The two women exchanged a glance, and then the silent one finally spoke. "We heard earlier that your sect was establishing itself here, but we were always tied up with mundane affairs and never managed to visit. Recently, we found ourselves with some free time, so our Sect Master sent us two to pay our respects, fostering goodwill between neighbors!"

Ye Wen looked at the woman, naturally disbelieving these pleasantries. What kind of endless administrative work could a cultivation sect possibly have? If they truly couldn't spare the time, they could certainly dispatch a disciple.

Take himself, for instance. Despite being constantly busy over the years, most of his disciples remained focused on deep cultivation. If Ye Wen wished to socialize with neighboring factions, he could easily send Xu Xian or Zhi Ruo in his stead.

How busy could the Cuiyan Sect be to surpass Ye Wen’s own schedule? Ten years of absolute silence, and now they suddenly appeared!

His thoughts raced through several possibilities before settling on the imminent war between the Celestial and Buddhist factions nearby. Perhaps these two women were here to gauge his stance on the matter?

"I see!" Ye Wen smiled and nodded. Since the visitors weren't speaking plainly, he decided to engage in pleasantries first. He instructed a disciple to serve tea and then sat down with utmost composure. After all, they were all cultivators; determining superiority through seated meditation alone might take three to five hundred years.

It was a contest of wills: whoever broke first and laid their cards on the table would lose. Ye Wen was in no rush; he would wait to see what machinations the Cuiyan Sect was truly plotting.

"Our sect was established only recently, so we lack any truly immortal provisions to entertain you both. Please forgive us for offering only ordinary tea."

In truth, the two women were slightly surprised to be served mere common tea. However, upon seeing that Ye Wen was drinking the same beverage, they understood that this was simply the state of the Shushan Sect. Considering they had only been founded for just over a decade, it was comprehensible.

Fanfan picked up her tea, using the cup to conceal her voice as she whispered to Mo Mo: "It seems the Shushan Sect isn't that remarkable after all. Perhaps our Junior Sect Master was too cautious in sending us?"

Mo Mo performed the same action, her words seemingly meant only for her cup: "Since Junior Sect Master warned us not to underestimate Shushan, there must be a reason. Let's not rush; we’ll probe their true strength further!"

The two women exchanged this brief conversation seamlessly, their movements fluid, betraying nothing unusual. Confident in their superior skill, they naturally assumed no one could detect their methods, so they brazenly carried out this exchange right in front of Ye Wen.

Unbeknownst to them, while Ye Wen maintained an outwardly calm expression, sitting silently as if oblivious, he had heard every word of their conversation perfectly. Ever since mastering the Huantian Baojian, he had become acutely sensitive to surrounding energy fluctuations. The technique these two employed inevitably created some disturbance. If a cultivator of similar or superior strength had used such a method, Ye Wen would have only detected a slight anomaly, unable to decipher the actual words.

But as for these two... Ye Wen clearly heard every syllable, not missing a single one. So, they only came to gauge our intentions?

If that were the case, what reason could the Cuiyan Sect Master have for dispatching her two senior sisters? Their very presence indicated that these women held significant status within Cuiyan Sect.

While contemplating this internally, Ye Wen engaged them in idle chatter, weaving in anecdotes about the celestial scenery, pointing out spectacular vistas near Shushan, and remarking on the treacherous geography that made certain areas inaccessible to ordinary people.

Mo Mo and Fanfan reciprocated, interspersing descriptions of Cuiyan Sect’s own scenic wonders. For a time, the exchange flowed harmoniously, with neither side experiencing awkward silences.

Through this casual conversation, both parties managed to exchange a sliver of intelligence. Ye Wen learned that the most senior figure in Cuiyan Sect was their Martial Uncles, though that elder no longer concerned himself with worldly affairs, preferring to remain in seclusion behind Cuiyan Peak, emerging only for the most pressing matters.

Next, regarding their generation: the Sect Master was Wang Yan, a direct lineage disciple of the previous master, who had taken the mantle nearly thirty years ago.

