Three years later.

The vast South Sea has seventy-six islands of various sizes scattered like stars, with the largest one called Haisha Island, like the biggest gem on a necklace, connecting all the islands together.

On Haisha Island, there are four seasons in a day. At dawn, it's like early spring, crisp and refreshing, with wind blowing through the flowers. At noon, it's like the height of summer, with lush greenery, cicadas chirping and birds singing. After noon, it gradually turns to autumn, with osmanthus swaying and a clear, vast sky. At night, it's already early winter, with cold fog and frost, and occasional light snow.

Amazingly, no matter how the weather changes, the island is in full bloom all year round, stunningly beautiful. This incredible scenery attracts many people from far and wide to Haisha Island, making it the most prosperous island in the South Sea.

There are quite a few immortal cultivation families or sects on the South Sea islands, and the Mu family on Xianhu Island where Mu Jie is from is one of them. Families or sects like the Mu family are not uncommon, with some occupying an entire island, forming their own forces, and not under the jurisdiction of the Nanju impreial court. Haisha Island is the same.

On Haisha Island, there is Haisha City, whose lord is selected by the city's council of elders for a term of fifty years, after which a new one is elected. The current Haisha City Lord is called Guo Haikun, a cultivator at the early Nascent Soul stage.

Originally a bustling Haisha City with people coming and going and merchants gathering, it has become even more lively due to the upcoming opening of Lianyin Immortal Residence. Cultivators can be seen everywhere on the streets and alleys, shoulder to shoulder, making the small Haisha Island almost more bustling than even the Nanju capital for a while.

The Lianyin Immortal Residence was discovered a thousand years ago. No one knows who its owner is, whether they have ascended or perished. It is only known that it opens once every hundred years, and inside there are countless rare treasures.

Those who enter, if they have the opportunity, luck, and can pass the trials, can take out treasures when the residence's gate reopens after a year.

Calculating based on the lifespan of a Core Formation cultivator, in their entire life, they can only encounter the opening of Lianyin Immortal Residence at most five times. If they are unlucky, they may very well return empty-handed, or even be trapped inside for up to a hundred years, with no guarantee of finding the exit for the next opening.

Opportunities often come with risks. For the sake of those treasures, every time many people come here, entering the abode one after another, but in the end, very few can emerge unscathed. More people perish inside, never to come out again.

Even so, on the next opening day of the abode, the number of people gathered on Haisha Island is still high.

Due to a storm at sea making sailing difficult, by the time Zhou Yin arrived at Haisha Island, it was already a few days later than the agreed date with Yun Zong and the others.

Bamboo Shadow Inn was already full of guests, from the main hall on the first floor to the private rooms on the second floor, all bustling with people. The allure of Lianyin Immortal Residence was indeed great. Not only were high-level cultivators interested, but even many Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators, despite knowing the difficult road ahead, still wanted to give it a try.

Some had agreed to go together early on, while others came here alone to find companions. They greeted and chatted with each other. Just as when merchants meet, the topic inevitably revolves around making money, when cultivators meet, the topic is also none other than cultivation and spiritual pills.

When Zhou Yin entered Bamboo Shadow Inn, many people subconsciously glanced at the door, but unlike usual, they didn't immediately look away. The originally noisy hall actually quieted down a bit.

Zhou Yin was wearing a dark robe, his long hair tied into a topknot, secured with a jade hairpin transformed from his Lingyin Sword, simple and clean, not a hair out of place.

But it was precisely this simple, ordinary appearance that made his fair skin and tall, straight figure stand out even more. Although his phoenix eyes naturally tilted up slightly, they were suppressed by the coldness between his brows, not appearing frivolous, but instead having a sense of austere abstinence.

His appearance had become increasingly beautiful after advancing to the late Foundation Establishment stage, yet not feminine. When he entered the inn, his footsteps were very light, almost silent.

Compared to the hall full of cultivators, many with higher cultivation than him, it was precisely this person who attracted the gazes of almost everyone to linger on him for quite a while.

