Yu Ziqing listened to Yang's explanation, filled with deep respect.

Such a vast breadth of knowledge was truly terrifying.

Among the lost Secret Techniques, he could recognize some of the runes that manifested.

As a Dao Cultivator, just how many centuries had Yang been cultivating?

Just thinking about it made Yu Ziqing feel a pang of regret once more.

If Yang had properly Entered Dao, advancing to the Ninth Tier shouldn't have been much of a problem, right?

Such topics were only things Yu Ziqing dared to think about in his heart, not things he dared to say out loud.

"Eight thousand years ago, was this great figure still alive then?"

"He passed away. With his strength, living until now wouldn't have been too difficult.

Even if he died of old age, he could have lived another life.

But in his later years, he had new ideas and didn't want to start over. He wanted to replace his decaying flesh with an artifact body.

Eventually, his Primordial Spirit collapsed, leading to a complete demise."

"Why?" Yu Ziqing couldn't comprehend; a master in the Primordial Spirit Realm wouldn't die just from losing a physical body. It surely couldn't be from switching to a Magic Artifact body, right?

"Do you think such a master would simply switch to any Magical Treasure body?"

Yang sneered.

After a brief pause, when he continued, his tone carried a note of respect.

"Such a master treads where ordinary people dare not, have never, and cannot go. If he merely switched physical forms, he would laugh at himself.

The essence was still the Primordial Spirit.

He shattered his own Primordial Spirit, self-destructed his consciousness. The ultimate goal was to eliminate any weakness after changing to an artifact body.

From then on, traveling with an artifact body, he could ignore all Refining God Secret Techniques.

Even though he eventually failed, we descendants must maintain enough respect."

Yu Ziqing nodded repeatedly. Such a formidable and fierce individual must be respected.

Yang glanced at Yu Ziqing and continued.

"After that master's fall, he didn't leave us empty-handed; he left behind three volumes of Artifact Refining Law Code.

One of these volumes resides in the Langya Institute, containing his final thoughts and some of his achievements.

Nowadays, one of the Institution Treasures in Daqian's Langya Institute, the Langya Stone Statue, was developed by us, the later generations, based on the predecessors' research.

A Ninth Tier Stone Puppet possessing spiritual wisdom but lacks a Divine Soul and the Yuan Spirit unique to high-tier Magical Treasures, it can defy all same-tier Refining God Secret Techniques, magic spells, curses, and even the most basic detection methods of Refining God Cultivators cannot perceive its existence."

Yu Ziqing hurriedly praised them as impressive.

Internally, though, he pondered that it was likely because you Dao Cultivators feared death.

This Langya Stone Statue was specifically designed, wasn't it? To counter the kind of Refining God Cultivators who liked to deal lethal blows from the shadows; who'd believe otherwise?

It's openly displayed there, patrolling daily as a deterrent; who'd believe it serves no purpose?

This is akin to a Ninth Tier Body Cultivation without weaknesses; even if it were a weak Ninth Tier, no Refining God Cultivator would dare act recklessly near the Langya Institute.

Coupled with other security measures, anyone with ill intentions might find themselves beaten to death long before seeing the shadow of the Langya Institute.

Yang extended a hoof, sliding a ring towards Yu Ziqing.

"Take it."

"Why give it to me?"

"I guess this thing is the real core of the Seventh Floor; all real, classified information transactions occur through this, which is why no one has ever traced them.

With Refining God's Fourth-tier Yin God Realm, Body Refinement's Sixth-tier Divine Power Realm, Qi Refinement's Sixth-tier Divinity Transformation Realm, as long as these requirements are met, it can be used.

Your cultivation is unique, your Divine Soul is stable, and you're nearing the Yin God Realm, so you should also be able to use it. You can try investing a bit of Divine Soul into it.

Under the Seven-layered Truth-telling Treasure Technique, even if you display only basic power, once inside, no one can tell a lie.

Deciding whether or not to contact other ring holders is up to you."

"You take it back; why give it to me? The classified information I know mostly can't be traded. Besides, telling the truth serves what purpose when you big shots always speak truth to deceive?"

"…" Yang smacked his lips, left speechless.

"Also, the previous owner of this ring died at my hand. It shouldn't be particularly difficult to trace. Once I step into this seven-floor tower, wouldn't it be easy for the other side to figure out my identity?"

Yang looked at Yu Ziqing, chuckling softly.

He appraised Yu Ziqing from head to toe, eyes full of mirth, then nodded, seemingly very satisfied.

"Not bad, not bad, quite the convincing act, cautious at first glance, capable of resisting temptation, very good."

"I naturally don't feel secure, so I'm always cautious."

"However, I feel like you're deliberately making yourself visible now? To let others know you exist?"

"…"

Yu Ziqing's smile faded as he looked seriously at Yang.

"Is it that obvious I'm doing it on purpose?"

"Those who don't understand you certainly wouldn't see it as deliberate. The clues you leave are ones your level couldn't erase; you're being very cautious.

With the Shadow Department's spy helping you clean up, and Uncle Fu, I hear you mention, he'd certainly handle some of it too, and for things unmanageable, he'd take the fall for you.

Although I don't know why you're doing this, I also feel it's right for someone at Jinlan Mountain to be apparent.

It's also right for you to reveal yourself on the surface.

