221: Chapter 221 Ling Yuling's Recruitment! A Jade Box from the Void Heaven Palace!

Chapter 220: Ling Yuling's Recruitment! The jade box from the Void Heaven Palace!

Inside the great hall, the fragrance of tea curled in the air, and the scent of sandalwood was elegant.

Sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting mottled light and shadows on the floor.

Those shadows shifted slowly with the movement of the sun, like the silent footsteps of time.

The famous calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls appeared even more profound in Concept under the play of light and shadow.

Ling Yuling nodded, her phoenix-like eyes lingering for a moment on Lu Qiu's masked face, her gaze containing scrutiny and a hint of faint curiosity.

That gaze felt substantial, as if trying to pierce through the mask to see the true face beneath.

Her gaze swept from Lu Qiu's brows to the corners of his mouth, from his hair to his robes, missing nothing.

But that silver-white mask perfectly concealed everything, leaving her unable to discern any clues.

A moment later, she withdrew her gaze and took a light sip from her teacup. Her movements were leisurely and elegant, her slender fingers holding the cup with a composed posture, as if everything was under her control.

As the tea entered her mouth, she narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly savoring the fragrance, or perhaps deep in thought.

The teacup was made of fine celadon, thin as a cicada's wing and transparent as jade; it rotated gently in her hand, the tea rippling in concentric circles.

Alliance Leader Ling watched from the side, a barely perceptible smile flashing in her eyes.

She was very familiar with Ling Yuling and knew her personality well.

This Young Lord of the Star Palace usually held her head high and never showed much courtesy to ordinary Cultivators.

She wouldn't even give a second glance to those trying to curry favor with her; no matter how extravagantly they spoke, she would only give a faint smile and turn to leave.

She was even more dismissive of those self-righteous so-called Geniuses, viewing them as nothing more than frogs at the bottom of a well, with a narrow view of the world.

It was truly rare for her to be willing to look at this Fellow Daoist Zhou a few more times today.

She thought to herself that although this Fellow Daoist Zhou had hidden his true face, that steady temperament and unfathomable cultivation indeed possessed several extraordinary qualities.

It was only natural that Yuling would take a few extra looks.

She set down her teacup, looked at Lu Qiu, and got straight to the point:

“Did Fellow Daoist Zhou come here for a nascent soul formation spiritual item?”

Her voice was crisp and pleasant, carrying a hint of friendliness and concern.

Lu Qiu nodded, not beating around the bush. He set down his teacup, met her gaze, and spoke frankly:

“Exactly. I asked Alliance Leader Ling to keep an eye out last time; I wonder if there is any news?”

Alliance Leader Ling smiled slightly, her smile carrying a hint of deep meaning.

She glanced at Ling Yuling, then looked back at Lu Qiu, and said slowly:

“If Fellow Daoist Zhou wants to obtain a nascent soul formation spiritual item, the channel still lies with Yuling.”

“Oh?” Lu Qiu looked at Ling Yuling, his gaze filled with inquiry.

He began to calculate rapidly in his mind.

Did Alliance Leader Ling's words mean he should go through the Star Palace's channels?

With Ling Yuling's status, obtaining a nascent soul formation spiritual item would indeed not be difficult.

As the overlord of the Chaotic Star Sea, the Star Palace possessed resources so abundant and channels so vast that the Four Great Merchant Alliances were far from comparable.

Those rare nascent soul formation spiritual items, which were treasures nearly impossible to find for Loose Cultivators and ordinary forces,

Might just be common items in the Star Palace's warehouse; it just depended on whether they were willing to bring them out.

Ling Yuling set down her teacup and met Lu Qiu's gaze.

A faint light flickered in those phoenix eyes, carrying both scrutiny and interest.

Her gaze lingered on Lu Qiu's face for a moment before she spoke slowly, her voice clear and pleasant, yet carrying a hint of laziness:

“I do indeed have a way to obtain a nascent soul formation spiritual item.”

She paused, a playful smile curving the corners of her mouth: “But the prerequisite is that Fellow Daoist Zhou must join the Star Palace.”

Join the Star Palace?

Lu Qiu was slightly taken aback, then asked: “As a Guest Elder?”

He thought that with his cultivation at the False Nascent Soul Realm, he was certainly qualified to become a Guest Elder of the Star Palace.

