Li Yan's expression remained unchanged, but it now held a measure of respect. He bowed deeply to the Huchen Ancestor. The Huchen Ancestor, after releasing Zhuo Lingfeng and Huchen Wuding, had a smile on his face and now nodded at Li Yan.
Although Li Yan felt a slight sense of relief, he understood very well that if he showed too much excitement at this moment, the situation could change instantly. It seemed the Huchen Ancestor had spared them, but this was the critical moment. He was probably still observing Li Yan, hoping to make a final judgment.
Seeing that Zhuo Lingfeng and Huchen Wuding were also free, Li Yan looked at Huchen Wuding. If Huchen Wuding wasn't a fool, he had to show his attitude now. Otherwise, it was uncertain whether the Huchen Ancestor had truly let the matter go. Even if he spared Li Yan and the other man now, if Huchen Wuding still clung to the past, with the Ancestor's methods, Zhuo Lingfeng's future demise would be inevitable.
Huchen Wuding's eyes were still red, but he didn't immediately step forward. Seeing this, Li Yan couldn't help but frown, thinking how clueless Huchen Wuding was being. At that moment, Zhuo Lingfeng walked to Huchen Wuding's side and patted his shoulder. "Wuding!" He naturally understood that Huchen Wuding was not a fool, just that he hadn't yet awakened from the recent drastic ups and downs.
Huchen Wuding was stunned. In his memory, after his mother passed away, Uncle Sang had never patted his head or shoulder affectionately like when he was a child, calling him "Wuding." Instead, he had started calling him "Young Master." "Wuding" was a name Uncle Sang had called him for the second time today in all these years. He looked at Zhuo Lingfeng with red eyes.
"Wuding, you've grown up. It's time to fulfill your mother's wish and become a peerless talent of your generation. Now that the Huchen family's crisis is resolved, it's time for you to truly return to the family. Especially with the Ghostly Poison Scroll you cultivate, outsiders can't guide you. Besides, your cultivation manual's jade slip only has the first five layers. To fulfill your mother's last wish, you must continue to cultivate the Ghostly Poison Scroll diligently, because you truly have an unparalleled talent in this area."
"For the past ten-odd years, I have also delayed too much of my own cultivation because of you. If you continue to follow me, Uncle Sang can no longer afford your cultivation resources. The Jade Purification Vase alone has already emptied all of Uncle Sang's savings. And Uncle Sang has his own dreams of cultivation. In my remaining years, I must strive for myself. I hope it's not too late."
"So, don't think about leaving. If you can't become a peerless talent, you won't be able to fulfill your mother's dying wish. Are you willing to do that? Similarly, if you leave and continue to follow me, and I have to take care of you in my remaining decades, how can I form a Golden Core? I'm sure you don't want to see me enter the cycle of reincarnation so soon," Zhuo Lingfeng said with a smile on his aged face.
Huchen Wuding opened his mouth. He had said he would leave after obtaining the position of Successor. But with all the recent changes, plus Zhuo Lingfeng's words, if he still insisted on leaving, he probably wouldn't even get past the Ancestor. It would only bring a fatal disaster to Uncle Sang. He now understood that the cause of all this was that he was too weak, far too weak. What he needed to do was to quickly make himself strong. By then, who in the family could stop him from doing whatever he wanted? But he really didn't want to be separated from Uncle Sang. They had depended on each other for more than ten years; how could they part just like that?
"But, Uncle Sang, you can also stay and cultivate in the Huchen family. There are resources here. You took care of me for so many years, I think the family will compensate you for your cultivation resources," he said, looking up at the Huchen Ancestor. The Huchen Ancestor remained expressionless but still nodded. However, how could he be willing for the two of them to stay together? In that case, after a few hundred or a thousand years, the Huchen family might be surnamed Zhuo. He thought to himself, 'Zhuo Lingfeng, if you know what's good for you, you'll leave on your own. For the sake of this Li Yan, I'll spare you for now. Otherwise...' The Huchen Ancestor believed that time could change everything. No matter how deep the affection, if they didn't see each other for a long time, it would become as bland as water.
Li Yan sighed inwardly as he listened from the side. Although he understood Huchen Wuding's feelings, if Zhuo Lingfeng were to stay in the Huchen family, it could only be said that he was not far from death.
