Xu Qi An ignored the Heavenly Venerable’s questioning and descended from the sky, landing gracefully beside Li Miaozhen.

He first examined Flying Swallow Heroine’s condition. Her physical injuries weren’t severe—even for the physically frail Dao practitioners, these were minor wounds that would heal with ten to fifteen days of rest.

What was truly dire was Li Miaozhen’s spiritual essence. To put it metaphorically, it was like someone who had been stabbed and was bleeding out, their life force draining away with each drop of blood.

Li Miaozhen’s spiritual essence was in exactly such a state, as weak as a candle flame in the wind, seemingly ready to be extinguished at any moment.

“Just two lashes… if you’d taken all five lightning strikes, even immortals couldn’t have saved you…” Xu Qi An muttered. The reason he could still joke was that he knew Li Miaozhen wasn’t in real danger.

A powerful medicinal energy coursed through her body, nourishing her weakened spiritual essence like a spring of clear water emerging from parched, cracked earth.

“What are you looking at!”

Li Miaozhen didn’t even have the strength to sit up, but her tone remained fierce. Her unfocused eyes glanced at him before she turned away, muttering, “How utterly humiliating.”

*Too proud…* Xu Qi An smiled and teased, “It’s not like this is the first time you’ve been embarrassed in front of me. See, even Asura is laughing.”

He was referring to the collective social death of numbers Two, Four, and Seven.

Asura wasn’t laughing, but Li Miaozhen couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. She wanted to punch Xu, but she was too weak—so weak she felt like death could claim her at any moment.

“What do you plan to do?” Li Miaozhen asked, her beautiful eyes half-closed, her voice weak.

She worried that Xu Qi An might act rashly, either going on a killing spree in the Heaven Sect or causing massive destruction—neither of which she wanted to see.

Xu Qi An took off his outer robe, draped it over her, and then stood up and walked toward the Heavenly Venerable’s Hall.

“Do you remember what I told you in Sword Province?”

His voice carried from afar.

*What words?* Li Miaozhen lay on the platform, the blue sky above her, the daylight somewhat harsh in her eyes. She seemed to recall something, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Li Miaozhen forced her eyes open and turned her neck to watch his figure enter the Heavenly Venerable’s Hall.

In her ears echoed what he had said that day in Sword Province:

“If you fear the rumors and gossip, if you fear the judgment of your fellow disciples and sect members, then I can take you away.”

A casual remark!

Now become prophecy!

…

The Heaven Sect disciples, along with the three transcendent powerhouses—Luo Yuhen, Jin Lian, and Asura—watched Xu Qi An enter the Heavenly Venerable’s Hall. Silence fell; no one spoke.

Several elders, along with Immortal Lord Bingyi and Daoist Xuancheng, maintained their eternally cold demeanor, but the ordinary disciples’ hearts were in their throats.

They weren’t thinking “The Venerable must teach these disrespectful people a lesson” or “Those who dare cause trouble in our Heaven Sect must pay the price,” but rather “What if they start fighting?” and “We should run—that’s a First-Rank warrior!”

Including the elders, no one in the Heaven Sect had anticipated that Xu Qi An would make such a dramatic move for Li Miaozhen’s sake, or that Jin Lian, the Earth Sect Leader, would dare come to make threats.

Their Holy Maiden had spent three years traveling the world, and as merely a Fourth-Rank cultivator, she had developed such deep connections.

Though the Heaven Sect had known that their Holy Son and Holy Maiden had connections with Jin Lian of the Earth Sect and the Silver Badge Xu Qi An, the fact that they would interfere in Heaven Sect’s internal affairs and risk offending the sect for Li Miaozhen’s sake was an entirely different matter.

Entering the magnificent hall, Xu Qi An gave his surroundings a casual glance before fixing his gaze on the figure seated cross-legged on the high lotus platform.

The Venerable’s hair and beard were pure white, his head bowed as if drowsy, with a four-colored halo rotating behind his head.

To Xu Qi An’s eyes, the Venerable on the lotus platform appeared like a projection, an image from another world.

*Beyond the cycle of reincarnation, outside the five elements…* This thought spontaneously arose in Xu Qi An’s mind. “You seem to be nearly merged with the Heavenly Dao.”

“The Heaven-Human Conflict helps stabilize my humanity.”

The Venerable’s magnificent voice echoed throughout the hall, seemingly coming from all directions, its source impossible to pinpoint.

He didn’t ask how Xu Qi An knew the Heaven Sect’s secrets, either because he had anticipated it or because he had perfect control over his emotions.

Curiosity, after all, was also a mortal emotion.

“Why can the Heaven-Human Conflict help restore your humanity and help the Human Sect Leader survive the heavenly tribulation?” Xu Qi An asked the question that had long puzzled him.

