381: It still has to be Dan Chenzi

Outside the main hall of Pill Cloud Peak, Li Cen watched the backs of Leng Yuekui and Dan Chenzi as they entered the hall one after the other.

Feeling the lingering, bone-chilling cold, he let out a long sigh, as if he had just unburdened himself of a thousand-pound weight.

He wiped away the non-existent cold sweat from his forehead and smiled bitterly to himself, "Junior Sister Leng's temper... is really becoming more and more like her Revered Master's... Fortunately, Senior Brother Dan is here..."

He shook his head and was just about to leave this "place of trouble" to report back to the Sect Head and plead guilty, when the hall doors "creaked" open once again.

Leng Yuekui and Dan Chenzi walked out side by side.

Although the frost on Leng Yuekui's face had not completely melted, the monstrous rage in her eyes had subsided, replaced by a cold, scrutinizing gaze.

Dan Chenzi, on the other hand, wore an inscrutable smile, stroking his beard while his gaze swept back and forth over Li Cen, making him feel uneasy.

"Ahem... Junior Sister Leng, Senior Brother Dan, Delong, he..." Li Cen forced himself to speak, wanting to ease the atmosphere.

"Hmph!"

Leng Yuekui let out a cold snort, interrupting him. Her voice remained cold, but the murderous intent from before was gone.

"Delong's life is not in danger, and his Foundation is undamaged. Consider yourself lucky."

Upon hearing this, the heavy stone in Li Cen's heart finally fell. He quickly said, "That's good, that's good! It is all thanks to Senior Brother Dan's miraculous healing skills, and also due to Delong's own profound Opportunity..."

"Stop the flattery!"

Dan Chenzi said with a smile, though his tone brooked no doubt.

"Junior Brother Li, Delong suffered a great disaster this time. Although he was protected by good fortune, he ultimately endured immense suffering. His Origin was eroded by demonic sources. Even with my Seal, refining it in the future will require countless mental effort and resources, and it may even delay his advancement in the Dao of Alchemy..."

Li Cen's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly thought, 'Oh no, here it comes, they are here to settle the score!'

He quickly stated his position:

"Senior Brother is absolutely right! Delong suffered this disaster while exerting effort for the Sect and protecting the region!

The Sect will certainly compensate him fully!

Whatever resources are needed, I, Heavenly Sword Peak... no, I, Li Cen, will personally support this with all my might!"

"Oh? Junior Brother Li is quite straightforward."

The smile on Dan Chenzi's face grew wider, like an old fox,

"As for resources, the Sect naturally will not mistreat a hero. However..."

He intentionally drew out his tone and exchanged a knowing look with Leng Yuekui beside him.

Leng Yuekui interjected at the right moment, her voice clear as a spring:

"Senior Brother Li, Delong encountered danger this time, and as his protector, you cannot evade responsibility.

A mere 'support with all my might' is far too vague."

Li Cen's scalp tingled, sensing that he was about to suffer a "major loss." He had no choice but to bite the bullet and say:

"Junior Sister, if you have any requests, just say them! As long as I, Li, can do it, I will not hesitate!"

Dan Chenzi cleared his throat and said slowly:

"Delong is a child with extraordinary talent and a tenacious Heart-Nature, and his future achievements will be limitless.

This disaster is a tempering for him, and a spur for us elders.

Junior Brother Li, your Heavenly Sword Peak has a deep Foundation, and the Haoyang Sword Art is unrivaled in offense...

Once Delong wakes up, his body recovers, and his cultivation is stabilized..."

He paused, looked at Li Cen's nervous expression, and smilingly tossed out the conditions:

"You must personally guide him in the Dao of the Sword for three months! You must not hold anything back!

You must teach him the first six transformations of your ultimate 'Nine Transformations of the Vast Sun'!

Furthermore, you must agree to one request of his—as long as it does not violate the Sect's moral code and does not exceed your capabilities, your Heavenly Sword Peak must fulfill it with all its might!"

"Ah? This..." Li Cen was stunned.

Personally guiding him in the Dao of the Sword and teaching the first six transformations of the Nine Transformations of the Vast Sun—while precious, it was reasonable, as the sword talent Delong had displayed was worth cultivating.

But agreeing to one request... that scope was too broad! Who knew what that kid would ask for?

