I stepped into the Golden Jade Tower, immediately smelling medicinal aromas. The main hall contained many medicine cabinets, with blurred silhouettes behind hanging curtains to one side.

Zhao Hangyi quickly explained, “Those are medical cultivators from Thousand Beauty Valley giving consultations. They hold clinics every fifth day of the month, but transactions in the secret realm require golden dragon fragments.”

“Does gathering information require them too?” I asked.

Zhao Hangyi’s eyes turned, smiling, “That depends on what kind of information. The Immortal Ascension Commerce Association deals fairly with everyone, guaranteeing the most worthwhile prices. Of course, if you want to sell information, we welcome that too!”

I nodded, following Zhao Hangyi up to a second-floor private room.

Zhao Hangyi pulled tea-making implements from his storage ring.

Seeing this, I produced a bag of sunflower seeds and peanuts, placing them on the table.

“……” Zhao Hangyi paused, then similarly withdrew sunflower seeds, peanuts, and pastries from his storage ring, arranging them on golden plates while opening a paper fan and fanned himself as he said, “Fellow Daoist, generally our establishment doesn’t allow outside food.”

I asked curiously, “Are you a general establishment?”

Zhao Hangyi’s smile cracked slightly. He fanned himself vigorously twice, saying, “Hahaha.”

Zhu Shiyu explained, “Fellow Daoist Xi, if you can’t buy information, resting and drinking tea here still requires a tea fee, though you only need to pay spirit stones.”

“Oh.” So money was required.

I quickly put away the sunflower seeds, cupped the tea with both hands, and drank it in one gulp despite the heat. Setting down the cup, I said, “I want to buy information.”

I raised my hand, releasing spiritual energy to create the exact same pattern Zhu Shiyu had drawn earlier.

“Have you seen this design?”

Zhao Hangyi closed his folding fan, looked left and right, then asked, “Fellow Daoist, where and on what did you see this pattern?”

“On a token on the Devouring Mountain Beast’s back.” I said.

Zhu Shiyu nodded beside Echo.

Zhao Hangyi suddenly showed a disappointed expression, but immediately smiled again, “I see. Let me ask—did you two Fellow Daoists witness someone discover this token, touch it, and immediately disappear?”

My eyes lit up, and I nodded.

Zhu Shiyu quickly asked, “You’ve seen this too?”

Zhao Hangyi shook his head, then nodded, smiling, “Let me explain. The Twin Dragon Secret Realm is extremely vast. We three thousand people started from the same point simultaneously, yet afterwards, some appeared in places impossible to reach on foot within days. Do you know why?”

My gaze fell on the spiritual energy pattern in the air.

“Over these two months, many Fellow Daoists have experienced the same situation—discovering tokens and being teleported to other areas. I believe these tokens are divine strokes left by Ink-Trace Venerable to scatter everyone.” Zhao Hangyi smiled while sipping tea, “Everyone needn’t worry.”

Zhu Shiyu sighed in relief, “I see. I had no idea.”

“Haha, I only reached this conclusion after collecting information. However, these tokens bear different flower patterns and teleport to different locations. No pattern has been discovered yet.” Zhao Hangyi glanced at Echo casually, asking, “Was Palace Lord Velka teleported away?”

I met Zhao Hangyi’s gaze but didn’t answer. Instead, I asked, “How much for this information?”

This was why Zhao Hangyi felt disappointed—this information wasn’t worth much, couldn’t even sell for the price of one spirit medicine. He collected ten medium-grade spirit stones and smiled at Echo, “If Fellow Daoist is willing, I can post information in the building for a small intermediary fee, asking everyone to watch for tokens in the secret realm. If they find tokens with the same pattern, they’ll save them for you. However, they’d want golden dragon fragments in return.”

“Good!” I agreed immediately.

