"Since you insist..." Yan Luanqing said, her face instantly darkening as she witnessed Xu Xing's display. "I will have the Sect Master send the remaining Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects to your Cave Mansion. This is the Smoke Cloud Stone you deserve. Take good care of it."

With a flick of her cloud sleeve, she threw a Storage Bag at Xu Xing, then rode away on a cloud, visibly annoyed.

It wasn't that she couldn't see Xu Xing's act; she simply couldn't stand it. The Younger Generation had always been respectful and humble in her presence, never as "shameless" as Xu Xing. Moreover, the Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects weren't exactly crucial to her. She could decide with just a word. There was no harm in giving them now.

「After Yan Luanqing left,」

Xu Xing returned to normal. Even Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, had once been an unruly character, reportedly peeing in a Confucian scholar's hat; he wasn't always dignified. For Xu Xing, the goal was all that mattered. There was no need to fret over the methods used in the process. With just a little act, he had obtained the priceless Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects from Nascent Soul Daoist Lord Yan Luanqing. If word of this got out, countless True Monarchs would surely vie for such an opportunity.

He shook his head, collected his thoughts, and looked at the Storage Bag in his hand. So, this is the Smoke Cloud Stone. He extended his Divine Sense to examine the contents. The block of Smoke Cloud Stone was half the size of a person, deep black in color, but on its surface, strands of white fog swirled constantly.

Although I have the Smoke Cloud Stone, the Nascent Soul Condensing Pill is quite rare, he sighed internally. Though the Immeasurable Sect had pill masters, none of them could concoct the Nascent Soul Condensing Pill. The Nascent Soul Condensing Pills for the various sects in both North Yue Nation and South Yue Nation were all commissioned from the Chu Kingdom's Pill Cauldron Sect.

I'll make a trip to the Chu Kingdom when I find the time, he thought. Although there are pill masters in East Huangzhou who can refine Nascent Soul Condensing Pills, I'm not sure if the Smoke Cloud Stone is the main ingredient in their pill recipes. Besides, the Pill Cauldron Sect's pill refining is already an established industry. Visiting them would be much easier than searching for a suitable pill master in East Huangzhou.

However, not long after Xu Xing tied the Storage Bag filled with the Smoke Cloud Stone to his waist and returned to his Cave Mansion for meditation, about half an hour later, three uninvited guests showed up at his Cave Mansion's entrance. Apart from Gu Chengbin, whom Xu Xing recognized, the other two were strangers to him.

"Kang Han, Junior Brother Kang. Helan Lianjiang, Senior Brother Helan," Gu Chengbin introduced their names to Xu Xing via sound transmission through divine consciousness.

"Sect Master Senior Brother. Senior Brother Kang, Senior Brother Helan," Xu Xing greeted them one by one, and they exchanged names, Cave Mansion locations, and name cards.

"No need for formalities, Junior Brother Chang," Kang Han said, taking the lead. "We two are here on Golden Rainbow Martial Uncle's orders to act as your Dao Protectors. Please don't mind us." He directly stated their purpose: to supervise Xu Xing.

"Of course," Xu Xing nodded, appearing as if he had expected this all along; he wasn't surprised at all.

After he approached Yan Luanqing to request the Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects and established the forty-year agreement, it was inevitable. Even if Yan Luanqing hadn't thought of placing safeguards on him, Sect Master Gu Chengbin would surely have covered any potential loopholes to prevent Sect resources from being lost.

"Please, come into my Cave Mansion for some tea, Senior Brothers," Xu Xing said with a smile, bowing slightly and gesturing them inside. "I still have some Yun Shu Tea I acquired from Ze Sheng Forest last time."

「On the other side,」

Golden Rainbow Ancestor Yan Luanqing and Yan Xiling, a True Monarch of her clan and younger generation, stood among the clouds. Hidden by the layers of white cloud, they watched the scene unfolding outside the Cave Mansion entrance.

"Junior Brother Chang set a forty-year agreement and asked for the Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects..." Yan Xiling began, then hesitated. "Ancestor... Aren't you worried this is all just a deception?" she finally asked, clenching her teeth.

Although she had received many favors from Xu Xing, in matters of great importance, she would always side with the Yan Family and the Golden Rainbow Ancestor, not Xu Xing.

"If he's trying to deceive us, then so be it," Yan Luanqing shook her head. "If the Immeasurable Sect can survive the period after Ze Sheng Ancestor has died, these Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects are insignificant. Let him have them. If we cannot survive, then these Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects would only end up aiding our enemies."

She saw the situation clearly. Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects were merely inanimate objects. If they couldn't help the Immeasurable Sect produce a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord, they were useless. In that case, it was better to give them to 'Chang Kun.'

"This..." Yan Xiling was at a loss for words. The Golden Rainbow Ancestor's words made perfect sense.

Yan Xiling sighed softly. To be willing to assassinate a True Monarch for the Sect... he still has the Immeasurable Sect in his heart.

Truth be told, she hadn't initially been set on 'Chang Kun.' It was Xu Xing's response after learning about the Immeasurable Sect's 'forced marriage' attempt that had truly impressed her. His actions—assassinating the True Monarch and important figures of Silver Ring Zhai, thereby compelling the Immeasurable Sect to reconsider and abandon the forced marriage—were vastly preferable to him simply leaving to become a Freelance Cultivator. It was based on this that she had personally sought him out, rather than letting matters rest and parting ways.

"We'll wait another forty years," Yan Luanqing said, retracting her gaze from the Surging Jade Mansion and turning to Yan Xiling. "I can still give him that much time... forty years."

"Yes, Ancestor," Yan Xiling nodded.

She now understood Yan Luanqing's plan. These Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects were merely 'bait' to test 'Chang Kun's' loyalty to the Sect. And even if he proved disloyal, with Helan Lianjiang and Kang Han present, 'Chang Kun' wouldn't be able to escape.