After hearing the Second Elder's words, even the Great Elder cursed him as "shameless" in his heart.
The Second Elder had shifted all the responsibility onto him in the end. However, since he had finally agreed, the Great Elder didn't want to continue dwelling on the matter and went on.
"However, there is one more thing. When Fellow Daoist Li was a prospective 'Qing A Wang,' he had already cultivated our clan's 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art.'"
"A Ying also followed the clan rules and only taught him the first three layers. Due to the demon clan's invasion at that time, she was unable to deliver the message to the clan in time."
"Fellow Daoist Li was also trapped somewhere for nearly a hundred years during the great war with the demon clan, and it has been delayed until now. Regarding Fellow Daoist Li's cultivation of the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art,' do you two elders have any objections?"
The Great Elder looked around at the two of them.
"Although Fellow Daoist Li was not able to participate in the 'Qing A Wang' assessment before forming his Golden Core, his help to our clan last time can already offset his past transgression. All we need to do is have him take the assessment once now."
The Third Elder waved her jade-like hand, being the first to express her opinion.
"Hehehe, regarding this matter, I have a different view. With Fellow Daoist Li's current divine abilities, what's the point of the clan's assessment methods? It would be more appropriate to replace it with a mission-based assessment!"
The Second Elder glanced at the Third Elder, sneering repeatedly in his heart. The other party was simply being overly protective.
With Li Yan's cultivation, unless the Great Elder personally conducted the assessment, the clan's assessment content would be a mere formality. If they were to really do that, what the Great Elder had said would be a load of nonsense.
And what if the Great Elder were to act? He was a Gong, and he doted on A Ying so much. It was a given that he would hold back. So, he wouldn't even propose the condition of having the Great Elder act.
At the same time, the Second Elder also felt a little helpless. Based on Li Yan's performance last time, he had truly and genuinely helped the Tianli Clan out of a great crisis.
After so many years, which one on their side had killed a fourth-rank Wind Beast? Just on this point alone, Li Yan's contribution to the Tianli Clan surpassed any assessment.
Coupled with the attitude of the Great Elder and the others, it was already impossible to stop Li Yan from becoming a "Qing A Wang."
His plan to win Gong Chenying over had already failed. Compared to Li Yan, the younger generation of the Tianli Clan wasn't even fit to carry his shoes.
A high-level cultivator who could sit on equal footing with him, what did those little Golden Cores have to compare with him? Besides, Gong Chenying had already spoken of the navel ring matter. Others couldn't possibly make her violate the clan rules.
If it were just Gong Chenying becoming his Dao Companion, the Second Elder would have had to endure it, albeit reluctantly. But the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art,' since ancient times, how many outsiders had it been taught to? Not even enough to count on one hand.
Even when the Wei family's ancestor had done a life-and-death favor for the Tianli Clan, the Great Sacrificial Priest at that time could only teach him the first three layers.
And that was the result of a Great Sacrificial Priest doing her utmost, yet it was still questioned by some clansmen. In his view, when Li Yan appeared last time, the Tianli Clan had not truly reached a desperate situation.
The Second Elder was unwilling to let the subsequent techniques of the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art' be so easily passed on to an outsider.
"But I wonder what kind of mission I need to complete?"
Li Yan said faintly. He had already expected this. If the Second Elder had agreed without a fuss, he would have felt that something was wrong.
"Since Fellow Daoist Li was not able to be assessed before the stipulated realm, then as the Third Elder said, your previous contribution will offset the violation of the clan rules."
"According to the examples from our ancestors, to obtain the subsequent 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art,' one must perform an indelible great service for our clan. Moreover, for each assessment completed, only one layer of the technique can be obtained!"
As the Second Elder spoke, his eyes flickered a few times. To obtain the subsequent techniques of the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art,' Li Yan would have to perform another indelible great service for the Tianli Clan.
"Oh? But how would that be defined? What constitutes a great service?"
Li Yan looked at the Second Elder with a half-smile on his face.
"What Fellow Daoist Li does, as long as at least half of us five elders approve in the end, then there will be no problem!"
At this moment, a smile appeared on the Second Elder's face as he looked at Li Yan unhurriedly.
"Then does investigating the whereabouts of the Clan Head and the Sixth Elder count as a great service?"
