Yu Daohan gripped the wine glass in his hand, silent.
His only worry now was whether the Yan Shu Sect had a compass. Even if they did, they might not know it.
Yu Daohan asked, "How do you plan to handle this matter?"
Shi Bingzhi thought for a moment and replied truthfully, "Let's not alert them yet. We need to investigate clearly. If the entire Yan Shu Sect has defected, then even if they had a compass, it would likely already be in the hands of the Divine Ming Cult."
Yu Daohan nodded, agreeing with Shi Bingzhi's assessment.
Now, it remained to be seen if only Du Yong had defected, or the entire Yan Shu Sect.
"Master Yu, we must be prepared," Shi Bingzhi said slowly.
"The Divine Ming Cult already possesses two compasses. The reason they haven't opened the seal yet is likely because they are brewing a larger conspiracy."
Yu Daohan nodded.
Given Shen Fengqing's personality, she would definitely seize one compass before opening the seal together.
The Divine Ming Cult now held the compasses for the fifth and eighth layers.
Frankly, even if the Divine Ming Cult opened the hell entrances of the fifth and eighth layers simultaneously, the current strength of the entire martial world might not be able to withstand it.
If Shen Fengqing wanted to completely crush the martial world's defense line, she would need to obtain another compass.
And this compass must be from the tenth layer downwards.
Shi Bingzhi spoke earnestly, slowly asking, "Master Yu, be honest with me. Do you have confidence in defeating or drawing against any of the individuals on the Black List?"
Yu Daohan did not reply immediately. Instead, he drained his wine and said with a smile, "I don't know about fighting two at once, but one-on-one, I fear none of them, including the Chen father and son."
Hearing this, Shi Bingzhi felt reassured and raised his wine glass, drinking it dry.
Sensing his demeanor, Yu Daohan asked, "Brother Shi, let's not beat around the bush. Has there been some change in the martial world?"
Shi Bingzhi nodded in confirmation. "Master Yu, you know that after the three seniors perished, the position of sect leader was passed to the three of us, Wang Ming, but..."
"But the three of them are merely of the younger generation. Although their strength has advanced by leaps and bounds through inheritance, they are still a bit short of subduing those old fellows."
Yu Daohan had somewhat anticipated this situation.
While the three major sects were indeed powerful, their strength had undoubtedly diminished after the demise of the three seniors. However, they were not people that the Chen family of Miao Jiang could provoke.
It was just that suppressing the entire martial world as they did in the past seemed somewhat unrealistic.
Shi Bingzhi nodded. "Exactly. The martial world urgently needs someone who can command respect."
Yu Daohan did not agree immediately, but continued, "Li Tianxiang, ranked ninth on the Black List, and Cui Yiling, the Forgetful Immortal Aunt, ranked sixth, as well as Meng Da Long, ranked twelfth, they are on our side."
Shi Bingzhi naturally understood Yu Daohan's meaning and said, "We still don't know which sects are truly resisting the enemy. They are our trump cards. It would be a pity to expose them like this."
Upon hearing this, Yu Daohan immediately agreed, "Alright, you just need someone to play the villain, don't you? I, Yu Daohan, will take on this task."
At this moment, Yu Daohan truly recognized the Shi Bingzhi before him.
Among the younger generation, in terms of strength, he considered himself the undisputed leader.
However, in terms of strategy and foresight, he might not be able to surpass the current Shi Bingzhi.
They chatted for a while longer before the topic turned to Feng Ru.
Yu Daohan suddenly thought of something and asked, "Old Shi, do you know Shi Lu?"
Upon hearing Shi Lu, Shi Bingzhi frowned, his expression becoming peculiar. "Master Yu, are you saying the赊刀人 who helped Feng Ru change her fate is named Shi Lu?"
Yu Daohan also noticed the change in Shi Bingzhi's expression and nodded. "That's right. Could it be that you know that person?"
Shi Bingzhi nodded, looking somewhat incredulous. "I know that person, and he is my uncle."
"Your uncle?"
Yu Daohan felt a sense of wonder, thinking how coincidental this was.
However, the more coincidental something was, the more it indicated a planned arrangement.
"My uncle was appraised by our clan as a genius that appears once in three hundred years, with the potential to revitalize the lineage of the 赊刀人. But alas, he passed away prematurely."
Speaking of this, Shi Bingzhi's eyes were filled with loss.
Yu Daohan also tactfully remained silent.
Shi Bingzhi continued, "However, my uncle always planned three steps ahead for every step he took. He must have foreseen this day."
Hearing this, Yu Daohan's heart leaped with joy and excitement. "If that's the case, then there's a high probability this matter can be resolved?"
Shi Bingzhi nodded affirmatively. "If not ninety percent, then at least eighty percent."
Yu Daohan's anxious heart finally settled.
If Shi Bingzhi said so, he must be confident.
After an unknown period, both of them were moderately drunk.
Shi Bingzhi found a random inn nearby, while Yu Daohan took a taxi back.
They agreed to resolve the matter the next day.
Upon arriving at the villa, Feng Ru and the little girl were already asleep.
Yu Daohan returned to his room and lay on the bed, contemplating his next steps.
The sect protection formation had already begun to be set up. After resolving his sister's matter, he would ensure the Yan Huo Sect firmly established its footing in the martial world.
The next day at noon—
The three of them sat together in the living room on the first floor of the villa.
Shi Bingzhi looked at Feng Ru's countenance without speaking, his expression growing serious.
Beside him, Yu Daohan was extremely anxious, while Feng Ru appeared much calmer.
After a long while, Shi Bingzhi finally came back to his senses, looked at Yu Daohan, and slowly said, "Master Yu, have any soul reapers come to claim your sister's soul before?"
Yu Daohan nodded. "That's right, but I pulled some strings and asked them to give us a few more days."
Shi Bingzhi's expression became somewhat troubled. "Her lifespan has already ended. Right now, she is essentially a soul attached to her physical body, no different from a dead person."
Yu Daohan looked at Feng Ru, who was looking at them with a bewildered expression, and then at her countenance.
At this moment, Feng Ru's countenance showed no signs of vitality. The only thing that confirmed she was human was the cluster of fate fire in her brow, representing a living person.
The biggest difference between the dead and the living was that cluster of fate fire.
Ghosts did not possess this.
Yu Daohan said earnestly, "Is there a way?"
Shi Bingzhi nodded affirmatively. "Yes, but it's somewhat difficult."
Hearing this, Yu Daohan immediately asked, "What way?"
As long as there was a way, everything could be resolved.
Shi Bingzhi thought for a moment and then slowly explained, "As far as I know, there are three methods to resolve this."
"The first method is to find someone who will live a long life and exchange their fate with hers, and then find a spiritual item to suppress the dark energy that arises from this countenance."
"The second method is to go to the Chen family in Miao Jiang and find a 'Fate Devouring Gu' that can devour fate and luck, to completely devour her fate. However, this also requires exchanging fate with someone who will live a long life."
"This last method is somewhat difficult. It involves going directly to the underworld to ask King Yama to extend her lifespan. How long she can live will depend entirely on her own ability."