CHAPTER 553: CHAPTER 552: THE REAL POINT OF INTEREST

"They have eight clients a day, there’s already no water left! Just tell me what interests you."

Lin Xiaosu said, "The interest lies in the location of this floor!"

Ding Ruoshui was surprised, "The location of the floor? What do you mean?"

"It means that in this room, you can see familiar faces across the street... Don’t turn your head, let’s go!" Lin Xiaosu said.

Ding Ruoshui forced herself not to look across from the brothel, following him as they walked, catching up with the Fourth Elder waiting for them. They crossed the long street, reached the river, and boarded a uniquely elegant small boat. With a gentle push, the boat cut through the water, heading towards Chunshui Palace a hundred miles away.

At this time of year, the outside world had just entered spring.

The Northwest land was still in the harsh winter.

But within Kun Cang, it was like spring all year round.

Willows gently swayed on both banks, and the green water flowed leisurely eastward.

The Fourth Elder sat on the deck, his eyes like an eagle, scanning the surroundings. A fish spat out a bubble in front, and the Fourth Elder could lock onto it the moment it burst.

These were signs of extreme vigilance.

Lin Xiaosu saw it but didn’t comment...

Then he heard Ding Ruoshui’s secret transmission, "You just mentioned two words: familiar faces!"

"Yes!"

"What kind of familiar faces?"

"Before I first entered Kun Cang, I took a detour through Miyan Road. Several companions were on the road; they were just in the tavern on the right side."

"You’re looking at the girls on the left side of the brothel, but your sensing power is on the right side’s tavern?" Ding Ruoshui seemed a bit surprised.

"Of course!" Lin Xiaosu said, "Did you really think I’m interested in those brothel girls? What part of them can compare to you? Would I ignore a beautiful woman like you who’s fair, soft, and well-hydrated, to pursue them?"

This comment pleased Ding Ruoshui, "That’s more like it! Remember, this time entering Kun Cang, come directly to me if you want to handle matters, and don’t play any tricks. If you dare to break these restrictions, I’ll make sure you experience water and power cuts..."

My goodness...

Is that how water and power cuts are used?

Ding Ruoshui raised an eyebrow, "Are these familiar faces fellow travelers?"

"They were fellow travelers back then, but not necessarily for life. The two of them aren’t important; what’s crucial is another companion. I didn’t sense her aura, theoretically, she doesn’t belong to the same path as these two..." Lin Xiaosu explained.

Yes, he sensed Hu Fu and Li Sisi.

Aura sensing is extremely mysterious.

At high levels of cultivation, observing people doesn’t require eyes; recognizing them is done by their aura, a common practice.

But that’s at a high level of cultivation.

Lin Xiaosu’s current cultivation was still low, theoretically unable to reach the threshold of aura sensing. However, his Heavenly Tao Primordial Spirit, having barely broken into Level 30 with a sub-god skill, changed this norm...

These two people fell within his sensing range.

But he didn’t pay much attention.

Simply because, in his understanding, Hu Fu and Li Sisi were just minor characters, not worthy of his attention.

The only comrade he valued was Dawa.

Dawa from that time on Miyan Road was quite like a transparent person, with an absolutely lesser presence than Li Sisi. In terms of beauty standards, breast height, or agility in skills, she couldn’t match Li Sisi. Her personality wasn’t as bold as Li Sisi’s either.

However, in terms of her relationship with Lin Xiaosu, Dawa was the closest to him in the entire team.

And now, his feelings were very different.

Dawa was the most mysterious Nirvana practitioner of the Nine Headed Snake, called Qing Yan!

Her skills were the best in the entire team back then!

If she had wanted, she could have easily eliminated everyone on Miyan Road silently.

Including Lin Xiaosu!

But that was then.

What about now?

Lin Xiaosu had now surpassed the level where a Nirvana practitioner could kill him at will.

But who knew if this super Nirvana practitioner might also exceed Lin Xiaosu’s current expectations?

