General’s Pass.

Nestled between two mountains lay a stretch of water that, come the dry season, would sink to reveal a valley.

At present, General’s Pass had been transformed into a water fortress by the Nine Mansions.

At the heart of the fortress stood two colossal statues of generals, said to be erected by ancient forebears, who had slain a ferocious Jiao at this very site.

Cradled in the statues’ hands was a massive jade disc.

This disc served as one of the teleportation sites to enter the ruins of the Immortal Mansion within the Cloud Dream Marsh.

When the grand formation of the marsh loosened, the disc would automatically transport any cultivator standing upon it to an entrance of the ruins.

“I wonder if the teleportation site to Gazing Abyss Realm is similar to this.”

Gazing at the strange patterns on the jade disc beneath his feet, Xu Taiping couldn’t help but think of the teleportation token he possessed.

“Little Taiping!”

At that moment, Oriole approached Xu Taiping with a playful grin.

Following him was a small black bear with swollen eyes, likely the transformation of the big black bear encountered earlier.

“Brother Oriole.”

Xu Taiping greeted Oriole with a cupped-fist salute.

“You lucky lad, last time you descended the mountain with the stunning Sixth Princess, and this time you’ve brought back five beauties in one go!”

After some pleasantries, Oriole leaned in and chuckled into Xu Taiping’s ear.

“Sixth Princess? Brother Oriole, you must be referring to Sister Haitang.”

Xu Taiping replied with a smile.

At the mention of “Haitang,” Oriole’s mouth twitched, his eyes filled with fear.

“That couple, they didn’t come this time, did they?”

He glanced around before whispering to Xu Taiping.

He knew well how fond the couple was of Xu Taiping and worried they might have followed him to the Cloud Dream Marsh.

“I haven’t been in touch with Sister Haitang or Brother Xiang since then.”

Xu Taiping shook his head.

“That’s good, that’s good. If that couple came, the Nine Mansions would be in for a busy time.”

Oriole sighed in relief upon hearing this.

“Which part of the ruins are you and your Senior Sisters planning to visit?”

He then asked.

“Dew Garden.”

“Oh, that place. It’s decent, just guarded by a female Corpse Ghost outside the yard. Lure her away and you can get in. The key is to be quick, or other sects might beat you to it.”

Oriole nodded in understanding.

“Isn’t Cloud Dream Marsh only accessible every sixty years? Brother Oriole, are you already in your seventies or eighties?”

Xu Taiping asked, surprised.

“What else? Your Senior Sister Zi Yan isn’t any younger than me. She, your Senior Brother, and I once ventured in together.”

Oriole glanced at Xu Ziyan, prompting Xu Taiping to realize.

Once a cultivator breaks through to the Gazing Abyss Realm, their appearance changes more slowly, making it hard to guess their age just by looks.

“However, be wary of Yunjing Palace. They’ve sent a team that seems to be targeting Dew Garden.”

Oriole cautioned Xu Taiping.

“Yunjing Palace? Isn’t that the fourth-ranked sect among the Nine Mansions?”

Xu Taiping was taken aback.

“Taiping!”

Before he could inquire further, Senior Sister Xu Ziyan approached.

“Senior Sister Zi Yan, when can we celebrate your and Brother Qingxiao’s wedding?”

Oriole teased Xu Ziyan with a grin.

Xu Ziyan’s face flushed at the mention, and she shot Oriole a glare, retorting:

“That’s something you should ask him!”

Oriole laughed even harder, nodding repeatedly:

“Yes, yes, I’ll ask Brother Qingxiao later.”

“Senior Sister Zi Yan, is everything ready?”

Seeing Zi Yan’s embarrassment, Xu Taiping swiftly changed the subject.

“Everything is in order.”

Xu Ziyan nodded, her eyes showing a hint of gratitude.

“This Jade Scroll is crafted by the Nine Mansions. With it, once the barrier opens and the teleportation array activates, our group can be transported to the same location within the ruins.”

“Also, wear this pendant. If we get separated inside, it will guide you to our nearest location.”

She handed Xu Taiping a Jade Scroll and a dark pendant resembling a rounded arrowhead.

Most intriguingly, when Xu Taiping held the pendant, it automatically pointed towards Xu Ziyan.

Upon closer inspection, Xu Ziyan wore a similar pendant around her neck.

“Understood.” Xu Taiping immediately grasped the pendant’s purpose and put it on.

“Who here is heading to Dew Garden? Step forward for Young Master!”

As Xu Taiping bid farewell to Oriole, preparing to meet Xu Ziyan at the nearby teleportation platform, an arrogant voice suddenly echoed across the jade disc.

Xu Taiping and Xu Ziyan looked towards the source.

A youth about fifteen or sixteen, accompanied by two white-haired elders and three middle-aged men, strolled towards the center of the disc.

“Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.”

Oriole sighed upon seeing the youth.

“That brat is Jing Hao, the young master of Yunjing Palace. The two elders with him are not only in the Profound Realm but also peak martial masters. The other three are likely Gazing Abyss Realm martial masters. The old palace master dotes on his late-life son, spoiling him rotten. It’s best not to provoke him.”

He explained to Xu Taiping and Xu Ziyan.

Yunjing Palace was not like ordinary sects, and given Jing Hao’s status as the beloved son of the palace master, even the Nine Mansions had to show some courtesy.

“Dew Garden is vast; we just need to avoid direct conflict with him.”

Xu Ziyan shook her head.

Xu Taiping nodded.

“Why the silence? If you’re heading to Dew Garden, step forward now! Don’t say Young Master didn’t give you a chance. Step forward, and I might spare your lives once we’re inside the ruins.”

Jing Hao of Yunjing Palace scoffed again.

Knowing his identity, many remained silent, quietly waiting for the teleportation array to activate.

“What, are you all mute? Or do you all want to be turtles in the water?”

The young master of Yunjing Palace sneered mockingly.

“Why should we step forward just because you say so? Who do you think you are?”

Just then, Xu Taiping and Xu Ziyan heard a familiar voice.

Who else could it be but the blunt Zhou Ao?

“Who am I?”

Jing Hao’s lips curled into a smirk, then he glanced at the robust men behind him.

Seeing this, Xu Taiping and Xu Ziyan exchanged a glance and shot forward from their spot.

“Boom!”

But they were still a step too late.

As soon as Jing Hao’s words fell, one of the middle-aged men beside him shot towards Zhou Ao like a gust of wind, sending him flying backward.

“Junior Brother!”

The Senior Sisters from the Sixth Peak cried out, rushing to catch him.

Despite this, Yunjing Palace’s men were relentless.

The other two middle-aged men beside Jing Hao also charged like the wind towards Lin Buyu and the others from the Sixth Peak.

“Boom!”

In that critical moment, Xu Taiping’s figure, accompanied by the sound of tearing wind, arrived in front of Lin Buyu and her group, colliding fiercely with the two middle-aged men.