You don't want your secret to be revealed by others, right?

"Though I am but a humble Daoist from the Zhiyi Temple, allow me to establish contact."

One of the Daoists wielding a horsetail whisk immediately agreed, sending forth a ten-thousand-li transmission talisman, which burst into flames and soared into the sky, vanishing from sight.

All the Holy Land Sects across the world resided within the boundaries of Jingzhou.

Naturally, Zhiyi Temple was no exception, situated not far from Di Hong City. With the talisman's speed, Zhiyi Temple would soon receive the message.

It remained to be seen whether the Temple Master would arrive.

"The Temple Master will still need some time to arrive."

Lin Yue looked at the red-robed, bald woman and said, "For now, we will believe what you say is true. The State Preceptor of the former dynasty threatened the Demon Clan with the scattering of the Human Ancestor's soul, causing them to dare not set foot in Liangwang City for a thousand years. However, I assume the Demon Clan would completely seal Liangwang City, making it difficult for you to leave, correct?"

He narrowed his eyes, speaking softly, "How did you manage to leave Liangwang City, traversing the perilous Eternal Night to reach Great Yong?"

The red-robed, bald woman hesitated before speaking, "A year ago, a conflict seemed to arise within the Demon Clan. Some Demon Ancestors, disregarding the Heavenly Demon Ancestor's orders, suddenly joined forces to breach Liangwang City."

She spoke with a somber tone, "Even though the Human Ancestor and the Great Yu State Preceptor fought valiantly to stop them, countless lives were lost. If it weren't for the State Preceptor truly attacking the Human Ancestor's Divine Soul, forcing the Heavenly Demon Ancestor to intervene, Liangwang City might have been destroyed."

The words caused the people from the Ancestor Hall to furrow their brows tightly.

The Human Ancestor almost had his soul scattered?

For the Humans, the Human Ancestor was already a revered patriarch deserving of everyone's respect.

To the Ancestor Hall, the Human Ancestor was of utmost significance, their most revered deity!

Hearing of such dire straits befalling the Human Ancestor, how could those in the Ancestor Hall remain unmoved?

Though unsure of the truth, it warranted serious consideration by the Ancestor Hall.

"As for us..."

The red-robed, bald woman sighed and said, "Amidst the chaos, the Human Ancestor and the Great Yu State Preceptor selected the most promising disciples in Liangwang City to preserve their lineage. Using a Supreme Misty Qingming Talisman left by the State Preceptor, I led them here to Great Yong to seek aid."

Her words caused many of the Daoists present to look at her in astonishment.

"Supreme Misty Qingming Talisman?"

"Only our Daoist Ancestor could craft such a high-level talisman, yet the State Preceptor possessed one?"

The red-robed, bald woman glanced at them and explained, "I am unsure myself, but the Supreme Misty Qingming Talisman is still with me, though its residual power is scarce."

With a turn of her hand, she revealed a Daoist talisman enveloped in a mysterious aura.

However, the Daoists present at most were only at the level of Great Cultivators and could not recognize the legendary talisman even if they saw it with their own eyes.

They would have to wait for the Temple Master of Zhiyi Temple to arrive.

"Were you here to seek help?"

Lin Yue looked at her and said, "If you were seeking help, why did it take a year for you to appear?"

The red-robed, bald woman furrowed her brows slightly. Why did His Highness persistently question her, showing such distrust?

Taking a deep breath, she said, "Seventeenth Prince, the depths of Eternal Night are perilous. We could only advance slowly. Besides, when we left Liangwang City, the crisis had been resolved and wasn't as urgent. It was the shattering of the Human Ancestor's Divine Soul that prompted our plea for aid, hoping to find a way to assist him."

"I see." Lin Yue nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He smiled and said, "Your origins are difficult to verify, seemingly preposterous. Therefore, I must treat you with caution, I hope you understand."

The red-robed, bald woman looked at him, her expression cold, "So does Your Highness still think we might be sent by the Demon Clan?"

"Who knows?" Lin Yue replied indifferently, "Apart from your tales without any solid proof, I haven't seen decisive evidence, have I?"

"So His Highness never believed us from the beginning." The woman nodded slightly.

"Of course." Lin Yue admitted without hesitation.

"And what about you all?" The red-robed, bald woman turned to the Hall Masters from the Ancestor Hall, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding onlookers, "Do you also not believe us?"