On the surface, you appear to be just a Body Cultivator. Even if someone suspects you, they wouldn't believe you're using the ring.

A Divine Power Realm Body Cultivator or Yin God Realm Refining God, generally speaking, aren't easily attained.

But standing out in the open is fairly dangerous."

"There's nothing in this world without danger. Especially when sometimes it's a matter of life or death, and other times, like ants, we don't even know how we die." Yu Ziqing's expression was calm, but his tone was firm.

"I know, so when the village chief's Qi-Blood recovered, he seemed possessed, undertaking relentless cultivation and reached the Fifth Tier in a matter of months.

If I hadn't stopped him, he'd already hit the Sixth Tier by now.

He's anxious to gain power, and we're all anxious, but some matters shouldn't be rushed.

I see him now and feel afraid. If this continues, he might indeed become the first Body Cultivator to fall due to advancing too quickly.

Go try persuading him; he listens to me, but he has his own ideas.

He will definitely listen to you and follow through."

Yang himself was actually anxious, but he also knew he was the person who couldn't afford to be impatient.

If he became anxious, Jinlan Mountain's last safety line would be severed.

Yu Ziqing left, and Yang watched his back, his gaze complex.

He knew Yu Ziqing best.

He also knew that, without being pressured or threatened, Yu Ziqing was very quiet, focused on learning and researching, whether it was a cookbook that he could seriously study for ages, or experimenting with dishes to create variations.

No ordinary cultivator would spend so much time in their youth doing what might be deemed unrelated pursuits.

The first time he met Yu Ziqing, he was willing to teach this young man who didn't know the language or recognized characters because he saw many qualities in Yu Ziqing.

A bit like his younger self, yet without that sort of ruthless ambition to climb by any means necessary.

But Yu Ziqing also had his differences.

He was more cautious, unlike Yu Ziqing.

When there was danger, Yu Ziqing was more reckless than anyone; when cornered, he dared to do anything, bet on everything.

Yang snapped back, eyeing the table nearby.

Yu Ziqing had taken all four items from it.

He chuckled, struck a pose. The demon qi and evil qi surged around him, turning his white wool to black. Gradually, the mixing of demon and evil qi formed a whirlwind in front of him, making him appear as a Great Demon.

Meanwhile, Yu Ziqing walked into the village chief's room.

The village chief sat on a stone, eyes closed, with two iron balls spinning rapidly in each hand.

Sensing something, a moment of distraction caused him to flatten the two iron balls in his left hand.

Opening his eyes, he saw Yu Ziqing approaching.

The village chief smiled, gesturing to a stone about a yard away.

"Have a seat there. Everything usable here, I've almost ruined, so let Er Han bring a few stones together to make do."

"Village chief, really, there's no need to rush."

"Yang sent you to persuade me?" The village chief chuckled warmly, already knowing the situation.

"Yes, and no, I genuinely hope you remain safe, sir, as you are our village's stabilizer, so I must come to advise you." Yu Ziqing spoke earnestly.

"I understand."

"I also understand. You certainly know better than I do. I heard from Yang that after you received my letter last time, you became increasingly anxious.

I also know Yang surely told you that your foundation is immensely solid, starting at least from the Seventh Tier.

But let me say something bold: Regarding Body Cultivation, I know more than anyone in the village.

Solely in Body Refinement, for some aspects, what I know, Yang might not even know. I know which Death orifices, once opened, would build resistance against Refining God cultivators' oppression, something Yang doesn't know.

I also know that the stronger the foundation, the brighter the future. Like Er Han, at the same tier, you may not necessarily be his match. Isn't that right?"

"Correct." The village chief nodded.

"So, village chief, I'm offering two choices for you to consider."

"Speak your mind." The village chief nodded; he was definitely amenable to Yu Ziqing's words.

"Either advance to Seventh Tier within a year and then spend fifty years, possibly without reaching the Eighth Tier.

Or, in the upcoming year, refrain from rushing forward but instead solidify the basics, mastering control over force, and body control to the extent of sewing delicate embroidery on a leaf without breaking it.

Then within fifty years, there's a high chance of reaching the Ninth Tier.

By then, if someone bullies me outside, I can come back and complain, asking you to go bash their skulls for me.

Your pick."

"Then I'd better pause for now." Without hesitation, the village chief chose the latter.

"Village chief, we've agreed upon this: I'll be staying home these two years, keeping an eye on you."

"Agreed." The village chief cheerfully spun the iron ball in his hand; now, it spun rapidly, with no unpleasant sound of friction.

Yang was precise in his judgments; he had already noticed the village chief wasn't clueless; his ailment was a matter of the heart.

Yu Ziqing returned safe and sound, and the village chief's ailment was already more than half healed.

With a few words from Yu Ziqing, it healed completely.

Mentally, the balance was restored.

Everybody knows the theory; it's just a matter of who speaks it, making it effective.

Leaving the village chief, Yu Ziqing really did plan to spend the next two years studying and cultivating at home diligently.

He truly intended to keep an eye on the village chief.

Upon hearing from Yang about the village chief's situation, Yu Ziqing had a single thought.

He must convince the village chief to stay put, then wait a few years, hoping to have a Ninth Tier Body Cultivation adept as a reliable backer.

The kind of iron-clad support that's truly reassuring.