Su Hong stayed in the Tianli Clan during this period, occasionally going to find Li Yan for a chat. Li Yan had no objection to this from the bottom of his heart.
The power behind "Gui Qu Lai Xi" was very strong, so strong that even the Malevolent Spirit Sect could not compete with it at all. So, of course, he wanted to be on good terms with such a power.
Especially now that Li Yan was a Nascent Soul cultivator, he had obtained more speculations about "Gui Qu Lai Xi" from his sect. The power behind this merchant guild was highly likely to be from the Immortal Spirit Realm.
This made Li Yan extremely shocked when he first read this passage, finding this speculation somewhat unbelievable.
First, the other party's background was surprisingly large, exceeding his imagination.
Second, the business of this merchant guild in the lower realm seemed completely incomparable to that in the Immortal Spirit Realm. Other powers in the Immortal Spirit Realm might not even look at it.
But the meaning behind this was different. The lower realm was also boundless, and there were many undiscovered treasures hidden, which might be treasures that even the Immortal Spirit Realm did not have.
Third, although the other party's actions seemed to be only commercial, they had actually involved all aspects, which was terrifying to think about. From spying on the news of the cultivation world to the dynamics of the lower realm's sects and cultivators, their spying shadows were everywhere.
One must know that the roots of many immortal cultivation sects and many great cultivators in the upper realm were in the mortal realm.
Obtaining this information could even be used to make effective plans, good or bad, against some sects or individuals in the Immortal Spirit Realm.
And this point, it should not be only "Gui Qu Lai Xi" that could see it. But among the market shops that Li Yan himself knew, only "Gui Qu Lai Xi" spanned across various continents, giving people a feeling of being almost everywhere.
In addition, Li Yan had long been suspicious of Su Hong's identity. A mere little Golden Core could travel freely between various continents.
The two black-robed, masked elders behind her, Li Yan could roughly see their cultivation. In terms of individual strength, their cultivation should not be weaker than Gong Shanhe's.
Especially in their every move, there was a faint tendency of advancing and retreating together. This showed that they must be good at cooperating, and even good at some kind of advanced joint attack art.
Once the two of them joined forces, he might not be able to get the upper hand.
During his conversations with Su Hong, although he also had the intention of vaguely inquiring about some information about her, Su Hong was extremely shrewd.
As soon as it involved a little bit of her own and the merchant guild's secrets, she would either smile without saying a word, letting Li Yan retreat in the face of difficulties, or change the subject to something else, making it difficult for Li Yan to continue asking.
Li Yan felt that Su Hong's status in "Gui Qu Lai Xi" was very high. He guessed that she might be a descendant of some important figure. Otherwise, with her low cultivation, it would be impossible for her to travel across continents with experts, as if she were sightseeing.
After only a slight probing, Li Yan no longer tried to find out Su Hong's true identity. That would only make people dislike him.
What he wanted was just to maintain this friendship. As his cultivation continued to improve, the things he needed to buy were often difficult to find in the market.
And Su Hong should have a way. She could even deliver the physical body of a Nascent Soul. One could imagine her means.
In some of the subsequent conversations, the two talked about everything under the sun. In terms of broad horizons, Li Yan was also no match for Su Hong. After all, she had been specially cultivated by her family, and she would have some knowledge in all aspects.
But Li Yan was also a well-read person. Plus, now that he had been to four continents, he was also a person with an extraordinary vision. The two of them had a very pleasant chat for a while.
This made the Third Elder, who was watching from the side, have a continuous strange light in her eyes.
She felt that there might be something wrong with this kid Li Yan. But when she thought that Su Hong had said she was also familiar with A Ying, she felt that it was better not to think too deeply.
Others were touched in their hearts, and Su Hong was no exception. In fact, in her heart, she also felt that this person Li Yan was very mysterious.
She had once been almost killed by Li Yan without any pity. She had immediately investigated Li Yan upon her return.
