These few elite young cultivators of the clan were also the descendants of several other elders, including not only the descendants of the Fourth and Fifth Elders, but also the descendants of the Third and Sixth Elders.
However, the weakest among them should be the two descendants of the Sixth Elder's branch, as the Sixth Elder has now been missing for a long time.
"Oh, I was ordered by the Second Elder to hurry and find a batch of 'Grey Cloud Eagles.' The great battle a month ago almost wiped out the 'Grey Cloud Eagles.'"
"In the month of attacks that followed, our side suffered the most casualties among the warriors who fire the 'Bone-Shattering Spikes.' The large flock of 'Wind Goose Beasts' now has almost no opponent to restrain them. They charge in from the sky, posing the greatest threat."
"So, we need to refine a new batch of 'Grey Cloud Eagles' as soon as possible."
"I just came from the Rearing Garden. The largest 'Grey Cloud Eagles' there are only about ten years old, almost all of them are cubs. Alas!"
At this point, a pained expression appeared on A Yuan's handsome face. The 'Grey Cloud Eagles' were raised, bred, and refined by their "Great Liang King" lineage, but now they had almost completely depleted their stock.
It wasn't that there were no other flying demonic beasts besides the 'Grey Cloud Eagles,' but the 'Grey Cloud Eagles' were of a yin attribute and fearlessly faced death. They had been proven over countless years to be the best demonic beasts for dealing with the 'Wind Goose Beasts.'
Other flying demonic beasts would tremble in fear upon seeing the 'Wind Goose Beasts.' Before the battle even began, half of their combat strength was already gone.
So, unless they used mid- to high-level flying demonic beasts to suppress the low-rank 'Wind Goose Beasts,' but how could there be so many mid- to high-level demonic beasts?
For the past month, the front lines have already been using many of the cultivators' mid- to high-level flying spirit pets. The 'Wind Goose Beasts' aren't stupid. If you send out second- and third-rank demonic beasts, they will also send out second- and third-rank demonic beasts this month.
This has also caused heavy casualties among the mid- to high-level flying demonic beasts that many of the Tianli Clan cultivators refined themselves.
"Oh, then you should report this matter to the Second Elder and the others as soon as possible. However, I think it would be best to send clansmen out to find or buy a batch of adult 'Grey Cloud Eagles' from other places first. That would be the fastest solution."
Gong Chenying thought for a moment and gave her suggestion.
"I had the same idea. Of course, buying them would be the fastest. They can be put into battle after just a little refining upon their return. But the Second Elder wanted to confirm the number of 'Grey Cloud Eagles' on the 'Great Liang King's' side, so I went to check again."
"By the way, after I report to the Second Elder later, I will suggest going out to see if we can buy some 'Grey Cloud Eagles.' Why don't you come along, A Ying..."
"I'm still injured, and I have other matters to attend to. A Yuan, if you go out, it would be best to choose a few more skilled clansmen to go with you to ensure success."
Just as A Yuan was speaking, a hopeful look appeared on his face as he looked at Gong Chenying. But Gong Chenying immediately interrupted his thoughts.
At the same time, she gave another suggestion. Going out to buy medicinal pills and demonic beasts was not so easy. The nearest market was more than seventy thousand li away.
In the past, some of the smaller nearby markets had also moved away due to the tragic decade-long war between the Tianli Clan and the Wind Beasts. As the Tianli Clan continuously shrank its territory, the outside became rampant with Wind Beasts.
If the Tianli Clan cultivators wanted to go out, the three Wind Beast clans would surely obstruct them in every possible way. There were only a few Nascent Soul cultivators, and both sides were watching each other.
For Foundation Establishment cultivators to cross a region of more than seventy thousand li, not to mention whether they could make it, just their flying speed alone would take an unknown amount of time for a round trip.
Such a task was of course more suitable for Golden Core cultivators, but it would definitely be safer for multiple Golden Core cultivators to go out together.
Seeing Gong Chenying's outright refusal, a look of disappointment appeared in A Yuan's eyes. Just as he was about to say something more, Gong Chenying had already nodded at him.
"I have some important matters to attend to. You should report the situation to the Second Elder quickly. The battle on the front lines is urgent now, and we cannot afford any delays."
After saying this, Gong Chenying had already flown away, giving him no time to speak.
Looking at the back of the beautiful woman in her blue robes and arrow sleeves, heroic and stunning, a trace of fiery passion flashed in A Yuan's eyes. But then, he could only fly off in another direction.
Of course, he and the other clansmen had seen Li Yan's arrival and his power.
Therefore, these young cultivators of the Tianli Clan all thought that Li Yan was A Ying's elder. No one knew that he was actually Gong Chenying's martial uncle.
