The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 222 If you can't make something out of nothing, don't get your hands dirty.

In the battle to slay the demons at Deadly Ridge, the Xuan Clan suffered a total loss of twenty-six people. In addition, some were poisoned by Yin Qi and their souls were damaged. This number shocked all the clans. Among them, the Shugong family suffered the fewest losses, with only two deaths. The people who died in the other clans were all of low cultivation level.

Just as Lang Jiuchuan and Jiang Che said, those with low cultivation levels were sent here to make up the numbers and die.

After finishing his business here, Lang Jiuchuan bid farewell to Gong Tinglan and the others.

Gong Tinglan led her to the side, glanced at the Xuan Clan members not far away, and said in a low voice, "Ninth Miss, your Dao roots are pure and upright. I wish you to cultivate the Great Dao. The matter of slaying demons and evil spirits will be recorded in the Xuan Clan's Grand History. And this time, you played a major role. Do you want to become famous?"

Lang Jiuchuan was taken aback, then said calmly, "I am just an ordinary person here, only seeking to live. Whether I become famous or not is not important to me. If fame and fortune bring me endless trouble, then I'd rather not have them."

Gong Tinglan understood and said, "Then I will only record your name, Jiuchuan, as it is a Daoist name, which is quite fitting. There is another matter. Although this is our first meeting, I know that you are an unrestrained person. We are fellow Daoists, but if we are like this, the habits of the Xuan Clan will become... You are a smart person, so I will not beat around the bush with you. Your mother and the First Lady of my clan are old friends, so I will shamelessly say that we are related."

Lang Jiuchuan smiled and said, "Young Master is too kind. Who in the world would not want to befriend the Xuan Clan? Your words make me feel ashamed. It is we who are worthy of your favor."

"But the disdain in your eyes is not what you say." Gong Tinglan smiled slightly and said, "No matter what, with the connection of our elders, outsiders will see you as one of our Gong family. If you are willing, I can give you a Gong family disciple identity token, which will protect you from the Xuan Clan's interference. Of course, I will not make you a member of my Gong family's protective clan; it will only be a personal relationship."

Lang Jiuchuan's heart skipped a beat, realizing what he meant by "causing trouble." He exchanged a glance with him and said, "I am just an ordinary person who knows a few tricks. Why is the young master going to such lengths?"

Gong Tinglan looked at the Xuan Clan member who was talking about something and looked smug. With his hands behind his back and a hint of coldness in his eyes, he said, "The true masters remain hidden. Those who do emerge are either assimilated or suppressed. If this continues, the mortal world will be in danger."

He then looked in the direction of the Extreme Evil Land and said in a deep voice, "Take this Corpse Mountain for example. With so many corpses forming an Extreme Evil Land, why has it existed for so long without anyone knowing or speaking out? They even spent a hundred years refining the Corpse Zombie. This time, it was the young lady who was very kind, glimpsing the secrets of heaven and daring to defy the heavens. If the young lady had also fled or ignored it like that fellow Daoist who was afraid of death, perhaps that evil spirit would have already been born and become a monster in the chaotic world."

Lang Jiuchuan said, "Young Master also has great merit. Without your divination, Gong Qi and the others would not have come out to search for him."

Gong Tinglan shook his head: "Although I obtained an inauspicious divination, my understanding of the Dao is not profound enough to discern the nature of the evil or to deduce the situation. I am truly unworthy to accept this reward."

His Taoist name was Dingshen.

"Merits and demerits are determined by Heaven, young master, there is no need to belittle yourself."

Gong Tinglan smiled faintly and said, "You are very kind, young lady. You are also a seed of the Dao that can cultivate the Great Dao. I only hope that there are more like-minded people like you here, instead of suppressing one by one. When something really big happens, there are not two who can fight, just like the losses this time."

If they were all highly skilled cultivators, how could so many have perished?

A shadow fell over his eyes as he looked at the shady trees and said, "I don't know if I'm being overly pessimistic, but I feel that such evil spirits are not the only ones."

“You are overthinking it. High-ranking Taoist masters live in seclusion. If there were truly signs of chaos, I believe they would all come out to fight. To hide in a corner for self-preservation would be to go against the path they have cultivated.”

Gong Tinglan was taken aback, then clasped his hands in embarrassment: "I was too attached to appearances. So what do you mean?" "Thank you for your high regard. I don't need the identity token. If you could give me one of your tokens, I think I could use it to my advantage." Lang Jiuchuan winked slyly.

Having obtained the identity token, if something really happens, will she, as a 'disciple of the Gong family,' step up? Some people are very good at morally blackmailing those who act like saints!
She couldn't afford to gain one and lose the other; if she were to be bound hand and foot for the sake of a token of self-protection, she would end up losing her freedom.

Gong Tinglan chuckled, took off a jade talisman from her waist, and said, "This is a protective jade talisman I made. I'm giving it to you, Miss. May the Heavenly Venerable grant you boundless blessings!"

"Thank you." Lang Jiuchuan accepted it without ceremony, feeling the smooth jade talisman, and said, "There is no construction without destruction. Young Master has a noble character, but there is no need to force mud onto the wall. Not only will it not stick, but it will also dirty your hands. Without removing the rotten flesh, it is difficult to have new life. Even if we are of the same blood, we have to see if the branch is a good one. What do you say?"

Gong Tinglan's eyes shone brightly, and she cupped her hands in a Daoist salute: "I have learned a lot. I look forward to debating and competing with you again someday."

Lang Jiuchuan returned the greeting, but as he was leaving, he suddenly remembered something, took out the half of the portrait he had been carrying, and said, "Young Master, please wait. Do you recognize this woman?"

Gong Tinglan took it and examined it carefully, saying, "Although it's only half a face, the beauty mark and eyebrows match those of the fourth madam of the Rong family."

A strange light flashed across Lang Jiuchuan's eyes.

Her expression wasn't visible on her face, but Gong Tinglan still keenly sensed the subtle change in her aura. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Madam Rong the Fourth is the mother of Rong Huanxuan, the current young master of the Rong family. Her maiden name is Xi Yun."

Xi Yun.

Lang Jiuchuan muttered a sentence to himself, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I understand. Respectfully seeing off the young master."

Gong Tinglan turned and left, thinking to herself, "He's gotten quite mature. I wonder what kind of great deity has possessed this body."

What is the connection between Xi Yun and the portrait she produced?
The thought that Lang Jiuchuan's body was inhabited by a different soul made Gong Tinglan ponder more deeply. Could it be that Xi Yun had killed the real Lang Jiuchuan? But why?
She's just the daughter of a military general, why would she go to such lengths?
Does the Rong family have some kind of shady secret?
Gong Tinglan returned to the Xuan Clan's ranks with a belly full of doubts, bid farewell to the other clans, and left with the Gong family. As for the aftermath of this extermination of evil, he would review the situation with the other clans' opinions when he returned to the clan. After all, there were many casualties, and they should be taught a lesson. He had said long ago that he should send some capable people to avoid unnecessary sacrifices, but they did not listen to advice.

Forget it, as that child said, "You can't make a difference, why bother getting your hands dirty!"
The people from the other tribes also bowed and paid their respects, and before leaving, they thought of Langjiuchuan again.

"What's the name of that new young fellow Daoist the Gong family took in again?"

"It seems to be Jiuchuan?"

“Strange, I don’t remember what she looks like.”

"Me too. By the way, what did she do?"

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances and quickly let the matter drop, perhaps in their hearts considering her a fame-seeker.