Chapter 477: Questioning Identity

"Guardian Immortal Patriarch?" Yuan Yao slightly furrowed her brows, feeling a strange sensation in her heart.

Immediately after, she voiced the doubt in her mind: "Since Tian Jiaocheng is the place where the various Tianjiao compete to ascend the Tianjiao ranking, then why does it require eleven Immortal‑Patriarch‑level powerful beings to guard the city?"

The few who heard this also froze for a moment.

Yuan Yao added, "What exactly is Tian Jiaocheng?"

Cang Li showed a horrified expression, "You don't say, I really don't want to say! Could Tian Jiaocheng be hiding some massive conspiracy? It is said that most of the Tianjiao on the previous Tianjiao ranking died in Tian Jiaocheng, yet their true causes of death were never reported."

Cang Li silently swallowed, "How about we don't enter Tian Jiaocheng?"

The others all looked at him.

Yuan Yao felt a faint unease and said seriously, "Third Senior Brother, why don't you stay away?"

"What about you?" Cang Li asked.

"I will go."

Cang Li looked at Song Yan, Xiao Lingwei, Xue Jin, and asked, "And you?"

Xiao Lingwei gave a definite answer, "I will go."

Song Yan also nodded in agreement.

Xue Jin said concisely, "Go."

Cang Li: "……"

He let out a deep sigh, "Since you all are going, what does my absence matter?"

Yuan Yao said earnestly, "Third Senior Brother, you need not force a decision out of concern for us. You can have your own choice."

"Yao Yao is right," Xiao Lingwei nodded, "We don't know exactly what's happening inside Tian Jiaocheng. Ali, you're also an alchemist, not very strong, and hard to protect yourself."

Song Yan and Xue Jin both looked at Cang Li.

Obviously, they shared the same thought.

Ali smiled, "Anyway, the time to enter Tian Jiaocheng hasn't arrived yet; we'll see later."

Xiao Lingwei raised an eyebrow, "Ali, you're also from the First Continent, right?"

"Second Senior Sister, are you trying to trap me with that?" Ali picked up a teacup, took a light sip, and his eyes showed a hint of playfulness.

Xiao Lingwei reached out to tug his ear, but he deftly dodged.

"Heheh."

After a moment.

Yuan Yao quietly messaged Xie Yan, "How is the treatment of your injury going?"

"Don't worry, I've already taken care of it," Xie Yan replied quickly, "Are you still at the Ying family annex?"

Yuan Yao gave a light reply, "Hmm."

Xie Yan's voice lowered, "Yuan Yao, if I hadn't summoned you tonight, none of this would have happened... I'm sorry."

Yuan Yao pressed her lips together, "Xie Yan, you protected me today. Thank you. From now on, before the Immortal Gate Grand Tournament begins, I probably won't leave the annex lightly."

If she leaves the annex, she will be targeted by schemers.

And those schemers are generally powerful old veterans.

With only her own strength she cannot contend with them, and she doesn't want her senior brothers and sisters to worry about her.

"Fine." Xie Yan naturally guessed her concern.

On the other side.

The night grew deeper, and bright moonlight poured down.

At this moment, inside the annex where members of the Tianyi Sect reside, a young man in a wide‑sleeved white robe sat in a pavilion; half of his handsome face was in shadow, his sword‑like brows and starry eyes faintly visible, features distinct, ink‑black long hair draped over his shoulders, gently fluttering in the wind.

He seemed to be pondering something, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.

At that moment, a faint sound came from not far away.

He pulled his thoughts back, turned his head, and saw a white figure approaching; a girl in a white dress, half‑tied with azure hair, her brows and eyes exuding cool resilience, her light pink lips slightly pursed.

She walked gracefully toward him.

"Yan… Master."

Having said that, she sat in front of Xu Yan Zhi.

Xu Yan Zhi raised his hand and instantly erected a barrier of a formation here, cutting off the transmission of sound.

Xu Yan Zhi asked, "What just happened?"

Lu Xiangxiang said, "I heard that Hongguang Immortal Patriarch tried to seize Yuan Yao's contract beast, the Yinglong, and was killed in return."

Xu Yan Zhi frowned, "Yuan Yao could kill the Hongguang Immortal Patriarch?"

Lu Xiangxiang sneered, "Of course she didn't kill him. It is said that Xie Zixu intervened to help her. Moreover, she carries a life‑saving talisman forged by Qianjue Mountain, so she could naturally use its power to slay the Hongguang Immortal Patriarch in return."

"Xie Zixu..." Xu Yan Zhi's eyes grew deeper.

"Xie Zixu truly was a peerless genius; in his previous life his performance in the Immortal Gate Grand Tournament was exceptionally brilliant, yet for unknown reasons he mysteriously vanished the day before the tournament ended. Since then, the cultivation world has never seen his trace again," Lu Xiangxiang frowned, "It was rumored that someone killed him..."

Before Lu Xiangxiang could finish, Xu Yan Zhi interrupted.

"No."

Lu Xiangxiang looked up at Xu Yan Zhi.

"Did you also recall something?"

Xu Yan Zhi slightly narrowed his eyes, "I still cannot determine whether he is indeed that person."

"Which person?"

Xu Yan Zhi slowly uttered two words, "Xie Yan."

Lu Xiangxiang's pupils contracted, "How could that be?!"

Xie Zixu is Xie Yan?

Xie Yan is Xie Zixu?

Xu Yanzhi's gaze was icy. "In my previous life, at the moment I completely lost consciousness, I heard someone call him… Zixu."

Lu Xiangxiang could not believe it at all.

Xie Yan is left‑handed, wields his sword with his left hand, and the tips of his hair are flame‑red…

Xie Zixu, on the other hand, fights with his right hand, and his hair is straight and black.

Xu Yanzhi's eyes were chilling, and in a calm tone he said, "If Xie Zixu truly is Xie Yan, then he must die in the Grand Sect Competition."

He paused, then said to Lu Xiangxiang, "You must find a suitable opportunity to expose his identity. When the time comes, without us intervening, he will be besieged by the major righteous sects, and he cannot escape the Floating Capital."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiangxiang's expression grew solemn as she nodded.

If Xie Zixu truly is Xie Yan, then he can only die in the Floating Capital.

Because of his identity…

At that moment, Xu Yanzhi sensed someone arriving, turned his head, and saw a girl cloaked in white fox‑fur, her delicate face tinged with a sickly hue and her lips very pale.

Lu Xiangxiang also seemed to sense something and looked over.

The instant she saw Sikong Banxue, Lu Xiangxiang's complexion darkened a few shades; she had not forgotten the events of her previous life.

In her previous life, Yanzhi had quarreled with her many times over Sikong Banxue.

Xu Yanzhi raised his hand and dispelled the barrier.

Sikong Banxue walked toward the pavilion; her steps were unusually slow compared with ordinary people, yet very steady.

"Master." Sikong Banxue raised her hand in a bow and performed a salute.

Immediately, she looked at Lu Xiangxiang and gave a slight nod, "Junior sister."

Even though Lu Xiangxiang did not like Sikong Banxue, she forced herself to endure it, stood up, and with a smile called out to Sikong Banxue, "Senior sister."

Xu Yanzhi spoke slowly, "Xue'er, what do you seek from me?"

Sikong Banxue's voice was ethereal and pleasant, "I heard that the President of the Dan Alliance has also arrived, so I would like Master to accompany me to visit the President of the Dan Alliance."