They all thought that he might be here on a training journey, or perhaps he had received a distress letter from Gong Chenying, which was why he had rushed over.
The Second Elder had not yet figured out Li Yan's specific background. Even after knowing Li Yan's status as a prospective "Qing A Wang," he was still weighing whether to disclose this information.
He knew that once the news of a "Qing A Wang" appearing in the clan was revealed, it would inevitably bring trouble for Li Yan.
But now, the Tianli Clan might still need the help of a powerful cultivator like Li Yan. So, the Second Elder was still observing Li Yan in secret to determine what decision would be more reasonable.
However, for the past month, Li Yan had not gone out at all, spending all his days idly in the pavilion. Gong Chenying was also in seclusion healing, which made it impossible for the Second Elder to make any further judgments for the time being...
In a stilted building in the forest, the Great Elder looked at the calm-faced Gong Chenying before him.
"He has indeed cultivated the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art,' and he has far surpassed the highest realm limit for the assessment. This matter will be a bit difficult to handle."
A troubled look also appeared on the Great Elder's face. Although Gong Chenying was his descendant, and he and the others had already had their suspicions.
But when it was truly confirmed that Li Yan had cultivated the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art,' which involved the supreme scripture of the Tianli Clan, the Great Elder couldn't help but weigh the matter repeatedly in his heart.
He didn't know Li Yan very well. It was true that Li Yan had saved the Tianli Clan in its moment of crisis, but he had also come to ask for the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art,' which meant he had other motives.
"Great Elder, I don't think it's difficult at all. Firstly, it's my choice of a Dao Companion. As long as there's no problem with my Dao Companion and he means no harm to the Tianli Clan, it's fine."
"Secondly, Li Yan killed one fourth-rank Wind Beast and severely injured another in the last battle."
"To put it bluntly, if he hadn't acted, I would have been dead, and how many people of the Tianli Clan would have survived a month ago? I'm sure the elders are very clear about that."
"Thirdly, Li Yan is an ancestor of the Malevolent Spirit Sect. Although his influence here might be almost negligible after crossing the realm, his preferences will definitely influence the other Nascent Soul cultivators within the Malevolent Spirit Sect."
"So, who can guarantee that we will have no interactions with those Nascent Soul cultivators from now on?"
Gong Chenying slowly said what she wanted to say. After hearing this, the Great Elder's eyes flashed a few times, a strange color passing through them.
"Did you just say he's going to find Shanhe and the other?"
"Father is my only closest blood relative in this world. Li Yan knows this!"
Gong Chenying did not answer directly, but only said this.
"Li Yan's cultivation, although I feel his methods are more than what he showed in that battle, there is no doubt that he is at the Mid-stage Nascent Soul realm. He wants to take you with him. If anything happens to you..."
"Great Elder, what I want to make clear is that he originally intended to go alone. It was I who insisted on going with him. Although we have not formally become Dao Companions, he came to the Wind God Continent because of me."
"Moreover, he is going to save my father. Whether he succeeds or not, I must be by his side. Does the Great Elder want to see me commit suicide in the clan after receiving bad news?"
Gong Chenying's face was still calm, her cold and stunning face showing little emotion, but anyone could hear her determination.
The Great Elder sighed inwardly upon hearing this. Most of the Tianli Clan's men and women would rather break than bend. Some of the women were even more unyielding than the men, and their love was extremely deep.
What was the meaning of the navel ring? It was loyalty. Since ancient times, there have been not a few Tianli Clan women who committed suicide for their husbands. So, suicide was not an extreme matter for the Tianli Clan.
Of course, there were also many women who, after their Dao Companions perished, never remarried and chose to pursue immortality with all their hearts, just like the Great Sacrificial Priest of this generation. With such a state of mind, she had eventually succeeded in Spirit Transformation.
"Alright, since you will be there to witness it, whether he can save Shanhe and the Sixth Elder or not, as long as he genuinely puts in the effort, I will acknowledge it."
"I believe you have already explained the matters of the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art' and 'Qing A Wang' to him. The next six layers of the technique will be assessed one by one."
"I can first draw up a plan. If Li Yan can bring back definite news of Shanhe and the others, he can be taught the fourth layer of the technique."
"If he can rescue both Shanhe and the other, then the clan can make an exception and teach him the fifth and sixth layers."
"But this matter will still need the agreement of the Second and Third Elders later. The Third Elder probably won't have any objections. I will do my best to win over the Second Elder. What do you think?"
The Great Elder also knew Gong Chenying's temperament. He probably couldn't persuade her. Besides, this was about finding her father. This matter had been delayed for too long, and even the Great Elder felt he had let Gong Chenying down.