The Hall Masters frowned slightly but said nothing.

Though they indeed hadn't been convinced, the story logically made sense and seemed plausible. Even if there were parts hard to fathom, it contained elements worth believing.

Lin Yue saw through the Hall Masters' thoughts but was unconcerned.

After all, the Hall Masters did not know the main soul of the Human Ancestor was in his possession, nor did they know he had obtained these people's secrets.

"No need for excessive words."

Lin Yue spoke calmly, "We'll discuss further when the Temple Master arrives."

"Sadly..." he lamented in his mind, "I don't dare release the Human Ancestor's soul yet, otherwise I could instantly prove these people false..."

Mother ventured to Beiyuan Mountain years ago, acquiring the Eternal Darkness Reincarnation Coffin to save the Human Ancestor's fragmented Divine Soul.

Yet, the Human Ancestor's soul still shattered.

This suggested... the Human Ancestor's soul was fragmented by some terrifying existence in Great Yong.

The Empress said the Crown Prince noticed immediately when she retrieved the soul fragment from the Heavenly Martial Divine Cauldron, indicating the Crown Prince was monitoring it. Could he be responsible?

He did not believe the Crown Prince was unaware that it was the Human Ancestor's soul, perhaps the Crown Prince even sealed it there.

The Second Prince helped her back then, perhaps he knew?

In such uncertainty, how could he dare release the Human Ancestor's soul?

What if he provoked that terrifying existence to act again...

Therefore, he must find a way to restore the Human Ancestor's soul, helping him recover his past physical body and power before acting.

Before that, he would never hand over the Human Ancestor's soul.

Furthermore...

Most importantly, after so many years in the illusion realm of the Eternal Darkness Reincarnation Coffin, with its twelve-fold time, the Human Ancestor had guided him for decades, becoming the closest elder to him, needing no words to express the gratitude.

He once dared to kill a prince for a fiancée not yet married, let alone such a debt of gratitude to the Human Ancestor.

How could he possibly hand over the Human Ancestor's soul, exposing it to danger?

...

Moments later.

"Whoosh—"

A stream of light descended from the sky, landing on the forecourt of the Ancestor Hall, transforming into a Daoist elder with white hair and beard, who appeared to be an ordinary mortal Daoist.

"Temple Master."

"Zhiyi Temple's Temple Master?"

"Taiyi Daojun!"

"Greetings, Daojun."

The Hall Masters and some Daoists on the scene instantly recognized the identity of this Daoist elder.

The Temple Master of Zhiyi Temple, the Immortal of the Human World, known by the immortal title Taiyi Daojun.

Besides the Daoist Ancestor, this Temple Master of Zhiyi Temple was considered a leading figure among the Daoists.

"I have long heard of the Seventeenth Prince's great name and seeing you today, indeed you are extraordinary."

The Temple Master of Zhiyi Temple smiled slightly at Lin Yue and glanced at Baili Fengzhi standing behind him without saying much, then greeted the Hall Masters.

Lin Yue knew Baili Fengzhi's mother, Yan Yue Divine Sovereign, was the Supreme Elder of Zhiyi Temple; the Temple Master might have noticed Baili Fengzhi's resemblance to her or possibly even recognized her as the daughter of Yan Yue Divine Sovereign.

"The situation is urgent; may I ask for the Temple Master's assistance in discerning truth from falsehood?" Lin Yue said.

The red-robed, bald woman turned her hand again, retrieving the same piece of somewhat withered bamboo earlier, saying, "The Great Yu State Preceptor entrusted me with this, saying viewing it would confirm his identity. Please, Temple Master, take a look."

The Temple Master of Zhiyi Temple's eyes changed at the sight, then he accepted the withered bamboo, scrutinizing it carefully.

After a while, he nodded slightly, "Indeed, it is the life-bound object of the former dynasty's State Preceptor, and the Preceptor is still alive."

Upon hearing this, everyone was in an uproar.

Could it be that what she said was true?

"And this Supreme Misty Qingming Talisman, Temple Master, could you verify its authenticity?" The red-robed, bald woman produced the talisman.

"Supreme Misty Qingming Talisman?" The Temple Master was astonished.

Examining it closely, he nodded, "It is truly the Daoist Ancestor's Supreme Misty Qingming Talisman."