Hao Yan and Hao Qing exchanged a glance, both seeing the same seriousness in each other's eyes. If these words had come from anyone else, they might have thought them exaggerated. But since they were spoken by Xiang Sizi, the "Five Poisons Sanren," she would absolutely follow through on her word.
They had already read the reports of Xiang Sizi's purge of evil cultivators who had infiltrated the Loose Cultivator Alliance. Just as Ancestor Hao Yi suspected, because the Alliance was a mix of dragons and snakes, with far fewer restrictions than a sect, there were indeed plenty of suspicious cultivators hiding among them.
Xiang Sizi had not bothered with lengthy investigations. She captured all suspicious individuals in one sweep, then fed each a poison pill. Those who knew anything would confess on their own. She executed those who needed to be killed, crippled those who needed their cultivation abolished, and released the rest. With these thunderous measures, she cleansed the Western Region's Loose Cultivator Alliance and restored stability among its loose cultivators.
For more than half a year, the Loose Cultivator Alliance was drenched in blood and fear. Many loose cultivators, terrified of being implicated, either quit the alliance, pledged themselves to great clans, or simply joined sects. The tension between loose cultivators, sect disciples, and family disciples became less severe as a result.
Xiang Sizi's beautiful eyes sparkled as she smiled and asked, "Is Yu Ling's prized disciple Wei Yunxi participating in this Five Region Grand Tournament?"
Hao Yan immediately realized this was the key point of Xiang Sizi's visit but answered truthfully:"Ran Xi has registered."
"Hao Yi praised her like a blooming flower. I want to meet her."
Xiang Sizi stated her request without hesitation. It was also the reason she had boarded Haoran Sect's flying boat.
Hao Yan, upon hearing this, flicked a ball of spiritual energy into her identity jade token. Moments later, Yunxi entered the guest cabin with a calm demeanor.
Xiang Sizi's attire was so striking that it was impossible for Yunxi to ignore her. She stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Junior Ran Xi greets Zūnzhě."
From the moment Yunxi entered, Xiang Sizi's gaze had been assessing her. After Yunxi finished her greeting, she smiled and said: "Ran Xi, that's a fine Dao name. Having a master to protect you is indeed a blessing."
As she spoke, her eyes swept over the jade bracelet on Yunxi's wrist and the jade talisman in her arms. Then she casually tossed a pouch to her.
Yunxi instinctively caught it and saw that it was a spirit beast pouch. She looked at Xiang Sizi, puzzled by her intentions.
Xiang Sizi smiled. "I am a poison cultivator. Here, take this Bronze-Spined Beast for self-defense. It is a nemesis of venomous snakes and serpents."
She even winked playfully.
Yunxi instantly understood Xiang Sizi's intention. She cupped her hands in thanks and quickly used her divine sense to copy a complete version of the Poison Sutra from Yixian Gate's library into a jade slip. Pretending to retrieve it from her storage bracelet, she offered it with both hands. "Thank you for the treasured gift, Senior. This is my small return gift."
Xiang Sizi had not come expecting anything from Yunxi; she only wanted to see for herself the young cultivator who had refined Huayan.
The batch of Huayan that Hao Yi had gifted her had greatly advanced her poison arts. Although Hao Yi had not said it outright, Xiang Sizi had learned that Wei Yunxi was the heir to Yixian Gate's legacy. Linking the two, she deduced that Wei Yunxi had refined the pill.
Judging by its color and fragrance, the pill had been made within the last ten years, making it easy for Xiang Sizi to pinpoint its creator. Aside from hunting down evil cultivators during this tournament, she also wanted to meet Wei Yunxi, whom she believed had talent as a poison cultivator.
The jade slip Yunxi presented was an unexpected delight for Xiang Sizi. Her own copy of the Poison Sutra was incomplete, having been damaged over millennia.
Poison cultivators were already rare in Weiyu Realm. If not for her innate talent, Xiang Sizi could never have reached Divine Transformation. Yet she was still a step away from minor ascension to the Spirit Realm. Now, with a complete Poison Sutra to fill the gaps in her understanding, she was overjoyed.
Her smile blossomed even brighter. With a wave of her hand, she tossed Yunxi a purple token. The front bore the words "Loose Cultivator Alliance," while the back was engraved with five venomous creatures holding up the character "Si." "This token represents me. As long as you carry it, you may freely take anything you need from any store run by the Loose Cultivator Alliance, until I ascend."
Yunxi deftly stored the token in her bracelet and smiled warmly as she expressed her gratitude.
Having achieved her goal, Xiang Sizi did not linger and swiftly returned to her own flying boat.
Hao Yan and Hao Qing exchanged another glance. Seeing Yunxi's fortune, they chuckled."Xiang Sizi is not known for generosity. It seems your return gift touched her heart."
Yunxi smiled. "Ancestor Hao Yi once mentioned this Five Poisons Sanren, calling her a once-in-a-millennium genius. She reached Divine Transformation with only an incomplete Poison Sutra. Even Ancestor admired her.
Though her methods are ruthless, she has her principles. Since taking charge of the Loose Cultivator Alliance in the Western Region, conflict between loose cultivators, sect disciples, and family disciples has lessened. This shows she has a keen sense of the bigger picture. She walks a path between good and evil, but with her own code of conduct. She is worth befriending.
The truth is, loose cultivators are still the majority in Weiyu Realm. Building ties between Haoran Sect and the Alliance's leader is far more beneficial than harmful."
Hao Yan and Hao Qing smiled knowingly at her insight. They then instructed: "Ran Xi, we'll soon arrive at the Central Region. You'll handle negotiations with Huaxian Gate. During the tournament, all dealings with the Loose Cultivator Alliance are also your responsibility. Go and prepare."
"Yes."
Accepting the assignment, Yunxi excused herself.
Meanwhile, Wei Yunqing had remained in her cabin for a long while. Only after Xiang Sizi had departed from Haoran Sect's flying boat did the Shadowscale Serpent in her spirit beast pouch stop transmitting fear to her.
Confused, Wei Yunqing stepped out, intending to find someone to ask. She happened to encounter Yunxi exiting the guest cabin. Stepping forward, she blocked her path. "Wei Yunxi, I have a question for you."
Yunxi glanced at Wei Yunqing, sensing this was not idle troublemaking but a genuine inquiry. She brushed nonexistent dust from her white robe. "Speak."
Wei Yunqing was displeased by Yunxi's attitude but knew this was no time for petty arguments. She bit back her irritation. "The woman in the violet-red robe just now, who is she?"
"The Five Poisons Sanren, Xiang Sizi of the Loose Cultivator Alliance."
"She's that strong?"
Yunxi looked at Wei Yunqing as though she were a fool. "Do you do nothing besides stir trouble and scheme against others?"
Wei Yunqing flushed red with anger, starting to speak, but Yunxi cut her off. "Senior Xiang Sizi is the only poison cultivator in the Western Region at Divine Transformation. She uses poison as her Dao, earning her the title 'Five Poisons Sanren.' The number of venomous beasts she has subdued is countless. They say that if she wishes to kill, even her breath can reverse a cultivator's meridians.
I advise you not to set your sights on this Zūnzhě. Otherwise, you won't even know how you died, and you'd implicate the sect as well.
One last reminder, keep a close watch on your belongings. Don't be so eager to court death yourself."
Her gaze deliberately flicked to the spirit beast pouch at Wei Yunqing's waist. The message was clear. Wei Yunqing's expression darkened, her hackles rising immediately.