Han Lian's stance was clear, and the air in the cave dwelling tightened for a heartbeat. Han Xiao Zūnzhě felt it most of all. She understood that her disciple was now a Divine Transformation cultivator. Han Lian still called her Master, yet she already had the standing to speak as an equal.
Han Lian's cool gaze swept past Hao Miaoling seated below. She rose and said, "Master, Junior Sister Hao was in the wrong. I will go apologize to Ran Xi first. Ran Xi said she is willing to sell Jihan Gate the formula for the breakthrough potion and she will not go back on her word. Once the elders reach a decision, you may send me a message at any time."
She cupped her hands to Han Xiao Zūnzhě and left the cave dwelling.
When Han Lian had gone, Han Xiao Zūnzhě frowned. "Miaoling, who encouraged you to seek out Ran Xi?"
Hao Miaoling did not dare lift her head. "Master, please do not be angry. I approached Ran Xi Zūnzhě on my own. I overheard fellow disciples in the Disciples' Hall talking about a breakthrough potion. They said Senior Sister Han Lian's breakthrough was thanks to such a potion. If Jihan Gate had it, we could surely cultivate more Divine Transformation cultivators. So I…"
Han Xiao Zūnzhě raised a hand to cut her off. "You need not take all the blame. Tell me who was talking. Give me their names."
Hao Miaoling snapped her head up. "Master, they were only speaking casually. They may not have meant it for me—"
"I will be the judge of that. I will not wrong them. You need only speak the names."
Hao Miaoling pressed her lips together, then finally listed several names. After that, she slunk back to her quarters. Master had said she would handle the rest.
Han Lian had already returned to the guest peak. She found Ran Xi, Yun Chen, and Xun Kun sharing wine in the courtyard. She walked straight over, sat down, poured herself a cup of spirit wine, lifted it to her nose for a sniff, said, "Good wine," tipped it back in one swallow, then poured a second cup.
Ran Xi raised a hand to block her. "Han Lian, that is a thousand-year Xue Ling flower brew. The kick comes late. Drink slower."
Han Lian nodded, took only a sip, set the cup down, then bowed her head slightly to Yunxi."Ran Xi, I am sorry. I did not know the sect had such intentions."
Yunxi waved it off. "It is fine. I expected this. If not Jihan Gate, it would be some other sect. As I said, if Jihan Gate wants the formula, they can pay spirit stones. Whether they can gather the spirit herbs and demonic herbs to refine a breakthrough potion is not my responsibility.
Of course, for your sake, I will refine one batch of the breakthrough potion for Jihan Gate free of charge. As long as I live, that promise stands."
Han Lian cupped her hands. "My thanks. They do not understand how rare the breakthrough potion is. We saw it with our own eyes. Your entire portable medicine garden of high-tier spirit herbs was consumed to nothing. We felt the pain just watching.
Many of those spirit and demonic herbs are extinct in the Weiyu Realm. In the end, not even the seedlings survived. And yet these people…"
Xun Kun saw that Han Lian truly felt ashamed and angry at her sect's behavior, so he finished the thought. "Ran Xi Daoyou acted with greatest righteousness. If I had been in Ran Xi's place, I could not have done better. At the very least, I would have put some aside for myself to last to the end."
"Buddha bless. Ran Xi Daoyou contributed the most. She deserves the chief merit. We are ashamed in comparison." Yun Chen Fózǐ's admiration was sincere. Under such dire straits, Ran Xi had never given up, even paying out spirit stones to support the survivors until the end. Without that, none of them would have left the sealed land alive.
Ran Xi smiled lightly. "I only did what I could. Leaving alive was the result of all of us fighting together. Most of all, the fallen from every region. Their sacrifice leveled the road for us to leave. They are the ones who must be remembered. To them."
All three nodded, then spoke as one. "To them."
Afterward, the four set a specific departure time and returned to their quarters.
Back in her temporary courtyard, Yunxi took out a jade slip and sent a cipher to Xiao He, whom she had not contacted in a long time. She had questions.
Not until the next morning did Yunxi receive Xiao He's reply. Seeing the address, she raised a brow, then flickered away from the guest peak of Jihan Gate without alerting anyone.
Yunxi wore a different face, draped in her new white cloak. She suppressed her cultivation to mid Foundation Establishment and stood before an unremarkable two-story teahouse. The signboard read "Tea House." She stepped inside.
The waiter greeted her with a smile. "Welcome, honored guest."
"I arranged to meet a friend. He said he is waiting in Room A."
"Please follow me upstairs."
The attentive waiter led Yunxi to the private Room A on the second floor, served the spirit tea she ordered, and withdrew.
Yunxi extended her divine sense. The small room was simple and old-fashioned. Aside from antique table, chairs, and tea set, a painting hung on the wall. It showed a roaring waterfall. Beside the pool at its base stood an octagonal pavilion. A person stood within, admiring the view.
"Interesting."
Yunxi murmured and stepped into the painting.
In the next breath she stood inside the pavilion. The man who had been enjoying the scenery turned and saw her. His face changed. "How are you here? Who told you to meet me?"
Yunxi studied his austere features and tapped her cheek. "You know me."
Xiao He frowned. Something was wrong. Why was Hao Miaoling here to see him? Was this a probe, or had evil cultivators discovered his cooperation with Dao cultivators? The thoughts flashed by. He moved at once to seize the "Hao Miaoling" before him. He had to know how she learned of this place. His work with Dao cultivators could not be exposed to a third party. Otherwise he was dead, perhaps refined into a demonic puppet.
Yunxi simply shifted her foot and slipped past his strike. She wiped her face once and the Glazed Jade Mask turned transparent, revealing her true features.
"Xiao He, did you not choose this meeting point? Why attack the moment we meet?"
Seeing the familiar face, Xiao He halted and his mouth twitched. "Ran Xi Zūnzhě, you almost scared me to death. I thought evil cultivators had my whereabouts."
Yunxi smiled. "What is there to fear? Their plan to sabotage the Five Region Grand Tournament failed. For now they should have no time for you."
She sat first at the stone table in the octagonal pavilion and beckoned for Xiao He to sit as well. Only then did she ask, "What brings you to the Northern Region?"