This, this is how you've come out?
Wen Ling'er felt dizzy when she saw the front of the mines.
She wanted to wait for her master's voice transmission, but the young male Qi Cultivator had already drifted toward the front, exchanging greetings with a few fellow sect Qi Cultivators who had come out to meet him.
Wen Ling'er had no choice but to catch up, bowing her head and following behind Li Ping'an.
A middle-aged Daoist with a clean-shaven, white face and wearing a white Daoist robe with ink-dyed wide sleeves seemed quite excited as he sized up Li Ping'an, muttering continuously:
"To think that you've actually cultivated to the status of an Immortal! Hahaha!"
"In just three years, you've stepped into the Condensed Light Realm! This poor Daoist said it! I said I hadn't seen you wrong back then! Hahaha!"
The Wanyun Sect members stationed at this location did not know of Li Dazhi's existence.
From this, it could be seen that the Wanyun Sect's internal confidentiality measures were indeed well-managed.
Li Ping'an laughed heartily, "I encountered some opportunities, received some guidance. All fortunes related to immortality are due to Master Chen's advice back in the day."
"Let's not exchange pleasantries here!"
A Qi Cultivator next to them said seriously, "Let's hurry down below to hide, so as not to startle the snakes and scare away those demonic cultivators."
"Agreed."
"Ping'an, and this Daoist friend too, quickly come down! Mask your auras! We're here lying in wait for a group of demonic cultivators!"
The voices of several people had become quieter as they summoned Li Ping'an and Wen Ling'er to hide in the mine shaft.
Li Ping'an looked up into the sky...
Why hasn't Manager Xiaoyue shown herself yet?
At that moment, a soft chuckle came from the sky.
Golden Immortal light fell from the clouds, solidifying into steplike projections, as though forming a heavenly staircase to ascension.
At the end of the celestial stairway, a graceful figure of an Immortal emerged, elegant and poised.
Xiaoyue descended the staircase step by step, attracting the unwavering gazes of the Qi Cultivators below and silencing the commoners in the mine pit with awe.
Even Li Ping'an, whose Dao heart was as stable as an old dog's, took a glance and was instantly inspired.
This lady, uh, no, this elder... isn't this the very 'Hong Kong and Taiwan celebrity face' that his father fancied in his past life?
Elder Xiaoyue was indeed full of allure and passion.
The several layers of light, powdery skirts made the beautiful and round legs intermittently visible, and her slender waist seemed as delicate as the tender branches of a willow.
This Immortal's face did not possess an aura of delicate beauty or elegance, but rather a pure radiance.
She also practiced some Bewitching Technique, and with just a sweep of her gaze, Qi Cultivators who lacked a firm Dao heart developed many distracting thoughts, while common mortals were already showing signs of infatuation.
Then, Manager Xiaoyue began to speak with a slightly husky, smiling voice:
"There's no need for you all to hide deliberately. The news of demonic cultivators causing trouble was a message purposely spread by this elder, simply to add more difficulties to the external sect trial of the young friend Ping'an.
"After this time, there will be no demonic cultivators coming to make trouble here.
"If the jade is not carved, it cannot be shaped into a vessel. Everything this elder does is for the sake of young friend Ping'an.
"Young friend Ping'an wouldn't blame me, would he?"
As she spoke, she had already descended to about ten feet high; beneath the hem of her skirt, white clouds lingered, thus ensuring no risk of indecent exposure.
Most of the Qi Cultivators from Wanyun Sect recognized Xiaoyue, and they promptly saluted, "We've seen the elder!"
Li Ping'an also smiled and saluted in return.
He was not at all irritated; instead, he gazed at Xiaoyue with utterly sincere eyes, his voice also rich with clarity.
"Previously, I even doubted Elder Xiaoyue with the mind of a petty person, thinking that Elder Xiaoyue was deliberately preventing me from joining the external sect of Wanyun Sect."
Suddenly, Li Ping'an changed his tone...
"But upon careful consideration, Elder Xiaoyue possesses the Dao Fruit of a True Immortal and oversees many of the sect's external resources; how could you bother with a small disciple who has not yet completed Foundation Establishment?
"There must be some misunderstanding here. The renowned Elder Xiaoyue is not likely to be so petty."
Silence.
Was this young disciple seeking death? To openly mock her?
The eight or nine Qi Cultivators nearby were all stunned; Elder Yansheng in the clouds almost choked on his dry smoke.
Wei Yanzi was also quite astonished.
Li Ping'an had always been polite and sensible in his conduct; why would he confront Elder Xiaoyue today?
Xiaoyue watched with a smile the Condensed Light young cultivator below, thinking to herself that this was interesting.
Li Ping'an looked up with clear eyes and a smile on his lips.
His figure at this moment was indescribably staunch;
Like a pine tree, resembling a bamboo, standing firm as a rock by the sea, he seemed like a sheathed Treasure Sword, exuding the young man's spirit and pride between heaven and earth.
"What is it?"
Xiaoyue said indifferently:
"I am an elder of the external sect; what's wrong with adding some difficulties for you?"
"Of course."
Li Ping'an continued with a smile:
"A gift from an elder cannot be refused. The elder's challenge is also meant to make the disciple's heart more resilient and the path of cultivation less troubled.
"However, every time I heard my father mention Elder Xiaoyue, it was nothing but praise and admiration.
"My father often said that not only is Elder Xiaoyue outstanding in capability, but she is also gentle as water, with the heart of a fragrant orchid, possessing a lofty and refined nature, extraordinary and out of the ordinary.
"But now having met you... well, it's quite different from what my father described.
"The way Elder Xiaoyue treats a small disciple in the Condensed Light Realm with such suppression, indeed makes it hard for the disciple to be convinced."
Xiaoyue's lips pursed, and her brows furrowed.
Had Li Dazhi really described her like this in private?
Li Ping'an, seizing the moment, then said, "My father also said that among all the external sect elders in terms of talent and ability, Elder Xiaoyue could be ranked in the top three. It's just a pity that he only exchanged fleeting greetings with Elder Xiaoyue twice and didn't find the opportunity to form a close connection with Elder Xiaoyue, which he deeply regrets."
"I'm flattered your father thinks so highly of me."
Xiaoyue's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she said calmly:
"You don't have to be so smooth-talking, always bringing up your father.
"Others may fear your father, but I don't really care. I haven't truly intended to give you a hard time.
"Therefore, I'll give you this as a reward for passing through the maze, so no one can accuse me of being harsh and only knowing how to temper disciples."