Riding the Clouds and Driving the Shuttle into Molten Gold

Outside the Forging Institute.

The room was warm and inviting, and the lights were bright.

Qu Ying slowly closed the door, casually took off her heavy cloak, sat down by the bed, and rubbed her temples.

Yan Mo stepped forward, picked up the teapot, poured him a cup of hot tea, and casually asked:

"Senior Brother Qu, Xu Hui is now dead. What should we do next?"

Qu Ying glanced at the steaming hot tea, her expression somewhat dazed, before finally speaking softly:

"We are both mortals, unqualified to inherit the lineage. We should have spent our lives in mediocrity and confusion. Unexpectedly, we caught the wave of the 'Qing Sheng Sect' and were able to take the place of two Daoist disciples and join the Yu Xiu Dao lineage."

"Starting from the lowest level of ordinary labor, working hard every day, eating and dressing late into the night... all of this was achieved through my own efforts!"

"I admit that Zeng Deyan has indeed given us a second chance at life, but in the two years since we became supervisors, we have also lured many ordinary servants from the three academies to become the food for the 'Qingsheng Sect's' cultivation."

"The reason why the three major surnames around Xuchunfang have become involved with the Qingsheng Sect, secretly exchanging benefits and transferring resources... is all thanks to you and me supporting the manager of Cuishulou and mediating between them."

"Now that things have come to this, the debt of gratitude has been almost repaid."

Qu Ying sighed deeply, squinted at the deep night outside the window, and remained silent for a long time.

Yan Mo snorted coldly and said:

"Being used by others all day long and needlessly tainted with sin is never my wish!"

"Now, taking advantage of this opportunity, we can sever ties with the 'Azure Saint Sect,' and from now on, the two of us can roam freely without being controlled or bound by anyone!"

Qu Ying pondered for a moment, his expression shifting from worry to joy. He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said in a cold voice:

"Our identities are kept secret, and only the 'Qing Sheng Sect' knows them now. Zeng Deyan thinks he can use this as leverage against us, but he is sorely mistaken!"

"A true man is born between heaven and earth; how can he remain subservient to others for long?"

"Rather than slinking away in disgrace, it's better to nip it in the bud and eliminate any future trouble!"

Yan Mo's beautiful eyes flickered, and she exclaimed in surprise:

"Could it be that Senior Brother Qu has already come up with a solution?"

Qu Ying finished his tea in one gulp, then slammed his hand back down on the table, squinting as he said:

"No rush. Besides you and me, there's another person who also hates Zeng Deyan to the core!"

……

The next day, early morning.

A fiery cloud shuttle flew through the air, trailing dazzling light in the sky, like a spark from outer space, and flashed past the Ninth Academy.

Inside the engineering college, a new recruit, filled with curiosity, couldn't help but look up.

"This is the Fire Cloud Shuttle of the Gold Melting Valley. Judging by its appearance, it must be that a senior student from one of the engineering colleges has reached the first level of Qi Refining and is going to the valley to listen to the teachings of his senior brothers and sisters!"

The person next to him offered a reminder, their tone tinged with melancholy.

The novice servant, who had only been a novice for two days, looked up again, his face full of envy and longing.

"Those who cultivate the Tao should be like this!"

……

The Fire Cloud Shuttle was incredibly fast; after a few turns, it had already flown away from the Ninth Academy.

He concealed his escape light above the Molten Gold Valley and landed in front of a magnificent palace.

Amidst the swirling dust and snow, a young man with clear features, wrapped in a cotton robe, slowly stepped out from inside the Fire Cloud Shuttle.

Beside him was a fair-skinned disciple dressed in a dark red Taoist robe.

Then he gently waved his hand, and a beam of light flew out from his sleeve, wrapping around the Fire Cloud Shuttle like a rope.

In the blink of an eye, the shuttle suddenly shrank and was put back into his sleeve.

"Senior Brother Wang Fu, your skills are truly impressive! I admire you!"

Seeing this, Yan Chen offered a timely compliment.

"Just a petty trick, not worth a second glance!"

Wang Fu said this, but he was clearly quite pleased.

After guiding the other party to the Melting Gold Valley, he originally planned to let them find their way on their own and locate the Yanxuan Palace.

