Chapter 507: Chapter 278: Becoming a Mysterious Creature (Extended Chapter)

"From now on, I can even truly cultivate by harnessing the eerie energy..."

The eerie energy was extremely powerful, and Li An was confident that he could easily destroy any expert at the Void Refinement Realm.

As for those at the Harmonization Dao Realm, he remained vigilant and respectful.

"It’s almost done."

The aura of this strange spirit’s corpse had almost been entirely consumed, leaving it truly a dried-up corpse, nearly breaking at a touch.

Li An took a finger bone from the corpse, which he had purposely left, not absorbing it.

After all, he still had to meet Ying Huaihai.

He left the immortal coffin and reappeared in his secluded cave residence.

After putting away the immortal coffin, he first went to find Ying Meng’Er. In just a few hours, he arrived but didn’t rush in. Instead, he checked the array he had set up to see if anyone had approached or left.

Finding nothing unusual, he entered and loudly announced, "Gu Changqing visiting—"

Inside the cave residence, Ying Meng’Er hurried out, respectfully welcoming him, and said, "Senior Gu, I apologize for not meeting you earlier! Please forgive me!"

After many years apart, she hadn’t changed much since then, still possessing a tall and graceful figure, but her aura had changed.

Now, she could be considered a competent Demon Cultivator!

Her progress was swift as well, already at the Perfection of the Nascent Soul and soon to break into the Divinity Transformation Stage.

In fact, this was because the Demon Skill Li An gave her had issues and wasn’t a complete Immortal Celestial Demon Skill, otherwise, she’d cultivate even faster.

They exchanged pleasantries, and Li An, kindly and affably, answered many of her cultivation questions, displaying a demeanor of an enlightened senior.

"Senior... I have a presumptuous request."

Ying Meng’Er bit her lip lightly, suddenly kneeling before Li An, and said, "I wish to apprentice under you! Please fulfill this wish!"

All these years, she’s been pondering how to reclaim Yingyuan Island?

Yingyuan Island had been occupied by a great enemy. Her father had been killed, and her aunt imprisoned, her fate unknown; on her own, she had no chance.

Although Li An said he would cooperate with her, where would she find the capital for that?

Only by leveraging Li An’s power as a Great Cultivator in the Void Refinement Realm could she possibly avenge them... upon reflection, this was her only path.

Apprenticeship.

Li An, however, pondered slightly and said, "Please rise, Miss Ying."

"You hold a noble status as the heir to Yingyuan Island. If I were to take you as a disciple, I should seek your parents’ consent. We can discuss this affair after we rescue your closest kin."

Did Ying Meng’Er, this tender fledgling, think she could deceive Li An, this old fox?

He, of course, would not agree.

"Rest assured, I, Gu Changqing, will ensure your safety."

"Focus on your cultivation, and I’ll investigate the news from the Southern Sea, striving to rescue your parents early."

Li An departed.

Ying Meng’Er watched the direction in which Li An left and sighed, saying, "Ah Gui, when can I get my revenge..."

...

Li An went to see Ying Meng’Er mainly to retrieve a strand of her hair.

Before Ying Huaihai showed sincerity, Li An certainly couldn’t hand over Ying Meng’Er. A strand of her hair as a token would suffice.

Arriving around Nanqing City, Li An checked around but didn’t stay to wait. Instead, after confirming the path, he settled in Purple Phoenix City.

Purple Phoenix City was closer to the Southern Sea, and if Ying Huaihai and others came, they would surely pass through.

Li An could then discover them proactively.

After all, the intentions of these people from the Southern Sea were uncertain; they must be guarded. Waiting naively in Nanqing City, what if they act in bad faith and kill you?

With the fifty-year period nearing, he waited there quietly while cultivating.

...

Time flowed like water, and in the winds surging from the Southern Sea, the eerie presence grew stronger, occasionally carrying a mass of Immortal Dao Material among it. But these materials, torn by the strange winds, found it difficult to penetrate the Cangxuan Ridge and reach the human world beyond.

Li An occasionally intervened to collect some, and over the years, he amassed more than during the time he looted the heroes in the Dao Sect’s Mysterious Secret Realm.

The Immortal Dao Material was something Li An would never touch, as it was useless to him, though incredibly precious to the cultivators in the Spirit Realm.

Used for exchanging for magical materials, they had their uses.

Finally, the fifty-year period was near, just two years until his scheduled meeting with Ying Huaihai and others.

"Hmm?"

That day, Li An noticed several figures flying in. They were concealed in the eerie winds blowing from the Southern Sea, making them hard to detect, but having cultivated the strange now, Li An could see them at a glance.

"Ying Huaihai!"

Li An had already identified them.

He remained calm, quietly tailing them.

There were a total of six Void Refinement experts!

The other five remained hidden, with Ying Huaihai going forward first, calling out several times outside Nanqing City, but receiving no response. After personally inspecting inside, he then led the other five Void Refinement experts in.

They had set up numerous mechanisms and restrictions within and outside the city, hiding them very cleverly.

The five Void Refinement experts also concealed themselves in the vicinity.

Their technique for hiding their aura was quite ingenious. Although not as good as the Life Nourishing Immortal Skill, it was enough to evade the Divine Sense of ordinary Void Refinement cultivators.

Li An’s heart turned cold.

If they had come to sincerely discuss cooperation, why employ such means?

After pondering for a moment, he didn’t act directly.

Instead, he waited for another two years.

The fifty-year period was over.

Li An feigned coming from afar, appearing travel-worn, arriving outside the city, and loudly proclaimed, "Qin Hu is here to visit old friends!"

From within Nanqing City, an aged voice immediately sounded, "Brother Qin Hu, you’ve finally arrived!"