A Guest Elder was just a title; one could go about their daily business without following orders, only needing to help when necessary.

This was similar in nature to him becoming a Guest Elder of the Fengle Alliance. If that were the case, it wasn't out of the question.

Ling Yuling shook her head, her smile deepening.

“Not as a Guest Elder.”

She said, her voice carrying a hint of unquestionable authority, “The joining I speak of is becoming a formal member of the Star Palace. No longer a Guest Elder, but a true person of the Star Palace.”

She paused and continued with a hint of pride in her tone: “Pseudo-Nascent Soul Cultivators are rare even in the Star Palace. In the vast Star Palace, there are only a few dozen Pseudo-Nascent Soul Cultivators. If we can recruit one, then once they reach the Nascent Soul stage in the future, the Star Palace will have another Nascent Soul Cultivator, making our foundation stronger and our prestige greater. If Fellow Daoist Zhou is willing to join, the matter of the nascent soul formation spiritual item will be on me.”

After she finished, she picked up her teacup, but her gaze remained fixed on Lu Qiu, waiting for his answer.

After hearing this, Lu Qiu immediately made a decision.

Becoming a formal member of the Star Palace meant following the Star Palace's orders, being subject to its Restrictions, participating in its affairs, and being loyal to the Star Palace.

From then on, he would no longer be a free man.

He had always been a loner, and what he hated most was being bound.

His rapid rise over the years relied on his freedom—doing whatever he wanted, going wherever he pleased.

If he joined the Star Palace and had to consider their rules and follow their deployments for everything, he might as well be dead.

He shook his head, his tone sincere yet firm, without the slightest hesitation:

“I appreciate Enforcement Envoy Ling's kind intentions. However, I have always disliked Restrictions and prefer to be a loner; I'm afraid I am not suited to join the Star Palace. Please forgive me.”

Hearing this, a flash of disappointment crossed Ling Yuling's eyes, but it vanished instantly, quickly masked.

She picked up her teacup, took another sip, and said indifferently: “That is truly a pity.”

Her tone carried a hint of regret and helplessness, but she did not press the matter.

She was not the type to force others, and besides, the other party was a Pseudo-Nascent Soul Cultivator; forcing him would be useless.

Lu Qiu looked at her and asked: “Besides joining the Star Palace, is there any other way?”

Ling Yuling pondered for a moment, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly as if she were thinking about something.

Her finger lightly tapped the teacup, making a crisp 'ding ding' sound that was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.

Her brow furrowed slightly and her lips pursed; she was clearly thinking seriously.

A moment later, she looked up at Lu Qiu, her gaze containing inquiry and expectation.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou.”

She spoke slowly, her voice carrying a hint of solemnity, “That black treasure chest you bought at the Fengle Auction—has the Ancient Restriction on it been opened?”

Lu Qiu's heart skipped a beat!

That black treasure chest was something he had bid sixteen thousand Spirit Stones for at the Fengle Auction.

Inside was a ninth-grade demonic core, which was his greatest gain at the time.

However, what he didn't expect was that while he thought it was just a rare auction item, it actually involved the Star Palace.

Why did Ling Yuling suddenly ask about this?

His expression remained unchanged as he asked back: “Why does Enforcement Envoy Ling ask this?”

Ling Yuling looked at him, a smile curving her lips.

That smile held a hint of mystery, depth, and playfulness.

“That black treasure chest was put up for auction by me.”

She said slowly, her voice carrying a hint of recollection: “The purpose was to test if anyone could break the Ancient Restriction on it.”

Lu Qiu's heart jolted!

That black treasure chest was actually brought out by the Star Palace?

And it was for a test?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Why did the Star Palace want to test people?

The chest clearly contained a ninth-grade demonic core; were they willing to just give it away?

Or did they simply not know what was inside?

Or perhaps they knew but felt it couldn't be opened, so they brought it out to try their luck?

Ling Yuling looked at him and asked again, her tone carrying a hint of urgency: “Fellow Daoist Zhou, please tell me truthfully, has the Ancient Restriction on that black treasure chest been broken?”

Lu Qiu remained silent for a moment, not answering directly, but instead asked:

“What if it is broken? And what if it isn't?”

Ling Yuling's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a light flashing within them.