Of all the ordinary servants of the Nine Courts who went to the valley to listen to the sermons, how many of them hadn't suffered losses or encountered setbacks?

On the one hand, the Gold-Melting Valley wanted to temper the character of these mortal servants; on the other hand, no one had the leisure to personally guide a mere mortal servant.

That being said, Wang Fu thought again, how many of those mortal servants had ever been personally "bestowed with magic" by Senior Sister Zhu?

This Yan Chen not only speaks pleasantly, but also repeatedly earns him praise from Senior Sister Zhu, making him feel like he's basking in a spring breeze these days, and putting him in a great mood.

Thinking of this, Wang Fu stopped putting on airs and said as he walked:

"Junior brother, is this your first time visiting the Melting Gold Valley?"

Yan Chen stepped back half a body length and nodded.

"Senior brother, you are wise!"

Wang Fu nodded slightly and said leisurely:

"Then let my junior brother know that there are three main halls in my Gold Melting Valley: the Yanxuan Hall, the Mingtang Hall, and the Fayuan Hall."

"The Yanxuan Hall is divided into two floors. The first floor is where the valley stores books and is also used for preaching and teaching. The second floor is set up with many cultivation pavilions for use by the valley's stewards."

"If any ordinary person wishes to enter this place for cultivation, they not only need an introduction and guarantee from the stewards within the valley, but also need to pay a fee on time, which is one thousand coins per hour."

"The Mingtang Hall was where the officials in the valley handled their official business, so there's not much to say about it."

"As for the Dharma Origin Hall, it is responsible for gathering the crafting of magical artifacts from the three lower academies, keeping accounts, and supplying them to the eight meridians. It is the core of the Melting Gold Valley!"

Yan Chen nodded secretly upon hearing this, for such a structure was quite similar to that of the three lower academies.

"Indeed, they are of the same lineage. I wonder what the Jade Sleeve Eight Lineages, known as the 'Land of Dao Transmission,' look like?"

In the blink of an eye, Yan Chen followed Wang Fu's steps, passing through pavilions and towers, artificial hills and waterside terraces, and along the gravel path, approaching the Yanxuan Palace.

Every now and then, a steward from the valley would pass by and nod to Wang Fu.

Occasionally, Wang Fu would encounter one or two mortal disciples who had lost their way. In a good mood, he would casually offer a few words of guidance.

"Junior brother, look, that's Huacai Tower, and Yanxuan Palace is right across from it."

After walking for more than a quarter of an hour, Wang Fu suddenly stopped and squinted at the towering jade building in the distance.

"Every morning, the glazed tiles of Huacai Tower are illuminated with countless colorful lights, making Yanxuan Palace shine brightly as well, which is quite a sight in Rongjin Valley!"

Yan Chen looked up and saw eyes that seemed to shimmer like the morning sun, their light tinged with a reddish hue, their gaze filled with shimmering light.

"Of the thousands of servants in the Nine Courts, how many have actually witnessed such a sight?"

The two walked several dozen more steps, and the gravel path beneath their feet gradually turned into blue stone steps. Wang Fu pointed to the magnificent palace and said:

"Junior Brother Yan, look, that's Yanxuan Palace over there."

"When you get there, do not enter the hall. Just find a futon outside to sit down."

"Thank you for your guidance, senior brother!"

Yan Chen bowed.

He immediately turned around and walked along the blue stone steps toward the magnificent palace.

Seeing that Junior Brother Yan had chosen a futon to sit on on the outer edge, Wang Fu nodded in satisfaction and was about to leave.

Turning around, he saw a young man in a gray-blue Taoist robe jogging towards him.

"Deacon Meng?"

Wang Fu looked at the other person with slight surprise and asked:

"Why are you here in our Gold Melting Valley instead of staying in Danlan Valley?"

Meng Lian wore a bitter expression and said with considerable helplessness:

"It was all ordered by Steward Zheng... Never mind, never mind. I want to ask you, could you please call that servant named 'Yan Chen' here for me? I have something to say to him."

Upon hearing this, Wang Fu's expression turned strange, but thinking of that "Master Zheng," he didn't ask any further questions, and simply shook his head and smiled bitterly:

"Deacon Meng has arrived a step too late. My junior brother Yan is currently listening to the sermon in front of Yanxuan Hall and will probably be unable to leave for the time being."

……