The moment the thought surfaced, Zong Shou shook his head again. If there were a Grand Array here, that would be one thing. If it were a Spirit Art, the caster would certainly be beyond the Sun Roaming Realm. A casual Spirit Art could easily snuff out his life; why bother with such complications?

The key was that he could sense no trace of a large-scale, regular circulation of spiritual energy nearby, so it wasn't a Spirit Formation either.

At least, Zong Shou could not sense one right now.

Xuan Yuan Yiren followed him to the carriage, gazing at their surroundings with tightly furrowed brows.

When she had hurried over from behind, the fog was already thick, and she hadn't thought much of it.

Only now did she realize something was amiss. After a moment of thought, she hesitated, "Uncle Lian, have we made a mistake? Haven't we been moving straight ahead? How could we be lost? And I recall the fog thickening less than thirty minutes ago; how could it be so fast…"

1,

"Miss Xuan Yuan, I, Lian Fan, speak no falsehoods!" Lian Fan's expression grew solemn as he gestured towards the front of his carriage: "Look at these Wind-Stealing Steeds; it seems we are going straight, but there is actually a slight deviation. Besides this strange great fog, there must be another Illusion Art at play, enchanting the mind. We've likely just circled back to where we started; as for which direction the Cloud-Turning Carriage is truly heading, we have no idea. It is only because of the peculiarity of my ancestral bloodline that I could sense it early!" Xuan Yuan Yiren was startled. Looking closely again, the situation was indeed exactly as Lian Fan described. Her expression instantly sharpened, and she gazed thoughtfully around them.

Zong Shou surveyed the area for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, nonchalantly sitting down. "Uncle Lian can stop! Seeing this, it seems highly probable that an expert is employing some grand technique here. Since the caster doesn't wish to let us leave, continuing to drive is pointless. We might as well rest and let the horses conserve their strength!"

Ever since Lian Cheng assigned him as the coachman, Lian Fan had treated Zong Shou's words with utmost deference. After yesterday's battle, his admiration for Zong Shou had solidified into unwavering obedience, treating his words like sacred scripture.

Upon hearing this, he unhesitatingly cracked his whip, ordering the Wind-Stealing Steeds to halt completely.

Xuan Yuan Yiren shot Zong Shou a dissatisfied glance, seemingly blaming him for making the decision unilaterally, yet she offered no verbal contradiction.

They waited for a full two hours, during which Zong Shou calmly drifted into a deep sleep. As evening approached, the great fog showed no sign of dissipating. Xuan Yuan Yiren's eyes gradually betrayed anxiety. She finally rose into the air, standing atop the carriage roof, and bowed respectfully toward their surroundings: "I wonder which senior is practicing here? This is Xuan Yuan Yiren, a junior disciple of the Dan Quan Sect. I pay my respects. I implore the senior to show mercy and allow us to depart!"

Her voice, infused with True Force, carried for ten miles, faintly echoing in the stillness.

However, half an hour after she finished speaking, no one answered. Naturally, the great fog remained stubbornly in place.

Zong Shou was awakened by the commotion. Seeing the scene, he let out a faint smile. Though he didn't know the purpose of the one who conjured this fog, he could confirm that this person held no intent to kill him. If they truly wished him harm, these past few hours would have provided countless opportunities.

Xuan Yuan Yiren seemed to realize this too. After a moment of contemplation, she sighed in resignation. "Young Lord, this fog is likely not aimed at us. But waiting here isn't a solution. I and Yun Niang will scout the vicinity. Should any danger arise, I can use this Fire Signal Talisman to alert you. This talisman is specially made by my Dan Quan Sect; it can be seen even within this thick fog!"

A pale-gold talisman flew from Xuan Yuan Yiren’s hand. Apparently assuming Zong Shou couldn't use it, she affixed the Fire Signal Talisman directly in front of Chu Xue. Following that, she placed several gold needles and about forty second-tier Beast Crystals around the carriage.

Zong Shou glanced over casually, recognizing it as a Spirit Formation designed for directional identification. As for the gold needles, they were objects Xuan Yuan Yiren often used, imbued with her aura and spiritual sense. Enhanced by the Spirit Formation, she could sense and identify them even dozens of miles away. The entire formation was extremely simple, yet ingeniously conceived.

His eyes narrowed slightly, but Zong Shou showed no concern. Watching Xuan Yuan Yiren and Li Yun Niang depart, he stretched with a smile. "I've slept quite enough; that was comfortable! Xue'er, why don't we go out for a stroll as well?"

Chu Xue let out an "Oh," looking toward the direction Xuan Yuan Yiren had gone. "But Young Master, didn't Miss Yiren ask us to wait here for her?"

"Are you Zong Shou's maid, or hers? Whose orders will you follow?"

Zong Shou grinned, leaping down from the carriage, activating his Thunder-Walking Spirit Bones, and advancing with a series of cracking sounds, like a wooden puppet. His sword-like brows lifted coldly, his hand resting on the Thunder Fang Sword, latent hostility hidden beneath a half-smile. "Since someone has gone to such lengths for your Young Lady, how could the main party disappear before the host shows up?" Chu Xue seemed to understand only vaguely but hesitated little, leaping down after Zong Shou and following him somewhat confusedly. Lian Fan, sensing the situation, wisely abandoned the Wind-Stealing Steeds and the Cloud-Turning Carriage, trailing close behind.