"Wuding, I can't stay here. The Huchen family follows the path of poison cultivation, which is completely different from mine. If I stay here, forming a Golden Core is impossible. I must travel thousands of mountains and rivers to find my own fortune in order to have a breakthrough." Zhuo Lingfeng indeed refused decisively. However, the reason he gave was true. Even if the Huchen Ancestor didn't mind him staying in the family and could provide corresponding cultivation resources, Zhuo Lingfeng had already missed more than ten years of his prime. Without a great opportunity, he would be stuck at the Pseudo-Core Realm for the rest of his life. To stay here would be like waiting for death in retirement.
Huchen Wuding's red eyes were no longer filled with anger, but with the reluctance of facing departure from Zhuo Lingfeng.
"Fellow Daoist Huchen, now that your wish has been fulfilled, when can my 'Netherworld Order' be given to me?" Li Yan suddenly interjected. He didn't want to linger here for too long.
Only then did Huchen Wuding turn his head, somewhat dazed. After a while, he seemed to come to his senses. He looked at the Huchen Ancestor. "Ancestor, I previously promised Senior Li that if he could help me return home and I won the position of Successor, I would give him the 'Netherworld Order.' I wonder if this matter can..."
Before Huchen Wuding could finish, the Huchen Ancestor nodded. Although the "Netherworld Order" was precious, it had long been established in the Huchen family's annual trade negotiations with the Jingtu Sect that the family would receive one every year. At this moment, he just wanted the two before him to disappear sooner so that Huchen Wuding could enter a transition period and return to his cultivation state as soon as possible. But he showed no sign of this on his face. "You are already the next-generation Successor. You have these rights. Go find your father. Just say I said so, and have him give you the 'Netherworld Order'."
Then, the Huchen Ancestor looked at Li Yan and said, "In three days, Wuding will hold his Successor's ceremony. If Little Fellow Daoist Li has time, you may stay and participate." In his words, there was no mention of whether Zhuo Lingfeng should stay.
Hearing this, Huchen Wuding became anxious and was about to speak, but was stopped by a look from Zhuo Lingfeng. He knew what Huchen Wuding wanted to say—just to ask him to stay for a few more days. But Zhuo Lingfeng knew this was no place to linger and would absolutely not stay. Huchen Wuding finally recognized the current situation and, with a sad expression, did not speak again.
"Thank you, Senior. After I get the 'Netherworld Order' today, I must leave. I have already been delayed here for some days, and my sect mission has a time limit," Li Yan said, bowing respectfully to the Huchen Ancestor.
"Since that is the case, this old man will not keep you any longer. When you return to your sect, tell that old ghost Da Cen that I will find time to visit him for a chat," the Huchen Ancestor said as he turned to leave. As night fell, his figure had long since disappeared, leaving only a lingering echo.
Li Yan still bowed respectfully towards the empty space and said, "Yes."
That night, on a small mountaintop in the Marshgaze Ridge mountains, Li Yan watched the light gate behind him gradually disappear. He then looked up at the bright moon in the sky and couldn't help but break into a smile. He said to Zhuo Lingfeng beside him, "I didn't expect Huchen Wuding to be so clever after all."
After he said this, Zhuo Lingfeng smiled and nodded. They both knew what he meant. After they left the plaza earlier, they waited in Huchen Wuding's courtyard for him to fetch the "Netherworld Order." While waiting, the two of them chatted. In less than half an incense stick's time, Huchen Wuding had hurried back to the courtyard. But the things he brought out surprised both Li Yan and Zhuo Lingfeng. Besides the "Netherworld Order" that Li Yan finally obtained, Huchen Wuding also took out a "Dustless Pill" and gave it to Zhuo Lingfeng, along with a storage pouch full of spirit stones.
It turned out that back in the plaza, Huchen Wuding had been clever. He had only mentioned the "Netherworld Order" for two reasons: one, to see if he had the authority to dispose of it, and two, to find out who held these items. He knew that Zhuo Lingfeng had been waiting for an opportunity to form a Golden Core, and if he could get a "Dustless Pill," it would be a tremendous help. But he didn't dare to mention it in front of the Huchen Ancestor. Given the Ancestor's attitude towards Zhuo Lingfeng, he might have been rejected directly, and then there would have been no chance at all. After learning that these things were with Huchen Wandong, Huchen Wuding was overjoyed.
