Chapter 476: Yan Xiaoru's Stroke of Genius
"Brother, the Dao Discussant Conference turned out to be quite interesting towards the end, huh..."
The morning sunlight cascaded upon the high platform of the Hehuan Sect, with people from the Dao Discussant Conference gradually dispersing.
As Li Muyang, who had been eliminated from the start, felt no attachment after the conference concluded, he immediately left with his sister.
The Dao Discussant Conference had lasted two days and three nights, consuming a substantial amount of time.
But, as his sister had said, it got more exciting towards the end.
Even someone like Li Muyang, an outsider to the proceedings, had his interest piqued, and he began to partake.
For the fifth question, the Hehuan Sect presented the offspring of the demon beast Qiongqi, inviting the crowd to take turns attempting to tame it.
Although everyone declared failure with disheveled looks, unable to tame the Qiongqi offspring, they could only enviously watch as the legendary demon beast cub was locked in a cage and wheeled away by the Hehuan Sect.
But just witnessing the appearance of the Qiongqi offspring was shocking enough for everyone.
Following the Qiongqi offspring, the sixth question posed by the Hehuan Sect was even more significant.
Liu Lian'er presented a painting scroll passed down from the Ancient Era, named "Taixu Illusion Realm."
This scroll was enshrouded in mist, with immortal palaces floating in the air; immortals flying through the sky, and spiritual beasts spiraling— a genuine immortal scene.
The painting held a marvelous power that could absorb a person into the scroll, transforming one into an ordinary seeker of the Dao to cultivate in the human world, to experience the tumult of mortal life, joys, and sorrows.
The longer one persevered inside the painting, the greater the refinement of one's temperament.
It was not only a test of the cultivator's will and comprehension, but enduring this virtual human life also greatly benefited the cultivator's essence.
This was a grand opportunity that no cultivator could refuse.
All the discussants on site had eager looks, entering the painting in succession to face the trial.
Li Muyang himself joined in, entering the painting to cultivate as a seeker of the Dao.
Whether it was due to the advantage of a powerful spirit in the Spirit Travel Realm or not, Li Muyang spent the longest time within the painting. The seeker he became visited immortal mountains, confronted the harshness of life, and almost reached the threshold of becoming an Immortal.
When Li Muyang emerged from the painting and returned to reality, the conference hall fell silent, everyone staring in astonishment at this young disciple of the Refinement Demon Sect, their expressions strange.
— Although Li Muyang had not passed the ultimate trial of the "Taixu Fairyland," his performance was undoubtedly the strongest present.
However, due to well-known reasons, Li Muyang had been eliminated early.
Thus, when the Young Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect saw that everyone had challenged the "Taixu Fairyland," she said nothing but smiled, thanked everyone for coming, and had maids distribute the gifts she had prepared.
Apart from the signature spiritual medicine of the Hehuan Sect, the Staying Youthful Pill, there were also a few small gifts prepared by Liu Lian'er.
The Dao Discussant Conference then concluded, and people began to leave one by one, not knowing who, in the end, had gained Liu Lian'er's approval.
Many young cultivators who were acquainted with each other left in groups, walking shoulder to shoulder.
Li Muyang, on the other hand, left quickly with his sister Yu Chan, not interacting with anyone else.
After all, no one at the venue dared to approach him.
Now that the Refinement Demon Sect was already out of the running, and with Li Muyang having fallen out with Liu Lian'er's best girlfriend, these people were avoiding him. Why would they even think of coming close?
Seeing everyone avoiding him like the plague, Yu Chan sneered softly and said,
"Brother, these people are like a bunch of dogs... getting spun around in circles by a few bones thrown by that Young Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect."
The young girl was dissatisfied with their hostility toward her brother and couldn't help but mock them in a low voice.
Li Muyang glared at her and smacked her on the head.
"Can you not drag yourself into it when you insult people?"
"If they're being played like dogs for running in circles, then aren't we even more like dogs for coming so far for a Staying Youthful Pill?"
Playing around with his sister, the two left the venue.
Shen Yan, the elaborately dressed young mistress of the Blood Lotus Sect, stood by Liu Lian'er's side, smiling and responding to the young cultivators crowding around her to make conversation.
As for her enemy, Li Muyang, leaving the venue, she didn't seem to have much of a reaction.
Given the circumstances, Li Muyang quickly slipped away.
After returning to their residence with his sister, Li Muyang immediately went to see Yan Xiaoru and relayed the events of the martial arts conference in detail.
However, Yan Xiaoru had actually been secretly protecting them during the conference.
Therefore, she was well aware of the situation in the venue.
Li Muyang had only said a few words when Yan Xiaoru interrupted him.
"...From the current situation, it seems that Shen Yan's hostility towards you isn't very strong,"
Yan Xiaoru said, "While you were at the conference, I went to visit two elders at the Hehuan Sect who are somewhat close to the Demon Sect."
"With their guidance, it's clear the Blood Lotus Sect indeed has some connections with the Hehuan Sect, but that's a private relationship related to the Sect Master, not involving the other elders of the sect. The elders of the Hehuan Sect don't support the Blood Lotus Sect."
"Since we're currently within the Hehuan Sect, we don't need to worry about danger."
"The rule of the Hehuan Sect has always been to remain neutral."
"They won't risk becoming an enemy of their own sect to take revenge for the Blood Lotus Sect."
Yan Xiaoru brought good news, which calmed Li Muyang's heart.
As long as the Hehuan Sect continued to remain neutral, then the threat posed by Shen Yan's arrival wasn't so great.
Even within the sect of Hehuan Sect, Shen Yan, as a guest, would also have to abide by their rules and couldn't seek personal revenge or engage in private fights on their grounds.
But what Yan Xiaoru said next made Li Muyang's heart suddenly tighten.
"Now that the martial arts conference has ended, I've spent the last two days considering the situation and feel that Shen Yan's intentions are somewhat peculiar."
"As the holy maiden of the Blood Lotus Sect, she has a deep-seated grudge against you and me, but previously in the Fairy Watching Valley, she didn't try to annihilate us completely and instead let us leave easily."
"Now that she's come to the Hehuan Sect, she made an open appearance to see you and didn't hide and ambush... I think, she might not harbor very intense hatred."
"So, I'm thinking of seeking an audience with her and taking you with me,"
Yan Xiaoru looked at Li Muyang, "How quickly can you summon that demonic beast mantis of yours if a fight breaks out?"
Yan Xiaoru's question gave Li Muyang a jolt.
"...You want to go see Shen Yan?"
Fuck!
This doesn't feel like a good idea at all.
Now that Shen Yan has awakened the power of the evil vein and even controls the projection of the Auspicious Celestial Monarch,
her combat strength is something neither the Jade Dagger Mantis nor Yan Xiaoru can match.
Not to mention the battle in Fairy Watching Valley where Yan Xiaoru faced the enemy alone and even used the forbidden secret techniques from the "Nether Treasure Manual," her spirit has been severely damaged, and her strength has significantly declined.
In this situation, not avoiding Shen Yan but actively seeking her out...
Li Muyang felt this was purely courting death.
But Yan Xiaoru shook her head and said, "Meeting her does pose risks, but not meeting her poses even greater risks."
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"She seems to be particularly focused on you. With her current strength, if she wishes to harm you, it would be very difficult for me to protect you all the time."