Xu Yuan continued forward, teasing, "Well, Old Man Luo? Still thinking about flying over?"
The Saint's remnant soul pondered for a moment. "Dealing with leeches in such numbers would indeed be troublesome. But tell me, kid, how did you know? If your Chancellor's Manor knew about this Vault Palace, there would be no reason for them to just sit back and do nothing."
"Oh? You want to know?"
"Naturally."
"Even if you want to know, I'm not telling."
"..."
Xu Yuan chuckled and shook his head.
Fond of speaking in riddles, was he? Then they could both play the game and get on each other's nerves.
As they walked along the corridor, the colossal leeches, seeing that Xu Yuan was no longer tossing food, submerged back into the depths.
In an instant, the scenic view across the lake's surface was restored to its former glory—autumn waters blending seamlessly with the boundless sky.
The corridor was quiet, save for the soft sound of Xu Yuan's footsteps. The Saint's remnant soul floated alongside him.
The further they walked, the graver the Saint's expression became.
He had already noticed that this red-timbered corridor across the water was laid with some sort of eerie, hallucinatory formation.
With perception sealed by the Luanyin Formation, the slightest lapse in attention would leave one hopelessly lost within the maze, never to escape. Yet this kid was walking as casually as if returning home, turning corners at intersections without so much as a second glance.
After another seven or eight minutes,
The colossal cherry tree that had previously sat in the center of the lake was now less than a hundred meters away. The translucent cherry blossoms drifting atop the azure water were clearly visible.
Reframing his thoughts, the Saint's remnant soul suddenly spoke: "Kid, I think we need to talk."
Xu Yuan understood what was coming. Without breaking his stride, he kept tracking his route as he chuckled, "Talk about what?"
"Honestly, I don't think there's any need for our relationship to remain this tense." The Saint's remnant soul sounded completely unbothered, chuckling in his usual jovial tone. "If your eldest brother hadn't tripped me up, I truly intended to cooperate with you in good faith."
"I know."
Xu Yuan shrugged.
He didn't doubt the veracity of the old man's words in the slightest, knowing precisely what kind of person this remnant soul was.
Yet from Xu Changge's perspective, Xu Changge hadn't done anything wrong either.
Due to an information gap, Xu Changge knew none of the things Xu Yuan knew.
Even if the Saint's remnant soul claimed he harbored no grudge over his disciple's death, who would take an enemy's word at face value?
All Xu Changge knew was that the Chancellor's Manor had slaughtered the precious disciple Old Man Luo had willingly expended his origin soul to protect.
What if his third brother went traveling and this old man risked the backlash of the restriction just to avenge his disciple?
After a brief pause, Xu Yuan continued, "And how exactly do you propose we cooperate?"
The Saint's soul grinned. "Simple. I'll tell you about the Heaven-Deducing Art, and you tell me about this secret realm."
Xu Yuan's brows furrowed slightly as he glanced at the remnant soul. "What do you mean by that?"
Information regarding the Heaven-Deducing Art was undoubtedly help delivered in the nick of time for Xu Yuan, given that Tianyan was currently hot on his heels.
Yet information about Vault Palace was essentially useless to the Saint's remnant soul.
This was an entirely uneven trade.
The Saint's remnant soul looked into Xu Yuan's eyes and chuckled, "You can consider it a gesture of sincerity."
Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then let out a light laugh. "Sincerity? More like testing the waters. Still, since you've offered your sincerity, it would be rude of me to refuse. Ask whatever you wish. If I know the answer, I'll tell you."
Conversations like this made Xu Yuan feel as if he were the wise old master instead.
The Saint's remnant soul thought for a moment, glanced at the colossal cherry tree a hundred meters away, and asked in a low voice, "What is your purpose in going to that cherry tree?"
"Because there is a teleportation formation there that can reach any location within Vault Palace." Xu Yuan pointed beneath the cherry tree. Pausing, he broke into a sudden grin. "Besides, surely you know what an Ancient Meishen Cherry produces, don't you?"
The Saint's remnant soul sounded somewhat surprised. "That tree is a Meishen cherry?"
Xu Yuan was just as surprised. "You couldn't tell?"
The Saint's remnant soul shook his head slightly. "Though I've read of it in ancient texts, I've never seen one in my life. Moreover, my intent-soul is restricted here, blinding my perception. But to think such a divine tree could be planted here... tsk, tsk..."
Xu Yuan nodded and murmured, "The Qionghua Sect shared deep ties with the once-thriving Hehuan Sect—saying they belonged to the same lineage would hardly be an exaggeration. Did you not know this either, Old Man Luo?"
The Saint's remnant soul fell silent for a moment. When he looked at Xu Yuan, his gaze had grown several degrees heavier. He shook his head. "I did not. Whether the Qionghua Sect or the Hehuan Sect, both had already perished long before my era."
"Is that so?" Xu Yuan said noncommittally.
As they spoke, Xu Yuan and the Saint's remnant soul reached a four-way junction.
Looking to the left, an open-air boardwalk over the water leading straight to the towering giant cherry came into view.
Without a moment's hesitation, Xu Yuan turned toward the right.
The Saint's remnant soul frowned slightly at the sight, but said nothing.
Xu Yuan quietly explained, "This is the final stretch of the Soul-Confusing Corridor. If you head left, you'll become lost, and making it back here would be harder than scaling the heavens."
"..."
The Saint's remnant soul sighed. "It seems this old man's knowledge is truly wanting."
"It's just that the formation is bizarre, that's all," Xu Yuan replied with a smile.
Suddenly, the Saint's remnant soul used his soul power to halt Xu Yuan in his tracks.
"Hold on, kid."
Xu Yuan didn't panic, merely asking, "What is it?"
"If I remember correctly, doesn't a Meishen cherry tree require a blood sacrifice?"
"Of course."
"Against a Meishen cherry of this age, I may not be able to guarantee your safety."
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
The Saint's remnant soul gave Xu Yuan a deep, lingering look before releasing him.
Xu Yuan stepped through a thin barrier of light, and the view before his eyes abruptly opened up. A towering cherry tree stood right before him; before it, a mortal was like an ant.
Before he could take a closer look,
An ethereal, nightingale-like woman's voice suddenly rang in their ears:
"Who are you?"
Hearing the voice, the Saint's remnant soul narrowed his eyes.
*A tree spirit!*
He zipped straight back into the soul ring, ready to grab Xu Yuan and run at a moment's notice.
Xu Yuan merely took a deep breath. Without answering, he walked calmly toward a small earthen mound beneath the cherry tree. Facing the mound, he whispered:
"Sorry to have kept you waiting..."
"Jinghe?"
A shower of cherry blossom petals drifted from the towering tree, the voice carrying a hint of pleasant surprise. "You've returned?"
Xu Yuan said nothing, retrieving a pot of fine Huadiao wine from his Sumeru ring.
Sitting down, he produced two porcelain cups and filled them to the brim. One cup he poured over the earthen mound.
"I'm sorry."
The other cup he drained in one gulp, murmuring softly:
"Yuchu... I'm back."
"..."
The towering cherry tree swayed, as though trying to say something. Yet the final lingering obsession had already dispersed, and the voice faded into the gentle rustle of falling blossoms...
Amidst the swirling cascade of petals,
A single cherry blossom quietly drifted onto Xu Yuan's forehead, vanishing between his brows in an instant.
*That year, blossoms bloomed, a beauty was laid to rest, and her soul merged into the divine cherry.*
Chapter 105