Chapter 101: Wang Chan

Green Wave Cave

His Dao companion was "seized" and controlled by a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Hehuan Sect, and the congratulatory gift of Golden Sand he sent contained a potent poison from the Hehuan Sect, causing Yan Taibai of the Yanyue Sect to be poisoned and perish; the plan to feign death and escape had completely fallen through.

After hearing what Linghu Laoguai of Huangfeng Valley said, if he were not a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, such a grave accusation would have been enough to make Li Huayuan collapse to his knees in terror, begging for mercy.

Yet even as a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, after hearing this, his face, which had previously been glowing with health, was drained of all color; he braced his weakening body and, with a face ashen and filled with suspicion, bowed apologetically to the cold-eyed Qiong Laoguai, speaking in a respectful voice.

"Senior Qiong, this junior was absolutely unaware of this matter; otherwise, even if I were to be killed by that Nascent Soul cultivator of the Hehuan Sect, I would never have agreed to do it."

"If Senior does not believe me, feel free to perform a soul search. This junior will have no complaints."

Once these words were spoken, Qiong Laoguai's expression eased slightly; he said nothing, merely glancing at Linghu Laoguai.

"Nephew Huayuan, this matter is of great importance. Reason and logic dictate that I must provide Qiong Daoyou and the Yanyue Sect with an explanation. Qiong Laoguai and I will not perform a soul search on you; after all, you only just succeeded in forming your Golden Core with great difficulty, and a soul search would ruin you. Therefore, I will use a secret technique to question you. If what you just said is false, then there will be no need for Qiong Daoyou to act; I will personally purge the sect. Are you willing?"

Linghu Laoguai said in a cold, heartless voice.

In the short span of a tea break, all color vanished from his face and eyes, as if he were a string-controlled Puppet.

"Xuan Ye understands. Young Sect Master may rest assured; one year, provided there are no major accidents, should be sufficient."

Following this, Qiong Laoguai asked several more key questions, and Li Huayuan answered them one by one with a blank expression.

"This matter is not something that can be accomplished in a moment. Could the Young Sect Master grant me more time? Times have changed; I am not yet aware of the current situation within the Yanyue Sect, so it is difficult to formulate a plan based on my previous understanding."

Seeing this, Linghu Laoguai looked at Qiong Laoguai and said.

"Very well."

Seeing this, Linghu Laoguai also felt a slight sense of relief; as for Li Huayuan's attitude, there was no problem at all.

Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, bowed slightly and smiled.

Mr. Xuan Ye said with a look of difficulty.

Mr. Xuan Ye did not agree, but instead continued to press the matter.

Inside a side hall.

Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, extended a finger and smiled.

Then, as the obscure, difficult, and profound incantations were spat out from Linghu Laoguai's mouth, they entered into Li Huayuan's crown one by one.

And as the spiritual light runes entered, Li Huayuan's eyes became vacant at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Upon hearing that the two had not practiced dual cultivation for a long time, Linghu Laoguai and Qiong Laoguai revealed strange expressions.

Li Huayuan knew he had no choice but to agree, and nodded.

"Oh, if one year is not enough, then Mr. Xuan Ye will not have much time left."

Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, gave a chuckle, his words carrying a deep meaning.

Faced with such an almost explicit threat, Mr. Xuan Ye could only sigh in his heart and nod in agreement.

"One year, this... is a bit difficult?"

Hearing this, Qiong Laoguai nodded slightly, and then began to question Li Huayuan regarding the congratulatory gift of Golden Sand and his Dao companion, Jiang Yun.

"No, Mr. Xuan Ye is mistaken. It is not to bring, but to rescue. It is to find a way to rescue Miss Ruyan from the Yanyue Sect. After all, Senior Yan has already perished, and Miss Ruyan has been placed under house arrest by the Yanyue Sect. For the sake of the entire Yan Family, we must naturally rescue Miss Ruyan. Compared to others, Mr. Xuan Ye understands the Yanyue Sect better, so I hope Mr. Xuan Ye can devise a plan. My father has said that if I have things I do not understand or cannot do, I can always consult you. I hope you do not mind."

"Yes, this disciple obeys."

Hearing this, Li Huayuan sat cross-legged directly, casting a spell to completely relax his primordial spirit—or more accurately, to abandon all resistance—and let Linghu Laoguai do as he pleased with his spell.

"Young Sect Master, do you mean that you want me to find a way to bring Miss Ruyan out of the Yanyue Sect?"

"Very well, then relax your mind. I need to plant a Restriction within your primordial spirit to make it happen."

It is estimated that he truly does not know.

"Hehe, if she cannot be rescued, then granting Miss Ruyan release is the same. In any case, she must absolutely not remain in the Yanyue Sect. This is a task my father has entrusted to me, and any cultivator below the Nascent Soul stage in the sect may be deployed at will. Since I cannot think of any good plan and do not know much about the Yanyue Sect, I have come to consult you. I trust you will not disappoint me!"