Zong Shou walked aimlessly, making no effort to discern direction, relying purely on instinct. He would suddenly move east, then just as suddenly turn south, leaving the two behind exchanging puzzled glances.

It was strange, just as Chu Xue was secretly wondering if her young master had gone mad and how long this aimless wandering would last, a sudden patch of light appeared before the three of them.

Following the light, they found themselves beside a small stream. Both banks were lined with wide expanses of green grass, where willows swayed. The stream gurgled, making a tinkling, musical sound like celestial music.

Strangely, while the surrounding area was shrouded in a thick fog that made seeing faces at close range difficult, this section of the stream bank was entirely clear of mist, appearing like an ethereal paradise.

Beneath a few willow trees, two figures sat cross-legged.

A man and a woman. The man appeared to be in his seventies, clad in plain linen robes, with a white beard and white hair, possessing an aura of otherworldly elegance, smiling subtly—he looked like an immortal.

The woman seemed about seventeen or eighteen, with a flickering lightning mark between her eyebrows. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, drawing the eye, though her aura was not one of transcendent purity, but rather a kind of sinister charm.

Behind the elder and the youth stood two others—both were familiar faces. One was Lei Dong, and the other was Zhao Yanran.

Upon seeing Zong Shou, the latter’s eyes immediately lit up with an expression of reverence and curiosity as she looked over. Lei Dong gave him an apologetic smile, winking suggestively.

The reactions of the elder and the young woman were different; their expressions shifted subtly, showing a trace of disappointment mixed with a flicker of hope.

Zong Shou paused, glancing in surprise at the old man and the young woman. After a brief moment of thought, he dimly grasped the situation. He glared fiercely at Lei Dong, then strode forward openly, bowing respectfully to the pair. "Zong Shou greets the two seniors! May I ask your names? Is this great fog your doing? Would you be so kind as to let Zong Shou and his group depart?" The young woman with the lightning mark on her brow remained silent, her blue eyes scrutinizing Zong Shou up and down.

Her gaze was akin to that of a lover, shifting from a subtle smile to a frown, as if pondering something inscrutable.

The elder was the same. After a moment, he spoke with a smile. "My name is Yan Fan; I am Lei Dong's uncle and the master of the Five Absolutes Manor. I know you and Lei Dong have formed a sworn brotherhood, so you may call me Uncle Lei from now on!" Before his words had fully faded, the young woman snorted coldly. "Don't go forging connections so quickly! He and your nephew only met yesterday. Can such a bond truly count?"

Yan Fan smiled and nodded towards the young woman. "You recognize the two behind them. As for this young lady, do not let her youth deceive you. She is quite famous in the Cloud Realm, hailing from the Taiyuan Sect of the Cangsheng Dao, known as the Taiyuan Fairy, named Shui Lingbo. Even ordinary Spirit Martial Venerables would hesitate to confront her."

Su Chu Xue heard this with little reaction, but Zong Shou and Lian Fan both felt their bodies tremble slightly.

The latter had only vaguely heard of the two Sects, but Zong Shou was genuinely shaken.

The Five Absolutes Manor was another great Sacred Land, ranking fifth among the Ten Sacred Lands. The Taiyuan Sect was even stronger, one of the three pillars of the Cangsheng Dao. Together, they controlled the third and seventh of the Ten Sacred Lands, possessing formidable strength, several times that of the Ling Yun Sect.

Compared to the Spirit Prefecture factions, the difference in power was astronomical.

But what truly astonished him were these two individuals before him. Both were grandmasters who had entered the Immortal Martial realm during the earliest phases of the Spiritual Tide surge. In his previous life, within the Divine Emperor game, these two were already figures far beyond the reach of ordinary players.

Once a Martial Cultivator or Spirit Master reached the Immortal Realm, their lifespan could extend to three thousand years. In his era, many speculated that these two were still alive, merely lost to the world.

Zong Shou took a long breath, forcing his surging emotions to calm. With a placid expression, he bowed slightly again to the two.

Although their identities were astonishing, since he desired nothing from them, there was no need for flattery or subservience.

Yan Fan smiled upon seeing this. "Judging by your expression, you must have heard of the Taiyuan Fairy and myself. We are both reclusive figures whose fame is not widely broadcast. For the Young Lord to know us suggests a strong family heritage!" He flicked his sleeve, gesturing toward a chessboard situated between himself and Shui Lingbo. "Young Lord, forgive us! This great fog has another cause; it is not something we can easily dispel. However, not long ago, I and the Taiyuan Fairy were debating the Ling Yun Sect's Astonishing Cloud Divine Annihilation Sword Art, and we reached an impasse over certain points. This disagreement stirred up the great fog."

Hearing this, Chu Xue immediately looked at the chessboard. She saw that the chessboard, crafted from sandalwood, was already covered with black and white pieces, appearing no different from any ordinary set.

She couldn't help but feel puzzled, wondering what discussing a sword art had to do with playing chess. Could this pervasive fog truly be caused by this single game? That seemed utterly incredible!

Zong Shou, however, sneered inwardly. As expected, the next moment, Yan Fan looked over with a smile. "Lei Dong mentioned that you helped him comprehend the Mountain and Water Blade Intent?"