Chapter 740 - 113: Settling the Turmoil (Part 2)

His voice remained consistently calm, yet hinted at a sharp edge: "As for the Xuanyi Immortal Sect, naturally, I hold it in high regard. The Immortal Sect is magnificent and renowned across the Celestial Cyan Domain, and I presume its rules are strict and just. For Elder Dong to preside over such a ’justice’ with minor flaws in the capacity of an Outer Sect Honored Guest Elder, spreading it out might tarnish the Immortal Sect’s esteemed reputation."

Elder Dong’s eyelids twitched. The other party’s words were soft yet firm, not only indicating that his "Outer Sect Honored Guest Elder" status might not fully represent the Immortal Sect’s will but also suggesting that the matter couldn’t withstand deep scrutiny, with an implied intent to extend the issue’s impact to the Sect’s reputation.

Indeed, he didn’t dare make the "suspected Earth Spirit Master’s" matter public, as it would draw more prominent figures from the Central Region to pry. At this moment, Li Ji’an came with the momentum of the "Business Alliance Tributor" and "gathering of old friends," appearing calm and composed, making him somewhat hesitant to act rashly.

After a moment’s ponderance, Elder Dong’s rigid expression slowly softened, showing a seemingly magnanimous smile: "What Li Tributor said...is reasonable. Fine, considering your and the Business Alliance’s face today, there might be a misunderstanding here. Since it’s your old friend, I won’t delve deeply."

Li Ji’an smiled and cupped his hands: "Elder Dong is understanding, and Li thanks you on behalf of my senior sister." He then shifted the topic, "However, my senior sister was startled without reason, incurring significant losses; this Fellow Daoist Qin Chuan even had the Clan’s Treasure destroyed. Since it’s a misunderstanding, some compensation is always appropriate."

Zhao Zhiye’s face darkened and was about to retort, but was stopped by a glance from Elder Dong. Elder Dong knew that achieving the objective today was unlikely, so it was better to retreat at this point. He tossed out a storage pouch, saying lightly, "The spiritual materials inside are enough to compensate for their losses."

Li Ji’an scanned with his divine sense, nodded slightly, and sent the storage pouch over to Qin Chuan: "Fellow Daoist Qin, please check it."

Qin Chuan received it, probed a little, and his heartbeat accelerated instantly! Inside were not only numerous Core Formation Stage cultivation elixirs but also several extremely rare Tier Three spiritual materials, whose value far exceeded the loss of his damaged Seventh Grade magical treasure’s self-detonation! He could completely buy a truly intact Seventh Grade magical treasure instead.

A storm was thus quietly dissipated under Li Ji’an’s seemingly gentle but uncompromising maneuvering. Elder Dong deeply looked at Li Ji’an and Xiaoqiao, said no more, and left with Zhao Zhiye and Dan Chenzi, turning into streams of light.

As the barrier dispersed, Xiaoqiao exhaled in relief, looking at Li Ji’an with gratitude.

"Let’s go; this place is not suitable for reminiscing." Li Ji’an warmly smiled at everyone, then invited his old friends to return with him to his core Dao Field at Feihong Immortal City.

On the way, he specifically transmitted his voice to Blood Kite, with a hint of appreciation in his tone: "You’ve been thoughtful about the earlier matter." Blood Kite’s delicate body trembled slightly, bowed her head in assent, and the little apprehension in her heart instantly turned into a warm current.

Looking at Zhang Zhiwei, who walked excitedly beside him, now a grown and handsome young man, a trace of satisfaction flashed through Li Ji’an’s eyes. The descendants of Zhang Tiezhu, to have come this far through his efforts, not bad.

Back at the Dao Field, Li Ji’an sent messages to Guo Wanzhi and Yao Rui, who happened to be in Feihong Immortal City, and invited them over.

Before long, when Guo Wanzhi stepped into the hall and saw the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar black-clothed youth, she was as if struck by lightning.

"Senior... Senior Brother?" Her voice trembled, almost in disbelief.

Xu Xiaochun turned around, looking at the once naive little junior sister who had now grown poised and whose cultivation had advanced, his eyes showed rare gentleness and sentiment: "Wanzhi, long time no see."

Reunion of old friends, a mixture of joy and sorrow.

Within the Dao Field, it was filled with nostalgia, reminiscence, and gentle laughter for a moment.

Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin sat at the main seat, watching this scene, exchanged a smile, as if all the warmth in the world gathered here.

Once the grand banquet was cleared, and individual accommodations were arranged, Li Ji’an invited Xiaoqiao into the warm pavilion.

In the warm pavilion, with the fragrance of tea curling up, the hustle and bustle settled down, leaving only the rustling of spiritual bamboo outside the window.

Li Ji’an pushed a cup of warm soul-nourishing tea towards Xiaoqiao, sitting opposite with his usual gentle demeanor, just with a few more focused inquiries in his gaze.

"Senior Sister," he began, his voice steady, "Today’s issue, I’m afraid, is not merely as simple as a Foundation Establishment Pill. Those three, especially the Xuanyi Immortal Sect Honored Guest Elder at the forefront.

