"Is it not strange, Master Li, that you seem surprised at my decision to let this person go?" The middle-aged Taoist paused, then smiled. "Indeed, there is a bit of that. This young man has excellent magical equipment—I've been genuinely impressed myself!" The elder openly expressed his thoughts, speaking straightforwardly. "So, Master, you'd better abandon this idea right away—this person must not be harmed!" The Taoist furrowed his brows, speaking with a tone of warning. Upon hearing this, the elderly man in blue robes showed a moment of surprise, but said nothing. He knew that, given the other's character, an explanation would surely follow. Indeed, the Taoist continued in a composed manner: "This person has a close connection with Yun Long of Tian Que Fort—better not provoke him lightly!" The elder was visibly moved, and exclaimed in astonishment: "Is it Yun Long of Tian Que Fort—the one who, over the past century and more, has been the most promising candidate to reach the Ju Dan stage?" The Daoist smiled bitterly and sighed, "Who else could it be? I've seen this person face to face several times. The Dust Pearl he's holding is precisely his signature artifact—there's no doubt about it. Therefore, this young man must be closely connected to Ma Yundong. Better not disturb him at all!" "Indeed, thanks to your reminder! Otherwise, I would have made a serious mistake. Coughing—better to collect the elixirs now while we still can. I don't want any unexpected visitors coming in!" The elder finally regained his composure from surprise and immediately proposed. The Daoist naturally agreed, and after each of them secured one stem of "Purple Monkey Flower" on either side, they parted ways. The same scene was unfolding simultaneously at several other locations, though their conflicts were far less peaceful—instead, they erupted into intense clashes. At a stone cottage beside a ridge of the ring-shaped mountain, four people had split into two factions, each wielding various magical artifacts, and were now engaged in fierce combat. Among them were a man and a woman dressed in yellow, disciples from Huangfeng Valley. The man, in his forties, carried an elegant air of scholarly refinement, wielding a massive silver-bristled brush and a golden book that shimmered with radiant light. With each stroke and gesture, waves of silver seals and golden radiance surged forth, overwhelming the two opponents across from them, leaving them drenched in sweat and their faces pale with exertion. Another young man, with a delicate and graceful appearance, wore a deep green robe—clearly a disciple from Huadao Pavilion. Before him, two crimson flying knives danced in the air, radiating brilliant light, clearly no ordinary artifacts. These should have been offensive weapons, yet now they had transformed into two small luminous screens, struggling to deflect the countless silver seals that dotted like stars. She had been consistently ignored just now, growing increasingly frustrated and speaking with growing displeasure. "What do you intend to do? Do you really plan to eliminate me completely? I'm afraid you haven't the capability yet!" The man from Hua Dao Wu burst out in angry shrieks, his voice sounding no different from that of a woman in distress—sending the other three feeling a sudden wave of goosebumps. "Of course not! My seventh sister is merely expressing her irritation! Please, go on—Master Chen will certainly not obstruct you!" The middle-aged man from Huang Feng Gu, frowning slightly, quickly silenced the woman's sharp remarks with a glance, then spoke calmly to Zhong Wu and the others. "Heh! Master Chen truly lives up to his reputation as the eldest son of the Chen family—his grace is quite unlike that of some young ladies. Then, we shall be on our way!" The young man from Hua Dao Wu suddenly calmed down, his voice returning to that of a composed man, instantly appearing like a refined young gentleman. The striking contrast between his earlier agitation and this composed demeanor left everyone astonished! After saying this, the young man and Zhongwu once more gazed longingly at the stone cottage before heartbreakingly departing, fading into the hills and stones. "Brother, why didn't you kill those two? With just a little more effort, we could have eliminated them right away!" The beautiful woman, after watching the two leave, finally turned and asked the middle-aged man. "Seventh sister, I've noticed you've become rather rigid since that incident—constantly demanding lives. Do you know who those two are? They come from prominent families, though not quite on par with our Yan or Chen dynasties, still far from minor. They should not be taken lightly. Better to avoid forming strong enmities." "Moreover, even if we truly decided to kill them, we would likely fail. Though, thanks to the power of the golden scrolls and silver pens, they appear to be in dire straits, it's only under the condition that neither of them shows any intention to flee. "If they truly had to be eliminated, they wouldn't be fools—they'd simply pack up and run. In that case, no matter how powerful my golden quill and silver pen might be, I'd be powerless against these two. All I'd achieve would be to create new enemies! Yet, I've patiently explained to the young lady, with a tone of gentle reproach, the reasons why I've chosen not to act decisively, and now she finally understands. By the way, seventh sister! Since the incident in which the son of the Lu family plotted against you, he hasn't appeared anywhere else. It seems he's indeed been killed by the very person who saved you. If that's the case, then he's truly fortunate; otherwise, he'll suffer terribly, and will learn firsthand what it means to face the wrath of the Chen family. As for the identity of the person who saved you, that remains quite intriguing. I've made great efforts to investigate the disciples who were absent during those days, but I couldn't find a single one who had gone out and could have posed a real threat to the Lu family's son." To be sure, though that rogue's magic was nothing special, his Qingjiao Banner was truly a top-tier artifact! The fact that he managed to rescue you from his hands suggests he must have been quite capable—could it really be a mere passing cultivator from outside our sect? Suddenly, the woman's elder brother adopted a tender tone, speaking to his "seven sister" as if she were a beloved one. In fact, this "seven sister" was none other than Chen, who had recently grown cold and distant—yet before this middle-aged man, she once again regained her natural warmth. Upon hearing this, she blushed deeply and cooed, with a clear sense of resentment: "Ugh! Why mention that man at all? He saved me, that's all! Yet he abandoned me in the middle of the wilderness, taking my Foundation Pill and simply walking off—what a good-for-nothing! I'd say he's not even halfway decent!" Chen's voice carried a strong sense of indignation. In fact, what truly stirred her shame and indignation was not this incident itself, but the memory of that humiliating night when she had been mentally confused and feverish—every time she thought of him. The rough hands that had freely caressed her from head to toe, and the strong, masculine scent emanating from him, remained vividly etched in her memory. Though deeply embarrassed, Chen Shi-mei had made a conscious effort to push these memories deep into the recesses of her heart, avoiding them as much as possible. Now, hearing her elder brother mention them so directly, the memories surged back, causing her to blush and flush alternately, as she sat lost in thought. When Chen Shi-mei finally regained her composure, she found her elder brother gazing at her with a smile that was both gentle and knowing—seeming to have fully uncovered all her secrets. This only deepened her blush, making it even more delicate and vibrant. Deeply embarrassed, Chen Shi-mei simply stomped her feet and said, "I'll go collect herbs!" He simply strode straight toward the stone pavilion, trying to conceal the deep, unusual bashfulness within him! The middle-aged man glanced at his beloved younger sister's back, and couldn't help but smile gently, already forming a plan in his mind. Then, he followed her.