"Yuyan..." Elder Huoyun, despite holding Ye Xiaoyao in extremely high regard and even hoping he might become his future grandson-in-law, could hardly withstand such a bold and uninhibited remark uttered publicly by Lin Yuyan.
Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Lin Yuyan quickly stuck out her tongue.
Elder Huoyun immediately addressed the group: "Since the matter is settled, I will take Ye Xiaoyao back to the sect to recover his breath. Handle the rest of the trials yourselves!"
"Understood!" The assembled elders were not surprised by this outcome.
Judging by Elder Huoyun's attitude, Ye Xiaoyao was undoubtedly going to be taken in as his personal disciple, so there was naturally no need for him to stay here any longer.
With a wave of Elder Huoyun's hand, a flying spiritual artifact instantly emerged from his storage bracelet.
At that moment, Lin Yuyan turned and announced to those around her, "Pass a message to the Tianhuo Imperial Family for me: I want this woman alive for the next three years!"
"But the imperial family is only to ensure she doesn't die. No other assistance is to be given to her!"
Although many people felt that Gu Qingqing was merely getting what she deserved, the looks they cast her now were tinged with a hint of pity.
Since Lin Yuyan was Elder Huoyun's granddaughter, the Tianhuo Imperial Family would never dare to defy her wishes.
This meant that for the next three years, Gu Qingqing's life would be worse than death, and she wouldn't even be granted the opportunity to commit suicide.
Meanwhile, Ye Xiaoyao and the other two had already stepped onto the flying spiritual artifact and soared away.
Watching the flying spiritual artifact rapidly shrink into a black dot against the horizon, Gu Qingqing shook her head repeatedly in bitter resentment. "Why... Why does he have such good fortune..."
Inside the flying spiritual artifact, Elder Huoyun finally rose to his feet and cupped his fists respectfully toward Ye Xiaoyao. "Many thanks to Young Master Ye for saving my life earlier!"
Ye Xiaoyao quickly returned the gesture. "Elder Huoyun, you flatter me. You saved my life just now as well, so we are even!"
Elder Huoyun shook his head. "No... If Young Master Ye had not intervened earlier, I would surely have died!"
"As for what just happened, even if I hadn't stepped in, Young Master Ye would undoubtedly have been able to make a clean escape!"
"What makes Elder Huoyun say that?" Ye Xiaoyao felt a slight tightening in his chest.
Indeed, before Elder Huoyun and the others appeared, Ye Xiaoyao had already felt the sleeping maiden in his Dantian stir slightly.
It was only after Elder Huoyun blocked that palm strike that the maiden fell back into slumber.
Elder Huoyun continued, "Young Master Ye had your Supreme Bone excavated, yet not only did you survive, but you also managed to acquire such terrifying strength in so short a time—you must have encountered some extraordinary fortuitous encounter!"
"And judging by the profound principles of the Heavenly Dao contained within the acupuncture technique you used to treat me, you surely possess other life-saving methods as well!"
"Therefore, my appearance was merely icing on the cake and cannot repay Young Master Ye's kindness!"
"However, Young Master Ye must understand the principle that a tall tree catches the wind, which is why I did not mention your saving grace earlier."
"After all, once we reach the Lihuo Sect, you will likely face various open and hidden rivalries. It is always a good thing to hold back a few more trump cards!"
Learning that the other party knew nothing of the secret regarding the maiden in his Dantian, Ye Xiaoyao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing how considerate Elder Huoyun was of his situation, Ye Xiaoyao felt genuine gratitude. "Thank you, Elder Huoyun!"
Yet Ye Xiaoyao immediately asked, "According to what Elder Huoyun says, the internal atmosphere of the Lihuo Sect doesn't seem all that harmonious either?"
Elder Huoyun smiled faintly. "Where there are people, there are conflicts. Furthermore, if the Lihuo Sect wishes to grow strong, it must allow its disciples to mature through struggle!"
"Although sect rules dictate that the sect will not interfere as long as no one dies..."
"You must realize that sect rules inevitably have loopholes and can be exploited by others, so having more trump cards is always better!"
"I have learned much!" Ye Xiaoyao thanked him once more.