Zhao Hangyi nodded, feeling this business was worthwhile. Still unwilling to give up, he continued, “I have another plan. If Fellow Daoist Xi is willing, why not offer a wide bounty asking everyone to search for Palace Lord Velka? As they say, many hands make light work!”

I said calmly, “No.”

Among the three thousand people who entered the secret realm, there were upright people like Zhu Shiyu, and those like Nie Xiu who considered themselves righteous. I just wanted to find Seraphine, not trouble.

“Will you spread word that Seraphine is missing?” I placed a golden dragon fragment on the table. Zhao Hangyi said quietly, “I’ll keep it completely confidential.”

I nodded and stood, picking up Nine Heavens sword.

Zhao Hangyi also see the guest off, but saw this generous customer suddenly stop. She tucked the exquisite-looking sword under her arm and took out the kraft paper from before, collecting the sunflower seeds, peanuts, spirit fruits, and pastries from the table into the paper bundle.

I asked Zhao Hangyi curiously, “Why do you get to drink tea when I paid the tea fee?”

“……” Zhao Hangyi stopped fanning, stunned. He was used to others calling him calculating, concerned about every copper coin and spirit stone. This was the first time anyone had asked him such a question.

Zhao Hangyi reflected, then pulled out a spirit stone from his storage ring to return. “My mistake.”

“It’s fine, I was just curious.” To show magnanimity, I grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and piled them on the table, telling Zhao Hangyi, “I’ll wait for your news.”

After they left, Zhao Hangyi played with his fan and laughed heartily, finishing his tea in one gulp.

“Fascinating person.”

The fascinating person walked out of the Golden Jade Tower.

Zhu Shiyu said quietly, “At least they’re just teleportation tokens. If so, let’s use this place as our meeting point. I’ll search eastward. If I discover identical tokens, I’ll send news back to the Golden Jade Tower.”

“Good.”

After she left, Error poked her head out, whispering, “If Master was just teleported away, why can’t I sense her location?”

“Mm.” Only Error and I knew this, having told no one else. Several silver orbs in my mind were anxiously sweating, but I maintained a calm expression as if I’d simply conducted normal business at the Golden Jade Tower.

I gripped my sword and walked forward.

Xue Bufan, who had been waiting under the tree, quickly approached when he saw Echo, calling, “Fellow Daoist Xi.”

I turned my head, glancing at Xue Bufan. Error in my sleeve gripped my wrist tightly, but I seemed not to feel it, asking calmly, “What is it?”

Xue Bufan bowed respectfully, asking politely, “May I ask if Fellow Daoist Xi and Palace Lord Velka are together?”

He was looking for Seraphine?

Alarm bells rang in my mind. “What do you want with Seraphine?”

Xue Bufan thought for a moment, saying, “I have something I want to personally give to Palace Lord Velka.”

I blinked slowly, staring at Xue Bufan.

For some reason, being watched by such cold, indifferent eyes made Xue Bufan’s heart grow cold. He frowned slightly, hearing the person before him say, “I also have a question for you.”

“Since entering the secret realm, have you seen any teleportation tokens?” I asked.

Since he was the protagonist, his experiences should be richer than others. I’d see if he’d cooperate.

Xue Bufan clearly knew about the tokens. His face showed hesitation, then after a long moment, he nodded, “I have seen them, and I know where one is right now. If Palace Lord Velka needs tokens, I can take you there.”

After he finished speaking, the person before him fell silent for even longer.

I said slowly, “Why would you give us the token?”

Xue Bufan smiled without answering, but the next second, his smile froze. He heard Echo say, “Because you think Seraphine is your senior sister?”

“How did you—” Xue Bufan’s eyes widened in surprise, but then heard the person before him use a familiar tone: “Shut up, you talk too much.”

Xue Bufan: “……”

Though she lacked Seraphine’s cold, disdainful manner, her tone was identical. Xue Bufan’s lips trembled for a moment before he said, “Senior Sister clearly said not to tell a fourth person about this.”

“Hah.” I was the system.