Why did they specifically target you, and so aggressively?"

Xiaoqiao, holding the warm teacup, also showed a look of helplessness.

She remained silent for a moment, then raised her eyes, revealing a little fear and uncertainty: "Ping’an, I... I’ve pondered repeatedly. If we talk about making enemies, since forming the core, I have acted cautiously, never offending any cultivators from Tiandu to the Central Region. The only special thing..." She paused, lowering her voice further, "I suspect... perhaps it’s only due to my identity as an Earth Spirit Master."

"The identity of an Earth Spirit Master?"

Li Ji’an slightly paused holding the teacup, his eyes deepening slightly.

"So... he’s unsure and wants to make you act to confirm whether you are an Earth Spirit Master?"

In an instant, he had a sudden realization; this indeed was the only reasonable explanation.

In his previous life, when he noticed Xiaoqiao’s extraordinary nature, he had concerns in this aspect, and it had now come true.

Just...

Today, he relied on his identity as a "Tributor of the Business Alliance" to temporarily drive the opponent away, but if Xiaoqiao is truly targeted because of her Earth Spirit Master identity, it definitely won’t be let go easily.

"Xiaoqiao is in danger!" For a moment, he glanced at Xiaoqiao with a somewhat conflicted expression.

The Earth Spirit Master’s ability to sense Earth Spirit Charm and connect with the earth veins is ideal for excavating ancient relics.

Compared to the Eastern part of the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm, the Nascent Soul True Monarchs in the Central Ten Domains have reached a bottleneck, and they are eager to excavate ancient relics in hopes of breaking through. Thus, Earth Spirit Masters are highly attractive to them.

The only fortunate thing is that Dong Cheng and the others have not yet fully confirmed Xiaoqiao’s identity as an Earth Spirit Master.

Otherwise, no one could protect Xiaoqiao.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Ji’an slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

"As things stand now, the only solution is to temporarily eliminate this hidden danger."

To cut the weeds, one must eliminate the roots.

This thought clearly surfaced in Li Ji’an’s mind.

Before Dong Cheng confirms Xiaoqiao’s identity as an Earth Spirit Master, the three must die, and they must die cleanly and decisively, unrelated to today’s events, Xiaoqiao, or Li Ji’an himself.

Of course, none of this can be known to Xiaoqiao. The more people know, the more likely traces will be left.

Though many thoughts flashed through his mind instantly, Li Ji’an’s face remained calm, even with a hint of comforting smile: "Senior sister needn’t worry too much. Today, they were at fault first, so they shouldn’t dare to blatantly cause trouble again in the near future.

Rest easy here, attend Sujin’s Golden Core Ceremony, and then quickly return to the Celestial Cyan Domain. The journey is far, and they might not be certain enough to pursue."

Xiaoqiao nodded solemnly, then smiled gently, gratefully nodding: "Thank you, Ping’an."

After warmly reminding her a few times to rest well, Li Ji’an then got up and left the elegant courtyard where Xiaoqiao was temporarily staying.

The night was deep, and starlight fell gently through the Dao Field Array, soft and serene. Li Ji’an strolled under the corridor, while his Divine Sense quietly enveloped different areas of the Dao Field.

In the east courtyard, Xu Xiaochun and Guo Wanzhi were sitting under an old plum tree, a few plates of spirit fruit and a pot of clear wine placed on the stone table.

The usual grimness on Xu Xiaochun’s face had long vanished, replaced by a rare softness tinged with reminiscence.

He listened to Guo Wanzhi softly recount the tales of the past years in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, the changes in the Biyun Sect, occasionally chiming in with a question about an old acquaintance.

Guo Wanzhi spoke with reddened eyes from time to time, but were quickly replaced by smiles.

A hundred years of separation, the bond based on childhood friendship between the senior brother and sister hadn’t faded with time and their separate fates. Instead, in this serene night, it deepened and matured.

Elsewhere, Xiao Changfeng was conversing with Qin Chuan and Zhang Zhiwei. He carefully inquired about Qin Chuan’s injuries and then advised Zhang Zhiwei on cultivation work, his words full of elder’s concern and care.

Fairy Yunyao quietly sat by the side, her gaze occasionally drifting in the direction of Li Ji’an, a complex feeling in her eyes.

She recalled the time when she first met Master Li Ping’an, she had pressured others with force, yet in the blink of an eye, his disciple had grown to such an extent, becoming a towering tree that could shelter them all.

Li Ji’an withdrew his Divine Sense, his heart at ease.

The well-being of old friends, enveloped in warmth, felt so good. After experiencing Rejuvenation through several lifetimes and losing old friends one after another, he thought this emotion would increasingly fade, but now it seemed to be changing.

For this reason, he ultimately decided to lend Xiaoqiao a helping hand once.

Dong Cheng... Outer Sect Honored Guest Elder of the Xuanqing Immortal Sect...

He looked up, gazing into the deep night sky, his sight seemingly penetrating through layers of array and cloud, toward the direction the three departing streaks of light might have gone.

After the Golden Core Ceremony, it will be time to settle things.