At the same time, within the inner chamber of the Hehuan Sect.
Sect Master Qinyun, a beauty in spring slumber, lay on her silken couch, a light green gown draping over her body, outlining breathtaking curves.
Standing to the side in the chamber was a fiery red figure; who else could it be but Sect Master Hong Luo?
"Sister, what do you think of this Zhang San?"
"This man's background is unclear, and Ruan'er is so naïve. How can we entrust the front hall's defense to an outsider?"
"Moreover, he keeps claiming that he is a discarded follower of the legalists, but judging by his demeanor, he is clearly hiding a deep Daoist charm, and his vitality is as formidable as mountains and seas. There's a good chance he is lying."
Upon hearing this, Qinyun sat up and sighed, "Sister, what does it matter if this man is from the legalists, or not?"
"Our Hehuan Sect has enjoyed long years of peace, with many disciples indulging in romantic escapades, yet their combat abilities are only mediocre. The world is changing, and wolves are emerging everywhere. Now is the very time we are short of people. This Zhang San, we must both use him and guard against him."
"Tonight I entrusted the defense of the external hall to him for two reasons: first, the man is truly skilled in combat and was able to entangle the demonic Shi Changsheng in a short time; second, this is also an opportunity for me to test him."
"If he truly assists our sect in our times of trouble, and Ruan'er really likes him, why should I object to this arrangement?"
"If this man ends up staying in our Hehuan Sect, with his talent, it would be appropriate for our Sect to bear the burden of all his cultivation resources in the future."
At this point, Qinyun gracefully rose, taking hold of Sect Master Hong Luo's jade hand:
"Besides, doesn't our Hehuan Sect still have you and me, sister?"
"As long as the inner chamber remains firmly in our sisters' hands, with our cultivation, we can operate the long-established Yin Yang Hezhi Sacred Lotus formation of our Sect. With the various powers of the great formation and its suppressing force, even if Hei Mietian steps into the realm of a True Monarch, we can still contend with him."
"As long as the inner chamber does not fall, what does it matter if we lose the external hall?"
Of the two lineages in the Hehuan Sect, Qinyun is in the later stages of nearing the Dao.
Hong Luo of the joyous lineage, though slightly inferior in cultivation to Qinyun, is at the peak of the middle stage of nearing the Dao.
Neither of them was weak.
"Sister, your considerations are thorough."
"But now that you mention it, I recall, during the day, I observed a white Mana aura around Zhang San, as if he had fused many powerful true intents through Pure Yang energy. Sister, could this man possibly originate from that place, the Gui Guzi?"
"Only a place like the Gui Guzi would be so inclusive, continually studying and adopting a broad array of techniques, where various geniuses and eccentrics emerge annually."
"If he is indeed from Gui Guzi, a person adept in Dao Sect's cultivation technique of the legalist lineage, that would make sense."
Sect Master Hong Luo seemed to have thought of something and suddenly voiced a startling speculation.
The Gui Guzi is utmost mysterious, with its location in the Eastern Continent unknown to all, yet legends of its disciples spread far and wide.
It is said that Gui Guzi was founded by a cultivator known as Gui Guzi, whose talents could no longer be described as phenomenal, but rather, he was born with intrinsic knowledge.
He was versed in the philosophies of all the schools, including Dao, Buddha, and Demon.
Every disciple that emerged from Gui Guzi made a significant name for themselves in the cultivation world, such as the Saint of Soldiers and Saint of the Law in former times.
After they became famous, they only disclosed that they originated from Gui Guzi while keeping other details to themselves.
Of course, there is another guess about Gui Guzi that it is a retreat for hermit cultivators from various lineages who undergo austere practices, all for the sake of advancement and breakthroughs beyond Dao Mastery, and thus they learn from various disciplines.
The so-called Gui Guzi has always been a group of people, not just one individual.
"Hiss, if Zhang San is so brilliant but remains unknown, it would not be surprising if he were from Gui Guzi, not surprising at all."
"Sister, your guess seems quite reasonable."
Surprised and pleased, Qinyun found herself muttering to herself, her eyes growing even brighter.
If Zhang San was indeed a descendent of Gui Guzi, her Hehuan Sect must seize this opportunity to form a good relationship with him.
Just as Qinyun was contemplating, suddenly a slender jade hand wrapped around her waist.
"Sister, the night is cold beneath the silk quilt, why not let your sister sleep with you tonight?"
Seeing that hand caressing her waist and suggesting a downward intention, Qinyun deftly dodged backward, "Sister, don't play such games."
"Sister, I don't fall for your traps."
Qinyun well knew her sister's indifferent attitude towards both meat and greens and would not be fooled by her mischief.
Accompanied by a string of bell-like laughter, the door slowly closed.
Sect Master Hong Luo stepped out of the inner chamber and arrived at a corner of the wall. The moonlight split her shadow in two; half of her face was exposed to the moonlight while the other vanished into the shadows.
She paused, looking back at Qinyun's courtyard, suddenly revealing a sinister smile, "Sister~"
Yi Chen looked at Zhen Ruan standing prettily outside his door, his expression complex.
"Fellow Daoist Zhen, I cannot accept this money."
"I, Zhang San, am not such a person – how can I use your money."
"Silly, mine is yours anyway~"
"Fellow Daoist Zhen, if you keep this up, I'm going to lose my temper. I'm counting to three~"
Zhen Ruan begrudgingly took back the banknote and then suddenly lifted her head, launching an unscrupulous, sneak attack~
A cold touch suddenly landed on Yi Chen's cheek.
"Silly, if it's not enough, ask me for it. I'll save it for you for now."
"Not to mention, there's also my mother's little treasury~"
"Don't be a fool and just rush into dealing with Hei Mietian, your own safety is the most important."
Zhen Ruan, who had previously dared to raid the Daoist's abode at night, lost her courage after the sneak attack, fleeing like a thieving rabbit, leaving only her clear voice echoing in Yi Chen's heart.