Just then, a cold voice came from the side. It was Gong Chenying. She had been silent all this while. Even when Li Yan had mentioned the matter of the letter, she had not spoken.
She had originally planned to find a time to investigate that matter herself later, to see who was in charge of the clan's external affairs during that time. She hadn't expected Li Yan to bring it up directly in front of the Second Elder and the others.
She also now knew that it was the Fifth Elder's doing, and a cold sneer appeared in her heart. Seeing that the Second Elder had once again erased Li Yan's contributions, she might as well directly propose the "assessment content."
When Gong Chenying stated the condition, firstly, she did not refer to him as "Father," but by his title as Clan Head; secondly, she did not say "rescue" the two, but only "investigate."
"What? Fellow Daoist Li is going to investigate the situation of the Clan Head and the Sixth Elder? This..."
The Second Elder was stunned upon hearing this. He really hadn't expected Gong Chenying to propose such an "assessment." But he was also an old fox. With another glance at the other three, he immediately understood everything.
"Hehehe... so you had a premeditated plan!"
But Gong Chenying's use of "Clan Head" was also very clever. The one Li Yan was going to help was the Clan Head of the Tianli Clan. This immediately highlighted the importance of the matter.
Now that someone was willing to find Gong Shanhe and the others without using the clan's high-level cultivators, could you say that the Clan Head of a clan was unimportant? That it didn't count as a great service?
The Second Elder's mind raced, and then he shook his head again.
"Is it just to investigate the whereabouts of the Clan Head and the others? To say something that Fellow Daoist Li might not like to hear, if Fellow Daoist just went to the vicinity and came back, how could that count?"
"I think it should be after rescuing the Clan Head and the Sixth Elder that it can be considered a great service."
Listening to the Second Elder's rebuttal, Gong Chenying's expression did not change. She thought to herself.
'As expected, his thoughts are the same as the Great Elder's. Just investigating the current situation is not enough. But the Great Elder is, after all, of the same lineage as me, so he eventually agreed!'
Gong Chenying continued to speak.
"I will accompany him. If there is a way to rescue them, do you elders think I would not save my own father?"
This time, she referred to him as "Father" again, to show that her closest relative was in distress. Would she not act if she had the chance to save him?
Regarding Gong Chenying's words, the Second Elder still shook his head.
"What we're talking about here is a service to the Tianli Clan. If it's just an investigation, Fellow Daoist Li could become a 'Qing A Wang' without even going, but the treatment would not be the highest!"
"It's been so many years, and the Clan Head and the Sixth Elder have not been able to get out. If Fellow Daoist Li takes on this mission, there's really no guarantee that he can rescue them."
"If they can bring back definite news, it would actually be a great service to us, more valuable than my divination. We would then be able to formulate the next plan based on the actual situation!"
The Third Elder said with a charming smile, her words clearly siding with Li Yan.
The Second Elder, however, glanced at her, his face remaining calm.
"Third Elder, you are mistaken. To receive the highest treatment of a 'Qing A Wang,' one must perform a truly great service for the Tianli Clan, not lower the standard."
"This has been the clan rule since ancient times, and we cannot overstep it. If there are objections to this, we can wait for the Fourth and Fifth Elders to come out of seclusion, and then we can vote together. A majority of half will be enough."
The Second Elder remained insistent. And the suggestion he made at the end was simply not going to pass. The Fourth and Fifth Elders were his people.
The Great Elder frowned. This concerned the clan's treasured scripture, the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art,' so he of course understood the Second Elder's attitude. However, Li Yan was also someone he wanted to win over. His combat strength in that battle had been quite stunning.
Just as he was thinking of how to persuade the Second Elder, Li Yan suddenly smiled at the Second Elder.
"Then what does the Second Elder think would count?"
He could see that the Second Elder must have had other ideas. Hearing Li Yan's question, the Second Elder thought to himself.
'What do I think would count? It would be best if you weren't a 'Qing A Wang,' best if you could kill Yan San, best if you didn't cultivate the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art.' Do you think that's possible?'
He had actually wanted to say that if Li Yan could kill another fourth-rank Wind Beast, that would also count.
But now that Gong Chenying had proposed the matter of rescuing the Clan Head and the Sixth Elder, if he were to reject it again, he would be harboring malicious intentions.