This silence only lasted for a moment before the liveliness resumed. Only one person coming down the stairs from the second floor immediately called out, "Brother Zhou!"

Zhou Yin looked up and saw that it was Mu Jie.

She was still dressed in men's clothing, not concealing her beauty.

When a cultivator of lower cultivation addresses one of higher cultivation, they generally use the term "senior". Although cultivators are different from ordinary people, they are still of mortal origin and can't avoid being particular about face and vanity. Sometimes if the form of address is wrong, at best the other party will be displeased, at worst they will turn hostile.

So when Mu Jie first met Yun Zong and the other, she called them seniors. But after not seeing each other for three years, she and Yun Zong had long arrived at Bamboo Shadow Inn. Seeing the days pass by one by one, she was still wondering if Zhou Yin would come at all, but didn't expect to see him here.

In a moment of joy, she forgot about the issue of how to address him.

Zhou Yin obviously didn't mind these trivial details. He slightly nodded his head in response and walked towards her.

Mu Jie: "Daoist Brother, why did you only arrive today? We thought you weren't coming!"

Zhou Yin: "Encountered a storm."

Mu Jie: "So that's why. Senior Yun is also on the second floor. I'll take you there."

The private rooms on the second floor were all compartments. Mu Jie led him to the door of one of them and said softly, "There are a few other people inside. One of them is the young island lord of Benyun Island. He's someone that," she pouted, "looks down on everyone. Anyone below the Core Formation stage generally can't enter his eyes. If he says anything disrespectful, don't take it to heart."

With that, she pushed the door open and went in.

Only three people were sitting at a large marble round table.

Other than Yun Zong, Zhou Yin didn't know the other four people.

One of them, a Core Formation cultivator, was sitting next to Yun Zong. He had a handsome appearance and looked very arrogant. Seeing Zhou Yin enter, he only glanced at him briefly without saying anything. He seemed to be that young lord of Benyun Island.

There were two other Foundation Establishment cultivators standing behind that young lord.

And one person, on Yun Zong's other side, had black hair and white clothes, and a face so beautiful it was somewhat uncanny. At first glance, it was actually hard to tell the depth of his cultivation.

Zhou Yin's gaze swept over Yun Zong and the young lord of Benyun Island, finally landing on this person, pausing slightly.

Searching through the memories of his past and present lives, he had never seen this person before.

Seeing him, Yun Zong's brows raised slightly, showing a hint of surprise and joy on his face, only for that joy to be quickly concealed, leaving behind the same cold arrogance as when they first met. "You're here."

Zhou Yin made an "en" sound and sat down on his own, even more like a boss than him.

Yun Zong had no reaction, but that young lord of Benyun Island was a bit displeased. He also didn't notice the white-clothed man's gaze that had been on Zhou Yin the whole time.

After three years of seclusion, not only had Yun Zong's old injuries healed, but his cultivation had also become more profound. He had perfected the mid-stage Core Formation realm and advanced to the late-stage Core Formation.

In the Taichu Continent, let alone Nascent Soul cultivators, even Core Formation cultivators were becoming increasingly rare. Yun Zong, at just eighty years old, had advanced to the late-stage Core Formation, making him an exceptional genius.

Moreover, he looked like a very unapproachable person. The young lord of Benyun Island wanted to win him over, so he put aside his pride and showed a respectful attitude, inviting him to sit together and chat for a while.

However, as soon as this Foundation Establishment cultivator arrived, Yun Zong immediately lost his indifferent attitude.

"May I ask which venerable's disciple this Daoist friend is?" The young lord of Benyun Island looked at Zhou Yin, his chin slightly raised.

In his view, only disciples from major sects could make someone like Yun Zong take notice.

"Rogue cultivator," Zhou Yin replied concisely.

