58: Next target, Nangong Li

On Buming Mountain, after annihilating Old Ancestor Tianyu, Shen Lian stood alone on the cliff at the Peak, gently fanning himself, closing his eyes to savor this moment of tranquility.

Clouds layered like mountains, ever-changing, rising and falling like waves.

A gentle breeze brushed against Shen Lian's cheek, stirring a few slightly pale strands of hair at his temples.

At this moment, the man's face showed no trace of that murderous ferocity, nor any arrogant and uninhibited demeanor.

Only an unprecedented calm and gentleness, like an immortal banished from the heavens.

Suddenly, Shen Lian opened his eyes, his gaze reflecting the rising sun in the east.

"The Heavenly Feather Sect has been destroyed. Who should I deal with next?"

With Old Ancestor Tianyu dead, Shen Lian had originally planned to go directly to Medicine King Valley to find Mu Yaoguang.

Su Yuheng was injured and would surely seek healing from Mu Yaoguang. Going to Medicine King Glazed Valley now would definitely allow him to find these two white-eyed wolves.

However, Medicine King Glazed Valley is located in the Spirit Realm, and travel between the Spirit Realm and the outside world is strictly restricted.

The passage to the Spirit Realm on the Road of No Return requires a personal letter from the Lord of the Spirit Realm to open.

Unless one's Cultivation reaches the Primordial Chaos Realm, then one can enter and exit freely without restriction.

After the arduous battle with Old Ancestor Tianyu, Shen Lian's Cultivation has now risen to Tribulation Crossing Realm sixth layer, but there is still some distance to the Hunyuan Peak.

But for Shen Lian to Cultivate to the Primordial Chaos Realm step by step is simply unrealistic.

He doesn't have that much time to waste on these few white-eyed wolves. He must follow the fastest plan to send them one by one into the human emperor cauldron to suffer the torment of true fire before he can continue on his Dao.

"Forget it, I'll let these two bitches live a few more days. The most urgent task is to quickly increase my Cultivation."

"The Spiritual Qi here is abundant, making it a good place for Cultivation. But with my current state, even with the help of the Great Zhou Heaven Array, breaking through to Hunyuan Peak gradually here would still take at least sixty years."

"Using these sixty years to restore my previous Cultivation is too wasteful. I must take another shortcut."

Thinking of this, he once again searched through the clues and information left by his former self in his mind.

"Hmm? crouching dragon marrow!"

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he thought of an exquisite treasure.

"Back then, when Nangong Li was Cultivating Innate Sword Intent, she unfortunately suffered from Qi Deviation. It was the original simp who personally went to the Dragon Burial Divine Abyss,

risking being shaken to Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering by the lingering Dragon roars, to retrieve the crouching dragon marrow from the depths of the Divine Abyss.

Not only did it help Nangong Li heal the injuries caused by Qi Deviation,

but she also successfully cultivated Innate Sword Intent, greatly increasing her Cultivation, and was successfully accepted as the Sword Emperor's successor, embarking on the path of leading the Chess Sword Pavilion.

However, that simp ultimately didn't even receive a 'thank you' from that bitch, and almost got himself killed."

Thinking of this, Shen Lian's eyes turned cold.

"Then let's start with you, Nangong Li. How can you take Shen Lian's things with such a clear conscience? Now, it's time for you to return everything, principal and interest."

With his target confirmed, Shen Lian immediately prepared to set off for the Chess Sword Pavilion in the Southern Domain.

"Master Shen, are you leaving again?"

Ding Buer, who was counting Spirit Stones not far away, sensed that Shen Lian was about to leave again and couldn't help but step forward to persuade him.

"Begging your pardon, Master Shen, but it's not a wise choice for you to go and settle accounts with Nangong Li at this time."

Shen Lian's eyes instantly turned cold: "I told you, just mind your own business. Interfering with mine, do you think you're living too comfortably?"

"I know I can't stop you, but your Cultivation is only at the Tribulation Crossing Realm, while Nangong Li is already at Primordial Chaos Realm fifth layer. Going to her directly like this, isn't that actively seeking death?"

Shen Lian's lips curled into a smile upon hearing this: "Even an old geezer from the Immortal Realm was tortured to death by me. Will I pay attention to a mere Primordial Chaos Realm cultivator?"

Ding Buer: "I know, Master Shen, with your personality, you naturally won't admit defeat. But in the current situation, it's still safer to develop discreetly and only act when your strength is sufficient."

"Last warning. I don't care if you're the System or Ding Buer, whatever you are, if you dare to interfere with my affairs again, don't blame me for sending you to grind in the human emperor cauldron, understood!"

Ding Buer was instantly intimidated by Shen Lian's Aura and immediately lowered his head, not daring to mention the matter again.