That light contained a hint of joy and expectation.

She set down her teacup and leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying a hint of solemnity:

"If that Ancient Restriction has already been opened, I have a way for Fellow Daoist Zhou to obtain a nascent soul formation spiritual item. If it hasn't, then that's another matter."

Lu Qiu calculated quickly in his mind.

Xin Ruyin had indeed already opened that black treasure chest.

She had spent ten years, deducing day and night and repeatedly attempting, until she finally cracked the "Nine Palaces Essence-Locking Formation" on it.

That ninth-grade demonic core was currently lying quietly within his Storage Pouch.

But originally, he hadn't wanted anyone to know about this.

The value of a ninth-grade demonic core was enough to tempt any Nascent Soul Cultivator.

If word got out, it would likely invite endless trouble.

Those Nascent Soul Old Monsters and great powers would pounce like hungry wolves.

But the person before him, Ling Yuling, was the Young Lord of the Star Palace.

Since she asked this, she must already know something.

If he concealed it, it would instead arouse suspicion and offend the Star Palace.

He pondered for a moment, nodded, and spoke truthfully:

"It has already been cracked."

A sharp light suddenly flashed in Ling Yuling's eyes!

That light was as bright as a lightning bolt in the dark night, making it hard to look at directly.

Her entire being seemed to light up instantly, her Phoenix eyes filled with surprise and anticipation.

She stared intently at Lu Qiu and pressed, "Is this true?" balance

Lu Qiu met her gaze, his tone calm and without the slightest hesitation: "There is no need for this Zhou to deceive you, nor do I dare to deceive the Star Palace."

Ling Yuling stared at him for a moment, the light in her Phoenix eyes flickering as if judging the truth of his words.

Her gaze was like a sharp sword, wanting to pierce through his disguise, but Lu Qiu remained composed and natural, neither flinching nor looking away.

After a moment, she smiled.

That smile was brilliant and bright, carrying a bit of joy, a bit of satisfaction, and a bit of relief.

Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, and her entire demeanor softened, no longer possessing that cold and distant posture from before.

"Good!"

Ling Yuling's eyes held admiration: "Fellow Daoist Zhou is indeed extraordinary."

She paused, then slowly revealed the truth, her voice carrying a hint of reminiscence and sentiment:

"Actually, that black treasure chest was obtained by a Star Palace Cultivator from the Void Heaven Palace. However, the Restriction on it could never be opened. The Formation Great Masters in my Star Palace tried for many years, through three groups of people, but were all helpless. Among those Formation Great Masters, some were Seniors who have been famous for years, while others were gifted rising stars, but without exception, all were defeated by that Ancient Restriction."

She shook her head and continued, "Out of desperation, I thought of this method—putting the treasure chest up for auction to see if anyone could crack the Restriction on it. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack, but better than doing nothing."

Void Heaven Palace!

Lu Qiu's heart jolted again.

The Void Heaven Palace was one of the most mysterious Forbidden Grounds in the Chaotic Star Sea!

It was said to hide countless treasures, as well as countless dangers.

It opened once every few centuries; countless Cultivators flocked to it, but very few could come out alive.

Those who could bring items out from within were rarer than phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

That black treasure chest was actually obtained from the Void Heaven Palace!

Ling Yuling continued, "The items obtained from the Void Heaven Palace back then weren't just that one treasure chest."

She took a jade box out from her Storage Pouch and placed it gently on the table.

Her movements were cautious, as if she were holding some peerless treasure.

The jade box was pure white throughout, warm as jade, and about the size of a palm.

The box was covered with dense runes; those runes were layered and interconnected, forming an extremely complex pattern.

It was even more complex, more profound, and more intimidating than the Restriction on the black treasure chest.

The light of the runes flowed over the jade box, flickering as if it were a living thing.

That ancient and mysterious aura could be clearly felt even from a few steps away.

"This jade box."

Ling Yuling pointed at the jade box, her voice carrying some anticipation, "The Ancient Restriction on this is several degrees stronger than the one on the black treasure chest. The Formation Great Masters of my Star Palace don't even dare touch it, saying that forcing it open would only destroy the contents."

She looked up at Lu Qiu, her gaze burning: "If Fellow Daoist Zhou can crack the Ancient Restriction on this, I will give Fellow Daoist Zhou a heaven mending pill."

