Hao Miaoling bowed when she saw Han Lian. "Greetings, Senior Sister Han Lian. I could not find you on Youhan Peak, so I came here to wait for you."
Han Lian's expression did not change. "What business do you have with this Zūnzhě?"
Hao Miaoling glanced at Han Lian, then spoke timidly. "Senior Sister Han Lian, please do not be angry. I came to you without informing Master. Master has encountered some difficulties but refuses to tell Senior Sister. So I secretly came to you."
Han Lian's bold brows lifted. "What trouble has Master encountered?"
Hao Miaoling looked toward the summit of the guest peak and lowered her voice. "It is inconvenient to speak here. Could we—"
Han Lian waved her hand. "No need. Say it here."
Hao Miaoling took a steadying breath. "The sect's Ancestor approached Master and wants Master to use Senior Sister and Ran Xi Zūnzhě as a bridge to make a trade."
"What kind of trade?"
"The potion that forces a breakthrough to Divine Transformation. If the formula could be purchased—"
Before Hao Miaoling could finish, a wave of pressure crashed over her and pinned her to the ground. Blood spurted from her mouth, and she fainted.
Han Lian's gaze turned icy as she looked down at Hao Miaoling. So that was why the girl had tried all means to appear at the guest peak these last two days. She wanted to approach Ran Xi and set her sights on the breakthrough potion in Ran Xi's hands.
In that instant, Han Lian felt killing intent rise. A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like Hao Miaoling was nothing in her eyes. Even if she killed her, Master would have no grounds to stand against her. Anger flared. An ice needle formed between her fingers, and she was about to thrust it into the girl's brow when Yun Chen and Ran Xi appeared at her side at the same time.
"Buddha bless. Han Lian, do not step into someone else's trap. Steady your heart."Yun Chen Fózǐ's voice was calm.
"Han Lian, this is no great matter. I can sell the formula to Jihan Gate. There is no need to dirty your hands over a small fry." Ran Xi's tone was even.
Han Lian drew a long breath and recalled the ice needle. She turned back. "My apologies, Ran Xi. I let you run into something like this."
Yunxi flicked her sleeve lightly. "When we forced our way out of the Shanhe Scroll alive, I already expected this day would come, which is why I chose to come to the Northern Region to temper myself. I did not expect it would trouble you instead.
This girl is still your junior sister. If you act, it becomes infighting within the same sect. The rumors will be ugly. Take her to your master. Tell her I am willing to sell the formula.
But let me be clear. Some of the spirit herbs and demonic herbs required to refine the breakthrough potion have gone extinct in the Weiyu Realm. I can refine it, but they must gather the required herbs first."
"I understand. I will explain it to Master." Han Lian swept up Hao Miaoling with a wave of her sleeve and vanished from the foot of the guest peak.
After Han Lian left, Yun Chen Fózǐ said, "Buddha bless. Ran Xi Daoyou, she is only a Foundation Establishment cultivator."
He clearly disapproved of Yunxi's approach.
Yunxi chuckled, showing a row of small white teeth. "Yun Chen, you are thinking of that girl too simply. She came to the guest peak once already and deliberately appeared in front of me, claiming she wandered in by mistake. How does a Foundation Establishment disciple pass the guest peak's formation by accident? Does she take this Zūnzhě for a fool?"
Yun Chen Fózǐ had not known they had met before and frowned. "She is Han Xiao Zūnzhě's personal disciple. She should be able to move freely through the guest peak."
Yunxi pressed her lips, smiling. "That is possible. But how did she find my residence so precisely? If she truly wandered in by mistake, the first courtyards she entered should have been yours or Xun Kun's."
Yun Chen fell silent. He had spotted the flaw as well. Coupled with the earlier conversation between Han Lian and Hao Miaoling, it was not hard to see that someone had arranged matters to let Ran Xi learn of Han Lian Daoyou's master's difficulties and force Han Lian to act.
"Buddha bless. It seems we should depart early."
"Agreed. I was thinking the same."
On the other side, Han Lian met Han Xiao with a dark face, then flung the unconscious Hao Miaoling onto the floor with a sweep of her sleeve. Her voice was cold. "Master, you have been far too lax with Hao Miaoling. She dared come to Ran Xi proposing to buy the formula for the potion. What right does she have to represent Jihan Gate in negotiating with Ran Xi?"
Han Xiao Zūnzhě was startled to see Hao Miaoling in such a state. She was about to scold Han Lian, but the next words stuck in her throat. She frowned and sent a ball of ice spiritual power into Hao Miaoling's body.
A moment later, Hao Miaoling woke. She shook her head and looked up to see Han Xiao Zūnzhě on the seat of honor. Her eyes reddened. "Master…"
Han Lian cut her off without mercy. "Hao Miaoling, in front of Master, make it clear who pushed you to go to the guest peak to seek Ran Xi. You even wanted to buy the breakthrough potion, and you set your sights on the formula itself. What right do you have?"
Hao Miaoling forced back her tears, aggrieved. "I only saw Master in difficulty. Besides, I never said it to Ran Xi Zūnzhě directly. I wanted to discuss it with Senior Sister first."
Han Lian let out a cold laugh and glanced at the embarrassed Han Xiao Zūnzhě. "Hao Miaoling, a good aptitude does not mean you have a good head. If you do not understand, study and ask more. Do you think a Divine Transformation cultivator's divine sense is decoration? If she wishes, the entire Jihan Gate lies within her divine sense. You think that because you did not say it in front of Ran Xi, she would not know?
Especially when you deliberately waited at the foot of the guest peak to find me, in such a conspicuous place. If you are not a fool, then you did it on purpose to let Ran Xi learn of my difficulty and force me to compromise."
Hao Miaoling was left speechless and lowered her head. She had indeed harbored such thoughts, hoping to achieve her aim in a roundabout way.
Han Lian snorted. "You achieved your aim. Ran Xi, for my sake, is willing to sell the formula to Jihan Gate."
Hao Miaoling's shoulders trembled, but she did not raise her head.
Han Xiao Zūnzhě, however, looked at Han Lian, surprised that her youngest disciple's mischief had gotten the sect what it wanted. But Han Lian's next words made her frown.
"However, even if the sect buys the formula, it may be of little use. Put aside whether there is anyone in the sect who can refine it. Even if there is, the spirit herbs and demonic herbs listed in the formula may not be gathered.
Ran Xi said that if you can collect all the required ingredients listed in the formula, then for my sake she will personally refine the potion for Jihan Gate."
Hao Miaoling raised her head, puzzled. "Senior Sister, if the herbs for the potion cannot be gathered, how did Ran Xi refine a breakthrough potion for you all?"
Han Lian's smile was cutting. "Ran Xi received the inheritance of Yixian Gate. Every precious spirit herb and demonic herb in her entire portable medicine garden was refined into potions to keep us alive in the evil cultivators' sealed land. How do you think we survived those ten years?"
She turned to Han Xiao Zūnzhě. "Master, behind Ran Xi stands not only Haoran Sect, but also the Divine Transformation cultivators who fought their way out of the Shanhe Scroll. Each of us owes her a life. If the day comes when she calls on me to repay this karmic debt, I will stand at her side, because she deserves it."