Chapter 1417: Li Yan Emerges from Seclusion
“Seniors, may I ask what brings you here?” one of the four, a Mid-stage Golden Core middle-aged cultivator, stepped forward and asked with a respectful but not servile attitude after seeing the visitors reveal themselves and look over.
Now that the sect had a Spirit Transformation cultivator in residence, their confidence had grown. It was just that Shangguan Tianque was extremely strict in his governance and did not allow the sect’s disciples to cause trouble outside.
Violators would be severely punished, even directly expelled from the sect.
The current Broken Army Sect, even with its expanded territory, was still a small sect, still just a fourth-rate sect.
According to Shangguan Tianque and Ren Yanyu’s thinking, no matter when, the Broken Army Sect should not make too many enemies, especially since a Spirit Transformation cultivator had just appeared. They could not be complacent.
“Fellow Daoists, please inform Elder Li Yan that Donglin Tingyue of the Donglin Family and Jia Fugui of the Abacus Sect have come to visit!”
The one who answered the Golden Core cultivator was the tall woman. Her voice was extremely pleasant to the ear.
When the four of them heard this, their bodies all trembled.
The Donglin Family and the Abacus Sect, these were both great sects under the Blood Lantern Sect, on the same level as the Broken Army Sect. And the other party was here to find Elder Li.
“Seniors, please wait a moment!” …
In the main hall of the “Broken Army Sect,” a handsome young man sat in the center, looking at the two seated people with a modest smile on his face.
The big black dog was lying on its stomach to one side of Donglin Tingyue, not having transformed into a human form.
The handsome young man, after receiving the report from the disciples below, was surprised by Donglin Tingyue’s arrival, but not overly so.
After all, they had a good relationship with the Donglin Family, and Elder Li had once been to their family.
And he also knew that the black dog was actually a fourth-rank “Dark Blaze Demondog.” After shrinking its size, it was even more like a mongrel dog.
But the Abacus Sect was quite far from his own sect. He had also heard of this Jia Fugui, but he had never met him. For a moment, he didn’t know why these two people and one demon had come together.
However, he quickly thought of a rumor. It seemed that in the “Great Nothingness Fruit” scramble more than ten years ago, several Nascent Soul cultivators had returned alive in the end.
At the beginning, everyone only knew the situation within their own sect and could not determine who had returned alive from other sects. But after a little longer, some things gradually spread.
“Could this Jia Fugui have also participated in the ‘Great Nothingness Fruit’ scramble that time, and survived? Is that how he met Elder Li?”
The handsome young man thought to himself, but he had already said, “Fellow Daoists, your timing is quite unfortunate. Elder Li has been in seclusion for a long time. I haven’t seen him for more than ten years, and there has been no news from him. He may be at a critical point in his cultivation, so it is not convenient to disturb him with a voice transmission.”
When the two people and one dog heard this, Donglin Tingyue and Jia Fugui looked at each other. A look of disappointment first appeared in Donglin Tingyue’s eyes.
She had come to find Li Yan, of course, for an urgent matter. She hadn’t expected Li Yan to be in long-term seclusion. If this matter lacked Li Yan, her confidence would be much lower.
And after arriving here, the other party was not even willing to pass on a message and had directly refused. Then her matter would be a bit troublesome.
But they had not just come to the door recklessly. Fortunately, there were other reasons. Maybe Li Yan would still be willing to see the two of them. So she gestured to Jia Fugui, and Jia Fugui looked up at the handsome young man and said with a smile, “Sect Master Yu, we once promised Fellow Daoist Li something, to help him inquire about some news. And he said at that time that once there was any news, it would be best to inform him as soon as possible, so…”
Jia Fugui stopped there.
The handsome young man in the upper seat was precisely Yu Banjiang. Now he was the Sect Master of the Broken Army Sect, and Shangguan Tianque had become the Great Elder, and he no longer had to personally handle the various affairs in the sect.
Unless something important happened, he would show up. Generally, he would not leave the back mountain.
Once Ren Yanyu succeeded in her Spirit Transformation, they might let go of more sect affairs. The two of them would either travel the world together or continue to cultivate diligently.
Although they also wanted to reach the Void Refining Realm, and even the Body Integration realm, that was something that was still far off in the future. But they could finally relax for a while before “hitting the road” again.
