Yunxi looked at the dreamy pink crystal in her palm. "Why revert to your original form? You cannot follow this Lord in human shape?"
Yan Meng explained, "Yan Shi Village is our clan's territory. Natural arrays here allow us to take human form without expending power. Once we leave, maintaining a human form consumes strength, and our clan cannot conceal our aura before the ninth tier.
My sister believed a male cultivator's sweet words and left our territory. She could not mask her aura, he discovered her true body, and took her rock heart. That is why the village chief forbade me to leave alone.
Most importantly, that man has seen me. If I brazenly follow at your side, not only I but you would be in danger. So I returned to my original form. It is safer and lets me hide my presence."
After speaking, Yan Meng shrank further, until she was no larger than a thumb. She floated to Yunxi and settled upon Yunxi's brow, becoming a faint pink forehead ornament.
Yunxi conjured a water mirror and checked. It looked fine. She touched the Glazed Jade Mask to change to a brighter, more striking face that matched the ornament, then turned once and changed into a red robe. Only then did she stroll out of Chong'an Mountain.
Chuyue Mountains, Hao Ran Sect
While Hao Ran Zhēnzūn studied a game record in his courtyard, a message talisman flew before him. He tapped it open, and Yu Ling Zūnzhě's deep voice sounded inside. "Ancestor, people from the Spirit Realm's Yixian Gate have come. They want to see Ran Xi. Sect Master says she is away, and they do not believe him."
Hao Ran Ancestor tossed the record on the table and vanished from the cave residence.
In the great hall on the sect's main peak, the atmosphere was heavy. No one spoke. The Yixian Gate cultivators seated below all wore grim faces, clearly displeased with Hao Ran Sect's stance.
Sect Master Yu Geng had shed all earlier courtesy. With a cool face he flicked imaginary dust from his sleeve, then flashed away from the chief seat and stood respectfully to the side.
When Hao Ran Zhēnzūn appeared upon the chief seat, the Yixian Gate visitors were startled for a breath. Just as they were about to speak, Hao Ran Zhēnzūn said casually, "I hear you want to see Ran Xi. Unfortunately, she has gone out to temper herself. What matter demands that you see her? If you cannot, will you take up residence in Hao Ran Sect?"
The middle-aged cultivator in the lead bowed at once. "Greetings, Hao Ran Zhēnzūn. You misunderstand. We are not here to stir trouble. It is because she inherited the legacy our forebear left in the Weiyu Realm"
Before he finished, Hao Ran Zhēnzūn cut him off bluntly. "Ran Xi passed the trial set by your senior and then accepted Yixian Gate's legacy. That is her chance. She remains a disciple of Hao Ran Sect. Did you come to persuade her to defect to Yixian Gate, or to make her surrender the legacy?
If it is the former, give up the thought. She will take Hao Ran Sect from this Lord's hands. She will not join another sect. As for surrendering the legacy, you may seek her yourselves. Whether you can convince her to hand it over willingly depends on your own ability."
The leader's expression stiffened. He opened his mouth to explain, but was interrupted again.
Hao Ran Zhēnzūn, in full view of all, sent a flying sword missive to Ran Xi, who was out training. He told her to make time to visit Yixian Gate in the Spirit Region, since they wanted to speak about the legacy.
After doing this, he said coldly, "See them out."
The three from Yixian Gate had nothing else to say and could only bow and take their leave.
Yu Geng had Zhou Lingchuan escort them. When the trio departed, Yu Geng bowed. "Ancestor, they did not look like they came to build ties with Ran Xi. More like to question her. Yu Ling says evil cultivators have been infiltrating the regions recently, replacing righteous cultivators by possession and doing so without a trace. It is said they used Yinxi Elixir to avoid detection."
Hao Ran Zhēnzūn snorted. "The evil cultivators want to dump the filth onto Ran Xi. Yixian Gate, because Ran Xi inherited the legacy their forebear left below, points suspicion at her. The fact they endured until now to come means they watched and weighed first. Having seen me, they should know my injuries have healed and they will not return soon."
Yu Geng frowned. "Ancestor, does that not put Ran Xi in danger?"
"Do not worry. Ran Xi is not foolish. Outside the sect she can receive more information. That flying sword message served two purposes, to alert her and to send her to Yixian Gate to take the measure of things.
Hao Yi said that in the lower realm Ran Xi firmly denied that the legacy contained a formula for Yinxi Elixir. After that, no matter how the evil cultivators probed or threatened, Yinxi Elixir never appeared in the Weiyu Realm. Yet not long after the realm's ascension, this elixir surfaced and became the evil cultivators' aid.
That proves the problem lies within Yixian Gate. But Yixian Gate thinks the problem lies with Ran Xi, an outsider. Or they have already sensed something, but still wish to divert the flood eastward. Whatever their reason, they will not use Ran Xi as a raft."
Yu Geng nodded in agreement. "Ancestor is right. I will remind disciples who are out training not to be used by those with schemes, and to refrain from flying Hao Ran Sect's banner while outside"
Hao Ran Zhēnzūn waved a hand. "Why make a mountain of a molehill? This Lord's name is useful. With a backing, why pretend to be weak? Do not have our disciples cower. Be open. If bullied, hit back. If you cannot win, run and come get reinforcements. This Lord will get justice for them."
Yu Geng's mouth twitched. It felt like their Ancestor had truly let himself go in the Spirit Realm. He forced a smile and nodded.
Only then did Hao Ran Zhēnzūn vanish from the hall, satisfied.
On the other side, the three from Yixian Gate wore heavy expressions as they left Hao Ran Sect. The younger female cultivator spoke anxiously, "Uncle Master Huo, Hao Ran Sect is shielding Daoyou Ran Xi. What should we do next? Keep watch here or return first?"
Huo Chongshan frowned slightly. "Hao Ran Zhēnzūn sent a flying sword missive, which at least proves Ran Xi is not in the sect. His asking her to come to Yixian Gate shows he has great confidence in her and thinks she can resolve the trouble. We will return to the sect now and await her arrival."
Another young male cultivator interjected abruptly, "Hao Ran Zhēnzūn was gravely injured, yet healed within fifty years. He must have taken 'Su Sheng'. Aside from our high-grade alchemists, no one can refine that elixir. From this, it is clear that she inherited the complete Yixian Gate legacy."
"Senior Brother Ming Cong if what you said is true, then the formula for Yinxi Elixir should also be in her hands"
"Junior Sister Ming Yu, we must not speak recklessly. We have no proof. From what we have gathered, after she became the sole heir to Yixian Gate's legacy, although Yinxi Elixir's recipe was mentioned many times, cultivators in the Weiyu Realm never saw it."