This clearly looked like a setup.

Chun Yao frowned thoughtfully but decided to meet him anyway. As expected, the moment Elder Ling stepped in, he brought up something that caught him completely off guard.

“You want Shuangxue to go to those places? Are you out of your mind? Do you realize how young he is?”

Chun Yao’s first instinct was to disagree. Elder Ling’s intent to silence people was too obvious; this was far too dangerous.

“Shuangxue is already a legitimate Feather Clan inner disciple,” Chun Yao reminded Elder Ling. “If something happens to him, I don’t think it would reflect well on you, Elder Ling.”

Chun Yao’s concern was well-founded; this matter would only get more complicated than it appeared.

In order to solidify his identity as a descendant of exorcists and gain more trust from the Feather Clan, Luo Yin had even supplemented the news with further details, partly out of his own confusion. Except for his true identity, everything else he revealed was, in fact, true.

The Feather Clan already knew that the skulls of the Skeleton Ghosts lurking around Xie Shuangxue had strange symbols on them. However, these symbols were not appearing for the first time; Luo Yin had noticed them long ago.

Years ago, similar markings appeared on certain people in the larger world. They looked normal but had actually become demon-controlled puppets, just like the Skeleton Ghosts—only capable of acting on orders, killing and looting, and causing countless bloody incidents.

Coincidentally, the main cities with an abnormal concentration of these puppets overlapped significantly with the seven main cities that had recently opened pathways to the Feather Clan.

This was a strange force entirely different from Luo Yin, the legitimate Demon Emperor, and it operated in ways contrary to the typical behavior of the Demon Clan, causing considerable trouble.

After the last great war, most demons had retreated to the corners of the continent to recuperate due to the relentless pursuit and fatal encounters, so Luo Yin was determined to pull out this behind-the-scenes manipulator. Unexpectedly, the Penglai City incident turned out to be the work of this same force, also targeting the Feather Clan, just like him.

Skeleton Ghost cultivation itself was merely a normal Demon Clan practice, akin to the God Clan’s summoning rituals. However, creating murderous puppets was considered dark magic, likely to backfire on the caster. Only the most insane would attempt it, and even the Demon Clan strictly prohibited its practice.

Furthermore, it was evident that this power was no longer small but was gradually expanding.

But there was one more thing only Chun Yao knew, and he dared not tell anyone.

The mark on the skulls looked vaguely familiar at first glance, and then he recalled it—it was one of the symbols engraved on the Book of Floating Dreams, only mirrored, which was why he hadn’t recognized it immediately.

However, access to the Book of Floating Dreams was restricted to the Feather Clan’s current Clan Chief and the officially designated successor; even elders had no right to enter the core of the tower where it was stored. How could an outsider possibly know what symbols were inscribed on it?

Most people didn’t even know what the Book of Floating Dreams looked like; it didn’t resemble a book at all but was a massive black stone, densely carved with unreadable symbols, considered to be divine prophecy.

Over the years, the stone had not been completely unchanging, occasionally shedding small fragments.

The passageway in Penglai City leading to the Feather Clan was centered around the first stone fragment that had fallen from the Book of Floating Dreams when it vibrated. It had been carved into a spherical shape and placed at the heart of the formation, carefully protected, but after the bloody incident, the stone sphere had vanished without a trace.

Even Chun Yao felt a creeping fear, realizing that the young Feather Clan members had to be safeguarded.

“Your Highness, you misunderstand me,” Elder Ling replied, sounding quite at ease as he faced Chun Yao, though he struggled to deal with that green tea troublemaker, Xie Shuangxue. “I would never harm the young master of the Xie family. I’m only doing this for his own good.”

“You may not know this, but Shuangxue has been punished before. As a newcomer to the Feather Clan, his mistakes have caused quite a few people to look down on him. The Feather Clan values loyalty and integrity as its creed. If he joins this team, I believe many people would see him in a different light, greatly aiding his integration into the Feather Clan.”

He then appealed to the duty of Xie Shuangxue as the young city lord of Penglai, finishing his argument by adding, “Rest assured, I’ve already discussed this with Elder Chen, and Shuangxue will be joining Chen Xin’s team. Chen Xin is a senior brother, and I believe you’ve noticed how much he cares for Shuangxue, Your Highness. He will undoubtedly protect him.”

“Besides,” Elder Ling added, “the Feather Clan doesn’t need Shuangxue to accomplish anything in particular; we only need his attitude.”

Elder Chen was known for his mild temper and would easily be convinced by Elder Ling’s reasoning, so letting Shuangxue follow Chen Xin seemed like a perfect plan—just as long as he stayed away from Ling Xuan.

However, Chun Yao wasn’t as easy to persuade. He was about to expose Elder Ling’s motives when Elder Ling smoothly continued, “Your Highness, why not let Shuangxue make the choice himself? I’ve already sent someone to invite him; he should be waiting outside.”

