As both parties fell silent, a figure suddenly flashed in the air ahead. A graceful, slender silhouette appeared.
The figure rapidly solidified, revealing a woman of peerless beauty. She possessed a mature charm that the green-robed young woman lacked, her fair skin tinged with a rosy hue that looked so delicate it might break at a touch.
The moment this woman appeared, the two black-robed elders, though they didn't move, instantly locked onto her with two faint, almost imperceptible auras.
The handsome, white-robed young man, however, had a look of utter astonishment in his eyes, and deep within them, a desire for possession sparked.
But in the next instant, his gaze cleared, returning to normal so quickly that no one would have noticed anything amiss.
"Greetings, Third Elder!"
Upon seeing the newcomer, the team of Tianli Clan cultivators, led by their captain, immediately bowed in salute, their expressions filled with immense respect.
As the team of cultivators bowed, the young woman in the green palace dress also looked at the newcomer. Her reaction was clearly similar to that of the Tianli Clan cultivators.
But she was far slower than the two black-robed elders and the white-robed youth beside her—a clear testament to the gap in their cultivation.
'Truly a peerless beauty!'
The green-robed young woman's eyes lit up. It was as if the Third Elder's appearance had instantly changed the color of the world, making everything before her seem more vibrant and colorful.
"You may all continue your patrol!"
The Third Elder waved a hand lightly, then turned her gaze to the four people opposite her. With a single glance, she discerned the hierarchy among the visitors.
What also made her eyes light up was the stunning beauty of the green-robed young woman. Even as a woman herself, she felt an urge to pull her into an embrace, a feeling of wanting to cherish her, even a desire to kiss her rosy cheeks.
"Welcome, distinguished guests. I am the Third Elder of this clan!"
Sikou Zhanmei smiled and addressed the four, her gaze resting on the green-robed young woman.
'This person is only at the Pseudo-Nascent Soul Realm, yet she is protected by three Nascent Soul cultivators. Her status must be quite high!'
Indeed, in the next moment, the green-robed young woman also spoke, her face blooming like a spring peach.
"This little woman is Su Hong, from Gui Qu Lai Xi. I have come specifically regarding the materials your esteemed clan ordered last time!"
Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed the depths of the Third Elder's eyes. She had actually already known the purpose of their visit; the other party didn't need to state it.
But this young woman, calling herself Su Hong, seemed to be deliberately stating her purpose through her words.
Sikou Zhanmei's beautiful eyes flickered, quickly scanning the group again. In the next moment, she understood the other party's meaning.
Because after a slight pause, Su Hong's voice, like that of a yellow oriole, rang out again.
"These two are deacons from our establishment. That gentleman is Fellow Daoist Wan Qingshe from the Sword-Washing Sect. We met in the market, and he mentioned he had business with your esteemed clan, so we traveled together!"
Su Hong smiled, explaining everything clearly in just a few simple sentences.
In truth, Su Hong felt quite helpless. The sect Wan Qingshe belonged to was the top-tier sect on the Wind God Continent, the Sword-Washing Sect, a major client for Gui Qu Lai Xi on this continent.
When she had arrived here this time, he happened to be trading items in that very shop.
Wan Qingshe was a cultivator at the peak of the Initial-stage Nascent Soul, representing his sect. Naturally, the manager of this branch had to receive him personally.
And while the manager was receiving him, he had received a voice transmission saying that Su Hong had arrived with people at this branch and would be leaving soon.
The manager could only apologize, but he couldn't just make up an excuse. So he told Wan Qingshe the truth: a superior deacon from the shop had arrived, and he needed to step away for a moment but would return shortly.
When Wan Qingshe heard this, his interest was piqued. Gui Qu Lai Xi had many branches on the Wind God Continent. He had come to this market today for other matters and was just stopping by to trade.
With his status, he naturally knew that Gui Qu Lai Xi was backed by a powerful and mysterious force, but very few people ever got to see them.
