Lin Yi stared at Su Bei for quite a while.

The words of this Sword Sect person were very clear. He came to the Northern Sea this time to bring the Three Divisions of Freedom of the Dragon Suppression Pool under his control, but he didn't think this reason was enough for him to swallow his anger.

"Elder Su seeks a sword; he may seek it on his own. This reason cannot get involved in the grievances between my Phoenix Clan and the Dragon Clan."

Although Lin Yi vaguely felt there was something suspicious about this matter, having pursued it to this point, he couldn't let it go on the surface.

At the very least, he needed a stepping stone.

Nan Ji stepped forward, forcing herself to look at her father-in-law.

"Father-in-law, before this matter reaches an irreconcilable point, it's better to take a step back each."

"If the Three Divisions of Freedom were lost, those with ulterior motives would use the same method to take the Imperial Square at Penglai Pass. By that time, it will be too late, and the whole Twenty-One Provinces might fall, plunging once again into the Cataclysm of Ten Thousand Clans a millennium ago."

"Even if the Mahayana South Emperor's Saintess can still counterbalance, if a second one emerges in the Western Wasteland... the Northern Sea, like today's Eastern Country, simply can't withstand internal strife anymore, and we can't afford to lose."

The situation now is undeniably urgent.

The South Emperor's original intention was to proceed step by step, quietly waiting for the Heavenly Dao Stone to awaken again.

But perhaps because Su Bei appeared at the Jinzu Court that day, it disrupted the secret planning, standing on the South City several cycles ago, a sword fanatic turned the world upside down, and no one dared to gamble...

The Foundation Forging Technique of the Sword Sect isn't much of a secret, and if Su Bei does indeed gather these swords and steps into Mahayana, the hundreds of years of scheming would seem like child's play.

A silent struggle.

Everyone present was well aware of this; the Three Divisions of Freedom should have been left untouched there, but the Saintess's secret letter came a step too late, and the news of Su Bei's awakening couldn't be kept, causing a commotion at Jinzu Court for all to know.

"I hope Elder Lin will consider the bigger picture and, on Su Mou's account... hold off for now."

Su Bei sighed, looking at Lin Yi.

Lin Yi's expression shifted multiple times and finally let out a cold hum, saying lightly: 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"What are the chances of Elder Su stepping into Mahayana?"

Su Bei hesitated for a moment:

"Su Mou doesn't know either, but with the Saintess protecting the Dao, it should be more than fifty percent."

"And if you fail?"

"Then it's death."

"So why should Lin Mo bet on this fifty percent chance for you? The Phoenix Clan, wherever they are, are considered honored guests. This matter in the Twenty-One Provinces is internal; what does it have to do with my Northern Sea?"

Dan Wulan, who had been watching for a while, snorted coldly and gave the Phoenix a cold glance:

"The methods to place Three Divisions of Freedom in the Dragon Pool can also place it in the Phoenix Pool. So what? Does the Phoenix have something more than the Dragon Clan?"

"Seal your bloodline for ten cycles, and I'm afraid the Phoenix won't outlast the Dragon."

"And by then, what will remain of the Phoenix? Why should a land chicken be considered an honored guest?"

"If you're unwilling to bet on a fifty percent chance, what's this? Would Elder Lin rather bet on the South Emperor's goodwill? Or that the savages of the Western Wasteland act courteously and spare their enemies?"

Lin Yi's expression suddenly changed, somewhat annoyed, glaring at Dan Wulan fiercely.

But he mumbled for a long time, ultimately saying nothing.

Though his words were harsh, they were true. After all, the current Northern Sea and Eastern Country are tied by a single thread. If they still rely on their pride as natural longevity species, being locked in the Phoenix Pool's heritage makes them no different from land chickens.

Lin Yi took a deep breath, calming his annoyed state of mind, glanced at Ao Feng hiding behind Su Bei, and spoke:

"It's not that easy to release someone. Even if someone with ulterior motives sparked the conflict, the death of so many people is an undeniable fact."

"But for the greater good, sparing this useless worm's life is possible. Could you tell me where you intend to go? Traveling all the way from Jinzu Court, are you planning to return to Northern Border Pass?"

Hearing this, Ao Feng let out a deep breath of relief. No matter how one looked at it, his life was at least saved.

Looking at Su Bei with a hint of gratitude in his eyes.

Calculating the time, that girl Ao Yue should arrive soon, and by then, the two clans should find a place to discuss it further and not fall for that sword thief's trap.

Su Bei nodded and said:

"We are indeed heading to Northern Border Pass."

"Since Elder Lin is here, why not go together? It's good to discuss and plan further."

After a moment of silence, Lin Yi turned back to the group of Phoenix Clan members following him.

Then he waved his hand, not forgetting to give Ao Feng a harsh glare:

"Very well."

Su Bei let out a sigh of relief. Then, thinking for a moment, he retrieved pen and paper from his ring.

Though there was a memory stone, it wasn't as convenient as a Blue Star-like phone; most messages were still sent by carriers, like a hongyan delivering letters.

Though the distance from here to Northern Border Pass wasn't too far, it would take more than ten days on foot.

Thinking of the women at Northern Border Pass, Su Bei felt a sense of guilt.

Whether it was the senior sister, who was both a sister and a mother figure, or that Little Fishie who shared hardship with him in Inverted Heaven, or... Queen Lin whom he accidentally encountered that night.

During this time, it's not that he didn't think of them, but compared to the delicate hearts of women, he inevitably seemed more negligent.

Now understanding this, he naturally wanted to make amends.

And sending a letter ahead was the simplest and direct method.

In the Phoenix Clan's palanquin, under the lamp's glow, he wrote several letters before finally finishing and sighed with relief.

Glancing at the women lying beside him, seemingly murmuring something, he shook his head and licked his thick-skinned lips in self-deprecation:

"Having many women is also a kind of suffering..."

The vulgar expression on his face, if seen by someone, would surely earn him a slap.

But the letters had been written, and as for a hongyan delivering them, it surely wasn't faster than the palanquin.

Su Bei thought for a moment, then drew the Longsword 'Missing Departure' from the Sword Box, packed the letter into a brocade box, tied it to the sword hilt with a string, infused it with a breath of Spiritual Energy, and threw it into the sky.

Swoosh—

'Missing Departure' pierced through the air, and in an instant turned into a black dot in the sky, disappearing in the horizon, heading towards the Northern Strong Pass.

Carrying his longing for the women, flying over the Northern Sea, landing within the Northern Border Pass.

.....

...

Northern Border Pass.

Yu Hongxiu was inside the house playing Mahjong with several women. After a few rounds, she lost an unknown amount of jewelry and accessories, and today was indeed unlucky, not winning a single hand.

Just as Wenren Pingxin was about to connect everything, seemingly sensing something, she suddenly stood up and slapped the Mahjong table, scattering the tiles in a chaotic mess.

The grandeur under the red gauze clothes trembled slightly, seemingly about to burst out.

Wenren Pingxin picked up the dice from the table and threw it hard at Yu Hongxiu's head:

"Darn fish, what are you doing? Sore loser, can't afford to lose?"

Yu Hongxiu caught the dice with one hand, but didn't retort, quickly walking to the window, pointing with excitement:

"Look! There's a sword outside."

Lin Jinyu looked at her strangely:

"Princess Yu, even as a sore loser, have some skill... ruining the board, and you'll lose all."

Wenren Pingxin coldly huffed:

"If you can't afford to lose, then don't play."

Yu Hongxiu rubbed her waist, sore from sitting too long, but her charming face was full of delighted joy:

"There really is a sword in the sky, let's take a break!"

Wenren Pingxin frowned, spat:

"There are so many swords, what does it have to do with you? Don't think of evading your debt!"

Yu Hongxiu helplessly rolled her eyes:

"If I wanted to evade the debt, I would have already done it. That sword carries a brocade box..."

Hearing this, Lin Jinyu was also curious, walking to the window:

"Hey? Indeed, it carries a box, and the sword seems familiar..."

Upon hearing this, Wenren Pingxin finally understood something, though still muttering:

"All you do is distract, wasting my good hand..."

All three women's heads extended out the window, looking up at the clouds.

Sure enough, they saw a sword, spinning leisurely in the sky, as if searching for a target.

Finally feeling the aura of the three women, it transformed into a streak of light, swooshing down!

"It's a letter from Su Bei!!"