“Why should I tell you!”

The Venerable asked.

His counter-question carried no personal emotion, wasn’t argumentative, but was purely inquisitive.

“As a trade, you can also ask me one question,” Xu Qi An replied.

“Fair!”

The Venerable kept his head lowered, his voice echoing: “The cultivation methods of the Human Sect and Heaven Sect are completely different, yet complementary. The Heaven-Human Conflict is salvation for both sides.”

The Venerable’s answer was like a programmed response, without a detailed explanation, just stating facts.

*The Human Sect’s method burns with karmic fire, their emotions and desires eroding their foundation, while the Heaven Sect’s method pursues complete detachment and unity with heaven. Now I understand…* Xu Qi An suddenly realized.

This made perfect sense now. For the Heaven Sect, the Human Sect’s karmic fire might be a cure, helping the Venerable restore some of his humanity—fighting poison with poison. Similarly, the Heaven Sect’s emotional detachment could calm the Human Sect’s karmic fire.

“Through the form of mortal combat?” Xu Qi An asked.

“Through mutual plundering of spiritual essence!” the Venerable answered.

Xu Qi An had wanted to ask why the successive leaders of the Human and Heaven Sects didn’t use dual cultivation to complement each other, but then he remembered that the previous Human Sect Leader had been male.

The Heaven Sect’s leaders weren’t necessarily always opposite genders; they could be male-male or female-female pairs.

Moreover, the ancient Dao dual cultivation techniques had been lost long ago. When Luo Yuhen agreed to dual cultivate with him, it was not only because he carried fate’s blessing but also because he had mastered this secret technique.

Finally, although both he and Luo Yuhen had improved their magical arts and energy during dual cultivation, it was fate’s blessing that extinguished the karmic fire—a process of giving without receiving. The complementary nature of Heaven and Humans might not be suitable for dual cultivation.

“So they often end up both injured or one dead and one wounded?”

“When both are injured, it usually means they were evenly matched and both gained something—that’s considered a relatively good outcome,” the Venerable replied.

Xu Qi An nodded and asked:

“Why doesn’t the Earth Sect need to participate? Is their merit of no use to the Heaven and Human Sects?”

“Merit would cause me to directly ascend and merge with the Heavenly Dao. Merit would cause the Human Sect to become entangled in karma, risking demonic deviation—a dead end.” The Venerable replied without emotion.

*The Earth Sect is the unwanted child…* Xu Qi An internally quipped, then said:

“Your turn to ask.”

“I have no questions!” the Venerable’s voice was magnificent yet cold.

*So when you said “Fair” earlier, you just meant it was fair, not that you had questions to ask?* Xu Qi An slowly exhaled, about to speak when the Venerable added:

“We can keep a tab!”

*Should we put it in writing…* Xu Qi An nodded:

“Fine!

“I have one more question: what’s your view on the Dao Venerable?”

The Dao Venerable was silent for a moment before his magnificent voice responded:

“A pitiful person. All three methods He attempted in his later years failed.”

“What was he trying to do?” Xu Qi An followed up.

“Unknown,” the Venerable answered.

Silence fell for a moment. After a while, Xu Qi An suddenly remembered something and said:

“The Dao Venerable’s Heaven Sect avatar merged with the Heavenly Dao, and his Earth Sect avatar turned himself into the Earth Scripture. These secrets are known to both the Heaven Sect and Earth Sect Leaders. So why doesn’t the Human Sect Leader know what happened to the Dao Venerable’s Human Sect avatar?”

He had once asked Luo Yuhen if there were any records about the Dao Venerable in the Human Sect’s ancient texts.

Luo Yuhen had said no.

At the time, when Xu Qi An’s cultivation level was still low, he had assumed the Dao Venerable was simply too mysterious for later generations to understand.

Now, with his increased cultivation and knowledge of more secrets, he realized that both the “Heaven” and “Earth” Sects knew the outcome of the Dao Venerable’s avatars, yet only the Human Sect remained ignorant.

“The Dao Venerable’s Human Sect avatar is still alive.” The Venerable delivered this enormous secret in his characteristically emotionless, concise manner.

*As expected…* Xu Qi An wasn’t surprised, but rather felt relieved, like a suspended boot had finally dropped.

He continued:

“I wish to take the Holy Maiden away. Please grant this request.”

The Venerable asked directly:

“And if I don’t!”

Xu Qi An was equally frank:

“Then today the Heaven-Human Conflict begins early, with the four of us against you alone!”

After weighing the pros and cons, the Venerable gave an utterly rational, calm response:

“From this day forward, Li Miaozhen has no further connection to the Heaven Sect.”

After a pause, the Venerable said:

“After the Heaven-Human Conflict, the Heaven Sect will close its mountain. Do not come to disturb us again.”