When Yu Banjiang heard this, his brow furrowed, and at the same time, a thought came to his mind.
“It seems this Jia Fugui must have also participated in the ‘Great Nothingness Fruit’ scramble, which is how he came into contact with Elder Li…”
He thought this in his heart, but he continued to say, “Elder Li entrusted the two of you to inquire about news, but before he went into seclusion, he never mentioned this matter to anyone else. This…”
The meaning in his words was already very clear. He couldn’t just make up a reason to get Li Yan to come out and see them.
Now that he was the Sect Master, his master and martial uncle had already told him anything he needed to be reminded of. It was obvious that Elder Li had not said anything of the sort.
However, Yu Banjiang was fifty percent convinced of the other party’s words in his heart, so his attitude was still modest.
Li Yan rarely went out, and even more rarely went on long journeys. He knew that he was acquainted with Donglin Tingyue, but this Jia Fugui had come all the way here. It shouldn’t be just to see Li Yan.
But whether the matter was as important as the other party said, was not certain.
“Sect Master Yu, how can such a thing be said casually? I can guarantee it on behalf of the Donglin Family. Fellow Daoist Li did say that once there was any news about this matter, he must be notified!”
Donglin Tingyue, upon hearing this, immediately spoke up.
“Oh?”
A solemn expression appeared on Yu Banjiang’s face. …
“Buzz… buzz… buzz…”
Continuous vibrations came from a token placed on the ground. And as the token vibrated, a layer of dust on it rose up, as if it had been sealed for a long time.
Li Yan, who had been motionless with his long hair reaching his waist, finally slowly woke up. His body first moved slightly, and then his tightly closed eyes also slowly opened.
His eyes first showed a look of indifference and dullness, as if he was still immersed in some kind of enlightenment. But soon, they became clear.
Then, his attention was attracted by the continuous “buzzing” sound, and his gaze fell on the token on the ground in front of him, which was constantly flashing with a red light.
He gently raised his hand, and the token was already in his palm. As he raised his arm, some dust also slid down from his black robe.
In these years of seclusion, in the early stage, he was still in a waking state every day because of cultivating the Qiongqi Purgatory Art and various cultivation arts.
Moreover, he would go to the “Earthen Patch” from time to time to beat up the green-robed old man, making the other party go crazy and start to tremble in fear every time he saw him…
But later, after Li Yan took out the “Fuxi Plate” to study, he slowly became immersed in it again, until at a certain moment, he fell into a long period of enlightenment.
He sat there, unaware of the passage of time. It seemed like a long time had passed, but it also seemed like just a fleeting moment.
Li Yan was extremely dissatisfied with his enlightenment being interrupted. Now, his enlightenment of the power of yin and yang and the five elements was no longer as fast as at the beginning, so every moment could be a new breakthrough for him.
This was a long process. After so many years, Li Yan had gained a lot of enlightenment on the relationship between the power of yin and yang and the five elements, but he had not been able to verify them one by one.
Looking at the token in his hand, Li Yan’s face was gloomy. His Divine Sense sank into it, and after a moment, his body trembled slightly, and a sharp light burst out from his eyes.
“The two of them have come, do they have news? They came together, could it be that they both have news, but… this is a bit incredible! And the Donglin Family’s fourth-rank ‘Dark Blaze Demondog’ has also come. What does this mean?”
The message was sent by Yu Banjiang, and it also explained the purpose of the two people and one demon’s visit. They said that it was at his request to reply with some news.
As for the purpose of the two’s visit that Yu Banjiang had mentioned, Li Yan was very clear about which matter it was. But he was very strange in his heart. How did Jia Fugui and Donglin Tingyue meet again?
Half an hour later, in the main hall of Li Yan’s Cave Residence, Li Yan, in a black robe, had returned to his steel-needle-like short hair. After tidying up, he looked very energetic.
Looking at Yu Banjiang bringing two people and one dog over, he stood up to greet them with a smile on his face.
“Fellow Daoists, your visit truly illuminates my humble abode, hahaha…”
Donglin Tingyue carefully scanned Li Yan’s face and found that his aura, compared to before, although he looked more energetic, was still the same as her own, at the Mid-stage Nascent Soul, his realm unchanged.