Xue Bufan’s eyes showed complex emotions, his brow furrowing, then heard the person before him say, “Take me to that token. I’ll pass your item to your senior sister.”

“But—”

“Agree to her!” A hoarse, sharp voice fell into Xue Bufan’s ears—his master personally transmitting to him. Xue Bufan was somewhat surprised, but master’s orders couldn’t be disobeyed. He nodded, “Please follow me, Fellow Daoist Xi.”

He flew ahead on his sword while I followed behind.

As Xue Bufan flew, he transmitted to the spiritual consciousness in his ring, “Master, you clearly instructed me to personally deliver the item to Senior Sister. Why have someone else deliver it now?”

The spiritual consciousness laughed, “Foolish disciple, since she knows about your relationship with Seraphine, their relationship must be extraordinary. What harm is there in having her deliver it?”

More importantly, everyone who could reach this place among the three thousand was exceptional. Who wasn’t useful?

Haha!

The token Xue Bufan had discovered wasn’t far from the Golden Jade Tower. An hour later, they landed beneath a cliff.

I looked left and right, wondering why protagonists always liked coming to these dark, damp places.

“Fellow Daoist Xi, please look.” Xue Bufan removed a barrier, and a short tree immediately appeared beneath the cliff. Vines hung from the tree, suspending a red token carved with a sunflower.

“I’ll only give this token to Senior Sister Velka. Now can you let me see Senior Sister Velka?” Xue Bufan still wanted to meet Seraphine.

I stared expressionlessly at the token, lips parting: “Tch.”

Error, hidden in my sleeve, stopped trembling, question marks appearing in her eyes. This moment, she really wanted to fly out and look at Echo’s expression. Are you the orb, or the master?

Xue Bufan also heard Echo’s impatient voice. As he was about to explain, he saw the silver-haired woman suddenly draw her sword. In that moment, icy qi surged forth, the clear blade hummed, and a cold sword aura shot toward him with a “whoosh,” grazing his cheek before hitting the cliff wall.

Goose-feather snow suddenly began falling in the valley. This familiar scene made Xue Bufan’s eyes widen instantly.

This sword intent—Sword Immortal Arts?

“How do you…… how can you?” Xue Bufan stepped back in shock, raising his hand. Ice-cold snowflakes fell into his palm, seemingly mocking his stupidity. So before, had Seraphine been deceiving him? No, Seraphine had sworn to heaven she hadn’t obtained the inheritance, but she hadn’t denied……

Xue Bufan fell into great confusion, transmitting to the spiritual consciousness in his ring, which urged him to hand over the item.

I held Nine Heavens, stepping through white snow toward Xue Bufan step by step. I raised my sword, pointing it at his nose tip and asking coldly, “Now do you know who I am?”

The nearly transparent blade reflected Xue Bufan’s panicked face, the word “senior sister” stuck in his throat.

“Give me the item.” I said.

Xue Bufan silently withdrew a jade box from his storage ring, placing it on the Nine Heavens sword. I flicked the blade, sending the box flying into my palm. As Xue Bufan tried to ask for clarification, I weighed the box in my hand and glanced at him.

My eyes were ice-cold.

Xue Bufan licked his lips, saying, “It’s something Master’s spiritual consciousness asked me to deliver.” He lowered his head, bowing respectfully to Echo—a ninety-degree bow, as if facing not a senior sister, but a master.

“Since you know, remember one thing,” I said calmly. “I don’t like you getting too close to Seraphine. From now on, when you see her, stay as far away as possible.”

Xue Bufan kept his eyes lowered, saying, “Yes.”

I stored the jade box in my storage ring, carrying Nine Heavens toward the teleportation token. My voice carried over the snow, “And one more thing—give my regards to your honored master.”

Echo paused, seeming to think of something, then smiled very lightly and grasped the teleportation token.

Actually, forget it. Seeing Seraphine was more important.

White light flashed, and her figure vanished from the valley.