The Yan Family Ancestor and the scholar waited for a while before the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect and Yan Ruyan entered the meeting hall.
“Since our Yan Family has already agreed to submit to your esteemed sect, does the young master have any further instructions?” This time, the Yan Family Ancestor spoke much more gently than before, clearly mindful that the Yan Family would soon become part of the Ghost Spirit Sect.
“Why must the senior be so formal? Since Miss Ruyan and I have mutually placed life-and-death curses on each other, it can be considered an engagement! From now on, senior may simply address me as Wang Chan—there’s no need to call me young master!” Wang Chan performed a light bow, exuding an air of elegance.
“How could that be? Until the day you and Yan’er are formally married, how could I be so disrespectful as to address you so informally, especially since the Yan Family is about to become part of the Ghost Spirit Sect?” The Yan Family Ancestor expressionlessly stroked the short beard on his chin and shook his head in refusal.
Hearing this, the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect realized that the other party’s wariness toward him had not yet fully dissipated. He smiled without pressing further and changed the subject: “Actually, the reason I asked Miss Ruyan to bring me to meet with you again, senior, is to inquire about how you plan to fulfill the agreement. After all, in five days, our six sects will officially launch an attack on the State of Yue. If the Yan Family does not evacuate this place in time, I’m afraid there might be some trouble.”
“Please rest assured, young master. Although our Yan Family may appear to have many members, in reality, we will abandon those distant relatives and ordinary people without magical power. It’s simply unrealistic to relocate all clan members at once—this is something the Yan Family understands very clearly!” This time, the scholar spoke up first.
“If the Yan Family can make such a decisive move, then I, your junior, am relieved. After all, if too many members of the Yan Family act together, it would be impossible to avoid the notice of the seven sects. If word were to leak, it would be disastrous! You must be the famous Mr. Xuan Ye, known for leaving no detail overlooked—I’ve long heard of your reputation!” The young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect glanced at the scholar from behind his mask and let out a light laugh.
Although the scholar was inwardly startled that the other party recognized his name and nickname at a glance, he maintained a calm expression and smiled in response.
“Junior sought you out not only for this matter but also to find out how the Yan Family plans to deal with the over two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators currently in the fortress. Many of them are key disciples of the seven sects! And since the Yan Family must relocate within two days, it would be highly inappropriate if these cultivators were to witness it!” The young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect spoke impassively, but his words caused the expressions of the Yan Family Ancestor and the scholar to change.
“What does the young master mean…?” the Yan Family Ancestor asked grimly.
“How about this: cultivating the Blood Spirit Art requires the souls of cultivators for a blood sacrifice to begin properly. Why not use our Ghost Spirit Sect’s Yin Fire Array to refine the bodies of these cultivators in the fortress, leaving only their souls for Miss Ruyan to use in her Foundation Establishment? With the concentrated souls of so many Foundation Establishment cultivators, Miss will surely be able to easily master the first layer of the Blood Spirit Art.” The young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect casually proposed a vicious plan, sending a chill down the spines of the scholar and the Yan Family Ancestor.
“No! The disciples of the seven sects are one thing, but the cultivators from other countries are here because we invited them to select a cultivation partner for Yan’er. Our Yan Family absolutely cannot commit such an act that would provoke public outrage!” The scholar, alarmed, quickly spoke up, fearing the Yan Family Ancestor might actually agree to the suggestion.
“Xuan Ye, don’t worry! I’m not so senile as to agree to that!” The Yan Family Ancestor said sternly, waving his hand at the scholar.
Then, turning to the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, he said coldly, “What a fine idea the young master has proposed! If we were to do such a thing, I’m afraid there would be no place under heaven for the Yan Family to hide. The Yan Family will not take initiative to attack the invited cultivators in the fortress. However, I can have the disciples of the seven sects gathered in one place. As for how to deal with them and whether you can capture so many people, that will depend entirely on your sect’s capabilities.”
Hearing this, the scholar breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly voiced his agreement.
The young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, however, showed a flicker of displeasure in his eyes and said slowly with some dissatisfaction, “These cultivators’ souls are to be used for Miss Ruyan’s blood sacrifice—the benefit is for your Yan Family. Yet the Yan Family is unwilling to lift a finger—isn’t that rather unreasonable?”
