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

Su Chen watched the two women go back and forth, and he was secretly delighted.

His hand never stopped wiping the sword.

The sound of several thin waterfalls below the cliff accompanied us as we climbed up the plank road.

Liu Yunhan's message arrived in the afternoon, containing only a short sentence: "There's progress on the matter of the Boundary Order."

Guanlan Terrace still features the same stone table and two prayer cushions.

Liu Yunhan wasn't wearing shoes today.

Her bare feet landed directly on the stone surface. A pale pink petal, blown by the cliff wind, landed on the instep of her foot without her noticing.

Su Chen glanced at her again as he sat down, but didn't mention it.

"The news came quickly."

"Since the elder has given the order, how could I dare to neglect it?"

The cup of tea on the stone table had been poured long ago and was already cold.

Su Chen picked up the glass and took a sip, only to realize it was cold. After thinking for a moment, he finished it anyway.

Liu Yunhan found it amusing but didn't offer to replace Su Chen's answer; she simply continued the conversation.

"The boundary tokens of the spirit realm have always been held by a few major sects."

"We know the number of each one, and we keep track of how many each family has."

"Trying to get what you want through the righteous path is as difficult as climbing to heaven."

Su Chen put down his teacup.

"That means there are other ways besides the right path."

"True wisdom is passed down."

Liu Yunhan's eyes were slightly upturned at the corners.

"In the last great war between good and evil, a small righteous sect was wiped out."

"The two boundary tokens hidden in the sect were confiscated by the Demon Spirit Sect."

"It's been kept in the Demon Spirit Sect all these years, and I've never seen it used."

Demon Spirit Gate.

Su Chen's knuckles paused on the stone table.

Liu Yunhan noticed this subtle movement but didn't point it out. She slowly added another sentence.

"At the negotiating table, prisoners can be exchanged, spiritual veins can be exchanged, and magical treasures can be exchanged."

"The boundary decree..."

"Of course, it can be exchanged."

As she finished speaking, Liu Yunhan changed her sitting posture, and the petal finally slid off her instep and fell into the crevice of the stone.

"I will also be attending this round of negotiations."

Liu Yunhan had calculated everything perfectly in her mind.

Su Chen wants the Realm Token, but it's in the hands of the Demonic Path.

In this way, Su Chen would have someone who could speak up at the negotiating table.

Master Yunmeng is a Supreme Elder; it's impossible for him to speak up about such a private matter concerning a true disciple.

Liu Yunhan is acceptable.

Elder Pianfeng, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, delivered a message on someone's behalf on the table, and it carried significant weight.

Once this favor is done, Su Chen will be indebted to it.

If you owe too much, you'll never be able to pay it back.

Those who cannot pay their debts are the ones who are truly bound.

Su Chen was thinking about something else entirely.

The Demon Spirit Sect, Hong Fu.

After going around in circles, the storyline has circled back to Hong Fu.

Lu Yao's chip has become even more valuable.

"I would be most grateful if the elder would agree to go with me."

Su Chen cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and smiled sincerely.

Liu Yunhan also smiled.

The two men, each with their own agendas, sat on the Guanlan Terrace for half an hour, their tea refills coming three times, yet neither managed to get to the bottom of things.

A string of copper bells hangs from the eaves of the main hall, jingling incessantly when the wind blows.

The list of accompanying persons was finalized by Venerable Yunmeng in front of several elders.

Elder Tiandu, Elder Longgu, and Elder Yunfeng Liu volunteered themselves, along with their true disciples Su Chen and Zhou Ding from Bone Peak, and several other outstanding talents from various peaks.

As he finished reading, Master Yunmeng stroked his beard.

"I have already gone to invite the Supreme Elder."

The elders in the hall all looked over.

"The Supreme Elder said that it depends on his mood at the time."

Silence fell over the hall.

Master Longgu trembled his short, iron-gray beard, but ultimately remained silent.

The saintess was not mentioned at all.

How could Lin Zhiya not explode?

Good guy!

Elder Liu has already gone, so what's the difference?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got; she was at least somewhat attractive.

