The return journey was much easier. The four of them traveled swiftly, and in just over twenty days, they returned to the Yellow Springs River. Lu Xin even briefly left to retrieve the clone that had plundered Xiang Liu's lair.
“Brother Tian, I’ve always wanted to ask, these ferrymen don't seem to have any cultivation level, nor can you feel any vitality from them. What exactly are they? Could they be puppets?” Lu Xin asked, looking at the figure sitting cross-legged on the ferryboat from afar.
Tian Zijing shook his head, “We’re not sure either. We used to think they were high-level puppets, and I still think so now. My guess is that the Yellow Springs Ghost Mother brought them down from the Immortal Realm.”
“Has no one ever attacked him before?”
Tian Zijing smiled mysteriously upon hearing this, “Brother Lu can try it and find out.”
Lu Xin revealed a suspicious look, wondering if the other party was trying to trick him. However, looking at the other party's expression, it didn't seem like there would be any danger. After thinking for a moment, he wasn't someone who could suppress his curiosity, and shook his head saying:
“Never mind.”
Tian Zijing laughed, “Brother Lu is indeed cautious. I’ll be honest with you, it’s not that no seniors have tried to probe him before, but no matter how they attacked, they couldn’t harm him in the slightest.”
“Moreover, he doesn’t fight back. Even if you push him into the Yellow Springs River, he’ll climb back up unharmed and continue to row the boat.”
“Oh?” Lu Xin felt even more surprised, “Then can you take him away?”
Tian Zijing shook his head, “That’s also a strange point. Logically speaking, puppets should be able to be stored.”
As they spoke, the four of them arrived at the ferryboat. They boarded the boat, and without waiting for it to be full, the old man in the straw raincoat stood up and began to row the boat towards the other shore.
He truly was a hardworking and dutiful ferryman.
Lu Xin's impression of this mysterious place deepened even further.
Soon, with Lu Xin's secret vigilance, the ferryboat reached the shore. The four of them disembarked and headed towards the exit, and before long, they completely left this space.
After landing, Lu Xin looked back, but the vortex had already disappeared, and it would be three thousand years before it appeared again.
“Brother Lu, the trip to the Yellow Springs Holy Land can be considered a complete success. This time, we have to thank you. Otherwise, although I don’t know what would have happened to Fellow Daoist Li, the two of us would definitely have fallen. Therefore, I want to sincerely thank you here.”
Outside, Tian Zijing suddenly spoke from the bottom of his heart, and then performed a proper salute.
Beside him, Nalan Zizhu and Li Mulin did the same.
Lu Xin quickly helped them up, “There’s no need to be so polite. To be honest, I have to thank you for leading the way this time. Otherwise, with my divine sense suppressed inside, I would have been like a headless fly, running around aimlessly.”
Tian Zijing was about to say something, but Lu Xin preempted him, “Alright, let’s consider it mutually beneficial, no need to dwell on it.”
To be honest, he already approved of the three of them and could develop friendships with them.
Upon hearing this, Tian Zijing had no choice but to remember this kindness in his heart, and said:
“Since that’s the case, I’m not a long-winded person. Anyway, there’s no urgent matter right now, why not find a place to drink heartily?”
“I just so happened to bring out a special spirit wine from my Heavenly Secrets Pavilion this time,” he added.
“Could it be Frosted Jade Dew?” Li Mulin's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
“Exactly.” Tian Zijing nodded with a smile.
“Then this time, I’m benefiting from Brother Lu’s good fortune.” Li Mulin looked at Lu Xin.
Lu Xin knew from their conversation that this Frosted Jade Dew must be a good thing, and he didn't refuse, “Since that’s the case, then I have to taste it properly.”
“It definitely won’t disappoint you.”
Afterwards, the four of them flew out a great distance and found a mountain that could be considered picturesque. They split stones to make a table, whittled wood into chairs, and then sat down separately.
Next, Tian Zijing took out a jade pot and four transparent crystal-colored cups, and first poured a cup for Lu Xin.
Watching the pure, snow-like spirit wine flow into the cup, Lu Xin immediately felt a refreshing fragrance wafting towards him.
