Chapter 456: The Nanyang Disciple Who Specializes in Scamming the Lady Baohua Sect

"Alright."

Although Baohua Xianzi did not believe that something involving the Water Tribes could be a trivial matter.

But since Shen Yi was unwilling to elaborate, she was not the type to pry until the pot broke.

Thinking of this, Baohua Xianzi turned her head to look at the sky.

Elder Zhang was sitting on his tattered meditation cushion, hiding sneakily behind the clouds.

"Fellow Daoist, the rest is up to you; as for the reward, you may come directly to the Lady Baohua Sect to find me... you should know who I am." Baohua Xianzi sighed.

Indeed, she was still too inexperienced; she had brought only two people with her, yet both had already guessed her identity.

Next time she wanted to travel, besides cultivation, she would need to learn more about such matters.

"Rest assured, this junior will ensure it is handled properly for you."

Only then did Elder Zhang reveal his form; having witnessed a duel between two Killed Fanxu sixth-layer cultivators, even across the entire Hongze, it was something worth boasting about.

However, compared to Baohua Xianzi,

he was even more surprised by that Shen Qianbei; appearing silent and unassuming, relying entirely on teleportation methods to travel, without even a single stepping treasure.

Young Master Liu had invited him aboard simply because he looked too exhausted.

Yet his first move was a Heaven Palace layer.

With strength comparable to a Killed Fanxu fifth-layer, he would be more than sufficient to serve as an outer sect elder within the Lady Baohua Sect.

What is called hiding one's identity? Baohua Xianzi truly should learn from Shen Qianbei! Even an old hand like her had been fooled.

"No... it won't be too expensive, right?"

Baohua Xianzi suddenly added a sentence with a lack of confidence.

She suddenly remembered she still owed Shen Yi a huge debt.

"Given your status, it is not a big deal." Elder Zhang spoke the truth this time; although Yu Nanhong appeared stable on the surface, in reality, factions perished almost every day.

The territories left behind were countless; as long as one could afford the price, it was fine.

How many people did the Xiao Family Fortress have? It was just a trivial matter.

"..."

Shen Yi listened quietly, feeling a bit like asking for another share.

But he quickly suppressed this thought.

Although there were plenty of places within the Nanyang Nanyang Baodi, he had caused trouble here, so it was best not to reveal his identity easily.

That so-called "Elder Long" sounded like a being he could not afford to offend at present.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, I must return to my sect." Baohua Xianzi recalled the voice transmitted from the jade slip earlier, fell silent for a moment, and her expression became somewhat downcast again.

"I will come to fetch the items once I am finished."

Shen Yi nodded; although Dan Poison was certainly serious, he had now gathered enough Stabilizing Stones for his Heaven Palace ascension.

It would be better to find a place to breakthrough first.

"Won't you return with me?" Baohua Xianzi looked up at him, suddenly feeling somewhat reluctant; this was her first time traveling with someone else, and the encounters had been truly wonderful; if she could relive today's events along the way, that would be excellent.

"Leaving."

Shen Yi left only a light, floating phrase, then his entire body transformed into a purple-white long rainbow and vanished on the spot.

"Uh."

Baohua Xianzi stood dazed for a while before confirming that the other party would not suddenly reappear as he had blocked the giant water wave palm last time.

"Senior Bihai, this time he has truly left." Elder Zhang descended slowly, reminding softly, though inwardly he laughed with emotion; this Fairy did not seem as cold and aloof as the rumors suggested.

"Then I will trouble you."

Baohua Xianzi forced a smile, waved her sleeve to wrap up Xiao Yuanlin from the ruins of the stone fortress, and prepared to take him back to the sect for healing.

She then likewise used a teleportation method to leave this place.

Heading towards the Lady Baohua Sect.

The Bihai waves rolled, the wind blew in gusts.

Shen Yi casually found a small island, closed his eyes, and swept his divine soul over the surroundings.

Confirming there were no powerful existences nearby.

Golden threads emitting black mist from his fingertips extended out, forming the Five Elements Precious Lotus Great Array to trap himself.

He then summoned the Old Dog to guard nearby.

Only then did he feel somewhat relieved.

Only after leaving the protection of the Seven Sons of Yu Nanhong and truly stepping out here could one know how precious the Nanyang Nanyang Baodi was.

At least within the Nanyang Baodi, one did not need to worry about others taking advantage during a breakthrough.

He opened his eyes, opened the panel, and began to tally his gains.

