Shi Chuankong and Hu San exchanged glances upon hearing Wang Yu's words, neither of them speaking.

"Since that's the case, I won't insist. We'll meet again someday and I'll repay you for saving me." Seeing Wang Yu's determination, Immortal Hotfire said.

"A brief encounter at Wild Crane Valley, no need for formalities. Farewell." Wang Yu cupped his fist.

"Farewell." Immortal Hotfire returned the gesture.

Then, Wang Yu nodded at Shi Chuankong and the two others. A light flashed around him, turning into a green ray that shot out the window of the tea house, disappearing in the distance.

"The sect's ruins are in Blacksoil Immortal Territory, you should already know that, right? When shall we depart?" Immortal Hotfire asked, turning away from the window after a moment.

"No rush, another helper hasn't arrived yet," Hu San said with a grin.

"Regardless, let's leave here first. The feint we set up might not fool those inspectors, they might already be hot on our trail," Shi Chuankong said.

After speaking, he formed a series of hand seals, and a silver light shone in front of him. Intense spatial fluctuations immediately emanated from the void, soon swallowing the three of them and disappearing from the second floor of the tea house.

...

Time passed, and more than three years had gone by.

In a continuous stretch of black mountains in Black Mountain Immortal Territory, there was an inconspicuous, low mountain peak, nestled between two high mountains like a ravine.

In the dense forest atop this mountain peak, there was a bluestone path, now submerged in weeds, winding its way to a dilapidated Taoist temple with two ancient pagoda trees planted in front of it.

The temple gate had completely collapsed, and the few Spirit Guardian Halls were also in disrepair, leaving only the Three Purities Hall, its roof covered in moss and weeds, stubbornly standing.

It was late at night, and a dim white light shone inside the Three Purities Hall, projecting through the dilapidated window frames onto the outer pillars and stone steps, casting mottled shadows.

A green-robed man was sitting cross-legged on a worn-out futon. On the ground in front of him was a small, dark-green bottle, surrounded by countless dense white dots of light, making it look quite peculiar.

The man was none other than Wang Yu.

After separating from Immortal Hotfire and the others that day, as soon as he left Greenforest Town, he used the teleportation thunder formation several times in succession to completely distance himself from them. After that, he drove the Emerald Flying Chariot southward at full speed.

He traveled non-stop during the day, and at night he would find some deserted mountains not far from ordinary towns to rest. This way, he could avoid other cultivators, avoid being disturbed by demons, and concentrate green liquid with the small bottle while cultivating those temporal cultivation methods.

Having taken the Evil Purging Pill before, he had eliminated a lot of baleful aura, and had been safe and sound along the way, but he couldn't enter those high-walled towns and cities where cultivators frequented for the time being.

After about half an hour, the white light around the small bottle was completely absorbed by the bottle, and the green liquid had condensed.

Wang Yu flicked his finger, igniting a pile of firewood not far from his side, starting a bonfire. Then he leaned over, picked up the small bottle, and held it up to his eyes.

By the light of the fire, he saw a drop of liquid slowly rolling inside the emerald-like bottle wall.

Just as he was thinking about whether or not to enter the "Floral Twig" cave to hasten the maturation of his Dao soldiers, the "Dragon Five" mask covering his face suddenly flashed, revealing itself.

Wang Yu was slightly surprised and formed a hand seal, secretly activating it.

A red light shot out from the center of the mask's eyebrows, projecting and condensing a human-shaped phantom in the void in front of him.

The phantom was two zhang tall, almost as tall as the hall. It wore a wide black robe and a dark red evil ghost mask with bell-like eyes, a hooked nose, and fangs.

Wang Yu frowned, looking surprised, because he found that this was the image of the Samsara Envoy he had seen in Lu Renjia's memory.

"You are Dragon Five, right? It has been almost a thousand years since you became a Child of Samsara, and the first mission period has passed. You have yet to complete the mission for the new millennium and need to carry it out," the Samsara Envoy said indifferently.

"Has it been a thousand years already? Time really flies..." Wang Yu sighed.

"Do you choose to accept this mission, or compensate with Immortal Essence Stones?" the Samsara Envoy asked.

"Please inform me of the details of this mission first," Wang Yu thought for a moment and said.

"This mission requires you to meet Hu San at Weique Mountain and assist him in completing a ruin exploration. He will inform you of the specific situation in detail after you meet. In addition to what you gain during the ruin exploration, Hu San will additionally offer 20,000 Immortal Essence Stones or a substandard Immortal Artifact as a reward," the Samsara Envoy said.

"May I ask, is this Fellow Daoist Hu San the famous thief 'Silver Fox' in the palace?" Wang Yu asked, startled.

"That...you can ask him yourself when you meet him," the Samsara Envoy replied indifferently.

Although the other party did not answer directly, Wang Yu already knew the answer.

"How much will it cost if I choose to compensate with Immortal Essence Stones?" Wang Yu hesitated for a moment and asked.

"Fifty thousand," the Samsara Envoy said coldly.