Thus, Wan Qingshe immediately asked the branch manager if he could take him along. His reason was simple: his sect had a large business deal in the works recently but was still looking for a suitable shop to partner with.
Gui Qu Lai Xi was just one of the candidates. He felt that the branch manager in the market didn't have enough authority. Since he had this opportunity today, he wondered if an introduction could be made. Who knew, it might lead to a major business deal.
In reality, Wan Qingshe just wanted to meet the person from Gui Qu Lai Xi to glean more information about the backing of this business.
As for the so-called big business, it was just a matter of his word. He was the most beloved closed-door disciple of the sect's Supreme Ancestor, Xue Longzi, the "Peerless Sword of Hua Tian."
Everything he had learned was taught to him personally by the Supreme Ancestor. If he wanted a big business deal, he could conjure one out of thin air. It was just a matter of saying the word.
When the branch manager heard Wan Qingshe's words, he hesitated. But the man's status was truly special. After some thought, he told Wan Qingshe to wait for his reply.
When Su Hong heard the branch manager's account, she pondered for a moment and then agreed. A big business deal was not something to be refused, and besides, she was here as part of her training.
Thus, the first time Wan Qingshe saw Su Hong, he lost all composure, as if in a daze.
Su Hong's beauty, and the special aura she naturally exuded, instantly ignited a powerful desire in him—a thought that no matter what, he had to have her, to possess her.
Next, he opened his mouth wide and listed all sorts of things the Sword-Washing Sect wanted to buy, all of them rare items, to show off his power and status.
To this, Su Hong simply communicated with him briefly. She had already understood Wan Qingshe's thoughts and had already developed a dislike for him in her heart.
Su Hong was of course aware of her own beauty and the devastating effect it had on men. With just a crook of her finger, countless men would die for her.
Therefore, she was used to the gazes of all kinds of men and the various types of performances they put on in front of her.
It was all just to attract her attention and affection. She could easily distinguish who was approaching her out of genuine liking; who was fantasizing about possessing her body; who were her true friends; and who saw beautiful women as nothing but skeletons.
The Wan Qingshe before her was the type who would pay any price to possess a woman's body. The fleeting light in the depths of his eyes held only the desire for novelty and possession.
But on the surface, Su Hong's smile remained as radiant as a flower, not revealing the slightest hint of her inner thoughts. If she could earn a large amount of spirit stones, she would of course take advantage of his mentality.
Anyway, she was only here this time to escort an item. Afterward, she would leave the Wind God Continent and have no further dealings with him.
But her expression only made Wan Qingshe's heart grow wilder.
In a daze, after negotiating a "big business deal," Su Hong tactfully expressed that she needed to ask the manager a few simple questions and then would be leaving.
Wan Qingshe immediately put on the demeanor of a perfect gentleman, considerate in every way. He immediately withdrew from the room, not forgetting to give Su Hong a charming smile before he left.
When Su Hong finished asking the branch manager a few things, she and the two black-robed elders left the shop. To her surprise, she saw Wan Qingshe outside.
He had actually been waiting right outside the door. Although Su Hong was displeased, she had no choice but to greet him. Wan Qingshe was overjoyed, believing he had won the beauty's favor.
He then invited Su Hong to be a guest at a nearby sect affiliated with the Sword-Washing Sect, but Su Hong immediately and politely declined, stating that she had important matters to attend to and needed to set off immediately.
Wan Qingshe then immediately offered that he had many resources at his disposal on the Wind God Continent. If Su Hong wanted to go anywhere, he could help, so she wouldn't have to trouble herself on the journey.
This time, Su Hong found it difficult to refuse again. She had just said she had to go somewhere on business; she couldn't very well change her story and say she was heading back.
Moreover, she had just concluded a decent business deal with Wan Qingshe, so she couldn't be too forceful in her refusal.
