Chapter 520

Zongguang Immortal Venerable furrowed his brows, then looked toward the Buddha Venerable, respectfully raised his hand in a bow, and asked, "Buddha Venerable, based on what you have seen, how should this matter be handled?"

All the Immortal Venerables turned to look at the Buddha Venerable.

Buddha Venerable's expression grew somber, and he slowly spoke, "Then first strip Yuan Yao of her qualification to enter Tian Jiaocheng."

When those words were spoken, the crowd exchanged glances and all tacitly agreed.

…

Inside the annex.

A tall white figure appeared in the courtyard.

"Master!" Ying Wuji hurried over, his expression solemn and with a trace of barely perceptible tension, "What did they say?"

Qian Jue Shan replied calmly, "They demanded that I hand over Xie Yan's corpse; I have refused."

Ying Wuji felt a slight relief in his heart, but according to his intuition, Xu Yan Zhi and Lu Xiangxiang would certainly point their spear at Yao Yao.

He voiced the suspicion in his mind.

Qian Jue Shan said as he walked, "Buddha Venerable prophesied that Yao Yao and that Xie Yan will inevitably cause calamity in the future. Buddha Venerable still wishes to discard Yao Yao, but I have already warned them; they should no longer dare to act against Yao Yao."

Ying Wuji followed step for step behind Qian Jue Shan, and after hearing those words, a coldness appeared in his beautiful cinnabar phoenix eyes.

"Master, that Buddha Venerable has dealings with Xu Yan Zhi."

Upon hearing this, Qian Jue Shan halted his steps, turned his head, and asked, "How did you find out?"

Ying Wuji remained silent for a moment, unwilling to conceal any longer, and then transmitted his voice to his own Master, laying out the matters of his previous life.

A moment later.

Qian Jue Shan sat in the pavilion, his expression calm, revealing no emotion.

He finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Wuji, I, your master, have wronged you."

…

Meanwhile.

Cang Li was at the auction with Xue Jin at this moment.

The auction spread the news that two Heavenly Pride Tokens would soon be auctioned, and in an instant countless young Cultivators flooded into the auction.

Inside a private box of the auction, Cang Li crossed his legs, holding a spirit fruit and nibbling on it.

At that moment, the door was knocked.

Knock knock—

"Who is it?" Cang Li replied casually, stood up, and went to open the door.

And the instant the box door opened, the sight that entered Cang Li's eyes made him drop the spirit fruit from his hand in shock.

Clang—

The crisp thud on the floor rang sharply in the silence; the half‑eaten spirit fruit rolled a few times on the polished floor and stopped precisely at Xue Jin's feet.

Xue Jin, who had been gazing downward in contemplation, slowly lifted his eyes, his gaze passing over Cang Li and landing at the doorway.

The newcomer was a young woman in red, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her brows and eyes exuding an innate, flamboyant charm; her beauty was striking, yet within that radiant visage shone an unmistakable dominance and imposing presence.

After the initial shock, Cang Li's complexion instantly darkened; a flash of panic and resistance crossed his eyes, and instinctively he reached to close the door, as if a flood or beast lurked outside.

"Oh?" The red‑clad woman raised an eyebrow, her eyes quick, and swiftly extended a foot clad in delicate embroidered shoes, precisely wedging it in the doorway to block Cang Li's attempt to close the door.

Then, with a slight twist of her wrist, she forcefully pushed the door inward!

Cang Li, already absent‑minded, was caught off guard, staggered back a couple of steps before managing to steady himself, his gaze toward Cang Conghuan turning even colder.

"You are not welcome here!" Cang Li's voice was as if chilled by ice, cold enough to drop shards.

"Not welcome me?" the woman chuckled lightly, her tone tinged with mockery.

She raised an eyebrow, completely ignoring Cang Li's expulsion, stepped into the box at her own pace, and with a "Bang—" shut the door, cutting off any outside view.

She turned, her gaze scanning Cang Li's tense face for a moment, then unfolded a meaning‑laden smile, her voice carrying a deliberately intimate tone, "Li Er, is this how you speak to your dear mother?"

"Mother" entered his ears, and Xue Jin, seated nearby, flickered his eyes slightly, raising his gaze with a hint of surprise.

He first glanced at Cang Li's ice‑cold profile, then turned his head toward Cang Conghuan.

The Dan Alliance President now wore a smile at the corner of his mouth, evidently in good spirits, yet his eyes concealed a barely perceptible complexity.

"Jin Er." Cang Conghuan withdrew his gaze, turned to Xue Jin, his tone instantly softened, and he greeted him.

Xue Jin rose, respectfully raised his hand toward Cang Conghuan in a bow, his voice steady, "Xue Jin has seen the President."

Although he did not know what entanglements existed between Cang Li and this Dan Alliance President, his etiquette was thorough.

Cang Li now felt a suffocating pressure in his chest; he did not want to spend even a second in the same space as Cang Conghuan, and almost as soon as Xue Jin finished speaking, he turned toward the door, intent on bursting out to escape the stifling atmosphere.

"Li Er." Cang Conghuan's subsequent words were like an invisible shackles, instantly halting Cang Li's steps.

Her voice no longer carried mockery, but was tinged with an ineffable weariness and melancholy, "How much longer will you hate me? One year? Ten years? A hundred years? Or… until I die?"

The final words were spoken in a low tone, yet they weighed heavily upon Cang Li's heart.

Cang Li's silhouette froze; his clenched fists' knuckles turned white, and the surrounding chill seemed to solidify for a moment.

It was rare for Xue Jin to see Cang Li in such a state; his gaze probed Cang Conghuan a few times.

"Jin, you go out first." Cang Li inhaled deeply, turned his head to Xue Jin and said.

Xue Jin understood his unspoken emotion, and unlike before did not retort, but as he wished, left the box.

Inside the box, only two people remained.

Cang Li asked coldly, "What business do you have with me?"

"I want to talk with you."

"You've said it, then leave." Cang Li issued a dismissal.

Cang Conghuan found a seat and sat down, "Your father has also arrived at Fudu."

Cang Li's complexion changed slightly.

Cang Conghuan said, "You haven't seen your father for eleven years either; I've arranged to dine with him tonight, and you should come with me."

Cang Li let out a cold snort, "He could never accept your invitation."

"He indeed didn't accept," Cang Conghuan propped his chin, looked up at Cang Li, and said with a bright smile, "We can just sneak into his room."

Cang Li's temples pulsed with blue veins as she ground her teeth, "Cang Conghuan, you're as shameless as ever! He's a monk with a reputation, and you insist on ruining it?"

Cang Conghuan sighed, teasing, "He's not a proper monk either; otherwise how could he be with me, let alone with you?"

Cang Li's delicate brows and eyes darkened, and she sneered, "Cang Conghuan, back then you abandoned me and him! What are we to you now? A dog that comes when summoned and leaves when waved?!"

Cang Conghuan shook his head in disagreement.

"You aren't dogs; you're my dear treasures."

Her airy tone made Cang Li even more angry.

Every time they meet, she always adopts a self‑righteous demeanor, saying how much she loves them, but at each choice they never become her top pick.