Appearing very humble and polite.

"That is naturally not a problem. How about one year?"

The Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect did not stop smiling as he shook his head slightly, his words implying something more.

Seeing this, Mr. Xuan Ye could only sigh lightly in his heart and nod in agreement.

After hearing the words of the man wearing the silver mask before him, Mr. Xuan Ye frowned and said,

Ghost Spirit Sect

"This disciple is willing. Uncle-Master Linghu may proceed with the Heart-Questioning Secret Technique; this disciple is absolutely unaware of anything."

And Linghu Laoguai also pinched incantations and chanted, his ten fingers flying, as streaks of spiritual light runes emerged and spiraled toward Li Huayuan.

"After all, wanting to bring Miss Ruyan out of the Yanyue Sect is no easy task. Back then, two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Hehuan Sect wanted to enter the Yanyue Sect to kill Yan Taibai, only to end up with one dead and one missing, their whereabouts unknown to this day. Not to mention bringing Miss Ruyan out safely."

"Qiong Daoyou, you may begin your questioning."

But that was not the point; the point was that Li Huayuan had not even noticed anything amiss, which truly surprised the two of them.

"Does the Young Sect Master not already have a Dao companion who practices the 'Blood Spirit Great Method'? Why would you want to risk bringing Miss Ruyan back to the sect?"

One year—this meant that if he could not complete the task, he might only have one year of life left, and the same could be said for the entire Yan Family of the Ghost Spirit Sect.

Under these circumstances, he had absolutely no room for choice.

He had not expected that this Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect would be even more ruthless and impatient than the Ghost Spirit Sect Master, Wang Tiansheng.

If that was the case, then he could also try to find a way for the Yan Family of the Ghost Spirit Sect to leave Tianluo Country.

But he must also be careful, or it would mean total destruction.

"Sure enough, Father was right; you will not disappoint me. Once this is accomplished, the Yan Family will surely become the second-greatest cultivation family of the Ghost Spirit Sect."

Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, said this again—a sentence Mr. Xuan Ye did not know how many times he had heard.

Yet even if not a single word was worth believing, he could only offer his thanks.

"Many thanks, Young Sect Master. Xuan Ye will certainly not disappoint the Young Sect Master."

"Very well, then I will trouble you, Mr. Xuan Ye. If you have any needs, speak up as soon as possible; I will do my best to satisfy them and will not make things difficult for you."

Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, revealed a satisfied smile behind his silver mask.

"Many thanks, Young Sect Master. Xuan Ye will not let the Young Sect Master down."

Mr. Xuan Ye promised respectfully.

"Good, that is best."

"By the way, Mr. Xuan Ye, how large a gap do you think there is between me and that fellow Daoist Yan of the Yanyue Sect?"

Suddenly, Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, asked Mr. Xuan Ye a question that left him momentarily unsure of how to answer.

Because this question was pure nonsense; the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect before him had only achieved Foundation Establishment after twenty, while Yan Taibai had already reached the Golden Core Stage before the age of twenty.

How large the gap is—doesn't he have any self-awareness!

Therefore, even Mr. Xuan Ye was stunned upon hearing this question and began racking his brains to find a way to phrase his response.

Seeing this, Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, suddenly chuckled.

"Hehe, it seems I have put Mr. Xuan Ye in a difficult position, so never mind. However, it appears that in Mr. Xuan Ye's view, there is still a significant gap between this Young Sect Master and that fellow Daoist Yan of the Yanyue Sect who has already fallen and passed away."

"It is only a pity that fellow Daoist Yan has already fallen and passed away. Haha! That is the gap between the two of us."

"The Young Sect Master is absolutely right; how could someone who has already passed away be mentioned in the same breath as the Young Sect Master?"

Hearing the words of Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, Mr. Xuan Ye immediately agreed with a face full of smiles.

After all, in terms of shamelessness, Yan Taibai truly could not compare.

But the current trouble was how to solve the massive problem of bringing Yan Ruyan out of the Yanyue Sect within a year.

And the simplest method would be for Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect before him, to fall.

But this was obviously impossible; not to mention within the Ghost Spirit Sect, unless it were the three Great Cultivators of the Nascent Soul Late Stage in Tiannan, it was not even worth thinking about.

Outside, there were two Golden Core Stage Cultivators acting as bodyguards at all times, and coupled with his status as the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, even a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator would not dare to act easily.

Therefore, Mr. Xuan Ye only thought about it in his heart, and perhaps he really would have to risk finding a way to bring Yan Ruyan out of the Yanyue Sect.

"Good, then Mr. Xuan Ye should think carefully about what was just said. This Young Sect Master has matters to discuss with Young Sect Master Du of the Tiansha Sect, Miss Lian of the Demon Flame Sect, and Young Sect Master Tian of the Hehuan Sect, so I will not stay any longer."

Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, nodded slightly, rose, and left the side hall with Mr. Xuan Ye personally seeing him off.