This trip to the Lady Baohua Sect yielded approximately 760,000 years; adding the remainder from before, the total was already close to 900,000 years!

It came easily, but it also went easily.

Shen Yi shifted his mind, and six Stabilizing Stones appeared in the sea of consciousness between his eyebrows.

According to what Senior Xuanqing had said earlier, for his first three Heaven Palace ascensions, he only needed one second-grade Dao Pillar to achieve the Heaven Palace.

But this was surely to save lifespan, using more time to breakthrough to Bai Yujing.

He did not need to do so; after all, he was using demon lifespan anyway.

Steady and solid progress was the right path; even if the quality could not be raised, at least the quantity must be sufficient.

Immediately following, Shen Yi began numbly to gather the source of demons and monsters.

As for the target, the bloodlines of this group of Water Tribes did not seem particularly outstanding, so he might as well choose based on cultivation level.

First and foremost, it had to be the Flood Dragon-Headed General at the sixth layer of Returning Void.

This was probably the biggest bargain Shen Yi had picked up on this trip.

After feeding in roughly fifteen demon-origin essences, its demon soul was finally reshaped.

Actually, if this Flood Dragon-Headed General were kept around as a guard, it wouldn't be bad either.

But its identity was simply too sensitive, and its features were too obvious — there was no way it could be summoned in front of people, otherwise the Dragon Palace would come knocking on his doorstep the very next moment.

Furthermore, since the Hongmeng Chen Ziqi could empower the Spirit Body Art.

If he added the empowerment of a wisp of Chen Ziqi, then relying solely on Shen Yi himself, he would roughly possess the strength to preserve his life under a sixth-layer Returning Void cultivator.

Of course, if his luck was truly rotten and he ran into those heaven-chosen prodigies, adding a Flood Dragon-Headed General would be nothing more than wasting one extra sword strike from the opponent.

"Go!"

Shen Yi sent the demon soul into the Suppression Stone.

Immediately, demon-origin essences began to emerge one after another.

Two fourth-layer Returning Void demons, plus three third-layer Returning Void ones.

Though their cultivation was low, the demon-origin essences consumed were no fewer — another fifty-three went in, and all six Suppression Stones were fully formed.

【Remaining demon lifespans: 149,000 years】

Truly earning out there only to spend it out there, not bringing a single bit back home.

Shen Yi summoned the Measuring Pillar Ruler.

The Flood Dragon-Headed General truly did not disappoint him… though somewhat reluctantly, that Jin Guang still firmly froze at the second-rank line.

Relying on this alone, the Heavenly Palace was already more than half secured.

The rest basically matched Shen Yi's guesses — two third-ranks that were quite a bit higher, and among the remaining third-layer Returning Void demons, another lucky third-rank had emerged.

All preparations were complete.

Shen Yi suddenly offered up the Dao Palace, watching the sea of blood surge open across the horizon.

The Palace-Raising Art, which had already succeeded once, was deployed once again.

The six Suppression Stones nearly simultaneously peeled off, transforming into immensely majestic pillars — only this time, compared to the birds and beasts last time, nearly all of them bore aquatic patterns, and the most dazzling among them was none other than that Flood Dragon Pillar.

Above the two-story-tall Boundless Demon Emperor Palace, an additional layer of a faintly visible great hall appeared out of thin air!

If last time, when he broke through, the heavens and earth had still hesitated a moment, this time there was not the slightest wait.

It went straight ahead and dyed the clouds at the far end of his vision into a brilliant purple; the aura of serenity was so thick it was visible to the naked eye, and even ethereal celestial music rang out.

The thick purple clouds swept over swiftly.

They landed within the third-layer great hall, received by the crimson figure on the cushion with a horsetail whisk.

It should have been a joyous occasion for all under heaven.

But the instant that Heavenly Palace had just stabilized, it was withdrawn.

A breeze carrying the smell of water swept past, scattering the black mist and golden threads on the small island; the formation vanished, and the island was already empty of any person.

An unknown amount of time passed.

The water surface around the small island suddenly began to churn, emitting clanging sounds.

Weapon after weapon emerged from the water, the neat fish-scale armor gleaming with a piercing silver-white light; they stepped indifferently upon the river waves, surrounding the small island completely.

At a rough glance, there were no fewer than three hundred of them.

Among them, even the lowest-cultivated one radiated the aura of the Returning Void realm.

Once this group of Dragon Palace soldiers and generals had lined up in formation.

