"Could it be that the Chen Cangqiong mentioned by the Fisherman is..." Yuan Ming wondered aloud.

"He is now the Great Elder of the Biluo Cave." The Fisherman replied.

"Since he didn't make things difficult for you, why do you choose to live in seclusion here? Wouldn't it be better to leave?" Yuan Ming asked.

"I have thought about leaving, especially after learning about those shady and sordid affairs that happened in Biluo Cave later on..." The Fisherman began, but suddenly fell silent.

A moment later, after taking a sip of wine, he continued, "But my former subordinates had to stay in Biluo Cave. Most of them come from Artifact Refining backgrounds, and their combat power isn't very high. While Chen Cangqiong's cultivation kept rising, he also slowly cultivated more strength, and I did not wish to make him target my former subordinates if I left, so I gave up the idea. Gradually, I lost the will to leave."

Yuan Ming didn't respond; he understood the Fisherman's decision.

"That Chen Cangqiong truly is capable. Originally, the Southern Border and Northern Territory had Four Major Sects. After taking over, he turned the once obscure Three Stars Mountain into one of the Five Great Sects of the Southern Border and Northern Territory. His methods are indeed impressive." The Fisherman added.

"Chen Cangqiong is actually so formidable, but don't the other four families suppress him? How strong is he?" Yuan Ming inquired.

"In terms of strength, none of the elders from the other sects can defeat him in a one-on-one fight. What can they do to him?" The Fisherman answered.

Hearing this, Yuan Ming felt respect rising within him for this Great Elder whom he had never met.

"Do you know why I indulge Huo Chan'er so much?" The Fisherman said after a long silence, speaking up once more.

"Could it be that one of the Three Cave Masters is an old friend of yours?" Yuan Ming quickly guessed the answer.

"Almost all the elders from the Fire Refining Hall were once my subordinates. Over the years, some have reached the end of their life spans, others met with accidents and perished. Ling Songhua has become one of Biluo Cave's Three Cave Masters. I once had a Loose Cultivator friend named Hei Mu who was exceptional in Artifact Refining, and he often visited Three Stars Mountain to exchange insights on refining with Song Hua," The Fisherman nodded.

"The Three Cave Master is Ling Songhua! He often exchanged Artifact Refining insights with Hei Mu at Three Stars Mountain! Could Master Hei Mu and the Three Cave Master have had something more between them!" Yuan Ming almost couldn't help exclaiming in shock.

Seeing his astonished expression, the Fisherman asked, "Surprised, are you?"

"The junior has just never seen the Three Cave Master visit you here, so it seems a bit unbelievable," Yuan Ming said, masking his true reaction.

"Song Hua blames me for Hei Mu's disappearance. She thinks I should take responsibility," the Fisherman sighed, his words coming slowly.

"Could it be that you have feelings for the Three Cave Master!" A wild thought came to Yuan Ming, and he blurted it out. For a split second, Yuan Ming considered telling the Fisherman that Master Hei Mu hadn't disappeared but was already dead; however, he dared not voice this thought.

"Don't be disrespectful. You could be a novelist with your storytelling. I confide old stories to you, and you make jokes about this old man," The Fisherman said to Yuan Ming with a laugh.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong," Yuan Ming hurriedly apologized.

"Three cups of wine as punishment!" The Fisherman pretended to be angry.

When the sky turned dark, they had finished off two jars of wine and all the fish, both host and guest thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and Yuan Ming then took his leave.

After stepping out of the valley, Yuan Ming gathered his mana, uttered a soft chant, and dispelled all the alcohol fumes from his body. Then, he quickly used the Wind Swift Skill to hurry back to his residence at the Fire Refining Hall.

Back at his dwelling, Yuan Ming still couldn't contain his excitement.