Sure enough, moments later, Xie Shuangxue pushed open the door and entered.

Thanks to careful attention over the past few days, his whip wounds had healed quickly, and now he could move about without much difficulty. Though he looked a little pale, he was otherwise fine.

It must have taken some effort on Elder Ling’s part to come up with an excuse to send Ling Xuan away and bring Xie Shuangxue here.

“I heard everything outside the door,” Xie Shuangxue said, looking directly at Chun Yao. “I’ll do as Your Highness commands. Whatever you say goes.”

But before Chun Yao could respond, Elder Ling cut in.

“Shuangxue, you shouldn’t think like that. You must learn to consider things from your own perspective. I’m only suggesting this because I know how much Your Highness and Ling Xuan care about you and want the best for you.” Elder Ling spoke with a sincere tone. “To be honest, I’ve already made up my mind. If you’re willing to go, I’ll stamp the Elder’s Golden Seal on your entry record to the Feather Clan’s inner circle. If you nod, I’ll stamp it immediately, with no regrets.”

This honor was a rare privilege within the Feather Clan.

Elder Ling was willing to offer the Elder’s Golden Seal in exchange for Shuangxue’s involvement, even if it meant losing something valuable.

“Disciples who earn the Elder’s Golden Seal can later choose to join the Clan Chief’s personal guard upon reaching adulthood. With the Clan Chief currently in retreat, that would mean serving in Your Highness’s guard,” Elder Ling reminded him. “Shuangxue, His Highness has been generous and kind to you. Now that he’s in need, shouldn’t you help ease his burdens?”

As expected, the mention of Chun Yao made Xie Shuangxue’s eyes light up.

“You’re right, Elder Ling. I hadn’t thought of it that way before,” he said, bowing to Chun Yao. “I’m willing to go. Please allow me to go, Your Highness.”

As he bowed, he was thinking of something else.

He truly was generous.

The Elder’s Golden Seal—something Xie Shuangxue hadn’t dared to dream of. With it, even regular Feather Clan members wouldn’t dare challenge him.

Elder Ling had found plenty of convincing reasons, each aligning with SEA’s storyline and the persona of Xie Shuangxue, willing to do anything for Chun Yao.

Xie Shuangxue couldn’t help but feel genuinely grateful to him.

Elder Ling also understood Chun Yao’s personality well. Chun Yao, slow to pick up on romantic feelings, hadn’t yet recognized Xie Shuangxue’s affection, seeing it as dependence, typical for a child who had lost his family and needed the Feather Clan. Chun Yao wasn’t one to interfere with others’ decisions, though Shuangxue had already gained some weight in his heart, so Chun Yao asked, “Where exactly do you plan to send him, Elder Ling?”

“To Lu Yun Tower, where Chen Xin will go,” Elder Ling responded. Out of all the options, this location seemed most suitable.

Lu Yun Tower was far from Floating Dreams Cloud, and it was a bustling main city managed by the Yun family, which maintained good relations with the Feather Clan. Yun Qiang, the city’s lord, was famously impartial, so it appeared relatively safe among the main cities the Feather Clan intended to investigate.

Chun Yao was still young and unfamiliar with the intricacies of the wider world. On paper, Lu Yun Tower indeed appeared harmless, and information from Luo Yin suggested it had the fewest reported incidents.

“Shuangxue, since you’ve already agreed, I won’t say more. The team hasn’t set out yet, so you can still change your mind anytime,” Chun Yao said. “If you insist on going, I’ll arrange trusted guards to protect you.”

Xie Shuangxue replied confidently, “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, but I’ve already made up my mind and won’t change it.”

Hearing this, Elder Ling felt reassured.

Though not particularly dangerous, Lu Yun Tower was, in fact, the most troublesome location.

Its massive size and mix of merchants and travelers meant the investigation would take longer and be far more challenging than in other places, potentially delaying Xie Shuangxue’s return indefinitely.

While Elder Ling was relishing his success, Xie Shuangxue, hearing the name “Lu Yun Tower,” was momentarily surprised.

Everything so far had gone according to his plan, but this was an unexpected deviation.

In the original storyline, the one leading the team wasn’t Chen Xin but Ling Luo, Elder Ling’s disciple and the second male lead, as well as Ling Xuan’s older brother.

Ling Xuan and Xie Shuangxue’s conflict arose because Ling Luo had been injured fighting a particularly troublesome Skeleton Ghost General on his own, wounding his arm and requiring several days of recovery, which kept him away.

Originally, Elder Ling intended to use Ling Luo’s injury to excuse him from the task, but Ling Luo ultimately volunteered to go.

Lu Yun Tower held a significant place in the plotline, and Ling Luo’s role as the second male lead was partially due to surviving until the end, as well as the major part Lu Yun Tower played in the world quest, giving him substantial screen time.

