Xiao Lin was chatting with the masked man in the unknown land, while on a certain high mountain.

"Great, author, you've written it well! That female supporting character is a complete clown, she should have been stabbed ages ago!"

Leng Youxue, sitting on a rock, closed the novel in her hand, nodded in satisfaction, and glanced at the small array formation drawn on the last page of the novel. She then casually waved her hand, and an array identical to the one in the novel appeared on the ground in front of her.

Reaching into the distorted space, she pulled out a large bag of high-grade spirit stones and tossed it onto the array, saying, "Well written. Also, can the male lead be a bit more assertive? I like them a bit domineering."

With that, Leng Youxue pointed her finger, and the array on the ground burst into light, causing the bag of spirit stones to vanish.

—This was a product of the collaboration between the academy and Waterside Ferry, called the Reward Array. As the name suggests, when you think a novel is excellent, you can replicate the array from the last page to reward the author with spirit stones. Both the stones and your message are directly transferred to the author, making it very convenient.

Initially, the Reward Array could transfer more than just spirit stones; it could send anything. However, after some readers, dissatisfied with the author's content, sent dangerous items, the academy urgently modified the array to only transfer spirit stones.

"Heh, such extravagance. Flowing Cloud Sect is lucky to have a sect master like you, a shorty," a woman sitting opposite Leng Youxue scoffed.

She appeared to be around thirty, stunningly beautiful. Her loose green robe couldn't hide her impressive figure. Despite her mature and feminine allure, her words and actions carried a hint of girlishness, creating a unique charm.

This was Gu Ziying, the current sect master of the Mysterious Female Sect and a powerhouse in the Human Immortal Realm.

"Heh, that's still better than you, old lady, who managed to teach a disciple with a heart demon," Leng Youxue glanced at Gu Ziying, wondering if this woman had grown even larger.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but look down at herself.

Hmm, no obstacles in sight.

Damn it!

"Heh, bringing up disciples now? Truly a narrow-minded person," Gu Ziying said, puffing out her chest, "But it's fine, I'm broad-minded, so I won't hold it against you."

"…"

Leng Youxue silently clenched her small fist.

It's hard, my fist is hard!

"Heh, what's the use of being big? It's just a heavy burden when you move."

"Shorty, let me tell you a story. Once there was a short person who saw apples on a tree and wanted to eat them, but she was too short to reach. So she said, 'Those apples might be rotten'... Hey, hey, hey! We just finished, and you're ready to fight again?"

"Heh."

Leng Youxue, who had raised her small fist, saw Gu Ziying raise her hands to protect her head, and only then did she smirk and lower her fist.

If a problem can be solved with fists, there's no need to waste words.

"So, you just followed me here? Aren't you worried your precious disciple will be mistreated at Flowing Cloud Sect?" Leng Youxue, having won with force, asked again.

"That girl has always been on the mountain with me, cultivating. It's good for her to train her mind," Gu Ziying said, lowering her hands and shrugging.

"Do you really think her mental state issues are solely her problem?" Leng Youxue turned to glance at Gu Ziying.

"Of course not," Gu Ziying rolled her eyes at Leng Youxue, paused, and then spoke softly, "I have a big part in this. I just wanted to motivate her, but I didn't consider her feelings..."

"Occasional comments are fine, but talking about other people's disciples every day? Who can take that?" Leng Youxue took out an apple, ready to bite, but then remembered Gu Ziying's story and suddenly found the apple unappetizing, so she put it away, "Even if my disciples are outstanding, you shouldn't do that."

"Heh, what does your disciples' excellence have to do with you?"

"I'm their master."

"Ask yourself honestly, are you really a competent master?"

"Of course."

"Seems like you have no conscience. Sorry, my mistake."

"You old hag..."

Leng Youxue was about to retort but suddenly stopped, quickly turning to look in the direction of Flowing Cloud Sect.

"What is it?" Seeing Leng Youxue's serious expression, Gu Ziying also became serious.

Why did that kid's aura suddenly disappear? Did he leave Flowing Cloud Sect? Impossible, I would know if he left... Something's off, something's off...

Ignoring Gu Ziying, Leng Youxue frowned, thought for a moment, and instinctively raised her small hand, calculating with her fingers.

...And came up with nothing.

"Tsk," Leng Youxue clicked her tongue, waved her hand, and several layers of arrays enveloped her.

This shorty, not only has her strength increased, but her skill in arrays has also improved. Isn't it supposed to get harder as you progress? Is there no justice...

Watching this, Gu Ziying couldn't help but mutter inwardly.

Leng Youxue paid no attention to Gu Ziying's gaze. Once the arrays were set, she calculated again with her fingers.

...And still came up with nothing.

"Damn it!" Leng Youxue stood up from the rock, reached into the distorted space, and pulled out a pink turtle shell.

"Oh, oh, oh, how old are you, still playing with a pink turtle shell..." Gu Ziying instinctively mocked, then froze, her gaze fixed on the pink turtle shell, surprised, "Wait, isn't this the Heaven's Secrets Pavilion's lost treasure from eight hundred years ago? How is it in your hands? And why is it pink?"

Ignoring Gu Ziying, Leng Youxue chanted a few obscure incantations, then tossed and caught the pink turtle shell.

As an ancient and heavy aura spread, some indecipherable symbols appeared on the pink turtle shell.

"Phew..."

Seeing the symbols, Leng Youxue's furrowed brow finally relaxed.

Tsk, why did it come so soon this time... Looks like I need to set off early...

Throwing the pink turtle shell back into the distorted space, Leng Youxue pondered.

"Shorty, let me guess, what you just calculated is related to your disciple?" Gu Ziying asked tentatively, seeing Leng Youxue's expression soften.

"Why do you say that?" Leng Youxue turned to look at Gu Ziying.

"Because the only thing that can make you show that expression is your disciples," Gu Ziying shrugged, then said seriously, "Leng Youxue, I don't know what your disciples, especially that eldest one, are all about, nor what you're planning, but I advise you to think carefully. Going against the heavens is not advisable."

"Who said I'm going against the heavens?"

"Using the Basalt Heaven's Derivation Stone to deduce is already an act of defying the heavens. Heaven's Secrets Pavilion used to prepare for a long time before using it... And anything requiring this Immortal-Grade Magic Treasure for deduction is no small matter."

"That doesn't mean I'm going against the heavens, right?"

"True, but my intuition tells me you're planning something big..." Gu Ziying sighed, "Don't be fooled by how the tribulation lightning runs away like a dog from you, but you should know, tribulation lightning doesn't represent the true will of the heavens, it's just the tip of the iceberg... Don't jump into the fire pit."

"…"

Hearing this, Leng Youxue fell silent, finally speaking softly after a long pause, "This time is different."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, mind your own business, old hag!"