Ye Ling glanced at the disciples trembling before him and chuckled, "Don't be nervous. I'm just going to visit Jian Sanliu. I have absolutely no other intentions."
"Besides, Jian Sanliu's secluded cultivation location isn't exactly a secret. Even if you don't tell me, I can find out with a little inquiry."
The disciples cried, "Elder Wang, please spare us. We truly dare not say. You..."
*Whoosh!*
Mid-sentence, a sword qi zipped past them, slicing through the floor as easily as tofu.
The disciples, seeing the smooth cut on the ground, abruptly stopped speaking and stared at Ye Ling in terror, beads of sweat on their brows.
If that sword qi had passed through them, they would have died on the spot!
Ye Ling blew away the spiritual energy lingering at his fingertips and smiled at the disciples, "I'm actually quite easy to talk to. I won't force you. If you really don't want to say, then leave."
The disciples exchanged glances. To save their lives, they said to Ye Ling, "The Sect Master... he's in seclusion at Jade Moon Peak."
"Thank you. Today, I can pretend I never came here. All of you, scram." Ye Ling narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"Yes, yes!" The disciples, relieved, got up and bolted, desperate to distance themselves from this troublesome place and forget everything that had happened!
After Ye Ling sent away the inner disciples, he turned to the two outer disciples who had led the way and said, "You two can scram too."
"Thank you, Elder Wang!"
The two outer disciples had been eager to leave. With Ye Ling's dismissal, they didn't want to linger. They immediately ran out, preparing to flee down the mountain.
They knew that from this day forward, they would have no place in the Dao Sect!
After all the disciples were dismissed, Yun Nian, who had cleaned the floor, walked up to Ye Ling again and bowed, "Elder Wang, I've finished what you instructed. Do you have any further orders?"
"Nothing. Go back to your room and cultivate properly."
Ye Ling waved his hand, planted a rune within Yun Nian's body, used the rune to simulate his own aura, and then concealed his true presence.
"Yes."
Yun Nian, unaware of what Ye Ling had done to him, bowed respectfully to Ye Ling and then excitedly ran back to his room, eager to comprehend the cultivation technique Ye Ling had imparted.
This was his first true encounter with cultivation, and everything held immense appeal for him.
Ye Ling watched Yun Nian's excited retreating figure and murmured, "I'll teach you a cultivation technique and help improve your aptitude. You'll be my substitute for a while, and then neither of us will owe the other anything."
"Although this is a bit unethical, I'm in a precarious situation myself right now."
"Ji Ning, that old hag, is constantly watching me. Only by helping me attract her attention for a while will I have a chance to survive."
"Kid, if you can get through this ordeal, I'll give you a great opportunity after everything is settled."
With that, Ye Ling vanished from his spot and flew towards Jade Moon Peak.
Jade Moon Peak, Jian Sanliu's secluded cultivation place.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
"Wang Liren, you scoundrel, just you wait. I'll kill you one day!"
Inside the cave dwelling, Jian Sanliu smashed various objects like a madman, continuously cursing Ye Ling.
"And that old woman Ji Ning, as soon as Sword Ancestor had trouble, she wanted to usurp my power... I won't forget this grudge. When I become an ultimate expert, I will repay all the humiliation I've suffered today a hundredfold!"
At this moment, Ye Ling, using the Myriad Realms Insight, infiltrated Jian Sanliu's cave dwelling and happened to hear Jian Sanliu cursing Ji Ning and himself.
"It seems this Dao Sect isn't as glorious as it appears on the surface. There's a conflict between Ji Ning and Jian Shisan. This might be an opportunity for me to break free."
Seeing Jian Sanliu dare to insult Ji Ning so brazenly in his cave dwelling, Ye Ling realized that Ji Ning couldn't detect what was happening inside. An idea sparked, and he released his aura.
"Who?"
Jian Sanliu's expression shifted slightly as he sensed an outsider's presence in his secluded cultivation cave dwelling. He immediately shouted sternly!