Moreover, Lu Yun Tower’s importance didn’t stop there.

Currently, half the game forum’s discussions revolved around him, with the other half focused on Lu Yun Tower.

The story of the Feather Clan took place several centuries before the players’ current era in the world of Gods and Demons, making each quest akin to a time-traveling storyline. In the players’ present timeline, Lu Yun Tower had transformed dramatically.

This area, once famed as the ancient city of Loulan in the Gods and Demons world, had long been coveted by powerful guilds.

After running for three years, Gods and Demons continued captivating players with endless events, new plots, and numerous unsolved mysteries.

The vast world map hadn’t been fully unlocked, and Lu Yun Tower was part of it.

Earlier plotlines hinted that Lu Yun Tower was once a thriving main city but had gradually fallen into decay for unknown reasons. The residents had left, and its buildings were eroded, with sands covering them over time. Rumors claimed that the city lord of the time, Yun Ruowei, had used dark magic, which caused its decline. Yun Ruowei was said to be buried in the city’s center, leaving behind mysteries. Anyone who could solve them would supposedly gain a power that would bring Lu Yun Tower back to life.

In the Gods and Demons tradition, “bring back to life” implied that this area would eventually open up to players.

Main cities were system-managed, meaning players couldn’t take control of them, though guilds could claim land nearby or even purchase lots within system-run cities. Players who made significant contributions to awakening the land would receive a Land Decree, allowing them to claim territory.

Despite repeated attempts, many guilds had retreated from Lu Yun Tower, as stone soldiers stationed there would attack anyone approaching it. This indicated that players had insufficient clues to unlock the area. It also subtly hinted that the Gods and Demons development team hadn’t yet fully developed the area.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yun Tower had now popped up on the mission list.

Only now did players realize that the Feather Clan’s peak coincided with Lu Yun Tower’s heyday, and during this storyline, the city lord’s family indeed bore the surname Yun.

In the past, elite players hadn’t paid much attention to the “Floating Dreams Cloud” world quest. When Bai Qiuyan, the guild leader of White Wall, defeated a hidden boss, he did it more for show than for the rewards.

They knew the Feather Clan’s new map was intended to be unlocked through a storyline. Although generous, its rewards were communal, hardly of interest to the true elites.

But the mention of Lu Yun Tower kept everyone awake.

Seeing the place featured in a world quest suggested that “Floating Dreams Cloud” wasn’t entirely standalone. Gods and Demons storylines were intricately interwoven, with each plot development connecting with previous ones to build a cohesive world.

In other words, players of all levels were hooked on the storylines crafted by the game’s planning team. It looked like nobody would escape involvement in this three-year anniversary.

Even the farming and sightseeing players were drawn in by the stunning scenery and mineral-rich forests of Lu Yun Tower.

After glancing at the forum, Xie Shuangxue felt compelled to go there.

With so many players, and his fondness for their company, it seemed like an ideal place for him.

Initially, he’d been worried that Elder Ling’s temperament wouldn’t allow him to pair Shuangxue with the Ling brothers again. He’d even considered finding some other excuse to join the team headed to Lu Yun Tower.

Unexpectedly, fate had worked in his favor, and Chen Xin was still around, paving the way for him.

He truly felt indebted to Elder Ling’s well-laid plans, sparing him a lot of trouble and giving him double the benefits.

But Xie Shuangxue knew Elder Ling had ulterior motives.

Indeed, as soon as he’d accepted the offer in Chun Yao’s presence, Elder Ling’s subordinates had spread the embellished news to Ling Xuan.

Returning to his room, Xie Shuangxue found Ling Xuan in a sour mood, visibly holding back his anger. Ling Xuan, cautious of his unhealed wounds, refrained from venting, though his displeasure was apparent.

He couldn’t understand why Shuangxue, after agreeing to return with him, suddenly decided to head off to such dangerous places. Was it purely for Chun Yao, or did their previous agreements mean nothing?

Ling Xuan, struggling with a complex mix of jealousy and uncertainty, couldn’t hide his feelings and wore them openly on his face.

Seeing Ling Xuan so upset, Xie Shuangxue didn’t rush to explain, maintaining an obedient and well-behaved demeanor over the following days.

Once Elder Ling noticed the shift in atmosphere between them, confident in his plan’s success, he expedited all the arrangements.

By dusk, as everything fell into place and Ling Luo, nearly healed, was scheduled to visit his younger brother, Ling Xuan, Xie Shuangxue seized the moment to speak up.

When Ling Xuan entered with a tray of medicine, he saw Shuangxue sitting by the window on a long bench, a small, warm lamp casting a soft glow beside him.

Shuangxue didn’t look his way, seemingly lost in thought as he stared out the window, with a heavy weight on his mind.