She found that Li Yan's foundation in the cultivation world was a blank slate. He had entered the path of cultivation by mistake from a border town called "Green Mountain Pass."
After that, he began his cultivation career in the sect. His cultivation in the sect could only be considered good. Su Hong had not obtained the information on Li Yan's unique performance in the secret realm. That was because Elder Peng had issued a gag order.
Among the disciples who had entered the secret realm, only Mei Bucai and a few others truly knew Li Yan.
Moreover, at that time, Li Yan was just a small Foundation Establishment cultivator. And Su Hong did not want others to know that she had almost been defiled by another woman, so she had used her own people.
The news she found out was all about Li Yan being a low-key person. Even later, when she reached the Verdant Continent, she couldn't believe that Li Yan was still alive. This made her more and more interested in Li Yan.
She didn't even notice that in the days that followed, she would look for news from the Desolate Moon Continent every once in a while, and more specifically, information about the Malevolent Spirit Sect...
The strength that Li Yan displayed today, dealing with Wan Qingshe with such ease, once again overturned Su Hong's perception, making her want to know even more about how Li Yan had reached almost the peak of the Nascent Soul realm in such a short time.
Women are naturally curious creatures, and Su Hong had seen and heard a lot. She had seen countless so-called cultivation geniuses and talented young men, but those people rarely aroused her interest.
'This guy is really tight-lipped. I think he would be very suitable as a deacon in "Gui Qu Lai Xi," but he's like a block of wood, not answering when asked!
Humph, if you knew the true origin of the merchant guild, you might be scrambling to join...'
Every time Su Hong talked with Li Yan, some strange thoughts would arise in her heart. She couldn't get any useful information about Li Yan himself.
But even so, for some reason, she just liked talking to Li Yan.
In Li Yan, she saw a kind of unhurried calmness, without the arrogance of those prodigies, and the mentality of wanting to show off their talents everywhere.
Li Yan was low-key and powerful, and he didn't like to talk much about cultivation. He was particularly interested in things like herbs, demonic beasts, and anecdotes from the continent.
And Su Hong also liked that kind of calm and quiet person, who could whisper softly with you...
Regarding the matter of Hong Yin's physical body, Li Yan was also quite concerned. Because Hong Yin had taught Gong Chenying with great care, and had also helped him a lot in the matter of the seal.
Hong Yin's greatest wish at the moment was to obtain a suitable physical body!
Therefore, after the Third Elder handed the physical body to Hong Yin that day and came back to arrange a courtyard for Su Hong to live in, Li Yan also secretly asked via voice transmission.
At that time, Li Yan saw that the Third Elder's expression was a bit strange, but in the end, she still told Li Yan.
After inspecting the physical body, Hong Yin was basically satisfied, but... but she didn't like the appearance of that physical body. It was too enchanting...
As the grand ceremony approached, Gong Chenying also came out of seclusion.
Afterward, she learned of Su Hong's arrival. She was also quite happy about the physical body that Su Hong had brought.
But her master Hong Yin, on the day she received the physical body, had completely activated all the formation restrictions and entered seclusion. She had also left a jade slip for Gong Chenying.
She told Gong Chenying that she would be in seclusion for a period of time to adjust her state to the optimum before performing the body seizure.
If she had not sent a message to her after half a year, then she should have the First Elder and the others use the magical art she had left in the jade slip to break the restriction and kill the person inside. No matter what the other party said, they should not believe it.
She said nothing else. Gong Chenying now also understood Hong Yin's character very well. She was very similar to the Great Sacrificial Priest, having her own absolute opinions.
And for something like body seizure, Hong Yin would never agree to have someone guard her, not even for assistance.
Either she would succeed in the body seizure, or her soul would be devoured by the other party and she would fail. Therefore, she had long been prepared.
Using the raw materials provided by Gong Shanhe, she had refined a formation from the "Red Whisk Temple" called the "Heaven-Obscuring Red Lotus" and had sealed herself and that physical body in a secret room.
