The Stone Sculpture

Xu Yuan knew that a teleportation array lay within the tree hollow beneath the Meishen cherry tree. He also knew that from here, one could travel to many places: the Book Depository, the treasury, or even the Sect Master's bedchamber. In Cangyuan, the interface was very straightforward—the game jumped to a map, and the player simply clicked the mouse to select their destination. Now, as his intent-soul connected to the array, the sight before him left Xu Yuan slightly stunned. His consciousness felt as though it had been uploaded into the sky above the Vault Palace, granting him a clear view of everything below. Magnificent jade palaces peeked through drifting clouds, and spirits wandered among the palace complexes. Xu Yuan did not rush to teleport. Instead, he scanned the vast Vault Palace for the figure of a woman in black. Upon entering the secret realm, he had intentionally let go of Ran Qingmo's hand, causing her to be teleported elsewhere. However, he had briefed her on certain matters regarding this place beforehand. By now, that big block of ice had likely entered this space as well. After searching for a while, he failed to find Ran Qingmo, but he did spot a barefoot girl clad in a pale red palace dress. Barefooted, she was hopping along the vermilion corridor, looking around with a curious expression. Gazing left and right, she did not look like she had stepped into a deadly zone at all, but rather out on a leisurely picnic. Tianyan. Tianyan had entered too. What was more, this woman had already reached the Soul-Confusing Corridor of Cherry Leech Lake! As he watched, to his greater shock, she seemed to know the way, heading in a straight line toward the Meishen cherry tree. A brief silence fell. Suddenly, Tianyan tilted her head up toward the sky. Her beautiful golden eyes were as brilliant as ever. Though it lasted only an instant, Xu Yuan had an inexplicable feeling that she could see him. While he hesitated, the barefoot girl raised a hand, smiling faintly as she waved toward the sky. Her red lips parted slightly, and reading her mouth, she seemed to be saying: “Xu Changtian, I found you...” Xu Yuan's brow furrowed, and he let out a quiet snort. He prepared to use the “soul key” granted by the Meishen cherry tree to control the illusion array outside. The Soul-Confusing Corridor had merely been on standby; once truly activated, that vermilion corridor would become an absolute trapping array. Once inside, there was no way out short of breaking the array by brute force. Right at that moment, however, “Kid, get out of there!” A shout exploded in Xu Yuan's mind as the Saint's remnant soul spoke rapidly: “That's an illusion! The real one is already at the entrance!” Xu Yuan's pupils constricted. He trusted that the Saint's remnant soul would not lie to him about something like this. Without the slightest hesitation, his intent-soul instantly locked onto the Vault Palace's Book Depository. The next instant, *Hum—* With a low drone, a flash of white light erupted, and Xu Yuan vanished from the spot. The tree hollow, once bright as day, gradually dimmed, returning to calm in the blink of an eye. A long while later, *Patter... patter...* The sound of bare feet stepping against the stone slabs was faint yet crisp. Tianyan walked slowly down into the tree hollow. Looking at the spot where Xu Yuan had disappeared, her willow-leaf brows knitted in slight vexation: “I should have made it in time. Why... was it wrong again?” *** The Book Depository of the Vault Palace was named Wenyuan. It had thirteen floors in total, each guarded by arrays and spirits. Ascending likewise offered three methods. The first was to break through the arrays by brute force, carving a bloody path upward floor by floor. The second was to use the token dropped by that crazed demonic woman. The third was to travel directly via the teleportation array beneath the Meishen cherry tree. Because the distance was not particularly great, Xu Yuan did not lose consciousness this time. After a brief bout of dizziness, he raised his eyes to survey his surroundings. This was an elegantly antique room filled with the distinct fragrance of old paper. Three neat rows of bookshelves stood lined up in the center of the hall. At this moment, standing quietly along the aisle between the bookshelves, a young matron was gently dusting the secret manuals. Xu Yuan's gaze narrowed slightly. A jade-green silk gauze skirt could hardly conceal the pert curve of her hips. Her upper body bore only a traditional bandeau and a sheer black gauze robe, leaving much of her porcelain, crystalline skin exposed. She seemed to take note of Xu Yuan, who had suddenly materialized before her. Just then, the cherry blossom mark between Xu Yuan's brows flared to life once more. The woman took a single glance, and her killing intent vanished. In its place came a deep, intoxicating allure as she dipped into a curtsy, revealing a generous vista of fair skin: “Lady Saintess, you have arrived.” Xu Yuan froze, but quickly understood. Yuchu, who had been sacrificed, was once the Saintess of this local Qionghua Sect. Naturally, the soul key she had given him was also that of the Saintess. Realizing this, Xu Yuan let out a long breath. He should be safe for the time being. This Wenyuan Pavilion had thirteen floors in total, each home to a boss. The bosses from floors one to eight were level seventy and above, while floors nine to twelve were level eighty and above. In other words, eight Grandmasters and four Origin Realm experts were currently guarding the doors downstairs for him. Xu Yuan did not believe that once brought into reality, these bosses would act like they did in the game—idly standing in their boss rooms when an intruder arrived, waiting to engage in a series of one-on-one duels. Eight Grandmasters, four Origin Realm experts, plus this peak Origin Realm matron on the top floor. Xu Yuan felt that even if Xu Changge came in person, he might not be able to punch through. With his guard lowered, Xu Yuan sat down on the stone steps behind him, his eyes unconsciously drifting to the only woman in the study. After a few breaths, the young matron caught Xu Yuan's gaze. Offering him a radiant smile, she walked over with unhurried steps. Her robes swayed gently with the roll of her slender waist and hips, hinting at a flat stomach and flashing glimpses of her pale thighs at just the right moments. As she drew nearer, a bewitching, decadent melody seemed to drift through the air. In the end, the seductive woman knelt considerately before Xu Yuan, her every subtle gesture brimming with longing. At this moment, Xu Yuan suddenly recalled something. The Qionghua Sect, like the Hehuan Sect, practiced dual cultivation. And dual cultivation was not strictly limited to a man and a woman. Swallowing hard, Xu Yuan was about to speak when the Saint's remnant soul suddenly sneered in his mind: “Heh... I'm starting to believe your words now.” Following that sneer, the scene before Xu Yuan shifted. The study was still the same study, and the bookshelves remained unchanged. The only thing that had transformed was the young matron kneeling before him. It was a movable stone sculpture, carved in the lifelike likeness of a mature woman. Perhaps due to the sheer passage of time, faint cracks showed across the surface of the stone, but the seductive spark in its eyes remained as vivid as ever. Xu Yuan's eyebrow twitched, and he leaned back slightly. A man cannot—or at least, should not. Clearing his throat, Xu Yuan stood straight up and said, “I have come to seek a cultivation method.” Seeing this, the stone sculpture did not press further. Rising slowly, she bowed with hands clasped. “Understood. Which cultivation method does Lady Saintess seek?” Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then murmured, “The Nine Yuan Calming Technique.” “As you wish.” A faint gleam flashed through the stone sculpture's eyes. She turned and walked toward the bookshelves. Even as she walked, her hips swayed with a lingering grace.