As they walked out of the bamboo forest, Song Changsheng glanced back toward the bamboo house, moved by some strange impulse. He hadn’t noticed it on his way in, but now he found the place vaguely familiar.

’It’s just like the bamboo forest from my dream... a similar bamboo house, and a pond. Could this have been that Elder Xiao’s residence?’ Song Changsheng wondered.

Just then, Qian Duoyu turned to Song Changsheng and said, "Let’s head to the Dao Discussion Hall first. Although the Great City Lord won’t be giving a sermon today, several Purple Mansion Cultivators will be discussing the Dao. For Cultivators at our level, it’s a rare opportunity."

Song Changsheng had no objection and followed behind Qian Duoyu. The more he looked around, the more familiar everything seemed, which only strengthened his suspicion. He couldn’t help but ask, "Steward Qian, forgive my forwardness, but is there a Purple Mansion Elder in Luoxia City with the surname Xiao?"

Qian Duoyu’s expression didn’t change upon hearing this. He thought for a moment and said, "There are a few fellow Daoists with the surname Xiao on the list I’ve received, but none with a Purple Mansion Cultivation. Why do you ask, Young Clan Leader? Is something the matter?"

"So there isn’t one," Song Changsheng murmured to himself.

Even though that’s what he said, Song Changsheng couldn’t tell if he was being truthful. After all, for someone to become a city Supervisor, he couldn’t be a simple man. Deception was just a basic skill for someone in his position.

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him, and he instantly had a new lead.

Luoxia City was known to have three City Lords. The Third City Lord was a famous Tier Three Alchemist in the region, and also a woman. Combining this with all the information he had gathered, it was highly likely she was the one.

However, compared to the Great City Lord and Second City Lord, this Third City Lord was rather mysterious. No one knew her name, and very few had ever seen her. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Glancing at Qian Duoyu leading the way, Song Changsheng asked tentatively, "Steward Qian, two of Luoxia City’s City Lords are renowned throughout Daqi. Why is the Third City Lord’s name not as prominent? There’s a rumor that her surname is Xiao. I wonder if that’s true?"

’Of course, he had just invented the rumor. It wasn’t as if the other man could verify it.’

Qian Duoyu stopped in his tracks and chuckled. "I don’t know the Third City Lord’s name myself. That’s a question perhaps only the other City Lords could answer. Why are you so interested in the surname Xiao, Young Clan Leader? Are you looking for someone?"

"The surname Xiao is uncommon in Daqi, but in the Great Xiao Cultivation World, which isn’t far from here, it’s a very common surname indeed. If you’re looking for someone named Xiao, Young Clan Leader, that would be an excellent place to start."

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder," Song Changsheng said, clasping his hands in a bow. He understood now that he wasn’t going to get anything out of this man. ’Not a straight word out of this crafty old fox.’

He decided to ask Zhuang Yuechan once he met her. The Third City Lord was her martial aunt, after all; surely she would at least know her surname.

He followed Qian Duoyu to the Dao Discussion Hall and found that it was already packed with people, nearly filling the spacious chamber. Most were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with only a handful of Qi Cultivators.

Their arrival went unnoticed, as everyone was completely engrossed, their eyes fixed on the Purple Mansion Cultivators seated facing each other at the front. They were utterly absorbed, afraid of missing a single word.

Song Changsheng found an empty cushion, sat down cross-legged, and began to listen to the elders at the front discuss the Dao.

Four Purple Mansion Cultivators, sitting and discussing the Dao—it was a rare sight. After all, there were only a few dozen Purple Mansion Cultivators in all of Daqi. Most people would be lucky to ever see one, let alone listen to them discourse on the Dao from up close.

Due to the vast difference in their cultivation levels, much of the discussion was difficult for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators to comprehend. But even grasping a mere fraction of it would be immensely helpful for their future cultivation. Everyone present gained at least some small measure of enlightenment.

Song Changsheng was no exception. He benefited immensely from listening to the discussion, which was far more effective than fumbling around on his own.

To his disappointment, however, the Dao Discussion Hall was only open for two ancient hours each day. The time flew by, leaving him wanting more.

Fortunately, there would be another discussion in a few days, this one featuring two Elders from the Golden Crow Sect and the Celestial Vein Sect.

