At the main gate, they had already prepared themselves mentally, bracing for a storm.
However, they were met with this scene instead.
In that instant, what welled up in their hearts wasn’t gratitude.
It was the fear to even move.
The scene before them was more terrifying than a flood or a savage beast in their eyes.
As the saying goes, when someone is being unusually kind for no reason, they must be up to no good.
And in a situation where something was clearly wrong, being this hospitable meant…
It was all over.
Would they be able to go back alive?
Actually, they felt it wasn’t even the time to think about that question.
At this moment, they felt they should be wondering if they could even get out of here.
They had all experienced the ruthlessness of the Lishi, and they harbored no illusions in their hearts.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Li Yunxian asked the crowd with a friendly smile, her face still radiating warmth.
Facing this question, the group fell silent for a second.
Then, someone immediately put on a business-like smile: “Nothing, nothing at all. We were just struck with wonder by your extraordinary beauty, Fairy.”
Regardless of whether it was greasy or not, saying something pleasant was the most versatile answer in any situation.
Then, this quick-witted fellow was immediately enveloped by a cold, sharp gaze.
He shuddered.
The speaker’s cultivation was not weak; those who could climb to the upper echelons of a power usually had cultivation at the Jindan Stage.
Most people who could continue their cultivation further wouldn’t get trapped in these organizational entanglements; at most, they would hold the title of Guest Elder rather than an important administrative position.
A Jindan Stage Cultivator was not considered weak in any world. In some regions where cultivation was weaker, Jindan Stage Cultivators were even addressed as Ancestors.
But now, just a single look from another person could make a Jindan Cultivator react like this.
Appalled, this Jindan Stage Cultivator immediately looked toward the source of the hostility.
What met his eyes was a face so beautiful it was Yao, with silver-white hair like moonlight and very prominent Fox ears.
It was a Yaoxiu.
As for which Yaoxiu it was, no one needed an introduction; they all knew clearly in their hearts.
Su Wenjing, the Fox Demon Su Wenjing who had single-handedly captured two Integration stage experts and several Clones.
The Jindan Cultivator watched Su Wenjing’s subconscious protective stance, and the corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly.
He instantly realized why he had received that icy stare.
Jindan Cultivator: …
Who would have thought that a versatile bit of flattery would land directly on the reverse scale of this terrifying beast!!
You should have said earlier that you two had this kind of relationship!!
The Jindan Stage Cultivator decisively chose to shut his mouth in shock.
This action was merely an instinctive behavior for Su Wenjing.
Once he realized what he had done, Su Wenjing froze.
Then, he seemed to hear a light chuckle from Li Yunxian, but then again, maybe he hadn’t.
Su Wenjing’s ears turned red again, and a wave of shame and annoyance rose in his heart.
Thinking back, he seemed to have had similar behaviors in the past.
For example, with Ying Wenhe before, though at that time Su Wenjing didn’t think there was any problem at all and didn’t think much of it.
—That brat had touched someone without permission; it was perfectly normal for him to protect one of his own.
It was the same now.
He and Li Yunxian were on the same side, and for the other party to say such light words was inherently rude.
But now… after he had naturally acted to protect her, everything felt awkward.
Su Wenjing had seen many love stories of life and death, and he had seen people tearing each other apart, but he never knew that experiencing this subtle emotion himself would be such a troublesome thing.
Li Yunxian, who had indeed let out a small laugh, didn’t mind Su Wenjing’s cold attitude.
What she was actually laughing at was Su Wenjing’s reaction, looking as if his fur had been ruffled the moment he realized what he had done.
This Fox, Su Wenjing, always put on airs, acting as if he would maintain that cold indifference even if the sky fell.
As a result…
Hahahaha!!!
Li Yunxian laughed heartlessly on the inside, though she knew to maintain Su Wenjing’s image on the outside, only letting a small breath of a laugh escape at the very beginning.
Otherwise, Li Yunxian didn’t know what kind of thing this Fox, Su Wenjing, would do out of shame and anger.
Thus, Li Yunxian shrewdly chose to skip over the current situation and get straight to the point.
Li Yunxian gestured politely for them to sit down, still speaking to the crowd in that friendly tone: “Sit down, all of you. There’s no need to be so serious. It’s just a meeting and a chat.”
After speaking, Li Yunxian gave them a smile and said somewhat meaningfully, “Anyway, I don’t think the people on your side have any hope that you’ll be able to negotiate any kind of result by coming here.”
Representatives of various powers: …
That statement was… far too accurate!
Was this a show of strength?!
The business-like smiles on many faces were becoming hard to maintain.
Some even began to wonder if there was a mole within their organizations who had leaked information to the Lishi.
But in reality, there wasn’t.
It was just that with enough experience, one could see through it with a glance.
If those who came this time had a purpose to negotiate, even if they had learned to behave and their attitude was good, they wouldn’t look as cowardly and fawning as they did now.
However, based on attitude alone, things weren’t always certain; what Li Yunxian said just now was also a test.
Watching their subconscious reactions after she spoke, Li Yunxian was finally certain.
The people before her had been sent for her to vent her anger on.
And what kind of people would these powers think would make her attitude soften after venting, allowing the negotiation process to begin?
Naturally, it would be the culprits within each organization who had previously insisted on targeting her.
Li Yunxian saw through these people instantly, but she had no emotional fluctuation.
Did she need to have any?
