Chapter 754 534 Long Sky Peak

Li Xizhi arrived at the Affairs Hall first, returned the Jade Token, and the responsible cultivator nodded very politely, saying respectfully:

"I have seen the Taoist... The Taoist truly cultivates with remarkable speed."

Li Xizhi slightly nodded, then the man said:

"However, the merit gained this time must be deducted first…"

Before Li Xizhi could ask, he hurriedly said:

"The sect sent people over to investigate that the Taoist has been away from the peak for nearly half a year, and it was discovered that the Taoist went to the Burning Mountain to collect Cai Xia on his own private affairs, and then it was reported to the main peak."

"This matter was reported by Taoist Chi Liangzhe of Hongda Peak... It went all the way up to the Sect Master, saying that it was necessary to punish the Taoist for his offenses..."

Li Xizhi, who already understood that someone would seize this issue to make trouble, was not surprised and asked:

"Alright, but is it to Yuanxing Peak?"

The man shook his head repeatedly, saying softly:

"The reason this matter has not spread is because it was suppressed by the Sect Master. He left a message with me, asking the Taoist to visit the main hall to see him upon your return."

Li Xizhi nodded and did not say much, flying to the main hall of Green Pond on Rosy Clouds; white Qi churned on the jade bricks, and a person stood inside the hall. Li Xizhi waited in front of the grand hall decorated with carved dragons and painted phoenixes for a while before he was finally allowed in.

He walked slowly to the center of the hall, first tidied up his sleeves, and then bowed deeply saying:

"Xizhi pays respect to the Sect Master!"

The person above had already got to his feet and quickly descended, with both hands helping him up, saying warmly:

"There's no need for excessive courtesy."

Li Xizhi stood up naturally and as their eyes met, he saw a face with well-shaped eyebrows and eyes, and a short beard. The eyes were filled with amiability; Li Xizhi respectfully said:

"Xizhi stands guilty and dares not speak too much!"

Chi Zhiyun took the opportunity to scrutinize him, seeing a pair of handsome eyes slightly narrowed, eyebrows lightly raised, and with a dignified demeanor. Chi Zhiyun thought to himself:

'Just as rumored, not a character to be easily provoked.'

He just laughed and said:

"I have long heard of Xizhi's reputation and have been looking forward to meeting you! But Xizhi has always been busy outside, and we've missed each other several times, until today."

Li Xizhi gave a polite bow, and Chi Zhiyun gestured to dismiss his words, pausing before saying:

"The matter with the Burning Mountain was assigned by Zifu; it was not a private errand... Some villains want to use this to slander you…"

He lifted his head and laughed, answering:

"If it were them, at the summon of Zifu, they would hate not to offer their entire family and even their lives, where would they get the face to accuse you? Of course, I would never believe that!"

Li Xizhi expressed his gratitude, bowing slightly, while Chi Zhiyun, holding his arm, came over quite eagerly and said in a deep voice:

"I understand you've heard a lot of rumors, saying that my Chi Family intends to harm you... the harm... this is indeed my fault."

"My family still remembers the past grudges, harboring resentment, feeling that Chi Jing had lost my face! What kind of reasoning is that? They are ungrateful. Some time ago, taking advantage of my retreat, they deliberately sent you away... to take the Qing Sui position from you."

Chi Zhiyun showed a very embarrassed and regretful look, the regret evident on his face, but his eyes were quietly observing Li Xizhi's expression, sighing and saying:

"A twist of fate that you didn't go to those barbarians... instead, it harmed the Han Family brothers!"

Li Xizhi asked with confusion:

"Barbarians? What has happened? I only heard that the Han Family was there... Oh... they were searching for traces of my master for Green Pond."

Chi Zhiyun sighed and said:

"Both the Han Family head and servant are dead! They happened to run into the hands of the Dragon Kind while investigating there! You were not there at the time... If you were, showing Green Pond identity, naturally you could have saved those two people unharmed... It's such a pity!"

"Those fools intended to distract you to take the Qing Sui position, but they ended up harming the Han Family members!"

Li Xizhi appeared to be very astonished and shocked, applauding him in his heart:

"What a skillful deflection of the subject! What a clever ploy of saving both people unscathed. If I hadn't really been there... I would have been taken in by his bluff!"

On the surface, he only showed a saddened expression, speaking in a low voice:

"Indeed, it was I who caused them harm..."

Chi Zhiyun patted his shoulder, whispering:

"This matter is ultimately my oversight. I came looking for you to make amends, to see justice served, to return the position of Peak Master to you!"

"I dare not!"

How could Li Xizhi agree? With coldness in his heart, if he were to take back the position just like that, he and the Yuan Family would no longer be going their separate ways; it would mean incurring a great enmity! The Yuan Family in the future would not just be looking to clear boundaries with the Li Family but would genuinely hate him with a bitterness warranting real confrontation. Being caught between two enemies was not a desirable situation. His face showed guilt, as he choked up and said:

"Xizhi has also realized that setting aside those grudges, the thing Master valued the most was the clan. With the Yuan Family in such a difficult situation, if she were to choose... she would also let my junior brother take it... I have been busy in the East Sea for so long without being able to save my master, not even a hint of news about him... I have no face to assume the Peak Master title!"

Chi Zhiyun kept shaking his head, sorrowfully saying:

"Xizhi... With so many helpless things in the world, one must see them clearly... The incident with Chi Jing back then also had another hidden story... I was powerless to help!"

Li Xizhi's face showed an apt look of inquiry, and Chi Zhiyun immediately changed the subject, saying in a serious tone:

"Since you are unwilling to be the Qing Sui Peak Master, one of the Thirty-Six Peaks is still vacant; since Zhang Lingshu of Long Sky Peak has died in the East Sea, breaking the Taoist Lineage, I will entrust it to you!"

No sooner had Chi Zhiyun finished speaking than Li Xizhi did not immediately express his thanks but instead made an appearance as if he was truly moved and said:

"I wonder which lineage it is…"

"Ho, she was originally a Loose Cultivator, and Zhang Lingshu was an only child."

Li Xizhi nodded repeatedly, emotionally saying:

"Sect Master! Thank you, Sect Master…"

Chi Zhiyun was smiling as he stroked his beard, when Li Xizhi's attention was interrupted by someone approaching from below, a person dressed quite splendidly coming forward and saying respectfully: