Xie Qingxuan nodded forcefully, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"I’ll wait for you."
The Array Master began chanting incantations, and the runes on the Transmission Array lit up one by one, enveloping Xie Qingxuan’s figure in blue and white light.
At the moment the light was about to completely swallow her, Gu Sheng saw her lips move slightly, as if she said something, but her voice was drowned out by the hum of the array.
The light dispersed, and the platform was empty.
Gu Sheng stood there, still faintly able to smell Xie Qingxuan’s light orchid scent.
"Kid, stop dazing and get to the business at hand."
The Innate Spirit Embryo’s voice sounded in his mind.
"The journey to the Southern Border must not be delayed."
Gu Sheng collected his thoughts and turned to another Array Master.
"To Nanyan City."
After several transmissions, Gu Sheng finally arrived at the largest city in the southern East Desolation—Sun City.
As he stepped out of the Transmission Array, the heat wave greeted him, causing him to squint slightly.
Sun City’s architectural style was starkly different from Great Wilderness City, with houses mostly in crimson red, roofs shaped like spires, and passersby wearing more vibrant clothing. The air was filled with the scent of various spices and herbs, with the distant sound of camel bells and hawkers’ shouts faintly audible.
"Young Sir, need a guide?"
Zhao San, dressed in a brown short suit, approached with an eager smile on his face.
Gu Sheng gave him a quick glance.
This Martial Artist seemed to be in his early twenties, with a cultivation level around the Seventh Level of Body Refining, carrying a simple Iron Sword at his waist, appearing to be a local.
"Are you familiar with Sun City?"
Gu Sheng inquired.
"Of course! I’ve grown up in Sun City, and there’s no place in the city I’m not familiar with."
Zhao San assured, patting his chest.
"Whatever you want to know, just ask!"
Gu Sheng nodded.
"Tell me about the basic situation in Sun City first."
The two walked and talked.
Zhao San spoke eloquently and quickly detailed Sun City’s conditions.
Here, the largest city in the southern East Desolation, is overseen by two King Realm experts, Sun King and Southern Prince, serving as an important gateway to the Southern Border, bustling with commerce, and teeming with a mix of people.
"Are you here for the ’Nanli Festival’ in three months?"
Zhao San tentatively asked.
"I heard that this festival has lavish rewards, even King-level Techniques might appear!"
Gu Sheng neither confirmed nor denied, instead asking.
"Have you heard of a sect called ’Yujing Sect’?"
Zhao San scratched his head.
"Yujing Sect? I... I don’t think I’ve heard of it. But if you need, I can go inquire."
Gu Sheng took out a piece of Low-grade Spirit Stone from his sleeve and tossed it to him.
"Find a quiet place for me to stay, and also help me inquire about Yujing Sect. As long as the information is reliable, there’ll be no shortage of Spirit Stones for you."
Zhao San nodded repeatedly like a bobblehead.
"Rest assured, sir! I’ll contact my brothers immediately and report to you as soon as I have news!"
Gu Sheng said no more and turned to walk towards the Moon Viewing Pavilion’s gate.
The two guards in front of the gate had eyes like lightning; after sensing the restrained yet deep and unfathomable aura from Gu Sheng, they immediately stepped aside respectfully.
Entering the hall, a refreshing sandalwood scent greeted him.
The floor was paved with fine green jade bricks, reflective enough to see oneself; the walls were adorned with calligraphy and paintings from renowned artists, each containing its unique mood; the ceiling was embedded with hundreds of Luminous Pearls, emitting soft light even during daytime.
"Are you looking for accommodation, sir?"
Behind the counter, a middle-aged man with a gentle face asked with a smile.
Gu Sheng took out a jade token from his sleeve and placed it lightly on the counter.
The jade token was entirely emerald green, with three cloud patterns carved on the front... it was the symbol of Linlang Pavilion’s Third Pavilion Master.
The middle-aged man’s pupils shrank slightly, and his attitude immediately became more respectful.
"So you’re a distinguished guest from Linlang Pavilion! Pardon me, pardon me. What kind of accommodation would Pavilion Master like?"
"Quiet, preferably with a Spirit Gathering Array."
Gu Sheng’s voice was calm.
"How fortunate! Heaven 3 Courtyard is just vacant, an exclusive courtyard with a Top-grade Gathering Spirit Array, equipped with Alchemy Room and Quiet Room."
The middle-aged man took out a sandalwood plaque from the drawer and offered it respectfully.
"This is the key to the courtyard’s restriction. You only need to infuse spiritual power to take ownership."
Gu Sheng took the wooden plaque, tapped it with his fingertips, and a faint light flashed, revealing subtle patterns on the plaque.
"The daily room fee is ten pieces of Mid-grade Spirit Stones, how long does sir plan to stay?"
Within Gu Sheng, spiritual power circulated, traversing his meridians in a complete cycle.
He could feel that the dead-end of his first meridian had been opened, and now was the time to prepare to break through the second one.
"If only I could find someone from the Yujing Sect..."
Gu Sheng thought silently.
"Perhaps I wouldn’t need to risk delving deep into the Southern Border..."
Cultivation disregarded the hour, and before he knew it, it was dusk.
The evening glow shone through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows inside the quiet room.
Gu Sheng slowly retracted his energy, feeling the abundance of spiritual power within him, and nodded with satisfaction.
It was then that a ripple suddenly came from the restriction at the courtyard gate.
Gu Sheng furrowed his brows slightly and stood up, leaving the quiet room.
Outside the gate stood a thin middle-aged man wearing the attire of Moon Viewing Pavilion’s manager, his face full of ingratiating smiles.
"I’m sorry to disturb your cultivation, my lord."
The middle-aged man cupped his hands in a bow, his eyes darting around the courtyard.
"I am Manager Liu of the Moon Viewing Pavilion, here to see if you need anything."
Gu Sheng coolly replied.
"No."
Manager Liu was persistent, stepping forward with a lowered voice.
"Since my lord is new here, you might not yet know of our Moon Viewing Pavilion’s special services..."
He rubbed his hands together, revealing a smile every man would understand.
"The pavilion has trained a group of talented and beautiful female martial artists, skilled not only in the arts but also specializing in dual cultivation secret techniques, greatly beneficial for cultivation..."
"No need."
Gu Sheng interrupted him, his voice turning colder.
Manager Liu’s smile froze on his face, still unwilling to give up.
"My lord, don’t be so hasty to refuse; these women have been carefully selected, with some even coming from the Southern Border, skilled in..."
"I said no need."
A glint of cold light flashed in Gu Sheng’s eyes, inadvertently releasing a wave of pressure.
Manager Liu suddenly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, with cold sweat beading on his forehead as he retreated repeatedly.

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