"Why must Madam be troubled?" Lin Yu appeared behind Madam Guo, resting his hand on her delicate shoulder.
Madam Guo shuddered, rose anxiously, and shot him a sideways glance. "You scoundrel, stop messing around."
Seeing Madam Guo's flustered expression, Lin Yu was hardly going to let her have her way.
Lingyun Grotto.
Madam Guo's dainty body trembled. "You scoundrel, is this a lower-realm grotto-heaven?"
A mixture of awe and wonder filled Madam Guo's eyes as she looked at Lin Yu.
Lin Yu smiled knowingly. "Madam, it is time to rest."
Madam Guo rolled her eyes, then let out a helpless sigh.
The stars shifted and time flowed.
Lin Yu sat cross-legged in meditation, while Madam Guo found herself pleasantly astonished. Practicing the Supreme Profound Manual together dramatically increased one's internal energy.
Seeing Lin Yu sitting in meditation, Madam Guo felt a strong urge to step outside the cave. After a moment of hesitation, she walked toward the exit. Just as she reached the junction, her pupils contracted and locked onto a gigantic beast, draining the color from her face.
Even with all her vast experience, Madam Guo's soul was shaken by the colossal Fire Kirin before her.
"A head like a deer, a tail like an ox, covered in scales—this is a mythical beast, a kirin!"
"So this truly is the legendary immortal realm!"
Suddenly, horror washed over Madam Guo's face as the Fire Kirin lifted its massive head, opened its bronze-bell-sized eyes, and fixed its gaze upon her.
Madam Guo's dainty body quivered once more.
Fortunately, Lin Yu's arrival dispelled her bone-chilling terror and shock.
"Kirin, this doesn't concern you," Lin Yu said.
Only then did the Fire Kirin lower itself at the cave junction and drift into a heavy slumber.
This caused Madam Guo to turn around and eye Lin Yu with even greater curiosity.
Lin Yu pulled Madam Guo into his arms. "Madam, do you feel you've wronged yourself?"
Shuddering, Madam Guo raised her head and gave him a sideways look. "Rong'er is afraid of you."
Being a woman of great intelligence, Madam Guo immediately asked what place this was.
Lin Yu naturally hid nothing from her, for his ultimate goal was the sea of stars and the myriad worlds of the heavens.
"This is another realm entirely!" Lin Yu said.
Madam Guo's body trembled violently. "What? Another realm! The immortal realm—this is the immortal realm, isn't it?"
She, Huang Rong, had never imagined she would encounter such a miraculous destiny. Yet this only made her feel all the more guilty toward Brother Jing.
Lin Yu smiled knowingly and said, "Look, who is that?"
The Dual-World Gate opened. On the other side, Xiaolongnü of the Ancient Tomb Sect was together with Yang Guo.
Catching sight of Yang Guo, Madam Guo cried out involuntarily, "That's Guo'er!"
She glanced sideways at Lin Yu. Such divine powers—truly miraculous, capable of viewing the current state of any person at will.
Lin Yu nodded. "That is indeed Yang Guo."
Madam Guo asked with surprise, "And who is that young woman?"
"Xiaolongnü of the Ancient Tomb Sect," Lin Yu replied.
This left Madam Guo baffled and astounded once again. "The Ancient Tomb Sect, Xiaolongnü! Why is Guo'er with her? And why does he call her Aunt? Wait, Yang Guo mentioned you—did he call you uncle?"
Her pupils darting, the clever Madam Guo deduced that Lin Yu must have ruined that Xiaolongnü.
"You—you really are something else." She shot him an irritated, sideways glance.
With a burning gaze, Lin Yu said, "Madam, do you wish for your Brother Jing to suffer? How dare you speak to me like that? You need a paddling!"
Madam Guo cried out in alarm, "Don't hit me! I was wrong."
Complex emotions churned within Madam Guo, mixed with a growing sense of curiosity and the feeling that her new life was only just beginning. Since she could not escape, she might as well submit.
Gazing at the scene unfolding within the Ancient Tomb, Madam Guo was deeply shaken.
Lin Yu pulled Madam Guo closer. "Madam, stop wondering. To put it simply: I am going to take you flying."
*Take me flying?*
Hearing this, Madam Guo felt a flutter in her heart and a rising sense of anticipation. Could this mean attaining immortality?
However, Lin Yu continued, "Madam, do you wish to tread across the myriad worlds?"
*The myriad worlds!?*
Madam Guo's eyes shifted, words trembling on the tip of her tongue.
Lin Yu proceeded to educate Madam Guo and reshape her worldview, making her realize that only by following him could she witness the magnificent sights of the boundless heavens and myriad worlds. He painted a perfect blueprint of the heavens for her, even convincing her that becoming an immortal was merely an inevitable milestone along the path of the cosmos.
