"Sect Leader, this Xuan Sect is too arrogant! Since they've already set foot on our Holy Sect's territory, let's just declare war!"
As Xuan Yixian finished speaking, Rong Xiaoxiao's face turned extremely displeased. He immediately stepped forward and said.
"Silence!" Sheng Taixu immediately reprimanded him. His gloomy face looked as if it could drip water. A flicker of struggle crossed his narrow eyes.
"Xuan Sect, how many spirit stones do you want as compensation?" Thinking of Patriarch Cang Xuan, Sheng Taixu had to suppress his anger and asked in a deep voice.
However, it was clear from his ashen face that Sheng Taixu was already on the verge of exploding.
Seeing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Xuan Yixian's eyes. He had initially thought Sheng Taixu would fly into a rage, but he never expected him to compromise so easily. Yet, Xuan Yixian also understood that Sheng Taixu's primary concern was Patriarch Cang Xuan.
"One million spirit stones." Xuan Yixian's intention was to reclaim the humiliation the Xuan Sect had suffered from the Holy Sect. Stating one million spirit stones was naturally meant to further provoke Sheng Taixu.
"There are ten million cultivation spirit stones here, is that enough?" Sheng Taixu said with a half-smile, waving his hand. A spatial ring shot towards Xuan Yixian.
"This Sheng Taixu is indeed extraordinary. It seems the Xuan Sect and the Holy Sect's conflict will end here today," a figure clad in purple robes and a flowing skirt said slowly from within the void.
If Li Xuan were present, he would have recognized the woman behind this woman as the foremost disciple of Qinglian, whom he had allied with in the Yinglong Heavenly Cave.
"Mother, are the Xuan Sect and the Holy Sect not going to fight?" Qinglian's foremost disciple asked with a slight tilt of her head, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Silly child, of course not. That Sheng Taixu is concerned about Patriarch Cang Xuan, which is why he has repeatedly conceded. Since he has even offered compensation, the Xuan Sect naturally cannot initiate a war," the woman said with a smile, nodding and looking at Qinglian's foremost disciple with a touch of affection.
"It's good that they're not fighting, otherwise that fellow might..." Qinglian's foremost disciple's expression brightened upon hearing this, and she quickly covered her mouth as if she had realized she had spoken out of turn.
However, at this moment, the woman was already looking at Mudan's foremost disciple with a smile. Seeing this, Qinglian's foremost disciple's already flushed face grew even hotter.
"A girl grows up and leaves home. Silly girl, aren't you going to introduce me to that little fellow named Li Xuan?" the woman sighed and asked teasingly.
"Mother, did Senior Sister Mudan gossip to you? Humph, you only know how to bully me." After saying that, Qinglian's foremost disciple moved and flew directly into the distance.
Watching Qinglian's foremost disciple's reaction, the woman couldn't help but smile slightly. She then glanced at Xuan Yixian and Sheng Taixu again, and her figure slowly disappeared.
"As expected of the Holy Sect Leader, truly wealthy and powerful. Since the matter has been clarified, I hope that from now on, our two sects will mind their own business. If you trespass on the Xuan Sect again, it won't be as easy as today. I believe that by then, even without my leadership, our Ancestor will not tolerate it."
"Return to the sect!"
With a wave of Xuan Yixian's hand, the Xuan Sect disciples, in their original formation, orderly retreated towards the Xuan Sect.
"I originally thought there would be a good show, but it ended with everyone clearing out."
"Do you really want to see them fight? Almost all the powers on the entire Shengyuan Continent are present here. If they were to fight, we would likely be the ones to suffer. This outcome is for the best."
"Although there was no war, we still saw the high-ranking figures of the Xuan Sect and the Holy Sect. Such existences are not easily seen."
"..."
As the Xuan Sect's contingent departed, the various forces that had come to observe also began to leave. Sheng Taixu, who was still in mid-air, watched the direction of the Xuan Sect's departure with a grim expression.
"Today's humiliation, I will make you repay it tenfold in the future!" Sheng Taixu clenched his fist tightly, then took a deep breath and instantly vanished.
...
Xuan Sect, Shangqing Palace.
"Li Xuan, how could you be so sure that Sheng Taixu would not choose to fight?" As soon as Xuan Yixian sat down, he looked at Li Xuan in the grand hall and asked.
As Xuan Yixian finished speaking, the peak lords of the other peaks and Yue Mingchi looked at Li Xuan. Their gazes also held a hint of confusion.