Thirty years was not a long tenure, but Wang Yan already commanded immense respect within Cuiyan Sect. This might be because she was one of only two 'Black Disciples' of her generation; the others were mostly her senior or junior sisters. Mo Mo was the Eldest Sister of this generation, and Fanfan the Fourth Sister. Wang Yan ranked sixth in this cohort.

The sect did not have many disciples; Cuiyan Sect was in a stable development phase. The older generation was dwindling, and the younger generation had yet to mature. The entire sect relied on the current generation to maintain their standing, which explained their low profile and preference for avoiding unnecessary exposure.

"In this regard, they bear some resemblance to our own sect! Except Cuiyan Sect still has an elder to prop up their prestige, while my Shushan Sect relies solely on me!"

Having gleaned this information, Ye Wen subtly revealed some details about the Shushan Sect in return. Only then did the two women realize that Shushan’s current situation bore similarities to Cuiyan Sect’s—both striving for development. Beyond that, they remained ignorant, unaware if Shushan had any surviving elders, or even how many experts the sect possessed, let alone how many contemporaries Ye Wen had.

After this extended discussion, Fanfan remained oblivious, but Mo Mo began to sense something amiss—she realized they had revealed far more than they had uncovered!

Seeing her junior sister enthusiastically continuing her friendly exchange with Ye Wen, the Eldest Sister coughed lightly, halting Fanfan’s speech, and sent a mental message: "Stop talking! We’re about to spill all our secrets!"

Fanfan startled, then realization dawned. This girl clearly couldn't keep secrets and felt tricked by Ye Wen, shooting him a resentful glare that made Ye Wen both amused and frustrated.

Despite revealing a significant amount, with Mo Mo and Fanfan perhaps coming off slightly at a disadvantage, Mo Mo concluded that Shushan, like Cuiyan Sect, was focused on low-key cultivation and likely wouldn't clash with them, thus classifying them as peers.

After a few more pleasantries, Mo Mo finally steered the conversation to their true purpose: "What are your thoughts, Sect Master Ye, on the Heavenly Court's massive mobilization and instigation of war?"

From this question, it was clear that the people of Cuiyan Sect did not entirely approve of the Heavenly Court’s rash decision to wage war, perhaps because the conflict zone lay so close to their own location.

Ye Wen placed the teacup he had been holding down, pondered for a moment, and replied: "A clash between the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Faction is inevitable sooner or later! As for the outcome, it is too early to judge."

Before Mo Mo could respond, Fanfan interjected: "Sect Master Ye, why do you say that? The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Buddhist Faction cultivate profound Dharma, diligently preaching benevolence. Their relationship with Heaven has always been friendly. If it weren't for the Jade Emperor’s—ahem—the Jade Emperor's arbitrary decision to mobilize troops, how would this great war even begin?"

Ye Wen frowned, glancing at Mo Mo. Seeing that the woman remained silent but clearly agreed with Fanfan’s sentiment, he inwardly mused: Could the Cuiyan Sect have some ties to the Buddhist Faction?

This wasn't entirely unusual. Many sects in the Eastern Celestial Realm, while specializing in Daoist arts, also practiced some Buddhist divine abilities. Moreover, many sects blended the essence of several schools—the Quanzhen Sect, for example, integrated the Three Teachings. Since Shushan claimed descent from Quanzhen, they inherently possessed some tangential connection to Buddhism.

However, these were merely things Ye Wen said to throw people off; he didn't take them seriously. Shushan’s core techniques remained firmly rooted in orthodox Xuanmen principles. As for Buddhist techniques... only Hasina was an exception, having mastered the Tathagata's Divine Palm. He heard she had recently started practicing the Yijin Jing as well, though he wasn't sure how her progress was going. The Yijin Jing wasn't something Ye Wen had taught her; Hasina had dredged it up from her past life memories, combining it with Shushan’s cultivation methods and yoga movements taught to her by Huayi to create her own synthesis. Its actual efficacy remained entirely unknown.