The more Madam Guo listened, the more intoxicated she became, until she finally rested her head against Lin Yu's shoulder. "Lin Yu, I will listen to whatever you say."
Lin Yu smiled knowingly. *Madam Guo falls for it far too easily.*
In truth, Madam Guo was weeping silently in her heart. Lin Yu understood her deep affection for Guo Peng, yet he had not done anything excessively cruel to her. Instead, he was offering her the chance to step into the myriad worlds. Surely she would come to understand and be grateful.
And indeed, with Huang Rong's intelligence and wit, she quickly steadied her mind. Frowning slightly, she said, "Lin Yu, according to what you've said, this Wind and Cloud World is a high-martial realm. If you intend to rule the martial arts world going forward, you will undoubtedly need countless masters following at your side."
"Why not give Brother Jing a chance?"
Lin Yu suddenly pinched Madam Guo's chin, a look of amused interest in his eyes. "Full of little schemes, aren't you? I know you're smart, but don't be too clever for your own good. Remember: what I give you is yours. You are not to offer me opinions or play little games."
Madam Guo rolled her eyes. "You're impossible. Rong'er was just speaking casually. I was thinking you could first unify the Song martial arts world to become the Wulin Alliance Leader, and then command the martial arts realm to step into the Wind and Cloud World and realize your vision."
Lin Yu tapped the bridge of Madam Guo's nose. "Aren't you clever! I'll give you a task: become the Wulin Alliance Leader."
With a slight frown, Madam Guo nodded. "Very well! I am willing!"
Lin Yu smiled knowingly. "Madam Guo, it seems to me that from beginning to end, our relationship has simply been one of shared cultivation. For you to lean against me like this is bound to cause misunderstandings, don't you think?"
Madam Guo furrowed her brows and hastily stood up. "You—you truly don't mean it in that way?"
Lin Yu shook his head. "Not at all. I am a very proper person!"
"I simply needed to elevate my cultivation. Practicing together with just anyone is simply not harmonious."
Instead of a pleasant surprise, a sense of loss gripped Madam Guo's heart. It seemed she had thought too much. Apparently, she had not caught the eye of the man before her.
Looking at Madam Guo, Lin Yu thought inwardly with unexpected amusement, *Good grief, Madam Guo, those little glances of yours—have you actually been conquered by my Northern Wei charisma?*
"To be honest, I really am a very upright person."
Madam Guo suddenly cupped her fists and bowed respectfully. "This humble woman is willing to follow the Exalted One!"
Lin Yu was quite satisfied with Madam Guo's performance. "I understand your heart, Madam. I understand."
Madam Guo furrowed her brows. *This fellow is unfathomable,* she thought to herself. *That look in his eyes and the tone of his voice are terrifying!*
*Still, since such a monumental opportunity is laid out before me, I must seize it.*
Eager to prove herself, Madam Guo said, "Exalted One, what are your plans next?"
Lin Yu looked at Madam Guo. "The techniques I have imparted to you are of the absolute highest tier in martial arts. Now that the two of us have practiced together twice, your martial arts true essence is more than enough to crush the entire pugilistic world."
"Upon your return, gather the martial arts figures of the realm and have them assemble at Peach Blossom Island."
Madam Guo gave a charming smile. "Hehe, this humble woman understands! Though, there's no need for me to gather them—right now, quite a few martial artists are already hurrying toward Peach Blossom Island to select the new Wulin Alliance Leader."
Hearing this, Lin Yu nodded. "An alliance meeting of the realm—the timing is indeed right. Since you cannot spare yourself, lend me your daughter, Guo Fu, for a time."
*Ah!*
Madam Guo's body shuddered, but her mind raced furiously. She decided it was actually a wonderful idea. With such a remarkably powerful son-in-law possessing divine abilities, Peach Blossom Island would surely secure a firm footing in the myriad worlds to come.
She thought inwardly, *If Father knew of this, he would undoubtedly choose to follow the Exalted One, Lin Yu, without a moment's hesitation.*
*That being said, does the Exalted One truly only want me for shared cultivation and nothing more?*
The more Madam Guo thought about it, the more awkward she felt. A blush crept across her cheeks, leaving Lin Yu speechless.
Comforting herself, Madam Guo muttered internally, *A son-in-law—yes, I mustn't let this son-in-law slip away. As for Brother Jing, I haven't wronged him. I am only doing this for the sake of my cultivation.*
Staring at Madam Guo, Lin Yu said, "Madam Guo, your imagination is running wild again."
Madam Guo rolled her eyes. "Where would this humble woman do such a thing?"
"Exalted One, please send this humble woman back to Peach Blossom Island."
Lin Yu nodded and waved his hand, sending Madam Guo back.
Within the vision, Madam Guo's return stunned Guo Fu.
"Ah, Mother, how did you suddenly pop up out of nowhere?"
Suddenly, Lin Yu's figure materialized out of thin air as well...