"To think he is still plotting against Ruyan; I truly do not know if this is a blessing or a curse."

After seeing Wang Chan, the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, off, Mr. Xuan Ye felt a splitting headache and muttered to himself.

Afterwards, he returned to the head seat of the side hall to study a solution alone.

Mr. Xuan Ye believed that Yan Taibai would be fine, so there was only one way to solve this matter, but he could not be the one to do it.

……

Over at Green Wave Cave in Huangfeng Valley, Li Huayuan's inquiry and the resulting disciplinary decision had come down.

He was to be placed under house arrest within Green Wave Cave and was not allowed to leave a single step without Qiong Laoguai's permission, otherwise, the outcome would be having his soul extracted and his spirit refined.

Regarding this disciplinary result, Li Huayuan had already gratefully and respectfully seen Linghu Laoguai and Qiong Laoguai off from Green Wave Cave.

However, he did not tell his disciples about this matter, otherwise, he did not know what kind of trouble might arise.

Instead, he said he was going into seclusion to cultivate, and that there was no need for his disciples to look for their mistress, his Dao companion Jiang Yun.

Aside from an accident, she had already fallen.

Regarding this matter, Li Huayuan's disciples were naturally heartbroken, but they could only be heartbroken.

Because Li Huayuan told them the culprit was a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator from the Hehuan Sect, and that Qiong Laoguai and Linghu Laoguai had just come to inform him of this news.

Facing such a disaster as a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator from the Hehuan Sect, Li Huayuan's disciples could only harbor resentment; as for revenge, it was basically impossible.

……

Although Qiong Laoguai was dissatisfied with Li Huayuan's disciplinary result, Linghu Laoguai had after all promised to help him find materials to refine the Formless Sword Array, so he could not say much more.

After all, according to the inquiry, Li Huayuan was also a victim, having not only lost a Dao companion but also being placed under house arrest.

Who could one go to for justice? But where in the Cultivation World is there any justice? The only justice is strength.

Therefore, upon returning to the Yanyue Sect, Qiong Laoguai immediately told Yan Taibai the results of the investigation.

"To think that this Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator of the Hehuan Sect is so formidable, and that she escaped again. If I condense a Nascent Soul in the future and advance to the Nascent Soul Stage, I will definitely have to make a trip to Tianluo Country to settle this grudge."

After hearing Qiong Laoguai's words, Yan Taibai said with an exceptionally grim expression.

This matter had caused him too much harm; he had to settle this grudge and exterminate that Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, the beautiful woman from the Hehuan Sect.

"With your aptitude, as long as you focus on cultivation, condensing a Nascent Soul is only a matter of time. There is absolutely no need to worry about anything."

"As for the Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator of the Hehuan Sect, you also do not need to worry. She discarded the majority of her Nascent Soul and only a portion of her primordial spirit escaped; to recover her cultivation, it will take at least one or two hundred years."

"You will definitely be able to catch up, so do not be too anxious."

Qiong Laoguai comforted him.

"Among the materials I asked Linghu Laoguai to collect, there are also the materials you need, and I will personally inspect every single one and have someone help refine them a little, so as to avoid any further accidents."

"Many thanks, Master."

Yan Taibai thanked him.

"Hehe, there is no need for such courtesy between master and disciple. You only need to focus on your cultivation. Once you have refined your Life-Bound Magical Treasure, leave the Tiannan Cultivation World. Do not return until you have advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage. Neither I nor the sect can protect you; you can only rely on yourself."

Qiong Laoguai reminded him again.

"This disciple understands. As soon as the Life-Bound Magical Treasure is refined, this disciple will absolutely not delay and will immediately leave Yue Country and head for Jixi Zhi Di."

Yan Taibai smiled and said.

"Mm! I have wronged you."

Qiong Laoguai sighed softly, his voice filled with a trace of apology.

If the Yanyue Sect had sufficient strength, there would naturally be no need for Yan Taibai to choose the path of "faking death to escape" and fleeing to other regions.

"What does this have to do with Master or the sect? Moreover, this disciple does indeed wish to leave the Tiannan Cultivation World to gain experience; this is also of great benefit to cultivation. It is just that the only thing I am worried about is Yan'er. I hope Master will take extra care of her."

Yan Taibai smiled and requested.

"Rest assured, as long as Master is safe, I will certainly take good care of Yan'er."

Upon hearing Yan Taibai's request, Qiong Laoguai naturally would not refuse.

"Mm! Many thanks, Master. This disciple still needs to research the refining of my Life-Bound Magical Treasure, so I will say no more."

After Yan Taibai expressed his thanks, he ended the chat with Qiong Laoguai.

This matter was indeed much as he had expected; it was the work of Li Huayuan's dao companion, and he could be considered to have gained from a misfortune, having suffered no losses.

He had originally wanted to ask Qiong Laoguai for some more poison, but in the end, he gave up on the idea.

There was no rush for this matter for the time being; once his strength was sufficient, what poison could he not have?

(End of this chapter)