Chapter 773 - 125: Joining the Qinglan Sect (Part 2)

"Sect Leader Mo’s conditions are somewhat harsh. How about reconsidering them?" Li Ji’an probed once more.

"No need, Fellow Daoist Chang’an. If you were at Late-stage Golden Core, we could of course talk at length again, but as things stand, there is no such necessity." Fairy Chilian directly picked up the thread.

Li Ji’an’s brows knit slightly; he was just about to争取 further.

Suddenly, a peculiar Sensing came from the Little Fire Spirit in his Dantian.

"Hm?"

"Since that is the case, Li will take his leave first. We shall meet again another day." With that said, as if deeply slighted, Li Ji’an turned into a streak of Divine Rainbow and shot straight up toward the Nine Heavens.

"Sigh, what a pity. This man’s bone age is no more than two hundred, yet he has already reached Mid-stage Golden Core, his Magical Power condensed and refined. If he could join our sect, he would be a most handy blade." Mo Zhai watched Li Ji’an’s departure and let out a faint sigh.

Fairy Chilian only gave a light laugh: "Senior Brother, say what you will, he is still only at Mid-stage Core Formation, his combat strength limited.

And precisely because his bone age is too small, that makes him all the less valuable.

Or do you truly intend for us to cultivate him into a True Monarch?

If his bone age were another hundred years or so older, he would surely have plenty of hidden cards, perhaps even some consummate skill; in that case, he would still be worth争取."

Mo Zhai nodded in agreement.

At this moment, another black-robed Elder who had remained silent all along finally spoke: "Since this man will not join our Heize Pool, he will certainly go to join the Qinglan Sect. If he cannot be used by us, better to take this opportunity to cut him down."

Mo Zhai nodded slightly: "Junior Brother has thought it through."

The black-clothed man let out a brief grunt at these words, then vanished without a trace, pursuing Li Ji’an.

"Heh~ is there even a need? Given the current situation of the Qinglan Sect, besides being able to promise a Tier Four Spirit Vein Dao Field, everything else is beyond them even if they wished to agree. As for focusing on Cultivation for fifty years... hmph, we will not allow them to hold out that long." Fairy Chilian showed no concern.

"Where is that man from earlier?" Suddenly, a hoarse voice abruptly rang out in the Sea of Consciousness of Mo Zhai and Chilian.

"We greet True Monarch Yanze!" The two hastily bowed in salute.

"What is the issue with that man? Junior Brother Youchu has already gone in pursuit."

After Mo Zhai replied, the oppressive might in the void did not disperse; it merely fell into a brief silence, as though pondering.

"Send a Communication Talisman to Youchu. That man may possess a Spirit Flame—after taking him, bring him to this Monarch." The hoarse voice sounded once again in the end.

Without waiting for Mo Zhai and the other to respond, the True Monarch’s oppressive might abruptly vanished without a trace.

"So that man actually carries a Spirit Flame on him. What a pity." Mo Zhai frowned slightly.

Fairy Chilian was also faintly disappointed; this merit would clearly end up being scooped up by that fellow Youchu.

Who knew whether that fellow had Sensed the Spirit Flame before giving chase.

"Buzz~" After a wave of spatial tremors, Li Ji’an’s figure appeared in a gorge a thousand li away.

However, before he could even adjust his breathing, he abruptly waved his hand, dispelling a Shielding Array before him, revealing the Teleportation Array hidden within.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stepped in.

The Teleportation Array instantly radiated dazzling spiritual light; as space shuddered, it swallowed his figure.

This was a retreat he had laid down in advance, precisely because he feared that once negotiations with Heize Pool fell apart, the other side might, in order to prevent him from joining the rival Qinglan Sect, choose to kill him.

Although the Nascent Soul True Monarchs of this One Realm would generally not make a move personally against a mere Mid-stage Golden Core junior like him, one could not be too careful.

At this moment, he inadvertently avoided a calamity of slaughter.

Just now, the Little Fire Spirit had Sensed a kindred aura, and the other party was even more powerful than it, very likely at Tier Four.

Without surprise, anyone possessing a Tier Four Spirit Flame must be one of the two True Monarchs within Heize Pool.

At the very instant Li Ji’an was swallowed by the Teleportation Array, a black shadow abruptly emerged.

It was none other than the Third Elder of Heize Pool, Ascendant Youchu.

"A Teleportation Array!" His cold gaze swept the surroundings, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.

A Mid-stage Golden Core True Man of less than two hundred years of bone age, yet with such a seasoned escape route.

He could track the aura left by a Teleportation Talisman, but a Teleportation Array was difficult to find.

For a moment, he was somewhat vexed.

However, thinking that the other party was merely a Mid-stage Core Formation Cultivator, and that those conditions might not necessarily be agreed to by the Qinglan Sect, he promptly dismissed it from his mind.

Yet just as he was about to return empty-handed, his Communication Talisman shuddered.

"Hm? True Monarch Yanze wants this man?" He couldn’t help but frown.

He could only report the situation back in full detail.

