"Miss, Young Master's friend, Lord Luo Tang, has come again," came the voice of a maid from outside the room.
"Tell him to get lost," Xiying's voice rose with disgust, without a hint of politeness.
"Miss, he's the Young Master's friend. It's not very nice to say that. The Young Master would like you to meet him when you're free," the maid hesitated before adding softly.
After a moment of thought, Xiying said, "Then you go and meet him on my behalf. Isn't that how they do it in the plays? In the end, the clever maid gets married off."
Yuan Ming couldn't help but chuckle silently within Guoguo, causing the fluffy cat to tremble slightly.
"But I'm so ugly, I look nothing like you," the maid murmured.
"Can't you just cover your face? Hurry up and go, don't bother me. If you succeed, I'll reward you with a magical artifact," Xiying said.
"Really, Miss? Then I'll go," the maid smiled and turned to leave.
After sending the maid away, Xiying put down her pen, lifted Guoguo by the armpits, and cradled the cat in her arms.
It was a familiar action, a familiar perspective.
Yuan Ming felt a bit embarrassed and turned his head, only to see the table covered with densely packed manuscripts.
The papers were all filled with complex and intricate lines, resembling the design of some sort of magical array. Xiying continued to study the array with full concentration.
Time passed slowly, and Guoguo seemed about to fall asleep when suddenly two plump lips pressed against the cat's head, followed by Xiying's voice, "The grand teleportation array is too complex, let's take a break. Guoguo, do you think I should use a communication talisman?"
Before Yuan Ming could fully savor the moment, his vision blurred, and the possession ended.
***
He woke up on his bed with a sense of longing, thinking, "Is the grand teleportation array for long-distance transport? Or can it transport multiple people at once?"
He didn't know much about teleportation arrays, so he didn't dwell on it. He took out an elixir, swallowed it, and continued his cultivation. Use a communication talisman? To contact whom? Me? Or Xiying's family? Six days passed in the blink of an eye.
Yuan Ming paced in the courtyard, his brow slightly furrowed.
According to Gu Qiuming's previous timeline, the Winged Bird Egg should be close to hatching. Gu Qiuming had neither come over nor sent any messages, which seemed a bit off.
It was a pity that he had to wait another day for the next possession; otherwise, he would have lit the Black Incense and possessed Gu Qiuming to check the situation.
"Senior Ha Gong, here is your meal for today," a fair-skinned young man walked in, holding a tray with delicate pastries, a plate of spiritual fruits, and a cup of spiritual tea.
Foundation Establishment cultivators had little need for food, and this was enough to sustain them for a day.
Yuan Ming looked at the newcomer. This fair-skinned young man was named Xu Chuan, an external Qi refining disciple of the Precious Spirit Sect, who had been responsible for delivering his meals these past few days.
"Brother Xu, have you heard any news from Brother Gu these past two days?" Yuan Ming asked, secretly casting an illusion.
"No," Xu Chuan shook his head.
"Where is the hatching room?" Yuan Ming continued.
"Ten miles southwest, in the Valley of Forgetfulness…" Xu Chuan went on. Yuan Ming asked for more details about the place and, without hesitation, waved his hand, causing Xu Chuan's eyes to roll back as he fell into a dazed sleep.
Yuan Ming quickly took off the man's coat, swapped it with his own, then laid him on the bed to appear asleep. He then used a Four Corners Spirit Sealing Talisman to create a barrier before stopping.
Yuan Ming then put on a semi-transparent white mask, the Thousand Mechanism Mask. Recalling Xu Chuan's face, the mask slowly writhed and transformed into an exact replica of Xu Chuan's appearance, without any flaws.
Satisfied with his disguise, Yuan Ming used his spiritual consciousness to check and found no traces of himself.
"The Thousand Mechanism Mask is truly extraordinary, but it's a pity it can only be used three times," he thought with some regret.
However, to avoid detection by cultivators below the Core Formation stage, he had to use this treasure. As for those above Core Formation, he didn't believe they would bother to scan a Qi refining disciple with their spiritual consciousness.
After stepping out, Yuan Ming paused. During this time, besides cultivating the Nine Elements Formula, he had also been diligently practicing the Death Moon method, strengthening his soul and sharpening his senses. Just as he stepped out, he felt a gaze on him, which quickly shifted away to continue watching the courtyard.
"It seems someone is watching me," Yuan Ming thought, but he didn't stop and continued forward.
***
Soon, following Xu Chuan's directions, Yuan Ming arrived at a valley. The place was rich in spiritual energy, with lush trees and grass, and birds and flowers everywhere, like a paradise.
Yuan Ming paid no attention to the scenery and quickly made his way deeper into the valley, where a series of buildings appeared. He proceeded with extreme caution, as the area around the buildings was laced with many dangerous prohibitions, and touching any of them could have unpredictable consequences.
"This is a restricted area of the Valley of Forgetfulness. No trespassers allowed. State your name," a voice called out from behind the flowers ahead.
"I am Xu Chuan from the External Affairs Hall. I was handling an important matter for Brother Gu Qiuming a few days ago. I've come to report back today. I heard he's in the hatching room, so I came looking. Please, brother, pass on my message," Yuan Ming said, offering a spirit stone behind the flowers in Xu Chuan's voice.
The Thousand Mechanism Mask could not only change one's appearance but also manipulate the muscles in the throat to alter the voice.
"Gu Qiuming? He seems to have left already and is not in the valley," the man said, his attitude softened by the gift.
"I heard he's hatching a bird egg in the hatching room. Please, brother, could you check for me?" Yuan Ming was secretly shocked and handed over another spirit stone.
"Alright, wait here," the man hesitated and then agreed.
A gray figure swept out from behind the flowers and disappeared into the buildings ahead.
Moments later, the gray figure returned.
"Gu Qiuming is indeed not in the valley. He left three days ago, and he took the bird egg with him. It's said he's looking for another place to hatch it," the somber voice reported.
Yuan Ming was startled and angered by this news. Was Gu Qiuming planning to embezzle his Winged Bird Egg? From their previous interactions, Gu Qiuming didn't seem like the type to break his word. Or was it about using the so-called "array" for hatching?
He didn't ask any further, bid farewell, and returned to his previous residence. He took off the Thousand Mechanism Mask, switched back their clothes, and then dispelled the illusion on Xu Chuan.
Xu Chuan had no idea what had just happened, feeling only that his stay had been a bit too long. He quickly excused himself and left. Yuan Ming didn't go out or use any other methods but went to the inner room to rest and meditate.
***
The next day, Yuan Ming set up a soundproof barrier around the room and sealed everything with a silver token before lighting a stick of Black Incense and possessing Gu Qiuming.
Yuan Ming's vision went dark, and when he came to, he was startled. He had successfully possessed Gu Qiuming, but he found himself in a dark and damp place.
Gu Qiuming's hair was disheveled, and his hands and feet were locked by a magical artifact; he had been imprisoned.
In front of him was a spacious area with a hexagonal stone platform covered in array patterns, forming an array.
A tall, straight purple wooden pillar stood in the center of the array, seemingly not ordinary wood, with patterns on its surface.
Right in the center of the array was the Winged Bird Egg, its surface flickering with purple lightning.
The purple wooden pillar stretched upward, piercing through the stone ceiling of the dungeon, its destination unknown. Spiritual energy seemed to be drawn by some invisible force, all entering the egg, and patterns began to emerge faintly on the egg's surface.
A young man in a brocade robe stood beside the stone platform, taking out spirit stones from his Storage Bag and inserting them into the array.
Yuan Ming had seen this man before; he was the one Gu Qiuming had taken him to visit, that Sixth Uncle, with whom he had a brief encounter.
"Gu Qiulong, it's not too late to stop! Since the founding of the Precious Spirit Sect, when have we ever embezzled a guest's belongings? If word of this gets out, the reputation of the Precious Spirit Sect built over hundreds of years will be ruined in an instant!" Gu Qiuming shouted sternly.
His magical power seemed to be sealed, rendering him unable to break free.
"Don't worry, I never drag my feet in my affairs. That kid has been watched by my men. Once the Winged Bird Egg hatches successfully, he will disappear from this world without a trace, leaving not a single clue," Gu Qiulong said indifferently, without turning his head.
"What! You're planning to silence him? Ha Gong may not be powerful, but his origins are mysterious. Don't bring disaster upon our sect!" Gu Qiuming's expression changed as he shouted.
"That's none of your concern," Gu Qiulong sneered dismissively.
He kept inserting spirit stones into the array, and the large array on the stone platform was activated, humming as it operated, and the purple wooden pillar began to glow with white light.
"Hehe, Third Brother has good insight. Using this Returning to Origin Thunder Summoning Array to hatch the Winged Bird Egg is indeed brilliant. It's hard to believe you did all this analysis and proof," Gu Qiulong looked at the changes happening to the egg and smiled at Gu Qiuming.
"Pah! You took the hatching array without permission. Elder Lin of the hatching room will find out sooner or later. Let's see how you'll handle it then," Gu Qiuming spat fiercely.
"Naive! Winged Birds have the ability to summon thunder and lightning. With this spiritual beast, our sect will surely enter the ranks of the top ten sects in the Great Jin in a few decades, and I will be the greatest contributor!" Gu Qiulong was not angry but rather triumphant.
"Shameless!" Gu Qiuming couldn't help but curse.
"Shameless? The world of cultivation is all about the survival of the fittest. As long as tangible benefits are obtained, the means are irrelevant. It's because you don't understand this that you're still stuck in the Qi refining stage. Who else can you blame?" Gu Qiulong said disdainfully.
Gu Qiuming closed his eyes, seemingly unwilling to even glance at the other.
Gu Qiulong ignored him and focused on controlling the array on the stone platform. However, it wasn't long before his expression changed. The array, which had been running smoothly, suddenly slowed down, while the patterns on the egg's surface continued to flicker.
Gu Qiulong looked at the many spirit stones around him, almost depleted of spiritual energy, gritted his teeth, took out a handful of spirit stones from his Storage Bag, replaced the ones in the array, and cast several spells.
The array resumed operation after the spirit stones were replenished, and as spiritual energy continued to enter the egg, the patterns on the shell became more pronounced. Yet this situation only lasted for a few breaths before it took a sudden downturn, and the array once again showed signs of stalling.
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan