"Mr. You truly cares about this issue, doesn’t he?" Yudie smiled, picking up the bamboo chopsticks, inviting, "Mr. You, today we’re having grilled fish for lunch. Jade Ring Pool offers more than just White Dragon Carp; there are many other fish with unique flavors. You can eat while I talk to you."

You Su nodded and started to taste the half grilled spirit fish on the table. The texture was crispy on the outside and tender inside, with the fresh fish meat underneath the skin being flavorful instead of bland.

He had not witnessed the beauty of Jade Ring Pool with his own eyes, but the delicacies indeed pleased him.

"It’s not much different from the rumors outside," Yudie Saintess suddenly spoke, "Jade Ring Pool always appears vibrant and full of Profound Qi, even those of us here thought it would remain that way forever. But in reality, Jade Ring Pool has long been overburdened. Excessive consumption without restraint, coupled with the hospitable nature of the people here, has led to the depletion of its roots. Everyone is deceived by the beautiful appearance, immersed in the grand scene, without noticing anything amiss. Only the saintess, the human projection of Jade Ring Pool, sensed the anomaly."

"The problems of Jade Ring Pool manifested in her as well. Her body gradually decayed, and her cultivation couldn’t help but decline. To die with dignity, she sacrificed her life to forcibly activate the Pool Protection Array and halted all extraction activities. The patriarchs went deep into the heart of the lake, only to find it was true, and thus began avoiding the outside world. However, after over fifty years of nurturing, Jade Ring Pool is gradually recovering. I believe it won’t be long before the day arrives when the gates of Jade Ring Pool are reopened."

Yudie narrated slowly, but when she spoke of future prospects, her tone wasn’t excited but carried a faint sadness.

You Su, perceptive as he was, said, "So it’s because of the core depletion of Jade Ring Pool that the saintess is a mortal unable to connect her veins?"

Yudie smiled, "Mr. You, you’re insightful. Not just myself, the previous saintess was also a mortal."

You Su nodded slightly, understanding why Yudie Saintess seemed melancholic. Unlike other saintesses who possessed cultivation, she was born at the most unfortunate time, trapped here without the ability to leave, living as an ordinary mortal.

"How many generations of saintesses have there been in these fifty-four years?"

"She was the 79th generation, and I am the 81st," Yudie answered lightly, without any sorrow.

Yet, You Su was secretly shocked; if only one generation apart, doesn’t that suggest that saintesses without cultivation don’t live past their thirties?

"The saintess is a symbol of the metabolic cycle of Jade Ring Pool, hence their short lives. When the beauty of the saintess begins to fade, it is also her time to die," Yudie seemed to know what You Su was thinking and provided him with an answer.

With cultivation, a saintess’s aging could be delayed. Even though their life would be short, it was relative to immortals of the same level, and wouldn’t be like Yudie, who would age like an ordinary woman in her thirties.

"One lives a life, each with their destiny. The saintess need not be sorrowful," You Su comforted.

"Indeed, I live a life, though short-lived, I should seek brilliance," Yudie put down her chopsticks, gazing resolutely into You Su’s eyes.

At that moment, the maid returned, carrying a jar of silvery-white fruit wine. She poured a cup for both, the fragrance sweet and refreshing.

"Alright Mr. You, let’s not talk about these heavy matters. Enjoying the present delicacies is what we should be doing now, isn’t it?"

Yudie raised her cup high, and You Su also raised his cup for a distant toast.

"Indeed."

...

The Small Pool Palace got its name because within it lies a small pool, specifically divided from the Jade Ring Pool.

The privilege of enjoying a part of Jade Ring Pool belonged to the saintess, and no one else could set foot in the divided small pool. Not even the three patriarchs had the right to monopolize an inch of Jade Ring Pool.

You Su stood honestly on the stone slab by the pool, while Yudie sat casually at the pool’s edge like a carefree maiden, her feet playfully splashing on the water’s surface.

Her arches were elegant and smooth, her toes fair and white, appearing even more translucent when touched by the light. Colorful fish swam in the small pool, attracted by her beautiful feet, gathered around her feet submerged in water, forming a colorful flower.

The tickling sensation of fish pecking at her feet made Yudie giggle. To use this sacred Jade Ring Pool to ’wash feet,’ only Yudie Saintess dared.

"Mr. You really won’t come down? Trust Yudie, I won’t tell anyone,"

The usually well-mannered Yudie Saintess now revealed a bit of youthful playfulness in her own domain.

"You Su, tainted by worldly dust, wouldn’t desecrate Jade Ring Pool."

He thought of himself, a swordsman practicing daily, lucky enough if his feet didn’t stink, yet washing them in the lake sustaining thousands would indeed be a bit unscrupulous.

"Is Mr. You saying that Yudie is clean, so it doesn’t matter?"

Yudie flicked her foot, causing a perfect arc of water to splash in the air.

"The saintess and Jade Ring Pool are one, naturally without such restrictions."

The maiden drew back her foot, standing barefoot, and said with a radiant smile:

"Where would such a statement come from? I’m just a mortal, after all, also needing to expel impurities. Sometimes after eating too much grilled fish..."

It seemed she just remembered what she wanted to say, looking down somewhat bashfully, and didn’t continue.

You Su immediately understood what she meant; no matter how beautiful, being mortal, even relieving oneself couldn’t possibly be fragrant...