"Now that you've left the Yuncang Sword Sect, why are you rushing back?" Shen Yun looked up at Ji Mofan. "The new Dao Inquiry Tournament has already begun, and the competition shouldn't be over yet, right?"
"Could it be that you didn't even make it to the finals and were eliminated early?"
Despite asking this question, Shen Yun also felt it was impossible.
Four years ago, during the Dao Asking Conference, Ji Mo Fan had already reached third place on the Heavenly Ranking.
Now that he has the strength of the Nascent Soul stage, he will only become more outstanding, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
"I just came out for a stroll because today's matches are over." Ji Mofan shook his head.
Shen Yun thought to himself, "I don't believe you for a second."
The arena for the Dao Asking Tournament was set up near the Xiaoling Sect, which was quite far from the Yuncang Sword Sect. It would take almost a day to travel there by flying magic artifact, and two or three teleportation talismans would be needed.
Even if someone from Jimo Fan is full and has nothing better to do, they wouldn't go this far for a walk.
"I still have matters to attend to. What exactly do you intend to do here today?" Shen Yun's patience had been worn thin by his constant teasing.
Ji Mofan smiled and said, "I just wanted to chat with the elder."
"I recently obtained a manuscript on formations in a secret realm." He took out a thin notebook from his Qiankun bag.
This is not the original version, but a version he hand-copied from a few pages.
"I can understand some parts, but I don't quite understand others." Ji Mofan placed the notebook on the table and spread it out, his fingertip lightly touching the ink on it. "I would like to ask the elder to enlighten me."
Shen Yun found his reason even more absurd than his earlier excuse of just strolling around.
He came to his former master for guidance.
Their relationship was already quite ugly back then. Even though they maintained a calm facade in public, they were both secretly harboring resentment.
Why would he ask me for advice at a time like this?
Aren't you afraid that you might be deliberately teaching in the wrong direction?
"Didn't you already take a new master?" Shen Yun's tone was strange. "Xie Qingya's seniority is much greater than mine. It's perfectly legitimate for you to seek guidance from him. Why go to such lengths to find me?"
"Everyone has their own expertise, and Elder Shen's mastery of formations is the best among all the people I know," Ji Mofan said. "My master's greatest skill is drinking."
Shen Yun's lips twitched slightly.
He had heard of Xie Qingya, who always carried a wine gourd with him, no matter when or where.
Its entire body was pure white, except for that bright yellow patch that stood out so much that it was impossible not to notice it.
Shen Yun had little contact with Xie Qingya, and he originally thought it was just for decoration, or that it contained something else, or that it was an eye-catching artifact.
But unexpectedly, its function was really just to drink alcohol.
Even though he should no longer have any unnecessary relationship with Ji Mofan, Shen Yun couldn't help himself and walked to the table.
He couldn't explain why either.
Was it because he was curious about the fragment of the manuscript in Ji Mofan's possession?
Or... is it simply because the person who made the request to me was Ji Mo Fan?
Not only would Ji Mo Fan not refuse his master's request, but he now seems unable to refuse Ji Mo Fan's request either.
Especially since the conversation between Ji Mo Fan Hua and others subtly implied a desire to belittle the current master Xie Qing Ya and instead flatter him.
But just as he reached out to touch the thin, tattered book on the table—
The sky and earth suddenly changed color.
Shen Yun felt as if everything before his eyes suddenly began to spin, the light and shadow twisting into unbelievable shapes, and even his five senses seemed to be in chaos for a moment.
When he could see his surroundings clearly, he found himself standing in a bamboo forest.
Is it a teleportation array?
No, that doesn't seem right.
He glanced down at the tattered scroll in his hand.
The page he held in his hand was decorated with an intricate array, and faint blue spiritual light flickered on it.
Was he dragged into the illusionary formation?
The array was surrounded by ice spiritual energy, clearly the work of Ji Mofan.
If this had happened a few days ago, Jimo Fan definitely wouldn't have been able to do such a thing.
But now the gap in strength between him and Shen Yun has narrowed to two minor realms, especially since Shen Yun was troubled by his inner demons and was caught off guard when he attacked Ji Mofan.
What is Ji Mo Fan really thinking?
Shen Yun subconsciously spread his consciousness around and found that the scenery around him looked quite familiar.
The illusionary formation simulated the appearance of the Yun Cang Sword Sect?
He walked a few steps through the bamboo forest and found that the scene before him suddenly opened up.
The spiritual energy here is thin, yet a small bamboo garden is nestled within. The small courtyard has few pieces of furniture and objects, but it is kept very clean.
There was a person standing in the courtyard.
He wielded an iron sword, the kind every disciple of the Yuncang Sword Sect carried, with impressive skill and agility. His cloud-blue disciple robes fluttered in the wind, as light and graceful as waves surging in the breeze.
Shen Yun was stunned without realizing it.
It wasn't until the child finished his entire sword routine that he snapped out of his daze, recovering from the flashing blades.
"Huh? Master!" The child put away his sword and was about to go back inside to get some water when he turned around and saw Shen Yun standing there.
He was startled, but then a surge of excitement and joy welled up inside him.
"Master, did you see me practicing my sword just now?" The child came out of his courtyard and flew to Shen Yun like a happy little bird, chirping and waving his arms excitedly.
This is Jimo Fan from my childhood.
Shen Yun didn't understand why the illusion would create these scenes and place them in front of him.
At this time, Ji Mofan looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old. He hadn't fully grown up yet, and he didn't have the same attitude he later displayed in front of Shen Yun, where he would spit out a nail in every two sentences.
"But why would Master come to me at a time like this?" After his excitement subsided, Xiao Jimo Fan obediently retreated a distance and asked him with blinking eyes.
"Didn't Master say a few days ago that Xiao Yu's condition had relapsed, so he took him out to find medicine?"
Shen Yun felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart.
Once inside the illusion, the inner demon cannot be isolated; it remains attached to him like a shadow. Shen Yun tried to use his spiritual power to suppress it, but to no avail.
The moment he saw Ji Mofan's expectant eyes, all his defenses would crumble instantly.
If it were the real, grown-up Ji Mo Fan, Shen Yun might not have such a profound feeling.
But the current Jimo Fan is not yet grown up.
Those clear eyes were filled with nothing but his master, his deep affection overflowing. Sadly, Shen Yun searched his memories in vain, unable to recall Ji Mo Fan in this state.
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