Chapter 1616: Some Favors

Naturally, Li Yan did not truly care about the contents of the storage ring. However, had the gift been given to Mu Guyue in private, it would have been one thing; for Chongyangzi to present it so openly in his presence, unaware of the history, was another matter entirely.

Seeing Mu Guyue accept the storage ring, Chongyangzi immediately changed the subject.

“Since you have come, this matter is settled. Every person has their own immortal path to tread; whether it leads to fortune or calamity in the end is a matter of destiny. In truth, I began making arrangements for this a month ago. I was originally worried about how to send you across, as you are not part of the standard rotation. Fortunately, I learned that a group from our sect is being dispatched soon, and you may accompany them. That is why I sent word for you to come as quickly as possible.”

Chongyangzi spoke of the upcoming journey. By helping Li Yan this time, he was going out of his way to expend a favor. In the world of cultivation, favors were precious things, and generally, people preferred not to owe others.

Li Yan and Mu Guyue understood this well. This was a continuation of their previous dealings, and Li Yan certainly did not intend to seek Chongyangzi’s help repeatedly in the future. If he did, the karmic bond between them would soon be exhausted.

“Once we arrive, to whom should we report?” Li Yan asked.

“I have already entrusted this matter to Elder Zhou. You need only follow his arrangements for everything that follows. He is also part of this rotation, leading several of the sect’s Spirit Transformation cultivators to the front. Additionally, Alliance Leader Ding of the Seven Tiger Alliance will be leading two Spirit Transformation experts from his sect as well. He is merely fulfilling his own duties. You just need to be aware of his presence; Alliance Leader Ding will not lift a finger to help you.”

“Elder Zhou and Alliance Leader Ding are also going?” Li Yan’s heart stirred. He had not expected such a high-level escort.

The Blood Lamp Sect was notably absent from this dispatch. He did not know how Pure Yang Hall managed its subordinate sects, but he chose not to pry into such matters. Afterward, Li Yan inquired further about the defense and duty requirements at the border. Chongyangzi answered as much as he could, but for certain questions, he merely smiled without speaking—clearly, those were secrets that could not be shared.

For the next three days, Li Yan and Mu Guyue remained in Chongyangzi’s cave residence. They knew that the tranquility they enjoyed would soon be a distant memory in the days to come.

Early on the morning of their departure, they arrived at the main hall to find Chongyangzi already seated. This reinforced Li Yan’s impression that Chongyangzi was a man of extreme self-discipline, holding himself to a rigorous standard of conduct and precision.

Within the time it took to finish half a cup of tea, the three of them appeared within the teleportation hall of Pure Yang Hall. Upon entering the hall, Chongyangzi said nothing, walking straight toward one of the massive teleportation arrays. Li Yan and Mu Guyue followed closely behind.

A dozen figures were already standing beside the array. Li Yan noticed two individuals standing to one side in a low conversation, while the others stood in silence or whispered amongst themselves. Sensing someone approaching, the two leaders turned their gazes toward them.

They were the sinisterly handsome Elder Zhou and the burly man from the Seven Tiger Alliance whom Li Yan had met once before.

“Greetings, fellow Daoists,” Chongyangzi said, offering a cultivator’s salute. Elder Zhou and Alliance Leader Ding returned the gesture with smiles.

Seeing this, Li Yan and Mu Guyue stepped forward and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Seniors!”

Elder Zhou merely waved a hand before speaking to Chongyangzi. “Since you have brought them, we shall depart at once.”

“Then I shall trouble you two, fellow Daoists,” Chongyangzi replied.

Alliance Leader Ding scanned Li Yan and Mu Guyue with an interested gaze. Chongyangzi had not asked him for any favors; he had only learned from Elder Zhou that two more Spirit Transformation cultivators from the Broken Army Sect were being added to this trip. From their previous clash with the Mingyan Sect, he remembered these two well, considering them to be exceptionally skilled. However, he could not fathom why they were leaving now, just as the Broken Army Sect was entering its prime development phase.

‘Perhaps they simply wish to seek out their own tempering,’ Alliance Leader Ding thought, keeping his questions to himself.

The arrival of the pair also drew the attention of the other dozen cultivators. Among them were several who had witnessed the Broken Army Sect’s promotion assessment at the Blood Lamp Sect. Seeing Li Yan and Mu Guyue, these acquaintances looked curious, unable to understand why the Broken Army Sect was participating this time.

Following Elder Zhou’s command, no one delayed further as they stepped onto the teleportation array. Chongyangzi merely nodded to Li Yan and Mu Guyue and departed without another word. He had come personally only because Li Yan and Mu Guyue could not wander through Pure Yang Hall as they pleased, and the teleportation hall was an area under strict guard.