She then said she was going to the Tianli Clan and wouldn't delay Wan Qingshe's own journey, and that they could meet again some other day.
When Wan Qingshe heard this, a look of surprise and joy appeared on his face. He said that he was originally going to the Tianli Clan anyway, for some matters his master had instructed him to inquire about.
So, he and Su Hong were truly fated to meet. They could travel together. He was quite familiar with the locations of the teleportation formations along the way; Su Hong and her two companions just had to follow him.
At that moment, Su Hong was momentarily speechless. She didn't know if what Wan Qingshe said was true or false, but she felt that he was just trying to stick to her.
'Since you want to be a sucker, don't blame me for being impolite!'
Since he was insisting on it, she would save on the spirit stones for the three of them for the teleportation formations along the way. That was no small expense.
Anyway, didn't he say he had business with the Tianli Clan? When they got there, Su Hong would just call his bluff and see what he had to say...
"Oh? So it is Fellow Daoist Wan of the Sword-Washing Sect. May I ask what business you have with my clan?"
Hearing this, with her cleverness and a woman's intuition, the Third Elder immediately knew that Su Hong was clarifying the purpose of her visit, which Wan Qingshe was not aware of, so as not to accidentally reveal the details of their transaction.
Moreover, Sikou Zhanmei had of course heard of Wan Qingshe. He was the closed-door disciple of that Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Sword-Washing Sect.
It was said that he was the person most compatible with a sword spirit in the Sword-Washing Sect in the last five thousand years, the most likely candidate of this generation to become a Spirit Transformation cultivator.
With a wave of his hand, he could command thousands upon thousands of swords, easily setting up an offensive sword formation. Although he was only at the Initial-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, it was said that he had slain two Mid-stage fourth-rank Wind Beasts.
Several Initial-stage fourth-rank Wind Beasts had also died at his hands. He was deeply favored by that Supreme Ancestor of the Sword-Washing Sect.
"Is your clan's First Elder present? There are some things I must discuss with him!"
Although Wan Qingshe also had a smile on his face, his words carried a hint of arrogance. The Sword-Washing Sect was now a top-tier sect on the Wind God Continent; how could the current Tianli Clan compare?
With his status, of course, their First Elder had to come out to meet him.
"The First Elder has entered closed-door death seclusion. For now, all clan matters are handled by me!"
The Third Elder just smiled at him.
"Oh? Closed-door death seclusion? Then what about Clan Leader Gong Shanhe?"
"Also in seclusion. Otherwise, why would I say that all clan matters are handled by me? Besides, Miss Su has also come to our clan on important business. If the First Elder and the others were not occupied, how could they neglect such distinguished guests!"
The Third Elder's mind was racing, trying to figure out his purpose in coming. The Tianli Clan had very little interaction with the Sword-Washing Sect.
Even back when the Great Sacrificial Priest was around, they had probably only met the other's Supreme Ancestor a few times.
What did this man's sudden visit mean?
Of course, the Third Elder would not let him see the First Elder and Gong Shanhe just because of his casual words. Both of them were injured, and interrupting their cultivation would not be good. And there was simply no need.
After hearing this, Wan Qingshe's eyes flickered a few times as his mind raced.
'Both of them are in seclusion, what a coincidence? But her later explanation is very clear, so it's quite possible. After all, this Su Hong's background is also formidable, so they couldn't possibly neglect her.'
At the same time, Wan Qingshe's peripheral vision caught Su Hong's calm and composed expression. She didn't show the slightest dissatisfaction that the clan's most powerful figures hadn't come to greet her.
And if he was too insistent, Su Hong's opinion of him might change.
Thus, Wan Qingshe immediately waved his hand as well.
"I came under my master's orders, and of course, I want to explain things clearly. Since all matters of the Tianli Clan are handled by the Third Elder, there is of course no problem."
Hearing this, the Third Elder nodded.
"In that case, please follow me inside to talk!"