Ten days later.
In an inconspicuous mountain peak in the central region of the Xu Kingdom, several streaks of escaping light flew out from within. It was Ning Fa and the others.
Upon checking their surroundings, everyone finally confirmed they had returned to the Xu Kingdom, which made them heave a sigh of relief.
This behind-enemy-lines operation in Tianli had finally returned safely, and it had been extremely successful.
Thinking of the generous battle merits they were about to receive, Xiao Pengyuan couldn't help but stroke his long beard, his face full of smiles.
Ning Fa casually released a green Flying Boat and said with a faint smile, "Let's go, we'll head back to Tianyu City first."
Following that, a green rainbow sped north at an astonishing speed.
After more than half a day, a magnificent city appeared at the edge of their vision.
They could see that near the city, layers of Barrier radiance were flashing continuously, and an astonishing pressure could be felt from a great distance.
However, for Ning Fa and his party, it was naturally unimpeded.
After passing through several layers of Barriers, the group finally arrived on the city walls of Tianyu City. Everyone truly relaxed, then looked at Ning Fa.
Ning Fa smiled and said, "Alright, since we've arrived at Tianyu City, let's part ways here. Xin Lan, Junior Nephew Ji, you two should return to your sect first."
Xiao Pengyuan immediately cupped his fists towards Ning Fa with a smile, saying, "This time, it's all thanks to Fellow Daoist Ning's divine abilities. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to complete the mission so smoothly. Xiao will take his leave first."
After speaking, the man strode towards the right. A group of guards who were rushing towards them also left the area at his command.
Xia Xinlan and Ji Qingqing also glanced at Ning Fa before heading in another direction.
Ning Fa looked at Sang Wen and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Sang, I need to see Fellow Daoist Xuyuan first. Please keep an eye on them for me. Oh, and help me find Immortal Zhaoming."
The woman looked at him and softly hummed in response before also walking towards another side. Bai Yueqiu, Tianyou, and Wen Xiuxin also followed, being led along.
At this moment, Ji Lianxing, standing beside them, her peach blossom eyes flickering, stepped forward and naturally hooked her arm around Ning Fa's right arm. She even pressed her ample bosoms against his arm.
She said with a giggle, "Fellow Daoist Sang looks like someone dedicated to cultivation, probably quite boring. But this little lady is different, I'll definitely make Brother Ning forget to return home."
Ning Fa looked at her speechlessly and then said faintly, "Don't worry, since I promised to protect you, I will naturally do so. There's no need to use such methods."
Ji Lianxing's charming expression paused for a moment, and then she hugged Ning Fa's arm even tighter, saying pitifully, "Brother Ning, this little lady is sincere. I truly wish to become your concubine, please take me in."
Ning Fa looked at her beautiful, charming, and captivating face. He knew that further words would be useless. This woman clearly believed that only by taking her in could she truly feel at ease.
He stopped talking, withdrew his arm, but then, as if by some strange impulse, he squeezed that ample expanse.
Ji Lianxing immediately let out a soft cry, whether intentionally or not, her voice becoming even more charming, her alluring eyes gazing at Ning Fa as if laced with silk.
But Ning Fa had already transformed into a silver streak of escaping light, disappearing in a flash.
Ji Lianxing looked in the direction he disappeared, her charming expression vanishing. She muttered softly, "I don't believe I can't win you over."
Not long after, Ning Fa arrived at the spiritual mountain behind Tianyu City again.
It was still the same bamboo sea.
A figure in a long, wide-sleeved robe stood quietly at the edge of the bamboo sea. Although his lean and ancient face was calm, there seemed to be a hint of unspeakable worry in his eyes.
Hearing the sound of wind breaking behind him, Hermit Xuyuan slowly turned around. Seeing Ning Fa's calm expression, a smile appeared on his face.
"Fellow Daoist Ning, I must thank you on behalf of Cangyuan for the merits you've earned by infiltrating the rear of Tianli. If Tianli had truly managed to refine that Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure Replica, then our Cangyuan would truly be in danger."
Ning Fa smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Xuyuan, there's no need for pleasantries. I also gained a great deal from this trip."
After speaking, the two fell silent for a moment.
Ning Fa's gaze shifted, and he smiled, "Fellow Daoist Xuyuan, aren't you going to ask about Pei Nanshu and the others?"
Upon hearing this, Hermit Xuyuan couldn't help but look towards the distant sea of clouds and sigh, "I never expected the three of them to descend to such madness, colluding with the people of Tianli to deal with you, Fellow Daoist Ning. Therefore, they deserved to die by your hand, and no one else can be blamed. It's just..."
At this point, Hermit Xuyuan sighed again. Although he didn't finish his sentence, his meaning was clear. While the three deserved to die, their deaths, as Great Cultivators, significantly weakened Cangyuan's high-level forces. Cangyuan was already at a disadvantage, especially facing attacks from both Tianli and the Sea Race. The loss of three Great Cultivators would have a considerable impact.
Hermit Xuyuan's mood was very complex after learning the details of the incident. However, from Ning Fa's perspective, his actions were understandable. After all, if others were disregarding the bigger picture to kill you, did you still need to consider the bigger picture and spare their lives? If it were Hermit Xuyuan himself, he might have acted differently. But given Ning Fa's personality, he clearly wouldn't. Fortunately, Ning Fa and his group not only successfully destroyed the Barriers in the Ten Thousand Peaks Mountain Range but also disrupted the refinement of that Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure Replica, which brought him considerable comfort.
