Saint, holding this token, will not be affected by the Extinguish Sin Bitter Prison's spiritual power sealing effect."
"Thank you, Elder Feng."
Lin Xingyun greeted him, then patted Baize's Dragon horn, controlling her to transform into a white light and fly into the bone gate.
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At this moment, the eighteenth layer of the Extinguish Sin Bitter Prison.
This was a dark world filled with heavy Evil Qi, and the sky was covered with dark clouds.
Streaks of red light occasionally flashed from the horizon, and the ground was covered with dried, blackened blood and decaying corpses, like a living hell on earth.