Hearing this, Wang Yu fell into thought.

Although 50,000 Immortal Essence Stones was a considerable amount, he could afford it, but who would be willing to give it away for nothing? He couldn't help but reconsider whether or not to go to the Mantra Gate ruins.

Because of the "Mantra Transformation Wheel Sutra" and Lu Renjia, Wang Yu naturally had a great interest in the Mantra Gate. The reason he didn't want to go before was largely because of his distrust of Hu San and Shi Chuankong.

But now that this matter had become a millennial mission of the Samsara Palace, it was a little different.

As for dealing with the baleful decay, there was no response to the mission issued by the Samsara Palace for the time being. The methods he could use were still the old ones, so whether he was in the Mantra Gate ruins or on the run, there was not much difference.

"Make a decision quickly," the Samsara Envoy suddenly urged.

"I accept this mission," Wang Yu said loudly.

"Good. After completing this mission, you will be free for a thousand years. As long as you spend the corresponding Immortal Essence Stones, all the resources in the Samsara Palace can be borrowed," the Samsara Envoy nodded and said.

Then, he waved his palm, and a silver light condensed in the void, gathering into a vast map. In the center of it, a red light spot was marked, with the words "Weique Mountain" written on it.

"Remember this map. The place where you will meet Hu San is here, and you must arrive within half a year. If you are late, it will be considered a refusal to execute the mission, and the Palace will hold you accountable." After the Samsara Envoy finished speaking, his figure gradually dissipated.

Wang Yu scanned the map back and forth several times, checked the terrain, and soon found the mountain range where he was now located. He saw that it was a place called "Old Depression Mountain."

After carefully comparing the distance between this place and Weique Mountain, he found that the journey was not too far. If he traveled with the Emerald Flying Chariot, he could arrive in about three months.

After Wang Yu memorized the map, the light and shadow in front of him twisted and faded until they disappeared.

He recalled the map again in his mind, then raised his middle and index fingers, a silver light flashed on them, and he opened the door to the "Floral Twig" cave and stepped inside.

...

More than three months later.

On a solitary mountain peak hundreds of feet high, shaped like a steamed bun, three figures sat around a carved, exquisite white jade stone table, each holding a silver wine cup, toasting and drinking.

The wine cups were filled with dark red grape wine, emitting a slightly astringent and intoxicating aroma.

Among the three, a black-robed youth was the most unrestrained, holding a wine cup in one hand and a silver wine pot in the other. When the mood struck him, he would simply look up, raising the wine pot high and pouring the wine into his throat.

No one knew what kind of magical artifact his wine pot was, but it seemed to contain countless fine wines. No matter how much he poured, wine continued to flow out.

"Fellow Daoist Hu San, Fellow Daoist Li is also fond of wine. If he hadn't left, you could have become close friends in this matter of drinking alone," said a white-haired old man sitting opposite the youth.

The three people were none other than Immortal Hotfire and the others.

"Oh? In that case, it's indeed a pity. But everyone has their own aspirations, and it can't be forced," Hu San said with a smile.

"Hu San, when is the person you mentioned coming?" Shi Chuankong, who was sitting next to him, had been looking at the scenery in the distance and was somewhat absent-minded about drinking. He turned his head and asked.

"It should be soon, probably in the next month or two. The palace's high-level members are quite concerned about this mission, and the people who come to assist me should have been carefully selected. Let's be patient and wait," Hu San said, pouring another mouthful of wine.

As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said again, "Hey, he actually arrived earlier than I thought."

A green light streaked from the distant sky, suddenly stopping in mid-air. A cyan figure fell from the height, landing directly in front of the three.

When the three saw the figure falling from the sky, the expressions on their faces became extremely wonderful.

"Fellow Daoist Li, what is this?" Immortal Hotfire was first surprised, then delighted.

"Fellow Daoist Hotfire, and the other two, are you well?" Wang Yu smiled and cupped his hands at the three.

Hu San and Shi Chuankong exchanged glances, their brows furrowing at the same time.

"You...you are the palace member who came to assist me?" Hu San looked at Wang Yu with narrowed eyes.

"I didn't expect that this routine mission would actually be to assist you in exploring the Mantra Gate ruins," Wang Yu sighed and said.

After speaking, he raised his hand and wiped his cheek, a flash of light flashed across his face, and the "Dragon Five" mask appeared.

Hu San carefully looked at his mask for a moment, raised his eyebrows, and suddenly said:

"Hehe, I didn't expect...you are Dragon Five?"

"What? Do you recognize me?" Wang Yu withdrew his hand, restored his previous appearance, and asked in confusion.

"Jiao San mentioned that Dragon Five is extremely talented in alchemy and cultivation, so I had some impression of you and always wanted to meet you. I didn't expect to see you so soon. It's a pleasant surprise," Hu San said with a grin.

This time, it was Immortal Hotfire who was somewhat incredulous. He looked at Wang Yu and asked slowly:

"Fellow Daoist Li, are you...also a member of the Samsara Palace?"