The middle-aged cultivator swallowed nervously. Not only he, but all the disciples of the Heavenly Seal Sect present also gulped in apprehension. With a Golden Core powerhouse right in front of them, they dared not point fingers or accuse him of being an unscrupulously evil demonic cultivator. After all, it would be effortless for such a being to obliterate everyone in the Flying Mountain Hall.

"Why are you not moving? Do you want me to kill a few to prove myself?" Wan Wuying's voice carried a menacing humor.

The middle-aged cultivator, as if his tail were on fire, quickly pulled out a long-distance transmission jade. "J-Just a moment, please! I'll inform my master right away!"

Ordinary transmission jades had limited range, but a long-distance transmission jade could cover up to a hundred thousand li, encapsulating virtually all of Yu Kingdom—an exaggeration, but it certainly could cover a significant part of Jin Province and Wu Province.

The cultivator hurriedly relayed the situation to the main temple in detail. After a moment, he turned back to Wan Wuying with great respect, "Senior Wan, and all from the Infinite Sect, please wait here. Our Heavenly Seal Sect's Golden Core ancestors will arrive within half a day at most."

Wan Wuying corrected him calmly, "You are mistaken, it is Extreme Yin Cave."

"Yes, yes, Extreme Yin Cave! Extreme Yin Cave!" The middle-aged cultivator quickly corrected himself.

Chu Xuan listened thoughtfully. The Infinite Sect had ten Golden Core ancestors, each possessing their own cave abodes. Normally, they were spread out, each independently recruiting disciples. They only gathered together in times of crisis or during major ceremonies. Wan Wuying's cave was known as Extreme Yin Cave.

Clearly, Wan Wuying's deliberate omission of "Infinite Sect" and only mentioning "Extreme Yin Cave" was to disassociate from the Infinite Sect and avoid giving his enemies any leverage. This was the first step in a demonic cultivator's attempt to cleanse his reputation.

"Go about your business, I'll wait here," Wan Wuying said calmly.

"Yes, yes," the middle-aged cultivator nodded fervently.

Chu Xuan and the others stood in the plaza, while the disciples of the Heavenly Seal Sect went about their tasks, keeping their distance.

Half a day later, a streak of light appeared from the horizon.

"Old Ghost Wan! What brings you to my Heavenly Seal Sect? Not afraid of death, are you?" A cold, mocking voice came from the sky.

Wan Wuying chuckled strangely, "Ah, it's you. Well, not to be impolite, but even if your Heavenly Seal Sect sent two Golden Core cultivators, they wouldn't be a match for me. What do I have to fear?"

THe figure appeared on the ground in the blink of an eye. Chu Xuan looked closely and saw that the newcomer was a middle-aged cultivator with a refined appearance. Dressed in blue robes and a belt around his waist, which upon closer inspection turned out to be a slender green snake.

"Hahaha, Old Ghost Wan, you're still as merciless in your speech as ever," the elegant cultivator laughed heartily.

"Showing off everywhere with your green snake, huh?" Wan Wuying sneered mockingly.

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The elegant cultivator chuckled lightly, "It's just a small hobby of mine."

He pointed towards the main hall, "Old Ghost Wan, let's talk inside."

He then glanced at Chu Xuan and the others, smiling, "Someone, bring tea for these young friends from Extreme Yin Cave; don't neglect them."

"Yes," the middle-aged cultivator nodded repeatedly.

Chu Xuan and the others were led to a side hall where tea was promptly served. The fragrance of the tea filled the air, bitter yet sweet. It was Ku Mao Feng, a specialty of Wu Province. The tea was rich in Spiritual Qi and could refine the body and purge impurities when consumed regularly. Of course, it couldn't compare to the effects of medicinal pills, but many cultivators favored it as a gift to others. When the Infinite Sect was still around, Chu Xuan had once received a small jar of it and thought he would never taste it again in his lifetime. Yet, here it was once more.

"Do you think this will work?" Wu Teng sipped his tea and whispered, "That refined-looking senior seems to have some rapport with our master."

Li Xuanming calmly responded, "That Golden Core senior is named Zhao Wuya. He has always disliked the domineering ways of the Divine Star Sect. The Heavenly Seal Sect sending him over likely indicates a willingness to negotiate."

Liu Zhenxiong nodded in agreement, "When Senior Zhao spoke, he also made no mention of the Infinite Sect, only referring to Extreme Yin Cave."

If the Heavenly Seal Sect had no intention of accepting them, they would have sent several Golden Core cultivators to eliminate them right away instead of just one man to welcome and entertain them.

After two tense hours of waiting, there finally was a resolution.

Wan Wuying and Zhao Wuya entered the side hall with a lively discussion, like old friends who hadn't spoken for years.

Wan Wuying commented, "…Old Zhao, that Green Scale Snake of yours has a pure bloodline; you should cultivate it well, don't waste its potential. I have the proper methods for raising it, here, take them."

Zhao Wuya responded with modesty, "You're too kind," as he slipped the pages into his pocket.

Seeing this interaction, Chu Xuan and the others felt a relief wash over them.

Zhao Wuya looked toward Chu Xuan and his group, his gaze finally resting on Li Xuanming, "You must be Li Xuanming, achieving so much at such a young age. When I was your age, I was still at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining."

Li Xuanming humbly smiled, "Senior Zhao's foundation is profound, and his progress is steady and strong. I merely acted rashly and without much forethought."

Zhao Wuya laughed heartily, "You have a way with words!" He then became reflective, "It was you who led the team to rescue Old Ghost Wan from Misty Manor, wasn't it?"

"Well done! As a disciple, to have such awareness, you are destined to be a great figure in Yu Kingdom!" Zhao Wuya continued with enthusiasm, "My subordinates just brought news that Huikong from the Golden Dragon Temple is dead. That was your doing as well, right? Well done, well done! It doesn't matter if you've lost more than won before; what matters is who gets the last laugh."

Li Xuanming, initially pleased, suddenly looked embarrassed.

Zhao Wuya paused, puzzled, "What, wasn't it you?"

Wan Wuying burst into laughter, "Oh, Zhao Wuya, Zhao Wuya, you always boast about your strategic foresight, but it seems you've guessed wrong this time!"

Zhao Wuya scratched his head somewhat discomfited, "Then who could it be? Liu Zhenxiong? Your disciple?"

Wan Wuying shook his head again.

Zhao Wuya turned to Wu Teng, "Surely not…"

Wu Teng also smiled awkwardly and shrank back a bit.

Wan Wuying continued to shake his head.

Finally, Zhao Wuya's gaze fell on Chu Xuan, "Could it be…"

Wan Wuying grinned, half-mocking, "Keep guessing."

Zhao Wuya scrutinized Chu Xuan thoroughly as if trying to see through him, "This young man is a new face; I've never seen him before."

Information about the young Foundation Establishment stage disciples from various sects was more or less already known to other sects. Figures like Li Xuanming, Liu Zhenxiong, and Huikong were already on the intelligence lists of the Heavenly Seal Sect.

As for Wu Teng, although older, he had been a Foundation Establishment stage prodigy in his time, just not as youthful as the others. Only Chu Xuan, this unfamiliar face, was completely unknown to Zhao Wuya.

Wan Wuying laughed heartily, "His name is Chu Xuan. When the Infinite Sect was destroyed, he was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining. It was he who killed Huikong and the one who rescued me from Misty Manor."

Zhao Wuya was stunned for a moment before reacting with irritation, "Old Ghost Wan, stop joking with me! The Infinite Sect was destroyed less than two years ago; how could he have risen from the fourth level of Qi Refining all the way to the Foundation Establishment stage?"