Enduring humiliation for three years, seizing the elixir, the treasure, and the holy maiden.

Li Zhiran's handwritten note...

Between the lines, the smugness was so palpable it practically overflowed from the page.

The old man readily agreed to the alliance in his letter.

Spirit Beast Abyss, Spirit Mine.

Such a large fortune, just fell into Luoyan City's pocket for nothing.

How could the old man possibly refuse?

At the end of the letter, Li Ziran made a special mention of it.

He truly deserves to be called his grandfather's grandson-in-law.

This trip not only made him famous throughout Xuanhuang, but also brought Luoyan City such a lucrative ally.

I have already ordered several offerings to fetch you back to the city.

Presumably, it will arrive in a few days.

After reading it, Su Chen casually put the letter away.

He grinned.

This old man.

Su Chen hadn't expected him to accept it so readily.

But thinking about it, it makes sense.

Luoyan City has everything it needs, except for resources and financial opportunities.

This generous gift is just what the old man was looking for; it hit the nail on the head.

...

Su Chen handed the soul blood to Bai Luwei in the bamboo grove behind the pavilion.

As soon as the wind blew, the snow that had accumulated on the bamboo leaves fell down with a soft rustling sound.

Bai Luwei held the wisp of dark red soul blood, but did not immediately accept it.

"Su Chen".

"I will not accept this Snow Abyss Palace."

Su Chen raised an eyebrow.

Why?

Bai Luwei raised her eyes and looked at him.

Those eyes were as clear and bright as a cold pool at the bottom of an abyss.

"I don't want to deal with these trivial matters within the sect in my lifetime."

"I just want to cultivate in peace."

"You can keep this soul blood for me."

Bai Luwei pushed the wisp of soul blood back into Su Chen's hand.

"With you holding it for me, those elders won't dare to touch me in the slightest."

That's enough.

Su Chen held the wisp of soul blood in his hand, looking at the woman before him with some surprise.

This woman.

She's someone who knows what's good for her.

The position of sect leader is coveted by countless people.

She, on the other hand, completely shirked responsibility.

Isn't that also a form of self-preservation?

After all, she didn't covet that position, and she also had Su Chen's control over her.

These old guys probably don't really have any reason to touch her.

"become."

Su Chen stored the soul blood between his eyebrows.

"Then I'll keep it for you."

...

Even from a distance, the chill emanating from the council hall of Xueyuan Palace seemed to seep straight into one's bones.

Speaking of these Supreme Elders, they are four elders at the late Nascent Soul stage.

They were all ancient beings who had lived for thousands of years.

"Gentlemen."

Su Chen's fingers tapped lightly on the table.

"The matter of the Soul Blood, I presume the Supreme Elder has already spoken to you all about it."

The Supreme Elder was the first to stand up and cup his hands in greeting.

"Don't worry, Su Gongfeng."

"Since we have pledged allegiance to Luoyan City, it is only right that we hand over our soul blood."

"I'll be the first to hand it in."

As he spoke, the Supreme Elder made a hand seal, and a wisp of soul blood flew out from between his eyebrows and landed on the table.

Su Chen nodded.

With the Supreme Elder taking the lead, the remaining elders also handed over their soul blood.

Four streams of soul blood landed on the table one after another.

Everything went smoothly.

Su Chen was somewhat surprised that things went so smoothly.

Just when Su Chen thought the matter was about to be resolved,

The elder sitting at the end of the table suddenly stood up.

It was a thin, elderly man, dressed in a grayish-blue robe, with little expression on his face.

"I am Liu Huaiyi."

"This soul blood."

"Forgive me, but I cannot befriend them."

Before he could finish speaking...

A streak of light appeared beneath Liu Huaiyi's feet, and he transformed into a bluish-gray afterimage, darting towards the palace gate.

Good guy.

Su Chen frowned slightly.

That old guy.

They do run quite fast.

The other elders in the hall looked at each other, then shrank back, and none of them uttered a sound.

Su Chen knew exactly what was going on.

This move.

It's probably something these old guys planned together.

He wanted to use Liu Huaiyi to test his own abilities.

Look at this soul blood, isn't it truly something we absolutely must exchange?

To put it bluntly, it's a final test because they don't want to exchange soul blood.

The others, on the other hand, sat back and watched the fight unfold.

"Oh!"

Su Chen sneered.

Testing?

Then I'll show you clearly.

Su Chen didn't even move.

He simply raised one hand and made a feinting grab at Liu Huaiyi, who was rushing out.

An invisible force descended from nowhere.

Liu Huaiyi felt a sudden heaviness above his head, and his escape speed was abruptly halted.

"A mere mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator."

"You think you can keep this old man here?"

Liu Huaiyi turned around, and with a flick of his thin hand, a bluish-gray bone banner appeared in his palm.

The bone banner swayed, and a sinister aura spread out.

On the banner, countless distorted ghost faces could be faintly seen, churning and swirling.

Actually, he had already thought it through.

Even if we offend Su Chen, it won't cause any trouble for the sect.

At worst, they can just say that he acted on his own will.

Moreover, with the escape speed of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, once they escape...

At worst, I can become a wandering monk.

It's still better than having your soul and blood in someone else's hands.

"Take this strike, my withered bones summoning soul banner!"

The bone banner was waved.

A chilling wind swept across the sky, carrying a pale, skeletal figure, rushing towards Su Chen.

The elders inside the hall all had their eyes light up.

I want to see how this renowned Grand Master Su will deal with Liu Huaiyi's famous methods.

Su Chen sat in the chair, too lazy to even lift his eyelids.

Su Chen raised his hand and waved it casually.

A wisp of crimson heavenly tribulation power erupted from his fingertips, spreading out with a thunderous roar.

The countless bone shadows were touched by the crimson lightning.

sizzle.

They all turned to ashes.

The eerie wind and the bone shadows were burned to ashes in the blink of an eye.

The withered bone banner in Liu Huaiyi's hand was swept by the lightning, and a corner of it shattered on the spot.

That's right!

Despite careful planning, one crucial detail was overlooked.

That is the power of heavenly tribulation, which is most effective against evil and wicked things.

This kind of demonic technique, similar to a soul banner, is truly most afraid of the power of heavenly tribulation.

Moreover, Su Chen didn't use his full strength, since it seemed that the other party wasn't using his full strength either.

This was merely the first test between the two sides.

If it weren't for the fact that Xueyuan Pavilion's current resources are truly enticing, Su Chen wouldn't want to make enemies.

Su Chen just used the Immaculate Sword Embryo.

"this..."

Liu Huaiyi's face turned pale.

That was his natal magic weapon, which he had nurtured for three hundred years.

The elders inside the hall were stunned.

The power of heavenly tribulation.

The rumors turned out to be true.

Su Chen then slowly stood up from the chair.

"Trying to run away?"

"To pay, or not to pay?"

Su Chen stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the old man.

Liu Huaiyi looked at the young man in the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

Then look at your own natal magic weapon with a chipped corner.

His lips trembled twice.

There's no point in trying any further.

After all, they were already under Su Chen's control from the beginning, and they couldn't afford to offend Luoyan City.

I just wanted to try and see if I could avoid exchanging soul blood.

But if this stalemate continues, I'm afraid my life will be in danger.

Even sects could be destroyed.

"pay..."

"I... will hand it over!"

...