The Yan Family Ancestor was slightly taken aback by this but, being cunning, quickly replied without changing his expression, “But Yan’er will soon marry the young master and become your wife. Since she will be yours, isn’t it only natural for you to contribute? Of course, once our Yan Family officially submits to the Ghost Spirit Sect, we will no longer show mercy to members of the seven sects. But this time, these disciples were, after all, invited by us. If the Yan Family takes action, it would surely leave a terrible reputation among cultivators from other countries. Of course, simply letting them go would also be inappropriate, so it’s best for the young master’s people to handle it. That way, our Yan Family cultivators can explain themselves. Moreover, I assume that with the two Core Formation cultivators by your side, capturing several dozen Foundation Establishment disciples shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
The young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect looked deeply at the Yan Family Ancestor before lowering his head in thought. After a long while, he looked up and glanced at Yan Ruyan, who had remained silent the entire time, saying lightly, “Since the senior puts it that way, our Ghost Spirit Sect will play the villain this time. Consider these cultivators’ souls as my betrothal gift to Miss Ruyan.”
“Haha! Then I, on behalf of Yan’er, will accept the young master’s betrothal gift in the future. Yan’er, quickly thank the young master—his betrothal gift is no small matter!” The Yan Family Ancestor, relieved that the Yan Family wouldn’t have to take action against the fortress cultivators, showed a faint smile.
“Thank you for your kindness, young master. Ruyan will remember it in her heart!” The stunning young woman gracefully stepped forward, gave a light bow, and spoke with a fragrant tone. The shy yet enchanting expression on her face caused the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect to flash an unusual look in his eyes.
“If Miss Ruyan can cultivate the Blood Spirit Art sooner, it will be beneficial for me as well. There’s no need to be so polite.”
“Please inform me, senior, once you have decided on a location to gather the seven sects’ disciples, and then wait for good news. For now, I will take my leave.” The young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect spoke with elegant courtesy, bowed to the Yan Family Ancestor, and then departed.
The Yan Family Ancestor and the scholar in the hall exchanged a meaningful glance.
…
Han Li was currently feeling a headache, and a very severe one at that.
And it all stemmed from the three acquaintances and one stranger now standing in a tense confrontation before him.
The acquaintances were Yan Yu, Senior Brother Feng, and Dong Xuan’er, who was half-lying in the arms of the stranger. The stranger was an exceptionally beautiful man.
“Beautiful!” The moment Han Li clearly saw the man’s face, this word immediately came to mind.
The man was so strikingly pretty and androgynous that he undoubtedly possessed an overwhelmingly powerful appeal to both men and women. If not for his male attire, one might easily mistake him for a great beauty without feeling the least bit surprised. But what was even more astonishing was that despite his extraordinary appearance, his every movement felt entirely natural, harmonious, and appropriate.
Under normal circumstances, Yan Yu and Senior Brother Feng probably wouldn’t have held any ill feelings toward such a man. But now, they were both glaring at the purple-robed male cultivator with fire in their eyes.
Not only was Dong Xuan’er half-embraced by him, but more importantly, she was gazing痴迷ly at the stranger’s exquisitely handsome face with a look of intoxicated infatuation.
Han Li glanced around, his brow furrowed tightly, while inwardly cursing vehemently. He had merely taken a shortcut back to the inn after the gathering—how could he have expected to run into such a scene of rivalry and jealousy in such a remote alley?
Now, there was no way he could avoid it!
After all, Elder Hong Fu had specifically instructed him before leaving to keep Dong Xuan’er in check. If he hadn’t witnessed it, he could have feigned ignorance of her reckless behavior. But now that he had encountered it face to face, turning a blind eye would be utterly unreasonable!
Moreover, these two who had completely fallen under Dong Xuan’er’s spell were initially stunned to see him but then rushed over delightedly, urgently asking him to separate Dong Xuan’er from the male cultivator.
From their perspective, Han Li posed a negligible threat compared to the exceptionally beautiful man. It seemed they saw Han Li as their last lifeline.
While listening to the two vinegar-soaked men vent their grievances, Han Li carefully observed the beautiful man and Dong Xuan’er’s infatuated expression.
According to the two, they had accompanied Dong Xuan’er to several famous shops that afternoon to buy some materials and talismans when they happened to encounter this man in one of the stores.
The moment Dong Xuan’er saw him, she immediately became like a love-struck fool, actively clinging to him and even escalating her advances to an extent that infuriated the two onlookers. What nearly made them spit blood was that the man, seeing Dong Xuan’er clinging to him, unhesitatingly accepted her attention and even attempted to take her away.
Naturally, the two couldn’t accept this and cornered the man in this alley, demanding that he leave Dong Xuan’er behind.
But the man merely sneered and said that as long as Dong Xuan’er was willing, he wouldn’t stop her in the slightest. This statement left the two pitiful souls stranded, for by all appearances, Dong Xuan’er was the one actively throwing herself at the man.
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