Yan San wanted to obtain the method to enter the "Primal Qi Grand Clarity Formation." Although he still wouldn't be able to control the seal within, he would be able to get close to the beast.
"Fellow Daoist Yan San, all the seals here were refined by us. And we agreed before that as long as this Fifth-rank 'Wind Beast' is sealed, our two sides can cooperate. If you're worried every time you come because you can't see the specific situation, I suggest you can come with the Great Elder each time." Li Yan's face was expressionless. He would not let the other side control any of the magical treasures here. Although they were cooperating, the savage nature of the Wind Beasts made it impossible to trust them completely.
Anyway, after this, once Li Yan obtained the subsequent techniques for the "Qiongqi Purgatory Art," he would give the control techniques for the "Primal Qi Grand Clarity Formation" and the "Vajra Sacred Mountain-Suppressing Formation" to the Great Elder and Gong Shanhe. In the future, it would be up to them to decide who would come down to investigate. In any case, those who could come here had to be at least Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators or higher, all high-level cultivators of the clan who could basically be trusted.
Hearing Li Yan's reply, a fierce glint flashed in Yan San's eyes, and a wave of anger surged in his chest. He had put in a lot of effort this time. But looking at the indifferent Li Yan, and then thinking of this person's various incredible methods, with the old ghost Gong Shengguang at his side, the impulse driven by his nature was quickly suppressed. Ever since this kid of unknown origin had appeared, the three Wind Beast clans had been unable to turn the situation around.
Yan San didn't speak for a moment. The Great Elder was still observing the Fifth-rank "Yin Mountain Beast" below, and Li Yan had also fallen silent after his reply. Yan San took a few deep breaths. After calming down a little, he also thought things through. Li Yan was right. How could he possibly tell the three Wind Beast clans the technique for a sealing art he had deployed? Even with a contract in place, it was hard to guarantee that his three clans wouldn't have other ideas. But for now, their four clans had finally gotten rid of their biggest worry. That was the most important thing. The Tianli Clan certainly didn't want this Fifth-rank "Wind Beast" to get out either. Since that was the case, whether Yan San got the technique or not didn't really matter much. At most, it would just give him a bit more initiative.
...
Inside the Tianli Clan, Gong Shanhe stood in the main hall of the pavilion where Li Yan lived. Gong Chenying sat in a chair, also deep in thought. It had been over a month since Li Yan and the others had left. Although the Wind Beasts had not attacked the Tianli Clan as per the contract, as time slowly passed, and with no news from the Great Elder and Yan San, a strange atmosphere had developed, leading to a kind of silent confrontation between the two sides.
After all, if the sealing was unsuccessful, the contract between the two sides would automatically become void, and a great war would break out in an instant. Even worse, if their actions not only failed to seal the Fifth-rank "Wind Beast" but instead accelerated its escape from the seal, allowing it to break out at any time, that would be completely counterproductive.
Gong Shanhe had come out of seclusion again due to the Great Elder's departure. Gong Chenying, however, had no heart to cultivate and was just waiting quietly in Li Yan's pavilion. Hong Yin had also come once during this time. In the end, after giving Gong Chenying an explanation based on her estimation of that string of prayer beads, she left. In cultivation, when one's state of mind was not smooth, one certainly couldn't force it. This was especially true for Buddhist cultivation methods. She could only go as far as explaining and clarifying; the rest was up to oneself to calm down and comprehend.
"A'die, I want to go over to the swamp in the next few days to have a look!" Gong Chenying, who had been in deep thought, suddenly spoke, raising her head to look at her father.
"What good would it do for you to go? You can't even reach the bottom of the swamp!" Gong Shanhe's eyes flashed, then he looked at his daughter. After coming out of seclusion and handling the clan's affairs in the "Heavenly Dawn Hall," he had come over alone after learning that Gong Chenying was here. He and Gong Chenying didn't have much time alone together, so this was a rare moment of solitude. In the past, it was either a great war or another great war, endless slaughter. The father and daughter could only speak occasionally through voice transmissions on the battlefield.
"I won't go down. I'll just go to the swamp. If anything happens, at least someone will know at the first moment," Gong Chenying said softly.
