Xiu Jiming was somewhat moved.
He was currently troubled by not knowing how to proceed with his cultivation path, and perhaps he could gain some insights from the secret realm.
However, it would not be ideal if the Xun Zhu Si mobilized on a large scale.
That would easily attract the attention of all the various sects.
One downside of the Xun Zhu Si identity was that it was simply too conspicuous.
The Kingdom of Da Yu managed the world’s cultivators, so the Xun Zhu Si naturally had sect disciples who were willing to serve the Imperial Court.
But among them, there were no small number of spies monitoring the court’s movements.
If news got out, things would likely become even more complicated.
Yet, if they did not bring enough people and relied only on their small group, going to a secret realm of a Double Tribulation Realm powerhouse might carry the risk of death.
“I will go. However, I need to arrange the subsequent matters separately,” Xiu Jiming said after a moment of silence.
First of all, he did not want to bring Lin Ling along this time.
He was not even sure if he could survive himself, and he did not want her to take such a risk.
Thinking that Lin Ling was already prepared to return to Yueshan County, he could let her go back first, and then he and Gong Xuance could investigate.
He would also contact a few of his close friends.
Having made his decision, Xiu Jiming said, “You go and prepare first. However, the forces of the Xun Zhu Si cannot be used.”
Gong Xuance hurriedly said, “It probably won’t work if you don’t use them. The Double Tribulation secret realm is sealed by a massive enchantment. If it’s just the two of us, we likely won’t be able to open it.”
“Moreover, after opening the seal, I estimate the commotion won’t be small. If we don’t have people from the Xun Zhu Si guarding the area, it might not end well.”
Hearing this, Xiu Jiming frowned slightly.
He looked at Gong Xuance with some doubt and said, “It sounds very dangerous.”
Fearing that he would back out, Gong Xuance quickly tried to entice him.
“Junior Brother, haven’t you heard that risks and opportunities coexist? For example, did your *Yingjian Powang Jie Jing* just fall from the sky? Cultivation inheritances, secret manuals, and Daoist techniques—don’t we need to fight for all of those?”
Xiu Jiming was somewhat speechless.
Gong Xuance seemed to look at him as if he were a fool.
However, he just needed to make some preparations; he did not intend to give up.
Returning to the house, he saw Lin Ling busy on her own.
Xiu Jiming thought for a moment.
Although he felt that Lin Ling probably wouldn’t worry about him, he feared the slight possibility of it, so he did not plan to tell her.
Seeing him enter without saying a word, Lin Ling just focused on helping him pack his luggage.
She suddenly felt that Xiu Jiming was being a bit strange, but she did not ask further.
She now consciously wanted to keep some distance from him, so it was fine if he didn’t speak.
That afternoon, Xiu Jiming called for a higher-level Flying Cloud Finch.
This was a fast bird specifically for the Xun Zhu Si.
It was a high-grade breed only seen in places like Longchuan County, with combat power that could even rival a True Self Realm cultivator.
The two of them boarded the bird, intending to return directly to Yueshan County.
After bidding everyone farewell, Xiu Jiming took Lin Ling and sped away.
Returning to Yueshan County, Lin Ling suddenly felt a sense of relaxation.
Although only about two months had passed, she already considered this place her home.
Xiu Jiming waited outside the Fox Immortal Temple while Lin Ling ran inside with a pile of things.
Seeing the old Temple Manager sweeping the courtyard with a broom as usual, Lin Ling subconsciously walked up and gave him a gentle hug.
The old man froze and stared at Lin Ling for a moment.
He seemed to realize something, and a hint of joy and tears appeared in his eyes.
Seeing Lin Ling return, Lin Kejing also slowly floated out from the divine statue.
Lin Ling set down some gifts and handed them to the Temple Manager, letting him organize them himself.
She had something to say to Lin Kejing now.
She was just about to speak when the Little Fox remembered that Xiu Jiming was still waiting for her at the entrance.
She felt that even if she wanted to distance herself slightly from him, she shouldn’t be so impolite.
So, she slowly activated the Jade Void Grotto-Heaven, intending to go forward and speak with him to save any trouble.
The Little Fox came before Xiu Jiming and thought to him through their connection, ‘Xiao Ming, sorry for the trouble on this trip. I have things to discuss with my family. Please help me take these gifts back to the Xun Zhu Si and give them to Bai Yunyun and the others. I’ll go back to work tomorrow.’
Looking at Lin Ling’s serious face and hearing her somewhat distant tone, Xiu Jiming nodded silently.
He quietly gathered the gifts from the ground and turned to leave.
Watching his lonely back as he departed alone, Lin Ling felt a twinge of guilt for some reason.
She gritted her teeth and finally shouted in her heart, ‘Hey, Xiao Ming, wait a second.’
Hearing Lin Ling’s call, Xiu Jiming stopped in his tracks, though he did not immediately turn back to look at her.
Seeing this, a surge of dissatisfaction welled up in Lin Ling’s heart.
Like a little madwoman, she rushed to Xiu Jiming’s side and said seriously in her mind, ‘When I’m talking to you, you have to remember to turn around and look at me, okay?’
Xiu Jiming lowered his head, still looking to be in a bad mood, and gave a faint “Mm.”
Lin Ling thought for a moment and pulled out a small fox pendant made of jade from her pocket.
Pouting her lips, she indignantly stuffed it into Xiu Jiming’s hand.
‘Here, you have a gift too. Don’t pull such a long face, seriously.’
Lin Ling glared at him and turned to run back into the Fox Immortal Temple.
Xiu Jiming stared at Lin Ling’s back and suddenly felt that he was being a bit ridiculous. What was wrong with him?
He gently touched the fox pendant and saw a meticulously carved little fox on it.
Feeling a bit sentimental, he did not hang it around his neck but slowly tucked it away into his inner pocket.
After all, this thing was not a Magic Treasure and had no special effects.
Its jade quality was far inferior to the ones in his collection.
However, in the mortal world, its price would not be low.
It was just of no help to a cultivator.
Still, it was the first gift Lin Ling had ever given him, so of course, he had to keep it safe.
“I like it very much,” he said softly toward Lin Ling’s back.
‘Hmph. Of course you do.’
Lin Ling turned around and stuck her tongue out at him.
Xiu Jiming breathed a sigh of relief at the entrance of the temple, his mood gradually improving.
However, he soon froze, realizing that this item had been bought with his own money.
His expression became somewhat odd.
Thinking of Lin Ling’s mischievous appearance, he felt helpless.
Forget it, as long as the wild girl is happy.
After putting the large and small bags of gifts into his Storage Bag, Xiu Jiming returned to the Xun Zhu Si.
Besides, he had things to arrange.
For the coming period, he had to expand the scale of the Yueshan County Xun Zhu Si.
Since he was going to the secret realm, he didn’t know how long it would take before he could return.
If he relied only on the three of them and another Xiemo appeared in Yueshan County, things would go south.
With that in mind, he would need to ask other branches for more manpower at the appropriate time.
Lin Ling hummed a song as she walked into the Fox Immortal Temple.
Looking at Lin Kejing and the Temple Manager, she naturally took out paper and a pen and wrote: “Sister. I want to know how you brought me back from that world.”