Attaining Immortality, Starting From Slaying Demons

Otherwise, why would they let the four Hong Dragons of the Dragon Palace continue to haunt Hongze?

Even though an Immortal had made a move, they didn't even know his specific strength—perhaps he was at the Dao Realm, or maybe even higher?

Deng Xiangjun's face flushed with shame, and his gaze darted about, for he had not asked Shen Yi that question he most wanted to ask—it seemed he was using this opportunity to share some heartfelt words.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead once more, then spread his palms: "But no matter what, we certainly won't harm you, nor do we expect you to acknowledge this bond of life and death, as long as we acknowledge it, that's enough."

"So... there are no personal grudges."

"Your matters are our matters."

Deng Xiangjun rarely spoke so much at once, especially to someone he was not familiar with.

The emotions playing across his face were clearly due to another person.

Having said that, Deng Xiangjun nervously watched the young man's pale face, waiting for his answer, his demeanor akin to a wrongdoer awaiting an elder's forgiveness.

"Alright."

Shen Yi listened carefully and nodded lightly: "I will be careful."

He probably understood the Unparalleled Sect Master's intention—the other party must be projecting his years-old guilt for Nanyang Sect onto Shen Yi, the new Sect Master of Nanyang.

But Shen Yi was not accustomed to commenting on matters he had not experienced firsthand, nor was he used to making decisions on behalf of others, such as forgiving someone or consoling them.

He could only represent himself.

At least from the rumors he'd heard, Shen Yi wouldn't question the bond that the South Hong Seven Sons had back then, but let's not forget, he'd left the Nanyang Treasure Land not long ago—how much time had he spent getting to know these people? And even less time had he spent in actual contact with them.

Uniting to resist the Dragon Palace was one thing; expecting him to immerse himself in their bond and trust these people wholeheartedly was asking too much.

Like with the Town Stone, the Ten Thousand Demon Hall, and the matters of deductive strategy—if someone with ill-intent tracked him down, he could very well find himself in a plight from which there was no return.

"..."

Upon hearing Shen Yi's response, Deng Xiangjun let out a heavy sigh of relief and finally allowed a slight smile to cross his face.

He stood up again and said softly, "That's good, let's head back then."

With that, Deng Xiangjun took out the Treasure Ship.

"I have some urgent matters to attend to."

Shen Yi declined the offer, as just when Sect Master Deng had been venting his emotions, An Yi had already slain several Glazed Green Phoenixes and had obtained some information from that group of Phoenix Demons.

Having said that, his dark robe billowed, and he instantly vanished from the spot.

"..."

Deng Xiangjun stood silently at the bow of the ship, turning after a moment to look at Su Hongxiu: "He did say he would be careful earlier, didn't he?"

What exactly was he being careful about? It still left himself as clueless as before.

But the aura Shen Yi had inadvertently released while leaving gave Deng Xiangjun a sense of why, with a cultivation at the Earth Realm of Fighting, there would be no problems in all of Hongze as long as Shen Yi did not provoke those few Heaven Realm powerhouses.

"If he were not of such character, he would not have been able to leave the Nanyang Treasure Land, much less come into the sight of you esteemed individuals."

Su Hongxiu gazed in the direction Shen Yi had gone, pondering for a long while before finally sighing softly.

She regretted not having sparred with Sect Master Shen when she was in South Hong, so much so that now, she didn't even possess the privilege to draw her sword in his presence.

...

In Western Hong, the Yunhe Sect.

Ji Jingxi hovered outside the sect's gates, composed as usual, the only sign of her thoughts a barely detectable coldness hidden deep within her eyes.

She clenched and then released a jade token, adjusting her emotions slightly.

No troubles is good, no troubles at all.

"Sorry, I was delayed by some matters on the way."

She directed her gaze toward the Great Formation ahead, from which several figures quickly emerged.

The Sect Master of Yunhe personally came out to greet her, bowing: "I had not expected Ji Elder from the Pure Moon Sect to grace us with her presence. This truly flusters me, please come in quickly."

"Has the Glazed Green Phoenix arrived yet?"

Ji Jingxi did not move but instead scanned the surroundings, noticing that the area around Yunhe Sect was tranquil, with no signs of a fight having taken place.

"Speaking of that old Phoenix Demon, I too am quite puzzled," the Sect Master of Yunhe furrowed his brow: "It came charging in, looking ready to fight to the death with us, yet it circled around the treasure land without ever engaging, and just a few days ago, when I was prepared to fight it to the death using the Sect Protection Array, it simply left..."

"I appreciate Ji Elder taking the trouble to investigate personally."

The Sect Master of Yunhe had lowered his posture greatly, not only because of Ji Jingxi's fearsomely high boundaries in cultivation but also because he felt that something was slightly off with her mood.

"Please come inside and rest for a while."

The elders of Yunhe Sect dared not raise their heads to look, for even under the contrast of her white robe, this Elder Ji lived up to her reputation as the once Fairy of Qing Yue. Even after so many years, she had become even more graceful than before.

"..."

Ji Jingxi closed her eyes to digest the information, and a faint smile gradually spread across her cool face.

Her thick lashes quivered lightly, and when she reopened her eyes, they were as clear as the bright moon, bearing the indifference that reflected the expanse.

Indeed, not bad at all.

The South Hong Seven Sons had been dormant for years, and now it seemed any Tom, Dick, or Harry could come out and take their turn at manipulation.

So transparent were their tactics of luring the tiger away from the mountain, what was their purpose? The message from the jade token had made it abundantly clear.

The scum of Western Hong even dared to scheme against her Sect Master of Nanyang.

Once and again, time after time.

This time it was An Tingfeng, who would be next? The Western Dragon Palace? Or perhaps Northern Hong?