Chapter 92

The Red Flame Mountain Range.

Three bald peaks are arranged in a "pin" shape, and between these three peaks lies a vast valley where the Lingbao Pavilion is located.

Inside the valley, tall stone buildings stand in rows, and the wide stone paths are bustling with people.

Around the Lingbao Pavilion, the stone walls of the three peaks are dotted with numerous caves, from which people from the Lingbao Pavilion frequently enter and exit.

These caves are the residences of the Lingbao Pavilion's alchemists.

The alchemists entering the caves are all dressed meticulously and exude a graceful demeanor.

However, the alchemists leaving the caves are disheveled and dirty-faced.

Some of the alchemists who come out hold spiritual artifacts and laugh loudly, while others are dejected, looking as if they have lost their parents.

At the northern entrance of the valley, which serves as the main gate of the Lingbao Pavilion, luxurious carriages often arrive from afar.

An Shi Yi, from the An family, is dressed in formal attire. Her radiant face is filled with smiles, and she greets everyone who comes, arranging accommodations and other matters for them.

Dressed in a red robe and skirt, she wears silver bracelets on her white wrists and a heart-shaped pendant around her snow-white neck. Her every move exudes the most beautiful aspects of a woman, evoking admiration.

However, despite her constant smile, her eyes reveal a deep-seated worry.

Given her previous status in the Lingbao Pavilion, it was absolutely impossible for her to be assigned to reception duties.

However, due to the trial in the Qing Huan Realm, as the person in charge of the Lingbao Pavilion, she failed to detect the movements of the Ghost Sect and the Blood Sect in time, allowing Yu Tong and Mo Xi to enter the Qing Huan Realm, leading to the complete annihilation of the Ash Valley and significant losses for the other three factions. This caused her status in the Lingbao Pavilion to plummet.

To give an account to the other three sects, An Shi Yi was severely punished and was reduced to greeting guests at the entrance of the sect.

Over the years, she had been favored by the Pavilion Master and had rarely encountered setbacks.

Due to the Pavilion Master's favor, several old men in the Lingbao Pavilion who had evil intentions toward her had hidden their thoughts and dared not act recklessly.

This time, due to her negligence in the Qing Huan Realm, it was rumored that even the Pavilion Master, who had always protected her, began to doubt her capabilities and removed her from her position as an executive.

Several old men in the Lingbao Pavilion, who had long lusted after her beauty, immediately became restless.

Recently, these people had been sending people to test her attitude and express their desire to form a partnership with her.

She had refused them several times and found her situation in the Lingbao Pavilion becoming increasingly difficult.

"This grand event must not go wrong again; otherwise, it will be even harder for me to rise in the future," An Shi Yi thought to herself.

"Huff! Huff!"

Three golden-horned beasts pulled a large carriage, slowly approaching from the north.

On the carriage, Sang Bing from Ash Valley had a face as dark as water, coldly staring at An Shi Yi.

Beside Sang Bing, Yuan Xian, upon seeing An Shi Yi, shouted fiercely, "An Shi Yi, how dare you still have the nerve to greet us? If it weren't for you, my son Feng would not have died in the Qing Huan Realm! It was your failure to detect the movements of the Ghost Sect and the Blood Sect that led to my son's death!"

Yuan Xian is the younger sister of Yuan Fengchun, the head of the Yuan family in Cold Stone City.

Yuan Feng, who led the Ash Valley trial participants into the Qing Huan Realm, is Yuan Fengchun's grandson. Yuan Xian, who never married, regarded Yuan Feng as her own grandson.

Yuan Feng was considered a "seed" by Ash Valley not only because of his exceptional talent but also because of her influence.

Although Yuan Fengchun is a prominent figure among the major families of the Seven Cities, he is insignificant compared to his sister.

Yuan Xian has been exceptionally talented since childhood and is now the fifth valley master of Ash Valley.

Although she is the last in rank among the five valley masters, she is the fifth most important person in Ash Valley, holding a prestigious position.

Because of her, the Yuan family has become dominant among the subordinate families of Ash Valley.

Because of her, the Yuan family has become the leading family in Cold Stone City.

Years ago, the Yun family divorced Nie Qian and married Yun Zhiguo to Yuan Qiuying, valuing her special status in Ash Valley.

After all, the Yun family, like the Yuan family, is a subordinate family of Ash Valley.

"Senior Yuan, the death of Yuan Feng... was caused by the Ghost Sect and the Blood Sect, not by me, right? If you want revenge, you should go after the Ghost Sect and the Blood Sect, not me," An Shi Yi said with a bitter smile.

