As for why they chose me instead of other foreign Constellations detained at Mount Fangcun, Lu Ye guessed it was related to his performance on the Ghost Ship. Hai Tang surely wouldn't hide what happened on the Ghost Ship from Su Yuqing, and Chen Xuanhai probably heard about it too, leading him to make such a decision. After all, the trials of the Ghost Ship were extremely harsh; for me to pass it suggested, to outsiders, I must have exceptional qualities. "No problem, I accept!" After understanding various aspects of the Black Abyss Martial Arts Meet, Lu Ye readily agreed. There was no reason not to, it was merely a competition under complex rules, and besides, those competing were only at the Constellation Realm, so there's no need to fear anything. Hai Tang still kept her head low and said softly, "There's one more thing I need to clarify with Junior Brother." Hai Tang's face suddenly flushed, hesitating for a while before speaking, "Black Abyss is a bit special. Our Dwarf Race can enter freely, but if other races wish to enter, they must carry the aura of our Dwarf Race, or else they won't be able to enter and thus cannot participate in the Martial Arts Meet." Lu Ye was puzzled, "Carry the aura of your Dwarf Race? How is that accomplished?" While he was still wondering, Nian Yuexian, who hadn't spoken all along, suddenly had a realization. She looked carefully at Hai Tang's complexion and said lightly, "Co-cultivation?" The minds of women are ultimately finer than those of men, coupled with Hai Tang's current state, Nian Yuexian immediately speculated. Lu Ye turned to look at her, surprised by how astoundingly Nian Yuexian spoke. Unexpectedly, Hai Tang nodded, her face turning red enough to bleed, "Yes, it must be co-cultivation, so Master meant that Junior Brother Lu could choose a suitable person at Immortal Spirit Peak as a Dao companion, then... then co-cultivate, so... so he could enter Black Abyss." She spoke hesitantly, leaving Lu Ye dumbfounded, unable to comprehend why the topic had suddenly shifted here. Beside him, Nian Yuexian smiled meaningfully with a slight curve to her lips. "Junior Brother, take your time to think it over. Once you've decided, send me a message!" Hai Tang left this statement behind and fled. Lu Ye raised his hand, wanting to stop her and ask more questions, but thought better of it, wearing a worried expression. How did the talk about the Black Abyss Martial Arts Meet lead to Dao companions? Nian Yuexian squinted at him, "Congratulations must be in order for Junior Brother, for such a fortuitous event." Lu Ye replied in annoyance, "Senior Sister, please don't tease me. How is this a fortuitous event?" "Getting a Dao companion for nothing, isn't that a good thing?" "I never said I would agree!" Lu Ye argued. Orıginal content can be found at 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱 Nian Yuexian was surprised, "But does Hai Tang's beauty not please Junior Brother's eyes?" Lu Ye, distressed, said, "This has nothing to do with beauty, alright? Besides, she only said I could choose a Dao companion at Immortal Spirit Peak, she never said I had to choose her!" Nian Yuexian snorted lightly, "In this vast Immortal Spirit Peak, you only know Hai Tang, if you truly have to choose a Dao companion, who else could it be besides her? Are you going to choose Su Yuqing? If I'm not mistaken, Su Yuqing's words must have been hoping you would pair with Hai Tang, but Hai Tang was too shy, so by the time it reached you, it was presented differently." Lu Ye naturally considered this, or else Hai Tang wouldn't have suddenly flushed when speaking earlier. But for him to choose a Dao companion at Immortal Spirit Peak and co-cultivate was truly something he hadn't considered. It's not that he has no thoughts about beautiful women; after a passionate encounter with Hua Ci, Lu Ye already knew its wonderful pleasures. But if he really made such a choice, what will happen afterward? As Dao companions, they must remain loyal. But he intends to return to Nine Provinces, surely not planning to take Hai Tang back there? Su Yuqing probably wouldn't agree, and Hai Tang might not want to leave her home either. Yet staying at Mount Fangcun doesn't appeal to Lu Ye either. Thus, this matter of Dao companionship is indeed rather difficult. Frowning and pondering, Lu Ye said, "Senior Sister, don't you find this matter quite peculiar?" Nian Yuexian snorted lightly, "Seems you are not swayed by beauty. By the looks of it, you have noticed the peculiarity too." "So, Senior Sister also thinks this way." Lu Ye originally wondered if he was overthinking it, but seeing this now, he realized it was not excessive thinking at all—it's real. The Dwarf Race's Black Abyss Martial Arts Meet had been decided long ago, and now, with less than two months until such an event, Su Yuqing suddenly wants him to choose a Dao companion and help participate in the Black Abyss Martial Arts Meet, which seems a bit rushed. "Where do you find it strange?" Nian Yuexian asked. Lu Ye answered, "Previously, when I wanted to take Senior Sister away, Chen Xuanhai's condition was for Senior Sister to find a Dao companion here, making her not an outsider and exempt from ancestry restrictions. We refused, yet now they're asking me to choose a Dao companion. Given this, isn't it possible that the Dwarf Race originally intended for Senior Sister to participate in Black Abyss Martial Arts Meet? The plan fell through, and now they're targeting me." Nian Yuexian slowly shook her head, "It's unlikely to be that way. I'm a newly-advanced Constellation, my foundation is not stable, Chen Xuanhai surely sees that. What can I achieve in Black Abyss Martial Arts Meet? For the native Dwarf Race, the event is significant, they wouldn't choose participants so rashly." Lu Ye pondered and felt that it might indeed be the case, "So, I was overthinking?" Nian Yuexian said, "Have you ever considered that Chen Xuanhai asking me to choose a Dao companion is just a tactic?" "Just like when you go shopping, the seller first offers a price that you will definitely refuse, and then offers a price you might accept. Which one will you choose?" Lu Ye was enlightened. Asking Nian Yuexian to choose a Dao companion was the price meant to be refused, while asking him to choose a Dao companion was a more acceptable price, after all, men and women are ultimately not the same. I have to admit, such tactics are effective because when Hai Tang mentioned the matter, Lu Ye actually seriously considered it but deemed it inappropriate. Of course, at this moment, it was not yet time to respond to Hai Tang. If that's the case, then the previous matter of Nian Yuexian choosing a Dao companion among the Dwarf Race didn't truly matter to Chen Xuanhai because he knew Nian Yuexian wouldn't agree. That was just the price set to be refused, and from that moment, he had already set his sights on me. Nian Yuexian's Mental Consciousness surged, silently transmitting, "Junior Brother, do you think Hai Tang's master is aware of these twists and turns?" Lu Ye was about to say that she probably wouldn't know, but upon reconsideration, there were only three Sun Blaze members in the headquarters, and they had been interacting for many years, each knowing the other's background. When Chen Xuanhai twitches, Su Yuqing would probably know what he plans to do. Could Chen Xuanhai be plotting without Su Yuqing knowing? He suddenly recalled an event: when he first arrived in the headquarters domain, Hai Tang led him to Immortal Spirit Peak to meet Su Yuqing. But halfway, Hai Tang suddenly disappeared, and a fat man blocked the way, fighting him. The other party appeared non-malicious, just a simple probe. That clearly was a test of his strength. Later, when meeting Su Yuqing, this woman asked many fragmented questions, including the matter of Dao companions. These signs, viewed individually, revealed nothing, but if connected, the space for imagination expanded. Lu Ye vividly remembered, when he met Su Yuqing, the clear look of appreciation in her eyes. Looking back now, it didn't seem like simple appreciation for a family disciple's savior, more like a mother-in-law looking at a son-in-law! "I fell into their trap!" Lu Ye gradually understood. It's likely not only Chen Xuanhai set his sights on him, or rather, from the start, it was Su Yuqing who did! If that's true, then the previous fierce battle between Su Yuqing and Chen Xuanhai becomes intriguing. The actions of these old folks indeed shouldn't be judged by appearances. Lu Ye felt a vague regret. Had he known, when sparring with that fat man halfway up Immortal Spirit Peak, he would have performed poorly, which would have avoided many subsequent troubles. It was due to his outstanding performance that he drew attention. But at that moment, while recognizing the fat man's blockade as a test, he mistakenly thought he needed to pass this test to ascend the peak further, so how could he hold back? Overall, the Dwarf Race at headquarters bore no ill will towards him; Lu Ye could sense this, although being calculated wasn't very pleasant. "Senior Sister, should I just randomly choose a woman from Immortal Spirit Peak? After all, I don't lose out!" Lu Ye said. "If you can overcome your internal barrier, go ahead, I won't stop you," Nian Yuexian said with a curl of her lips. "What barrier do I have? At that time, I could take what I want and deny it, put my pants on and walk away," Lu Ye said defiantly. Nian Yuexian looked at him with a teasing expression, encouraging, "Then go ahead, I'll wait for your good news." "Go then!" Lu Ye snorted and flew skyward, heading straight for Immortal Spirit Peak. But shortly after flying a section, he turned around and flew back. "Forget something? Drop your shame?" Nian Yuexian teased. Lu Ye blushed, "Upon careful thought, this really doesn't seem right. Let me ponder it further." He dashed into his room, set the restriction, and carefully contemplated. Nian Yuexian glanced in his direction thoughtfully, then took out her audio talisman and sent a message. The talisman was refined by Lu Ye for her, and she had limited contacts, besides Lu Ye, only Hai Tang. She had previously exchanged contact imprints with Hai Tang. Soon receiving a reply, she shot skyward. At the foot of Immortal Spirit Peak, Nian Yuexian met Hai Tang, who was waiting there, nodded slightly, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist!" Hai Tang looked uneasy. Even though she previously told Lu Ye he could choose any woman from Immortal Spirit Peak as a Dao companion, the true meaning behind her words, Nian Yuexian and Lu Ye likely understood, as none of them are fools.