In the end, the conditions Li Yan proposed were too tempting. And Gong Chenying was his direct bloodline. Gong Chenying would certainly not betray Gong Shanhe and use a fake rescue to help Li Yan.
Taking a step back, as long as Li Yan could bring back definite news of Gong Shanhe's current situation, they could formulate the next specific rescue plan.
"Then... then if something has already happened to either Father or the Sixth Elder, which layer of the technique will be taught?"
Gong Chenying keenly grasped a problem in the Great Elder's words. The requirement was for Li Yan to bring back both people to be taught the fifth and sixth layers of the technique.
In other words, it was still one assessment per layer. Rescuing one person counted as completing one assessment. But what if, by the time Li Yan and she arrived, something had already happened to one of the two?
The Great Elder fell into deep thought for a moment, and after a long while.
"How about this. Just as you said before, Li Yan has already done our clan a great favor in the last battle. So, as long as he rescues one person, the clan will teach him the fifth and sixth layers of the technique."
"If he fails to do so, then the subsequent techniques can only be obtained through other assessment methods. This is the biggest concession the clan can make."
The Great Elder's mind raced. After Li Yan became a "Qing A Wang," although he would obtain the subsequent techniques of the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art,' he could at most get to the sixth layer.
Without an heaven-defying contribution, he couldn't even think about getting the last three layers. The last three layers were the very essence and core of the 'Qiongqi Purgatory Art.'
And once Li Yan had the status of "Qing A Wang," he would also be tied to the war chariot of the Tianli Clan. Now that the Tianli Clan's high-end combat power was insufficient, the Great Elder had to consider more and had made the greatest concession.
Gong Chenying nodded. To get such a reply from the Great Elder, she had already done her best. The supreme scripture of the Tianli Clan was not so easily obtained.
To put it bluntly, even if the clan were to be exterminated, the members of the clan might not be willing to leak the technique. All of this was based on the rules of the "Qing A Wang."
"Then I still hope the Great Elder can finalize this according to what was just said!"
"I will do my best. After all, this is the only chance to rescue Shanhe and the others at present. I'll have the Second and Third Elders come over."
"With me and the Third Elder here, if the Second Elder proposes an unreasonable suggestion, then we can only not give him any face. You go and inform Li Yan."
"And explain these matters to him again, but you must make it clear that this is just my plan. In one hour, we will gather at the 'Heavenly Dawn Hall'!"
The Great Elder nodded. He was, after all, also a Gong. This matter had been troubling him for too long.
"Damn that Yan San!"
Thinking that he couldn't leave the Tianli Clan, otherwise the chances of Gong Shanhe and the Sixth Elder escaping would be much greater, the Great Elder couldn't help but curse that 'Wind Goose Beast' in his heart.
...
Just over half an hour later, five people had gathered in the "Heavenly Dawn Hall." Gong Chenying, as the person involved, still appeared in the "Heavenly Dawn Hall" with her Golden Core cultivator's realm.
"Why summon me in such a hurry? What's the matter?"
The Second Elder was the last to arrive. After entering the main hall, he swept his gaze over the few people, gave Li Yan a polite fist-and-palm salute, and then sat down in a chair with a plop.
His mind was racing. When he saw that both Li Yan and Gong Chenying were here, he actually already had some guesses in his heart.
The Third Elder leaned against her chair with all the charms of a beautiful woman, lazily stretching her slender figure that was no less impressive than Gong Chenying's.
Her pair of beautiful eyes constantly swept over Li Yan and Gong Chenying. Since her arrival, apart from secretly communicating with the Great Elder via voice transmission a few times, she had not spoken a word.
Li Yan felt a little uncomfortable under the Third Elder's gaze. He frowned and looked over, only to see her nodding at him with a smile.
For a moment, he was at a loss for words. He couldn't really get angry at her attitude, especially now that Li Yan knew that this Third Elder was on Gong Chenying's side.
"This person is a dual dharma-body cultivator, and the witchcraft she is especially skilled in is even more unpredictable. She even knows the legendary divination art. I really need to be careful!"
For areas he was not skilled in, Li Yan had always held an attitude of being extremely careful.
"The reason we asked the Second Elder to come is regarding Fellow Daoist Li's 'Qing A Wang' matter."
"Firstly, everyone witnessed Fellow Daoist Li's performance in the last great battle. Not only did he resolve our clan's crisis that day, but he also left the enemy's high-rank Wind Beasts with one dead and one injured."
"So, in this regard, and with A Ying's personal confirmation, I believe he is qualified to be included in our clan's 'Qing A Wang' ranks."
Seeing that everyone had arrived, the Great Elder also spoke directly. But as he spoke, he directly put a hat on the matter, pressing it firmly on Li Yan.
As he spoke, his gaze turned to the Second Elder.