"Firstly, before the Great Elder and Yan San went there, it was already ordered that no one from either clan or any Wind Beast was allowed to approach. Otherwise, if they send a Fourth-rank demonic beast, should we send a Nascent Soul cultivator? If we send a cultivator, should they send someone too? If that happens, it would only take a short time for a new confrontational battlefield to form above the swamp. And the clan can't be without its masters. In the end, it's because neither side trusts the other, which is why that rule was set. Secondly, the swamp is also Wind Beast territory. If you go alone without a Nascent Soul cultivator accompanying you, the outcome is hard to say. The situation is different now. In the past, the path there was patrolled by Wind Beasts, but they weren't too concerned. Now, they are constantly watching and won't allow us to pass at all. The Second Elder and the others are also keeping an eye on it, still wary of the other side secretly sending someone over!" Gong Shanhe sighed lightly. How could he not understand Gong Chenying's feelings? But now, both sides were guarding against each other while also protecting their homes. If something happened over there, a great war could break out here again. Even if they received the news later, neither side dared to send anyone else out. They were deadlocked in this contradiction.
Gong Chenying fell silent. She was not an arbitrary person. She just felt that with no one from either side stationed above the swamp, just sitting at home waiting dryly, unable to get news at the first moment, was the most torturous thing.
As if seeing through his daughter's thoughts, Gong Shanhe continued, "Actually, apart from Nascent Soul cultivators, it's the same result whether someone is stationed there or not. It's useless. If the Great Elder and the others can get out, they don't need someone waiting to send back the news. No matter how fast you are, you can't be faster than the Great Elder and Yan San. If that Fifth-rank Wind Beast unexpectedly breaks the seal, so what if there's a Nascent Soul cultivator waiting for news over there? The moment it comes out, they'd all be dead. Don't worry, which of the three who went is not a quick-witted and thorough person? Even the youngest, Li Yan, who knows him better than you? If he weren't so meticulous, it would have been impossible for him to return all the way from the Forsaken Continent with his Foundation Establishment cultivation back then. I dare say if I were only at the Foundation Establishment or Golden Core realm, I would have had a seventy to eighty percent chance of perishing along the way. Besides, according to your master's speculation, the seal should at least be extended for a few more years. That result is the most likely possibility..." Gong Shanhe said comfortingly. In fact, he was also uneasy and even had the impulse to go there himself.
But just as he said this, he suddenly turned his head. At the same time, the Second Elder's long howl came from the sky outside, as well as the heaven-shaking screech of the Wind Beasts.
"A'die..." Seeing this, Gong Chenying shot to her feet. Several possibilities had already flashed through her mind, some unsettling, some joyful!
In her apprehension, Gong Shanhe had already waved his large sleeve, sweeping her up. "That's the agreed signal from the Second Elder stationed at the front. This is it, the Great Elder, Li Yan, and the others are back!"
Gong Shanhe's voice was filled with pleasant surprise. As he spoke, the pavilion was already empty.
When Gong Shanhe and Gong Chenying's figures appeared on the battlefield with the Wind Beasts, the Second and Third Elders, as well as the three Fourth-rank Wind Beasts from the other side, were already hovering there. In the distance, there were hordes of cultivators and mid- to low-rank Wind Beasts. These were all the elites that both sides had secretly deployed here, and at this moment, they all revealed themselves. And in the two formations of the poison defense line set up by Li Yan below, the figures of Qian Ji and Zi Kun also flashed into view.
Seeing Gong Shanhe and Gong Chenying appear, the Tianli Clan warriors and many cultivators below let out a sound that shook the four corners of the world. "We pay our respects to the Clan Head!"
These people had been arranged at the front line again. Many of them had heard some rumors a while ago that the truce with the Wind Beasts might be permanent, but hardly anyone believed it. And they still harbored hatred for the three Wind Beast clans. This kind of hatred might take several generations, or even longer, to slowly dissipate. Therefore, when the clan's elite cultivators and warriors were once again arranged at the front line, looking ready for battle at any moment, they had few complaints. Tianli Clan warriors were meant to be like this. It was just that for over a month, no battles had occurred, not even sneak attacks from mid-rank or higher Wind Beasts. This made many people start to think that maybe the rumors were true.
But just now, with the long howls from the Second Elder and the high-rank Wind Beasts on the other side, a large number of Wind Beasts appeared both on the ground and in the sky in the distance. This made the blood of those mid- and low-rank cultivators and mortal warriors surge. They thought a great war was about to begin again, but they were fearless. To have rested for so long was already a great satisfaction. This was the Tianli Clan warrior, their demands were not high, they saw death as a homecoming!