“Brother Lu, you try it first.” Tian Zijing pushed the cup in front of Lu Xin, and then poured some for the other two.
“Then I won’t be polite.”
Lu Xin picked up the cup and immediately felt a cool touch. At the same time, he could see frost flowers condensed on the transparent cup wall.
As he shook it, the frost flowers appeared and disappeared, instantly turning into a moving picture, just like looking out the window at the heavy snow in winter.
“Wonderful.” He couldn't help but exclaim in admiration before even drinking it.
Tian Zijing said, “To drink this Frosted Jade Dew, you must use this Cold Jade Cup. Brother Lu, try it quickly.” He urged.
Lu Xin took a small sip. It was cool upon entering his mouth, but not icy cold. It flowed into his stomach like a thin thread, very soft, and then a gentle energy burst open, making one's spirit surge.
It turned out that this spirit wine could increase cultivation. He felt the increase in mana within his dantian. He didn't expect that he had only taken a small sip, and it was equivalent to more than an hour of breathing.
“How is it?” Tian Zijing asked expectantly.
Lu Xin praised, “This wine can increase mana so quickly. The spiritual herbs used to brew this wine must be of a high grade, right?”
Tian Zijing nodded, “The main refining material is the eighth-grade spiritual herb, Cold Heart Fruit. Unfortunately, the growing conditions for this fruit are extremely harsh. Even if my Heavenly Secrets Pavilion cultivates it with all its strength, the yield is very low each time.”
“So this Frosted Jade Dew can’t be produced in large quantities either, and this pot was originally meant to be…”
As he said this, he looked at Nalan Zizhu, who was already blushing and lowered her head, the meaning was obvious.
Lu Xin quickly put down the Cold Jade Cup and repeatedly apologized, “Then wouldn’t I have ruined Brother Tian’s good deed?”
Tian Zijing shook his head with a smile, “It’s nothing of the sort. Brother Lu has a life-saving grace towards the two of us. A mere Frosted Jade Dew is not enough to repay it. Moreover, I can shamelessly go back and pester my master to grind out some more.”
As he spoke, he raised his wine cup, “Come, it’s a pity that there’s only this one pot today, and I’m afraid we can’t drink to our heart’s content. When the two of us become Daoist partners in some time, we’ll invite you two to my Heavenly Secrets Pavilion to drink heartily again.”
“Then I’ll wait for the good news from you two.” Lu Xin didn't dwell on it either.
Afterwards, the four of them drank a full cup. Then, to express her gratitude, Li Mulin took out a plate of seventh-grade White Spirit Ginseng Fruit and said, “My grade is a bit low, so I’ll just take it out to satisfy your appetite.”
Tian Zijing glanced at it and hesitated:
“This spiritual fruit is also quite rare. Refining it into White Spirit Pills can be of great help to the Void Refinement and Body Integration realms in breaking through bottlenecks. Wouldn’t it be a waste for us to eat it?”
Li Mulin smiled, “This spiritual fruit is not as difficult to care for as Fellow Daoist Tian’s Cold Heart Fruit. Our Yuanze Holy Land has already planted a lot of them. You can take these away, either for your descendants or to give as gifts.”
She took out some more.
The three of them couldn't refuse and accepted it.
Afterwards, the atmosphere became even more harmonious, and the four of them could be considered friends who had gone through life and death together, and the topics they talked about became more in-depth.
Lu Xin also took the opportunity to ask many questions, and his foundation became a bit deeper.
This conversation lasted for several days. The Frosted Jade Dew had long been drunk, and they had replaced it with other more ordinary spirit wines. Finally, when the four of them really couldn't produce any more good wine, they stopped.
“Brother Lu, Miss Li, then the two of us will take our leave first.” By the mountainside, Tian Zijing and his companion cupped their fists.
“Remember to send me an invitation.” Lu Xin also cupped his fists.
“Of course, I can forget anyone but you.” Tian Zijing smiled, and then he and Nalan Zizhu transformed into streaks of light and left.
Only Lu Xin and Li Mulin remained in place.
He looked at the other party, and it just so happened that the other party was also looking over, knowing that Li Youlan's matter should also be settled.