As the pair withdrew their gazes, they followed the others onto the array. They knew this path led directly to the Moji Dao Sect. Once everyone was aboard, Elder Zhou spoke in a cold, level tone to the disciples guarding the array.

“Activate it.”

The familiar kaleidoscopic lights flickered before their eyes, but this time, the transit lasted significantly longer. After about the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the teleportation ended. As Li Yan stepped out of the array, he felt a wave of dizziness, and Mu Guyue’s face was equally pale.

The other Spirit Transformation cultivators were in similar states, some even swaying in a semi-delirious daze. Li Yan and Mu Guyue shared a silent understanding; they were both deliberately exaggerating their symptoms. Although they were uncomfortable, they were far from as pathetic as they appeared. They simply did not wish to stand out. The high and cold Mu Guyue of the past would have found such acting beneath her, but after spending so much time with Li Yan, her repertoire of little schemes had grown considerably.

After leaving the array, they did not proceed to another teleportation point immediately, nor were they permitted to leave the Moji Dao Sect. Elder Zhou and Alliance Leader Ding led the group into a side hall. Li Yan remembered Chongyangzi saying they would be teleported again once they reached the Moji Dao Sect, so he and Mu Guyue were confused as to why they were being gathered here.

However, they noticed that the cultivators from Pure Yang Hall and the Seven Tiger Alliance—despite their lingering discomfort—now wore looks of excitement. Seeing this, the pair felt even more bewildered. Once the group was assembled, Elder Zhou finally spoke.

“The place you are about to go is fraught with peril. Many of you may step onto the great path of reincarnation, or even have your souls and spirits scattered. But you fight for your sects, and this is a rare opportunity for tempering. Therefore, each of you must persist and stay alive, for your sects and for our faction. Beyond the risk of death, you will also have access to heavenly materials and treasures that cannot be found elsewhere. The path of immortality is one of survival of the fittest; the lethal dangers there will force out your latent potential. I say this to you on behalf of the sect.”

“But for now, we shall rest briefly before being teleported to Ghost-Severing City. Deacons from the Moji Dao Sect are waiting outside this hall. If you need to replenish your medicinal pills, purchase artifacts, or buy forging materials, you may follow them to the Deacon’s Hall. You will be given a significant discount today and priority in purchasing whatever you need. You have one and a half hours. The deacons will lead you there and back.”

“Those who have no needs must remain here. You are not allowed to go anywhere else; if you are captured by the sect’s guarding disciples, you will inevitably suffer for it.”

Elder Zhou finished speaking and scanned the dozen or so people. Not a single person was unwilling. These were pills and materials from a first-rate sect; they were far superior to what could be found in most marketplaces, not to mention the discount. From Elder Zhou’s words, they could infer that resources at Ghost-Severing City would be expensive, which was why they were being allowed to restock here.

Li Yan and Mu Guyue finally understood the reason for this stop.

‘So there are benefits like this?’ Li Yan sent a telepathic message to Mu Guyue.

‘Items provided by a first-rate sect are always worth seeing,’ Mu Guyue replied calmly.

The pair knew this was a “small favor” from the Moji Dao Sect to ensure that those risking their lives for them would be more motivated. What did a cultivator spend their life for? Aside from fighting for the sect like Shangguan Tianque, most did it for resources. Only with the best resources could one’s immortal path be broadened and extended.

As the cultivators followed the Moji Dao Sect deacons away, Elder Zhou and Alliance Leader Ding followed another deacon toward the exit. The requirements of Void Refining cultivators were naturally far beyond what Spirit Transformation experts sought.

In the air, Alliance Leader Ding sent a telepathic message to Elder Zhou. “Do these two from the Broken Army Sect have a private friendship with Fellow Daoist Chongyangzi?”

Elder Zhou’s sinister face broke into a strange smile. “I am not sure if that female cultivator, Mu Guyue, knows him. But that Li Yan… he was a participant in the battle for the Grand Void Fruit presided over by Chongyangzi! Hehehe…”

Alliance Leader Ding was startled, then realization hit him instantly. “Oh? He is one of the three Nascent Soul cultivators who survived?”

There was a strange note in his voice. He knew exactly which battle Elder Zhou was referring to. Although Chongyangzi had presided over many such contests, only that particular one had nearly cost him his life. By now, the details of that battle were no longer classified. While Pure Yang Hall kept some secrets, these two were Void Refining experts; their status granted them access to deeper truths.

However, Alliance Leader Ding had been traveling at the time, leaving his disciples to handle sect matters. By the time he returned, the event was long past. He had been furious with the Tianshan Orchard and Fuling Villa and had secretly sought trouble with them, though he hadn’t gained much ground.