Gong Shanhe did not think the problem raised by the Fifth Elder was difficult to solve. However, Hong Yin was, in fact, the one most annoyed by these incessant meetings over major and minor issues, which was why she had kept her eyes closed in meditation, unwilling to get involved.
Sensing Gong Shanhe's gaze, she finally opened her wondrous eyes.
"Just to confirm there are no issues, there is actually no need to look again. I can tell you right now that what Fellow Daoist Li and the others sealed is indeed that Fifth-rank Yin Mountain Beast."
"Unless Fellow Daoist Li has seen its true form before, it would be impossible to conjure such a perfect replica of the Yin Mountain Beast. Even its size is nearly identical to when I first sealed it."
"Furthermore, he was able to describe the attack methods my seal produced, one by one. The cultivation methods of my sect should have long vanished from this realm; no one else should have seen them. Those are the distinct characteristics of my seal."
"Of course, if you still don't believe what I've said, then we have no choice but to make a trip. Moreover, I can even let you enter my seal for a closer look."
"At that time, anyone who is brave enough can personally touch its body. However, the Yin Mountain Beast itself possesses an incredibly malicious and sinister Icy-cold Ghost Poison. Even while sealed, hehehe…"
After saying this, Hong Yin glanced at the Fifth Elder and then half-closed her eyes again.
After hearing the Great Elder's account of the sealing process, apart from her surprise at Li Yan's success, she had already made her judgment.
Besides, a former Spirit Transformation cultivator was not known for having a good temper.
'Impressive. She thinks several steps ahead. What an old monster!'
Though Li Yan's face remained impassive, hearing Hong Yin's words, especially the last few sentences, filled him with genuine admiration for her sharp, verbal prowess.
Hong Yin seemed to be cooperating, but in truth, she had not only seen that the Fifth Elder and his faction were targeting Li Yan, but also that they might try to drag her into the mess at a critical moment.
They claimed Hong Yin could verify the authenticity of the Fifth-rank Yin Mountain Beast, right? Well, the Fifth Elder wouldn't even need to say it directly; a subtle comment questioning Hong Yin's own origins would suffice.
Who could then vouch for Hong Yin's background and guarantee she wasn't in league with Li Yan? After all, Hong Yin's appearance coincided with Li Yan's entry into the swamp, and no one had ever heard of this "Red Whisk Temple" before.
If Hong Yin couldn't even prove her own identity, how could she convince others that the Fifth-rank Yin Mountain Beast was real?
But Hong Yin had clearly anticipated this and seen it with perfect clarity. She had no desire to be dragged into their conflict; she only wanted to obtain a suitable physical body as soon as possible to recover her cultivation.
Thus, with a single, sharp retort, she left the Fifth Elder and his faction with no response. Even if they wanted to drag her down with them, they wouldn't dare.
They certainly didn't dare to personally touch a fifth-rank Wind Beast, especially one with Icy-cold Ghost Poison. They had learned about this long ago from Gong Shanhe and the Sixth Elder.
For over a decade, the Icy-cold Ghost Poison on those two had nearly cost them their lives. It was so domineering that not even Gong Shanhe could prevent it from entering his body. What chance did they have? It would be suicide!
As expected, after hearing the nun Hong Yin's words, the light in the Fifth Elder's eyes flickered, and then he actually stopped dwelling on the topic, letting out a chuckle instead.
"Hehehe… I was merely expressing some doubts. Since Fellow Daoist Hong Yin has spoken, we will go over and take a look from within Fellow Daoist Hong Yin's seal at close range."
In the end, the Fifth Elder still wanted to go and confirm, but he only dared to say he would observe from a close distance. He wouldn't touch it even if you gave him ten thousand guts.
"If you don't touch it, how can you know if it's real? Perhaps it's just an illusion that doesn't exist at all. Won't you just claim then that you are inside an illusion formation of my making!" Li Yan retorted.
"Fellow Daoist Hong Yin is going. Wouldn't she know if it's the seal she cast or not?"
"But even if what is sealed there is indeed the body of the Fifth-rank Yin Mountain Beast, how can we confirm the duration of the seal?"
"If we give the cultivation method to Fellow Daoist Li, what if the seal fails, or even breaks ahead of schedule? Can this mission truly be considered complete now?"
The Fifth Elder no longer continued to press Li Yan, instead shifting the issue to the duration of the seal.
This time, however, Li Yan's reply was swift; he had clearly already thought about this matter.
"Including the defensive line I set up before, first give me the sixth layer of the cultivation method. In ten years, if there are no problems with the seal, give me the seventh layer."
