Although there were no Foundation Establishment cultivators among the missing this time, those who could perform missions or train alone outside were at least at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation. For a second-rate sect, these individuals were the outstanding members of the new generation, the future hope of the sect. This caused the disciples of Falling Star Valley to become somewhat panicked.
Although such things had happened before, for them to occur so frequently within a few days was abnormal. It was obvious that someone was targeting Falling Star Valley.
Now, no one dared to casually accept most of the missions in the Falling Star Valley's Mission Hall. Even if they did, they were mostly missions within the valley or very close to it. Even then, a single mission would often be taken on by multiple people together. For tasks that could have been completed by a single person in the past, one could imagine how few contribution points and spirit stones could be divided among several people.
The high-level cultivators of Falling Star Valley were clearly furious about this. After Sect Master Lin Xinghe went out, the Law-Enforcement Hall had already ordered the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the valley to lead people out. Some went to investigate the cause of the matter, while others went out to receive the elite disciples of the sect who were outside. Even important pills, magical treasures, and spirit artifacts for trade with clients were escorted by a team led by two Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Meanwhile, only the Supreme Elder who was still in seclusion and three Foundation Establishment cultivators were left to guard the sect. The already scarce number of experts at the Foundation Establishment level and above seemed even more stretched.
By the time Li Yan learned of these things, it was half a month later when he went out to collect his monthly spirit stones. He saw that the disciples in the valley were all hurrying about, and for a moment, he was a bit confused. It wasn't until he came out of the Hall of Deacons that, apart from being somewhat surprised, his mind started to race, wondering if he should take advantage of the chaos to sneak into the "Shattered Star Grotto." But then he thought of the cultivator who was said to be at the late-stage Golden Core but whose true realm was unknown, guarding in secret, and he hesitated again.
Falling Star Valley disciples were being ambushed and killed outside. It was unknown who Falling Star Valley had offended. Until now, there had been no clear explanation from above. They only issued an order for the disciples in the valley to be careful and not to leave the sect without permission. It was said that this might be a feud between clans, with foreign cultivators targeting human cultivators.
Everything that was happening now could be a ploy by Falling Star Valley's enemies to lure the tiger out of the mountains. But Falling Star Valley had been established for over two thousand years; what kind of situation had they not seen? After Sect Master Lin Xinghe personally went out, the defenses in the valley would only become more stringent.
Just as Li Yan was considering whether to risk sneaking into the "Shattered Star Grotto," one morning, as he was sitting cross-legged in meditation, his slightly closed eyes moved, and he then opened them.
'Why is she here?'
Due to the chaotic situation in the valley these past few days and the unclear situation outside, Li Yan had not entered the "Earthen Patch" to refine the essence blood. He was just sitting cross-legged in his room cultivating the "True Scripture of Gui Water," constantly circulating the heavenly cycle.
As Li Yan was pondering, the person had already arrived in front of his courtyard. Then, a sweet voice came through.
"Is Senior Brother Zhang in? Junior Sister Feng Tao requests a meeting."
Outside the courtyard, a graceful young girl was standing. It was Feng Tao, the girl who had entered Falling Star Valley with Li Yan. At this moment, she had just stepped off a flying spirit artifact. Her face was full of sorrow, her delicate brows tightly furrowed, and she stood at the entrance of Li Yan's courtyard, calling out softly.
After calling out twice with no response from the courtyard, a look of disappointment appeared on Feng Tao's face. It seemed the other party was in seclusion.
Just as Feng Tao was about to turn and leave, the courtyard gate slowly opened, and an ordinary-looking youth in a green robe walked out. It was precisely the Zhang Ming she was looking for.
Li Yan looked at Feng Tao, who was about to turn and leave, with a puzzled expression on his face and said in a deep voice.
"May I ask why Junior Sister Feng is looking for me?"
As he spoke, Li Yan glanced at the flying spirit artifact less than a foot off the ground beside Feng Tao. It was a silver longsword of decent quality, a very common type of flying spirit artifact.
'The Foundation Establishment cultivator she became a disciple of is quite generous. It's only been about half a year, and he has already given her a flying spirit artifact.'
Falling Star Valley was, after all, only a second-rate sect. It was already difficult to provide every disciple with a common spirit artifact. Not to mention a good thing like a high-grade flying spirit artifact. Even though they were an artifact refining sect themselves, they couldn't just casually produce the large amount of refining materials required.
Li Yan had originally wanted to use these elite disciples to enter the "Shattered Star Chambers," so he had paid detailed attention to their backgrounds. Feng Tao came from a small cultivation family, which was said to have only two Foundation Establishment cultivators. So, a flying spirit artifact was extremely precious to the Feng family. This flying spirit artifact was most likely a gift from Feng Tao's current master.
At the same time, Li Yan also saw some of Falling Star Valley's artifact refining techniques from this spirit artifact. Over the past six months, he had also read many of Falling Star Valley's basic artifact refining jade slips. To outsiders, it would seem that Zhang Ming was planning to walk the path of artifact refining in the future. But this was also Li Yan's way of learning from Falling Star Valley's artifact refining methods while making plans in advance for his future entry into the refining chambers.
When Feng Tao saw Zhang Ming open the door, she forced a smile. As she heard his question, she saw him fix his gaze on her flying spirit artifact. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seemed that this high-grade spirit artifact might not be hers to keep this time. It might have to be used as a bargaining chip. Her master might get angry about it afterward. But at this moment, how could she care about so much?
"Little sister greets Senior Brother Zhang!"
