"...would you like to stay here on Pingyang Mountain?"
When Li Ye spoke, his tone was calm and unruffled.
But in the ears of everyone present, it was like a sudden thunderclap, making them all turn their heads toward the slightly bewildered young girl.
Such incredible fortune! Truly, such incredible fortune!
In these turbulent times, to be personally invited by the only Golden Core cultivator across two nations to stay on his mountain this wasn't just about temporary safety. In the future, her path of cultivation will surely be smoothed with countless privileges and opportunities!
Even Ji Xiangyang, whose arms were still full of treasures, couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
If she could survive this current chaos, the opportunities awaiting this girl would far surpass the gains he had received today!
"Stay here?"
Luo Jinghan echoed subconsciously.
Li Ye nodded.
"It would only mean living here on the mountain, with people assigned to look after you.
I won't be taking you in as a disciple.
When you grow a bit older, you'll start by helping with daily tasks and managing affairs on the mountain."
At these words, the expressions of those around them shifted slightly, and the envy in their eyes dimmed.
Without formally becoming a disciple, without a title, the care and favor she might receive would not be as abundant as they had imagined.
That made it a little easier for them to swallow.
"I want to stay!"
But before Li Ye could even finish speaking, Luo Jinghan nodded fiercely and answered crisply.
"Being able to stay on the same mountain as someone like you, a real immortal...
That's got to be way better than living out there!"
"Hahaha! Sweet talk won't get you out of work you'll still have chores to do!"
Li Ye burst out laughing.
He wasn't one to take dealings with children too seriously.
The little girl pouted for a moment but quickly resumed her bright, smiling expression.
"Anyway, I want to stay," she said firmly.
"Since that's the case, go and stay with Hongyao for now."
Li Ye gestured toward Hongyao.
Luo Jinghan glanced up at Yu Lijun and Yu Xiaoshan and said politely,
"Senior Aunts, I'm going over there now…
Please help me thank Aunt Xu for rescuing me.
Tell her I'm not going back, but once I've grown stronger, I'll come back to repay her!"
"Go on then!
Train hard and don't waste this opportunity,"
Yu Xiaoshan said, gently patting her on the head.
The little girl nodded earnestly, then ran over to Hongyao's side and stood obediently.
Hongyao smiled warmly and took her hand, asking her little questions in a soft voice, her demeanor very kind.
Though it was still unclear what exactly Li Ye intended for the girl, Luo Jinghan was undeniably likable.
Over the years, it had become an open secret among the maids that Li Ye, through dual cultivation techniques, meticulously preserved his essence and had no plans for heirs.
Now, with the sudden appearance of this little girl, Hongyao couldn't help but feel a touch of maternal affection.
"And this one here is the son of Zhang Liangfu..."
Yu Lijun continued, pointing to the robust man at the side, whose cultivation was at the Qi Refining stage.
"I am Zhang Chengfu, paying respects to Master Li!"
The sturdy man stepped forward and bowed deeply, his voice trembling with excitement.
"My father perished during an expedition, slain by marauders.
During his life, he often spoke of you, Master Li saying you were the greatest benefactor he ever had.
He deeply regretted that, after parting from you during the demonic tide, he never had the chance to meet you again..."
"If his spirit is watching from above, he would surely rejoice to see me able to meet you today!"
Ha! Compared to his father, this man had a touch more wit and adaptability!
Li Ye had already expected Zhang Liangfu's death. With a quiet sigh, he looked at Zhang Chengfu's earnest demeanor and couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Very well. Since you are the son of an old acquaintance, I shall..."
He was just about to bestow him a wooden token along with some pills and treasures when Zhang Chengfu suddenly kowtowed heavily and said:
"I humbly beg to join Pingyang Mountain!
The spiritual farming techniques my father taught me have been fully mastered by me.
I only seek a position as a spiritual farmer... I beg Master Li to grant my request!"
You brat!
You're still a member of our Purple Profound Sect, yet you're throwing yourself into someone else's camp right in front of us without a second thought?
Yu Lijun and Ji Xiangyang both wore strange expressions, but deep down, they couldn't help feeling a twinge of envy.
Only those with low cultivation and no real standing dared to gamble everything like this.
As for people like them
Even if they dared to ask to join Li Ye's ranks, he might not even accept them.
"Since you wish to join Pingyang Mountain, I'll grant your request."
Li Ye had no objections.
"Hongyao, take him to Wen Chu later. Let Wen Chu arrange his duties."
"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"
Zhang Chengfu was overjoyed, knocking his head to the floor several more times before sensibly moving off to the side to wait.
Unknowingly, have I already become the greatest opportunity in someone's life?
Watching Zhang Chengfu's sincere, unpretentious manner from start to finish, Li Ye felt a rare twinge of emotion.
After handling all the visitors, Yu Lijun spoke again:
"As for Yao Shaohui, Gu Daojin, and the family of Hu Zhiquan, whom you had inquired about earlier, Master Li..."
"The first two have long since vanished without a trace..."
"As for Hu Zhiquan's family, since his early death, his clan's ties with Purple Profound Sect have been completely severed...
Given the current circumstances, I truly couldn't track them down.
They may very well have disappeared along with the entire Hu clan..."
Though she didn't finish, the meaning was clear.
Li Ye shook his head lightly.
"Forget it...
It was only a passing thought.
In times like these, there's no need to waste resources chasing such matters."
"As you command, Master."
Yu Lijun nodded. She and Ji Xiangyang exchanged a glance, hesitated for a moment, then gritted their teeth and stepped forward together to bow deeply.
"Master Li, you were once a disciple of our Purple Profound Sect, and share deep ties with us...
We, the entire sect, are willing to welcome you back and honor you as our master.
As long as you agree, our cultivators will serve you wholeheartedly, and all the sect's accumulated resources over the years will be yours..."
"No need to say more."
Li Ye waved his hand and interrupted them directly.
"My remaining feelings for the Purple Profound Sect are all tied to those old acquaintances.
Now that they have all passed away, what I did today is enough to settle the last of my debts."
"You both know well how Purple Profound Sect treated us disciples back then.
Maybe I wasn't harmed much, but I have no desire to return."
"This..."
Yu Lijun and Ji Xiangyang froze.
They had guessed Li Ye might not be easily persuaded, but they hadn't expected him to refuse so bluntly.
The accumulated resources of an entire sect weren't even enough to tempt him?
Just as they were about to plead further, Li Ye said coldly:
"Out of respect for the past, I can still call you fellow cultivators or junior brothers.
But if you persist in bothering me
you'll receive the same treatment as the Li family did."
The Li family's treatment?
Wasn't that being publicly marked as enemies of a real master?
That would be a death sentence!
Yu and Ji immediately straightened their faces.
"Please don't be angry, Master Li!
We will not bring this up again!"
Li Ye gave a slight nod.
"In that case, you may leave."
"We take our leave!"
Though deeply frustrated, Yu and Ji were wise enough not to linger, retreating with their people.
Hongyao also led Zhang Chengfu and Luo Jinghan away.
Standing alone in the now-empty great hall, Li Ye let out a cold laugh.
"A bunch of old fools, thinking they're so clever.
I'm living just fine on Pingyang Mountain.
If I ever desire more, I can always claim the unclaimed third-grade spiritual vein in Wu Country and find my sect.
Why would I ever want to take over your wreck of a sect?"
"Besides, seeing the standard of the Jiuding Valley's sect treasury,
even if your Purple Profound Sect had salvaged a fraction of its wealth after its collapse,
how much could it possibly amount to?"
"And with that meager hoard, you thought you could trick me into propping up your crumbling sect?"
"How laughable!"
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