‘Hmph, this guy must have practiced some kind of concealment art. He’s too good at pretending. Even a Spirit Transformation cultivator was tricked by him and died a complete death!’
When she returned to her family back then, although she had been strictly ordered by Pure Yang Hall not to spread the word, she was different from Li Yan. In the end, she still revealed some more information to the Supreme Great Elder and the Second Elder, who were her close relatives.
Of course, Donglin Tingyue trusted these two the most. Later, after the three of them analyzed it, they finally came to a unanimous conclusion that Li Yan was not just a powerful Body Cultivator, but most likely had concealed his cultivation.
In that situation, even if it was a sneak attack, it was a close-range clash with a Spirit Transformation cultivator.
To be able to make a Spirit Transformation cultivator unable to control his body in the span of a breath, he was at least a Late-stage Nascent Soul Body Cultivator. Perhaps only in this way could the explanation be somewhat reasonable.
This was a cultivator at the Late-stage Nascent Soul realm, and he should have a strength that was infinitely close to that of an Initial-stage Spirit Transformation.
So this cultivator named Li Yan, his true combat power was definitely quite terrifying. The Sect Master, Shangguan Tianque, might not even be his opponent.
So, at that time, Donglin Tingyue carefully recalled the process of Li Yan’s attack, and then she also agreed with this speculation.
In the end, after learning Li Yan’s true realm, she couldn’t help but scoff inwardly. This Li Yan was too insidious. Even a Spirit Transformation cultivator had fallen for his trick.
She had been sincere to him, but even in that life-and-death crisis, the other party did not reveal a single bit of his true strength to her, so that she could at least have a little more confidence and not be terrified to the point of despair.
At the same time, she suddenly thought of his wrist, and the fiery temperature of his grip. The pretty face under the mask began to burn…
Because the Donglin Family could only be considered to be barely surviving in the Immortal Spirit Realm, a fourth-rate sect could still be destroyed at any time.
Donglin Tingyue had sworn since she was a child that she would definitely become a true expert in this realm and bring her family to at least the level of a second-rate sect.
That was her ultimate dream, and it was also the only driving force for her to cultivate diligently.
Therefore, all feelings between men and women were suppressed by her. Even if there were young talents in the family who showed interest in her, she had always ignored them and would directly refuse, cutting off everyone’s thoughts.
Moreover, she had long thought in her heart that even if she were to find a Dao Companion in the future, it would at least be someone she had personally chosen. Not only would his cultivation and character have to be satisfactory to her, but she would also have to have a good impression of the other party.
It would not be the product of a marriage alliance between certain forces. Her immortal path could only be controlled by herself.
That one time in the “Great Nothingness Fruit” scramble, not only did Li Yan discover the danger in advance and pull her away, allowing her to escape the first wave of slaughter, but later, when she was in despair, Li Yan appeared as if out of nowhere. First, he killed the old woman surnamed He, and then he quelled the slaughter on the first floor.
This had brought her heart from despair to hope bit by bit. Until the end, Li Yan had miraculously returned alive from the second floor, completely taking her through a journey from death to life.
All of this had left an indelible mark in Donglin Tingyue’s heart. The figure she had seen in her despair could no longer be erased from her heart.
Every time she thought of Li Yan, Donglin Tingyue had an inexplicable feeling in her heart, which made her both terrified and confused.
But she had been trying to convince herself that it was all just because the other party had saved her, which was why the memory was so deep.
But she had been keeping in mind the matter that Li Yan had entrusted to Jia Fugui. Not only did she inquire everywhere herself, but she also asked her clan members and others to help inquire.
Before coming today, along the way, her heart was in a mess. It was a feeling of both anticipation and apprehension.
Before, when she heard that Li Yan was in seclusion and would not see guests, her heart had actually relaxed, but then a sense of inexplicable loss arose. It was a sudden change in emotion that only she knew.
At this moment, when she really saw Li Yan, all emotions disappeared.
“We didn’t know that Fellow Daoist Li was in seclusion. Coming so rashly, we have really disturbed your quiet cultivation!”
Seeing that Donglin Tingyue had only glanced at Li Yan and then seemed to be lost in thought, not speaking, Jia Fugui had no choice but to speak up immediately.
