Cultivation through Skin Making - Chapter 745 - 262. Breakthrough to the Profound Yellow Third Realm (6.5K words - Seeking Subscription)

Chapter 745: 262. Breakthrough to the Profound Yellow Third Realm (6.5K words – Seeking Subscription)

The next year, winter…

In the Sword Palace Lower Realm, an ascetic in straw sandals and sackcloth took a step down.

While cultivating, Wang Susu and Tang Ningxin suddenly opened their eyes and transformed into rainbows to visit, respectfully addressing “Senior Yunmiao,” before meticulously explaining the “disappearance of Tang Yi and his wife, along with all the investigation results over the past hundred years.”

Ning Yunmiao pondered briefly and went to inquire at Elder Crane’s place directly.

Elder Crane, as the guardian of the Lower Realm, was aware of who entered and exited during certain periods, and there was a hidden magical treasure nearby called the Image-Inspection Treasure Mirror capable of recording the information of all entrants and exiters.

This Image-Inspection Treasure Mirror belonged to a higher-up in the Celestial Wondrous Sword Palace, not Elder Crane himself, thus preventing any situation from arising where one hand covers the sky.

When Ning Yunmiao appeared before Elder Crane, Elder Crane still exuded a detached elegance, wearing a bright Crane Robe, his brows and eyes slightly drooping as if about to fall asleep. Only when someone approached did he open his eyes and say, “Ah, it’s Friend Yunmiao.”

Ning Yunmiao mentioned a date from a century ago, saying, “Elder Crane, please help recall if anyone entered the Lower Realm at this time.”

Elder Crane mumbled, “Our Sword Palace acts honorably, with nothing to hide from others. Since Friend Yunmiao wishes to investigate, I shall assist you in inquiring.”

Immediately, he raised his five fingers lightly, calculated with his fingers, and asked, “Is the time correct?”

Ning Yunmiao said, “Correct.”

Elder Crane lowered his hand, shook his head, and said solemnly, “No one.”

Ning Yunmiao frowned slightly, looking at the suspended mirror.

Elder Crane said, “I have no authority to use this mirror. Do you not trust me, Friend Yunmiao?”

Ning Yunmiao bowed slightly, replied, “I will further clarify,” and then left.

After leaving, she returned to the Lower Realm once more.

This time, she inquired of many people, but the conclusions remained uncertain.

Since Tang Yi and his wife often went out to seek opportunities, unless someone specifically searched for them, it was very difficult to notice their disappearance, let alone the time of their disappearance. Wang Susu’s provided disappearance time contained a degree of subjective judgment and speculation.

Her judgment was “elixir.”

Tang Yi, due to the unstable foundation of the Formless Ancient Race early on, now sought an elixir from An Li every decade for cultivation.

Yet on one particular decade, he did not arrive as expected.

Therefore, Wang Susu was able to infer that the disappearance of Tang Yi and his wife seemed to have occurred during this decade, and with some other factors, she narrowed the timeframe to a year.

Thus, Ning Yunmiao went to inquire of Elder Crane again.

This time, she did not just ask about one year, but rather asked about ten years.

Elder Crane calculated again and then said, “Wang Youquan came; he said he was returning to his realm to stay for a few days.”

Wang Youquan was Song Yan’s first master, who initially taught Song Yan the knowledge of the Hungry Ghost Dao.

Ning Yunmiao asked, “Was there no one else?”

Elder Crane shook his head.

Ning Yunmiao frowned slightly.

In fact, she was aware of the method of finding a target through familiar people, but if it was Wang Youquan, then he himself had a cause and effect relationship with Song Yan; why capture Tang Yi and his wife?

Elder Crane closed his eyes slightly.

And at that moment, an elderly voice suddenly sounded from mid-air.

“Elder Crane, this old man wants to see the mirror.”

Elder Crane opened his eyes abruptly, seeing a plain little old man stepping down from mid-air.

Elder Crane hesitated, rose to greet him respectfully, and said, “Elder Ning.”

The newcomer was Ning Daozhen.

He had returned.

Ning Daozhen said, “It’s not that I distrust Elder Crane, but both my granddaughter and I are quite concerned about this matter, hence we wish to see clearly, can we?”

Elders could directly use the Image-Inspection Treasure Mirror to inquire about entrants and exiters in the Lower Realm, something Elder Crane was not in charge of, and now Ning Daozhen only expressed politeness to him.

Elder Crane said, “Elder Ning, please go ahead, but… truly, only Wang Youquan entered within those ten years.”

Ning Daozhen nodded, then stood before the Image-Inspection Treasure Mirror, waved his robe sleeve, and the images on the mirror swiftly flowed.

Ning Yunmiao approached to look.

Time quickly reached those ten years.

The outcome was as Elder Crane said, only Wang Youquan went in.

Ning Daozhen continued to look ten years forward and backward, totaling thirty years.

There were three more people, but those three had nothing to do with the answers they sought.

Ning Daozhen closed the mirror image and left with Ning Yunmiao.

“Grandfather, if Tang Yi and his wife’s disappearance is due to the junior brother, then the only one capable of Inference and Observation or Three Lives Shadow is Elder Liu.”

“…”

“Grandfather? What’s wrong?”

“I am just thinking of something.”

“What is it?” Ning Yunmiao asked curiously.

Ning Daozhen frowned, images from the mirror scene flashing through his mind, his old eyes slightly narrowing, fleeting glimpses of obscure but uncertain doubts crossing his thoughts. He couldn’t help but feel there were traces of erasure within the Image-Inspection Treasure Mirror, and the only person qualified and capable to do so was the one who controlled the Image-Inspection Treasure Mirror.

But it made no sense.

What matter warranted such a person to personally intervene, to personally conceal?

And even have Elder Crane partake in the lie.

Just over two juniors?

It’s unreasonable.

Countless thoughts raced, Ning Daozhen said, “It’s nothing, unrelated to this matter.”

Soon after, he laughed and said, “Since it might be related to Liu Sheng, then seek Liu Sheng.

Old Liu is like you, both admirers of asceticism.

It’s just fitting to find him, let him help, investigate my disciple’s whereabouts.

You and I have cause and effect with him, thus… it may be investigated.”

Saying this, he laughed heartily again, “Although Song Yan is now radiant, calling me ’Master’ with adoration, the one truly fated with this old man is not him. If my disciple is dead, then never mind; but if not, this old man wishes to meet him.”