Chapter 2048: First Impression

Li Xingrou walked with an intentionally swaying waist, drawing everyone's attention.

For a moment, even the chatter inside the hall quieted considerably.

"You could call this woman seductive, but it's not as captivating as a fire dance! Twisting like that while walking, doesn't she get tired?"

Ye Liuyun thought to himself that he could not appreciate such deliberate affectation at all.

Li Xingrou, however, believed herself quite beautiful, after all every one of her moves attracted the gazes of countless male disciples in the hall.

Li Jian immediately stood up with a smiling face and said, "Beautiful Xingrou, are you planning to enchant everyone today?"

Li Xingrou, flattered by her compliment, instantly smiled and replied, "You're the only one who can speak so well! And that friend beside you, won't you introduce him to me?"

Seeing that the remark was directed at him, Ye Liuyun politely stood up and greeted her.

"I am Chen Feng, newly arrived at the Profound Heaven Sect; I hope senior sister will look after me in the future!"

"Chen Feng?"

"The newly arrived Alchemist?"

"I am Li Xingrou."

"If you don't mind, just call me Xingrou! It's not really about looking after me; you're an Alchemist, and I'll need your assistance later!"

Li Xingrou smiled and said a long string of polite words.

In fact it was also a test.

If Ye Liuyun were to start calling her Xingrou, it would indicate that he is rather frivolous.

"Senior sister, you are too kind!"

Ye Liuyun persisted in calling her senior sister, did not change his address, and Li Xingrou did not press further.

"Senior sister, a few days ago I saw a formula for a beauty‑preserving pill in the Dan Hall.

When you have time, refine it and give it to you; it would be a finishing touch, making you even more dazzling!"

Ye Liuyun thought that to deal with Murong Tian, he must start with the people around him, gradually dismantle his alliance, isolate him, then find a chance to use others as a knife to kill him.

That way, even if the Profound Heaven Sect or the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance investigate, it would not involve him.

"Hehe!"

Li Xingrou heard that and immediately burst into laughter.

"Junior brother, you have good intentions! This beauty‑preserving pill is far more precious to me than a realm‑breaking pill! You must keep your word; I'll claim it from you later!"

Upon hearing about the beauty‑preserving pill, Li Xingrou had already set aside her investigation into Ye Liuyun's background.

At least Ye Liuyun's displayed attitude showed no hostility toward her, and his proactive gift indicated he was quite adept.

Dealing with Ye Liuyun in the future should be very convenient.

"How could I forget senior sister's matter!"

Ye Liuyun replied immediately.

"Ah! With Xingrou's looks, after taking the beauty‑preserving pill, she won't just be the top beauty of our Profound Heaven Sect; she'll surely become the greatest beauty of the entire Eastern region!"

Beside them, Li Jian added another round of flattery, making Li Xingrou laugh even more brightly.

At that moment she boasted to Ye Liuyun, "From now on in the Profound Heaven Sect, senior sister will watch over you!"

Ye Liuyun thought that, since it was their first meeting, leaving a good impression was enough.

Continuing the flattery would only make her suspect his motives.

So he thanked Li Xingrou and said nothing more.

Li Xingrou's impression of Ye Liuyun was quite favorable.

She exchanged a couple of words with Li Jian and then let Ye Liuyun off.

Murong Tian convened the gathering, actually for many purposes.

As the Holy Son, the things he cannot say directly are entrusted to Li Xingrou to convey to these people.

For example, who should be praised, who gave too few gifts, whose affairs were mishandled, he would have Li Xingrou relay them.

Thus at every gathering, Li Xingrou is the busiest.

Ye Liuyun, with a calm demeanor, used his Divine Sense to observe her movements, eavesdrop on her conversation, and immediately understood Li Xingrou's role.

"Fengchen is the biggest undercover, and Li Xingrou is the hub connecting these disciples.

The remaining key figures should be Murong Tian's financial backers, strategists, and enforcers!"

Ye Liuyun thought this and began using Transmission Voice to ask Li Jian for this information.

"As for the financial backers, they should be the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance and the Eastern Dynasty behind Li Xingrou, right?

I'm not entirely clear on that.

I think his biggest backer is actually us Sect disciples.

His resources are basically plundered from us.

The strategist must be Liu Xing of the Formation Pavilion.

That guy's strength is mediocre, full of malicious ideas; he hasn't stopped giving Murong Tian bad schemes to trap people.

But he's the senior disciple of Wu Kun, the head of the Formation Pavilion, so no one can do anything about him.

As for the enforcers, Murong Tian has two Eighth Tier Early Stage guards, provided by the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance for his protection.

And for the dirty work of assassinating disciples, he lets the Black and White Impermanences handle it.

The Black and White Impermanences refer to Liu Zimo and Xing Baiyu."

"What realms are these people at, and what are their proclivities?"

Ye Liuyun asked Li Jian.

Li Jian also told Ye Liuyun, "Liu Xing is at Fifth Layer Mid‑stage, lecherous; the Black and White Impermanences are at Sixth Tier Late Stage, greedy for wealth.

Murong Tian also targeted their proclivities and bought them off early."

Ye Liuyun thought for a moment, then finally decided to strike Liu Xing first.

Without the think tank, Murong Tian is even more prone to mistakes.

Moreover, Li Jian's information is inaccurate.

Murong Tian and Li Xingrou are still within the Sect, so they cannot obtain much family support; at most they can go back to fetch some cultivation resources, but certainly not a lot.

For this matter, it is more reliable for him to pry it out of Liu Xing's mouth.

"How is your relationship with Liu Xing?

Can you arrange to meet him?"

Ye Liuyun asked.

"As long as there's a beautiful woman, it's easy to get him to come out!"

Li Jian said confidently.

Ye Liuyun made a detailed plan, then told Li Jian: "After the banquet ends, go find Liu Xing and tell him I want to improve the Side Courtyard's Formation, and ask him to come over for a detailed discussion.

Remember to tell him I have a beautiful woman who can play the lute and a maid with a striking figure.

If he can rebuild the Side Courtyard's Formation according to my request, I may consider giving him the maid.

Then accompany him so he won't suspect anything."

"Junior brother, that Liu Xing kid is full of nasty tricks.

Don't try to pull a fast one and end up losing more! If he sets his sights on your maid, you'll have to give her up in the end, even if you don't want to!"

Li Jian reminded Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun replied disdainfully.

"It's fine.

Since he likes beautiful women, he'll eventually come to me to check them out.

If he's willing to go, I'll have a chance to deal with him."

"Alright then!"

Li Jian could only agree.

At this moment, most of the people inside had gathered, and Fengchen arrived almost last.

After arriving, he sat down at his seat and said nothing to anyone.

When he saw Ye Liuyun, Ye Liuyun also nodded at him.

He then proactively sent a Transmission Voice to Ye Liuyun, explaining why he came here.

"Murong Tian always invites me out of courtesy at each gathering.

I also came merely out of courtesy.

You needn't misunderstand; this doesn't mean anything!"

Ye Liuyun smiled and nodded, thinking to himself, "Isn't this just the 'no three hundred taels of silver here' trick!"

Li Xingrou at this time also went to find Murong Tian, changed into a formal dress, and accompanied Murong Tian to attend the event magnificently.

When everyone inside saw Murong Tian arrive, they all stood up and performed the salute together.

The First Holy Son, after all, is entitled to such treatment.

Ye Liuyun helplessly could only follow suit.