"Uncle Master, I speak to you courteously because of my respect for you as my uncle," Tuya finally lost her patience and said with indignation. "If you persist in this wearisome behavior, don't blame me for reporting everything that happened during these days to Master once he leaves seclusion."

"Tuya, I mean well too. Since you truly do not wish so, I will not insist," Xing Rong, clearly wary of Tuya's master mentioned, gave in immediately.

"Farewell," Tuya bowed with her fists clasped, turned around, went back to her room, and shut the door.

Xing Rong watched this scene, the smile on his lips slowly fading into a sneer.

"Tch, the same as your master?" he spat lightly, turned, and left with his hands behind his back.

Yuan Ming watched his departing figure, a frown tightening on his face.

"He was clearly already refused, yet he persisted—such a person is truly lacking in grace," Xi Ying said with disdain, as if recalling something.

With that, the two approached Tuya's room door.

Just as they stepped onto the doorway, a faint halo of light suddenly illuminated, revealing a secretly drawn Array which appeared out of nowhere.

However, as the flame on the oil lamp suddenly leaped, the newly appeared Array quickly vanished.

"Were we discovered?" Yuan Ming felt a tightening in his chest, the sensation of being caught red-handed.

"Not likely, it only stirred a slight ripple, nothing serious," Xi Ying shook her head and spoke through a transmission.

However, no sooner had her words fallen then a low shout came from inside the room, "Who's there? Who is it?"

As the words fell, the light from the Array on the ground suddenly expanded, and Array runes expanded towards Yuan Ming and his companion.

Seeing this, Xi Ying tapped the Divine Concealing Lamp she held, causing its wick to flare brightly.

The expanding Array patterns quickly swept over them, yet elicited no response.

"Strange, was there a misperception?" a voice of surprise came from inside the room.

"This girl has some talent in Arrays, being so sensitive to its activation is quite uncommon," Xi Ying murmured in surprise.

"It seems she also has her own remarkable experiences," Yuan Ming sincerely felt happy for her.

"Let's go meet her," Xi Ying said.

Having said that, the two revealed themselves and directly pushed open the room door.

The next instant, the light from the floor surged dramatically, and a Confinement Array surged upwards, enveloping Yuan Ming and his companion.

Xi Ying chuckled lightly, waved her hand, and the light from the Array dimmed immediately.

"Who are you?" Tuya's face showed a tense expression as she looked at the strangers who appeared suddenly.

Yuan Ming remembered he had altered his appearance, and immediately lifted his hand to swipe his cheek, restoring his original features.

"Tuya, it's been a long time. Do you remember me?" Yuan Ming asked.

Upon hearing Yuan Ming's voice, Tuya was instantly stunned. She stared at Yuan Ming's face, her gaze shifting from doubt to confusion, and then from confusion to disbelief.

"Is it really you?" she asked with a trembling voice.

"It seems you still remember me," Yuan Ming said with a smile, nodding his head.

"Remember, of course, I remember. Benefactor brother, I still keep the things you gave me," Tuya said, excitedly pulling out a delicately tied small cloth pouch from inside her collar.

Yuan Ming recognized it immediately—it was the peace charm he had given Tuya back then, containing the Martial Arts Mantra of the Biluo Skill.

"I didn't expect you to still have it," Yuan Ming also couldn't help but sigh lightly.

"Every achievement I have today owes to you, brother, for saving my mother and me. I will never forget it for as long as I live," Tuya's eyes slightly reddened as she spoke, and she was about to kneel in gratitude. Thе rеfеrеnсе vеrsiоn оf this сhаptеr is оn

"There's no need for that," Yuan Ming quickly stepped forward to support her.

Afterward, he closed the door, and the three sat down around a round table.

"How is your mother?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Mother was just a mortal after all, with a frail constitution. Even with elixirs to prolong her life, she has passed away," Tuya said, her expression slightly darker.

Yuan Ming sighed softly upon hearing this, then asked, "Then why are you here at Xiao Mansion on Red Lotus Island?"

"The ancestor of Xiao Mansion was an old friend of my master and had received some favors from my master. Recently, as my master went into seclusion for cultivation, and considering that I have some talent in Array cultivation, she sent me here to study under Xiao Family's Ancestor for a while," Tuya thought for a moment and explained.

Upon hearing mention of the veiled woman who had once saved him, Yuan Ming asked, "Your master... who is she?"

"She is... the Third Elder of the Senluo Sect," Tuya hesitated for a moment, but considering that Yuan Ming was her savior, she felt there was nothing that couldn't be told and thus she disclosed the truth.

"Oh, so she is a cultivator of the Senluo Sect," Yuan Ming thought to himself.

He did not continue to inquire about the veiled woman, planning to visit her personally later.

"Benefactor brother, did you come to Xiao Mansion specifically to find me?" Tuya asked with some anticipation.

"Not entirely..." Yuan Ming said after a slight hesitation.

"So, it includes seeing me as well." Tuya's eyes brightened and a joyful expression instantly appeared on her face.

Only then did her attention shift to Xi Ying, who was standing beside her.

