n

n

nKnock! Knock! Knock!

nMeiyi heard someone knocking at her front door. She immediately rushed to the door, hoping it would be a certain person.

nAfter undoing the formation and opening the door, her excitement died away.

n

"Hello, are you perhaps Chun Meiyi?

"

nIt was a woman that knocked on her door. She was a very normal woman, a simple inner-court disciple on the Blazing Phoenix Sect.

n

"Yest, I am.

"

n

"Oh my god, I finally found you.

"

nMeiyi looked strangely at the woman. 'What does she want me for?'

n

"Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. Here, this is for you.

" The woman noticed she was being super weird and went directly to the point.

nShe took a red token out of her purse and handle it to Meiyi.

n

"What is this?

" Meiyi took the token and didn't even know what it was.

nThe woman looked at her with a look one would give a country bumpkin.

n

"It is the Fire Labyrinth entrance token. A special place that opens once every ten years for the disciples of the sect. You got to receive a token like this in order to enter. I don't know why they sent you this though.

" Her speech gave off a bit of the envy she was feeling.

n

"They sent me this? Who sent it?

"

n

"Tao Changming asked me to deliver you this. It is a congratulation gift from Tao Zhong, his boss. They are important core disciples from the sect. They said that your deed on passing the entrance exam brilliantly, was worth of a reward.

"

n'What? People still remember me from the exam? Even a core disciple has heard of me?' Meiyi didn't believe her fame would last so long and reach such heights.

n

"Well, I thank you for the congratulations you guys gave me, but I won't be able to accept the gift.

"

nAfter hearing her refusing the gift, the woman almost went crazy.

"No, please, accept it! What will I do if you do not accept it?

" She eventually pushed the token on Meiyi.

nMeiyi found the situation very strange, but she considered the trouble this woman may have been through to find her and finally accepted.

nShe entered back on the house and saw Huo Yuyin eating some fruits at the living room.

nThe girl seemed like a curious kitten. Yuyin looked at Meiyi and saw she was holding a red token.

n

"Wow, let me see that sister Meiyi!

" Yuyin excitedly grabbed the red token.

n

"You actually received the Fire Labyrinth token! My father wouldn't let me even touch it. I'm envious of you.

"

n

"Hm? Do you actually know what purpose this token serves for?

"

n

"I do not know that much, just that it is a token that you need to go to a really dangerous place. A place perfect for an adventure.

" Meiyi eyes sparkled when thinking on going on an adventure like that.

n

"Can I have this, sister Meiyi?

" She made a pitiful face while asking for the token.

nMeiyi found it hard to deny, so she gave Yuyin the token.

n

"You can have it. I don't even know how to use it anyways.

"

n

"Yay!

"

n'Seth where are you? I'm sorry for what happened that day.' Meiyi went to the backyard and passed the rest of the afternoon there, thinking about a lot of things.

n

"I made sure to give her the token.

" Outside the female area, the woman that gave Meiyi the token respectfully bowed her head to Tao Changming.

n

"Good work, you can go now.

"

n

"Yes, Sir.

"

n

"Now we just need to wait for the day.

"

n.

n.

n.

nHuo Shihong was sitting on his work desk, seriously thinking about what had happened some days ago.

nThe three brothers weren't able to catch the spy that entered their sect grounds. Since that day Huo Shihong made sure to reinforce the security around the entire inner-court area. But for someone to infiltrate inside his sect at such a critical moment, was something that was weighting on his shoulders.

nCreak!

nThe door of his office opened and Huo Shikai entered.

n

"Brother, everything is ready. The families and sects within our territory have already confirmed their participation. It's just that there is something out of our expectations.

"

nHuo Shihong furrowed his brows.

"What is it?

"

n

"The Wu Martial Kingdom requested to join in.

"

n

"What? How did they discover our plans? No, it is impossible. They just want to enter the Fire Labyrinth conventionally.

"

nThe Blazing Phoenix Sect Master stood by his desk thinking on some other plans and after some minutes he made his decision.

n

"Hand them an invitation and the same number of tokens we sent to the other guests. Even if they somehow managed to pick that there is something different on this year Fire Labyrinth, they wouldn't know what it is. I'll make some arrangements to deal with them if they go out of our control.

"

n

"Alright brother, I'll take my leave then.

"

n

"Wait! Have you heard any news from Yuyin and Lilian?

