Yun Chen Fózǐ immediately chimed in, "Ran Xi certainly has the capital to be 'arrogant.' A Divine Transformation cultivator under fifty. In the entire Weiyu Realm, you will not find a second."
Xun Kun still did not know what had happened. "Will someone tell me what went on?"
Yun Chen also looked to the two of them. He knew the beginning, but not who the "big fish" Ran Xi had mentioned turned out to be.
Yunxi cleared her throat. "It started when Han Lian and I arrived at Jihan Gate. From the first time Hao Miaoling 'accidentally' entered the guest peak, I felt something was off about her, though I was not fully certain.
Later I learned from Han Lian that Han Xiao Zūnzhě had chosen her and wanted Han Lian to take this single-ice-spirited-root disciple. Han Lian was not ready to accept a disciple yet and refused.
Soon after, Hao Miaoling appeared at the guest peak again. You saw what happened. Her aim was obvious. She tried to make Han Lian ask me for the breakthrough potion formula. She angered Han Lian, and Han Lian injured her.
Because she was injured, the other black token I carried stirred. That confirmed her ties to the evil cultivators. So I went along with it and set up the rest of the plan."
Here, Yunxi let Han Lian take over. She knew the follow-up clearly.
Han Lian snorted and continued, "I took the jade slip Ran Xi gave me to see my master, and Hao Miaoling collapsed from poison on the spot. I immediately sent for Han Ying Zūnzhě.
Hao Miaoling claimed Ran Xi poisoned her. My master did not say it outright, but she inclined toward believing that. She asked me to invite Ran Xi to come take a look. After Ran Xi came…"
When Han Lian finished recounting the rest, Yun Chen Fózǐ intoned a Buddha's name. "Amitabha. Ran Xi Daoyou planned thoroughly. Hence the unexpected harvest."
Yunxi nodded. "Indeed. I did not expect Hao Miaoling would be possessed by Zuo Qiu. Luckily I trusted my intuition, or he might have led me by the nose."
Han Lian arched a brow. "Han Ying Zūnzhě said Hao Miaoling had two poisons in her. The soul poison was what you put into the jade slip. The other poison in her body was also yours?"
"Yes."
Yunxi admitted frankly.
"Why?"
"I was afraid she would not bite, and I had no proof. I could not ask you to act without cause. She had Han Xiao Zūnzhě to shield her. So I chose a slow-acting toxin.
You are her senior sister. If someday she did something under your name, would you not choke on that? As a friend, I remove such hazards for you."
Han Lian sighed. She had to admit Ran Xi had thought of everything. If not for her sake, Ran Xi had no need to meddle. A single warning would have been kindness enough.
So Han Lian cupped her hands solemnly. "Ran Xi, thank you. I will report this truthfully to the sect Ancestor. I believe they will handle what remains."
"No need for politeness. I have my private reason too. I wanted to recover the stolen black token. The rest was easy to do along the way. But Han Xiao Zūnzhě may take this out on you. I suggest after you settle things, meet us quickly and head for the Polar Extreme Wind Zone."
All three turned their eyes to Yunxi with a look that said you intend to run.
Yunxi chuckled. "What remains is Jihan Gate's internal matter. We should not interfere."
Truth be told, she had poisoned both master and disciple. She had her reasons and proof, but it had still cost the sect face. Running quickly was prudent.
Han Lian understood and got straight to the point. "You searched Zuo Qiu's soul and said he possessed Hao Miaoling to infiltrate Jihan Gate. That I understand. The evil cultivators wanted an insider to cause trouble.
But you also said their target this time is the Misty Snow Domain. What do you mean? I did not have time to ask before you left."
"From Zuo Qiu's memory, the evil cultivators plan to use the Misty Snow Domain's opening to enter and contract realm spirits inside, turning the Misty Snow Domain into a mobile lair for evil cultivators.
They seem to have learned from the Western Region Su clan secret realm last time, deciding a moving secret realm is better as a nest and harder for us to find."
Han Lian shook her head. "Tut. No wonder the Misty Snow Domain set its entrance deep within the Polar Extreme Wind Zone. Perhaps it is warded more against evil cultivators than against ordinary cultivators."
Yunxi nodded. "We will only know once someone gets inside. In any case, this training trip will not be easy. That is why I said we should set out quickly."
She drew an empty jade slip and recorded the cultivators Zuo Qiu, as Hao Miaoling, had contacted often after joining Jihan Gate. Who knew whether any among them were infiltrators. Jihan Gate would have to investigate.
She finished recording and handed the jade slip to Han Lian, along with another—the breakthrough potion formula.
A sweep of divine sense told Han Lian what each held, but she did not take them. She looked up."What does this mean?"
"Whatever the case, your master was poisoned by me. It cost Jihan Gate face. Consider the formula my compensation. Convey my meaning to your sect's Ancestor."
Yunxi appeared magnanimous. With the formula, they still could not refine the genetic enhancement potion. It would also stop their mouths. Why not.
Han Lian frowned. "That is entirely unnecessary."
Yunxi would not argue. She tucked both slips into Han Lian's hands. "It is very necessary. Do as I say."
Yun Chen and Xun Kun also nodded. "Han Lian, do as Ran Xi says. We will go first and wait at the outer edge of the Polar Extreme Wind Zone."
Han Lian sighed. She knew the three feared she would be blamed by the sect and were choosing the most direct way to shield her. She cupped her hands. "My thanks."
Then she flashed away from the guest peak.
"Amitabha. Let us depart as well."
"Agreed."
This time, all three of Ran Xi's party vanished from Jihan Gate's guest peak at once.
After leaving Jihan Gate, they headed toward the Polar Extreme Wind Zone. Yunxi and Yun Chen rode on Xun Kun's Blackwing Flying Boat.
The Blackwing Flying Boat was forged from a single slab of Deepsea Black Iron. A demon-cultivator smith had refined the wings of a Xuan Ye Black Eagle into the hull, granting the boat feathered wings. Every extra pair of eagle wings raised the speed by a whole tier.
Xun Kun's flying boat could unfurl up to four pairs of wings at once, reaching the escape speed of an early Divine Transformation cultivator. It burned demon stones, though. Since they were advancing while waiting for Han Lian, he used only one pair, a moderate pace.
Xun Kun piloted the boat while Yun Chen and Ran Xi set a board on the deck, chatting as they played.
After Yun Chen dropped a stone, he asked, "Ran Xi, are you still suspicious of Han Lian's master?"