"I won't let the Ghost Sect and the Blood Sect off!" Yuan Xian's eyes were icy. "But you are also not blameless! If it weren't for your negligence in failing to detect the movements of the Ghost Sect and the Blood Sect, they wouldn't have entered the Qing Huan Realm. If they hadn't entered the Qing Huan Realm, how could Feng have met his end?"

After saying this, Yuan Xian paused, looking at An Shi Yi with a sinister gaze, and suddenly said, "An girl, if you want to stand on your own in the Li Tian Domain, you should find a powerful patron as soon as possible. I've heard that several old men in your sect have a good impression of you. You should consider them."

"A woman like you, besides your beauty, has nothing else to offer."

"If you become the wife or concubine of one of those old men, I might not be able to do much to you because of their influence. But... if no one protects you, with your current status in the Lingbao Pavilion, I have many ways to deal with you!"

Yuan Xian, in front of everyone, ruthlessly exposed the ugly side of the Lingbao Pavilion.

Upon hearing this, An Shi Yi's face visibly changed. She wanted to retort but, considering her current situation, she held back.

She noticed that many of the Lingbao Pavilion's internal disciples were now looking at her with strange expressions.

She realized that the troubles she had been facing recently had quietly spread within the pavilion.

"Senior Yuan, please come in," An Shi Yi bowed slightly, indicating for Sang Bing and Yuan Xian to enter.

"Your An family has shallow roots. In the Lingbao Pavilion, your family has no elders, and it is only because of you and your sister that your family can stand in Black Cloud City," Yuan Xian said coldly, still sitting on the carriage, looking down at An Shi Yi. "Once you lose your influence in the Lingbao Pavilion, your sister and your family may be implicated. An girl, think carefully about it, for your sister and your family."

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Yuan," An Shi Yi said with a frown.

Yuan Xian's words made her realize the situation.

She knew that one of the men who lusted after her was a close friend of Yuan Xian. Yuan Xian's words were likely for that person.

Yuan Xian's implication was that if she submitted to that person, Yuan Xian would not hold her accountable for the Qing Huan Realm incident.

Otherwise, Yuan Xian would pursue the matter and target her, or even the An family.

However, the thought of that man made her shudder and feel a chill all over.

"Think about it carefully," Yuan Xian said coldly, waving her hand to signal Sang Bing to get off the carriage and prepare to enter.

At that moment, a low rumble suddenly came from the depths of the clouds.

The crowd gathered at the entrance of the Lingbao Pavilion instinctively looked up upon hearing the rumble.

Soon, they saw a spiritual beast gradually appearing in the clouds.

"Whoosh!"

A strong wind blew, and the spiritual beast landed steadily.

The three golden-horned beasts pulling the carriage from Ash Valley began to tremble and slowly crouched down from the moment they heard the rumble.

"Thunder Abyss Beast!"

Many people at the entrance of the Lingbao Pavilion changed their expressions upon seeing the spiritual beast.

Even Yuan Xian and Sang Bing from Ash Valley fell silent as they watched the Thunder Abyss Beast land.

"Is this the Lingbao Pavilion?"

A surprised voice came from the Thunder Abyss Beast, and the crowd focused to see a strong young man sitting on its back.

"Is it him?" An Shi Yi was surprised.

"Hey, Sister An!" Nie Tian looked around and immediately noticed An Shi Yi. He waved vigorously from the back of the Thunder Abyss Beast and said with a smile, "Long time no see!"

"It's been half a year," An Shi Yi smiled.

"He is the child from the Nie family," Sang Bing said to Yuan Xian on the carriage, without showing any emotion.

Yuan Xian looked deeply at Nie Tian and nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

"Wu Laoguai's disciple, we can't afford to provoke him. In the future, should we make the Yun family more restrained?" Sang Bing added.

Yuan Xian was silent for a moment and said, "Although Qiuying is my niece, a married daughter is like water that has been poured out. I won't provoke Wu Laoguai for her sake."

"That's good," Sang Bing breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go in," Yuan Xian said.

As Nie Tian jumped off the Thunder Abyss Beast and approached An Shi Yi, the group from Ash Valley finally left without further delay.

Seeing them leave, An Shi Yi's heavy heart relaxed a bit.

She knew that if it weren't for Nie Tian's arrival, with Yuan Xian's harsh nature, she would have continued to mock and ridicule her at the entrance of the Lingbao Pavilion, not letting her off easily.

"This kid..."

After half a year, looking at Nie Tian now, her expression was complex, as if she were seeing a different person.

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