Because she had used an Illusion Technique, the Xi Ying she saw was still beautiful, but there was a great disparity from her real appearance.

"This beautiful sister must be Brother's Daoist companion, right? Truly a match made in heaven." Tuya couldn't help but praise.

Just as Yuan Ming was about to explain, he saw Xi Ying had already grasped Tuya's hand, smiling as she complimented, "Little sister has really good eyesight. For our first meeting, big sister will give you a gift."

With that, she had already taken out an octagonal Array Plate and placed it in Tuya's hands.

Tuya merely glanced at it, at first stunned, then her eyes immediately showed surprise, but soon after, she repeatedly waved her hands to refuse, "Sister, this gift is too precious, Tuya cannot accept it."

Xi Ying glanced at Yuan Ming and subtly signaled with her eyes.

"Accept it, big sister sees that you have a talent for Formation and specifically chose this gift for you. Use it well in the future, don't waste big sister's kindness," Yuan Ming, catching the hint, said with a smile, encouraging her.

"Then... Tuya thanks big sister," Tuya said, bowing slightly to Xi Ying upon hearing this.

"Speaking of which, I noticed you placed a Confinement Array at the doorway. Are you guarding against something?" Xi Ying asked with a smile, unconcerned.

Hearing this, a slightly embarrassed expression appeared on Tuya's face.

"What's wrong?" Yuan Ming pressed on.

"This is to guard against that Uncle Master Xing Rong. He... he has always wanted me to become his Daoist companion, but I have no romantic feelings for him. Previously in the sect, he restrained himself somewhat, but after coming to the Xiao Family, he became much bolder, several times... several times..." Tuya said, somewhat embarrassed.

Yuan Ming and Xi Ying exchanged looks, communicating via Divine Thought, "That Soul-locking Array?"

"Whether it's related to him, I can't quite say yet," Xi Ying silently shook her head.

Seeing that the two of them did not speak, but their expressions were somewhat grave, Tuya quickly reassured them, "Don't worry, I'm just being cautious. With my master backing me up, Uncle Master wouldn't dare to truly do anything to me."

"It's evident, your master is very good to you," Yuan Ming nodded and said.

"Master is the kindest person to me, after mother and benefactor brother," Tuya immediately nodded in agreement.

"Seeing you like this now, I believe your father's spirit in heaven would also feel happy," Yuan Ming said, looking at her face that resembled Hagon's, showing a warm smile.

Upon hearing this, Tuya's eyes couldn't help but redden.

"Alright, we must leave now. Do not mention our meeting to anyone," Yuan Ming instructed.

"Will we meet again?" Tuya hurriedly asked.

"We will," Yuan Ming nodded and said.

Upon hearing this, Tuya's eyes instantly showed a delighted expression.

Yuan Ming and Xi Ying walked out of the door, declining Tuya's offer to see them off, and once again activated the Divine Concealing Lamp.

Upon reaching the courtyard, Xi Ying suddenly spoke, "I just examined her bones. Aside from finding that she's been implanted with a Soul-locking Array, I discovered something else."

"What?" Yuan Ming furrowed his brow and asked.

"She possesses a rare Dao Pattern Spirit Bone," Xi Ying explained.

"Dao Pattern Spirit Bone?" Yuan Ming asked in surprise.

"It's a special talent that complements her Spirit Root. With her natural gifts, she'll have a distinct advantage in practicing Formation arts. Her intuition and sensitivity to Formations will far exceed that of ordinary people," Xi Ying explained.

"In that case, it is indeed a good thing," Yuan Ming immediately brightened.

"Indeed it is a good thing, but good things can also turn into bad ones," Xi Ying suddenly added.

"What do you mean?" Yuan Ming asked, then quickly realized.

"Are you saying that the Soul-locking Array on her is related to her Dao Pattern Spirit Bone? Could it be that someone has targeted her Spirit Bone?" Yuan Ming asked, his brow furrowing.

"Let's first go see her Uncle Master," Xi Ying did not directly answer.

Yuan Ming nodded, not saying anything further. His mighty Divine Sense immediately enveloped the entire Xiao Mansion, his Divine Thought scaling from the sky above quickly locating Xing Rong.

He was at the Nascent Soul Stage of cultivation, unique in the entire Xiao Mansion, making him easy to recognize. However, there was another presence near him, also strong and just a hair's breadth from Nascent Soul as well.

The two of them didn't think twice, immediately made their way there.

When they arrived nearby, Yuan Ming realized that it was actually inside the Xiao Family's inner garden, a secluded lake.

"This Xiao Family's Ancestor truly has considerable skills in Formation arts. During the years I was absent, he seems to have altered the layout of the Xiao Family, arranging the entire area according to a Great Array, forming a completely new Great Array. Just the intricacy of the setup is already stronger than some sects' Mountain Protection Arrays. The lake here is brimming with Spiritual Energy, and it's one of the Formation Eyes," Xi Ying looked around and suddenly said.

"Indeed, there's a secret chamber below this Formation Eye, and Xing Rong is inside that chamber," Yuan Ming sensed briefly and nodded.

Both of them rode the Divine Concealing Lamp and immediately dived into the lake.