Chapter 1674: Guests Arrive from All Directions (Part Two)

Half an hour later, the conversation concluded as Gong Chenying finished her recount and Li Yan ceased his questioning. A brief silence fell over the three people sitting opposite each other. Li Yan sat with his head down, lost in thought.

The two women exchanged a glance. Although they didn’t interrupt, the specific questions Li Yan had asked allowed them to piece together his suspicions.

At this moment, waves of shock were crashing through Li Yan’s heart.

‘So, it wasn’t just a few unfamiliar Nascent Soul cultivators coming to the Desolate Moon Continent to ask about Miscellaneous Spirit Root cultivators; Zi Kun and the other had already encountered many people while searching for me in the chaotic space. Furthermore, the news they gathered suggested that people are searching for Miscellaneous Spirit Root cultivators everywhere, not just on the Desolate Moon Continent.

Why would anyone suddenly develop such a deep interest in these “worthless” cultivators? To go as far as spending such a high price to issue missions and send people searching everywhere? No matter how I look at it, this seems to be targeting the Five Immortals Sect. Or rather, someone has discovered traces of the Five Immortals Sect in the mortal realm. More specifically… have they discovered my anomaly?’

As Li Yan’s thoughts raced, he connected the dots. The more he thought about it, the more he felt a chill running down his spine.

‘…The reason for this mysterious raid on the Malevolent Spirit Sect has been a puzzle… and the strength of the one who could quietly seal the sect suggests they likely came from the Immortal Spirit Realm…

The Immortal Spirit Realm… the Five Immortals Sect… those cultivators searching for Miscellaneous Spirit Roots…

Could it be that those mysterious cultivators were coming for me? Was the attack on the Malevolent Spirit Sect never intended for the sect itself, but for… me?’

As Li Yan linked these events, he was horrified to find that he might be the root of this catastrophe. What worried him even more was how he should handle the situation. Regardless of whether his suspicions were entirely correct, as long as there was a shred of truth to them, the Malevolent Spirit Sect would face endless trouble and potentially total destruction in the future.

Li Yan could take his family and ascend, but the Malevolent Spirit Sect would be left to take the fall for him. He was not an ungrateful person; on the contrary, he valued loyalty and affection.

Although the sect’s initial acceptance of him wasn’t entirely out of the goodness of their hearts—they even had thoughts of studying him—ever since he joined, the sect had treated him with the respect and status of a core True Disciple.

Li Yan didn’t believe he had the power to oppose the cultivators of the Immortal Spirit Realm who were hunting for the Five Immortals Sect. That would be like facing a tide of enemies alone.

‘But who was the mysterious person who helped at the end? Has Martial Uncle Qian Chong never left? Or did Senior Ping Tu leave someone behind? Or is it another cultivator from the Immortal Spirit Realm who wants the Five Immortals Sect’s secrets for themselves and thus attacked the other enemies?’

Li Yan desperately wanted to know the identity of the person who had struck from the shadows. But given what Zhao Min said about Martial Uncle Qian Chong, there were simply too many possibilities.

‘I can’t face those people alone. Is there a way to make the Malevolent Spirit Sect in the Immortal Spirit Realm believe that someone is trying to sever their inheritance?’

Li Yan’s thoughts spun, but he soon felt his ideas were a bit naive. Which of the old monsters in the Malevolent Spirit Sect was a fool? They would surely investigate the cause of this attack, and eventually, the trail would lead back to him.

In the end, Li Yan could only set his thoughts aside. He couldn’t come up with a solution in such a short time.

“By the way, Senior Sister, I have something to tell you about the two beasts…”

When Li Yan finished explaining the situation regarding Qianji and Zi Kun, Gong Chenying was likewise overcome with unexpected joy. Her heart had been heavy due to Qianji’s death. She had interacted with the two beasts more than Zhao Min had. During their time with the Tianli Clan, they had earned the respect of many clansmen, fighting alongside them against the wind beasts. They were considered a part of the Tianli Clan. Qianji’s sudden death had left Gong Chenying in a state of suppressed grief. Now that she had received this news, she could no longer contain her happiness.

She asked several more questions about Qianji’s condition before finally feeling the weight lift from her heart.

“By the way, Senior Sister, has Min’er told you that she might have a way to save Junior Sister Bai?”

Before Li Yan had left to check on Zi Kun, Gong Chenying and Zhao Min had been listening to his assessment of Bai Rou’s injuries. After they checked on her again, Zhao Min had sent a voice transmission to Gong Chenying, telling her she still had the True Essence Pill.

