Cultivation of immortality begins with an eighty-year-old eunuch.

Chapter 410 The Foolish Woman Tianxiangzi! The Old Eunuch Emerges from Seclusion!

"I only know that my master is not dead," Emperor Jianwen said, shaking his head slightly.

"As for where they are, I have no idea!"

Tian Xiangzi stood in the heart of Chang'an Street, her plain white dress fluttering slightly in the autumn wind.

Emperor Jianwen's words, "My master is not dead," were like a pebble thrown into an ancient well, creating ripples in her heart.

In those eyes, as clear as autumn water, there was surprise and doubt, which eventually turned into a deep and unfathomable calm.

"How can you be so sure?" Tianxiangzi's voice was still gentle, but it had become three times sharper than before.

When Emperor Jianwen met those eyes, he felt as if his entire body had been seen through, and even his soul felt a slight tension.

He forced himself to remain calm and cupped his hands, saying, "Senior, you may not know this, but before my master left a mark on my body. If he were to perish, the mark would naturally disappear, but it still remains, though... the connection is weak and its location is unknown."

Tianxiangzi's gaze fell on Emperor Jianwen's brow.

Sure enough, there was a faint grayish-white aura lingering there, so faint as to be almost invisible, yet as resilient as silk!

"It was indeed left by him..." Tianxiangzi murmured, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

Three years ago, she stormed into Dayuan and demanded to know the whereabouts of the old eunuch. At that time, Emperor Jianwen was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator and was forced to stay in the city.

Now, three years have passed, and he has progressed from the Foundation Establishment stage to the Core Formation stage, and can face Nascent Soul cultivators with neither arrogance nor servility.

But the old eunuch had vanished without a trace!

"Is he really not dead?" Tianxiangzi asked again.

"This junior would not dare to deceive you," Emperor Jianwen said solemnly. "It's just that my master's whereabouts are elusive, and this junior has been unable to find him. If you wish to see him, senior, you may wait in Dayuan. Perhaps... perhaps my master will return soon."

He himself felt a little guilty about what he said.

He truly did not know where his master had gone. The mark, though not completely gone, was so faint as to be almost severed, as if separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, or as if shielded by some kind of force.

Tianxiangzi remained silent for a moment.

The autumn sun shone on her, making her white dress glow softly. The people on the street stared in admiration, but no one dared to utter a sound.

"Okay," she suddenly said, "I'll wait for him in Dayuan."

Emperor Jianwen was taken aback: "What do you mean, senior?"

"Find a quiet courtyard." Tian Xiangzi's gaze swept across the long street, finally landing in the direction of the palace. "It should be able to see the imperial city, but not too noisy."

Emperor Jianwen's heart tightened.

"Senior," he carefully chose his words, "Dayuan is currently in a turbulent time. Although the Chu Kingdom has been destroyed, other kingdoms are eyeing it covetously. If you wish to stay, I will certainly treat you with the utmost respect, but..."

"Just what?" Tian Xiangzi interrupted him, a slight smile playing on her lips, a smile as cool and aloof as the moon. "Don't worry, since I said I'd go to Da Yuan, I'll keep my word!"

Tianxiangzi's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable conviction.

Emperor Jianwen sensed the resoluteness in the words and knew that further persuasion would be useless, so he could only nod and say, "In that case, I thank you for your help, senior. I will arrange accommodations for you."

He turned around and gave Xiaobai a few instructions, which Xiaobai accepted and hurriedly left.

Tianxiangzi said no more and walked towards the palace.

Emperor Jianwen followed three steps behind her, maintaining a respectful distance.

People whispered among themselves on both sides of the long street.

"Who is that fairy? His Majesty actually came to greet her personally..."

"Didn't you hear? It's a Nascent Soul cultivator! My god, a Nascent Soul cultivator has actually arrived in the Great Abyss!"

"Judging from His Majesty's respectful demeanor, he must be someone of considerable importance..."

The murmurs were as quiet as the buzzing of mosquitoes and flies, but Tianxiangzi seemed not to hear them.

She walked slowly, but her gaze was sharp, sweeping over every street and alley, every building, as if she wanted to imprint every inch of this imperial city into her heart.