Therefore, Ye Wen held no particular sentiment toward the Buddhist Faction, but these two before him...

Seeing Ye Wen frown and remain silent, Mo Mo couldn't decipher his meaning. The previously cheerful atmosphere suddenly turned subdued. After a long pause, Mo Mo finally broke the silence: "Sect Master Ye, how long do you anticipate this great war will last?"

Ye Wen looked at her and shook his head: "Since the strength of both sides is nearly equal, no one can say precisely how long it will take."

Mo Mo asked again: "Then, Sect Master Ye, do you believe this great war will affect cultivators like us?"

Seeing the genuine concern on her face, Ye Wen finally understood the core of their visit: these two had come seeking reassurance. They were likely worried that the massive battle between Heaven and Buddhism would rage so fiercely that it would sweep up nearby cultivators like themselves.

Thinking of this, Ye Wen felt a pang of sympathy for the Jade Emperor. It was one thing for his subjects not to support him in such a crucial war, but to actively worry about how to remain uninvolved—if Ye Wen were in that position, he would feel stifled!

Yet, upon reflection, his own mindset wasn't much different, so he felt awkward speaking ill of others. Clearing his throat, he shared what he knew: "The armies of the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Faction are massed far to the west. Even if the war begins, it will not reach the vicinity of your sect."

The implied meaning was that his own location was less certain. Shushan stood at a critical strategic point; whether the Heavenly Court’s reinforcements or the Buddhist Faction aimed to penetrate the eastern territories of Heaven, they would likely have to pass through his domain. Even if the fighting didn't reach them directly, disruption was inevitable.

However, the women only needed reassurance on this point. Once they confirmed their sect would be safe, their worries eased. Ye Wen then showed them around the Shushan area briefly, inspected the conditions, and had Nangong Huang arrange lodging before retiring to his own courtyard.

When he returned, it was evening. Since he had guests, he hadn't joined the others for dinner. Back in his courtyard, he found several women glaring at each other around a stone table already laden with food and wine—they were clearly waiting for him.

The tension stemmed mainly from Artemis and Ning Rushue. If Huayi hadn't been there to mediate, they likely would have erupted into another fight—one that might not cause physical harm but would certainly result in an uproar.

"Waiting for me?"

He strode over, sat in an empty stone chair, picked up his chopsticks, and immediately served a bite of food to each woman. "We are all family now, so let's dispense with formality. Eat!"

With that single sentence, he categorized everyone present as his kin. Ning Rushue and Huayi showed no particular reaction, but Artemis's perpetually tense face flushed slightly; however, she still refused to smile, merely picking up the fork specially prepared for her after glancing at Ye Wen.

After a few bites of wine and food, he recounted his meeting with the Cuiyan Sect women. Artemis, uninterested and uninformed about such matters, offered no commentary. Ning Rushue and Huayi, upon hearing the details, merely stated: "In that case, tomorrow we should send a disciple to return the visit to the Cuiyan Sect. Though our acquaintance is new, proper etiquette must be observed!"

Ye Wen nodded. "That is necessary. But who should we select for this mission?"

Huayi considered: "Zhi Ruo has been too focused on secluded cultivation these past years; that’s not good for her. Let's have her go out to clear her mind this time!"

Ye Wen agreed: "That works, but Zhi Ruo isn't naturally adept at socializing. While sending her ensures we maintain politeness, the person truly in charge needs to be someone else!"

"Senior Brother, have you forgotten your emperor disciple?" Ning Rushue had already settled on the right candidate and reminded Ye Wen immediately.

Hearing Wei Hong's name, Ye Wen instantly realized the assignment would be perfectly suited for this disciple.

Among Ye Wen's disciples, Guo Jing was too slow-witted. Nangong Huang wasn't a direct disciple, so sending him might breach etiquette. Of the remaining disciples, Li Xiaoyao had vanished without a trace. Wei Hong was indeed the most suitable choice left.

Setting aside other considerations, someone who had been an emperor would certainly know how to converse appropriately, and Wei Hong possessed a natural dignity that wouldn't dishonor Shushan.

