Chapter 184: The First Transaction with Han Li

"It is indeed this junior, may I ask who you are, Senior?"

After a moment, Han Li recovered from his shock and bowed respectfully.

"Yanyue Sect, Yan Taibai."

These six plain, unremarkable words brought Han Li a shock far greater than a thousand times the moment Yan Taibai had just exposed his identity with a single sentence.

Who was Yan Taibai? The number one person in the Tiannan Cultivation World, the man who single-handedly slew the Great Elder of the Fengdu Guo Taizhen Sect, Zhiyang Shangren, and the leader of the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects, Hehuan Laomo of the Hehuan Sect.

Being recognized by him in a single word, even Han Li's calm state of mind was now surging and turbulent, kicking up monstrous waves.

After all, he did not know whether being recognized by Yan Taibai was a good thing or a bad thing.

"You need not worry about anything; I harbor no ill intent, I am merely paying some attention to you. After all, when the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects invaded Yue Country back then, you were considered somewhat famous."

Yan Taibai explained further.

"This junior Han Li pays respects to Senior Taibai."

After hearing Yan Taibai's explanation, Han Li recovered and immediately bowed respectfully, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

After all, with his current strength, he would not even be able to withstand a single move before Yan Taibai before perishing.

"I also did not expect to see you in Xi Country. What are your plans now? Or have you already joined a sect?"

Seeing Han Li so nervous, Yan Taibai smiled slightly and continued to ask.

"Reporting to Senior Taibai, this junior is currently just a rogue cultivator; I have not joined any sect, nor do I wish to return to Huangfeng Valley."

Upon hearing this, Han Li replied hurriedly.

It was evident that Yan Taibai did not harbor much ill intent toward him.

"You don't want to return to Huangfeng Valley? What do you think of the Luoyun Sect? It just so happens that I also intend to enter the Luoyun Sect to help them resolve a few matters. Why don't you come in with me? It can be considered having company, how about it?"

Yan Taibai chuckled and asked again.

"The Yunmeng Three Sects' Luoyun Sect in Xi Country... This... many thanks for your kindness, Senior Taibai, this junior is willing."

After hearing Yan Taibai's words, Han Li gave a bitter smile in his heart and could only agree.

He just did not know what exactly Yan Taibai was planning to do, and hoped it was nothing that would make him too embarrassed or troubled.

"Good, then go and prepare yourself first."

Yan Taibai instructed.

"Yes, this junior obeys!"

Upon hearing this, Han Li could only agree.

After speaking, he apologized to Yan Taibai and left, heading toward the Luoyun Sect.

He did not ask what Yan Taibai intended to do, but he felt that even if he asked, Yan Taibai might not answer, so it was better not to ask.

Thinking of this, Han Li could only bury his head and head in the direction of the Luoyun Sect, planning to inquire a bit after arriving to see if he could find out anything.

Yan Taibai naturally did not know Han Li's thoughts, nor would he care.

He was currently strolling through the ruins, which had been abandoned for who knows how long, to see if he could find anything useful.

……

As for Yan Taibai's arrival, Song Yu naturally informed the two Nascent Soul cultivators of the Luoyun Sect, Cheng and Lü; this matter was of great importance and had to be told to them.

But he also requested that the two not tell the Nascent Soul cultivators of the other two sects, to avoid any problems.

After all, no one could guarantee that there were no traitors among the Nascent Soul cultivators of Baiqiao Academy and the Ancient Sword Sect who had defected to the Righteous and Demonic Paths.

In reality, the plan of the Yunmeng Three Sects had long since leaked; the Righteous and Demonic Paths had come up with a counter-plot, all for the sake of nourishing and reviving the Mysterious Heaven Immortal Vine.

……

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month passed.

On this day, the Luoyun Sect opened its doors to recruit new disciples once again.

Moreover, the requirements were not high, and with some disciples being able to enter the six peaks of the Luoyun Sect—which were dominated by women, including White Phoenix Peak where the Luoyun Sect's greatest beauty resided—

it naturally attracted a large number of sectless Qi Refining rogue cultivators from Xi Country.

This was a huge platform over a hundred feet wide; except for a small, unremarkable-looking pavilion opposite, the surroundings were a vast expanse of white, as if there was nothing there.

In front of the nameless stone pavilion, dozens of cultivators in various attires were sitting cross-legged, but no one dared to enter the pavilion.

However, this stone pavilion was not real, but a white jade pavilion concealed by an illusion array, with a giant plaque hanging on it inscribed with the three golden characters "Huan Yun Hall".

At the same time, three people were standing under this giant plaque, pointing and talking about the Qi Refining cultivators before them who were oblivious to the truth.

Relying on the illusion array, they had no intention of hiding or avoiding being seen.

