"Ah, I see." Yao Ling showed an expression of realization and quickly said, "I know you're a good person, and I also think my brother is a good person. That's why I wanted to introduce the two of you."
"But Sister Huo Zhi, since you already have a Dao partner, please forget about it."
"Sister Huo Zhi, please pretend nothing happened."
"Hmm." Huo Zhi raised her hand, took out several fire beads, and handed them to Yao Ling. She smiled and said, "I'm really happy you came to see me. This is a small gift I prepared for you."
"Thank you, Sister Huo Zhi." Yao Ling smiled while thinking of an excuse to leave. She was still worried about her brother Yao Tian and did not want him to be beaten.
However, sometimes the more you try to avoid something, the more likely it is to happen.
Yao Tian opened his mouth. "Miss Huo Zhi is the pride of the Yan Clan. Her Dao partner must be an extraordinary person. Why don't you invite him to meet us and have some tea? I'm sure we'll have many common topics to discuss."
"To be recognized by Miss Huo Zhi, one must be a direct descendant of an Ancient Clan, or perhaps even someone I know."
Yao Tian was now extremely irritated.
When Yao Ling said she would introduce a woman to him, he had shown no interest at all.
However, when the elders of the Yao Clan learned that the old members of the Yao Clan wanted to introduce Huo Zhi to him, everyone agreed.
Only then did he leave the Yao Realm and, guided by Yao Ling, go to meet Huo Zhi. If the conversation went well, the elders would intervene and contact the Yan Clan about the rest.
But in his heart, he had never thought that even if she possessed the Red Lotus Karmic Flame and a special physique, a woman with a fourth-rank Dou God bloodline from the Yan Clan could move his heart.
However, the moment he saw Huo Zhi, he could not help but be moved. He felt she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and the only one who could compare to her was Yao Ling — but Yao Ling was his real sister.
At that moment, he felt this trip had been worthwhile and was ready to use his abilities to win Huo Zhi's favor. As long as Huo Zhi did not refuse, he had planned to send a message to the clan elders.
The result… it ended before it even began.
He felt like a clown.
"My Dao partner does not know Young Master Yao Tian. There is no need for us to meet and have tea together. He is currently in seclusion and has no time to meet guests," Huo Zhi said, firmly refusing on Xiao Ting's behalf.
Her Dao partner himself was quite good-looking, but considering Yao Tian's personality, if he learned that Huo Zhi's Dao partner was just a "rogue cultivator" or from the declining Xiao Clan, he might say something that would get him beaten.
"It's fine," Yao Tian said gently. "Since we've already come to the Black-Corner Region, Yao Ling and I can stay here for a while. After Miss Huo Zhi's partner returns from seclusion, we can meet again."
"Brother, let's just forget it." Yao Ling immediately said. "Sister Huo Zhi already has a Dao partner. Why do we need to stay here? Don't you want to return to the Yao Realm to improve your alchemy skills? You should go back as soon as possible so you don't get overtaken by Yao Xing Ji."
Yao Tian could not help but frown and stubbornly said, "Ling Er, you were the one who said you wanted to come. Besides, your brother is here too. It's not good to just leave like this."
"I was just curious about what kind of amazing person the man Miss Huo likes is. Is that rude?"
"I'm sorry if I offended you." Huo Zhi slightly narrowed her eyes and smiled faintly. "You don't need to meet him to understand how outstanding the Dao partner I chose is."
"Eh?" Yao Tian looked surprised.
Just as he was about to ask how he knew, Huo Zhi suddenly moved. She raised her hand and mobilized spatial power to suppress him.
Yao Ling closed her eyes and said, "Brother, this is your own doing. I did my best."
…
"Shhh!"
Fifteen minutes later, Yao Tian's face was pale and he looked extremely weakened. His eyes still held traces of fear as he stared at Huo Zhi.
He had not expected this woman to suddenly attack, and he had no way to resist at all.
He stubbornly retorted, "It was a surprise attack, so what?"
As a result, Huo Zhi released him from the restraint and let him make the first move.
Even though he used soul power and Heavenly Flame, Huo Zhi defeated him with a single strike.
This meant there was an absolute gap in realm and power between him and Huo Zhi.
In reality, Huo Zhi now possessed the fifth-rank Dou God bloodline of the Yan Clan and a four-star Dou Venerable soul at the early stage of the Heavenly Realm.
Dealing with Yao Tian, who had only just reached the mid-stage of the Spirit Realm, was truly easy.
"The gap between you and me is much smaller than the gap between me and my Dao partner."
"My Dao partner is younger than both you and me, but his power far surpasses mine."
"If you want to meet my Dao partner, wait until you reach the Dou Saint level."
"This time, for Ling Er's sake, I'll overlook your unreasonable behavior."
Yao Tian: "…"
In other words, I didn't want to come, but I was forced to, and I still got beaten?
What was even more ridiculous was that they should thank Yao Ling for not being beaten too badly.
It was quite interesting.
"Sister Yao Ling, I will enter seclusion again from now on. If you need to contact me, crush the communication jade slip."
Huo Zhi lightly nodded at Yao Ling and prepared to leave.
At that moment, Yao Ling opened her mouth. "Sister Huo Zhi, before you go, I have one question."
"Hmm?" Huo Zhi gestured for Yao Ling to continue.
"Sister, do you know someone named Han Feng?" Yao Ling asked, introducing Mu Qing Luan to her.
"Hello, Miss Huo Zhi. I am Mu Qing Luan from Starfall Pavilion in Central Plains. My master is Feng Zun Zhe. The Pavilion Master, who was originally from the Yao Clan. He has been missing for over twenty years. His disciple, Han Feng, also disappeared with him."
"Recently, we received information that Han Feng was killed by a genius named Xiao Ting who suddenly appeared in the Black-Corner Region. Is this true?"
A thoughtful expression appeared in Huo Zhi's eyes. She understood that the two girls wanted to go through formal procedures.
However, instead of directly mentioning Xiao Ting's name, she lightly nodded and said, "In that case, you've come to the right place. I know someone who can answer your question."
With that, Huo Zhi casually created a spatial passage and stepped into it. "Follow me."
Yao Ling and Mu Qing Luan immediately followed. Yao Ling turned back and asked, "Brother, aren't you coming?"
Yao Tian: He was not in the mood, nor was he interested. He just wanted to be left alone in peace.
Huo Zhi did not seem like the type of person who would lie.
The important point was that the other party was younger than him.
As far as he knew, there shouldn't be such a genius among the major Ancient Clans.
No, there was actually one — Lei Dong, the young master of the Lei Clan, who possessed the god-level Dou God bloodline of the Lei Clan.
However, since the relationship between the Lei Clan and the Yan Clan had always been cold, it was unlikely that Huo Zhi's Dao partner was Lei Dong.
Could a genius have emerged from the mysterious Hun Clan?
Yao Tian wanted some quiet time.
Yao Ling breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had escaped being beaten.
Afterward, she and Mu Qing Luan followed Huo Zhi toward the Inner Court of Jia Nan Academy.
Huo Zhi swept her soul power and located Xiao Yan, who had just finished refining a pill.
"Third Brother, please come over here. There are guests who wish to meet the Medicine Venerable!"
…