He was very curious about what kind of face this former companion, this Tibetan little sister who always seemed innocent in front of him, truly had.

Was her entry into Kun Cang this time pessimistic or optimistic?

If she entered Kun Cang to seek external help for the Nine Headed Snake, the outcome would be bleak.

If she entered Kun Cang because she didn’t want to be a pawn of the Nine Headed Snake and had the intention to break free from its control, the outcome would be optimistic.

Whether it was pessimistic or optimistic needed to be determined at the stage when his moves were made on the chessboard to compete in Luanyun Heaven.

The first basic board ahead was Chunshui Palace.

The small boat sped over the hundred-mile river, approaching a very conspicuous barrier of Chunshui Palace at the entrance: Spring Water Pavilion.

Spring Water Pavilion, Lin Xiaosu remembered it clearly.

The first time, he was refused entry. Ding Ruoshui left in anger, and he turned southward, helping Li Palace and destroying Xiaoyao Palace and Cangmang Palace.

The second time, he was refused entry again. Lin Xiaosu couldn’t bear it, stormed Chunshui Palace, and sent all the disciples blocking him at Spring Water Pavilion to the eighteenth layer of hell, thereby establishing his formidable reputation in Kun Cang.

It also officially pulled Chunshui Palace into his camp.

Today, though?

Today was genuinely normal.

The top elder of Chunshui Palace first landed ashore, bowing to greet them at the riverbank.

Then, the succeeding Great Elder of Chunshui Palace led a group of people over, bowing to greet them.

Finally, at the Chushui Main Hall, Li Chushui, a giant of the enlightenment realm, personally greeted them.

"Young Master Lin!" Li Chushui bowed slightly.

"Greetings, Lord Li!" Lin Xiaosu returned the bow.

"Disciple greets my Master!" Ding Ruoshui gave a grand salute.

Li Chushui extended a hand, pulling Ding Ruoshui up with a smile as radiant as a flower: "Not bad, you’ve already built the Blood Tower. Now that you’re back at the palace, you can enter Nishui Pond to cultivate Nine Stars Ascending!"

Ding Ruoshui was excited.

Progress in cultivation, that’s second only to playing the "Poking Grass to Find Snake" game with Lin Xiaose.

Lin Xiaosu smiled: "Sending her back to the palace this time is to facilitate her breakthrough into Observing Heaven."

Li Chushui’s eyes glimmered: "Are Young Master Lin and Ruoshui already married?"

"Cough... well... not yet!" Lin Xiaosu replied.

Not yet?

Unmarried yet you’ve already broken through the flesh?

Is this how it’s played externally?

With Li Chushui’s level of cultivation, she’d long reached the state of "seeing with water, where water flows the eye reaches." By placing a hand on Ding Ruoshui’s shoulder, she knew very well that this disciple was no longer a virgin, sighing at the looseness of external rituals...

However, given her centuries of cultivation, her composure was unparalleled in the world, naturally, she avoided trivial matters: "Young Master Lin, the Chunshui banquette is ready, please have a glass of welcome wine first!"

The welcome wine was both simple and grand.

Simple because there were not many dishes on the table and only one guest accompanying.

Grand because the only guest accompanying was none other than Li Chushui, the Palace Master of Chunshui Palace.

As for Ding Ruoshui, sorry, being at your place now, you can’t just sit with your feet up as a guest, you have to pour the wine.

The door was closed.

The windows too.

Li Chushui raised her wine cup: "On the day Young Master Lin skillfully changed the Kun Cang landscape, both I and the Lord Hua and Lord Lu had wanted to toast you. Today, since they aren’t here, I toast you on behalf of us all."

This statement was profound.

On that day, Lin Xiaosu sealed Kun Cang with Qianlong, appointing the three families to liaise with Qianlong without prior notice to the three sect masters, as the intent was to take Kun Cang by surprise.

As a result, the three sect masters received his goodwill but hadn’t had a chance to express gratitude.