The black dog also glanced at Li Yan and then spoke in human language, “Greetings, Fellow Daoist Li!”
This was the first time he had spoken after meeting Li Yan several times. It was the voice of a middle-aged man.
“Greetings, fellow Daoists. It is a bit simple here. Please have a seat. I have been in seclusion for a long time, and I may have some things to talk to Fellow Daoist Yu about first. I am truly sorry.”
Li Yan hurriedly greeted the few people and asked them to sit down.
He also saw Yu Banjiang, who was standing behind them with a smile on his face. He knew that the other party must have something to talk to him about in private.
“Hahaha, that’s natural. The outside world has changed a lot now. Fellow Daoist Li can go ahead first. We can talk about our matter later!”
Jia Fugui chuckled. They also knew from Yu Banjiang that Li Yan had been in seclusion for more than ten years.
In that case, didn’t it mean that the other party had been out of touch with worldly affairs since he returned from the “Great Nothingness Fruit” scramble? He must be ignorant of many things.
Donglin Tingyue, on the other hand, had a smile in her eyes and nodded.
Immediately, Li Yan led Yu Banjiang to a side hall. About half a cup of tea’s time later, the two of them walked out again.
Yu Banjiang cupped his fists towards the two people and one demon in the main hall and then floated away.
Li Yan, on the other hand, had a flickering look in his eyes, as if he was still thinking about the various pieces of news he had received. But he had already walked slowly towards the main seat.
He had not expected that while he was in seclusion, Shangguan Tianque had broken through and advanced to Spirit Transformation.
This master and disciple pair had a fate with him, but also no fate. He had not seen either of them advance even once. It was always when he chose to go into seclusion that they would make a breakthrough.
Especially Shangguan Tianque’s advancement. In fact, if he had observed it, it would have been very helpful to him. But Ren Yanyu didn’t know what stage Li Yan’s seclusion had reached, so naturally, she couldn’t disturb him.
And now the sect had also changed. Yu Banjiang had already taken over the position of Sect Master.
The matter of the rebellion of Heavenly Mountain Garden and Spirit Subduing Manor had also passed. In these years, Pure Yang Hall and Heart-Refining Valley had also experienced seven years of open and secret struggles.
Not only had Nascent Soul and Spirit Transformation cultivators died, but there had also been casualties among the Void Refining cultivators on both sides. In the end, even the first-rate sects to which these two sects belonged had intervened.
Heavenly Mountain Garden and Spirit Subduing Manor had only lost their outer disciples. In the end, under the protection of Heart-Refining Valley, they had re-established new sects over there.
Now, the chaotic battle led by Pure Yang Hall and Heart-Refining Valley, under the intervention of the first-rate sects, had gradually subsided four years ago. This matter was considered to be left unresolved, and neither side had gained much advantage.
Overall, Pure Yang Hall had still suffered some losses due to the loss of two third-rate sects.
After hearing this from Yu Banjiang, Li Yan also thought about it. In the end, this result was within reason.
That time, under the secret plot of Heart-Refining Valley, two of their Spirit Transformation cultivators had died. On the Heart-Refining Valley side, he had also secretly killed two Spirit Transformation cultivators and captured one.
If they could really crush each other, why would there be such a plot? They would just take the other party down directly.
Later, when the two sides fought openly, the result was that their strengths were comparable. How could either side have it easy?
Then, Yu Banjiang confirmed with Li Yan again whether the purpose of the two people and one demon’s visit was true.
After getting Li Yan’s affirmative answer, although he was also strange about why Li Yan would ask outsiders for help, Yu Banjiang would not be so stupid as to ask Li Yan the reason.
Another purpose of his personal visit was that he was afraid that Li Yan did not know the current situation outside and in the sect. Of course, he had to tell the other party in advance.
So that when Donglin Tingyue and the others mentioned some things, Li Yan would not be completely at a loss. Especially the matter of his master having successfully transformed into a spirit, he definitely had to tell Li Yan.
However, after Yu Banjiang left, he would immediately go and report to Shangguan Tianque that Elder Li had come out of seclusion.
This Elder Li had not shown his face for a long time, and his master would often mention him. Even though he had already successfully transformed into a spirit, every time he spoke of this Elder Li, his words were still very respectful of Li Yan.