Treasure Gathering Immortal Furnace

At this moment, beside the pavilion in the distance, Yueyao was raising her hand to manipulate several array flags, seemingly practicing an array. Only when she heard the sound of the stone door opening behind her did she turn her head to look.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you've emerged from seclusion!" Yueyao's face lit up with joy upon seeing Lu Fan emerge from seclusion, and she quickly stepped forward to pay her respects.

"Why did Fairy Yueyao decide to set up an array?" Lu Fan asked curiously.

"Having nothing to do, I asked Master Chi Mei to teach me a few simple formations," Yue Yao said, glancing at Lu Fan before adding, "Fellow Daoist Li, are you also planning to leave?"

"Also? Who left?" Lu Fan was stunned for a moment.

"Fellow Daoist Fu created a late-stage Foundation Establishment demon puppet a year ago and left on his own. True Immortal Red Eyebrows encountered a problem while refining pills and said he went to consult a close friend who knows pill refining. He should be back soon," Yueyao said.

Upon hearing this, Lu Fan nodded. He never expected that after two years of seclusion, only he and Yue Yao would remain.

"Then why doesn't Fairy Yueyao leave?" Lu Fan asked.

When asked, Yueyao's pretty face flushed slightly, and she seemed a little reserved. She clutched the hem of her clothes with her jade-like hands, and her voice became much lower as she said, "I want to wait for Fellow Daoist Li to come out of seclusion so that we can leave together."

Upon hearing Yueyao's words, Lu Fan paused for a moment before saying, "Fairy Yueyao, I may be going to Thousand Peaks City on this trip. As you know, I have offended Gu Chen of the Sword Pavilion, and he is probably still searching for me all over the world. It would be too dangerous for you to come with me."

"It's alright. I've used the blood of the Thunder Vulture Pill to refine ten fourth-tier Heavenly Thunder Talismans. They have the ability to protect themselves and will definitely not hold Fellow Daoist Li back," Yueyao quickly said.

Lu Fan was also at a loss. He had already rejected Yue Yao very tactfully, but it seemed that she did not understand.

Speaking of the three of them, Fu Qing is the kind of person who is very easygoing and doesn't try to curry favor with the strong. He couldn't wait to leave after creating the demon puppet.

As for Chi Mei, with his lifespan limited, he was focused on alchemy and breakthroughs, and had no interest in anything else.

Yueyao, on the other hand, seemed quiet and shy, but she had many tricks up her sleeve. She knew that Lu Fan was a powerful sword cultivator and also had the powerful weapon of a Core Formation stage puppet.

If one could befriend Lu Fan, it would greatly ensure their safety.

For a female cultivator who doesn't have much good fortune and isn't good at fighting, and can only use talismans to fight, the only options besides joining a sect are to rely on a strong person.

"Fairy Yueyao, it's not that I think you're holding me back, it's just that I'm used to being alone and I'm quite casual and undisciplined in my actions."

"I might go out to find a few materials and then plunge into the deep mountains to cultivate for three to five years, while you also need to collect materials for Core Formation. In fact, I will be the one slowing you down."

Lu Fan was afraid that his words might be too harsh and hurt the feelings of this quiet young girl. After all, she hadn't left, which meant she was waiting for him, probably for at least a year. So he politely declined again.

The reason Lu Fan didn't want to bring Yue Yao along was because he wasn't sure if he was wanted by the Sword Pavilion, and it would be more convenient for him to be alone.

However, if Yueyao is taken along, and they are chased by the Sword Pavilion, they will be hesitant and unable to escape.

"I... understand," Yueyao said, looking down in disappointment. Her long eyelashes fluttered incessantly. Although she didn't shed any tears, her gentle and helpless demeanor inexplicably softened one's heart.

When Lu Fan saw Yue Yao looking so petite, his heart skipped a beat, and he almost agreed. Fortunately, reason prevailed, and he swallowed the words that were about to come out of his throat.

In fact, Yueyao had already emerged from seclusion after half a year and hadn't left yet. She had been waiting for Lu Fan for a full year and a half, but it was clear that Lu Fan had no intention of joining her.

But Yueyao thought that she and Lu Fan had only met by chance and had entered the Misty Forest with the same goal, so they didn't have a deep relationship.