Both of them were at the Qi Condensation realm. Li Yan's minor realm was not as high as Feng Tao's; he just looked a few years older than her. Although there was nothing wrong with Feng Tao addressing him this way, it clearly showed she was asking for a favor. After all, among cultivators, seniority was determined by cultivation level.
"Oh, may I ask what brings Junior Sister Feng here?"
Li Yan wasn't polite, but his face was filled with confusion as he looked at Feng Tao. Although there was a lot of pretense in his expression, he was genuinely puzzled as to why she had suddenly sought him out. It seemed that apart from traveling together for a short while when they entered the sect, they had had no interaction afterward. Feng Tao was the prodigy among the new disciples, a world apart from him. Therefore, Li Yan was very strange about this in his heart.
"Senior Brother Zhang, can we speak inside?"
Feng Tao looked around. Although the courtyards here were not close to each other, it was still easy to attract attention if they just stood here. She couldn't help but think, 'This Senior Brother Zhang, seeing a weak woman take the initiative to visit, he doesn't even have the courtesy to invite me in for a chat.'
Li Yan, on the other hand, was stunned.
'Hehe, you're quite bold, willingly entering a formation controlled by someone else.'
But then he thought about it and was relieved. It seemed that Feng Tao probably felt that her cultivation was higher than his. And since this was within the Falling Star Valley sect, he wouldn't dare to have any evil thoughts. It was just that she still underestimated some of the means of cultivators.
"Oh, Junior Sister's arrival was a bit sudden. I forgot my manners for a moment. Please forgive me, Junior Sister Feng. Please, come in!!"
As he spoke, Li Yan had already turned and entered the courtyard first, showing no intention of caring about Feng Tao's feelings behind him.
Seeing Zhang Ming's insincere "courtesy," Feng Tao could only put away her longsword spirit artifact and follow Li Yan into the courtyard.
"My place is quite simple. Junior Sister will have to bear with it."
He then pointed to the stone stool next to the stone table in the courtyard, gestured for Feng Tao to sit, and then plopped himself down on the other side of the stone table.
Feng Tao was speechless. 'Has your house never had a visitor before? You didn't even offer a cup of tea. At the very least, you should have asked, right?' However, with her mind full of worries at the moment, she could only grumble inwardly.
"Senior Brother Zhang is too kind. It is I who came unannounced. If I have disturbed you, I hope Senior Brother Zhang can forgive me. Although this place is a bit remote, it is a place that we cultivators love to live in, very quiet and elegant."
She was also a clever person and naturally chose some pleasant words to say.
Li Yan just nodded with a smile upon hearing her words and didn't reply. He wasn't in a hurry. The other party had sought him out, and seeing the worried look on her face, something must have happened. After such pleasantries, she would naturally state her intentions. However, at the same time, he was speculating inwardly.
'Could it be that her master encountered some misfortune after being sent out? But what does that have to do with me? Besides, I'm just a minor Qi Condensation cultivator now. What could I possibly have that's worth her coming to me for help?'
Seeing that Zhang Ming remained silent after sitting down, Feng Tao had to speak up herself. She felt she had a better understanding of this Senior Brother Zhang. Fortunately, when they entered the sect together, this person had been like this all along, so Feng Tao was somewhat prepared.
"Senior Brother Zhang, I came here this time to ask for a favor. I hope that Senior Brother can, for the sake of us having entered the sect together, even if it's just for this small bond of affinity, help me out this once."
After she said this, she paused. Li Yan on the opposite side still said nothing, just listening quietly. Feng Tao was already getting used to this. She took a deep breath and continued.
"Senior Brother Zhang, my visit is certainly a bit abrupt, but I can't find many people right now, so I have to be thick-skinned and come to ask for your help. To put it simply, yesterday I received a message from my family. My family is currently in a crisis, and I need to go back. But my master and most of the Foundation Establishment martial uncles in the sect have also been sent out on missions. This matter is very urgent, and I simply can't wait for my master and the others to return. After asking the sect for help, I still need to find a few more fellow disciples to help."
"It's just that I've only been in the sect for less than half a year, and there are very few people here whom I know and trust. But Senior Brother Zhang, at any rate, entered the sect with me. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that we are fated to know each other. So, I would like to ask for Senior Brother's help this once. Senior Brother can name your conditions. As long as it's something I or my family can provide, we will definitely not be stingy."
Feng Tao quickly explained the situation and looked at Li Yan with an anxious expression. She knew she had been brief and that the other party would definitely have many questions. But she could only speak briefly first to state her intentions.
Sure enough, she saw Zhang Ming's expression slightly falter after hearing her words, and then his eyes flickered. Feng Tao, on the other hand, looked at him with a sincere expression.
Li Yan first tapped his fingers lightly on the stone table a few times before slowly speaking.
"Junior Sister Feng, you are indeed being a bit abrupt."
"One, I don't know what crisis your family is in, and I don't want to wade into any muddy waters."
"Two, I believe that since you come from a cultivation family, there should be Foundation Establishment or even Golden Core cultivators in your family. So, for a matter that they couldn't resolve, you want to pull a few minor Qi Condensation cultivators to solve it? I wonder what explanation Junior Sister Feng can give me for this. Are you asking me to go to my death?"
"Three, my cultivation is lower than yours. If you are willing to offer a generous reward, I believe those senior brothers at the eighth or ninth layer of Qi Condensation or even at the Great Perfection stage would be willing. Even the few Foundation Establishment seniors who remain in the sect might be willing to act. What do you mean by this? Right now, many disciples are being ambushed and killed outside the valley. For Junior Sister Feng to want me to leave the valley like this, are you trying to harm me?"