But Su Chen seems to be spending a lot of time with women lately.

A woman's competitive spirit is often inexplicable.

Just like right now...

"Master."

"This disciple will also attend the negotiations this time."

Master Yunmeng set the jade slip containing the list aside.

"The Saintess is about to break through to a higher realm, why is she running to the ancient battlefield at this time?"

"Important figures from both the righteous and demonic paths will make an appearance."

Lin Zhiya straightened her back.

"As the Holy Maiden of the Haori Sect, I should be present to uphold the sect's dignity."

"Those people from the demonic path, seeing that the Holy Maiden is absent, think that the Haori Sect has no one to rely on."

Master Yunmeng looked at the disciple but didn't speak immediately.

The matter of Liu Yunhan volunteering had just been decided in the hall when the Holy Maiden arrived.

The reason for this, having lived for so many years, was immediately clear to Master Yunmeng.

"Decent".

Master Yunmeng smiled.

"The saintess's dignity is important, but breaking through to a higher realm is even more important."

Lin Zhiya bit her lower lip.

Those lips were already full, and when pressed down by the sharp teeth, they turned a little crimson.

"Even staying in a quiet room won't help."

"Go out for a walk, and maybe you'll feel better."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiya herself was taken aback for a moment.

That feeling of resentment in my heart.

How come they even copied this phrase?

Master Yunmeng did not make things difficult for him further.

With the Holy Maiden accompanying them, Su Chen's marriage to the Holy Maiden was effectively confirmed in front of all the demonic factions.

The true disciples of Haori Sect and the Holy Maiden go in and out together; this is more effective than any announcement.

It can only benefit the sect, and has no drawbacks.

"Go."

"Don't let your spiritual practice be delayed on the journey."

Lin Zhiya bowed respectfully and left the main hall with a lighter step.

As we approached the palace entrance, the copper bells under the eaves rang once more.

Lin Zhiya stopped and looked up at something, but it was unclear what she was looking at before she left.

As for why she absolutely had to go, Lin Zhiya had an answer in her heart.

The kind that would rather die than admit it.

Is it related to that elder in Yunfeng?

No.

Not at all.

Inside the cave, Lin Zhiya spread out three sets of Taoist robes on the soft couch.

A set of moon-white clothes, with sun patterns embroidered on the collar, best showcasing the saintess's status.

A light blue outfit, made of a light material, that flatters the waist when worn.

There's another set that was made during a sect ceremony a few years ago. I only wore it once and it's been sitting at the bottom of a trunk ever since.

Lin Zhiya picked up this piece to compare, then put down that piece to look at it.

The moon-white dress was too aloof.

It was light blue, as if she was deliberately wearing it to impress someone.

That old set, which is kept at the bottom of the trunk, seems too formal.

Through the crack in the side room door, Lu Yao peeked out from afar, then withdrew and closed the door.

Lin Zhiya was so annoyed that she stuffed all three Taoist robes back into the box.

I won't bring it.

The flying boat stopped beside the cloud platform on the main peak, its hull bathed in a pale gold glow from the morning light.

The accompanying elders and disciples boarded the boat one after another.

Su Chen leaned against the ship's side, and Lu Yao, dressed in plain clothes, stood half a step behind him, just as they had said that day, open and aboveboard, without any concealment.

Liu Yunhan arrived at the perfect time, stepping barefoot onto the boat and nodding to Su Chen.

Zhou Ding followed behind the Dragon Bone Master, his gaze lingering on Lu Yao for a moment before shifting away.

The old man from Tiandu boarded the ship last, and without saying a word, went straight into the cabin.

The last figure soared onto the cloud platform.

She was still wearing that plain gauze dress, and she hadn't even had time to brush off the dust from the hem.

Lin Zhiya stood at the edge of the ship, three or four people away from Su Chen, her chin held high, not looking at anyone.

Su Chen glanced at the plain gauze dress and his lips twitched.

The flying boat shuddered and slowly left the cloud platform, heading towards the depths of the layered sea of ​​clouds.

......