Chapter 625 - 37: Purging the Sect (Part 2)

This time he received a distress call from afar in the Celestial Origin Province, and thus returned to assist.

In recent years, he has come to understand Ning Yutan’s advice from years ago, planning to withdraw from the Bright Hall. However, entering was easy, but leaving proved difficult; he was accused of unstable beliefs and framed, leading to this situation.

He followed all the way until Ning Yutan and the others were already thousands of miles away from the Yellow Wind Dao Field, only then did Ning Sujin proactively perform divination on their fortune and found no ominous signs, and finally felt at ease.

Ultimately, after watching Ning Yutan and the rest travel far to the Celestial Origin Province, Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin concluded this matter and once again set off to negotiate Xiao Changfeng’s affairs at the Blood Spirit Sect.

"Sujin, Yutan’s life span is already limited, this time may very well be the last farewell, not going to see her one last time?" Feeling Ning Sujin’s continuous reluctance and turning back, Li Ji’an gently suggested.

Ning Sujin smiled slightly, shaking her head: "Twenty years ago when she left, it was indeed a farewell. This time she didn’t ask me for aid, implying her resolution; her life span is already limited, let her follow her own wishes to complete this final journey."

Feeling the growing resolve amidst Ning Sujin’s reluctance, Li Ji’an nodded quietly.

She would finally confront her first farewell in the quest for Dao.

Then, the two continued eastward.

Half a month later, halfway to the Dongli Sect, Li Ji’an suddenly stopped flying in the sky, enveloping a small Cultivation Marketplace below with his Divine Sense.

Half a month ago, upon seeing Elder Tian for the first time at the Bright Hall’s underground plaza, he felt a surge of emotions, the Thousand Mechanisms Blood Attraction secretly marked him.

Afterwards, realizing he had escaped with other mid-stage Core Formation leaders and exceeded sensing distance.

Unexpectedly, he sensed it again in this place.

After the Thousand Mechanisms Blood Attraction accurately located him, he had Ning Sujin search with her Primordial Spirit, confirming that only he was hiding as a mid-stage Core Formation True Man.

Without hesitation, Li Ji’an descended into the marketplace.

As for Elder Tian, he was well-informed about his cultivation technique, various life-saving trump cards, including the spiritual talents he took from the Sect Treasure Vault, Xiao Changfeng had the list.

Crucially, now he was capturing sect traitors as Biyun Sect’s Supreme Elder, reasonable and justified.

With Li Ji’an’s arrival at the marketplace, Gugu also burrowed underground.

Before long, guided by the Thousand Mechanisms Blood Attraction’s location, Gugu quietly approached Elder Tian’s secluded chamber.

In the chamber, Elder Tian was meditating to recuperate, his aura somewhat unstable.

Across from him were two Fake Pill Elders from Biyun Sect.

They looked at Elder Tian with complex emotions in their eyes.

When the incident occurred half a month ago, Elder Tian fled immediately, disregarding them.

Moreover, Elder Tian took a Blood Burning Pill that Li Ji’an had refined in his previous life for the sect to outperform other True Pill level leaders.

The result was a significant loss of magical power, requiring urgent recuperation.

"Elder Tian, can we still return to Yellow Wind Ridge?" After a moment, former Biyun Sect Fake Pill Elder Zhou Xing asked somewhat apprehensively.

Elder Tian frowned upon hearing the words.

Since the Corpse Puppet Sect breached the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, he worried about being persecuted, so he plundered the Sect Treasure Vault and fled.

Originally, he planned to escape to the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain with spiritual talents, yet the border Spirit Starved Land was full of demon cultivators hunting them down.

He, a dignified mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, was repeatedly harassed, almost attracting a late-stage Core Formation demon cultivator, and was forced to retreat back within the domain.

It was then that Red Sun True Man found him, and he has since been hiding at Yellow Wind Ridge.

Though Yellow Wind Ridge lacked Tier Three Spirit Veins, with the offerings from numerous followers combined with multiple Gathering Spirit Arrays, it barely sufficed for his daily cultivation.

As the demon sect’s purge of past sect cultivators waned, he did have hope of returning to the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

Regrettably, by then he was already blinded by Red Sun True Man’s plan, deciding to stay ultimately.

Furthermore, during the border raids, he was severely injured, consuming considerable spiritual talents. Over the decades, the talents have dwindled; going to the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain now would inevitably bind him with contracts.

