Gu Jianlin saw the old man and froze: "What happened?"

Huai Yin remained silent as usual.

Jing Ci shook his head: "It's nothing. Teacher went to the Qilin Immortal Palace a few days ago to search for someone but couldn't find them, so he got a bit upset."

Gu Jianlin thought to himself—if even this teacher couldn't locate someone, then that person must really have some skills.

"Thank you for helping my sister."

He hesitated for a second: "I heard from her that this time, you found a… Ninth-order Great God?"

"Indeed. Given that it's your sister, it's only natural to be extra careful. The safest method is to invite a Great God to handle the matter. But there's no need to worry much about this—after very cordial and friendly communication, that Great God agreed readily to help."

Jing Ci said seriously, "Though this favor... you might have to repay it yourself in the future."

Gu Jianlin nodded slightly: "That's fair. If I get the chance, I'll personally visit to express my thanks."

Jing Ci gave him a meaningful look: "Good."

For some reason, Gu Jianlin suddenly had a foreboding feeling.

But he didn't dwell on it and continued asking, "When does the third lesson begin?"

This time, even Huai Yin raised his head and gave him a surprised glance.

"Oh? You're still fixated on the third lesson?"

Jing Ci smirked teasingly, "You must've heard quite a bit about the teacher recently, right? I thought you'd be considering how to escape from him by now. Judging by your current talent, you would be more than qualified to join any of the other Catastrophe masters. Besides, you're now at the Third Rank."

Third Rank meant you could change professions.

"Everything has its order, and besides that, you all have been kind to me."

Gu Jianlin replied earnestly, "I repay kindness with gratitude."

Huai Yin raised an eyebrow at those words.

Jing Ci asked again, "You must also be aware that the teacher took you in as a student because he wanted you to do things for him."

Gu Jianlin answered firmly: "It's only natural for a student to help their teacher."

Jing Ci chuckled: "But don't you want to ask what those 'things' are? Aren't you worried he'll make things hard for you? Or that you won't be able to do it?"

Gu Jianlin paused for only a second: "I can profile people. While I can't precisely sketch your personalities yet, my general impression shouldn't be far off. The old man wouldn't make things difficult for me. As for whether I can do it, since he chose me, it means I can."

"Interesting."

Huai Yin closed his eyes and muttered with a soft sigh.

Jing Ci praised, "Bold—just as the teacher's student should be."

"That said, aren't you curious about what the teacher did back then to make people fear him so much? Even your father thought he was mad."

He added meaningfully, "Gu Ci'an, for one, certainly wouldn't want you to study under the teacher."

Gu Jianlin waved his hand dismissively: "My dad couldn't control me when he was alive, let alone after he's dead. I'll clear his name and finish what he couldn't accomplish, but I won't concern myself with how he feels."

"Whether the old man is insane or not, I can judge for myself."

He paused: "And besides, when the time is right, you all will tell me."

Jing Ci raised his eyebrow and glanced toward the old man in the wheelchair.

Huai Yin nodded slightly.

"Very well, then prepare yourself, for the teacher is about to teach you Forbidden Spells."

Jing Ci thought for a while and added, "But before that, surely you still have questions, don't you?"

"It's about Youzhu."

Gu Jianlin nodded: "What exactly are the side effects of the Yin Yang Twin Jade?"

He certainly wouldn't believe the nonsense that woman spouted.

Although, as a modern Supreme, his knowledge of Transcendent matters was admittedly quite basic.

But he could always ask questions.

If you don't know, just ask.

These four words are universally wise.

"Teacher."

Jing Ci turned to look at the old man.

Huai Yin maneuvered his wheelchair out of the grocery store and arrived at the tranquil lakeside.

By the lake, there were fish baskets, along with a fishing rod. The fishing line quivered gently.

The old man casually pulled up the rod, revealing something shimmering with silver light being hooked and falling onto the ground.

Without even glancing at it, he maneuvered his wheelchair back for a nap.

Jing Ci walked over and picked up the drenched item.

It turned out to be a pair of silver-white, silk-woven bracelets, radiating a magnificent and profound glow.

"Symbiotic Lock, an ancient top-tier Alchemy Weapon, inscribed with an alchemy matrix and soul imprint from 7,600 years ago. They're paired Alchemy Weapons—one main and one auxiliary—usable only once. If you wear the main lock and your sister wears the auxiliary lock, the pain she should endure will transfer to you."

Jing Ci said flatly: "The side effect of Yin Yang Twin Jade is that the hardships experienced by the fragment over these years are amplified tenfold and transmitted back to the original body. Most people can't handle it."

Gu Jianlin instinctively looked toward the dark window within the neighborhood.

"For now, this is the only solution the teacher has."

Jing Ci remarked, "Whether to use it is up to you. Your ability to endure may not necessarily be much greater than hers, and if she manages to get through it on her own, there could be some benefits."

Gu Jianlin thought to himself—benefits are something he, as an Ancient Supreme, could naturally get for her.

There's no need for needless suffering.

As for whether he could endure it—that thought didn't even cross his mind.

"But there's one thing."

His expression suddenly turned odd.

Jing Ci raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"

Gu Jianlin looked puzzled: "Why was this Alchemy Weapon found in the lake?"

Faced with this question, Jing Ci went dead silent.

"To be fair, I don't know either."

He murmured, "I even spent a fortune hiring a Ninth-Rank Divination Master to investigate this mystery, but still couldn't solve it. The teacher is peculiar like that. Besides fish, he's caught just about anything. Last year, while fishing with him in Lake Baikal, he even pulled up an Ancient God Seed..."

Gu Jianlin stared at him in disbelief.

"It's probably some kind of mystical phenomenon."

Jing Ci pondered aloud, "You'll get used to it."

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