Among the three, two were at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage and one was at the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage; they were the Luoyun Sect cultivators responsible for receiving this group of rogue cultivators who wanted to join the sect.

And this group of Qi Refining rogue cultivators who wanted to join the Luoyun Sect naturally included Yan Taibai and Han Li.

The reason Yan Taibai joined the Luoyun Sect as a Qi Refining rogue cultivator was naturally to tease the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects.

After all, it had been quite boring these past few years, and he had to find something to do.

Furthermore, Yan Taibai was very interested in the Mysterious Heaven Immortal Vine obtained by the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects, so he naturally could not miss it.

As for why he did not just seize it by force, it was mainly because he had already slain Zhiyang Shangren of the Righteous Alliance's Taizhen Sect and Hehuan Laomo of the Hehuan Sect, the leader of the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects.

Seizing it by force in this situation would appear too excessive and overbearing, and might completely enrage the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects.

Although Yan Taibai did not fear them, cleaning them up would be troublesome, so he decided to tease them first, find an excuse, and then ask the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects for the Mysterious Heaven Immortal Vine.

And since the Yunmeng Three Sects were important sects of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, this excuse and reason were quite good.

"Senior Brother Qiu! Although the number of rogue cultivators who came this time is large enough, not many meet the requirements, especially those who dare to come at only the seventh or eighth layer of Qi Refining. Even if the requirements were relaxed this time, this is still too low."

A fair-faced youth who looked only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old pointed at a few people in the crowd, his words sounding somewhat dissatisfied.

"There is no help for it; this time Uncle-Master Song also spoke up to recruit one or two disciples, which is why so many rogue cultivators were drawn here. But in reality, not many will truly be able to join the sect, so you don't need to worry too much."

The Luoyun Sect Foundation Establishment cultivator called Senior Brother Qiu glanced sideways at the youth surnamed Liu, who came from a certain cultivator clan, and said with a calm expression.

"Yes, yes, yes, Senior Brother Qiu is absolutely right."

The young man hurriedly chimed in, fearing he might offend Brother Qiu.

Seeing this, Brother Qiu said nothing more.

After another few hours, the number of loose cultivators from Xi Country arriving grew larger and larger. By the time the sun was about to set, nearly a hundred Qi Refining Stage cultivators were already sitting cross-legged on the platform square, most of them young male and female cultivators, though there were also some middle-aged and older cultivators with deeper cultivation. Just then, a great expanse of red light suddenly rose from the stone pavilion, and amidst the rosy clouds, the stone pavilion vanished abruptly, replaced by a massive pavilion over ten zhang tall and three figures standing before it.

"Welcome, fellow Daoists, to our Luoyun Sect! From here on, my fellow brothers and I will be responsible for this disciple selection process. Please listen quietly and clearly to what I, Qiu, am about to say; do not miss a single word."

Brother Qiu swept a sharp gaze over the crowd before him and spoke calmly and unhurriedly.

Seeing this, Yan Taibai and Han Li exchanged a glance, neither saying anything more.

Without the slightest surprise, both Yan Taibai and Han Li were selected.

Although Han Li did not know what exactly Yan Taibai wanted him to do, he knew that when facing the demands of Yan Taibai, the number one person in the Tiannan Cultivation World, he had no qualifications to resist at all.

Besides Yan Taibai and Han Li, four men and two women were also selected. Apart from a quiet, gentle woman in yellow in her twenties, the remaining few were basically around thirty years old.

In particular, one of the cultivators in green robes looked to be over fifty years old. Although on the surface he had the highest cultivation among them, at the twelfth layer of the Qi Refining Stage, his potential was practically exhausted.

Yan Taibai did not care about this; what he needed to wait for now was the matter of the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects during the Trial Sword Grand Competition.

Only in this way would he have sufficient reason and excuse to ask for the complete Mysterious Heaven Immortal Vine.

This was his goal; everything else was unimportant.

As long as the Mysterious Heaven Immortal Vine was in hand, the next step would be to cultivate the Green Emperor Wood Emperor Art and revive the Mysterious Heaven Immortal Vine.

This was, after all, a Xuantian Treasure, so he naturally could not miss it.

Especially the Xuantian Zhanling Sword that would grow from it; although it was not as good as his Life-Bound Magical Treasure, the Luxian Juetian Sword, it was still quite good.

After all, it was a Xuantian Treasure.

Subsequently, the eight of them, along with a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator from the Luoyun Sect, rode a magical artifact toward the peaks deep within the Luoyun Sect.

……

Before long, the group arrived at a place that felt like a paradise on earth.

Looking out, one saw lush greenery, birds singing and flowers fragrant, with several giant peaks reaching a thousand zhang tall appearing in the distance and nearby.

