Li An struggled to stand up and bowed, saying, "Disciple greets Master—"

"No need for formalities."

Leng Rufeng said, "Sit down. I have some questions for you."

Li An sat down, and Leng Rufeng also sat, asking, "I heard from your Senior Sister Zhao that before Su Yebai fled, he asked you for Anomaly Crystals and other items. Did you not lend them to him?"

Is it about this matter? Li An said, "Senior Brother Su... did he escape?"

Leng Rufeng remained silent.

"The reason I didn’t lend them was indeed due to personal reasons..."

Li An continued, "While in the Spirit Realm, those from Dao Sect pursued me relentlessly. I hold grudges, and secondly, since entering Purple Cloud Mountain, Senior Brother Su has gained Master’s trust, but I felt he was not trustworthy, and I had no fond feelings for him."

Leng Rufeng said flatly, "Isn’t there a third reason? You anticipated he might escape, didn’t you?"

Li An’s face showed shock, not knowing how to respond.

"Hmph!"

Leng Rufeng glanced at him, "Why didn’t you flee? Because you knew from the start I couldn’t get the item?!"

Li An said, "Master, please understand, I truly didn’t know about Senior Brother Su’s actions. As for escaping... I owe Master a great debt, and moreover, I am afflicted with a mysterious illness, doomed to die. All I hope for is to repay Master before I die, how could I escape?"

Leng Rufeng asked, "When did you get afflicted with the root of the mystery?"

Li An replied, "It was last time when I broke through to Profound Immortal, I was already afflicted while in the Deceit Realm, though I did have a thought..."

"What thought?"

"My path is blocked, and death could come at any moment in strange ways, thus I hoped Master could acquire that item, providing me with a slim chance of survival!"

Leng Rufeng then slightly nodded.

Who was he? He was once part of the Dao Sect, later betraying the Heavenly Court, joining Purple Cloud Mountain, experiencing countless upheavals. So, from Zhao Qingtong’s few words, he had deduced that Li An might have known in advance that he would ruthlessly target many disciples.

But if that was so, why didn’t Li An leave? That needed mulling over.

Thus, he wasted much Blood Medicine to allow Li An temporary clarity.

Now, it seemed Li An’s reason was justified.

He surely knew, like Su Yebai, that once Leng Rufeng got the item, he’d likely kill them, but Li An was different from Su Yebai.

Li An, because of his too rapid cultivation, was already tainted by the strange, with no other paths, so he stayed, gambling on the odds.

Further, Li An’s condition now confirmed his claim.

The indescribable had emerged, with the root of the mystery taking hold within the Primordial Spirit; this couldn’t be fabricated.

"...Master, is there no chance for me?" Li An asked hopefully.

Leng Rufeng said, "The indescribable has already manifested, what chance is there? Rest a few days, then go to the place of divine descent to guard the light!"

His words were cold, devoid of any master-disciple sentiment. Clearly, losing the magic pot lid had made him irritable, and, seeing Li An as no longer useful, he had no patience for pleasantries.

"I have other matters to attend to."

With that, Leng Rufeng rose and left.

After seeing her Master off, Zhao Qingtong returned to Li An, comforting him, "Junior Brother, don’t be too disheartened. Becoming a lamp guardian isn’t completely hopeless. Should an Alien Soul awaken, it could be a blessing, even respected within the mountain."

Upon hearing this, Li An only responded with a bitter smile. He knew that becoming a lamp guardian, having the root of mystery within the Primordial Spirit, could attract some deceased souls from the Deceit Realm to re-coalesce within the guardian!

These Alien Souls all originate from the so-called "Deceitful Gods," possibly ancient beings from eras long past, hence, once such a being appears, it’s often seen as an envoy of the Deceitful God, treated with great respect.

Though these occurrences are rare, within Purple Cloud Mountain, it’s said only one appeared thousands of years ago!

The odds are slim, and Li An also thought, isn’t this akin to possession?

If the Alien Soul awakes within, would he still be himself?

It’d already be another being!

So, Zhao Qingtong’s words were just a casual reassurance.

"Thank you, Senior Sister, but all can only be left to fate..."

Li An sighed.

In Zhao Qingtong’s eyes, however, there was a hint of reproach, "Junior Brother, I have no secrets from you, but you weren’t quite fair to Senior Sister. Knowing Su Yebai would run, why didn’t you warn me? I lost several years’ savings for nothing!"

Li An, helplessly said, "Senior Sister, I did advise you that he wasn’t trustworthy, but you didn’t believe me..."

Zhao Qingtong didn’t dwell on it, instead, her delightful eyes locked on him, with an expectant look, "Enough, enough, once the medicine wears off, you’ll return to an unknowing state, only able to guard the lantern. Speaking of which, the cultivation items you have are no longer useful to you, would you pass them to Senior Sister? It’s not in vain for my care this past half-year."

Li An internally fumed, damn it, this vile woman, got duped by Su Yebai yet seeks to ’recover’ from me? Think I’m a pushover...

Truly shameless.

But, with a sigh, he said, "So be it..."

He genuinely handed over many Anomaly Crystals, Blood Medicine, and Immortal Treasures to Zhao Qingtong, saying, "Senior Sister, there are some Blood Medicines left at my seclusion place, they’ll be yours as well."

Zhao Qingtong’s joy was instant, "Junior Brother truly is generous!"

"By the way, after hearing about you, a registered disciple from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, kept wanting to visit you, his name was Xu Yuan or something..."

Gaining the items, she cheerfully mentioned.

Upon hearing this, Li An quickly said, "Senior Sister, he is a close friend from the Cloud Ascension Palace, please summon him, I’d like to meet him again!"

"Sure thing, I’ll call him for you."

Zhao Qingtong smiled warmly and immediately went to do so.

Soon, she returned with Xu Yuan, saying, "Junior Brother Gu, I brought Xu Yuan, you two chat, I’ll head to your abode and check on your Blood Medicine."

She departed with a bright smile.

Xu Yuan entered the abode and seeing Li An’s current state, his round face showed a complex expression.

He hadn’t expected the indescribable to come upon Li An so swiftly.

Nor had he anticipated Li An being chosen by fate!

"Junior Brother Xu, I ignored your advice years ago, leading to this calamity..."

Li An self-deprecatingly laughed, "Now my life is ending, in retrospect, I deeply regret it. If not for my reckless pursuit of cultivation, perhaps we could still drink and laugh together..."

"Over the years, in Purple Cloud Mountain, perhaps only you have spoken sentimentally to me!"

Feigning sorrow, Li An presented two Immortal Talismans, handing them to him, "From now on, I will enter the place of divine descent, to guard the green lantern, likely not seeing you again. At our parting, I have nothing else, these two talismans, take them, Junior Brother—"

Seeing this, Xu Yuan’s eyes were filled with reluctance, his expression wavering, hesitating greatly, but ultimately deciding, he whispered urgently, "Senior Brother, actually... I have a way to save you!"

Determined, he added, "Do you trust me?"

...

Goodnight.