Su Yebai, Shangguan Xiaoxiao.

In the cave dwelling, Li An was becoming more and more puzzled. What were these two Dao-level disciples doing here?

Could it be that the Dao Sect had some plan in the Southern Sea? 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

He immediately stepped out to welcome the two into the cave dwelling.

"The name of the Dao Sect is renowned far and wide, and to meet the esteemed predecessors of the Dao Sect today is truly a delight—"

Li An personally poured tea for Su Yebai and Shangguan Xiaoxiao.

Su Yebai smiled and said, "May I know how to address you, friend?"

Li An said, "I am the Supreme Elder of Yingyuan Island, Ying Huaihai."

Su Yebai said, "Elder Ying, I won’t beat around the bush with you. The people from the Dao Spirit Sect should have just left, right?"

Li An was taken aback and said, "I don’t understand what you two mean."

Su Yebai laughed heartily and said, "Elder Ying, there’s no need to hide it, nor to worry. Our Dao Sect has been tracking this Dao Spirit Sect for many years. To be honest with you, this Dao Spirit Sect was created by a Spiritual Parrot. This monster is just one step away from becoming an immortal and is adept at concealment and strangeness, and indeed has some tricks."

"Over the years, it has been attacking and capturing territories in the Southern Sea, gathering a large group of experts under its command. We’ve long had a handle on its contacts with your Yingyuan Island."

Li An’s heart grew apprehensive.

The Dao Sect was indeed unfathomable!

But thinking about it, the affairs in the Southern Sea were plotted by Dao Sect immortals!

Even a corner of the Southern Sea was taken to form a secret realm for disciples to train. How could the Dao Sect not be clear or interested in the matters of the Southern Sea?

The Spiritual Parrot, though strong, ultimately had not become an immortal and paled in comparison to the Dao Sect.

"Our cooperation with the Spiritual Parrot was purely coerced..."

Li An began to speak.

"We are not here to hold you accountable. On the contrary, we have a favor to ask of Elder Ying."

Su Yebai said, "The Dao Spirit Sect asked you to help refine a sealing item. In a few years, they will surely invite you to excavate Giant Tomb Island... Our Dao Sect wishes to entrust you with some tasks."

Li An understood... Was the Dao Sect planting a spy??

Additionally, what was Giant Tomb Island... Indeed, the Dao Sect possessed many secrets.

"This..."

Li An was a bit hesitant.

"Is Elder Ying unwilling?" Su Yebai smiled gently, "This matter is a great thing for saving the common people. If done, Elder would gain infinite merit, and our Dao Sect would remember Elder Ying’s contributions and kindness."

Shangguan Xiaoxiao directly said, "The Dao Spirit Sect only offers you demon skills. At most, they give you some basic methods. Once this matter is done, I’ll give you the complete set of demon skills, including the Demon Sect’s Blood and Flesh Melting Furnace Skill, Primordial Spirit Cauldron Skill, and Yin Yang Demon Furnace Skill."

Xiao Xiao was indeed straightforward... Li An feigned a bright look and said, "Is Miss Shangguan’s offer true?"

Su Yebai frowned slightly but said nothing.

Shangguan Xiaoxiao said, "Of course."

"Alright, I agree!"

Li An consented and said, "But this matter is extremely dangerous. I wish to request a protective item from your sect..."

Su Yebai said, "What does Elder Ying want?"

Li An probed, "How about... a magical artifact from the Mahayana stage?"

Mahayana stage!

Such an item was extremely precious even within the Dao Sect, and even someone like Li An, who enjoyed the treatment of Dao-level disciples, had no chance of obtaining or using it.

His extortion was partly opportunistic, and partly to ensure that the Dao Sect would trust him if he received such a treasure.

Li An also aimed to seek the anomalous qi traces, and now that both the Dao Sect and the Spiritual Parrot were plotting... By agreeing, he could become aware of the plans of both sides, which would benefit him.

Su Yebai frowned and said, "Isn’t Elder Ying’s appetite a bit too large!"

"Alright, I can agree for now, but if you want a magical artifact from a Mahayana stage expert, Elder Ying will need to exchange it for sufficient contributions!"

Again, empty promises...

Li An didn’t press further and said, "Alright, in that case, I will earnestly give it a try!"

Su Yebai took out an item and said, "This is a spirit pill. I ask Elder Ying to use it as a token of our cooperation, how about it?"

Li An took the pill but frowned. He had already noticed that there was something wrong with this pill.

It contained restrictions and poison!

"Please take it, Elder Ying."

Su Yebai calmly urged.

Li An was enlightened. The Dao Sect was not at ease with him, so they intended to use this poison pill to control him...

If he didn’t take it, Shangguan Xiaoxiao and Su Yebai would likely resort to force...

Killing to silence was inevitable.

Although the Dao Sect was a reputable sect, in their eyes, the beings in the Southern Sea were all transformed, nearly akin to evil demons, and of course, they wouldn’t speak of ethics with them.

Li An hesitated for a moment but swallowed the pill.

After all, his Life Seed was entirely immune to toxins!

On the contrary, he could gradually refine and absorb this poison to strengthen his middle finger—

"Good."

Su Yebai smiled, "Please keep this matter confidential, friend. If you say anything to others or harbor ulterior motives, unforeseen disasters might befall."

"Junior Sister Xiaoxiao, let’s leave—"

The two immediately stood up and left directly.

...

Li An closed the large formation of Yingyuan Island as if no one had ever come.

After they left, Li An slowly activated his Life Seed to neutralize the poison of the pill.

"So strong, this poison could kill even a powerful cultivator, right?"

Feeling the potency of the pill’s poison, Li An was quite surprised.

This pill was controlled by restrictions. Once the restrictions erupted, the poison would invade the entire body, extremely fierce. And once the restrictions entered the body, unless the one who crafted the restrictions from the Dao Sect helped, anyone else trying to forcibly remove them would trigger immediate activation.

His Life Seed’s power gradually dissolved the poison and absorbed it into his middle finger, which was truly a strategy that struck at the root!