Around these peaks, there were countless houses, halls, and pavilions, with numerous cultivators in various robes coming and going, flying back and forth, appearing very busy.

"This is the Six Wonders Peak of our Luoyun Sect. Once you truly join our sect, you can join one of these wonder peaks. As for now, follow me first to the Yingsong Residence on Tianquan Peak to explain your origins and backgrounds, and then we will conduct a detailed test of your cultivation techniques and progress."

The Luoyun Sect Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator introduced as he spoke, pointing to the peak closest to them.

Just like that, Yan Taibai and his group, led by the other party, headed toward the aforementioned Tianquan Peak.

Before long, after undergoing the interrogation of the Heart Questioning Talisman, they successfully passed the assessment.

Therefore, they now only needed to wait for the elders or peak masters of the Luoyun Sect's Six Wonders Peak to make their selections.

And Yan Taibai, naturally without the slightest surprise, joined Song Yu's White Phoenix Peak along with another female disciple.

He saw this beautiful disciple again, though now their statuses had been swapped.

……

Inside the pavilion of White Phoenix Peak

"How much longer until the Trial Sword Grand Competition of your Yunmeng Three Sects?"

After sitting down, Yan Taibai asked Song Yu, this beautiful disciple, directly.

"One year, only one year left. I hope Master will wait a little longer."

Hearing this, Song Yu answered truthfully.

"One year, that will do. Remember to notify me when the time comes."

Yan Taibai nodded and instructed.

"Yes. This disciple obeys."

Song Yu agreed with extreme obedience; after all, with Yan Taibai present, there was no need to worry about anything anymore.

The Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects would no longer pose any threat to their Yunmeng Three Sects.

On the contrary, if they dared to make a move against the Yunmeng Three Sects, the consequences would definitely make the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects regret it deeply.

……

"Many thanks to fellow Daoist Taibai for coming to help this time. On behalf of the Yunmeng Three Sects, our Luoyun Sect is endlessly grateful. I wonder if fellow Daoist Taibai has any other instructions? As long as it is something our Yunmeng Three Sects can do, we will absolutely not refuse in the slightest."

Before long, Cheng Tiankun and Lv Luo, having received a voice transmission from Song Yu, both arrived at the pavilion on White Phoenix Peak to thank Yan Taibai, the number one person in the Tiannan Cultivation World.

After all, just as Song Yu thought, with Yan Taibai present, the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects were nothing to fear, and they might even make those two parties regret their actions.

But they also wanted to know if Yan Taibai had any other matters besides this one; doing good deeds without seeking a reward did not seem to fit Yan Taibai's consistent style.

It was no wonder Cheng Tiankun and Lv Luo were worried.

After all, the impression Yan Taibai gave them was not that of such a kind-hearted person.

Even if Yan Taibai was the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, it was the same. "Two fellow Daoists, you are too polite. I do indeed have a goal, but it does not have much to do with your Yunmeng Three Sects, so you need not be so nervous."

Yan Taibai shook his head and explained with a smile.

There was no help for it; at this moment, Song Yu, the number one beauty of the Luoyun Sect and his beautiful disciple, was massaging him, so how could he not be happy?

"So that is how it is. If fellow Daoist Taibai has any instructions, please feel free to speak. As long as our Luoyun Sect can do it, we will absolutely not refuse."

Seeing this, Cheng Tiankun was all smiles as he spoke again.

He was not being polite, but truly wanted to do his best to befriend Yan Taibai, the number one person in the Tiannan Cultivation World.

After all, Yan Taibai's strength and status were worth him and the Luoyun Sect going all out to befriend him.

"Easy to say, easy to say. However, there is nothing at the moment. You may rest easy. If there really is something, I will not stand on ceremony."

Yan Taibai chuckled.

"Good, then the two of us can rest assured."

Hearing these words from Yan Taibai, Cheng Tiankun and Lv Luo of the Luoyun Sect exchanged a glance, finally letting out a sigh of relief, and began to discuss with Yan Taibai the matter of the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects joining forces to try and seize the Spirit Eye Tree, the holy tree of their Yunmeng Three Sects.

If Yan Taibai had not come to help, they really would not have had much confidence in dealing with the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects.

However, there is no need to worry about that now.

As for this matter, Yan Taibai also promised to do his best to assist, and at the same time, he wanted to see just how much capability the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Luo Kingdom Six Demon Sects truly had to be able to seize the Spirit Eye Tree of the Yunmeng Three Sects.

Of course, Cheng Tiankun and Lv Luo also readily agreed to Yan Taibai's request.

After all, compared to the Spirit Eye Tree, the Dingling Pill and the roots of the Spirit Eye Tree were absolutely nothing. (End of this chapter)