A moment later, he cautiously asked: "Then, Master Shen, how about I build a Daoist temple for you here on Buming Mountain?

That way, when you return after finishing your business, you'll have a place to rest. What do you think?"

Shen Lian didn't speak again, closing his Folding Fan and turning his back: "Whatever. You don't need to ask me about such trivial matters, just arrange it yourself."

He also desired a place to settle down and adjust his mindset, and Buming Mountain perfectly matched his aesthetic preferences.

Since Ding Buer wanted to take on the task, he would let him, enjoying the leisure.

So, he tossed out a storage ring: "When I'm not here, I'll leave this place for you to manage.

Don't bother me unless it's important. There are three tribulation crossing pills in the storage ring.

Whether you consume them yourself or use them for trade, you decide."

"Understood, Master Shen, I'll remember that."

"Hmph."

With a light snort, Shen Lian directly conjured the netherworld chariot and sped towards the Southern Domain... Southern Domain, Chess Sword Pavilion Main Hall.

"Kneel."

A majestic voice rang out. The stunning woman seated in the Sect Master's position glared with cold eyes at a disheveled Outer Sect Disciple in the hall.

The stunning woman was Shen Lian's fifth Junior Sister, Nangong Li, now the Sect Master of Chess Sword Pavilion, with a Peak Cultivation of Primordial Chaos Realm fifth layer.

Chess Sword Pavilion was a Sect founded by the Sword Emperor thirty thousand years ago when he passed through the Southern Domain. Within thirty years, it became the number one Sect in the Southern Domain.

The Sword Pavilion housed tens of thousands of Sword Arts and secret techniques from all over the world. Ordinary people who could join the Sect and learn even a smattering could secure a place for themselves on the Primordial Continent.

After the Sword Emperor presided over the Chess Sword Pavilion for three thousand seven hundred years, he suddenly grew tired of Sect affairs and passed on the Sect Master position to his favored Disciple before departing to the Sword Realm to attain the Dao.

Although the Sword Emperor no longer managed the Chess Sword Pavilion's trivial matters, he would return every five hundred years to check on its status.

If any major changes occurred in the Chess Sword Pavilion, he would personally depose the current Sect Master and find a new successor to manage the Chess Sword Pavilion on his behalf.

Nangong Li, who had awakened the Innate Sword Physique and cultivated Innate Sword Intent, was very fortunate to become the current Sect Master of the Chess Sword Pavilion.

Nangong Li was the most satisfactory successor the Sword Emperor found after he retired. Her Innate Sword Physique, combined with Innate Sword Intent, and his guidance, even surpassed his own abilities back then. The Sword Emperor was more at ease than ever entrusting the Chess Sword Pavilion to her.

And Nangong Li indeed lived up to the Sword Emperor's trust. In the hundred years she presided over the Chess Sword Pavilion, she used her Innate Sword Intent to sweep away all hostile forces in the Southern Domain, raising the Chess Sword Pavilion's prestige to new heights.

At this moment, Nangong Li was handling a trivial Sect matter.

"Kneel. Su Mengyao, do you admit your guilt? How many times have I said that fellow Sect Disciples should love each other? How can you plunder another's Opportunity?"

"Hurry and apologize to your Junior Sister Lu and return that Flying Sword to her."

The Disciple kneeling in the center of the hall was named Su Mengyao, a new Outer Sect Disciple recruited by the Chess Sword Pavilion ten years ago.

Disciples who can enter the Chess Sword Pavilion, even if they are just Outer Sect Disciples, are exceptionally talented and have their own unique insights into the Dao of the Sword.

And Su Mengyao's Aptitude among all Disciples was considered outstanding.

However, Nangong Li did not like Su Mengyao at all. In the ten years since she joined, she hadn't been allowed into the Inner Sect, nor was she given Cultivation Techniques or Spirit Stones to improve her Cultivation. Her treatment was even worse than other Outer Sect Disciples.

Why was this?

Because Su Mengyao had poor character.

She often framed her Junior Sister Lu Qingyi, who had already become an Inner Sect Disciple.

Lu Qingyi was Nangong Li's most favored Personal Disciple, and with her gentle personality and respect for her master and the Dao, she naturally won the Sect Master's affection.

This time, Lu Qingyi complained that Su Mengyao had stolen the Zixiao Flying Sword she obtained from a Secret Realm trial. Upon hearing this, Nangong Li immediately summoned Su Mengyao to uphold justice for her beloved Disciple.

Unexpectedly, Su Mengyao stubbornly replied: "Sect Master, I didn't steal Junior Sister Lu's Flying Sword. I obtained it with great difficulty from the Secret Realm!"

This statement immediately caused a frosty expression to spread across Nangong Li's face.

"Still daring to quibble! Su Mengyao, you truly disappoint this Sect Master!"