"One of my elders and Master Ao were old acquaintances, so I did have the pleasure of meeting him on two or three occasions back then." The man with the Xu surname glanced at the speaker with a slight expression of surprise, speaking somewhat hesitantly. "Ah, do you know what Master Ao has come to discuss with you this time?" The middle-aged woman subtly shifted her gaze, then gently asked. "How could I possibly know? I'm just as confused as you are. Moreover, Master Ao didn't just call me—didn't he also summon Brother Luo? Surely there's something he'd like to share with us both privately." The Xu man shook his head vigorously, as if a drum had been struck. Seeing this, the middle-aged woman smiled slightly and decided not to press further. After Master Ao's departure, the others in the hall seemed to lose interest in continuing the discussion, and after a brief period of quiet conversation, the white-haired elder announced that the gathering was now concluded. One by one, the attendees, each with their own thoughts, dispersed toward their respective quarters. At the same time, the man with plum-feathered hair had led Ao Xiao and Yin Yue to a quiet spot on the island. Not only was this area the most densely imbued with spiritual energy, but there were also seven or eight separate pavilions spaced far apart. These pavilions were exceptionally refined, each equipped with dedicated workshops for crafting weapons and pills, as well as fully furnished training chambers. The plum-feathered man invited Ao Xiao, the elder, to personally select a pavilion. To his surprise, the long-haired man merely gestured casually toward one pavilion and then strolled in with great confidence. The plum-feathered man, naturally, dared not linger, and after arranging the attendants and servants, gracefully departed. Meanwhile, Ao Xiao, seated in the main hall of the pavilion, simply raised his hand and, without a word, dismissed several attendants. In a moment, the first floor of the pavilion was left with only Ao Xiao and Yin Yue. The long-haired man sat silently in his chair, his eyes slightly narrowed, as though pondering something. Yet Yin Yue remained quietly by the side, showing no intention to speak. "With your current cultivation level and the pills I've prepared for you, you are entirely capable of becoming a Consolidated Daoist. However, over the past hundred years, you've failed to break through three times in a row. It seems not that the external conditions are lacking, but rather that you've consistently been unable to overcome your inner demons. Should your next attempt also fall short, it may become increasingly difficult to succeed in the future." Elder Ao Xiao glanced at Yin Yue and spoke softly and calmly. "Grandfather has been disappointed—my granddaughter is not up to the mark," Yin Yue lowered her head slightly and said gently. "It appears your deep-seated attachment is proving hard to release. Since you returned from the lower realm, you've ceased to pay attention to Tian Kui, even leaving the clan altogether and settling here with me. I've never asked you about the reason, nor have I pressed you to reconcile with Tian Kui—only hoping that you would find the strength to resolve this matter within yourself." Yet, after all these years, I never expected that the knot in my heart not only remained unresolved, but grew deeper and deeper—the more you concealed it. Ao Xiao shook his head, his tone kind, yet a subtle note of disappointment lingered in his words. "Grandfather, back then, I and Tian Kui..." Yin Yue lifted her head, as if trying to clarify. But upon hearing this, Master Ao waved her off, cutting her off mid-sentence: "You needn't explain anything. I already know what you wish to say. When I was in seclusion, Tian Kui, that young man, broke his promise to me. He didn't wait for you to reach the Consolidated Body stage, but instead planned to harvest your Yuan Yin Body. When that failed, he secretly manipulated your spirit so that it split into two, causing you to suffer from the agony of divided consciousness for over a thousand years. As for later, when you descended to the mortal realm through your spirit's borrowed body, he further altered the Inverse Star Disk, preventing you from returning to the Spiritual Realm promptly. Do I need to recount all these events one by one?" "Ao Xiao the Elder spoke on, and as he continued, a subtle grimness appeared on his refined, scholarly face. He then struck the bronze handle on the side of his chair. A flash of white light surged, and the handle vanished silently—leaving not even a trace of remains. "Grandfather, you've known all of this!" Yin Yue's form trembled, her face now pale as paper. "Hmph. Do you really think I'm foolish enough to not know that my own granddaughter has been treated unfairly? If it weren't for the fact that the Wolf Clan has no other promising descendants to inherit the Wolf King's throne, and considering my own limited lifespan, I would have long since peeled and drawn out the筋 of this young man—had he not been able to continue lounging comfortably on the throne of the Demon King." Ao Xiao the Elder snorted, his tone dark and cold. Upon hearing this, Yin Yue's face grew even paler, yet she managed a wry smile and said: "To be honest, this can't be entirely blamed on him." By title, I am indeed his queen consort. For years he has made little progress in his cultivation, and despite knowing that my Yuan Yin energy could help him break through his current bottleneck, it's only natural that he would make some adjustments to me. "You still speak in his defense. Before marrying