Liu Yunqing could roughly guess that Chunyu Changfeng was making such a big fuss because the other party wanted to recruit him.

If she had enough freedom, temporarily joining the Loose Cultivator Alliance would also be beneficial for her.

Moreover, given the orderly environment of Luoxia City and the protection offered before he even made his decision, Liu Yunqing was prepared to agree.

But just as she was about to speak, Liu Yunqing caught a glimpse of Chunyu Changfeng's expression and suddenly realized that the other party was not talking about the Loose Cultivator Alliance, but the City Lord's Mansion.

Liu Yunqing paused before speaking, then changed the subject and said:

"What's the difference between the City Lord's Mansion and the Loose Cultivator Alliance?"

Chunyu Changfeng laughed.

“If it were a few days ago, I might have invited my friend Zhenru to join the Loose Cultivator Alliance, but today, with my remaining conscience, I hope that my friend Zhenru will join my City Lord’s Mansion.”

"Of course, once you join the City Lord's Mansion, you're considered a member of the Loose Cultivator Alliance, with only one difference from other members of the Loose Cultivator Alliance."

Chunyu Changfeng paused here, and seeing that Liu Yunqing was not in a hurry to interrupt, he stopped being mysterious and went straight to the point:

"The difference is that once you join the Loose Cultivator Alliance, you are under the Alliance's jurisdiction. Whether you can get the Alliance's protection is not up to me, and you need to spend your own time and energy to cultivate relationships."

"Although you are nominally a member of the Loose Cultivator Alliance after entering my City Lord's Mansion, you are under my jurisdiction. If I am willing to protect you, no one will dare to object."

Liu Yunqing understood.

Joining the Loose Cultivator Alliance is merely becoming one of the many fish in a large net; whether or not one will be given special attention and nurtured is highly uncertain.

Becoming a member of the city lord's mansion is tantamount to being the result of a targeted recruitment effort, which is clearly more in line with one's own situation.

"But the City Lord's Mansion, as a backer, may not be as powerful and stable as the Loose Cultivator Alliance."

Chunyu Changfeng remained calm and unhurried, flipping his wrist to hand an item to Liu Yunqing, saying:

"What if we add this?"

Liu Yunqing's words did not mean that he wanted to choose the Loose Cultivator Alliance, but rather that he wanted to see what Chunyu Changfeng would say.

The other party's actions clearly indicate that they believe this issue does not require proof of strength.

Looking at the box being pushed towards him, Liu Yunqing asked Chunyu Changfeng with her eyes, but Chunyu Changfeng simply raised his chin to indicate that Liu Yunqing should open the box.

"mask?"

Liu Yunqing opened the box and found half of an extremely exquisite and intricate mask inside.

"Try wearing it."

Liu Yunqing did as instructed.

The mask pressed against my cheeks, cool but not cold, only making my mind clear.

Just as Liu Yunqing was about to ask what the mask was for, Chunyu Changfeng conjured a water mirror with his hand, the mirror facing Liu Yunqing himself.

Upon seeing his reflection in the mirror, Liu Yunqing finally showed a look of emotion and blurted out:

"The Mask of No Form?"

Chunyu Changfeng said with some surprise:

“Young friend Zhenru is not only exceptionally talented, but also possesses such broad knowledge.”

After praising him, Chunyu Changfeng said with some regret:

"This mask was indeed made based on the Wuxiang Mask, but it lacks the Vermilion Bird Gold Stone, so its function is ultimately somewhat lacking."

"However, the Vermilion Bird Gold Stone has already become extinct... What's with that expression?"

After Chunyu Changfeng finished speaking, he scanned Liu Yunqing with his divine sense and found that her expression was particularly complicated.

It was an expression that didn't seem to indicate unhappiness, nor happiness; in short, he couldn't decipher it.

How could Liu Yunqing not have mixed feelings?

She could recognize the Mask of No Form not because she was knowledgeable, but because the recipe Feng Piaopiao gave her was a list of materials needed to make the Mask of No Form.

What's more, she didn't have any of the other ingredients in the recipe, but she had plenty of Vermilion Bird Gold Stone.

"Ah, um... thank you very much, City Lord. May I ask one more question?"

Chunyu Changfeng was somewhat disappointed not to see excitement or joy on Liu Yunqing's face, but he still nodded to signal her to ask a question.

"I would like to ask the city lord, do you know the senior who crafted this Formless Mask?"

“I know you, but the one you have is the most perfectly crafted Formless Mask. Unless you can produce the Vermilion Bird Gold Stone.”

Chunyu Changfeng was blind, which prevented Liu Yunqing from guessing whether his words were a test through his eyes.

"The city lord said that the Vermilion Bird Gold Stone has become extinct. Where am I supposed to get it? It's just something I'm preparing for my natal magic weapon. If it's inconvenient for the city lord, then forget it."

After saying this, Liu Yunqing didn't wait for Chunyu Changfeng's reply, took off his mask, and waved it at Chunyu Changfeng, saying:

"I am truly moved by the city lord's sincerity, but I wonder what the city lord's request is?"

Upon hearing this, Chunyu Changfeng's lips curled up again, which meant he was about to agree.

"You'll do whatever the loose cultivator alliance requires you to do. The only extra thing you'll have to do is help the city lord's mansion with one mission every year."

"Rest assured, I guarantee that the missions I undertake will not violate the laws of heaven and earth, nor will they harm your path to immortality."

Liu Yunqing listened and no longer hesitated, then stood up, cupped his hands, and said:

"From now on, I humbly request the city lord's protection."

Chunyu Changfeng raised his hand in a gesture of support, and said with a smile:

"He's still just a little kid, why be so mature? He should be more lively."

There was no need for Liu Yunqing to respond. After she sat down again and the two had drunk a cup of tea, Chunyu Changfeng spoke up:

"Since you've just established your foundation, you should go back and consolidate your cultivation. I'll have someone send you your identity token and other formalities. If you have time, you can visit the Mission Hall."

After thanking him, Liu Yunqing tactfully took his leave.

After returning to his cave, he followed Chunyu Changfeng's advice and went into seclusion to consolidate his cultivation.

Of course, in addition to consolidating her cultivation, she also practiced her spells and skills diligently, and took the time to thoroughly study the Formless Mask.

During this time, people from the City Lord's Mansion came to give Liu Yunqing an identity jade token, as well as some cultivation resources distributed by the City Lord's Mansion, and asked her if she wanted to move to the east of the city.

Liu Yunqing packed up his belongings, but did not move out of the cave. The people from the city lord's mansion did not try to persuade him to leave.

Besides that, there was the little guide girl.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, Liu Yunqing planned to abstain from grains and stop having her deliver meals. Instead, he would send her news from the outside world once every ten days, and she could contact him anytime if there was an emergency.

In the beginning, because of the celestial phenomena on the day Liu Yunqing established his foundation, people would come and circle around the cave from time to time.

However, Liu Yunqing did not go out, and private duels were not allowed in the city, so those people could only loiter outside the cave.

After a day, two days, three days, or five days, as time went on, those people lost interest.

After all, it is inherently more difficult for independent cultivators to survive than for disciples of sects, and they simply don't have as much free time.

Two or three months later, there were no more people loitering around Liu Yunqing's cave, and even the people coming and going in Luoxia City had changed several times.

A few months later, no one paid any attention to the cave anymore.

Oh, only those who come to rent the cave will discover that this cave has always been rented out.

"What's going on in your Falling Sunset City? Is it really that difficult to rent a cave dwelling?"

"Don't tell me there are people in that cave. I've been here three times, and the door hasn't been opened even once. I think you're just bullying me and refusing to rent it to me!"

At the West City Cave Rental Office, a bright and beautiful female cultivator, clearly a disciple of a major sect, loudly questioned the old cultivator with a displeased expression.

Faced with the female cultivator's questioning, the old cultivator showed no unease as if he were meeting a disciple from a major sect. He remained patient and explained with a smile.

“It’s not that I don’t want to rent to you, but the hunting competition is just around the corner, and cave dwellings are already scarce. Besides, the cave dwelling you’ve taken a fancy to is already occupied.”

"As for what you said about not opening the door, isn't it common for cultivators to go into seclusion for three to five years?"

The female cultivator naturally understood this principle, but she herself did not come to rent the cave dwelling, but to rent the people in that cave dwelling, so how could she give up so easily?