Ning Fa's lips curled, and he continued, "Then, Fellow Daoist Xuyuan, do you blame me?"
Hearing this, Hermit Xuyuan gave a wry smile, then said with a serious expression:
"Everyone's path of cultivation is different. If I had let those three live, it would have hindered your progress, Fellow Daoist Ning, making it difficult for your mind to be at ease and obstructing your cultivation path. In that case, it's better that they are dead."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Ning Fa, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, and asked, "Fellow Daoist Ning, did you really kill all three of them by yourself?"
This was also something that greatly shocked Hermit Xuyuan, because defeating and killing were two entirely different levels of difficulty.
He believed that if it were him, he might be able to easily defeat the combined efforts of Huangfu Hong and the other two.
If he used all his techniques, he might even be able to kill one of them.
But to kill all three of them, with none escaping, he admitted he couldn't do it.
Yet Ning Fa had managed it, which was what he found so unbelievable.
"I lured them to a dead end with a stratagem, and with the help of some barriers, I managed to kill all three of them," Ning Fa explained casually, clearly not intending to go into detail about the process.
Hermit Xuyuan finally understood, and found his explanation quite reasonable.
Then, his expression became slightly serious as he said, "Although the three of them are dead, the forces behind them are not insignificant. We still need to handle the aftermath.
Especially concerning the Wushi Demonic Palace. Fellow Daoist Mo's strength is not far from mine.
However, it was Fellow Daoist Shen and the others who plotted against you first. Especially after Ning Daoist displayed such strength, I believe Fellow Daoist Mo will not act rashly."
Ning Fa listened, his expression unchanged.
Mo Qianqiu of the Wushi Demonic Palace was likely the strongest in Cangyuan besides Hermit Xuyuan, but at most he was a high-level Great Cultivator.
Now that Ning Fa had cultivated the Five Elements Calamity Heaven Sword Array, he believed his strength had reached the level of a high-level Great Cultivator, so he was not afraid of Mo Qianqiu's revenge.
If that person dared to trouble him, Ning Fa would not be polite either. But if Mo Qianqiu knew his place, Ning Fa would not seek trouble with the Wushi Demonic Palace again.
Hermit Xuyuan continued, "Besides the Wushi Demonic Palace, there's also the Yuan Cha Gate.
Now that Fellow Daoist Huangfu is dead, the Yuan Cha Gate is also leaderless.
However, I suggest that Fellow Daoist Ning refrain from a large-scale purge of the Yuan Cha Gate in the future."
Ning Fa frowned upon hearing this, asking in confusion, "Why is that?"
Hermit Xuyuan gave a wry smile, "Fellow Daoist Ning, please don't forget that the main sect of the Yuan Cha Gate is in Great Qin.
The reinforcements we invited from Great Qin should include people from the Yuan Cha Gate.
Ning Daoist, killing Huangfu Hong was justifiable given the circumstances. But if you were to purge the Yuan Cha Gate again, I fear that the people from the Great Qin Yuan Cha Gate's main sect would not let this matter go easily."
Ning Fa's eyes flashed upon hearing this.
This was indeed a problem, one he had considered before.
However, he would not let Shen Xinlan and Huangfu Hong go because of this concern.
After all, considering the animosity between them, even if he didn't kill them, would Huangfu Hong and Shen Xinlan let him go when people from Great Qin's Wushi Demonic Palace and Yuan Cha Gate's main sect came here?
Would they instigate their sect members to cause trouble for him?
Moreover, Ning Fa believed that the reinforcements from the other side would not be Spirit Transformation Cultivators, so he had nothing to fear.
His current strength was already comparable to a high-level Great Cultivator. Once he advanced to the mid Nascent Soul stage, his strength would surely double again, reaching the level of a top-tier Great Cultivator.
At that time, even if he faced a Spirit Transformation Cultivator, he might be far from being able to contend with them, but he should have some confidence in saving his own life.
After all, even if nothing else, his Chaos Divine Thunder should pose a significant threat to Spirit Transformation Cultivators.
But Hermit Xuyuan's words also made sense. There was no need to purge the entire Yuan Cha Gate and increase the risk of falling out with Great Qin's Yuan Cha Gate main sect.
Ning Fa nodded, "Alright, no problem. But Ning Huarong is of my clan, and I need to rescue her."
Seeing that Ning Fa did not object, Hermit Xuyuan breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Ning, rest assured, I will handle this matter. Lastly, there is the Pei Family..."
A cold glint flashed in Ning Fa's eyes as he interrupted, "When I fought Pei Nanshu earlier, he threatened to destroy my entire sect with his words. Therefore, I absolutely cannot let the Pei Family remain in this world."
After speaking, Ning Fa stared intently at Hermit Xuyuan.
After all, Pei Nanshu's precious grandson, Pei Ruiqing, was in the Spiritual Pivot Pavilion and was a core disciple. This person could also be said to be the root of the conflict between the two sides.
Now that Ning Fa had such deep enmity with the Pei Family, he naturally could not allow this threat to continue to grow.