"Twenty years later, if there are still no issues, the eighth layer. After a sixty-year cycle , if there are still no problems, give me the ninth layer."
"Since you trust Fellow Daoist Hong Yin's seal, then her prediction that the original seal would last twenty years at most should also be credible, and that was said several years ago."
"After another sixty years, if that Wind Beast is still in its current state, sealed and without any abnormalities, you can hand over the cultivation method to me."
The issue raised by the Fifth Elder was indeed a problem. Li Yan himself didn't have a definitive answer, but he was certain that this reinforcement would, at the very least, delay the beast's release. That much was certain.
But even if it was just a delay, the Tianli Clan had to accept this result. He had enabled a peaceful coexistence between the Wind Beasts and the Tianli Clan, even if it was only for a few decades. In doing so, he had already saved the lives of countless Tianli clansmen.
Most importantly, fifty years was enough time for a new generation of powerhouses to emerge within the Tianli Clan.
This was Li Yan's bottom line. A sixty-year cycle was the most he would agree to; any longer was out of the question.
Gong Shanhe sighed inwardly. For a cultivator of Li Yan's level to do so much for the Tianli Clan, in the heartless Cultivation World , he had already done more than enough.
Although he had his own motives, he was indeed helping the Tianli Clan, and he had yielded and retreated time and again.
"What about your manual for controlling the seal?"
The Fifth Elder and the Second Elder exchanged a quick glance, and then he continued to ask.
"I can hand it over to the Great Elder and the Clan Head!"
Li Yan's expression remained unchanged, making it impossible for anyone to discern his thoughts. This greatly disappointed the Fifth Elder and his faction. This Li Yan was a master of duplicity; his true intentions were deeply hidden, making it difficult to launch an effective counterattack against him.
The moment Li Yan said this, a cold glint flashed imperceptibly in the Second Elder's eyes, and he let out a cold snort in his heart.
'Hmph! So in the end, everything is still to be controlled by the Great Elder's faction. They won't let me touch the control of the seal at all, and these sealing manuals are the most crucial part of the consensus reached with the Wind Beasts…'
Hearing Li Yan's words, the Fifth Elder simply chuckled.
"I think we should… seek another opportunity for the last three layers of the cultivation method. At that time, we'll see if Fellow Daoist Li can truly complete other tasks!"
As his words fell, Li Yan's gaze immediately fixed on his face. His eyes were somewhat gloomy. He had yielded time and again, and this was his final bottom line. His eyes slowly narrowed.
"Fifth Elder, what is the meaning of this? Is my Tianli Clan a people who go back on their word!"
Gong Shanhe's tiger-like eyes also glinted coldly, instantly locking onto the Fifth Elder. He was like a ferocious tiger choosing its prey.
The matter of Li Yan's sealing result was indeed not entirely convincing to others, but he had clearly already backed down. For the Fifth Elder to suddenly say he wouldn't be given the last three layers and tell him to find another opportunity in the future was too much.
How could Gong Shanhe allow him to act so recklessly? Just because he and the Great Elder did not act autocratically did not mean they would allow other elders to overstep their authority and make decisions.
They were simply trying their best to maintain a unified, strong Tianli Clan.
Facing several sharp gazes, the Fifth Elder was completely unafraid. Instead, he straightened his posture.
"Because, on my trip this time, I have found a more suitable place for the clan!"
"There is no threat of a fifth-rank Wind Beast there, only a clan of Wind Beasts called the 'Sea-Breaking Beasts'. They occupy a sea region of five hundred thousand li, and their clan has five fourth-rank Wind Beasts."
"Confronting them is the 'Qionglin Sect'. They have four Nascent Soul cultivators and have had a hard time fighting the Sea-Breaking Beasts. They are barely holding on, struggling to maintain this hard-won balance."
"When they learned that our clan was looking for a suitable territory, and after learning of our strength, they agreed, promising to cede seven vast, Spirit Qi -rich islands to our clan."
"At that time, we can join them in slaying the Sea-Breaking Beasts and build a new, great homeland together!"
"Great Elder, there is only one clan of Wind Beasts there, and we can even join forces with another sect. This way, we can solve this deadlock at once and no longer have to face so many Wind Beast clans at the same time."
"Then, you will have more time to cultivate and focus on breaking through to the Spirit Transformation Realm . Moreover, our clansmen will have a greater chance of survival and will no longer have to make a desperate stand here. What a fine situation that would be!"