him, you were already the sacred daughter of our Yin Yue clan. When the Yin Yue cultivation technique was still in its early stages, he—being the Wolf King—must have known well that an early union would significantly shorten his lifespan. After marrying you, he has had numerous favored consorts at his side; yet, has he ever once cared for your dignity or honor? I've noticed that since he ascended to the position of the Great Spirit King, he seems to have completely forgotten that we, the Yin Yue clan, are the royal lineage of the Wolf Kings. If it weren't for the younger generations' lack of ambition, there wouldn't even be a single cultivator at the Consolidation stage. How could I have supported some outsider to become the Wolf King instead?" Master Ao Xiao's face now bore a growing aura of anger. Yin Yue bit her lips slightly, and finally sighed, choosing not to speak further. "However, after your ordeal on this world, the Seven-Star Lunar Body unexpectedly awakened—turning what seemed like misfortune into fortune. With your original aptitude, you would have likely reached only the Lingxu stage at most. Now, with the Seven-Star Lunar Body, should you happen to encounter further blessings, advancing to the Daxing stage is by no means out of the question. My own cultivation aptitude was not particularly exceptional when I began, but it was only after I, like you, awakened my Lunar Body that I achieved the level I now hold." As he spoke, Liao Xiao's eyes grew increasingly bright. "Yet, my granddaughter would rather forgo this very blessing!" Silver Moon shook her head, her face still pale. "I know you have endured much hardship these years. But since you possess the potential to reach the Hétǐ stage, I no longer feel any hesitation in the past. Tiankui should ideally perish alongside the Magistrate of the Magian Clan in the great battles to come. Otherwise, once the Magian Cataclysm concludes, I shall not allow him to remain as the Wolf King." "The elder's intention is..." Yin Yue was startled, gazing at the man with long hair, momentarily at a loss. "The seven Great Dragon Kings haven't barred women from holding the position either. In fact, when I first supported an outsider to become the Wolf King, I wasn't particularly enthusiastic. Now that you and Tian Kui have severed your marital ties, I shall certainly reclaim the throne for you." Ao Xiao, the Elder, spoke without hesitation. "This seems rather inappropriate, doesn't it?" Yin Yue opened her mouth slightly, then murmured after a while. "What's inappropriate about it? It wasn't my intention from the beginning to act against you. It was Tian Kui himself who dealt the blow to you. Do you still harbor any lingering affection for him?" Ao Xiao's face regained its calm, yet his tone carried a sharper coldness. "The events of those days have already passed. Even if we're not enemies, that's already a good outcome—how could there still be any sentiment between us? Besides, though my granddaughter possesses the Heavenly Moon Body, it remains to be seen whether she truly reaches the Consolidated Stage." Should things not go as planned, our Wolf Clan still will need Tiankui to uphold its dignity." Silver Moon hesitated before finally offering a wry smile. "Yes, as long as your heart-mist remains unresolved, it will be difficult for you to advance to full fusion. With the great battle against the Shadow Clan looming, we cannot afford to wait for your gradual progression. Should I not emerge unscathed, you will face endless troubles. Well, I suppose I'll have to make an exception and lend a hand. You take a look at the contents of this jade scroll first." Elder Ao Xiao furrowed his brow, exhaled deeply, and then suddenly opened his mouth, spitting out a jade scroll that shimmered with a soft, misty green hue, which drifted gently toward Silver Moon. Confused but still reaching out, Silver Moon caught the scroll in her hand, pressed it against her forehead, and sent a thread of divine awareness into it. "The Forgetting the Emotions Technique!" As her awareness swiftly scanned the scroll, Silver Moon exclaimed immediately. "Very good. This 'Forgetful Heart Technique' was an ancient secret art I accidentally acquired back then. Not only does it possess extraordinary power, but it also has an unparalleled effect on mental cultivation. Once you commit to practicing it, I will employ other secret arts to help you achieve proficiency as swiftly as possible, likely repairing any existing mental weaknesses. With that, advancing to the Consolidated Stage should no longer be a problem. However, as the name suggests, this technique comes with significant drawbacks. According to the final section of the manual, as you practice it, the seven emotions and six desires will gradually fade—should you fully master it, they may even vanish entirely. This aspect isn't particularly troubling. The real issue lies in the fact that the original method of cultivation for this technique is rather intense. It may well have a considerable impact on your future progression toward the Great Perfection Stage. Therefore, you should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages." Elder Ao Xiao gazed at Yin Yue's face, his eyes reflecting a touch of hesitation. While using her divine awareness to probe the jade scroll, Yin Yue's face changed several times, showing a fluctuating expression of concern and uncertainty. After finishing his words, Old Master Ao Xiao slowly closed his eyes, silent and waiting for Yin Yue to make her own decision. It wasn't until several meals had passed that Yin Yue finally removed the jade scroll from her forehead and lowered her head, calmly pondering. After a while, the silver-haired woman raised her brow slightly, as if having made up her mind, and then looked seriously at Old Master Ao Xiao, asking two questions: "Grandfather, can this secret technique truly enable me to advance to the Consolidated Stage before the final battle against the demonic race?" "Though I can't guarantee a hundred percent success, I'm confident it has at least a seven or eight out of ten chance. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought it out so readily. But don't rush your decision—take a few days to reflect, and then reply at your convenience." Old Master Ao Xiao opened his eyes, fixing them steadily on Yin Yue as he spoke word by word. ——Volume X: The War in the Realm of Magic Chapter 1,971: Shadow of the Wraith The man with a pale, clean face asked solemnly, "No hurry. Please sit down and speak first." Ao Xiao, the elder, smiled and gently pointed with his finger toward a chair beside him. Naturally, the two immortals—this one and the other—could not fail to heed Ao Xiao's words. After a brief bow of thanks, they settled themselves side by side. "You two have a certain connection with me, both of you. One of you was my old friend, and the other is a named disciple of Mo's. There's a matter of great importance that needs to be handled, and only by entrusting it to you can I truly feel at ease." Ao Xiao glanced at them warmly and spoke with a composed tone. "Please, elder, go ahead and tell me what you'd like done!" Faced with this great being, the two men of the Xu family were genuinely flattered and somewhat taken aback. "As Mo has mentioned, when he is away, it is precisely Lo who holds the reins at the Sacred Island. Therefore, I would like you to assist me in gathering certain items—some are magical artifacts, others are raw materials." These items are rather rare—some have already been traced, while others will require you to seek them out on your own. The only condition is that all this must be carried out in secret, and as swiftly as possible!" Old Master Ao Xiao paused slightly before stating this directly. "Yes, I will immediately dispatch trusted individuals to handle these matters, ensuring no one else is aware of them." The white-haired elder was momentarily taken aback, then promptly agreed wholeheartedly. "Very well. I have a list here—please take it." Master Ao Xiao nodded, then with a flick of his sleeve, a jade tablet soared toward the elder. The white-haired elder immediately rose, grasped the tablet in his hands, and without looking at it, slipped it into his sleeve. His demeanor clearly indicated that he would make every effort to see all the matters through, regardless of what was recorded. Seeing this, Master Ao Xiao smiled slightly, then turned to the Xu-family young man and said: "Xu nephew, I need you to journey to the remote wilderness realm and meet several great beings from the foreign nations." As for what they will do, I have already recorded it in the jade scroll—just glance back and you'll know. This matter must also remain unknown to the other inhabitants of the island. "The junior will certainly proceed with care," the Xu-family man replied with equal courtesy, rising to his feet. "Indeed, these two matters involve the Three Founding Ancestors of the Magian race—something you must also be aware of. I can only offer you five years at most. Should that period pass, the great matter will be compromised. Do you understand?" Master Ao Xiao's face grew solemn at once. "With your permission, the junior and the others will fulfill our duties even if our lives are forfeit," the white-haired elder and the Xu-family man responded, exchanging glances with renewed excitement and almost ready to make a solemn vow. "I have brought you here precisely because I trust you. There is nothing else. Go now—act promptly. This matter demands urgency! With a single gesture, Master Ao Xiao tossed a second jade scroll to the Xu-family man and then spoke his parting words. The two elderly white-haired elders, unable to add more, immediately bowed deeply and departed from the pavilion. "Grandfather, are these two people trustworthy? Haven't there already been rogue magian spies infiltrated into the Sacred Island?" Silver Moon asked, frowning slightly once the two had left. "Heh, if these two aren't reliable, then no one else can be trusted either. These two were personally recommended to me by Mo Jianli. Both have resided on the Sacred Island for a thousand years, never leaving their posts. Besides, do you really think a magian spy could have evaded your grandfather's keen observation? At the very least, the group of elders who we saw in the great hall earlier should be fairly trustworthy. That's a rather positive development." A gentle smile flickered across Master Ao Xiao's youthful face. "Since Grandfather is certain, Linglong will feel reassured. I'll go upstairs to rest now." "Linlong's expression relaxed as she bowed respectfully to Ao Xiao Elder and said, 'You've been traveling for several months now—indeed, you deserve a good rest. Go on, take your time down there.' Ao Xiao Elder nodded, speaking with a touch of sympathy. 'Grandfather, please rest soon. You've only just recovered your vital energy, so don't overexert yourself,' the silver-haired woman added, concerned. 'Hah! Do you really think my grandfather is that old?' Ao Xiao chuckled, unconcerned. 'Given his appearance, if I were your brother, few would ever question it. How could one even speak of him being "old"?' Silver Yue smiled lightly and walked upstairs without looking back. Her steps now carried a lighter, more cheerful rhythm, as though her spirits had lifted. 