Right in the very center, a black-backed flood dragon suddenly shot up a hundred zhang high, its mouth holding a cold, dark iron resembling a horse bit, the reins gripped in the hand of the figure who sat at ease.

Black-backed flood dragons typically served as generals within the Dragon Palace.

Upon reaching adulthood, they possessed at least a cultivation above the sixth layer of Returning Void.

But this black flood dragon clearly had an extraordinary realm, yet could only serve as a mount.

The person on its back looked young, clad entirely in silver-white armor with a long cape draped over him; his features were nearly indistinguishable from those of a human, and his bearing was extraordinary — only two resplendent dragon horns adorned his forehead.

"Qi Laojiu, grandson of the Western Palace, comes to pay homage to the heavens and earth."

"A disciple of He Sect has broken through here — come forth and speak, this Seat has a reward."

Qi Laojiu held the reins in one hand, casually resting them on his right knee, and looked down toward the ground below.

After a long while, there was still no response from the island.

He was silent for a long time, then let out a laugh: "Tch, a gutless rat."

Once the words fell, Qi Laojiu directly yanked the reins: "Withdraw the troops and return to the manor."

In an instant, the murderous aquatic troops plunged straight back into the water; the black-backed flood dragon leapt high, splashing up waves a hundred zhang tall.

Once the spray had scattered, everything returned to calm.

……

In the Baohua Sect, within the deepest pavilion.

A long-haired old woman, facing a bronze mirror, combed her hair of her own accord: "I heard you shattered your jade slip and severed your connection with the elders on your own initiative — is it true?"

Behind her.

A Miss with a dignified and graceful appearance, wearing a floral crown, barefoot, looking gentle and virtuous: "It is true."

Having said that, the Miss went straight down on her knees toward the ground.

Yet the old woman merely raised an eyebrow, and this heaven-chosen Baohua Xianzi of the sixth layer of Returning Void was forced to stand back up: "There's no need to kneel to me; I only wish to say that this is very dangerous — don't do it again."

"This disciple understands." Lady Baohua Xianzi lowered her head somewhat guiltily.

"Besides this, there are other matters I am worried about." The old woman stood up and glanced back: "The reason I have never let you out is that you have yet to settle your heart; what threatens you out there is not only demons and monsters, but also existences that leave even your master powerless."

"You mean the Dragon Palace?" Lady Baohua Xianzi's heart skipped a beat.

"Sigh." The old woman exhaled slowly, her voice faint: "I'm not talking about fighting or competing... There are things more terrifying than death. If you won't settle down, how will you ever become Zongzhu?"

Hearing this, Baohua Xianzi was utterly baffled and blurted out: "Then have you settled down yourself?"

Those words plunged the entire room into Tianyan Siji.

The old woman turned her gaze back to her reflection in the bronze mirror. After a long silence, she pressed her lips together: "I was forced to."

"Then I can too."

Before her master, Baohua Xianzi finally revealed a hint of mischief, then cleared her throat twice and swiftly suppressed the upward curl of her lips.

"If Master has no other business, I'll go back to my confinement."

Seeing her master remain silent, Baohua Xianzi knew the woman had drifted into deep meditation again; she slipped quietly out of the room.

She truly didn't understand—besides the Dragon Palace, what in Hongze could a He Dao giant not resolve?

Leaving the pavilion.

Baohua Xianzi still carried herself as she always had—composed and graceful.

Only her eyes held a distant, vacant stare.

She had already prepared the Baohua Dan and heavenly treasures—why hadn't Shen Yi come to collect them? Surely he hadn't forgotten?

How annoying!

Baohua Xianzi bit her lip, suddenly feeling as bored as she had in the old days.

Her mind was filled with the slow sway of that ink-colored robe, and the youth's calm reply.

Return to Xu, fourth layer—no need to add.

She struggled to hide the smile at her lips; to others, it made the Xianzi seem even more radiant than usual.

That faint joy lasted all the way back to her pavilion.

There stood Bi Cui, helplessly by the door, beside her a young man flushed with shame—the same boy she'd seen once beside Shen Yi.

"Xianzi, you told me to keep watch for that person—I've prepared the pills in advance. He's returned, brought by my brother... He said he's too busy to wait for you; he took what he needed and left."

"I couldn't stop him."

"If you wish to blame me..."

Listening to the words at her ear, Baohua Xianzi wearily waved her hand: "It's fine. I was the one who gave you the order—I was afraid Master would keep me too long, so I didn't want you to miss him. What's there to blame?"