" Huo Shihong was drowned in work and couldn't search for his daughters on his own, so he dispatched other people to do it.

n

"I discovered that Yuyin is staying on the house of a girl on the inner-court female area. It must be one of her friends or something, however, we didn't find Lilian until now.

"

n'Sigh... That girl knows how to take care of herself, but just where did she go at this crucial time?'

n

"Alright you can go, I'll finish things over here.

"

nHuo Shikai nodded and left.

nThe Fire Labyrinth was almost opening so his work has only increased this las week.

n.

n.

n.

nLilian had invited Seth and Caizhi for a last dinner after the recruitment event ended.

n

"So, you decided to really enter the Glazed Lake?

" She asked Caizhi.

n

"Yes, I'll join them.

" She said with determination.

n

"Could you please to tell us why?

"

nCaizhi saw that her best friend was worrying about her and decided to tell what was on her mind.

n

"I've been wandering all this while without a purpose in my life; however, I was given a second chance recently.

" She looked at Seth while talking.

n

"Now that I regained some motivation, I can't allow myself to be a burden to you guys. I'll train hard and get stronger so when the time comes, I could be part of your strength.

"

n

"You know, you've never been a burden to us, right Seth?

" Lilain looked at Seth.

nSeth was looking directly at Caizhi eyes. He could feel through their link, that she wanted to get stronger to somehow help him in the future. The few things she saw from his past when their soul linked were part of her motivation.

n

"Sigh... Why are you entering on such a serious conversation? We should enjoy this sumptuous meal with happiness. Taste this Caizhi, it has a very rich flavor.

" Seth changed the topic, making this a cheerful departure for them.

nAfter the meal ended, they paid and left the place they were in.

n

"So, this is goodbye huh?

" Lilian's eyes started to wet for the first time in a while.

nCaizhi nodded with teary eyes too and went forward to hug her.

n

"I'll miss your company.

"

n

"I'll miss you too.

"

nCaizhi turned towards Seth and hugged him the same way he hugged Lilian. When they were really close like that, their link seemed to grow stronger. They felt a sense of completeness.

nCazhi put her hands behind his head and initiated a deep kiss that he corresponded willfully. This time, none of them were bothered that Lilian was watching the show right beside them.

nLilian didn't bother them too. This was a special occasion. She was just ashamed and couldn't believe they were able to do this in public.

nAfter sometime, they separated and took their leave. Caizhi followed the address the goddess has imparted with her, while Lilian and Seth returned to their inn.

nPaeris has sent his disciples back to the Ygnolia forest and now he was on his own. This operation needed to be done with precision. He was following Seth's group secretly all this while, waiting for an opportunity. With his Mana Control realm cultivation, it would be impossible for even Seth to discover him.

nA whole realm of difference was impossible to beat. Mana control experts had a perfect control over their mana, that was far denser than Mana Perception cultivators. It was akin to compare a river with the ocean.

nHe was prepared to wait for an entire week in order to find the right opportunity, but it suddenly presented itself for him.

nCaizhi left, leaving behind the only two individuals he dared to touch. Paeris followed them secretly and observed when they entered an inn, where they were probably staying.

nAfter identifying their currently location with his senses, he decided to act.

nJust as he advanced a single step, a water vortex silently appeared below his feet and entrapped him inside. His reaction speed was as fast as lightning, but it was futile. He used his entire Mana pool trying to break out of the confinement in vain.

nThe water vortex started to solidify, getting colder and colder. His entire body was frozen in a block of ice, only leaving his head outside it.

nThe Deep Lake Goddess appeared in front of him and his eyes bulged in fear.

n

"What do we have here? An elf rat trying to touch what is mine? What should I do with you?

"

n

"P-P-Pleas-se, s-spare m-me.

" Paeris begged for his life.

nThe deep lake goddess eyes seemed to read whatever he was hiding, from the bottom of his soul. He felt like a naked chicken in front of her.

nThe Goddess grinned and said:

"What an interesting thing.

"

nThe ice binding Paeris broke apart, freeing the poor elf.

n

"If you dare to touch them, I'll destroy your entire Beihorn family. At that time, I'll be able to see the power of one of the

"Nature Roots

" with my own eyes.

"

n

"Thank you for sparing me! I would never dare to touch them..

" While he was saying those words, he discovered that the goddess had already disappeared.

n