Having been prominent in Biyun Sect for over two hundred years, how could he endure the servile life under others?

And now, with Yellow Wind Ridge breached by demon dao, he had nowhere to stand.

"Return to die?" Elder Tian snorted coldly.

And added: "Hmph, Red Sun old man is ambitious yet untalented, not worth scheming with. Now that the base is breached by demon dao, it indicates that demon dao has noticed him; he is doomed, remember we have nothing to do with him."

"Yes!" The two Fake Pill True Men quickly replied.

"Then... what should we do now?" Both followed Elder Tian’s lead.

"Return!"

After a moment’s contemplation, Elder Tian said through gritted teeth.

"Return? Return where?" Zhou Xing asked, confused.

"Naturally, return to our Biyun Sect!" Elder Tian decisively said.

Compared to hiding in exile, he was willing to return to Biyun Sect, and resume being the high and mighty Supreme Elder.

"What about the emptying of the vault years ago..." Another Fake Pill True Man asked sheepishly.

"Hmph, emptying the vault? We just accumulated reserves for the sect." Elder Tian glared at him discontentedly.

"But now we have no spiritual talents left, how can we return?"

"I myself am the reserves!"

"This..."

"Right, right, Elder Tian’s mid-stage Core Formation cultivation can definitely guard the sect."

Excitement rose in Zhou Xing’s eyes, returning to Biyun Sect would be like a fish in water, now demon dao ceased its purge and ignored Cangyun State, perhaps Biyun Sect could unify the entire Cangyun State again, even becoming more prosperous than before.

"But now the sect is under Li Ping’an’s rule; what will his attitude be?"

Hearing this, a trace of disdain crossed Elder Tian’s face: "Li Ping’an? Hmph, cowardly escapee, unclear whether Elder Yun Qing gave him the sect’s greatest reserves to allow his True Pill formation; what right does he have to judge us?"

"No wonder years ago the Sect Treasure Vault had few spiritual talents left, probably taken by Li Ping’an; otherwise, how could he form a True Pill?"

"Indeed, we watched Li Ping’an grow up; we are still his elders."

"Moreover, his rise to Chief True Inheritor was thanks to Elder Tian’s grace, he must remember this sentiment."

Initially, Elder Tian agreed with the conversation, but upon hearing about the Chief True Inheritor selection, his expression changed.

Years ago, due to Li Ji’an’s closeness with Xiao Changfeng, he deliberately obstructed him, yet it backfired; not only did it fail to prevent his ascension as Chief True Inheritor, but it also allowed him to shine among many disciples, cementing his status and identity as Chief True Inheritor.

Although Elder Tian didn’t openly despise him back then, such matters established a karmic tie.

"Hmph! Anyway, a mere junior True Pill, insignificant early Core Formation, what qualifies him to judge any mid-stage Core Formation elder like me." Elder Tian inwardly scoffed with disdain before regaining his majesty.

"Then there’s no time to lose, Elder Tian, the spiritual qi here is thin and probably insufficient for your recovery; should we return to the sect to recuperate sooner?" Zhou Xing impatiently suggested.

Elder Tian considered but then slightly shook his head: "No rush, wait until I recover at my peak."

"It’s wise, Elder Tian, indeed prudent; otherwise, if Li Ping’an turns hostile, it could stir up trouble."

...

Listening to the trio’s conspiracy, Li Ji’an slightly halted his gaze.

For his personal pursuits, having someone guard Biyun Sect would allow him to free himself.

After all, he aspired beyond this; upon reaching mid-stage Core Formation, a more advanced Spirit Vein Dao Field and superior cultivation environment and resources were needed, necessitating a journey to the Central Ten Domains.

However, for Biyun Sect, should these three return to the sect, it might bring catastrophic disaster!

Furthermore, Elder Tian’s karmic tie with him should end today.

At that thought, he hesitated no more, deploying a Compass Array from his hand, instantly encircling the area.

Now, as Biyun Sect’s Supreme Elder clearing the sect, certain means were inappropriate to expose, coupled with the crowded marketplace, he could only conceal slightly.

"Who?" In the basement, Elder Tian reacted instantly, opening his eyes and roaring.

"Biyun Sect Supreme clearing the sect; idle people, stay away!" Following was a stern and dignified voice resonating.