Such abruptness is likely to arouse suspicion and disgust.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I will work hard to improve myself and break through to the Core Formation stage as soon as possible. We will meet again if fate allows." Having come to her senses, Yueyao no longer insisted. She bowed slightly to Lu Fan and prepared to leave.

"Take care," Lu Fan returned the greeting.

Then Yueyao released her flying sword and fled into the distance, looking somewhat lost and dejected.

Watching Yueyao leave, Lu Fan sighed softly. It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted at all, but before doing it, he had to weigh his own capabilities.

Ultimately, he was just a Foundation Establishment cultivator. When faced with danger, he could barely protect himself and had no power to protect anyone.

If he were to truly accompany Yueyao, things would be fine if he didn't encounter any Core Formation cultivators. If he did encounter a Core Formation cultivator, he could still escape with the help of Ziyuan. However, if Yueyao were captured and he went to rescue her, he would surely die. Therefore, maintaining a clear self-awareness at all times is the key to survival.

Just as Lu Fan was about to leave, another figure flew swiftly towards the small island from afar.

Looking up, I saw the Red Eyebrows returning from their outing.

"Oh my, it's been two years! Fellow Daoist Li's cultivation has improved a lot. Congratulations!" Red Eyebrows said with a smile and cupped his hands after landing.

"Does True Immortal Red Eyebrows have a solution for refining the Golden Marrow Pill?" Lu Fan asked.

"Hehe, it's solved. I was just about to go into seclusion to refine it," Red Eyebrows stroked his beard and said, "I just saw Fairy Yueyao leave looking distraught. Were you...?"

"It's nothing," Lu Fan said, raising his hand slightly.

Having lived for nearly two hundred years, Chi Mei was certainly able to see through Yue Yao's thoughts. He naturally discerned something from Lu Fan's eyes and laughed, "Fellow Daoist Li is able to resist beauty from afar, which is more insightful than mine. Your future achievements will certainly not be low."

"There's no such thing as remaining unmoved by a woman's advances. I'm just a lustful man, but my cultivation is currently too low. I can barely protect myself, let alone anyone else," Lu Fan said, shaking his head.

"That's absolutely right. If your cultivation is low, it's best not to have such thoughts, lest you harm yourself and others," Red Eyebrows said. Then he added, "Fellow Daoist Li, are you planning to leave now that you've come out of seclusion?"

"Yes, I have a lot to do and can't stay any longer," Lu Fan nodded.

"If you leave, you must not go to Thousand Peaks City," Red Eyebrows said with a serious expression.

"What? Are the Dao Sect disciples still here?" Lu Fan was taken aback.

"Alas, Fu Qing has been arrested. Gu Chen already knows your name and is currently leading the Sword Pavilion disciples to conduct round-the-clock checks around Thousand Peaks City. There are also two Core Formation elders overseeing the operation."

"The Dao Sect has issued a warrant for your arrest. Whoever kills you will be rewarded with four Golden Marrow Pills and ten Calming Pills."

"You'd better not show your face."

Red Eyebrows spoke slowly.

Lu Fan used the name Li Niu in Qianfeng City, so it didn't matter that Fu Qing was captured. However, he didn't expect that the Dao Sect would really be willing to spend so much, giving away four Golden Marrow Pills and ten Heart-Stabilizing Pills, which are essential resources for Core Formation.

That's enough to drive a group of pseudo-Core Formation cultivators crazy.

"Master, with Fellow Daoist Fu arrested, aren't we in danger here?" Lu Fan asked.

Red Eyebrows shook his head and said, "Fellow Daoist Fu left a year ago, and was probably captured in the last few months. If he had revealed our hiding place, the Sword Pavilion would have arrived long ago."

"Based on this, we can infer that Fellow Daoist Fu did not reveal our hiding place, and Gu Chen dared not tell the Nascent Soul Ancestor about the loss of the top-grade magic weapon, so he will not search Fu Qing's soul. For the time being, we are still safe."

Lu Fan frowned, agreeing with Chi Mei's reasoning.

Although Fu Qing seemed carefree and guileless, he was quite righteous and did not reveal their location.

Moreover, this Soul Searching Technique is a secret technique that can only be used by those in the Nascent Soul stage, and Gu Chen was too busy hiding to dare to report it to the Supreme Elder of the Sword Pavilion.

That's why the Sword Pavilion only dispatched two Core Formation cultivators to assist in capturing him.