She was lost in thought when two sinister streaks of Rainbow Light suddenly came from the east, twisting once before landing in front of the pair.
Standing on the left and right before them were two young cultivators. The one on the left had an ominous expression, with fiery Xuan Guang swirling and flickering ceaselessly around him.
The other, on the right, was garbed in the robes of a Zhengqing Institute Steward, his gaze wandering over Liu Yan Yi with evident interest.
Qiu Hanyue wrinkled her delicate nose and shouted at the young cultivator with flaming markings on the left, "Wan Zhang, why is it you again?"
Wan Zhang ignored her and merely fixed his gaze on Liu Yan Yi. His face twitched as he pointed to the cultivator beside him and said, "Liu Yan Yi, this time it isn’t me who seeks you out. The one looking for you is Brother Wen An from the Zhengqing Institute."
Liu Yan Yi’s gaze shifted to the man before her, and she calmly spoke, "Brother Wen, what matter requires the attention of your junior sister?"
Wen An chuckled lowly, extending his finger to indicate Wan Zhang, and said, "A few days ago, a disciple from the Wan Clan was found dead in the wilderness. Someone claims to have seen Junior Sister Liu arguing with him prior to that. The situation is difficult to resolve, so I must request Junior Sister Liu to accompany me to the Zhengqing Institute for investigation." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel⦿fire.net
Liu Yan Yi, gifted with Spiritual Wisdom, immediately discerned that this statement, vague and unsubstantiated, was clearly similar to the nuisances of the past—only this time it was cloaked in a more legitimate guise. Naturally, she couldn’t follow them, so she shook her head and replied, "I did not commit such an act, and Brother Wen’s claims are baseless. Forgive me, Brother Wen, but I cannot comply."
Wen An said flatly, "Whether you did or didn’t isn’t something resolved through mere words. If you follow me to the Zhengqing Institute and prove your innocence, justice will naturally be served."
Qiu Hanyue huffed indignantly and snapped, "I’ve been with Senior Sister Liu for the past few days, and we’ve seen no one from the Wan Clan. Clearly, you’re slandering a good person!"
Wen An was unperturbed by her anger and merely smiled. "What if you can’t escape involvement either? The crime of killing a fellow disciple is no small matter. Should you resist and suffer injury or death, don’t blame me for showing no mercy. Consider your options carefully."
This overt threat was a blatant attempt to intimidate. Qiu Hanyue seethed in anger, yet Liu Yan Yi remained as composed as ever, responding calmly, "Your accusations are merely one-sided, Brother Wen, and lack fairness. If you wish me to go to the Zhengqing Institute, I would ask for a sect elder’s intervention before agreeing to accompany you."
After remaining silent till this point, Wan Zhang suddenly laughed aloud, tilting his head to the sky. "Liu Yan Yi, don’t hold out for Dean Zhou to save you! You must be unaware—Dean Zhou was invited by True Master Meng to refine pills a few days ago. For the next two months, he’s far too occupied to concern himself with you!"
Liu Yan Yi’s heart sank slightly as realization struck her—this situation differed vastly from prior confrontations. It was evident that the matter had been meticulously premeditated. Her past encounter slaying a flood dragon might even have been connected to their scheming.
This was likely the gravest crisis she had faced since her Enlightenment. Despite this, she remained unshaken, swiftly devising a plan. "These two possess Cultivation levels far exceeding mine and my younger sister’s. Their confidence surely stems from additional preparations. Their target is me, yet if Hanyue can slip away at an opportune moment to seek Junior Master Qin Nan’s assistance, even if I am captured, their actions would be curbed by hesitation."
After mere moments of thought, she made her decision and whispered to Qiu Hanyue, "Their aim is me. Sister, wait for the chance to leave..."
Before she could finish, Qiu Hanyue interrupted hurriedly, "Sister, do you think me someone who fears death? I refuse to leave!"
Wan Zhang sneered coldly and said, "Leave? Where would you go? I’ll be frank—you won’t be leaving today, either of you!"
Liu Yan Yi sighed softly. Though her plan was sound, her junior sister’s stubbornness rendered it futile. Given this, there was no alternative but to cast caution aside and engage in a fierce fight.
Qiu Hanyue shouted angrily, "Wan Zhang, years ago, Junior Master Zhang slaughtered six of your islands within the Six Rivers. Why didn’t you seek revenge on him then? Instead, now you bully his disciples. You’re a vile coward! When Junior Master Zhang returns, he won’t spare you!"
Wan Zhang’s face twitched, his expression darkening as he spat, "Zhang Yan, hmph! I will settle my score with him sooner or later, but today, his disciples will pay first!"
Years ago, Wan Zhang’s arm had been severed by Zhang Yan, falling onto Spiritual Paper Island where it could not be recovered.
For cultivators, the body serves as the Dao Treasure Vessel and cannot sustain permanent damage. Though he later attached an arm borrowed from a direct relative who could not cultivate, Wan Zhang regarded his humiliating retreat back then—chased like a stray dog—as his greatest shame and harbored obsessive thoughts of revenge.
Having learned a technique that could siphon the Yuan Yin of female cultivators to bolster his own Cultivation, Wan Zhang had chosen Liu Yan Yi as his target. If he could take Zhang Yan’s disciple as his concubine, it would be the ultimate insult to Zhang Yan.
This plot had been thoroughly calculated prior to execution. Wan Zhang convinced himself that, even if Zhang Yan returned and demanded justice, he had prepared various contingencies.
Wan Zhang snorted coldly, refraining from further words. With a wave of his sleeve, sparkling Flowing Flames surged from his palm in a dazzling starry burst, which he viciously pressed downward. Like spectacular fireworks, the luminous Xuan Guang descended upon Liu Yan Yi’s head.
Liu Yan Yi’s calm expression remained unchanged. With a simple lift of her hand, a wisp of clear Xuan Guang rose to meet the attack.
Her Xuan Guang flowed unbroken, soft as water, rippling like a drifting lotus leaf. Though suppressed by the fiery star-like Xuan Guang, it never shattered.
The Cultivation Technique she practiced, "Three Elements Qingping Chapter," had been personally sought out for her by Zhou Chongju. It was an excellent Xuanmen spell.
Although the Zhou Clan’s techniques were considered Upper Grade, Zhou Chongju hadn’t passed them on due to their harsh limitations. Success depended heavily on clan resources and support, rendering deep mastery unattainable otherwise.
While the "Three Elements Qingping Chapter" wasn’t particularly groundbreaking, it excelled at laying a solid foundation, emphasizing steady progress. It also possessed remarkable tenacity, offering boundless potential for prolonged combat.
Wan Zhang watched Liu Yan Yi’s elegant, fluid movements, her grace soft and radiant, with increasingly fervent eyes. Yet despite exerting all his strength, he couldn’t break through the layer of gentle, rippling Xuan Guang.
As Wan Zhang attacked, Wen An also moved. With a single gesture, a streak of golden light shot forth, bending and twisting midair like a living creature. Qiu Hanyue cried out, dodging frantically from side to side, utterly unable to retrieve her Dharma Treasures, quickly falling at a disadvantage.
Wen An seemed merely toying with her, not rushing to strike decisively. He chuckled from the side, "Brother Wan, this Liu Yan Yi practices the Three Elements Mystical Light. She won’t be subdued quickly. Night breeds trouble—stop holding back. Go for a swift victory."
Wan Zhang grunted sharply, stepped back, and retrieved a three-legged small tripod from his sleeve. Holding it in his palm, he chanted a spell, and a beam of white light emerged, heading straight for Liu Yan Yi.
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit qidian.com to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)