By this point in the conversation, Lin Yun felt there was little hope left.
Master Miao’s attitude was resolute.
Formation masters specialised in arrays. Their personal cultivation was generally not particularly high, and they were rarely skilled at close-quarters combat, nor did they have much experience of it.
As a result, formation masters seldom faced life-and-death battles, and their courage and grit were usually far less than those of cultivators like Lin Yun.
“Master Miao, if you are willing to accept, I will travel with you and protect you on the journey,” Lin Yun offered.
“What is your cultivation level, friend?” Master Miao asked, looking at him.
“Dao Transformation realm,” Lin Yun answered.
“Then even if you came, it would be useless. If real danger appeared, you would not be able to handle it. Even Supremes are unwilling to casually enter the territory of another race. Of course, if two Supremes escorted me there, then for the pavilion master’s sake I could accept the commission,” Master Miao said.
“Two Supremes?” A helpless expression crossed Lin Yun’s face.
Where on earth was he supposed to find two Supremes to act as bodyguards?
“Master Miao, is there truly no room for negotiation?” Lin Yun still wanted to try.
Master Miao smiled and replied, “This is already the absolute limit of negotiation.”
Hearing that, Lin Yun did not pursue the matter further.
After staying a little longer, the pavilion master led Lin Yun away.
Next, the pavilion master took Lin Yun to meet another formation master in Heart City, but the outcome was more or less the same.
There were only two formation masters in Heart City capable of constructing an array of that level, and both had now been visited.
From these two visits, Lin Yun clearly realised how difficult this task would be.
Afterwards, the pavilion master took Lin Yun out of Heart City to other parts of the Ancestral Heart Realm, continuing to seek out formation masters.
Although Lin Yun felt the chances were slim, he still wanted to meet every single one of them. At least there remained a sliver of hope, didn’t there?
Even though the Young Master of the Underworld Palace had caused trouble earlier, the pavilion master had assured Lin Yun before leaving the city that as long as they travelled together, there would be no major problem.
Naturally, Lin Yun himself was unafraid. Even outside Heart City, they were still within the Ancestral Heart Realm, not on Underworld Palace territory.
His current strength was no longer what it had been at the previous treasure appraisal gathering.
…
Deep within a great mountain range in the Ancestral Heart Realm.
Nestled in the depths of these mountains stood a quiet, secluded residence.
The pavilion master led Lin Yun down in front of the residence.
This was the third formation master they had sought out after leaving Heart City. The previous two, like the ones before them, had also refused the task.
The pavilion master had said this would be the last one he could introduce to Lin Yun.
The residence was not large, nor did it look particularly luxurious.
“The entire compound is enveloped by formations. Do not enter yet,” the pavilion master warned Lin Yun.
He then raised his head toward the residence and called out in a resonant voice, “Is Brother Hongyuan at home?”
“So it is the pavilion master gracing my humble abode. Please come in. I am in the back courtyard pavilion,” a voice replied from within.
“Daoist Beichen, let us go.”
With that, the pavilion master led Lin Yun into the grounds.
The two passed through the front courtyard and made their way to the rear.
The back courtyard was beautifully scenic, with a rather large pond.
A pavilion stood in the centre of the pond, connected to the shore by a small wooden bridge.
They walked along the bridge and arrived at the pavilion.
Two figures sat inside, drinking tea and chatting.
One of them was someone Lin Yun actually recognised.
“That… isn’t that Senior Dong Jian?” Lin Yun stared in astonishment.
He recognised at a glance that one of the men was Dong Jian.
Back then, Manor Lord Wu had taken him to the ancient temple where Senior Dong Jian had personally given him sword instruction, from which Lin Yun had benefited enormously.
As for the other person in the pavilion, Lin Yun did not know him. That must be the formation master Hongyuan whom the pavilion master wished to introduce.
Because Lin Yun had altered both his aura and appearance, Dong Jian did not recognise him.
When Hongyuan saw the pavilion master, he immediately rose with a smile.
“Pavilion Master, even a busy man like you finds time to visit me. Come, have some tea,” Hongyuan said warmly.
The pavilion master and Lin Yun stepped into the pavilion and approached the square table.
“Brother Hongyuan, who might this be?” the pavilion master asked, looking at Dong Jian.
“Pavilion Master, allow me to introduce my old friend Dong Jian. His understanding of swordsmanship runs extremely deep,” Hongyuan said, making the introduction.
He then introduced the pavilion master to Dong Jian. “Old brother Dong, this is the master of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion in Heart City.”
“So it is the master of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. I have long heard of your name,” Dong Jian said, rising and cupping his fists in greeting.