"Useless!" A moment later, a roar of rebuke came from the direction of Heize Pool, followed by a surge of True Monarch might departing from Heize Pool.

At the same time, after a wave of spatial tremors within the Qinglan Sect’s domain, Li Ji’an’s figure reappeared.

He immediately shot straight toward the Qinglan Sect.

Now that the Little Fire Spirit had Sensed the other party’s Spirit Flame, the other party had certainly also Sensed it.

In order to allow his own Spirit Flame to advance, he would never let this once-in-a-millennium opportunity slip by.

He would surely pursue relentlessly.

At present, the safest place for Li Ji’an was precisely within the sphere of influence of the Qinglan Sect.

Only the True Monarchs here could prevent the other side from openly hunting him down.

Otherwise, once he fled beyond the Qinglan Sect’s territory, there would be nowhere he could escape the other party’s pursuit.

"Hmph! Do you truly take this old man for nothing?" Just then, a furious rebuke resounded from high above the Nine Heavens.

Li Ji’an’s heart tightened; he clearly Sensed the oppressive might of a True Monarch.

And two of them at that!

Fortunately, after that furious rebuke, the other True Monarch’s aura chose not to clash head-on, and withdrew decisively.

Li Ji’an watched the direction in which the other retreated; it was precisely toward Heize Pool.

"That was close!"

"How did this little friend draw that traitor’s attention? For what purpose have you come to my Qinglan Sect?" Just as he was rejoicing, an aged voice of inquiry suddenly sounded at his ear.

"Junior offers greetings to Senior, and thanks Senior for taking action to save me." Li Ji’an immediately bowed in salute.

He then truthfully recounted his recent visit to Heize Pool, omitting only the matter of the Spirit Flame Sensing.

"Heh~ bandits are bandits still; their thieving hearts never change." The aged voice let out a cold laugh.

"Since that is so, little friend, why not come to my Qinglan Sect for a visit? Perhaps you share some karmic affinity with my Qinglan Sect."

"Many thanks, Senior."

The aged voice had already gone far away.

As Li Ji’an let out a long breath, he also felt a bout of helplessness.

Back in the eastern Cultivation Domain of the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm, whether in strength or in status, he had practically reached the upper tiers of the pyramid.

Aside from the Central Ten Domains, if not outright dominant, at least no one would dare offend him lightly.

Yet ever since he arrived in Dao Yi, he had been on the weaker side.

First he was hunted by that quasi-Demon King in the Abyssal Forbidden Ground, then pursued by the Cangyuan Holy Land; now, after finally arriving here with great effort, he found himself hunted once more by a True Monarch of Heize Pool.

"Do they truly take Li as someone easily bullied?" Letting out a murky breath inwardly, he nonetheless had no choice now but to head to the Qinglan Sect.

Only, now that his dealings with Heize Pool had been learned by that Qinglan Sect True Monarch just now, he had already lost his bargaining chip.

In theory, no matter what terms the other side put forth, he would have to agree.

After all, without the protection of the Qinglan Sect’s True Monarch, he might well never make it out of the Black Stone Mine.

With this in mind, he took out the Communication Talisman from a few days ago that belonged to True Man Qingyue.

When True Man Qingyue saw Li Ji’an again, he was delighted.

That day, after Li Ji’an heard about the situation between Heize Pool and the Qinglan Sect, he had not followed him to the Qinglan Sect.

Qingyue had felt regret.

He had also worried that Li Ji’an might join Heize Pool, and that they would inevitably meet again on the battlefield in the future.

Now, he could finally set his mind at ease.

What followed unfolded naturally.

Li Ji’an was brought by True Man Qingyue to the Qinglan Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Chang’an, Sect Leader Changgeng has been rather affected in mood of late by Heize Pool’s repeated provocations. If his words are somewhat brusque, please do not take offense.

Also, Sect Leader Changgeng has always loathed Heize Pool with a passion. Whether you have had dealings with them or not, it is best not to bring them up at all..." As they neared the mountain gate, True Man Qingyue earnestly reminded him.

Li Ji’an immediately waved his hand and said with righteous indignation, "How can Fellow Daoist Qingyue say such a thing? Since Li came to the Black Stone Mine a few days ago, I have already heard many an ill repute of Heize Pool.

Such a gathering place of petty bandit rabble, Li holds in complete contempt.

Let alone having dealings with them— even if they took the initiative to receive me, Li would absolutely never entertain the notion."

True Man Qingyue paused for a moment, faintly doubting his judgment from that day.

Could it be that True Man Chang’an had not been making excuses that day, but truly had not been ready?

"Fellow Daoist Chang’an’s righteousness, Qingyue admires!"

Li Ji’an inclined his head slightly, modestly replying, "Fellow Daoist flatters me; it hardly amounts to righteousness. I merely find the actions of that Heize Pool beneath contempt."

Before long, Sect Leader Changgeng of the Qinglan Sect arrived, and Li Ji’an once more began negotiations with him.

Though fully aware of his own circumstances, he still did his utmost to争取 resources.