"Excellent!"

The decision was made within a few sentences. After dinner, he summoned the two disciples, gave them brief instructions, and said no more. They understood their duties.

Zhou Zhiruo and Wei Hong, upon hearing their Master’s instructions, grasped his intentions. Wei Hong understood that he was expected to take the lead on this mission, with his Second Senior Sister merely accompanying him to relax. Zhou Zhiruo also understood that this trip was mainly for a change of scenery, requiring minimal preparation.

As for accompanying attendants, just one reliable guard would suffice! However, Wei Hong seemed keen on selecting a few of the newly matured outer disciples for instruction soon, and this trip might delay that plan. Ye Wen laughed: "Go ahead without worry. I’ll tell your martial brothers not to accept any new apprentices in the near future; I guarantee any disciple you fancy won't be snatched up by others!"

After a few light jokes, Wei Hong and Zhou Zhiruo withdrew. Ye Wen remained in the courtyard for a while longer, gazing at the women sitting beside him. He wanted to draw them into an embrace, but awkwardly realized his hands weren't sufficient! If he left any one of them out, they would surely be displeased.

Huayi, noticing his awkwardness, chuckled softly: "Husband, now you understand the difficulty? We'll see how you manage your choices tonight!"

Huayi's comment only made Ye Wen more flustered. Ning Rushue, always a bit reserved about such matters, blushed deeply and shot Huayi a look: "What nonsense are you speaking?"

Artemis, in contrast, showed little expression but instinctively puffed out her chest, making her ample curves even more pronounced. The subtle, visible peaks were undeniably eye-catching. Ye Wen had recently learned that this woman had no habit of wearing undergarments, and given her divine physique, there was no concern about deformation or sagging. Her movement was highly provocative to him, and his gaze inevitably drifted toward that area. This annoyed Ning Rushue, who retaliated by pinching him sharply in the small of his back to vent her frustration.

After some playful roughhousing, the group retired to rest. Only Ye Wen lay awake in his bed, seriously contemplating: This situation can’t continue! Having to decide whose room to sleep in every night is going to drive me mad!

When it was just Huayi and Ning Rushue, Ye Wen usually shared the main bed with Ning Rushue, the 'official wife,' though he certainly never neglected Huayi, who didn't contest the arrangement. Thus, he hadn't worried about this issue before.

But incorporating Artemis into the fold complicated matters. After deep consideration, only one solution seemed perfect: "It seems I need to build a new, larger main bedroom and get an extra-large bed..."

Lost in these musings, the night passed.

At dawn the next day, Ye Wen met with the two Cuiyan Sect women again. After a brief exchange, they prepared to depart. Ye Wen smoothly suggested that two of his disciples would return the visit to their sect, marking the first relatively cordial exchange between the two factions.

The women naturally agreed. Thus, amidst an atmosphere of amity, the group left Shushan heading toward Cuiyan Peak. Seeing them go, Ye Wen murmured to himself: "These two don't strike me as the type to intentionally seek out information. Sect Master Wang Yan must possess some capability; no wonder she became the leader!"

He had already figured it out: Wang Yan must have deduced that Shushan’s ability to establish itself within this forbidden zone implied some connection to the Heavenly Court, prompting her to send her two senior sisters to investigate. Otherwise, why not ask other sects? Why specifically Shushan? A newly founded sect wouldn't normally be expected to know the inner workings of such a massive affair.

But Wang Yan saw the crucial detail: the very location where Shushan was founded!

"I should try to meet this Wang Yan when the opportunity arises!"

Muttering this, he prepared to return and continue cultivating his relationship with Artemis. He felt that while Artemis held affection for him, her favorability rating still wasn't high enough. So far, it only permitted hand-holding and occasional embraces; further progress would require sustained effort.

Alas, fate intervened. Before he could rise, Nangong Huang rushed in urgently: "Martial Uncle Master, there is someone at the gate claiming to be the Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord, a disciple under Taishang Laojun. He says he requests an audience with you!"