Gong Chenying had been delighted. She knew Zhao Min might still have one, but it was a personal treasure. Even though she thought of it, she hadn’t asked. Such a decision had to be made by the owner. Furthermore, she hadn’t been sure if Zhao Min had already used it. She couldn’t very well return and mention her own pill was gone and then ask if Zhao Min’s was still there—it would feel like she was pressuring her for it. When Zhao Min offered it herself, Gong Chenying found it only right.

“I am aware of this. I understand the pill’s utility as well; it should be the best method of treatment. Since Junior Sister Bai is unconscious, I will assist her in refining it,” Li Yan said with a smile.

Since Bai Rou was unconscious, she would be passive in consuming the pill. When Li Yan had ascended to the Immortal Spirit Realm, his Sea of Consciousness had also been severely injured. He knew exactly how to maximize the pill’s efficacy. If left to dissolve on its own, its potency might be wasted. Furthermore, since she was passive, there was no telling how long it would take for her to wake up.

Thus, Li Yan decided to personally assist her in refining the pill to ensure she woke as soon as possible, after which she could continue her own cultivation.

“What… what exactly is your cultivation level now?”

Zhao Min finally asked the question she had been hesitating over. Gong Chenying also fixed her eyes on him. None of these Nascent Soul cultivators were fools; they had all begun to suspect the truth. That battle had ended far too quickly.

“I have reached Spirit Transformation. For now, only you two, the Master, and the Eldest Senior Brother should know. This is what I agreed upon with the Chimera Emissary. There are other Spirit Transformation cultivators on the Desolate Moon Continent, and the identity of the invaders is still unknown. It is best for me to remain in the shadows.”

Li Yan offered no concealment. If Wei Chituo or Li Wuyi asked, he would tell them without hesitation. He trusted these people implicitly. This wasn’t to say he didn’t trust Li Yuyin or the others, but simply that remaining in the dark was the best strategy. He would only hide the truth until a loved one asked him directly.

Zhao Min and Gong Chenying exchanged a glance and stood up.

“Since you are to help Junior Sister Bai, you must be fully focused. You should rest first,” Gong Chenying said softly. She could see the fatigue in his eyes.

Assisting another’s recovery wasn’t as simple as pouring in magical power; it was a taxing endeavor. Even Gong Chenying was feeling weary. Li Yan was not at his peak; he needed to be in top form.

Ever since he stepped into the lower-realm passage, he had been fighting the Star-Fallen Beasts or navigating the dangers of the chaotic space. After that, he had rushed back without pause, fought a great battle, and then spent his time healing others. The process of helping Zi Kun had been particularly draining.

“I had the same thought. A moment of meditation should be enough to recover. It won’t delay Junior Sister Bai’s treatment.”

Watching the two women leave, Li Yan flicked his sleeve, and the doors shut once more.

Until now, he still hadn’t found the time to speak with his family about his longing for them. Zhao Min and Gong Chenying didn’t even know the details of his experiences over the years. Wei Chituo, Li Wuyi, and the others were all busy helping others recover and hadn’t come to talk yet. Li Yan hadn’t even had the chance to truly speak with his daughter, Li Zhaoyan. The situation was simply a mess.

Li Yan sighed. All of this would have to wait until after he saved Junior Sister Bai!

Time flowed quickly. As midnight approached, the meditating Li Yan suddenly felt his body tremble. A voice—unfamiliar, yet carrying a hint of familiarity—rang out in his mind.

“Eh? When did you brat get back? I’ve finally found you!”

Dong Fuyi was suspended in the air above the Malevolent Spirit Sect. He had spent a considerable amount of time hunting down the enemy rather than just driving them away. Upon his return, his Divine Sense immediately covered the entire sect, specifically focusing on Little Bamboo Peak where Li Yan’s wife and daughter resided.

‘I haven’t found Li Yan yet. You lot better not have any accidents,’ he thought. As his sense swept over them, his body suddenly jolted.

First, he realized the Spirit Transformation aura of the Malevolent Spirit Sect was absent. Dong Fuyi’s heart skipped a beat. If the sect’s master was gone, what did that mean?

But just as that thought arose, another hidden Spirit Transformation aura appeared within the sect. This aura felt incredibly familiar to Dong Fuyi—it was the aura of the True Scripture of Gui Water that he cultivated every single moment.

Dong Fuyi’s reaction was faster than his thought. His Divine Sense instantly locked onto the source: a bamboo courtyard on Little Bamboo Peak!

Outside a room there, a restriction had been placed. The restriction was formed using Kui Water magical power, something Dong Fuyi knew down to his marrow. He dispelled it in an instant, revealing a youth in green robes sitting inside.

The moment Dong Fuyi saw the man’s face, he was stunned. The magical power billowing around the man was unmistakably the True Scripture of Gui Water. And the face… it was the face he knew, but with the youthfulness stripped away. The man now had short hair, making his presence appear far more resolute and hardened.

“Li… Li Yan?”