However, it was clear that He Yi's words were indirect and filled with implications, revealing that he had an ulterior motive.
Obviously, He Yi had something he wanted from Lin Xiao.
And given their unfamiliarity, He Yi intended to use a subtle threat to achieve his goal.
His talk about the impact of the yin energy was nothing more than an introduction.
Tsk, Lin Xiao thought, despite his youthful appearance, this person was certainly cunning.
Naturally, Lin Xiao didn't want Lingxian Sect to draw the attention of the Immortal Realm right now. However, he wasn't overly concerned about He Yi returning to the Immortal Realm and exposing anything.
After all, He Yi was only at the Golden Core stage. No matter how much he might look down on the sects of the mortal realm, he wouldn't dare to come here alone and make threats unless his demands were reasonable enough that Lingxian Sect would prefer negotiation over conflict.
Moreover, after years of increasingly frequent contact with the Immortal Realm, Lin Xiao had come to understand the basic power dynamics there and how the larger sects and noble families viewed the mortal realm's sects.
And that was, they didn't care.
To them, the mortal realm's sects were like distant specks of dust: far away and insignificant.
Even if He Yi went back and told them, "Hey, everyone, there's a new small sect in the mortal realm that's gathering a lot of yin energy! They must be up to no good!" — who would care? At best, if someone even bothered to listen to him for a few minutes, that would be a stretch. Let alone anyone making the arduous journey to the mortal realm to deal with what they considered trivial matters.
This was where having accurate information made a difference.
If this were a typical mortal sect with no connections to the Immortal Realm, He Yi's words might have scared them into submission.
What He Yi had hoped for was that Lin Xiao would be alarmed and react accordingly due to the information gap. What he didn't expect was that the usual leverage he held didn't work so well on Lin Xiao.
Additionally…
Lin Xiao had a certain interest in He Yi.
Not that kind of interest, but something quite serious.
Lin Xiao had a hunch that He Yi wasn't doing particularly well in the Immortal Realm. He remembered how isolated He Yi seemed three years ago, and he wondered if his situation had changed. He made a mental note to have the members of the Finance Hall, who frequently traveled to the Immortal Realm, discreetly gather information about He Yi's current circumstances.
Although He Yi had tried to subtly threaten Lingxian Sect, Lin Xiao could understand — after all, they didn't know each other well.
If He Yi's request was reasonable, Lin Xiao thought there was no harm in considering it.
After all… He Yi was the champion of the Fu Master Tournament!
Moreover, there was a good chance that He Yi's performance in that tournament had been intentionally moderated.
He wasn't just talented; he was a genius who had already accumulated significant experience. If Lin Xiao could build a good relationship with him and get him to offer some guidance to Elder Liu of Lingxian Sect, it would greatly benefit both Liu Chun and the sect's efforts in talisman-making!
So, facing He Yi, Lin Xiao nodded decisively:
"The envoy speaks correctly!"
"Are there any other doubts the envoy has?"
He Yi: …
He had thought Lin Xiao would either try to curry favor or become angry and assert his sect's innocence, leading to an atmosphere of flattery or tension. But why was everything so calm?
The so-called "first doubt" was just an opening gambit. He had expected Lin Xiao to be anxious about covering up the truth, which would have allowed He Yi to make his demands based on Lin Xiao's reaction.
That way, he could maintain control of the conversation, leaving Lin Xiao in a position where he had no choice but to agree.
But now, Lin Xiao didn't seem bothered at all. If He Yi forced the issue, it would actually put him at a disadvantage.
Fortunately, He Yi's numerous "doubts" weren't fabricated. So, he could only continue along that line of conversation and adjust his strategy as the situation unfolded.
So, he continued with his second question:
"My second doubt... As I traveled through the mortal realm, observing the lives of the common people, I noticed that Lingxian Sect seems to care about the people the most. Not only do you help them through various survival challenges, but you've also established academies to teach them literacy. While these actions seem noble, they are time-consuming and exhausting, and aside from gaining some praise from the common people, they don't seem to offer any tangible benefits. Why is that?"
If it were wealthy mortals or those of high status doing such things, He Yi could understand. Mortals need followers and support.
But for cultivators, who hold the power to destroy mortals with a flick of their hand, it seemed pointless.
In the Immortal Realm, mortals survive because cultivators see them as ants. The only reason mortals have a place is because some of the most menial tasks still need doing, and it's cheaper to hire mortals than cultivators. That's why they're allowed to exist in some capacity.
He Yi had grown up in such an environment. Hearing all the stories about Lingxian Sect after entering Hufang Province, it had completely upended his understanding.
Hearing his question, Lin Xiao was momentarily taken aback.
Uh, how was he supposed to answer that?
Should he say they were a group of kind-hearted, righteous people who cared about the welfare of the people?
No, no, saying that would make him seem too full of himself.
Lin Xiao was stunned for a moment and awkwardly opened his mouth before finally responding:
"… What else should we do?"
He Yi was equally confused. What did he mean, what else?
"As cultivators, we should naturally focus on cultivation, increasing our strength so that no one dares to provoke us, and ultimately attaining immortality."
Lin Xiao: "We are cultivating."
"Then how do you still have the time and energy to care for mortals?" He Yi was skeptical.
"We can't just do nothing but cultivate all the time. What's the point of cultivation, then?" Lin Xiao countered.
"Cultivation is, of course, for attaining the Great Dao and living as long as the heavens," He Yi patiently explained.
"And then?"
"And then?"
"Yeah, once you achieve immortality, then what?" Lin Xiao asked sincerely.
He Yi stood up, flicked his sleeves, and gazed out the door at the sky:
"By that point, one would naturally act as an immortal."
Since no one who had successfully ascended had left behind any records, He Yi had no idea what being an immortal actually entailed.
Realizing he was getting sidetracked, He Yi quickly turned back to Lin Xiao and said:
"Moreover, even in spare time, one can diligently practice various skills and techniques to gain abilities that others value, ensuring that the journey toward the Great Dao is less difficult."
"Rather than wasting time on matters that have no bearing on yourself, like these mortals. If all that time were spent on cultivation, imagine how much progress you could make. Time is incredibly precious for cultivators."