Chapter 345

Chapter 345: Half a Year Like a Different World

As the group approached the mountain gate, Yuan Xiao zhuo took out a command token, waving it in front of the gate several times before leading everyone through in a line.

“Are we really leaving the sect like this?” Huo Qiniang gasped in shock; she thought they would have to fight their way out of the Haotu Sect, but it turned out to be so easy.

“Hurry up! I stole this token. The Law Office will figure it out soon enough,” Yuan Xiao zhuo said with a happy smile, straightening his back as if he had accomplished something remarkable.

Huang Shiqin whistled, and a shadow blocked the sunlight as a black eagle swooped down. She first flew onto the eagle’s back, waving her hand to signal everyone to hurry up.

Before long, fourteen massive eagles took off swiftly, soaring into the distance. Huang Tongliang turned around in fright and clapped his chest, exclaiming, “Brother, you scared me! Did you just pretend to be Qiniang? What a fright that would have been!”

Li Hui replaced Huo Qiniang on the eagle’s back and surveyed the group, asking, “How did Brother Yuan gather you all? Why leave the inner sect to mingle with us?”

“Alas!” Huang Tongliang sighed. “Brother, you haven’t shown up for half a year. You have no idea how the outside world has changed. Let Little Nian tell you!”

Nian Ganchan’s face turned pale upon hearing this, and he suddenly burst into tears.

He Liu Ying scolded, “You useless thing! I’ll answer for Li Shixiong. Fierce beasts are wreaking havoc in Haofu and Jingzhou. Our He Family and Nian Family were attacked during our migration; some died, and others were injured. If it weren’t for Brother Yuan and Sister Luo’s help, even our youngest siblings would have perished under those fierce beasts! Thankfully, Li Shixiong bought spiritual fields and estates for Brother Yuan outside Nanxun City, allowing the remaining members of both our families to find shelter. My little sister and Little Nian are incredibly grateful!”

The other disciples cupped their fists in respect: “With the assistance of Brother Yuan and Sister Luo, our families are settled outside Nanxun City, neighboring Li Shixiong’s estate at Yantai Mountain, where our elder brother and sister-in-law care for us like family.”

Li Hui understood; it turned out Brother Yuan and Sister Luo had done a lot of good deeds outside.

Coincidentally, the two entrusted their assets to him, originally just casually mentioning to have Qiniang help buy land for them outside Nanxun City. The family had taken it to heart, setting aside large tracts of land outside Yantai Mountain and Jimai Mountain, counting it as Yuan and Luo’s property!

Unexpectedly, what seemed a casual act became a blessing, as Yuan Ciheng and Luo Meini helped many disciples and their families. Fortunately, these people had a place to go, but he worried about those who encountered fierce beasts on their journey and those who lost cultivators at home, leaving them uncertain about their next move.

The estate needed more hands, which was ample for settling the disciples’ families. They intermingled with the old and young from Chuxia Mountain, where the concubine chosen for Song Zining came from these small families. This merging was clearly the trend.

Li Hui looked at Yan Jinglun and asked, “What about you? Your parents are a monk and nun. They won’t end up at our estate too, will they?”

“Pfft! My parents have returned to secular life! They are impressive, capable of going anywhere in the world!” Yan Jinglun pounded his fist. “Wen Shaolun tried to kill me, hoping to take you down with him, but luckily I escaped. Before Brother Yuan left the sect, he advised me to lay low until the time was right to stick with you.”

“Wen Shaolun went after you? Is he out of his mind?”

“No, he knows my parents are powerful and care for me greatly. If directed properly, he would certainly stop at nothing to kill you.”

Li Hui nodded and turned to Li Changtian, surprised as he asked, “And you? If I’m not mistaken, you should be from the Li Family.”