Just as she had told Shen Bofeng back then, she only needed to be angry if she was actually being bullied. Li Yunxian had been crushing the opposition from start to finish; what did she have to be angry about?
The first thought that rose in Li Yunxian’s mind now was that these people, having lost their previous power and status, were actually at their most useful.
Thus, Li Yunxian’s attitude toward these people became even kinder. Seeing them sit down hesitantly, she even raised her hand, controlling the teapot on the table to pour water into everyone’s cups.
“Would you all like to introduce yourselves to me?” Li Yunxian said calmly.
No one felt they could push their luck because of Li Yunxian’s humble attitude. Everyone knew that the last straw that broke their giant camel’s back was placed by Li Yunxian herself.
Only the weak need to brandish their claws to show their ferocity; only the strong have the right to show their humility to the world.
But if one truly thought the other party was easy to talk to, that would be the most tragic mistake.
The representatives of the various powers carefully weighed their words, reporting their names and their organizations one by one in order.
“…Dong Yan, Bo Hai Chamber of Commerce.”
“Fei Lianzhang, Li Qiu Alliance.”
“Qi Yinning, Qi Clan Interstellar…”
After these people spoke, the uneasy emotions in their hearts calmed down quite a bit.
After the introductions, someone immediately spoke before Li Yunxian could.
“Teacher Li, we were wrong in what we did before. We have listened to everything said on the network and have reflected deeply.”
Addressing her by name wasn’t humble enough, and calling her “Laoda” like the general public was definitely impossible, so the spokesperson chose the title “Teacher Li.”
“If there is anything else you feel is wrong, please feel free to mention it. We will certainly do our best to cooperate with your ideas and change.”
These words sounded gentle, sincere, and pleasant, but if one examined them closely, they were actually entirely empty, without a single solid promise.
Negotiations in the business world were always like this—first talking about trivial matters to slowly test the other party’s thoughts, and then starting to estimate how to propose terms.
This opening was intended to pull Li Yunxian into a familiar negotiation environment for these people, using their rich conversational experience to baffle her.
However, Li Yunxian was not someone who would let others set the pace.
Hearing these words, Li Yunxian waved her hand nonchalantly: “That is a matter between you and the public. I have no opinions or suggestions.”
“I am not your consultant; don’t ask me about these things.” Li Yunxian said this with a teasing tone. “Whatever our council thinks, we just do it directly. Discussing things back and forth is too much trouble.”
As she spoke, Li Yunxian gave everyone a smile: “After all, we are all Cultivators, aren’t we? What’s the point of wasting time on these matters?”
As her voice fell, Li Yunxian asked the people before her curiously: “Speaking of which, how long has it been since your cultivation made any progress?”
This question truly struck the heart of the matter, and all the visitors from the various powers fell silent.
In front of Li Yunxian, they wanted to say that being able to cultivate to Foundation Establishment or Jindan was already quite good. Most of them had reached their current level by throwing the resources of their respective powers at it, so it was normal that they couldn’t progress now.
They were already very lucky and successful; many Cultivators were stuck in Qi Refining for their entire lives.
But they were facing Li Yunxian.
They had studied Li Yunxian’s history and were all too familiar with it.
When she first appeared in Wanwuwu, which was only two years ago, this person was still an ordinary human who hadn’t even started cultivation.
The corners of these people’s eyes twitched.
Ninety percent of them couldn’t sense her level.
Only one Jindan Mid-Stage expert felt that Li Yunxian was at the same level as himself.
This person… is her cultivation on a rocket?!
“Teacher Li must be joking.” Someone answered with a forced smile.
“Why would I be joking?” Li Yunxian looked at them with doubt in her eyes. “Anyway, we have nothing much to talk about. Since so many people are here right now, wouldn’t it be better to talk about something useful and interesting to everyone?”
“Could it be that those external things that cannot be turned into actual power are more important than yourselves?”
The people present were stunned, unable to answer.
They felt it was important.
But… why was it important?
There seemed to be many reasons, yet not that many at all.
Because everyone said these things were important, and the more you had, the better.
What they gained could be traded for thousands upon thousands of things they wanted.
Only then could they be superior to others.
Only then could they… not be bullied.
And… everyone looked at themselves and then at others, suddenly feeling that this thought of theirs was so hollow.
The glory of over a month ago compared to the mess they had now where they had nothing.
Suddenly, they truly understood the real meaning of the term “worldly possessions” that people often spoke of.
Seeing the expressions on their faces, Li Yunxian began to laugh: “So, instead of talking about those trivial things, why don’t we have a Discussion on Dao?”
This time, no one said anything to refute her.
In this world based on cultivation, everyone wanted to go a step further.
Especially since several people present already looked like middle-aged individuals.
The lifespan of Foundation Establishment and Jindan is limited.
Wanting to live, wanting to live long and healthy—that was the most primitive desire.
And Li Yunxian…
Recalling the speed of Li Yunxian’s cultivation progress, the idea of having a Discussion on Dao with her was extremely tempting to these people.
“Our cultivation, which was piled up with medicine, probably won’t be able to discuss much of a Dao,” someone said with a bitter smile.
Li Yunxian was very calm about this: “The crowd on the network—those in Qi Refining, those in Foundation Establishment, even ordinary people who haven’t even started cultivation—can all discuss what the Path of Righteousness is.”
“What are you afraid of?”