Destroying Xiangshan Academy was only Li Xuanxiao's first step.

He had already considered that acting alone would ultimately be too inconvenient.

Perhaps cooperating with Di Nü Feng would be better.

Di Nü Feng was simple-minded and easy to deceive, while also controlling Tian Sha Hall.

With this thought, Li Xuanxiao came seeking her.

While waiting for the reception envoy, Li Xuanxiao noticed that Tian Sha Hall disciple Qin Li.

Does this person recognize me from before?

The way he's looking at me seems off.

Sneaky behavior = malicious intent = high likelihood of taking initiative = opponent strikes first = threatens my safety = forced to defend = time to die!!

Qin Li was currently one of Yin Lingzi's subordinates among Tian Sha Hall's Four Guardian Vajras.

Back when Li Xuanxiao awakened and left Tian Sha Hall,

Yin Lingzi had sent four subordinates to surround and kill Li Xuanxiao.

However, Li Xuanxiao left behind a fake clone, making them believe the assassination succeeded.

While he himself escaped unnoticed.

Yet the current Li Xuanxiao knew nothing of this.

He only felt this person was looking at him strangely.

Qin Li's eyes darted about, guessing whether the other hadn't recognized him,

Or didn't want to break relations openly?

Strangely though, the other's cultivation wasn't high - even weaker than during their attempted assassination!

Injured perhaps?

As he pondered this, he saw Li Xuanxiao approaching with a friendly smile.

"Fellow Daoist, I sense something odd about that area over there."

"Hmm?"

Qin Li watched Li Xuanxiao with full vigilance.

Li Xuanxiao pointed somewhere nearby with a puzzled expression.

Qin Li hadn't noticed before, but now his spiritual sense swept over and indeed detected something strange -

A lotus flower.

As his sense touched it, he immediately realized this was no ordinary object.

Qin Li gasped, his attention completely captured.

He eagerly approached to find the lotus half-buried in grass.

The lotus seemed to sense something, trembling slightly as if touched by invisible energy.

Its jade-green petals appeared to come alive, slowly unfurling.

Each petal's movement rippled visible spiritual energy through the air.

Standing nearby, Qin Li suddenly felt the energy in his dantian surge uncontrollably, stirred by these ripples.

His body shuddered as powerful energy coursed through him unexpectedly.

"What kind of treasure is this!?" Qin Li thought in shock.

Just then, Li Xuanxiao also noticed the lotus and made a surprised noise, moving forward.

Seeing this, Qin Li instinctively grabbed the lotus first.

Such a treasure couldn't fall into others' hands.

He glared back at Li Xuanxiao while cradling the lotus.

The lotus rotated until its ninth petal fully opened.

Qin Li stared intently, remaining alert to his surroundings despite the lotus' pull.

Could he truly have stumbled upon such incredible fortune?

Suddenly, immense power erupted from the lotus as if ready to unleash something terrifying.

Qin Li's heart clenched - too late to react as -

"BOOM!!"

A deafening explosion obliterated his head in a shower of gore.

The blast flung even the prepared Li Xuanxiao backward, though he'd stayed close to avoid suspicion.

"Pity about that artifact from the academy..."

Li Xuanxiao swallowed a healing pill and collected Qin Li's storage ring.

Tian Sha Hall

Di Nü Feng slouched on her throne, barely awake as Yin Lingzi reported sect matters.

Zhang Tianxin interjected:

"Leader, rumors say Mount Shushan remnants have returned - Xiangshan Academy was wiped out."

"Hmm?" Di Nü Feng's eyes lit up at Li Xuanxiao's name.

"Did Li Xuanxiao do it?"

"Unconfirmed," Zhang Tianxin replied.

Di Nü Feng muttered thoughtfully, "Let me sense where he is..."

She'd given Li Xuanxiao a tracking necklace before he left.

Yin Lingzi smiled faintly - if Li Xuanxiao truly had power to destroy Xiangshan Academy,

His assassins wouldn't have returned.

Likely someone was impersonating a Mount Shushan disciple.

Just then, a subordinate announced:

"Leader, Li Xuanxiao's envoy requests audience."

Di Nü Feng sprang up: "Back so soon? Knew he wouldn't dare deceive me!"

Zhang Tianxin flattered: "With Daoist Li's help, Tian Sha Hall will soar higher!"

"Kekekeke!!" Di Nü Feng laughed wildly.

"Bring him in!"

Yin Lingzi raised an eyebrow - Still alive?

Li Xuanxiao entered to Di Nü Feng's excited greeting:

"Li Xuanxiao!"

He maintained a neutral smile at her enthusiasm.

"Li Xuanxiao, you're back."

Back?

Thirty years apart, yet Di Nü Feng looked unchanged.

Her words remained as nonsensical as ever.

But Li Xuanxiao didn't overthink it - talking to her required little brainpower.

Di Nü Feng waved at Yin Lingzi: "Dismissed."

Yin Lingzi nodded, giving Li Xuanxiao a deep look before leaving.

Clapping Li Xuanxiao's shoulder, Di Nü Feng declared:

"I'll appoint you Left Guardian - my personal strategist!"

Right Guardian Zhang Tianxin asked: "What of the previous Left Guardian?"

"Fire him," Di Nü Feng waved dismissively.

"Your first task - accompany me somewhere."

Li Xuanxiao found her demeanor odd - as if they'd parted months rather than decades ago.

Di Nü Feng threw an arm around him:

"Little brother! From now on, we brothers share blessings and hardships!"

After a pause, Li Xuanxiao replied:

"Big brother, I do have one matter requiring your help."