They had thought that after hearing the Second Elder's words, Li Yan would surely be so angry that his face would turn ashen.
They could all see that those insect demonic beasts were a special variant species, and their extremely icy coldness was like adding wings to a tiger when dealing with the "Wind Goose Beasts."
Therefore, they must be extremely important spirit beasts to Li Yan. Yet Li Yan actually agreed with the Second Elder's suggestion.
This surprised them all. Li Yan was too easy to talk to. Could it be that in order to obtain the "Qiongqi Purgatory Art," he was willing to pay such a huge price and abandon a precious demonic beast clan?
Li Yan's sudden change in attitude surprised the Second Elder the most. For a moment, it actually left him a little bewildered. He didn't know what Li Yan meant, but after a slight hesitation, he still nodded and replied.
"Of course. I said before that the clan's 'Grey Cloud Eagles' have been almost completely wiped out. We currently have no means to resist the aerial assaults of the large flock of 'Wind Goose Beasts'!"
"If that's the goal, then it's fine. I can help you defend for three months. I think after three months, I should have a result on my side as well!"
Li Yan's words gave them a rough idea of his meaning. That is, Li Yan agreed to bring out that kind of insect demonic beast to help them resist the low-rank "Wind Goose Beasts."
However, he only agreed to bring out a portion of the insect demonic beasts, probably a number that could fight for three months.
After three months, either Li Yan would have returned, or something would have happened to Li Yan himself. In that case, the number of remaining insect demonic beasts would be what it was, and there would be nothing more to discuss.
"Defend for three months? Fine..."
The Second Elder quickly thought in his heart. He had previously proposed one year, which was also an exaggeration.
Now, as long as Li Yan was willing to bring out that kind of rare insect, they could try to cultivate them, and thus have a chance to truly obtain this kind of demonic beast.
But before he could finish his words, Li Yan interrupted him.
"However, I have a condition!"
The Second Elder frowned upon hearing this, but did not speak. The Great Elder and Third Elder's eyes flickered, but they also did not speak, both quietly looking at Li Yan.
"My condition is this: for helping you defend for three months and bringing back news, I get the fourth layer of the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art.'"
"If I rescue Clan Head Gong and the Sixth Elder, I get the fourth, fifth, and sixth layers. The importance of two Nascent Soul cultivators to the Tianli Clan goes without saying."
"And, how many people I can save by helping the clan defend for three months, you all should also be clear in your hearts."
"Originally, if it was within my ability to save the lives of the Tianli Clan members, I would have acted, and I wouldn't have wanted to use it as a condition."
"However, since the clan has rules and wants to assess me, and it must be of great benefit to the clan, then my ability to save so many lives should also be counted."
Li Yan said slowly. He certainly wanted to obtain the "Qiongqi Purgatory Art," but the other party's conditions were too harsh. For a task that would earn the gratitude of an entire clan, he could only do this.
"No! The above matters are overall one mission, just with different levels of difficulty. Therefore, conditions were attached. Successfully rescuing them will only grant the fourth layer of the technique."
As soon as Li Yan finished speaking, the Second Elder immediately vetoed it.
Seeing this, Li Yan's brow also furrowed. Did this Second Elder just want him to help them for three months for free, while also demanding that he complete an extremely difficult mission?
"Well, I think what Fellow Daoist Li has proposed is reasonable. He is willing to help defend for three months. If he can't save Shanhe and the others, and only brings back news, then he will only be taught the fourth layer."
"But if he can rescue Shanhe and the others, and given Shanhe's crucial importance, it is also possible to teach him three layers. After all, life is greater than heaven. Being able to save the lives of so many clansmen is worth it!"
Just then, the Great Elder spoke slowly. He was actually also reluctant to teach so much to Li Yan, but the Tianli Clan was in urgent need of Nascent Soul cultivators now.
Whether it was the return of Gong Shanhe and the other, or Li Yan's own combat strength, they needed them.
In addition, the most important core of the "Qiongqi Purgatory Art" was in the last three layers. Therefore, the Great Elder still decided to focus on winning over Li Yan for now. After all, all these matters required Li Yan's help.
"Second Elder, the number of mortals is decreasing sharply every day. Being able to reduce the casualties of our clansmen can be considered a great service. After all, once Fellow Daoist Li's demonic beasts enter the battle, the losses will definitely not be small!"
The Third Elder's voice also became a little cold, her gaze fixed on the Second Elder.
Seeing the two of them looking at him like this, the Second Elder sneered repeatedly in his heart.
"Hmph! If you want to win over Li Yan, you'll offer the clan's treasured scripture in exchange. In the end, Li Yan will be indebted to you. What does that have to do with us?"
He thought in his heart, but his expression was calm. He remained silent, and for a moment, the entire hall became quiet.
