Chapter 817: Who Dares Be So Bold!

Li Ye’an’s face couldn’t hide his joy upon hearing this:

“I have always followed the Valley Master’s teachings. In life, one should have a clear conscience and do what is within one’s ability. I have remembered this to this day and will continue to follow the Valley Master’s teachings, always doing so.”

Zhao Xuan stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, stared at Li Ye’an before him, remained silent for a moment, then spoke:

“Since this matter has involved the upper sects, it has exceeded your capabilities. You don’t need to pursue the follow-up—I’ll handle it personally. Focus on your cultivation.”

The righteous path indeed had its helplessness.

If this were still the old days, this disciple’s head would already be rolling on the ground.

However, this expression of trust was something he couldn’t experience as an evil cultivator.

Everything had its gains and losses. Today’s cultivation of disciples was also preparation for having truly reliable people in the future.

Li Ye’an didn’t think too much, taking it as the Valley Master genuinely worrying about his safety. He said with moved expression:

“Thank you, Valley Master. I understand.”

Zhao Xuan nodded gently, watching Li Ye’an leave with a humble expression as he quietly closed the door.

News from the Eighteen Immortal Sects?

Zhao Xuan pondered slightly. Over the past few decades, unless necessary, he had tried to avoid contacting Evil Spirit Sect members, and wouldn’t accept even their news unless it was extremely important. After all, no matter how vigilant one was, doing something created a chance of discovery—only by not doing it could one avoid flaws.

Recently, his main sources of information all relied on the newly rebuilt force of Eight Directions Valley itself.

A newly born force’s ability to gather intelligence naturally couldn’t compare with the unscrupulous Evil Spirit Sect. Many news were lagging, and even their accuracy wasn’t necessarily reliable.

However, a secret realm of a Tribulation Transcendence blood qi cultivator…

Most blood qi cultivators were hindered by the chaotic blood qi refined and absorbed in the early stages, making it extremely difficult to refine their blood qi to the ultimate level in later stages, and their natural aptitude for cultivating blood qi wasn’t particularly good.

Especially when trying to advance realms or replenish their own vitality—they wouldn’t know how many lives it would take.

A secret technique that had been leaked?

Intending to refine a kingdom?

Zhao Xuan silently began to understand. This returned Black Crow Direct Token might be related to this matter. The rumored blood qi cultivator of profound cultivation—the so-called gathering was probably false, while inviting him, this already famous blood qi cultivator, to try the secret technique together was the truth.

That was why they had gone through the trouble of obtaining two Black Crow Direct Tokens.

Greedy evil cultivators seeking wealth weren’t his targets. Only peers similarly constrained by realm limitations would give everything for their own prospects.

The once-severed immortal path… was it now connected again?

Zhao Xuan didn’t feel much joy in his heart, but rather indescribable depression and worry.

The truth of the news was uncertain, and it was even harder to judge whether this was really the Eighteen Immortal Sects targeting him, this long-disappeared Black Crow Bishop.

After all, regarding so-called Heavenly Demons, Zhao Xuan knew with his toes that his Evil Spirit Sect had a whole bunch.

Even the Heavenly Demons had directly sent him an invitation back then. Zhao Xuan didn’t accept, but didn’t exactly refuse either—he simply expressed his attitude: the Evil Spirit Sect belonged to everyone. If the Heavenly Demons wanted to replace him, they could do it themselves.

Zhao Xuan understood clearly at the time—in the eyes of the righteous path, both evil sects and Heavenly Demons deserved to die thoroughly. The worst that could happen was Heavenly Demons dying first and them later. Grand principles about the Great Dao and living beings shouldn’t be told to evil cultivators.

So Zhao Xuan didn’t refuse the demon race’s mass joining of the Evil Spirit Sect, and they indeed controlled about half of the sect’s actual power.

Thinking about it now, there was also some worry and lingering fear.

Tacit consent was consent.

Those self-proclaimed righteous cultivators wouldn’t debate whether it should or shouldn’t be.

What if the Eighteen Immortal Sects were using this news to try and capture him?

Zhao Xuan sighed softly.

But… which cultivator would give up the chance to see the path ahead?

Zhao Xuan took out the strangely shaped Black Crow Direct Token again, gazing at it calmly with silent eyes, and began silently reflecting on everything he had experienced along the way.

Soon, he suddenly realized that after becoming the Valley Master of Eight Directions Valley, he had become terrifyingly cautious—just like those righteous cultivators, always looking ahead and behind, giving up gains whenever there was risk.

He had lost the reckless ambition he had as an evil cultivator.

Indeed, comfort bred decadence. ℴ𝒗ⅇ𝑙.

Zhao Xuan took a deep breath. Rather than truly expecting Li Ye’an to protect him in the future, he still believed more in his own ability to break through realms and become a Mahayana or even Tribulation Transcendence blood qi cultivator.

As long as the so-called secret technique was effective, he could always replicate it again with the Evil Spirit Sect’s layout.

Zhao Xuan raised his head slightly, making a decision in his heart.

First return to the Evil Spirit Sect, let professionals investigate the news, then send people to verify whether the secret realm matter was true or false, and whether it was fake news released by the Eighteen Immortal Sects.

As for the blood qi evil cultivator who appeared, send someone to make contact first. Regardless, establish a connection—what if they could get the so-called secret technique?

Zhao Xuan always understood one principle—being cautious in any matter was never too much.

This was also why he had survived until now—just running fast wasn’t enough. ℯℓ.

In short, staying clear-headed was especially important.

————————

Chu Xingchen propped his face with one hand, his gaze sweeping over jade token after jade token before him.

Things were different now. Before, he could always slack off during free time, but now even his free time was filled with many matters to handle.

However, Chu Xingchen mostly prioritized matters related to himself.

Yun Li had replied—Yunze had agreed to share the True Dragon blessings after all. Yun Li, who seemed immature, actually had some methods.

Yunmeng Pavilion had been notified, but they had expressed some dissatisfaction.

After all, in Yunmeng Pavilion’s eyes, the True Dragon blessings didn’t belong to Yunmeng Marsh but to them. Chu Xingchen’s disciple going to absorb the blessings was seen as snatching things from their territory.

Chu Xingchen had promised some corresponding compensation to Yunmeng Pavilion, which they found acceptable. After all, if they could have handled the True Dragon blessings themselves, they would have done so long ago.

Without True Dragon bloodline, the blessings truly had no response at all.

They were treasures that couldn’t be consumed but were too precious to discard.

Chen Baiqing had also sent news, saying she had found time to reconcile with Eldest Senior Sister and had prepared a gift for Master, which he could see when he returned to Tianyan Sect. She was now back stationed in the Eastern Divine Continent with Lin Luoyu.

Li Yingling wrote about Qian Qing, telling him to rest assured she would take good care of her, and explaining that Qian Qing now had an excellent relationship with San Dong. Her expression wasn’t as bitter as before. One had to say that San Dong’s pure heart, when treated sincerely, would always unconsciously purify others.

Bai Xuanling saw the unconscious smile on Chu Xingchen’s face and asked with curiosity:

“What good news makes you smile like San Dong?”

Chu Xingchen said with righteous indignation:

“What do you mean? Is my smile really that innocent?”

Bai Xuanling raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing:

“You, a sect master, actually smile more foolishly than San Dong.”

“I’m going to report you! You’re slandering me!”

“Ridiculous. Who stands before this court, daring to accuse this True Immortal?”