After leaving the Dao Discussion Hall, Qian Duoyu gave him a tour, providing him with a general overview of Celestial Sound Mountain. He also granted Song Changsheng considerable access, allowing him to go anywhere except for a few restricted areas.

"Steward Qian, do you know where Fellow Daoist Zhuang, Zhuang Yuechan, is? We’re old acquaintances. It’s been many years since we last met, and now that I’m on Celestial Sound Mountain, I’d like to see her and catch up."

Qian Duoyu showed no strange expression on his face. He pointed to a small courtyard partway up the mountainside. "That is Yuechan’s residence. You may go on your own, Young Clan Leader."

Song Changsheng was overjoyed to finally have a location. He quickly clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder."

After bidding farewell to Qian Duoyu, Song Changsheng headed straight for Zhuang Yuechan’s courtyard. His luck, however, was clearly not with him today. The courtyard was empty, and he had no idea where she had gone. He waited until nightfall, but there was still no sign of her.

Song Changsheng had no choice but to leave an imprint of his Divine Sense at her door. When Zhuang Yuechan returned, she would see it and naturally come to the bamboo house to find him.

Upon returning to the bamboo house, Song Changsheng received good news from Song Qingluo: he had successfully broken through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. To have such a cultivation at his age meant he had already surpassed many of his peers. He even had a chance to compete for a spot as one of the clan’s Foundation Establishment Seeds.

For the next few days, Song Changsheng didn’t go anywhere, choosing instead to cultivate peacefully in the bamboo house. After all, opportunities to cultivate on a Tier Four Spirit Vein were rare.

But one day, Song Qingluo came to report that a woman was outside asking for Song Changsheng by name. He asked if he should let her in.

’Could it be Fellow Daoist Zhuang?’ Song Changsheng’s heart leaped with joy. ’If I see her, I should be able to get some answers.’ He still remembered her emotional reaction during their first meeting when she heard his surname was Song.

’She must know something. I should be able to get the answers I’m looking for from her.’

But when he went downstairs and saw his visitor, he was stunned. It wasn’t Zhuang Yuechan, but the "Elder Casual" who had previously commissioned him to craft a Jade Flute.

’How is she here? Oh, right. She must also be here for the Great City Lord’s birthday celebration. But how did she know where I was staying? And why is she looking for me?’

Song Changsheng had many questions about her. It wasn’t just her odd behavior; it was the feeling that she had known him for a long time. She had even said he had surpassed his predecessor, but her attitude was still strange and hard to figure out.

Filled with questions, Song Changsheng greeted her respectfully. "Greetings, Elder."

The woman gave a slight nod, but her gaze wasn’t on him. Instead, she stared at the bamboo house behind him, remaining silent for a long moment.

Since she didn’t speak, Song Changsheng didn’t dare to break the silence either. And so, the two of them just stood there outside, staring at each other in a strange, awkward silence.

After a moment, the woman finally retracted her inscrutable gaze. She looked at Song Changsheng and said coolly, "Aren’t you going to invite me in to sit?"

This was exactly what Song Changsheng wanted. "Of course, Elder. Please, come in," he said quickly.

Once she was seated, Song Changsheng took out his long-treasured Mist Concealing Tea leaves and brewed her a cup of Spirit Tea.

The woman lifted the cup and took a delicate sip. Her brow furrowed for an instant before smoothing out again. Setting the cup down, she asked, "You must be wondering why I came looking for you."

Unable to get a read on her, Song Changsheng could only nod honestly.

"There’s no particular reason. I wanted to see you, so I came."

’What’s the difference between saying that and saying nothing at all?’ The words made Song Changsheng want to roll his eyes.

’But she’s a senior expert. A junior like me should just nod along. She must have her reasons for saying what she did.’

The woman suddenly laughed. "Your father is quite different. If it were him, he would have pestered me with questions until he got to the bottom of it."

"You knew my father, Elder?" Although he had already suspected it, Song Changsheng still found it hard to believe. His father was only at the Foundation Establishment realm; how could he have known such a powerful elder? And they even seemed to know each other well.

The woman said coolly, "I saw him a few times. He was always trailing after that old scoundrel of your clan. Back then, he was much more docile than you are, kid."

...