Li Yan's mind raced. This Second Elder was truly a tough nut to crack. But on second thought, it was understandable. If he had a supreme scripture, and someone wanted to take it with just a few words, that would certainly be impossible.
In the midst of the strange silence, Li Yan suddenly spoke again.
"How about this, I'll take another step back. If I can rescue the Clan Head and the others, but I can't be sure how many I can rescue, I will only do my best. Once I succeed, I can get the fourth and fifth layers of the technique. How about that?"
Li Yan was also helpless about this. In fact, even without exchanging it for the technique, he would still try to rescue Gong Shanhe. It was just that Gong Chenying thought this was the best time to negotiate with the clan, and indeed it was.
Otherwise, if he missed this opportunity, it would be even harder to deal with the Second Elder.
"Second Elder, I believe this is already the greatest sincerity Fellow Daoist Li can offer. We are assessing the 'Qing A Wang' according to clan rules, not deliberately making things difficult, are we?"
"Otherwise, if we lose this opportunity, what will happen to Shanhe and the others in the future, your decision will not be without consequence?"
The Great Elder's voice also became solemn.
After another few breaths, the atmosphere in the hall had become somewhat oppressive.
"Alright. Then please have Fellow Daoist Li bring out that kind of demonic beast!"
The Second Elder finally spoke slowly. Gong Shanhe was the Clan Head, after all. He didn't dare to bring this matter to a deadlock. At that point, the usually broad-minded Great Elder might hold a grudge.
And he was currently not qualified to compete with the Great Elder, especially if the other party spread the news. If the clansmen knew there was a chance to save the Clan Head, and he was being completely uncompromising, his prestige in the clan would definitely decline.
Gong Shanhe's methods were quite formidable. In addition, he had been fighting on the front lines for many years. Even many of his Miao clan members held him in high esteem.
Seeing the Second Elder nod in agreement, the Great Elder and Third Elder finally breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.
But unexpectedly, just as the Second Elder was asking for the insect demonic beasts, Li Yan's answer once again stunned everyone. Li Yan shook his head at the Second Elder.
"When did I say I was going to bring out my demonic beasts?"
"You... you are toying with us, hmph!"
Hearing Li Yan suddenly change his tune again, the Second Elder's face immediately turned ugly. This time, the Great Elder and Third Elder's faces also changed several times before they fixed their gazes on Li Yan's face.
Gong Chenying's face also changed slightly. She had not spoken because of her unequal status and because the conditions being discussed involved Gong Shanhe. But seeing that the two sides had finally reached an agreement, Li Yan had backed out again.
"Hehehe... didn't you all just say that the main thing was to defend against the aerial assaults of the 'Wind Goose Beasts'? I just need to guarantee that they won't be able to break through for three months!"
"Fellow Daoist Li, you mean you have other ways?"
The Great Elder's pair of aged eyes stared at Li Yan. But seeing that Li Yan's expression was also solemn and not like he was joking, he finally calmed down a little.
"Everyone, if you know anything about my Malevolent Spirit Sect, you should know what we are best at."
Li Yan suddenly smiled, his gaze sweeping over each of them.
"Assassination, raising Gu-insects, using poison, puppets, formations..."
The Third Elder's beautiful eyes flashed as she murmured. Li Yan nodded slightly.
"Fellow Daoist is indeed very knowledgeable about my sect. It's just that I am not skilled in Gu arts and puppetry, but I can use poison and formations."
"We can find a suitable location in front of the defensive line and set up formations and deadly poison. This will make it difficult for the Wind Beasts to break through, whether from the air or the ground!"
After hearing this, the few people were all stunned. Then, the Second Elder let out a sneer. But at this time, the Third Elder had already spoken again, but at the same time, a look of disappointment appeared in her beautiful eyes.
"Fellow Daoist, do you know how long that battle line is? It's possible to set up ordinary formations, but ordinary formations simply can't withstand a few of their charges. What's more, they also have third- and fourth-rank demonic beasts that will attack."
"Especially with poison, how many poison pills and liquids would that require? The Wind Beasts themselves have a resistance to ordinary deadly poisons. To deal with them, the poison pills and liquids must be of an extraordinary grade."
"Compared to the massive horde of Wind Beasts, even a super sect might not be able to produce that much!"
The Third Elder herself was a practitioner of witchcraft, which had its own unique approach to using poison.
Since ancient times, the brilliant and stunning generations of Great Sacrificial Priests of the Tianli Clan had not been without thought of these methods. However, even with the full strength of the entire clan, they could not refine so many high-grade deadly poisons.
So, after hearing this, the three elders all shook their heads.
Although this Li Yan's combat strength was not bad, he was underestimating those Wind Beasts too much. Could it be that after killing one fourth-rank Wind Beast, he thought the Wind Beasts were so easy to deal with?