He never would have imagined the Fisherman, the Three Cave Master, and Hei Mu to have such a history. It was no wonder the Fisherman had been so lenient with him when they first met. He just couldn't understand why neither the Three Cave Master nor the Fisherman knew about Hei Mu's Cave Mansion, to the point where he had been gone for so long without their knowledge.

After a short rest, Yuan Ming went to the window to sit quietly and began to meditate on the "Nine Elements Technique."

In the middle of the night, a faint noise came from the window, and Yuan Ming slowly opened his eyes to see the silver cat approaching him with light steps.

"Xi Ying, you came quickly?" Yuan Ming stopped his cultivation practice and called out.

The silver cat simply walked into his room and sat down on the desk, asking:

"Tell me, what interesting things happened on your trip? I could use a distraction."

Yuan Ming then exaggerated his experiences in Snake King Valley, recounting them with embellishments.

The story was heavily embellished, especially detailing how he fell into danger, was ambushed, entangled with the Snake King, and finally achieved a hard-fought victory.

Even though Xi Ying was no stranger to grand spectacles, she was still swayed by Yuan Ming's vivid narrative; at the suspenseful parts, her bi-colored pupils would unwittingly contract, her claws almost tearing the desk apart.

After the recitation, Yuan Ming marvelled at his own talent for storytelling.

"That really does sound fun. It's a shame I didn't go. Next time, you have to take me along," Xi Ying said earnestly after listening, her emotions finally settling down, but not without expressing her regret.

Seeing her look of disappointment, Yuan Ming couldn't help but feel amused. He then shared the old stories he had heard from the Fisherman about Biluo Cave with Xi Ying, who seemed to have already known them.

As Xi Ying lingered, Yuan Ming said, "Aren't you in a rush to cultivate? You've been here for quite some time."

"Are you chasing me away? Give me back my stuff," Xi Ying demanded, stretching out a paw and making a grasping motion with her fluffy fingers.

When Yuan Ming heard this, he knew that the inevitable had arrived. He had thought that his elaborate narration might sidestep the matter and that he could secretly repair and return the Gold-plated Gauze to Xi Ying later. But she had not been distracted at all and still remembered the gauze.

"Um, Xi Ying, about that... Could I borrow the Gold-plated Gauze for a bit longer? It's really quite handy, and I plan to go to the workshop in a few days to see if there's any work I can do," Yuan Ming said somewhat awkwardly.

"We'll talk future matters later. Where is the Gold-plated Gauze? Give it back," Xi Ying insisted, extending a paw and making a scooping motion.

"I accidentally damaged the Gold-plated Gauze," Yuan Ming said helplessly, telling the truth.

"Let me have a look," Xi Ying instructed.

Yuan Ming sighed and, feeling anxious, took out the gold-plated gauze and handed it over.

Xi Ying caught it, examined the damaged area closely, and said, "It seems you really did go through a tough battle..." With a wave of her paw, she stored it away and then added, "What's a magic artifact compared to one's life? I won't blame you, seeing how nervous you are."

On the contrary, Yuan Ming was stunned in place, feeling somewhat guilty and at a loss. He was about to explain to Xi Ying about the materials used for the gold-plated gauze, but by then, Xi Ying had already hopped away, moving off into the distance.

...

The next day.

Yuan Ming returned to the small courtyard in the back mountain, and this time, he finally met with the Three Cave Masters.

After learning about the situation of the Three Cave Masters from the Fisherman, Yuan Ming felt differently when he saw her again.

But for now, he could not reveal Master Hei Mu's affairs to her.

When the Three Cave Masters saw Yuan Ming's arrival, she was somewhat surprised, as his recent visits had been unusually frequent.

"What brings you here?" In the courtyard, the Three Cave Masters looked at Yuan Ming and asked.

Yuan Ming took off Huo Chan'er, who was clinging to his neck, and began to speak, "Disciple went out the day before yesterday and encountered someone in a hurry to sell an item at the workshop. It resembled the White Flame Gold you were seeking, so I spent some money to buy it."

