Chapter 88: Today, You Truly Caught Me Off Guard

Even if Li Ling’er had not asked, he would have revealed a little of his strength sooner or later.

Now that she had followed him here, it was only natural that she might notice something unusual.

Better to turn the tables and leave her nowhere to go.

Otherwise, he would have to keep up the pretense, and even then he would be unable to use his storage ring.

That went against his original intent, and besides, it was no great matter.

At his words, Li Ling’er immediately grew interested and began pestering Su Ji’an with endless questions about the path of immortality.

It was plain to see that she longed very much for that world.

Su Ji’an answered carelessly but with a show of seriousness. “You’ve asked the wrong person. I know very little about the immortal path myself, and it is not nearly as beautiful as you imagine.”

“Immortality means living forever, doesn’t it? The whole world can be yours for the taking. What’s not to like about doing whatever you please?” Li Ling’er said, still unconvinced.

Su Ji’an said nothing more, only pointed toward the direction where the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion stood opposed to the Orthodox Alliance.

At this moment, the sky was clear and boundless, without a single cloud for ten thousand li.

Several dozen li was neither close nor far.

But in terms of the viewing experience, the distance was just right.

Two groups of people, their attire sharply divided, were locked in a standoff.

The white-robed side was the Orthodox Alliance, with the embroidery on their garments marking the various immortal sects.

The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion wore blue robes.

The Orthodox Alliance seemed to have slightly more people, but the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had its own advantage.

Wealth seeped from every inch of them.

If the Orthodox Alliance used one talisman, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had the confidence to use five.

“Are they really going to fight?” Li Ling’er was greatly shaken.

Su Ji’an sighed. “The jockeying among fellow disciples, the open and hidden struggles between sects, the endless feud between the righteous and the demonic, the murder for treasure, the seizing by force, the plundering and robbery of others’ hard-won fortunes... such things are unfolding at every moment. Do you still think the immortal path is beautiful?”

Li Ling’er’s feelings were complicated, and for a moment she did not know what to say.

“Today you came at just the right time. This kind of excitement is rare indeed,” Su Ji’an said with a smile.

Then he found a flat spot, took out his beloved rocking chair, and lay down.

He even kindly gave Li Ling’er a small stool.

The only flaw was that the Orthodox Alliance and the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion were dawdling endlessly without making a move.

Since he had left home, nearly two hours had passed, and yet they still showed no sign of fighting.

Li Ling’er was still reeling from the shock before her, not yet recovered.

Su Ji’an asked casually, “Want some sunflower seeds?”

“Yes...” Li Ling’er answered on reflex.

The villainous big bad guy, why don’t I become your disciple?” Li Ling’er suddenly asked.

It was an idea she had come up with on the spur of the moment.

Though the immortal path was dangerous, couldn’t she just imitate Su Ji’an?

“No way!”

Su Ji’an refused without the slightest hesitation. He was not interested in taking disciples; not even for any amount of money would he do such a thing.

Being a master was a thankless, exhausting profession through and through.

On this matter, Su Ji’an’s attitude was firm, with no room at all for sudden reversal.

As a master, one had to spend energy and resources, yet receive very little in return.

It was even easy to end up with a rebellious disciple; betraying one’s teacher and ancestors was far from rare in this world.

When sects recruited disciples, at least they could say it was for the prosperity of the sect.

But what reason would he have?

Besides, disciples were the sort of existence that easily invited trouble.

When that happened, the master was the first to be dragged down.

Though somewhat one-sided, in the end the drawbacks far outweighed the benefits.

“Could it be you want me to stay away from the disputes of the immortal path? I can remain in Spirit Beauty Village with you,” Li Ling’er could not help asking.

Of course she had no interest in fighting for power or glory.

And Spirit Beauty Village... was her home to begin with.

She could not bear to leave any of it behind.

“I haven’t even figured out my own cultivation yet. How could I teach you?” Su Ji’an smiled and patted Li Ling’er on the head; from where he sat, he could just reach that spot.

Li Ling’er said angrily, “You’re not allowed to touch my head anymore. I’ll stop growing taller!”

“Don’t worry. You’re already done growing,” Su Ji’an said calmly with a smile.

Li Ling’er: “......”

So angry!

How wonderful it would be if that villainous big bad guy had not been born with this mouth.

Su Ji’an glanced once more toward the movements of the Orthodox Alliance and the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

At this point, it looked as if the higher-ups on both sides were negotiating.

Could it be they were about to shake hands and make peace?

Su Ji’an grew curious about what they were discussing.

Then, without wasting time, he quickly began searching through the items in Creative Mode.

Mile-Voice Transmission Talisman: Can transmit sound over distances from several li to a hundred li, or bring back sound from several li to a hundred li away. It can penetrate simple formations and restrictions, but cannot evade the perception of cultivators above the Great Vehicle stage.

Would you like to spend 10,000 spiritual power points to unlock it?

Su Ji’an could not help but complain that the description was misleading. A thousand li and a hundred li were not at all the same thing.

Ten thousand spiritual power points for this felt a bit extravagant.

But it might still come in handy later, especially for eavesdropping... it seemed quite useful.

Still, it could not transmit sound to a specific person, which left it somewhat lacking.

Current remaining spiritual power points: 107465

After unlocking it, Su Ji’an immediately infused it with spiritual power and began probing toward the Orthodox Alliance and the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

What came back was only the sound of the wind.

Su Ji’an’s expression stiffened. He crushed the talisman before him, then took out another one.

It was his first time using it, so he had no experience; he had infused too little spiritual power and had not reached the target.

Li Ling’er tilted her head and watched in silence, finding the methods he used quite novel.

Su Ji’an took a deep breath and tried again.

This time, it went much more smoothly.

Then a cold voice rang out: “Your Orthodox Alliance is riddled with good and bad alike. You refuse to keep your disciples in check, and they repeatedly come to provoke us, causing our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion grave losses. And now you still want to turn the blame on us? In my life, I have never seen such shameless scoundrels as you!”

“Ha! It’s nothing more than a play you staged yourselves. If my Orthodox Alliance truly meant harm to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, it would not stop at looting a few insignificant shops in the mortal world.”

“If you cannot understand what I am saying, then bring someone who can understand human speech. From start to finish, I have only said that your disciples are a mixed lot of good and bad. You deny it so vehemently—could it be that all of this was your own instruction?”

“You!”

At that point, another voice joined in: “Fellow Daoist Lu, there is one thing you must understand first. What does our Orthodox Alliance have to fear? The reason we have not struck is only to avoid bringing calamity upon the living.”

“You claim to stand as the model of righteousness, yet if you truly dare to act with honesty, then step forward and say it plainly. There would still be room for reconciliation.”

“Even if the one who did it was truly a disciple under my name, did you not secretly uproot the forces of my Orthodox Alliance around Cloud Capital City?”

...

After listening for a while, Su Ji’an found it rather dull.

There was truly no point to it; they were only wrangling back and forth.

Su Ji’an gave a soft sigh. “The more one possesses, the greater one’s scruples become.”

It seemed he would have to add a little fuel to the fire himself.