This cup of wine was the wine of goodwill.

Lin Xiaosu lifted his cup and clinked it lightly with Li Chushui: "Lord Li, by sealing Kun Cang, though it placed your three sects atop Kun Cang, it also put you at the forefront of the storm, facing fierce winds and waves, not a pleasant experience. I am extremely grateful that the three of you do not blame my rashness; this toast of thanks is more than I deserve."

Li Chushui smiled: "Young Master Lin overestimates. I, Li Chushui, escaped from a dead end because of you, Lord Lu avenged the century-old blood feud of the Li Palace because of you, and Lord Hua overcame the dilemma of Shenghua Valley’s Array Path thanks to you. These are great favors worthy of our sects’ gratitude. Even if you intended to utilize our three sects, we still must adhere to the Jianghu code. Moreover, sealing Kun Cang, placing our three sects on top, is a matter of shared risks and benefits for us. Therefore, this cup of wine is a sincere thanks without a second thought."

"Thank you, Palace Master!" Lin Xiaosu drank his wine in one gulp.

Li Chushui drank with him: "Young Master, coming to Kun Cang this time, aside from sending Ruoshui back to the palace, is there anything else?"

"To not hide from the Palace Master, this time I’ve come with the intention of borrowing troops!"

"Borrowing troops?" Li Chushui was slightly shocked: "To deal with the Nine-Headed Snake from outside?"

The Nine-Headed Snake was the only external formidable enemy she was aware of.

"No... the Nine-Headed Snake has already been reduced to ash with the collaborative efforts of myself and Qianlong."

"Then... what is the reason for borrowing troops?"

Lin Xiaosu explained: "There are signs indicating that on the third day of March, folded space will undergo a mutation, possibly leading to a breach by the Ancient, a possible change in the Heavenly Dao, and the possible emergence of enlightenment realm experts. Qianlong cannot handle this crisis alone; hence, I have come to Kun Cang to request all the enlightenment realm giants and their sect masters to descend the mountain for battle!"

Li Chushui’s face changed dramatically: "The Heavenly Dao will change? Enlightenment realm to breach?"

"Although we do not have a definite answer now, it is best to prepare a contingency plan."

Li Chushui slowly placed her wine glass on the table: "If this is the case, merely our three sects might not suffice."

"Indeed!" Lin Xiaosu said: "The world is drastically changing; within the Daxia border, there are three breakpoints; nobody knows how many there are in the entire world. If the Ancient comes out, the number of enlightenment realm giants is unknown; among the enlightenment realm giants, which enlightenment they achieve—body, god, or rules—we do not know."

With each sentence he spoke, Li Chushui’s face grew grimmer.

Once all was said, her face was as dark as water.

She was of the enlightenment realm.

Throughout the past millennia, she had regarded herself as the pillar supporting the sky.

In Kun Cang, the enlightenment realm was the towering beam.

In the Mortal World, enlightenment realm experts were akin to land-immortals.

Nothing should make her change color, yet today was different.

The folded space will open, Ancient breaches the realm.

She knew what kind of world the Ancient was.

There, the enlightenment realm was nothing!

When the folded space first opens, even if those genuine big players of the Realm of Mastery can’t emerge, merely relying on the enlightenment realm is absolutely not enough to stop a few enlightenment realm giants from Kun Cang.

Kun Cang regarded enlightenment as a giant; the Ancient World did not.

Should dozens or hundreds emerge, even with three heads and six arms, Li Chushui, Hua Miaoyi, and Lu Sanqian would be hard-pressed to stop them.

Not to mention Li Chushui was stunned.

Even Ding Ruoshui, who had come from the outside and theoretically knew the situation best, was bewildered.

Because she suddenly realized, this lousy husband before her hadn’t spoken the truth.

He seemed so calm every day, not a trace of an impending crisis like Mount Tai about to collapse.

Yet now, with a few words, the situation turned incredibly dire, even leaving her Master at a loss...