Although, given his intelligence, he would have figured this out as soon as Elder Huoyun mentioned it, he knew that without Elder Huoyun pointing it out, he might have had to pay a certain price to realize these truths on his own.
Elder Huoyun went on, "Since you are my benefactor, I cannot become your master."
"Upon entering the Lihuo Sect, you may stay at my Huoyun Peak. Of course, if you wish to apprentice under another elder, I can step forward and vouch for you!"
"Even if you wish to apprentice under the Sect Master, I can still go and ask for a favor on your behalf!"
Ye Xiaoyao immediately replied, "No matter how polite Elder Huoyun wishes to be, since you showed me kindness earlier, I will naturally stay at Huoyun Peak!"
For anyone else entering the Lihuo Sect, the natural desire would be to seek a powerful master and receive guidance.
Yet Ye Xiaoyao had already cultivated two Immortal Formulas; why would he ever need to call anyone else master?
Having a secure foothold and gradually getting closer to the Undying Sacred Fire was the true path to success.
Elder Huoyun smiled with satisfaction.
When he made that offer, he had indeed harbored a touch of selfish motive.
After all, if Ye Xiaoyao had become his disciple, he would have been a generation senior to Lin Yuyan.
Now that Ye Xiaoyao put it this way, Elder Huoyun assumed the young man must share similar thoughts.
Casting a meaningful glance at Lin Yuyan, Elder Huoyun nodded and said, "Splendid, absolutely splendid..."
Following some casual conversation, during which Ye Xiaoyao gained a preliminary understanding of the Lihuo Sect, the flying spiritual artifact arrived at the Lihuo Sect—specifically, Huoyun Peak, which was under Elder Huoyun's jurisdiction.
The moment he stepped off, Ye Xiaoyao felt a wave of intense heat wash over him.
Though this heat could not compare to the volcanic peak inside the Tianji Lihuo Map, it was definitely much hotter than the ground below.
Moreover, the spiritual energy contained in the air was far denser.
Before long, however, Ye Xiaoyao's attention was drawn to a crimson pillar of fire in the distance that pierced directly from the earth into the sky.
"What is that..." Ye Xiaoyao asked.
That pillar of fire gave one a most peculiar sensation, as if it were right in front of one's eyes, yet simultaneously as if no matter how hard one pursued it, it could never be caught.
"That is the Undying Sacred Fire of our Lihuo Sect. Disciples who share an affinity with it may approach it directly; as for those without affinity, no matter how they chase it, they will never reach it!" Elder Huoyun said, a trace of envy flashing in his eyes.
Lin Yuyan, standing nearby, chimed in, "Don't listen to my grandfather's nonsense!"
"I've lived in the Lihuo Sect for twenty years and watched countless people chase after the Undying Sacred Fire, but I've never seen a single person actually catch it!"
"Oh..." Ye Xiaoyao nodded slightly, though he harbored no doubts about Elder Huoyun.
After all, a power that could catch the eye of the maiden in his Dantian could never be ordinary.
Elder Huoyun added, "In fact, throughout the history of our Lihuo Sect, only five people have ever truly entered the Undying Sacred Fire!"
"The most recent one is our current Sect Master!"
"Once your cultivation reaches the Transcendence Realm, you can give it a try as well."
"It requires the Transcendence Realm?" Ye Xiaoyao had originally thought anyone could approach it.
If that were the case, with the help of the maiden in his Dantian, he should have been able to get close.
Elder Huoyun smiled faintly. "Approaching the Undying Sacred Fire depends on individual affinity, but it also requires a certain foundation!"
"If your cultivation has not reached the Transcendence Realm, even with the greatest affinity, you will not be able to withstand the scorching heat of the Undying Sacred Fire!"
"Very well, go and rest for a bit. Since you've already entered the Lihuo Sect, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future!"
"I leave everything to Elder Huoyun's arrangement!" Ye Xiaoyao agreed with Elder Huoyun's reasoning.
And indeed, having endured Elder Qingyang's consecutive attacks, he had suffered quite severe injuries.
"I'll show you to your quarters..." Lin Yuyan immediately took the lead, guiding the way.