Chapter 70

When Xia Jiu heard this, he couldn't help but be taken aback. He had expected someone to ask a question, but he didn't think it would be a woman.

"Senior Sister! I am Xia Jiu, and I have come to ask for directions." Although Xia Jiu was surprised, he still bowed and then spoke.

"Xia Jiu—asking for directions—are you a disciple of which senior?" There were not many people on Youming Mountain, and over the past hundred years, they had all come to know each other. Therefore, the woman was quite puzzled by Xia Jiu's response.

Xia Jiu didn't think much about it and said, "My master is Yougui."

"Yougui's disciple? When did Senior Uncle take on a disciple? Oh! Could it be that you are the one who passed the test of the ghostly iron chain today and joined our Youming Mountain?" The woman was clearly surprised at first, but then seemed to remember something.

When Xia Jiu stepped through the stone gate and entered the gloomy space of Youming Mountain today, a third-generation disciple shouted using true essence, which was heard by everyone on Youming Mountain. Even five second-generation disciples almost came to blows over the competition to take Xia Jiu as a disciple. This matter had already spread throughout Youming Mountain, so it was reasonable for the woman to connect the dots and recognize Xia Jiu.

Hearing this, Xia Jiu couldn't help but feel relieved. He was really worried that this Senior Sister wouldn't know about his master taking on a disciple.

"Senior Sister! I am indeed the one who passed the test today and joined our Youming Mountain. I just came from my master, who asked me to find a courtyard to stay in. But the mountain is pitch black, and I am not familiar with the paths. I saw a light from a distance, so I came to ask. If I have disturbed you, please forgive me." Although Xia Jiu had only been a human for a few months, his mind was filled with a lot of information and memories. Therefore, although his nature was simple, he had learned to be very polite and cautious in his interactions with others.

"Is that so? It's dark outside, and it's inconvenient. Little Junior Brother, if you have any questions, come in and ask." The woman perhaps believed what Xia Jiu said, or it could be that his politeness and kindness made a good impression on her. Her voice was much softer this time.

As soon as the woman finished speaking, Xia Jiu bowed in gratitude, and the space in front of him suddenly rippled.

In the next moment, Xia Jiu's eyes brightened, and a small lake about an acre in size appeared before him. On the other side of the lake stood a two-story pavilion. The pavilion was brightly lit, and the light reflected off the water, making the place seem very quiet and warm, quite different from the cold and dark Youming Mountain outside.

Xia Jiu faintly heard the sound of something moving in the water and took a closer look at the lake.

Across the lake, Xia Jiu put away his surprised expression and looked at the brightly lit pavilion on the other side. Through the window, he could vaguely see a graceful figure sitting by the window on the second floor.

There was no bridge over the lake. To reach the other side, Xia Jiu would either have to jump over the lake or go around it.

Xia Jiu shook his head at the idea of going around. Although he couldn't see any difference between where he was standing and the other side of the lake, based on his previous experience, he could tell that if he went around, he would likely trigger a restriction array, with unpredictable consequences. Although the Senior Sister in the pavilion wouldn't let him get hurt, constantly triggering the restriction arrays in her cave would not be good for either of them.

On the contrary, although there seemed to be some kind of creature in the lake, Xia Jiu didn't feel any danger.

With this in mind, Xia Jiu didn't hesitate. He tapped his foot and used the perfected Wind Walking technique to glide forward.

The lake was about a hundred meters wide, and with Xia Jiu's perfected Wind Walking technique, he only needed to touch the water once to easily cross the lake.

At the same time, the woman in the pavilion watched Xia Jiu through the window. Her face tightened, and she stared at the lake, about to scold him. But in the next moment, her expression changed, and she looked puzzled.

"Ming'er has never been so polite to strangers, especially a mere Spirit Condensation Realm practitioner. I remember when Liu Zhongtian came for the first time, he even revealed his Mid-Stage Soul Outing Realm cultivation, but Ming'er still attacked him. Strange! Strange! Hmm—this boy's Wind Walking technique is clearly at the perfected stage, which is very rare for a Spirit Condensation Realm practitioner." The woman's face was full of confusion as she muttered to herself.

By this time, Xia Jiu had already crossed the lake and appeared below the pavilion.

"Little Junior Brother! Come up directly! I won't come down to meet you." The woman's clear and pleasant voice now had a hint of barely concealed curiosity.

Xia Jiu naturally didn't hesitate. After responding, he pushed open the wooden door on the first floor of the pavilion and walked in.

Xia Jiu looked around the pavilion curiously. He saw wooden chairs, a tea table, potted flowers, and teapots, with several poems and paintings on the walls, making the place very elegant. Clearly, the first floor was used as a living room for receiving guests.

On the right side of the living room, a wooden staircase with a hollowed-out interior led directly to the second floor.

Xia Jiu's gaze swept over the first floor without stopping, and he directly stepped onto the staircase and headed for the second floor.

Halfway up the second floor, Xia Jiu felt a faint, sweet fragrance waft into his nose. The scent was very pleasant, and he couldn't help but sniff it several times.

Xia Jiu's heart was as calm as water, yet he was curious. He walked up to the second floor.

His heart was calm because he was like a child, with a simple nature. His curiosity was not about the girl's appearance or the so-called boudoir, but about the pleasant fragrance.

What caught Xia Jiu's eye were two rooms, a study and a bedroom.

The study had a rattan chair, a wooden table, a bookshelf, and a pot of three-colored orchids, arranged in a simple and elegant manner. The bookshelf had two rows and occupied half of the study.

At this moment, a woman in white was sitting at the desk, holding a book, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she was thinking about a difficult problem.

Xia Jiu stepped into the second floor, and the woman heard the sound and turned to look at him.

Their eyes met, and both were taken aback. Xia Jiu was stunned by the woman's beauty, while the woman was surprised by Xia Jiu's handsome appearance and his unique and ethereal aura.

The woman looked to be in her early twenties, with her hair casually tied up, revealing a neck as white and smooth as jade, with a crystalline luster. She had a heart-shaped face, long eyelashes, eyes as clear as crystal, full and bright red lips, and a slightly open mouth revealing neat, pearl-like teeth.

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