“Master Hong, how much are these four pieces of information?” Lin Yun asked.
“The price of these four reports isn’t exactly cheap, but consider it on me, old mate,” Master Hong said with a smile.
“How can that do? This is information I requested, how could I let you pay for it, Master Hong?” Lin Yun replied.
“Brother Lin Yun, we’re friends, what’s a few reports between us? Don’t be so formal with your old brother,” Master Hong said with a laugh.
“Well… alright then, thank you, Master Hong,” Lin Yun clasped his fists in gratitude. With that, Lin Yun opened the four scrolls one by one, examining them carefully.
It didn’t take long for Lin Yun to finish reading all four scrolls.
“Hmm? The information seems rather brief,” Lin Yun said, surprised. After reviewing the reports, he found the contents quite simple, merely noting some basic details.
“Master Hong, is there more detailed information available?” Lin Yun inquired. When he’d previously bought information on Kun Yuanzi of the Seven Stars Sect, there had been both a basic and a detailed version, priced differently.
“Lin Yun, this is already the most detailed information we release externally, Immortal reports from Xiaoyao Tower are always brief, same goes for Taixu Tavern, after all, it concerns Immortals, touching on some of humanity’s deeper secrets, truly comprehensive reports are kept internal,” Master Hong explained.
“Humanity’s secrets? Master Hong, if I asked what these ‘secrets’ are, you wouldn’t tell me, would you?” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Haha, let me put it this way, even I can’t access the core secrets, to know all the mysteries of this world, to uncover the true face behind it, you’d have to become an Immortal, and I’m clearly not qualified, I might know a bit more than you, but the real core? I can’t touch it,” Master Hong said.
Hearing this, Lin Yun didn’t press further, though it only deepened his sense that this world was far more complex than he’d imagined.
As for the four reports, though brief, they still offered Lin Yun some guidance. Scruffy Old Man: free-spirited, unrestrained, occasionally roams the mortal world as a beggar, relatively poor among Immortals, well-liked.
Li Ba: bold and fiery-tempered, loves drinking and befriending like-minded people, but has many enemies.
Zhuang Song: refined and gentle, well-regarded, known as the ‘Little Sword Immortal’. Cao Jun: somewhat eccentric, average reputation, once a cherished general under the Xingwu Emperor, ascended to Immortal status eight thousand years ago, though no longer serving the empire, still heeds the Emperor’s call.
… The four reports were all quite basic, one thing Lin Yun had most wanted to know—details of their strength—wasn’t included.
Clearly, Xiaoyao Tower didn’t want to disclose their specific power levels publicly.
“I didn’t expect Cao Jun was once under the Xingwu Emperor,” Lin Yun said, a bit surprised. These reports, while simple, did provide some useful reference points.
After reviewing them, Lin Yun had made a tentative decision about which Immortal to join, but he wasn’t in a rush to refine the jade pendant and commit, he still had to meet the Xingwu Emperor tomorrow.
Then, Lin Yun looked up at Master Hong.
“Master Hong, I need something else, I want books on all the knowledge of the cultivation continent, including weapons and treasures, rare natural wonders, demonic beasts, the more the better,” Lin Yun said.
With Little Azure Dragon by his side before, that creature seemed incredibly knowledgeable, Lin Yun could ask him anything he didn’t understand.
Now that Little Azure Dragon was gone, Lin Yun had to cram knowledge himself, so he’d be prepared for various situations.
Master Hong agreed readily, instructing the attendant to fetch them. Soon, the books arrived, all stored in a storage ring.
Lin Yun took the ring, probing it with his divine sense, and saw a massive bookshelf inside, packed with countless books.
“So many?” Lin Yun exclaimed, stunned. Seeing Lin Yun’s reaction, Master Hong smiled, “The cultivation continent is vast, its history incredibly ancient, just the books recording rare and exotic items alone number many, don’t be fooled by this amount, it still can’t cover everything, some things have no records at all, especially events and objects from too far back, the older they are, the fewer the records.”
Lin Yun thought it over, Master Hong’s reasoning made sense.
“With this many books, it’ll keep me busy studying for a while,” Lin Yun said with a slight smile. Then he asked the total price, Master Hong again offered to cover it, but Lin Yun insisted that since he hadn’t paid for the reports, he had to pay this time, Master Hong couldn’t refuse and quoted the price.
The books totalled 160,000 spirit crystals, a discounted rate. This shocked Lin Yun, books alone were this expensive?
It was equivalent to a divine-grade weapon, maybe even a bit more. Master Hong explained that these books covered an immense range of topics, including obscure knowledge, with fairly comprehensive records, hence the high cost, cheaper books existed, but they were basic, omitting many things.
After buying the reports and books, Lin Yun chatted with Master Hong over tea before leaving. He’d intended to get some cultivation resources for Mo Qing at Xiaoyao Tower too, but she refused, and he couldn’t persuade her.
After stepping out of Xiaoyao Tower.
“Lin Yun, when are you going to study under an Immortal?” Mo Qing stopped and looked at him.
“After meeting the Xingwu Emperor tomorrow, I’ll return to the Heavenly Sword Sect, then set off,” Lin Yun said. He knew full well that studying under an Immortal was crucial to his cultivation path!
Looking at Mo Qing, he asked earnestly, “Senior Sister Mo Qing, what are your plans next? Staying at the Heavenly Sword Sect to cultivate?”
“I’m not sure, I… I haven’t decided yet,” Mo Qing suddenly lowered her head, as if something weighed on her mind.
“What’s wrong? Is something up?” Lin Yun asked quickly.
“No… it’s nothing, let’s head back,” Mo Qing lifted her head, her pretty face blooming with a smile again.
… The next morning, Lin Yun arrived at the palace gates at half-past eight. Having won the Wanhua Tournament, he’d been promised a mysterious grand prize, Lin Yun trusted that since the Xingwu Emperor said so, it wouldn’t disappoint, he was quite curious—what could it be?