Li Xuan stepped forward, bowed, and replied, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, this disciple learned from my senior brothers that Sheng Taixu is Patriarch Cang Xuan's junior brother, and that he was never able to defeat Patriarch Cang Xuan from the start."
"Although our Ancestor has been missing for over a decade, this nightmare has always lingered in Sheng Taixu's mind. After the Sect Leader brought up the mystery of the Ancestor, Sheng Taixu was bound to be concerned. Therefore, this disciple concluded that he would not tear down the facade."
"As for why I further proposed compensation, it was naturally to make the previously raised mystery even more difficult to discern. Sheng Taixu could not ascertain the truth, and thus became even more convinced that the Ancestor had returned. This is a great benefit to our Xuan Sect, at least, we will have enough time!"
Xuan Yixian and the others nodded with admiration upon hearing this.
"Your proposal this time, and everything you have done, have been witnessed by myself and everyone here. In the coming time, you must accelerate your cultivation. It is possible that your assistance will be needed even more in the future."
Li Xuan's expression immediately turned serious, and he bowed, "This disciple obeys!"
Xuan Yixian nodded and said, "Since this matter is settled, you may go and rest."
"This disciple takes his leave." Li Xuan bowed again and then slowly walked towards the hall's exit.
Langya Peak, halfway up the mountain.
"Brother Chu Yun, are you waiting for me?" As Li Xuan approached his cave dwelling, he immediately saw Xi Chu Yun standing outside it.
Xi Chu Yun smiled and said, "Tell me, what have the Sect Leader and the others decided?"
"Nothing much, just some words of praise. Also, the Innate Supreme Treasure obtained in the Yinglong Heavenly Cave has been handed over to me by the Sect Leader and the others. Other than that, there's nothing else." Li Xuan replied.
"That Innate Supreme Treasure was given to you? With the Sect Leader's and their strength, weren't they able to refine it?" Xi Chu Yun asked in surprise upon hearing this.
Xi Chu Yun knew that once an Innate Supreme Treasure was refined, no one in the world could use it unless Li Xuan willed it. Of course, there was also the possibility of Li Xuan's demise, leaving the divine weapon masterless.
Li Xuan nodded and smiled, "This Innate Supreme Treasure is no ordinary item. Even with the combined strength of the six of them, the Sect Leader and the others could not suppress it. Moreover, this Innate Supreme Treasure chose its master, so it had to be given to me."
"With the matter concerning the Holy Sect resolved, the Xuan Sect should have some time of ease. So, I plan to go into seclusion. Brother Chu Yun, what are your plans?"
"Brother Li Xuan, aren't you planning to attempt the trial?" Upon hearing Li Xuan's words, Xi Chu Yun frowned and asked.
"The trial?" Li Xuan was taken aback but quickly realized, "Brother Chu Yun, are you referring to the Purgatory Trial?"
"Precisely." Xi Chu Yun nodded and continued, "With Brother Li Xuan's strength, you are comparable to a Holy Son. Moreover, your performance in the Yinglong Heavenly Cave is worthy of being a Holy Son. Obtaining the title of Holy Son would be a good thing for Brother Li Xuan."
"Brother Xi Chu Yun, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten about it. Senior Brother Yu Shan said that the Purgatory Trial is extremely difficult, but it is very beneficial for improving combat power and experience. Since that is the case, I will go tomorrow and see how difficult this Purgatory Trial truly is."
A flicker of eagerness appeared in Li Xuan's eyes, and he nodded.
Currently, Li Xuan lacked nothing, except for spirit swords. If becoming a Holy Son could grant him more cultivation resources, Li Xuan would naturally not let go of this opportunity. After all, purchasing high-level spirit swords also required money.
Furthermore, as Xi Chu Yun had said, the status of a Holy Son was far superior to Li Xuan's current status as an initial disciple. At that time, many things Li Xuan wanted to do would be far less constrained than they were now.
"Brother Chu Yun, your strength is not weak either. Don't you want to try?" Li Xuan thought for a moment, then his gaze shifted to Xi Chu Yun as he asked.
After all, Xi Chu Yun was also strong, and even if he couldn't become a Holy Son, his status would be much higher than it was now.
"Since Brother Li has chosen to attempt it, I naturally will not shy away." Xi Chu Yun nodded with a smile.
"Then, tomorrow morning, we will go together."