As the Fifth Elder spoke, he waved his hand, and a map appeared in the air. It was a sea region, dotted with irregularly shaped islands. Seven of these islands were flashing with blue light.
His face now glowed, and he looked at the crowd with a joyful smile. Pointing at the seven flashing blue lights, his tone carried a hint of excitement.
"I have investigated each of these islands. Just as the Qionglin Sect said, the concentration of Spirit Qi on them is comparable to that in our clan. Moreover, there are two high-quality spirit stone mines. They are excellent cultivation paradises…"
He began to speak endlessly.
'So, he found a suitable place on this trip. That's why he was concerned about the sealing of the Wind Beast when we returned, but not overly so…'
'If not for preventing me from obtaining the latter parts of the Qiongqi Purgatory Art, he probably would have ignored the matter of the seal altogether and spoken of this directly…'
Li Yan looked at the map, listening to the Fifth Elder's continuous report of his findings, his mind racing.
The other elders were also all listening to the Fifth Elder's narration. He spoke for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn. After he finished, he first glanced at Li Yan before his gaze finally fell on Gong Shanhe and the Great Elder.
"Among the fourth-rank Sea-Breaking Beasts you speak of, how many are at the peak?"
Gong Shanhe had also been listening to him talk on and on. Only now did he speak, and his question went straight to the heart of the matter.
"This… The Sea-Breaking Beasts have two at the peak. The Qionglin Sect has two at the late-stage Nascent Soul, one at the mid-stage, and one at the initial-stage!"
"But their sect is proficient in various formations. They have connected all the islands to form an indestructible defensive grand formation that not even a Nascent Soul cultivator can break through in a short time."
"But overall, their strength is weaker than the Wind Beast's side. That's why they are having a very hard time in their standoff with the Sea-Breaking Beasts, and why they agreed to cooperate with us."
Upon hearing Gong Shanhe's question, the Fifth Elder hesitated for a moment before answering. He couldn't hide such things even if he wanted to.
"They have two late-stage Great Cultivators?" the Third Elder exclaimed in surprise.
"So what if they have two late-stage Great Cultivators? The common enemy of the human race is the Wind Beasts. There's no need to worry about that. Besides, they also genuinely want to cooperate; this can be fully confirmed."
"And they can sign a contract with us, a blood contract. Isn't that more secure than the one signed with Yan San and the others?"
"To take a step back, even if they have one more late-stage Great Cultivator, we still have the means to deal with them. Their cultivation methods are mainly focused on the study of formations."
"But if that fifth-rank Yin Mountain Beast underground here breaks through to the surface, we will have no chance at all. Our clan will face certain death."
"That sea region is the most suitable one among all the marked territories I've searched."
The Fifth Elder glanced faintly at the Third Elder. He too had been worried at first, but after making contact with them, the conditions they offered, as well as the mention of a blood contract, had made his heart race.
When he thought of the terrifying fifth-rank Wind Beast in the swamp, and compared it to the other party's extra late-stage Great Cultivator, the levels of danger were simply not on the same scale.
The combat power of their Tianli Clan cultivators allowed every one of them to fight above their rank. This was due to the cultivation method they practiced, and it was the fundamental reason they could stand firm and fight against three Wind Beast clans simultaneously.
The Fifth Elder had only returned two hours ago. In the Great Elder's absence, he had directly reported his findings to the Second Elder; even Gong Shanhe was not aware.
The Third Elder had only seen the Fifth Elder's figure returning when she was monitoring the Wind Beasts at the front. He had only given her a brief greeting before entering the clan.
She was also unaware that the Fifth Elder and the Second Elder had been secretly communicating via voice transmission and had already reached an understanding.
"I feel that the Fifth Elder has made a great contribution on this trip, and his analysis is very reasonable. I think it is time we dispatched more experts to make further contact with the Qionglin Sect."
The Second Elder finally spoke at this time. As he did, his gaze swept over everyone's faces, expressing his final opinion.
As his words fell, the hall became silent. Some lowered their heads in thought, while others still stared at the map the Fifth Elder had conjured in the air, including Li Yan.
Gong Chenying, however, shifted her gaze from Li Yan's face to Gong Shanhe's, only to see that both had already regained their composure and were looking at the map.
Just then, Gong Shanhe suddenly looked away from the map and exchanged a glance with Li Yan. Then, he looked at the Fifth Elder.
"Fifth Brother, can you mark the core area of the Qionglin Sect? You should know this!"
As soon as he said this, the Fifth Elder's eyes flickered a few times, but he did not immediately mark the map.
His expression made even the Second Elder, who was beside him, feel a chill in his heart!