However, the three of them did not notice that Gong Chenying, who was sitting at the lower seat, had a strange light in her clear, beautiful eyes after hearing Li Yan's words.
Others didn't know what Li Yan meant by using poison, but she understood completely.
Back when he was only at the Qi Condensation stage, Li Yan's "Fragmented Poison Body" had repeatedly shone with extraordinary brilliance, which was amazing.
Now that Li Yan had already reached the Nascent Soul realm, the Fragmented Poison Body would only become more and more formidable. Otherwise, how could it be called one of the three great peerless poison bodies of the Malevolent Spirit Sect?
Li Yan didn't need to specifically go and open a furnace to refine pills. As long as he had magical power, he was a giant, mobile poison pill furnace.
In fact, if one didn't consider that the Tianli Clan was also in this area, Li Yan alone could probably turn this place into a land of absolute death.
Of course, Li Yan's poison was not omnipotent. For example, he might not be able to destroy the Wind Beasts' lair. The main reason was the strange wind in those "Heaven's Eye Pits." The deadly poison Li Yan released might not be able to reach the bottom at all.
"You all probably haven't really had dealings with the Malevolent Spirit Sect. The formations I set up only need to be ordinary formations, not mid- to high-grade ones."
"They just need to prevent the ordinary Wind Beasts that are good at earth evasion and flying from crossing a certain area, forcing them to enter the poison zone."
"The function of those formations is to stop ordinary Wind Beasts from flying and using earth evasion. Such formations are very common."
"However, as the Third Elder said, I really don't have enough formation flags. So, I will still need the clan to bring out all the formations they can. We just need to deploy one defensive line."
"Leave the rest to me. Whether the poison I set up works or not will be known after one try."
"As for the third- and fourth-rank Wind Beasts coming to attack the formations, will your clan's cultivators just let them attack? And you can also use the Gate of Life to enter and attack the enemy from hiding, hehehe..."
Li Yan's gaze swept over the few people.
"Fellow... Fellow Daoist Li, are you serious?"
Seeing Li Yan's confident look, the Great Elder hesitated before speaking.
Although his combat strength as a Late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator was formidable, under the mutual restraint with Yan San, he couldn't easily go and kill those mid- and low-rank Wind Beasts despite his skills.
And the witch-poisons refined by the Third Elder could only be effective in a small area, and their impact on the entire battlefield was not very significant.
The reason was that high-grade witch-poisons had to be refined. Compared to the massive number of Wind Beasts, the demand for those precious raw materials was not just a little bit, but a huge amount. Not only were they hard to find, but they also simply couldn't afford to buy them.
"Of course. Later, I can set up a defensive formation in a certain area. We'll know after one try."
Li Yan immediately gave a definite answer.
He had also just asked the Tianli Clan to set up the formations together later. Of course, he didn't want to take on everything himself. At his level, some ordinary formation restrictions could be set up with just a few spirit stones and simple tools.
But how could Li Yan be willing to just let the Second Elder and the others watch? He had to have them set up the formations together, so he could concentrate on applying the poison.
"Fine. If Fellow Daoist Li can really achieve the effect you described, with the three of us agreeing, even if the Fourth and Fifth Elders object, there will be no problem!"
Seeing Li Yan so confident, the Second Elder also agreed at that moment.
The words he spoke were also quite beautiful. In fact, as long as he agreed, it would be the same whether the Fourth and Fifth Elders were present or not.
"Then since all of this has been clarified, there is still one more hurdle that Fellow Daoist Li must pass first. That is to see which layer you have cultivated the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art' to."
Seeing that the two sides had settled the matter, the Great Elder then brought up another crucial matter.
Originally, this matter should have been dealt with at the very beginning. But in order to persuade the Second Elder, he had to first use Li Yan's previous "merits" as a foundation.
In addition, the Great Elder also believed that Gong Chenying would not be reckless in this matter, so he had first tacitly assumed that Li Yan had not cultivated beyond the third layer.
But at this time, according to the clan rules, they still had to make a final confirmation.
"Oh, what is the testing method?"
Li Yan looked at the Great Elder with a calm expression.
"The testing method is actually very simple. Our clan has a magical treasure passed down from the first generation Great Sacrificial Priest. Fellow Daoist Li only needs to extend one arm into it."
"However... at that time, Fellow Daoist will need to withdraw your protective spiritual power and let the magical treasure release a stream of air into your body. Only then will it work!"
At this point, the Great Elder stopped, believing that Li Yan had already understood his meaning.
This testing method was originally used for the cultivators within the Tianli Clan, so there would be no problems. But for an outsider, this would be extremely dangerous.
To withdraw one's protective spiritual power, if the person conducting the test had malicious intent, the consequences would be absolutely unimaginable.