A heaven mending pill!

Lu Qiu's heart shook violently!

A heaven mending pill could cleanse the Spiritual Root, improve Aptitude, and indirectly help with forming a Nascent Soul; it was considered a nascent soul formation spiritual item!

And a top-tier nascent soul formation spiritual item at that!

Years ago, he had consumed the remnants of a heaven mending pill.

Those five remnants had improved his Spiritual Root from a Triple Spiritual Root to the level of Dual Spiritual Roots.

But those were just remnants after all, with limited effects; it was only the medicinal power remaining in the bones, far inferior to a genuine heaven mending pill.

If he could obtain a genuine heaven mending pill, his Spiritual Root might be further improved, perhaps even reaching the level of a Heavenly Spiritual Root!

At that time, his certainty in forming a Nascent Soul would greatly increase, and his Cultivation speed would also rise again!

He took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and his gaze fell upon the jade box.

The runes on the jade box were indeed more complex than those on the black treasure chest.

Those runes were layered and interwoven, forming an extremely tight Restriction.

With his level of Formation mastery, he couldn't see the mystery within for a moment.

Those runes were too ancient; some he didn't even recognize.

He pondered for a moment and said slowly:

"I can give it a try. But this Zhou cannot guarantee it can be cracked."

Ling Yuling nodded, not forcing the matter. She said:

"Fellow Daoist Zhou can replicate the Ancient Restriction on this jade box and go back to study it slowly. If you are confident in cracking the Restriction, you can come directly to find me. At that time, the heaven mending pill will be presented with both hands."

Lu Qiu nodded, took out a blank Jade Slip, and began to replicate the Ancient Restriction on the jade box.

His movements were very slow and careful.

Those runes were too complex; the slightest mistake would lead to an error.

He was fully concentrated, replicating stroke by stroke, not daring to be the least bit careless.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, but his gaze remained focused and his hands steady.

Ling Yuling and Alliance Leader Ling watched quietly from the side, not daring to disturb him.

After a full incense stick of time, he finally finished replicating all the Ancient Restrictions.

He put the Jade Slip into his Storage Pouch and stood up to take his leave.

Ling Yuling and Alliance Leader Ling stood up to see him off.

...

After Lu Qiu left, the hall fell into silence.

The sunlight still spilled in, the tea fragrance still curled, and the sandalwood incense was still elegant, but without that person, the atmosphere seemed to have changed.

Ling Yuling stood with her hands behind her back, looking in the direction he had left, her Phoenix eyes flashing.

"Aunt."

She suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of inquiry and anticipation, "Do you think this person can crack it?"

Aunt?

If Lu Qiu were here to hear this form of address, he would surely be greatly shocked.

Alliance Leader Ling walked to her side and stood shoulder to shoulder with her.

She shook her head, her eyes also holding a bit of thought and uncertainty.

"I cannot see through him."

She said slowly, her voice carrying a hint of sentiment: "This Fellow Daoist Zhou, I truly cannot see through him. His cultivation, his background, his true face—I know none of it. But one thing is certain—he could crack the Restriction on that black treasure chest, which shows his mastery of Formations is absolutely extraordinary. At the very least, he is stronger than any of the Formation Great Masters I have seen."

She paused and continued, "Furthermore, his words and actions are flawless; he is neither subservient nor overbearing. Such a person has either held a high position for a long time or is accustomed to great storms. Either way, he is not simple."

Ling Yuling nodded thoughtfully. Her gaze was still fixed on the doorway, as if she could still see the masked figure.

"If he can crack this jade box."

She said, her voice carrying a bit of anticipation, "Then there is no harm in giving him the heaven mending pill."

Alliance Leader Ling glanced at her and smiled, "You are quite generous."

Ling Yuling also smiled, a smile carrying a bit of cunning and pride.

"Aunt, this isn't being generous. This is an investment." She said, her eyes shining with the light of wisdom, "A person who can crack the Restrictions of the Void Heaven Palace is worth more than just one heaven mending pill. How many secrets are still in the Void Heaven Palace? How many unbreakable Restrictions are there? If we can win him over, he might be of great use in the future."

Alliance Leader Ling nodded, deeply agreeing.

The two stood in the hall, silent for a long time.