Regarding this, Li Yan could also roughly guess the reason. Everyone had their own secrets. Hong Yin did not want others to see her cultivation methods.
Even more so, she did not want to be seen by others if the body seizure failed, the final despair of a once-Spirit Transformation cultivator. She had her own dignity and honor.
After all, she was once a supreme ancestor of a super sect.
This point could be seen from Hong Yin's daily performance after she came to the Tianli Clan. Hong Yin was taciturn. Besides her character, it was also because her cultivation had plummeted and the "Red Whisk Temple" had disappeared that she was unwilling to face others...
After Gong Chenying came out of seclusion, she also went to see Su Hong. The two had had some interactions on the Desolate Moon Continent before. Although not many, this opportunity was already very rare.
Afterward, Li Yan was surprised to find that Su Hong and Gong Chenying were getting along very well. Even the usually silent Gong Chenying would take the initiative to go and find Su Hong every few days.
She even personally took Su Hong for a tour of the Tianli Clan. For a time, it was the two women who had less contact with Li Yan.
This made Li Yan's idea of spending some time alone with Gong Chenying only amount to a few hasty meetings, which made him feel a little depressed.
Time flew like a shuttle. Ten days before the "Qing A Wang" investiture ceremony, Li Yan, who was sitting cross-legged in the pavilion with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes.
Now, he was just cultivating normally every day and would not go into seclusion again, lest something happen and others could not contact him immediately.
And Qian Ji and Zi Kun, now knowing that Li Yan was getting married, had already come out of the "Earthen Patch" and started to run around the village.
The two demons were pulling a group of cultivators and mortal warriors. It was unknown what they were doing, and they looked mysterious all day long.
Amidst flashing figures, Gong Chenying, carrying a long red-tasseled spear on her back and dressed in blue with fitted sleeves, appeared in the pavilion. Looking at Li Yan, who was smiling at her, a blush couldn't help but rise on Gong Chenying's face.
"You're not going to accompany Great Manager Su anymore?"
Li Yan touched his nose with one hand, his pair of dark eyes looking at the beauty before him, who was now like a ripe peach.
"She is an old acquaintance, after all. Her master, senior brothers, and junior brothers are not here. She also specially stayed for the ceremony. This is very rare."
"Junior Sister Su is only familiar with you and me here. We can't neglect her. How can we be lacking in these courtesies?"
Gong Chenying heard the sourness in Li Yan's words. She tucked her short hair behind her ear and gave Li Yan a sidelong glance. This glance lacked its usual coldness and had a kind of exotic charm, which made Li Yan's heart flutter.
The "Qing A Wang" investiture ceremony had not been communicated to the people of Little Bamboo Peak because before, Li Yan and Gong Chenying had been dealing with the turmoil in the Tianli Clan and had no idea what would happen next.
By the time a date was actually set, a few short years, even if a message were sent, the "Qing A Wang" investiture ceremony might have already been held here before the message even reached the Desolate Moon Continent.
Gong Chenying and Li Yan were also helpless about this.
There was another reason for this. The others at Little Bamboo Peak did not know about their relationship. They did not know what kind of uproar this letter would cause when it was sent back, especially with Third Senior Brother Yun Chunqu!
However, regarding the matter of a Dao Companion, who Gong Chenying herself chose to be with was not something others could wish for. It was thought that after they knew about this matter, besides the shock or difficulty in accepting it at the time, they could only accept it later.
As for a person having two Dao Companions, as long as Zhao Min and Gong Chenying had no objections, what could others say?
"Cough, she specially stayed to congratulate me, yet I haven't seen her congratulatory gift yet."
Li Yan touched his nose and said jokingly.
He was surprised that Su Hong could stay for his grand wedding, but he was also very happy. As the saying goes, to meet an old friend in a foreign land is a great joy.