This is the place that the old eunuch once guarded.

Three years ago, when she came, she was filled with anger and confusion, and all she wanted was to find the old eunuch who had harmed her and force him to explain.

Now, returning, my mindset is completely different.

Her nascent soul had been formed, her cultivation technique was perfected, and even her voice had returned to the clear and melodious quality that a woman should have.

But some things, if they haven't changed, simply haven't changed.

Just like her obsession with the old eunuch, from the initial murderous intent to the later relief, and now... even she herself can't explain it.

"Senior, this is the place."

Xiao Bai led the two to a quiet alley on the west side of the imperial city.

At the end of the alley is a three-courtyard house with blue bricks and gray tiles. There are two old locust trees in front of the door, and the courtyard walls are covered with vines, making it look ancient and quiet.

Pushing open the door, you'll find several clumps of green bamboo, an ancient well, and an unfinished game of chess on a stone table in the courtyard.

"This courtyard originally belonged to a retired Hanlin scholar, and it was only recently vacated," Emperor Jianwen explained. "I have already ordered it to be cleaned and all the necessary items are provided. If you need anything, please feel free to ask."

Tianxiangzi walked into the courtyard and looked around.

The bamboo leaves rustled, the well water was clear and cool, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the locust tree, casting dappled shadows.

It is indeed quiet.

"Alright." She nodded, turned to Emperor Jianwen, and said, "I will wait for him here. You don't need to disturb me. If you hear any news about him, just send someone to tell him."

Emperor Jianwen cupped his hands and said, "This junior obeys."

He led Xiaobai out of the courtyard and gently closed the gate.

The footsteps faded into the distance.

Tianxiangzi stood in the courtyard, motionless for a long time.

The autumn wind swept through the alley, swirling a few fallen leaves around her feet.

She raised her hand, and a wisp of pale golden spiritual energy flowed from her fingertips, transforming into a paper crane. It flapped its wings and flew into the sky, circling the imperial city once before landing back in her palm.

"Old eunuch..." Tian Xiangzi murmured to herself, "Where are you?"

The paper crane turned into specks of light and disappeared in her palm.

She turned and walked towards the main room, her plain white dress disappearing behind the door.

The courtyard gate closed, and the alley returned to silence.

.........

A world within a bowl.

Under the dragon whisker fruit tree, Chen Fan slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes held a restrained brilliance, and his aura was deep and profound.

He secluded himself for a month, and three days passed outside the bowl. During these three days, he regulated his breathing day and night, nourished his lungs and internal organs with the Nourishing Spirit Pill, and tempered his consciousness with the Intent of Cause and Effect. Not only had his injuries healed, but his cultivation had also faintly touched the threshold of the Great Perfection of Core Formation.

What's even more remarkable is that the technique of ascending to yang and sinking to yin has been completely perfected.

Chen Fan spread his hands, and a ball of blazing white light rose from his left palm, like the rising sun.

A dark gray rune condensed in his right palm, like the solidified earth.

The two energies flow together, with yin within yang and yang within yin, forming a unified whole.

"It's time."

Chen Fan stood up and brushed away non-existent dust from his robes.

With a slight thought, his figure gradually faded away and merged into the void.

When it reappeared, it was in a hidden cave in the back mountain of Qingyun Sect.

The sunlight outside the cave was perfect, filtering through the gaps in the vines and casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Chen Fan pushed aside the vines and walked out of the cave.

The sight before him startled him slightly.

Throughout the Qingyun Sect, disciples were seen in groups of three or five, wielding magical artifacts and using their divine senses to meticulously search every inch of the land. Some dug three feet into the ground, some climbed to the treetops, and some even jumped into the streams, searching as if they were catching fish.

"Still haven't found it?"

"No, it's been three days already, and that old eunuch has vanished into thin air!"

"The patriarch has spoken: no rest is allowed until the target is found..."

The sound of murmurs could be faintly heard.

Chen Fan's lips curled up slightly.

A month passes inside the bowl, but only three days pass outside.

It seems that Qinglian Daoist has been quite active these past three days.

He concealed his aura, transformed into a phantom, and silently sped towards the main peak.