Saying this, she walked straight into the room and flung herself onto the soft bedding.

"How infuriating!"

Baohua Xianzi gnashed her teeth, throwing a tantrum: "Prepare my artifacts—I'm going to Tianjian Sect to visit their Xianzi for entertainment!"

"Save your breath," Bi Cui hurriedly shut the door and stepped forward to soothe her: "Several elders have filed complaints against you. You'd better lie low for now."

"..."

Hearing this, Baohua Xianzi finally rolled onto her back, sighed deeply, and looked utterly defeated.

After a long while, she said: "Notify the other elders—starting tomorrow, I will participate in Sect affairs."

No more empty-title Xianzi—I'll be a real one!

And maybe, using the Sect's methods, I can track down that brat—find out which faction he belongs to.

Nanhong once had seven He Dao cultivators, bound by life and death.

They were called the Seven Sons.

They left behind a mighty reputation in this land.

Among them, Nanyang Sect led the way.

Its disciples included Elder Xuanqing, who suppressed peer prodigies for tens of thousands of years, hailed as the foremost under He Dao in Bai Yujing.

Every disciple of the Seven Sects, upon hearing this, felt nothing but admiration—and took pride in it.

"How has it come to this?!"

"Let me out!"

Elder Yang clenched his fists and waved them furiously—he had taught the Nanyang Sect the arrays for three full months.

This was definitely revenge—for not giving a gift when they achieved their Tiangong last time.

Yan Wencheng sighed helplessly as he accompanied the elder; truthfully, he missed Qingyue Sect too—he wondered when he'd return.

At that moment, a light screen finally opened in the air.

The next instant, the ink-robed youth stepped through.

He glanced curiously at the two men guarding the Ancestral Hall's entrance, then nodded: "Thank you both for your efforts."

Teach a method, fine—but an array? Three months? Qingyue Sect really knows how to be generous.

"Shen Zongzhu has returned."

Elder Yang instantly changed his demeanor—though not reverent, he was now polite enough.

After all, their elder now recognized this.

He was one of Liu Shiqian's supporters too.

"You two should go rest."

Shen Yi stepped aside to let them pass. The Baohua Dan truly was extraordinary.

Three pills had already dispelled seven or eight tenths of the poison.

For safety's sake, Shen Yi swallowed six in total—now he felt refreshed, almost radiant.

But the accounts still needed settling.

Once the two from Qingyue Sect left Nanyang's sacred grounds,

Shen Yi stepped into the great hall, gazing at the wooden figure kneeling with eyes closed, drew a deep breath, and said calmly: "Elder Xuanqing, if you ever need me to find someone again, could you just say their name?"

"Hmm?" Li Xuanqing opened his eyes, first gesturing respectfully to Shen Yi with clasped hands, then asked gently, "She didn't pay you any attention? That's normal; after all, we've only met a few times."

He offered an apologetic smile: "I don't remember her name."

"I just suspected I found the wrong person; the age gap between us is too vast." Shen Yi sat down before the Patriarch's statue as well, adjusting his breathing slightly.

"It's been too many years since I went out, sorry... but it seems the matter has been resolved?" Li Xuanqing sensed slightly and detected the lingering aura of the Precious Flower Pill on the other person: "Could it be that you encountered another Baohua Xianzi?"

"Probably."

Although Shen Yi understood the situation clearly, he did not wish to get involved too deeply.

"What is her name?" Li Xuanqing withdrew his gaze.

"How would I possibly know?"

Bi Cui was obviously a pseudonym, but Shen Yi did not care about that.

He took out the heavenly treasures and earthly wonders prepared by Lady Baohua Xianzi and tossed them all to Li Xuanqing: "Help me identify them; how much Blood of the Crimson-Eyed Profound Phoenix can these be exchanged for?"

Finally having some savings in his pocket, the advancement of the Heavenly Phoenix Indestructible True Body could be put on the schedule.

"Good."

Li Xuanqing began to count these items with a certain unfamiliarity.

Though not skilled at it, this was the only small help he could offer now.

Before long, he looked up: "If someone else went to exchange them, they could get three portions, but if you go yourself, you won't get a single portion."

"..."

Shen Yi had expected this, after all, not every Meng Sect is as friendly as the Qingyue Sect.

He took out his Dao Token and began to contact Liu Qianyun.

(End of this chapter)