Upon hearing this, the Three Cave Masters showed a flicker of emotion but quickly regained her composure.

"White Flame Gold of this sort is rarely found in workshops, and even if it appears, it will be snatched up immediately. How could you, a Qi Refining disciple, manage to buy it?" She said, smiling and shaking her head.

The implication was that Yuan Ming had probably been duped into buying a fake.

"Disciple doesn't know if it's real or fake, but I bought it anyway. I would like the Three Cave Masters to take a look," Yuan Ming said with a smile.

The Three Cave Masters thought for a moment and then replied, "Well, let's take a look at it."

She resolved to compensate Yuan Ming for the spirit stones he had spent, regardless of whether the White Flame Gold was real or fake. A registered disciple at the Qi Refinement Realm did not often come by such intentions, and she couldn't let him suffer a loss in vain.

Yuan Ming immediately slapped his storage bag and took out the chicken egg-sized piece of White Flame Gold.

Before returning, he went out of his way to find a volcanic crater, where he cast the White Flame Gold into the outer edge of the lava, allowing the sulfur-rich volcanic substance to mar its surface and giving it a pungent smell.

As expected, at first glance, the Three Cave Masters mistook the item for a volcanic rock.

But as soon as she casually picked it up, her wrist sank slightly, and she knew something was off-kilter.

Volcanic rocks usually contain plentiful bubbles, giving them a light and airy feel; it shouldn't have been so heavy.

The Three Cave Masters' expression grew concentrated as she held the piece of White Flame Gold closely, and her demeanor soon underwent a dramatic change, the joy in her eyes difficult to conceal.

"This... it really is a piece of White Flame Gold," the Three Cave Masters couldn't help but exclaim.

"I just felt it looked like White Flame Gold; the people nearby all weren't sure and told me not to buy it, but I insisted on buying it anyway. Turns out my luck is good," Yuan Ming declared, slapping his thigh, appearing even more excited than the Three Cave Masters.

"How much did you pay for it?" the Three Cave Masters asked.

"Not much; as long as it's the right thing," Yuan Ming waved his hand and said.

The Three Cave Masters didn't speak but looked straight at Yuan Ming, clearly expecting him to give a precise amount.

"Three spirit stones," Yuan Ming said with a resigned look.

"Really?" The Three Cave Masters frowned. That price didn't just suggest a bargain—it was practically a steal.

"It's true. People around said it was a fake, and the seller was flustered. When he saw I was willing to buy, he gave me such a price, and even if he asked for more, I didn't have it," Yuan Ming nodded emphatically.

"If that's the case, then it truly is your good fortune. I indeed need this White Flame Gold. Tell me, what would you like in exchange?" the Three Cave Masters said, now convinced.

"No need, no need, this is a token of this disciple's respect for you. I have always remembered the Three Cave Masters' kindness in accepting me," Yuan Ming waved his hands repeatedly.

He genuinely didn't intend to exchange it for anything. First, the White Flame Gold was truly of no use to him at the moment. Second, the Three Cave Masters had been truly good to him, a registered disciple, and third, it was also a form of gratitude to Master Hei Mu.

"If there's any magic artifact you lack, I can give you one," the Three Cave Masters thought for a moment and said.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming gave it careful thought and realized that he indeed didn't need anything for the time being.

Suddenly, he thought of something and asked, "Three Cave Masters, do you know about the existence of flying artifacts?"

"You want a flying artifact?" The Three Cave Masters paused, frowning.

It wasn't that she found Yuan Ming's request excessive, but rather, she genuinely didn't have such a thing.

"Disciple was just curious after reading about them in books," Yuan Ming said with a smile.

"Flying artifacts are just one type among many. They can fly through the air, sustained by the special properties of spiritual materials and the enhancement of arrays, as long as spiritual power is continuously supplied," the Three Cave Masters explained.

"Why have I never seen the elders using one?" Yuan Ming asked, puzzled.

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