Outside the teahouse, the elderly woman stared intently at Fang Chen and the others. Seeing that Li Zhi did not appear to be in immediate danger, she finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

The middle-aged cultivator looked terrified. "Granny Ma, the young lady... right now..."

If anything happened to Li Zhi today, he would be buried with her.

"It's fine." The elderly woman suddenly gave a light chuckle. "They don't dare do anything to the young lady. At most, they're using her as a bargaining chip, hoping the Taiyue Sect will step in to resolve the matter."

Is that so?

The middle-aged man relaxed slightly. He was then ordered by the elderly woman to return and send word back. She herself remained outside the teahouse, observing carefully, not daring to act rashly.

***

Taiyue Sect.

The sound of zithers drifted melodiously through the air. A gathering of cultivators from all directions had convened here, meeting through music and discussing the Dao.

A burly man with a large serpent coiled around his body had nearly fallen asleep while listening. Suddenly, he jolted awake and loudly praised, "Excellent!"

The crowd laughed.

"Daoist Longshe also appreciates refined arts? That truly surprises us."

The one playing the zither was a beautiful woman. Her aura was vast and imposing. She had already reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Daoist Longshe was not offended by the teasing. He immediately rose and cupped his fist toward the beautiful woman. "Your zither skills are extraordinary, Madam. I deeply admire them."

The woman wore a faint smile. She appeared approachable, yet carried the bearing of someone long accustomed to high status. She moved to sit beside a middle-aged cultivator and then spoke. "Daoist Longshe, there's no need for flattery. Tell me, what is it this time that you want my help with?"

Daoist Longshe looked a little embarrassed. He laughed awkwardly and revealed, "It's about my son. He wishes to seek a position at the Nine Generation King Manor. But as everyone knows, it's difficult to enter the manor. I hope Madam might put in a good word."

"You've come to the right person."

"With Madam's status, one word from her and your son will enter the manor immediately."

The crowd chimed in.

They paid little attention to the Taiyue Sect master himself. Their words were largely praise for the woman herself.

The Taiyue Sect master smiled calmly, as though long accustomed to such a scene.

The beautiful woman picked up a spirit fruit, took a graceful bite, and then said, "You want him to serve at the manor? That's not difficult. I'll simply send a letter back to Madam Lan in due time."

At the mention of Madam Lan, everyone's eyes filled with respect. She was one of the Nine Generation King's concubines. Before a group of Nascent Soul cultivators, her status was utterly unattainable. As for this woman, she had been Madam Lan's trusted personal maid in her youth. She herself was no small figure.

Daoist Longshe was overjoyed. "Many thanks, Madam! If there is ever anything you need, just command me. I'll jump through the flames and dive into the deepest of seas without hesitation!"

The atmosphere became lively.

At its core, this was a gathering for exchanging resources and favors.

Before long, the hurried arrival of the middle-aged cultivator shattered the harmony. When the madam learned that her own daughter had been taken hostage, her composure crumbled.

The middle-aged man beside her shot to his feet, both shocked and enraged. Terrifying spiritual energy surged around him.

Longshe and the others were equally furious. Over a dozen Nascent Soul Realm cultivators stood up in unison, cold light flashing in their eyes.

"Madam, allow us to handle this matter for you." Daoist Longshe gave a light laugh and barked at the middle-aged cultivator. "Where are they? Lead the way!"

The middle-aged cultivator dared not decide on his own and looked to the beautiful woman.

"Let's go together," she said calmly.

She glanced at the Taiyue Sect master. "Dear, remain here for now. I forgot to tell you, Madam Lan is coming to visit me today. She should already be on her way."

Madam Lan?!

The crowd stirred in excitement. Daoist Longshe rubbed his hands eagerly.

Suppressing his worry for his daughter, the Taiyue Sect master nodded immediately. "Very well. I'll wait here for Madam Lan."

Cloud-like vapor rose beneath their feet as they ascended into the sky, arriving at Taiyue City in moments.

Cultivators who had been watching the situation were stunned at the sight. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Isn't that Daoist Longshe from Dragon Snake Valley!?"

It wasn't just Daoist Longshe. Every renowned Nascent Soul Realm cultivator in the surrounding region had gathered here today.

When Daoist Longshe learned which teahouse Fang Chen and the others were in, he immediately said solemnly to the beautiful woman, "Madam, I'll go ahead. The young lady won't be harmed."

With that, spiritual energy surged around him. His form transformed into a streak of light and arrived at the teahouse entrance in an instant.

Seeing this, the elderly woman was startled and quickly moved to the beautiful woman's side.

"Madam, he—"

"It's fine. Since they want to negotiate, they won't harm Little Zhi."

The beautiful woman spoke calmly.

***

Inside the teahouse, the shopkeeper and waiters trembled at the sight of the burly man with the massive serpent wrapped around him.

The snake was as thick as a man's arm, covered in red scales, with horns sprouting from its head. Clearly, it was no ordinary creature.

Daoist Longshe walked in slowly. With one glance, he saw Fang Chen and the others drinking tea on the second floor and Li Zhi standing motionless.

"Daoist Longshe!" called out Li Zhi in delight.

However, she quickly noticed something and was puzzled.

Why was Daoist Longshe here? Where were the others?

Her peripheral vision soon caught sight of the beautiful woman and the rest outside the window, and she was instantly overjoyed.

Daoist Longshe looked at Li Zhi and laughed heartily. "Little Zhi, don't worry too much."

He strode forward to stand before Fang Chen. "You two, give me some face. Release the young lady. Whatever the issue is, let us elders discuss it among ourselves. How about that?"

At that moment, Abbess Qing He was nearly finished recounting her experiences over the past several hundred years.

Fang Chen felt emotional. Abbess Qing He had helped both people and ghosts along her journey, all the way to the Central Continent Empire.

Why hadn't she returned? Because she had gotten lost.

"Young Lord Fang... is my master well?" Abbess Qinghe asked softly.

Fang Chen shook his head with a smile. "Your master is already at the Soul Splitting Realm. There's no need to worry about her. You should worry about yourself instead."

Li Zhi's face went rigid with shock. The Soul Splitting Realm?! This abbess had someone like that behind her?!

She had just heard about Qing He's experiences and confirmed that she came from a small place. She never expected her master to have reached the Soul Splitting Realm.

But... So what if it's the Soul Splitting Realm! My mother is the trusted maid of Madam Lan from the Nine Generation King Manor!

With that thought, Li Zhi's heart eased somewhat.

Daoist Longshe had been preparing to reprimand Fang Chen for ignoring him, but upon hearing that Qing He's master was in the Soul Splitting Realm, he, too, froze in shock.

"Well... you two... whatever the matter is, we can discuss it properly. There's no need to involve the younger generation," said Daoist Longshe, his voice turning unusually meek.

The Soul Splitting Realm belonged to the Middle Three Realms. That wasn't someone he could afford to provoke. If not just for the fact that the Nine Generation King's Manor was backing the Taiyue Sect, he would have turned around and left immediately.

Fang Chen glanced at Daoist Longshe and smiled. "That snake of yours looks quite nourishing. Shall we stew it?"

Daoist Longshe—and the exotic serpent coiled around him—were instantly enraged.