Ye Ling made no attempt to conceal himself. He emerged from the shadows, a cold smile on his lips, "Jian Sanliu, you have quite the audacity!"
"Wang Liren? How could you get in?"
Jian Sanliu's expression changed drastically upon seeing Ye Ling enter his secluded cultivation cave dwelling. A tempest of shock surged in his heart!
The barrier in this secluded cultivation cave dwelling was personally crafted for him by Sword Ancestor Jian Shisan, capable of isolating all external probes.
Sword Ancestor would also frequently meet him here in secret to discuss important matters!
Protected by Jian Shisan's barrier, Jian Sanliu dared to vent his frustrations so recklessly, unafraid of Ji Ning's reprimand.
Ye Ling sneered, "Jian Sanliu, you fool. Sword Ancestor is already severely injured. Do you still think this barrier can stop the Grand Elder?"
"What you said has already incurred the Grand Elder's wrath."
"The Grand Elder has already heard?"
Jian Sanliu's expression turned ashen. His legs went weak, and he immediately knelt before Ye Ling, stammering in panic, "I-I'm sorry... I was talking nonsense just now! I lost my head for a moment!"
"Elder Wang, please tell the Grand Elder that what I said was not from my heart!"
Jian Sanliu wailed, and began slapping himself repeatedly.
"It's too late!"
Ye Ling sneered at Jian Sanliu, then put his hands behind his back. He used a rune to simulate a purple pill given to him by Ji Ning and tossed it to Jian Sanliu, coldly ordering, "Eat it!"
"Heavenly Gu Pill?"
Seeing the purple pill floating before him, Jian Sanliu's eyes widened in terror. He quickly kowtowed to Ye Ling, trembling as he pleaded, "Elder Wang! I know I was wrong! Please help me beg the Grand Elder! I'll never dare again!"
Ye Ling's mouth twitched upon seeing Jian Sanliu's fear of Ji Ning's pill. He couldn't help but curse Ji Ning inwardly.
However, he maintained a playful facade and smiled at Jian Sanliu, "Jian Sanliu, do you think the Grand Elder doesn't know about the things you've been doing in private?"
"The Grand Elder has tolerated you for so long. Giving you the Heavenly Gu Pill now is already incredibly merciful."
Jian Sanliu cried, "Elder Wang, my cultivation journey has not been easy. I've finally reached this point. I truly don't want to lose all my cultivation!"
"Elder Wang, I beg you! Your relationship with the Grand Elder must be extraordinary. If you help plead my case, the Grand Elder will surely spare me!"
"Elder Wang, please, for the sake of my years of diligent service to the Dao Sect, help me this once! I'll be your servant from now on!"
'Ji Ning's pill actually absorbs cultivation. No wonder I've been absorbing less spiritual energy from the outside. I thought it was because my injuries hadn't healed, but it turns out that damned Heavenly Gu Pill is the culprit!'
Ye Ling, having understood the effect of the Heavenly Gu Pill, cursed Ji Ning once more in his heart. Yet, outwardly, he continued to play the role of Ji Ning's envoy, smiling at Jian Sanliu, "Jian Sanliu, you are, after all, Sword Ancestor's beloved disciple. It would be a shame to lose you here. Therefore, the Grand Elder has also given you a way out."
"What way out?" Jian Sanliu quickly asked.
Ye Ling's lips curved slightly. He instantly appeared before Jian Sanliu, poked Jian Sanliu's neck with two fingers, opened his mouth, and forcefully fed the fake pill he had simulated into his body.
Afterward, Ye Ling slyly used his Devouring Domain to siphon off a tiny bit of Jian Sanliu's cultivation.
After giving Jian Sanliu the pill and absorbing some of his cultivation, Ye Ling said to him, "This Heavenly Gu Pill will not immediately consume your cultivation. As long as you find the antidote yourself within three days..."
"The Grand Elder promises that all your previous misdeeds will be forgiven!"