Before long, Bai Qingwu, the Sect Leader of Falling Cloud Valley, arrived hurriedly with a group of elders. Upon seeing the young man outside the mountain gate, he quickly stepped forward to greet him.

“So it is the Holy Scion of the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary gracing us with your presence. Please forgive Bai for failing to welcome you properly. My apologies.”

The young man cast a sidelong glance at the crowd, his face full of arrogance.

“Sect Leader Bai, during my travels down the mountain this time, every sect I passed through treated me with the utmost respect and hospitality. Only your Falling Cloud Valley has ignored me.”

“Could it be that you have already colluded with heretics and demons, and no longer hold our Celestial Zenith Sanctuary in regard?”

Hearing this, Bai Qingwu’s expression changed slightly, and he quickly forced a smile to placate him.

“You misunderstand, Holy Scion. We were merely in seclusion and were unaware of your esteemed arrival. Our preparations were inadequate. We beg for your forgiveness.”

As he spoke, he discreetly sent a sound transmission to Yang Xiude, the elder of the Internal Affairs Pavilion standing nearby.

Yang Xiude immediately understood and stepped forward cautiously, addressing the young man. “Holy Scion, could you first present your token so that we may verify your identity…”

Upon hearing this, the young man immediately revealed a mocking smile. “Heh, are you doubting that I am an imposter?”

“Not at all, not at all,” Yang Xiude said, sweat beading on his forehead as he struggled to maintain composure. “This is merely standard procedure…”

“Hmph! A small place with quite a few rules.”

The young man sneered, took out a jade token shimmering with five-colored mist from his sleeve, and tossed it to Yang Xiude. “Inspect it then. Inspect it all you want. I am the esteemed Holy Scion of the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary. Who would dare impersonate me?”

Seeing this, Yang Xiude immediately reached out to take it. He brought it close to his eyes and examined it carefully for a moment before respectfully returning it with both hands.

“The Five-Colored Tianhua Jade… This is indeed the token of Piao Genshuo, Holy Scion of the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone from Falling Cloud Valley present changed simultaneously, dispelling their last shred of doubt.

The young man then lifted his chin and said smugly, “Well? Do you believe my identity now?”

Hearing this, Bai Qingwu and the others all looked solemn and nodded in agreement.

“The arrival of the Holy Scion truly brings honor to our humble Falling Cloud Valley. Please, come inside the valley so we may fulfill our duties as hosts and prepare a welcoming feast for you.”

As he spoke, Bai Qingwu respectfully made a gesture of invitation, his tone extremely humble.

Seeing this scene, Piao Genshuo’s lips curled slightly into a strange smile as he pretended to be reserved and said, “I shall reluctantly grant your Falling Cloud Valley this opportunity to curry favor with me.”

Rumors said that the Holy Scions of the Seven Great Sanctuaries were all peerless geniuses of extraordinary grace. How could this “Piao Genshuo, Holy Scion of the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary,” be of such character?

Bai Qingwu secretly felt contempt in his heart but said aloud, “Naturally.”

Surrounded by the crowd, Piao Genshuo swaggered into Falling Cloud Valley with his maidservants in tow…

At the same time.

Qi Yuan was heading toward Falling Cloud Valley’s Scripture Repository.

Although he wasn’t particularly interested in the cultivation techniques passed down by Falling Cloud Valley, he had, after all, been publicly granted the opportunity to enter the second floor of the Scripture Repository to select a technique.

For a Qi Refining realm cultivator, this was absolutely a tremendous opportunity. Not going would only arouse suspicion.

Moreover, he also planned to search through the Scripture Repository to see if he could find any clues regarding plant spirits.

He suspected that the plant spirit born from the ten-thousand-year spirit herb was the mastermind behind emptying the Formation Spirit’s cave abode, though he currently had no evidence.

Of course, Qi Yuan wasn’t very enthusiastic about this case; he wasn’t the one who suffered the loss of spirit stones.

But if his conjecture was true, it would prove that some Formation Spirit’s cave abode was connected to the Earth Vein where the ten-thousand-year spirit herb was located, making it convenient for the culprit to commit the crime…

Although flowers, plants, and trees can all become spirits and attain enlightenment, they face great limitations. Besides the difficulty in developing intelligence, before shedding their true plant form, they fundamentally cannot leave the Earth Vein where they were born.

Therefore, by following the corresponding Earth Vein, one could easily find the ten-thousand-year spirit herb imprisoned by Ji Chan’er beneath her medicinal garden.

After all, Ji Chan’er’s goal was to wait for the spirit herb to fully mature; she couldn’t possibly uproot it.

Lost in thought, Qi Yuan arrived outside Falling Cloud Valley’s Scripture Repository.

The Scripture Repository was a three-story building. To prevent fire and theft, all surrounding trees had been cleared away. A flying waterfall hung beside it, its waters roaring loudly. Suppressed by formations, however, not even a hint of mist rose from it.

Unlike the Merit Assessment Pavilion, even Outer Sect Disciples were qualified to borrow cultivation technique books from the Scripture Repository. Therefore, inside and outside was bustling with activity, disciples constantly coming and going.

Upon seeing Qi Yuan, many Outer Sect Disciples revealed expressions of suppressed anger, but due to Qi Yuan’s currently overwhelming intimidating aura, they could only resentfully avert their gazes in frustration.

Qi Yuan paid no attention to the reactions around him and walked straight up to the counter located outside the Scripture Repository. Just as he was about to take out his token, a surprised female voice sounded behind him.

“Senior… Senior Brother Qi, what brings you here?”

Hearing the voice, Qi Yuan turned around and saw Nie Cuilan wearing a ruqun, quickly approaching him, looking at him with an excited expression.

Nie Cuilan seemed to have deliberately dressed up today; there was less arrogance between her brows and a bit more delicate charm.

Unlike usual, she wasn’t followed by a group of suitor followers, though many young male cultivators still cast hostile glances their way.

“Junior Sister Nie.”

Although Qi Yuan didn’t know what she wanted, he greeted her with a nod.

Nie Cuilan’s cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke softly and gently.

“Senior Brother Qi, thank you for saving me during the Grand Competition. If not for you, I’m afraid I would have died at the hands of that Four-Eyed Spirit Fox.”

Qi Yuan nodded slightly. “Junior Sister, no need to be polite. It was merely a small effort.”

“Cuilan still doesn’t know how to repay Senior Brother’s life-saving grace.” As she spoke, a trace of shyness flashed across Nie Cuilan’s face. “If Senior Brother has free time, could you come visit my place?”

Huh?

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone around froze.

No one expected the usually aloof, cold, and proud flower of the Outer Sect would actively invite a male cultivator to visit her private quarters.

Saying “visit”—alone together, a man and a woman in the same room—even a fool could guess what might happen.

Damn, can’t even think too deeply about it or I’ll start getting mental images…

Just then, another soft, pleasant, melodious female voice came from the distance.

“Junior Brother Qi, so here you are.”

Everyone followed the sound and saw a woman of ethereal beauty, stunningly lovely, slowly walking over. She wore a light yellow long dress, her skin whiter than snow, eyes like autumn water—like a fairy stepped out of a painting.

“Senior Sister…”

Before Qi Yuan could finish greeting her, he felt a fragrant breeze brush his face.

Then, a soft, delicate body pressed against him, tightly hugging his arm.

Holy shit!!!

Seeing the scene before them, everyone instantly widened their eyes, stunned speechless.

Never expected… some people look unremarkable on the surface, but secretly, they are actually a Saint of Love!