Would he want his Haoyang Divine Sword? Or the Heavenly Sword Peak's foundational Sword Canon?

"What? Does Junior Brother Li find this difficult?"

Leng Yuekui narrowed her beautiful eyes, and the cold air that had just subsided seemed to show signs of rising again,

"Or do you think that Delong is not worth a promise from your Heavenly Sword Peak?"

"No, no, no! He is worth it! Absolutely worth it!"

Li Cen shivered and quickly waved his hands.

Looking at Leng Yuekui's unfriendly gaze and Dan Chenzi's "kind" smile, how could he dare to hesitate?

Compared to the threat of being "targeted" by these two and having his Medicinal Pill supply cut off, what was agreeing to one request?

At worst... he could bargain later!

"Fine! I, Li Cen, agree!"

Li Cen straightened his back with a solemn expression,

"Once Nephew Delong wakes up and his body is fully recovered, I will personally guide him in the Dao of the Sword and teach him the first six transformations of the 'Nine Transformations of the Vast Sun'!

Furthermore, as long as his request is reasonable and fair, my Heavenly Sword Peak will certainly fulfill it with all our might!"

"It is a deal!" Dan Chenzi clapped his hands and laughed.

"I hope Senior Brother will keep his word."

Leng Yuekui nodded slightly, acknowledging this "compensation plan."

Li Cen looked at the two of them. One stone in his heart had fallen, but another, larger stone was now hanging in its place—what kind of request would that kid, Delong, make?

He quickly cupped his hands: "Then... Junior Sister, Senior Brother, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave now to report back to the Sect Head!"

"Go, go." Dan Chenzi waved his hand, as if shooing away a fly.

Leng Yuekui just glanced at him indifferently and said nothing more.

As if granted amnesty, Li Cen's figure flickered, turning into a streak of sword light, and he left Pill Cloud Peak as if "fleeing in panic," his speed even faster than when he arrived.

Watching Li Cen disappear into the horizon, Dan Chenzi stroked his beard and smiled at Leng Yuekui:

"Junior Sister Leng, this time we have really squeezed a large sum out of his Senior Martial Uncle for that kid, Delong.

The first six transformations of the Nine Transformations of the Vast Sun, plus a promise from the Peak Master of Heavenly Sword Peak... tsk tsk."

A rare, faint arc curled at the corner of Leng Yuekui's mouth, and her cold eyes looked toward the depths of the Danxia Hall:

"This is what he deserves. I only hope that Delong... can wake up soon and live up to this Opportunity."

Meanwhile, in the distant Biqu City.

On the battlefield outside the city, corpses lay everywhere, and the stench of blood soared to the sky, but the atmosphere of surviving a disaster had already diluted the tragedy.

Countless Cultivators, under the command of the City Lord's mansion, were busily cleaning up the mountain-like piles of Yao Beast corpses, skinning, deboning, and extracting pills... these were all precious resources.

City Lord Han Tianzheng stood on the damaged city wall, overlooking the busy battlefield, commanding with composure.

His gaze swept over the ruins outside the city that had been affected by the battle between Delong and the Golden Scaled Demon Crocodile, which had almost turned into scorched earth, and a flash of complexity and gratitude crossed his eyes.

"Father," Han Ruyi walked to his side, her pretty face filled with lingering worry, and asked in a low voice:

"Do you think... Benefactor Yao... will he really be okay? That was a strike from the Void Refining Realm..."

Han Tianzheng withdrew his gaze, looked at his daughter's worried expression, and sighed inwardly.

He saw more clearly than his daughter that the destructive power contained in that palm strike was enough to instantly annihilate ten Mid Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators like him!

That Delong could survive such a hit was a miracle among miracles. But he could not say this.

He patted his daughter on the shoulder, his tone steady and confident:

"Don't worry, Yier. Benefactor Yao is a Dragon and Phoenix among men, a talent with heaven-sent aptitude!

Furthermore, he is being personally escorted back to the Sect by a Void Refining Great Expert from the Yin Yang Sect, and Senior Dan Chenzi, Dan Chenzi, is a titan of the Dao of Alchemy in the Eastern Region!

With these two Seniors taking action, they will surely keep him safe!

Perhaps this disaster will actually become an Opportunity for him to advance further!

What we must do is guard this Biqu City well, and not let down the peace earned by the Benefactor and many fellow Daoists risking their lives!"