When Li Yan looked at him, the Second Elder's eyes fell on the item hanging from Li Yan's waist, and his eyes lit up.
"I think we can proceed as previously discussed. It would be best if you can rescue the Clan Head and the Sixth Elder. That would definitely count as Fellow Daoist Li completing the assessment mission, and he can be taught the fourth layer of the technique."
"But if it's just investigating their situation and bringing back news, then Fellow Daoist Li would need to add one more thing. I think that could also be considered as completing the assessment mission!"
After saying this, the Second Elder looked at Li Yan with a smile in his eyes.
"Add one more thing? Please speak!"
Li Yan's face was as calm as an ancient well, making it impossible for anyone to guess his thoughts at this moment.
"This is actually extremely simple for Fellow Daoist Li, but for our Tianli Clan, it is truly of utmost importance."
"That is, our current purchase of new 'Grey Cloud Eagles' and their subsequent refining will still take some time to complete."
"So, could Fellow Daoist Li have your insects help our clan once? They only need to defend against the low-rank 'Wind Goose Beasts' for one year."
"If Fellow Daoist Li also finds out the news of the Clan Head and the others, adding these two things together would be a great service to our clan. This contribution is something no one can say is a small matter!"
After hearing this, a sharp glint immediately flashed in the eyes of the Great Elder and the Third Elder.
Now, they were worrying about these very things. The Second Elder's suggestion was actually very good. This was the most pressing issue they needed to solve at the moment.
Li Yan frowned upon hearing this, and a coldness appeared on Gong Chenying's delicate face as well.
She had, of course, also seen the scene of the Snow Mosquito Clan displaying their might that day. They were truly the best demonic beasts to resist the 'Cloud Goose Beasts,' even more suitable than the 'Grey Cloud Eagles.'
However, in her opinion, those insects were a variant species, hard to find in the world. It was probably very difficult for Li Yan to cultivate them. To save her, just in that one battle that day, at least several thousand Snow Mosquitoes had died.
Back when Gong Chenying was preparing for the possibility of going to the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda for training, she had also read related scriptures. She actually knew about the Snow Mosquitoes, but she just hadn't thought that Li Yan could bring them out of the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, so she thought the Snow Mosquitoes were another variant species.
And the Second Elder was asking for a whole year of defense for the Tianli Clan. It was estimated that by then, Li Yan would be lucky to have a few Snow Mosquitoes left.
Just then, the Second Elder continued to speak.
"However, given the current situation, a large number of our warriors are already dying at the front lines every day, especially the mortal warriors, whose casualties are even more severe."
"This matter should have been decided after seeing if Fellow Daoist Li could rescue the Clan Head, or after bringing back news of them. But the current situation is indeed urgent, so I would like to ask Fellow Daoist Li to lend a hand in advance. I wonder if that's possible?"
As soon as he said this, not only did Gong Chenying feel that the Second Elder was somewhat shameless, but even the Great Elder and the Third Elder, who had also been moved, showed a trace of embarrassment on their faces.
The Second Elder was clearly saying that regardless of whether Li Yan could rescue Gong Shanhe and the Sixth Elder, he had to bring out those insect demonic beasts first.
After he returned from his mission, a specific judgment would be made. If he really rescued the two, it would be considered as completing the mission. According to the Second Elder's meaning, at that time, Li Yan could just take back the Snow Mosquitoes, and it wouldn't increase his contribution anyway.
For Li Yan's round trip, without any accidents, the fastest would probably take two months. By then, who knows how many of the Snow Mosquito Clan would have died.
What's more, if Li Yan was not careful and also got trapped in that perilous place, then these insect demonic beasts would belong to the Tianli Clan in the future.
The Second Elder's abacus was clattering loudly. He was betting on Li Yan's purpose for coming here: for the beauty and the technique.
"Second Elder, do you think this is appropriate? You said before that one matter is one matter, but now you want to..."
Gong Chenying immediately questioned him, but before she could finish.
Li Yan, who had been frowning, had his expression return to normal. He waved his hand at Gong Chenying and then interjected.
"Actually, the Second Elder's proposal can be considered. Does the Second Elder mean that you just want to defend against those low-rank 'Wind Goose Beasts'?"
Li Yan's sudden interjection, and the meaning expressed in his words, stunned the few people.