However, he was naturally optimistic; even though he didn't have many friends, he was always cheerful. The thing he looked forward to the most each day was bumping into Fang Qingmeng and exchanging witty banter with Fairy Fang. As for disguising himself as Crane Ancestor to come out of seclusion, this was not Song Yan's idea of "using Thousand Crane Sect as a barrier against Fox Wolf Demons," but rather he didn't want Thousand Crane Sect to perish, especially after Fang Qingmeng found him.

And Xing'Er was the second woman who treated him so well.

If he doubted Xing'Er just because she was a female cultivator from Ghost Slaughter Sect, then he wouldn't be human!

...

...

In the late autumn, dried yellow leaves quietly floated, fell, and piled up outdoors.

In the secret chamber, Song Yan raised a face-sized array plate and six flags, examined them again and again, and then let out a long sigh: "Finally done."

He looked at the array plate with a peculiar gaze.

Logically, this array should be more powerful, but it has only "nine thousand two hundred and thirteen patterns," nearly ten times less than "Myriad Souls Banner Sacrificial Refinement" and "Five Elements Gathering Profound."

'Since it has no name, I'll give you one; let's call it "Celestial Dao Gathering Introduction Array."'

He carefully put away the array plate and stepped out of the chamber.

Soon, the top demon cultivators of the Demon Cultivator Alliance arrived to pay their respects and report on the tasks he had previously assigned to them.

These tasks were nothing but deeply exploring the "secrets of the Chu Kingdom," clarifying where treasures might be hidden, or investigating mysterious unknown forbidden areas or peculiar secret realms.

Song Yan was not careless about this.

The Three Kingdoms all hid many secrets, the Chu Kingdom couldn't have none.

The top demon cultivators reported one by one, Song Yan listened quietly and casually "generously bestowed" gifts using the Alliance's treasures. If he liked someone, he'd give more; if he didn't, he'd give less.

As for rules, fairness, standards, clear rewards and punishments?

He didn't give a damn.

Different people were treated differently.

He might even reward someone with an elixir because he found it pleasing when they stepped in with their left foot.

That's how it was.

He did this to let everyone know he, this old ancestor, wouldn't stay for long; those who desperately tried to win his favor during this time would reap the benefits.

People came extremely nervous one by one, but left joyfully.

Yun Xiang and Yan Rong once again stayed by his side, sticking to him as if seeing a beloved one after a long separation, clinging to him and refusing to leave.

Soon, a graceful woman in green entered from outside.

The woman's appearance was charming, her chest was full, and her slightly disheveled hair seemed hurriedly tied up.

The woman approached Song Yan's seat, bowed gracefully, and said sweetly, "Xing'Er, greetings to the ancestor."

Song Yan replied indifferently, "How did it go?"

Xing'Er respectfully reported all that Tang Fan had said, not skipping even the part where he cursed him as a "sly, shameless, cold-blooded, heartless old monster."

After saying that, she giggled and said, "I've given him plenty of chances, but he insists he wants to wait for a proper marriage before feeling comfortable with me and forming a partnership.

I told him I'd wait for him, no matter how long, he was deeply moved. Hehehe...

However, I actually don't want to wait. If only..."

She suddenly flashed a bright gaze, looking up with longing at Song Yan, and said coyly, "Ancestor, why don't you take me first?"

Song Yan said curiously, "He has remarkable potential, or I wouldn't be focusing on him. If he truly has feelings for you, you wouldn't cherish it?"

Xing'Er replied, "What's the point of cherishing or not cherishing him? I only know that he's the ancestor's prisoner, and afterward...he's bound to die.

How can I care about someone with potential if they're dead?

Anyway, the reason I approached him was at ancestor's arrangement. How could I lose myself and forget my task in such arrangements?

On the contrary, should I latch onto the ancestor, wouldn't there be countless benefits?

Moreover..."

She suddenly covered her mouth to act shy, her cheeks turned red immediately, her voice indescribably charming.

"The two older sisters said the ancestor truly made them experience the joy of being a woman. I'd...also want that joy."

The final word "joy" was spoken so seductively it was almost dripping with allure.

Song Yan froze for a moment, feeling that "Susu's method was indeed not solitary," and then suddenly burst into laughter, saying "Reward!"

Xing'Er joyfully raised her skirt, eager to approach.

Song Yan said, "There's no need for that, just do your work well. Yan Rong and Yun Xiang can go to the treasury and pick one item unconditionally, and this rule applies to you too. Go find Wu Fangtian."

Xing'Er's eyes flashed with disappointment, but hearing his words made her very happy again, she said coquettishly, "Thank you, ancestor."

...

...

Xing'Er's report gave Song Yan a deeper understanding of Tang Fan, such daily interactions naturally surpassed his hurried questioning after drinks.

He even knew where Tang Fan had lived as a child, the neighbors next to his family, and what embarrassing things those neighbors did.

The map of Chu Kingdom was already etched in his mind.

With a slight comparison, he discovered something interesting.

Tang Fan moved once as a child, and right after that his parents disappeared.

Before moving, it's likely that his home was just separated from Ghost Slaughter Sect by an Evil Land.

Even more coincidentally, the core material for Myriad Souls Banner Sacrificial Refinement discovered by Sikong Seal was also found in the Evil Land...Reportedly, it was during a burst of earth energy that a peculiar material called "Soul-Gathering White Cave Crystal Jade" appeared, which they hurriedly gathered, and after years of preparation, began refining the Myriad Souls Banner.

What does that imply?

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