The young lord of Benyun Island laughed meaningfully a few times and said to Yun Zong, "Daoist friend, you are traveling with three people. I'm afraid the burden will fall on Brother Yun's shoulders. If you fail to find the treasure, you may even have to rescue them. Why not join us instead? On this trip to the Lianyin Immortal Residence, I am acting on my father's orders and can mobilize all the manpower of Benyun Island. Besides, this Daoist friend Yang by my side not only has profound cultivation but is also from the Canghe imperial family."

Canghe was located in the center of the continent, with its territory ranking first among all nations.

His undisguised disdain made Mu Jie's face show displeasure, but Zhou Yin had no reaction, as if he hadn't heard his words.

Yun Zong said indifferently, "Thank you for your kind offer, Young Lord, but I have already made an agreement with them."

The young lord of Benyun Island's face changed abruptly, finding it difficult to back down. It seemed he was about to lose his temper.

The man in white, who had been silent the whole time, only lightly tapping the table and watching the scene with some interest, suddenly spoke up, "This journey is no small matter. Bringing low-level cultivators will only hold us back."

The young lord of Benyun Island said, "Brother Yang is right. Brother Yun, you should reconsider. We are all going for the same purpose. If we can cooperate, why not? Not bringing them along will also prevent them from becoming a burden."

Speaking like this in front of Zhou Yin and Mu Jie, he was obviously relying on the backing of Benyun Island and had completely disregarded them.

Mu Jie sneered, "Who hasn't practiced from the Foundation Establishment stage? Don't tell me you were already at the Core Formation stage when you were born?"

She knew that in this world, the strongest had the most say. She also knew that she had the lowest cultivation among those present and had no right to speak. However, when it came to dignity, she couldn't help but retort.

Although she had traveled the continent for three years and experienced many things, she still didn't understand that there were no people or matters in this world that couldn't be endured.

The young lord of Benyun Island scoffed, "Sissy brat, how dare you speak disrespectfully to this young lord!"

As soon as his words fell, a white light flew out from the sleeve of the cultivator behind him, sweeping towards Mu Jie's face as fast as lightning, giving her no time to react.

Mu Jie couldn't react in time, and her expression didn't even have time to change as she watched the white light flying straight at her.

With a faint clang, the white light dissipated into nothingness, leaving only a scorch mark on the table in front of Mu Jie.

Zhou Yin brushed his sleeves, revealing slender, fair fingers with distinct joints.

The attacking cultivator was at the late Foundation Establishment stage, the same level as Zhou Yin. However, when Zhou Yin blocked that strike just now, he didn't even see when or how the other party made his move.

Mu Jie had escaped disaster, still in shock.

Yun Zong said coldly, "Young Lord Jin, do you want to make an enemy of us?" He made his stance clear.

With that, he got up and left.

The young lord of Benyun Island watched them leave, his face completely sinking.

The man in white smiled slightly, "Since they are unwilling, why force them, Young Lord? Don't tell me that with the strength of the entire Benyun Island, plus this humble one, we still can't pass that Lianyin Immortal Residence?"

The young lord of Benyun Island suppressed his anger and forced a smile, "Brother Yang is right."

The two cultivators behind him looked at each other, not knowing the background of this man in white, but he actually made their young lord obey his words and even try to please him.

Author's Note:

Preview of the scene where Zhou Yin meets the furball:

Once the miscellaneous people disappeared from sight, Zhou Chen immediately hugged the person beside him and fawned, "Ah Yin, wife, darling, the annoying people are finally gone. We can continue!"

Continue what? What do we have to continue?

Zhou Yin gently pushed him away. "Don't hug me."

"Why!" Zhou Chen felt very aggrieved.

"It's hot."

Zhou Chen didn't believe him. "When I was little, you used to call me Little Furball. Now that I'm grown up, you dislike me!"

Zhou Yin was silent for a moment. "When did I call you Little Furball?"

Zhou Chen: "When I was little!"

Zhou Yin: "Which year and month?"

...

Everyone, please continue to enjoy the story...