Later, after finding Huchen Wandong, he asked for the "Netherworld Order" and the "Dustless Pill," saying it was the Ancestor's order for him to dispose of them. Huchen Wandong didn't doubt him; these were originally the rewards for the Successor. So he gave them both to him. Just as Huchen Wuding was about to leave, Huchen Wandong called him back. Huchen Wandong looked somewhat hesitant, but then he took out a large bag of spirit stones. To Huchen Wuding's surprise, Huchen Wandong asked him to give these spirit stones to Zhuo Lingfeng. Huchen Wuding swept his Divine Sense over it and was also shocked. There were one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones in the storage pouch, a massive fortune.
Huchen Wandong hesitated again and then said to Huchen Wuding, "You... you don't need the 'Dustless Pill' right now. It would be best to give it to Fellow Daoist Zhuo as well. He has given too much for you and your mother. I think you won't refuse this suggestion. And... and this is what Xiangyun would have wanted to see." Huchen Wandong seemed to know that Zhuo Lingfeng would not be staying in the Huchen family. At the same time, he had learned from Chi Dongli that Yue Xiangyun had passed away more than ten years ago, and he couldn't help but feel sad.
Hearing Huchen Wandong's words, Huchen Wuding's icy expression finally softened slightly. But he still nodded coldly. As he was leaving, Huchen Wandong told him not to go out for the time being, because the family was about to take some action. Recalling Huchen Wandong's earlier voice transmission in the plaza, Huchen Wuding knew that the Huchen Ancestor was about to make a move against the first and fourth branches.
Zhuo Lingfeng looked at the bag of spirit stones and the "Dustless Pill." A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He did not, as Huchen Wuding had expected, refuse the spirit stones because they were from Huchen Wandong. Instead, he reached out and took them, then patted Huchen Wuding's shoulder. Finally, he took a deep look at the wing where Yue Xiangyun had lived, then his figure flickered and floated out of the courtyard, leaving behind Huchen Wuding, who had two streams of hot tears running down his face.
A look of surprise appeared in Li Yan's eyes. He hadn't expected Zhuo Lingfeng to be so straightforward, as if he had already forgotten his initial hatred for Huchen Wandong. But this made Li Yan understand even more what the He brothers had meant by the fearsome reputation of "Demondog Moonshadow." This man was truly decisive in his actions, not one to be swayed by emotions. Truly, he brushed off his sleeves after the matter was done.
He then said faintly to Huchen Wuding, "Fellow Daoist Wuding, if fate allows, we will meet again. Farewell!"
Looking around at the surrounding slopes and listening to the dull roars of demonic beasts from the swamp at the foot of the mountain, Zhuo Lingfeng looked at Li Yan and suddenly bowed deeply. "For this matter, I must truly thank Fellow Daoist Li!"
Li Yan did not look surprised by Zhuo Lingfeng's sudden action, as if he had already expected it. He knew what Zhuo Lingfeng was referring to. One was his help for Huchen Wuding in the final round. Although Huchen Wuding would still have been the Successor even without his help, at least he had made Huchen Wuding's victory well-deserved. The second was that Zhuo Lingfeng was thanking him for saving his life. Zhuo Lingfeng had never expressed his gratitude to Li Yan for these matters while in the Huchen family. Now that the two of them were alone, it was natural for him to say it.
"Fellow Daoist Zhuo, there is no need for this. I was only protecting myself. If I wasn't after the 'Netherworld Order,' I certainly wouldn't have gotten involved in these matters," Li Yan said, shaking his head.
Hearing Li Yan's words, Zhuo Lingfeng did not feel displeased. Instead, he thought even more highly of Li Yan. 'This person sees things very clearly. He is definitely not one of those who likes to fish for fame.'
As Zhuo Lingfeng was thinking, he suddenly said, "It was only in the Huchen family that I learned Fellow Daoist Li is from the Malevolent Spirit Sect's Little Bamboo Peak. I wonder if you know Li Wuyi?"