Soon after, Gong Shanhe's figure did appear, and even Gong Chenying, who hadn't been seen for a long time, appeared carrying her long spear. Instantly, a sound like a mountain torrent and a tsunami echoed through heaven and earth. This was the might of Gong Shanhe. And echoing it from afar was the heaven-shaking roar of the beasts. The low-rank Wind Beasts, stimulated by the voices of the Tianli Clan, instinctively became even more bloodthirsty, charging and turning in place.
"You will await orders and not act without authorization!" Gong Shanhe's voice shook the wilderness. As he spoke, he had already flown with Gong Chenying towards the Second Elder, his powerful Divine Sense sweeping out at the same time. He did not have the clan's cultivators and warriors retreat, because in a moment, two results were possible, one of which was the instant renewal of the great war.
Just now, Gong Shanhe had been in the clan, a bit too far away, and his Divine Sense hadn't sensed the auras of the Great Elder and the others. Now, flying here and immediately probing, it only took a moment for him to say to Gong Chenying, "The Great Elder and the other two are coming back together!"
Hearing this, Gong Chenying's heart instantly relaxed. At the same time, Gong Shanhe also received voice transmissions from the Second and Third Elders. They both emphasized one point: the three of them were returning together. This news was of the utmost importance.
In Gong Shanhe's Divine Sense, he could already see three people standing side by side on a black feather. Although the three were thousands of li away, when Gong Shanhe's Divine Sense swept over them, their gazes also looked over.
"The sealing should have been successful!" Gong Shanhe's words once again echoed in Gong Chenying's mind. He could see that the expressions of the Great Elder and the other two were not grim, and the distance between them was very casual. Although he had his guess, he just didn't know what the result of the sealing was. With hope, one tends to hope for the best outcome. This is a commonality among all people.
Soon, a black dot of light flashed on the horizon. The next moment, everyone's vision darkened, and three figures suddenly appeared, standing in the air. Everyone's gaze turned to the three who had suddenly appeared. The mid- and low-rank cultivators and Wind Beasts below didn't know what had happened and were startled by the sudden appearance of the people. Then, there was a moment of silence. A silence born of shock. Of course, it wasn't for any other reason than that of the three people who appeared, two were the strongest on both sides, and they were very close to each other, a distance at which a sneak attack could be launched at any time.
None of the high-rank cultivators on either side spoke. Their gazes were all focused on the three. It was just that their gazes were focused on different people. Qian Ji, Zi Kun, and Gong Chenying, for example, were all staring at the smiling Li Yan.
"The sealing was successful!" The one who spoke was the Great Elder. Yan San still had a cold and detached look and said nothing.
More than ninety percent of the cultivators and Wind Beasts here did not understand what he meant by his words.
"For how long?" This time, it was the Fourth-rank Wind Beast powerhouse from the "Wind-Iron Beast" clan who spoke. He had transformed into a burly man with a fierce look on his face, his eyes staring intently at the Great Elder.
But before the Great Elder could answer, a cold voice came from the side. "That's enough. We'll talk about some things when we get back!" Yan San glanced at the burly man and then flew straight towards his own cave residence.
"Boss, boss... what's going on!" The three Fourth-rank Wind Beasts looked at each other in dismay.
"Have all the clansmen retreat to their own territories. Do what you need to do. The three of you can come over!" Yan San's voice came from the wind, his person already gone.
At the same time, the Great Elder and Li Yan had already gathered with the Second and Third Elders.
"What's going on? It wasn't completely sealed?" Gong Shanhe also had a look of hesitation.
"Yes... or maybe no!" the Great Elder said something ambiguous that no one understood. But he immediately instructed, "Let's go back. Call Old Four and Old Six over too. Oh, and Fellow Daoist Hong Yin."
"The Fifth Elder also returned a few hours ago!" The Second Elder was also confused, but he suppressed his urgent desire to know and added a sentence.
"Alright, then have him come over too. Just leave the normal patrol warriors and cultivators at the front. The rest can withdraw!" the Great Elder said as he flew up. Gong Shanhe's body shook. From Yan San's performance and the Great Elder's words, this was a true ceasefire between the two sides.
But... what did the Great Elder mean by the result of the sealing just now?