Xu Qi An nodded in agreement, and took the opportunity to add another condition:

“When the Heaven-Human Conflict occurs, the battlefield must be within the Central Plains. I won’t interfere in your battle with Luo Yuhen, but I will protect her life. Beyond that, how much spiritual essence you can plunder from each other, or she from you, is not my concern.”

He could use his power to pressure them, but he couldn’t go too far. The Heaven Sect wasn’t weak—besides the Venerable, Immortal Lord Bingyi and Daoist Xuancheng were both Third-Rank Yang Spirit cultivators.

The Venerable remained silent, tacitly accepting his proposal.

…

Outside the hall, a crowd closely monitored the situation inside. The hall doors were open, and they could see the figures of Xu Qi An and the Venerable, though they couldn’t hear anything.

However, the calm attitude of both parties allowed the Heaven Sect disciples to relax somewhat.

At least they didn’t have to worry about a battle breaking out and getting caught in the crossfire.

Luo Yuhen and Elder Jin Lian looked relaxed. As fellow Dao practitioners, they knew the Heaven Sect was the most calm and rational.

They handled matters by first weighing the advantages and disadvantages, never rushing headlong into battle in the heat of the moment.

Near Daoist Xuancheng, Li Lingsu was also relaxed, knowing he would soon escape his predicament.

To be honest, back in Yong Province, when faced with his master’s and Immortal Lord Bingyi’s “pursuit,” he had been terrified.

After that, Li Lingsu had constantly worried about his sect’s attitude, knowing he would certainly face punishment upon return, but unable to think of a solution. He had only hoped to delay it day by day.

At that time, the Heaven Sect had been too powerful, and truly no one could have helped them.

During his days of facing the wall in meditation at the sect, he heard about Xu Qi An’s advancement to First Rank. While feeling sour about it, Li Lingsu had internally cheered:

*Well done, you scoundrel!*

He knew then that he and his junior sister would be saved.

At this moment, everyone saw Xu Qi An turn and walk out of the hall.

All eyes focused on him.

*Was there a result?*

*Will the Heaven Sect still punish the Holy Maiden?*

As the Heaven Sect disciples’ thoughts churned, the Venerable’s magnificent voice rang out:

“From this day forward, Li Miaozhen has no further connection to the Heaven Sect.”

The crowd erupted in chaos.

The disciples felt angry and frustrated, yet also relieved, their emotions complex.

The Venerable had compromised.

*Miaozhen is leaving the sect, then, then what about me?* Li Lingsu stood dumbfounded.

He quickly took a deep breath, thinking to himself that it didn’t matter—they could figure things out after leaving the Heaven Sect.

*Leaving the sect…* Li Miaozhen had anticipated this and wasn’t surprised, though she couldn’t hide her sadness. She struggled to her feet and prostrated herself before Immortal Lord Bingyi, choking with emotion:

“This disciple is unworthy, having failed Master.”

Daoist Xuancheng glanced at Immortal Lord Bingyi. Her face remained expressionless, showing no emotion as she took out the Earth Scripture fragment from her sleeve and tossed it beside the platform, saying coldly:

“Go then, we need never meet again in this life!”

Li Miaozhen wept uncontrollably.

Xu Qi An walked up to the platform, picked up Li Miaozhen’s Earth Scripture fragment, and lifted her in his arms. He nodded slightly to Jin Lian and the others, saying:

“Let’s go!”

The transcendent beings immediately transformed into streaks of light and departed, vanishing from the sight of the Heaven Sect crowd.

*Finally, it’s over…* Li Lingsu sighed in relief, then suddenly felt something was wrong.

*Huh? What about me?!*

*You haven’t taken me with you, hey, come back…* The Holy Son’s mouth slowly fell open, his expression gradually freezing.

He suddenly felt the world was so cruel, without a shred of warmth.

Just as he was falling into despair, Daoist Xuancheng’s cold voice reached his ears:

“What are you waiting for? Get out!”

Li Lingsu’s eyes reddened, his nose tingling as he stammered: “I… I didn’t want to leave the sect, I’ll come back…”

He had wanted to kowtow, but fearing the Heaven Sect might suddenly change their minds, he steeled himself, mounted his sword, and flew off in the direction Xu Qi An and the others had disappeared.

No one stopped him.

“Bingyi, enter the hall!”

The Venerable’s voice rang out.

Immortal Lord Bingyi withdrew her gaze and turned to enter the Heavenly Venerable’s Hall.

The Venerable sat cross-legged on the lotus platform, maintaining his bowed posture as his voice echoed through the hall:

“Your master-disciple fate with the Holy Maiden is ended. Release your mortal attachments and prepare to advance to Second Rank.”

Immortal Lord Bingyi bowed:

“Yes!

“Thank you, Venerable, for your grace!”