Li Changtian replied, “Brother Yuan asked me to tell you that Yanquan Mountain is reconstructing its main gate, visible from a distance with the three large characters ‘Blood Talisman Sect.’ The disaster in Linggui City is related to our Li Family; it’s rumored that the patriarch colluded with the Hongmo Sect. However, after the emergence of the Blood Talisman Sect, our family immediately split into several factions. Many people, very many, have died this past half-year. Some cultivators urged me to find a way to get close to you, but I didn’t want to be manipulated, so I had to leave with you.”

“What? The Blood Talisman Sect? They’ve returned?” Li Hui gasped, realizing members of the Jade Symbol Sect must have come back from overseas and were entangled with the Hongmo Sect. As for Li Changtian, since Brother Yuan arranged for him to join, it implied trust, but he still needed to observe him.

Yuan Xiao zhuo spoke with concern, “Brother, I joined the Haotu Sect on a mission. Xiao zhuo’s great-grandfather and your Master were close friends, and as old friends come to the point of needing disciples, the whole Haotu Sect is bound to face complications. My interest is to monitor the situation. When your Master faced tribulation, my great-grandfather received news and was very saddened, saying he lost another old friend.”

“Oh?” Li Hui hadn’t expected Yuan Xiao zhuo’s great-grandfather to care so much about the Master, but this girl seemed a bit confused; she hadn’t even realized she was a Dao body when she entered. Was sending her here really a good idea?

“I’m Night Owl, the Young Tribe Leader from the remote mountains. My family has already moved outside Nanxun City, and I’ve met Li Shixiong!” said the black-haired girl, slightly cupping her fists.

“I’m Jing Tian Tong! My family has also moved to outside Nanxun City.” Among the three men and two women, the man with purple pupils made his greeting, the oldest in the group.

“Luo Shaofeng, I’m a junior of Sister Luo Meini,” said the curly-haired boy briefly.

“Yuan Ci Bao, Yuan Ciheng is my cousin. He said chaos is imminent, urging me to develop in the Great Xia,” the young man nodded in greeting.

At that moment, the last person in the group, a girl with light blue hair, spoke up: “And I’m Peng Xiaoqing! I finally get to meet Li Shixiong, the esteemed master! You truly live up to your name, appearing so handsome and charismatic. I’ve admired you from afar and followed you here.”

Li Hui held his head in his hands and asked Huang Shiqin, “Where did this girl come from? Is she reliable?”

Huang Shiqin laughed, “Not reliable! Her cousin Lin Xuan Er from Thick Earth lineage is like sisters with Sister Luo. She secretly sent word saying each lineage is selecting outstanding disciples to go to Great Xia for the Jin Tian Sect ceremony, led by Chen Zhi Cheng and Chen Nuo Er, along with Lin Xuan Er from Thick Earth lineage, Xu Liangtian from the Vessel Bearing lineage, and other true disciples. They wanted us to take this girl along.”

“A ceremony at the Great Xia Jin Tian Sect?” Li Hui had no concept of that, nodding and launching a series of spirit talismans that transformed into talisman light, landing on the fourteen eagles and tripling their speed.

“Wow! So fast!” Yuan Xiao zhuo and Peng Xiaoqing clapped in delight while Nian Ganchan and Luo Shaofeng turned pale with fear.

Xia Tianguan transmitted, “Shixiong, Cheng Hong is contacting the royal relatives of Dalong; I guess I’m also a relative! I wonder if you remember during the entry test, my constitution was that of a King of Hell fearing ghosts? Cheng Hong’s aura makes me shiver; he must have encountered very powerful ghost cultivators. I pretended to agree on the surface but secretly found Sister Luo, because the Xia and Luo families have been close for generations, and I begged her to take me in. However, Brother Yuan calculated for me, saying sticking with you is the way out; otherwise, I’d be stuck deep in the mud.”

“In just half a year, so much has happened! I’ve been so absorbed in cracking the secret realm and cultivating, completely unaware!” Li Hui frowned. When would he advance in his cultivation method after leaving the Haotu Sect? Just thinking about it gave him a headache, along with this group, what had Brother Yuan predicted?