'This girl! I truly hope she never has to practice the Forgetting the Heart Technique.' Master Ao Xiao watched as the silver-haired woman's silhouette vanished through the stairway entrance, and the ease on his face faded, replaced by a gentle sigh. Yet strangely, after the tall-haired man finished speaking, he closed his eyes and remained seated motionless in his chair, neither rising nor making any move to ascend the stairs. After a meal's worth of time passed, he opened his eyes and suddenly said, in a calm tone, "Well, if you've come, why haven't you shown yourself yet?" "At your service, Master Ao Xiao!" As soon as the words left his lips, ripples spread through the surrounding space, and a nearly translucent figure materialized, only a few dozen paces away from Master Ao Xiao. As soon as this figure appeared, its form gradually solidified, eventually taking shape as a slender woman dressed in a close-fitting black robe. She wore a bronze-colored wolf-head mask over her face, and her hands were encased in dark, gloomy gloves, revealing not a single strand of her skin. "The Liang shadow—so many years have passed, yet your attire has changed not at all." Elder Ao Xiao's brow lifted slightly, revealing a touch of interest. "Your grace remains as splendid as ever! When I first heard of your injury during the celestial trial, I was deeply concerned. Now that I see you are unharmed, I am at ease." The masked woman bowed respectfully and replied in a courteous tone. "Heh—heh, can a mere celestial trial truly claim my life? Well, then, no more formalities. Years ago, I assigned you to remain hidden on the Sacred Island, precisely in case any of my hidden allies should falter. Now, please recount to me in detail the current state of affairs there. Since I shall be stationed on the island for some time, I must gain a thorough understanding of its true condition." Elder Ao Xiao's expression grew serious. "Yes, the current situation on the Sacred Island is not particularly favorable, primarily due to matters on the magical realm's side." Upon hearing this, the bronze-masked woman immediately began to recount. Ao Xiao the elder listened intently, often interrupting the woman when she reached points that were unclear, asking questions with care to ensure full understanding. Where she could answer, she did so; where she was uncertain, she merely shook her head. Finally, after finishing her last sentence, she abruptly stopped, remaining silent. Ao Xiao the elder sat in thoughtful silence, pondering deeply. "Liang Ying, you've done well. It seems these years you haven't been idle on the Sacred Island. However, regarding the matter I last instructed you to investigate—have you any results?" Only after regaining his composure did Ao Xiao the elder smile with satisfaction, yet suddenly turned to ask a different question. "Should Master Ao command it, how could Liang Ying fail to give it full attention? Yet the person I assigned you to investigate has never actually come to the Sacred Island. While there are many stories about him, the more detailed information remains scarce." Moreover, this person appears to be a dedicated ascetic, rarely interacting with others beyond his cultivation practices. This likely also explains how, in such a short span of time, he has managed to leap several ranks. I've already compiled his records. Shall I present them to the elder now? Most of the information is merely hearsay, not necessarily verified. The masked woman first showed a slight hesitation, but after a moment's thought, replied honestly. "Whether it's true or not, I shall personally examine it. I'd like to see just how capable this individual truly is—having only risen from the lower realm to the spiritual realm in under a thousand years, he has already gained such a distinguished reputation. And now, he has become the central figure in the matter concerning Linglong!" Ao Xiao, the elder, frowned, his expression becoming stern and sharp. "Yes, Elder!" The black-robed woman raised her hand and sent a streak of green light toward Ao Xiao. Ao Xiao extended his hand and caught the light mid-air, then pressed his fingers together to delve his spiritual awareness into the light. "How can it be so little, and most of it just speculative? Hmph! A cultivator who, only at the beginning of Consolidation stage, can still withstand a battle against one who has reached the peak of the later stage. Do you think such a thing is truly possible?" Yet within just a short while, Ao Xiao, the elder official, had gone through the documents in his hands, spoke coldly, but seemed somewhat dissatisfied. "The subordinate merely collected the relevant materials as instructed by the superior. Whether they are truly accurate remains for the superior to judge. After all, the superior never ordered me to personally investigate the matter. However, if the superior now decides to do so, it's already a bit late. This person recently encountered a pursuit by the demonic clan and has since gone missing." The black-robed woman spoke with great seriousness. "Gone missing—this is truly the case? If so, then it truly benefits this human cultivator. His name is Han Li, isn't it? A mere cultivator who has ascended from the lower realm, yet dared to disturb Linglong's inner state, preventing her from smoothly advancing in her cultivation." "Even if I die a thousand and a hundred times, I would not mind at all." The old master Ao Xiao said slowly, his eyes flashing with fierce intensity.