Chapter 199: Gu Qing Should Like the Harmony Bell Gifted by the Old Ancestor Very Much
"Alright, we will do as you say!"
Yan Hongluo nodded repeatedly as she listened, then said, "Let's go. The sect elders can no longer wait. They are as anxious as ants on a hot pan and all want to drive Lin Xuan away."
"Master, why don't we just go along with the situation and drive him away? It would save him from ruining our plans."
Hongluan frowned as she spoke.
Yan Hongluo shook her head. "You are thinking too simply. He is at the Divine Fire Realm. How could he be so easy to deal with?"
She knew Lin Xuan's personality very well. He appeared gentle and refined, but in truth he was stubborn and obsessive, never stopping until his goal was achieved.
Lin Xuan had designs within the Primal Demon Sect, and before reaching his objective, he would absolutely not leave.
"Sigh, it's easy to invite a god but hard to send one away. Master, you never should have let him come."
"Listen to yourself. If he insisted on coming, could I really shut the door in his face?"
"That's true!"
"Lin Xuan is clearly no good. He keeps clinging to the so-called life-saving grace and has completely forgotten that Master, you have also saved him many times."
Hongluan disliked Lin Xuan not only because he loved stirring up trouble, but also because he always used a lofty, condescending attitude to lecture others, as if everyone owed him something.
"The past is like drifting wind. There is no point in talking about it."
Yan Hongluo was listless and did not wish to revisit old matters. She led Hongluan into the sect's council hall.
Seeing a refined and handsome young man seated upright in the sect master's seat, Yan Hongluo's heart sank. She nodded expressionlessly, taking it as a greeting.
The young man was a Divine Fire Realm old ancestor who spent years in seclusion. Whenever he emerged, it was inevitably to demand dual cultivation with her.
"We pay our respects to the Sect Master and the Vice Sect Master."
The elders rose and bowed.
Yan Hongluo responded with a hum. "Sit."
"Sect Master, Lin Xuan has already severely endangered the sect. We request that you expel him from the sect."
The First Elder spoke in a deep voice.
Yan Hongluo fell silent for a moment, then deliberately adjusted her voice to sound dignified and sacred as she replied irrelevantly, "His curse has already been resolved. He is merely staying in our sect temporarily. There is no need to discuss this matter further."
As Yan Hongluo's words fell, the hall sank into deathly silence.
Their goal was not merely to drive Lin Xuan away. What they truly wanted was to kill him and seize the fortuitous opportunities on his body.
But if Lin Xuan's curse had been removed, then there was basically no chance.
Even if all the Divine Fire Realm old ancestors of the Primal Demon Sect joined forces, it would not work.
The higher the realm, the more meaningless group combat became. Even the slightest difference in realm was an insurmountable chasm.
Moreover, if one could not win, one could simply flee.
Still, they could not help but doubt whether Lin Xuan had truly removed the curse.
"Are we really going to let Lin Xuan act recklessly in our sect and allow our sect to suffer such humiliation?"
The Second Elder broke the silence, his expression filled with resentment.
If they could not kill Lin Xuan, then driving him away was also essentially impossible.
After all, Lin Xuan's otherworldly incarnation was terrifying. Even the Star Temple could do nothing to it, so the Primal Demon Sect stood even less of a chance.
Yet he truly could not accept this outcome.
The Primal Demon Sect was an ancient sect with a long legacy, dominating the Mo Luo Continent. When had it ever been so stifled?
"In the future, I will not interfere in matters concerning Lin Xuan and his disciples. You may handle them according to official procedures."
Hongluan gave her response.
"Is that true?"
"It is true."
"Then that is good."
The elders' expressions eased somewhat, and their attitude toward Hongluan also improved.
As long as Hongluan did not side with outsiders, they had plenty of ways to deal with Lin Xuan's disciples and make Lin Xuan unable to remain in the sect.
Besides, they could also use this to test whether Lin Xuan had truly removed the curse.
Seeing that the matters were mostly settled, the Divine Fire Realm youth, Li Zichen, chuckled lightly and said, "Hongluo, congratulations to your disciple on finding a good match."
"Congratulations to you as well."
Yan Hongluo replied indifferently.
Li Zichen was not at all surprised by Yan Hongluo's cold attitude. His smile did not fade as he took out a collar with bells attached and used a force to present it before Hongluan.
"Hongluan, this is my wedding gift to you. I wonder if you like it."
"Thank you for the reward, Old Ancestor."
Hongluan glanced at it and thanked him with delight.
A Saint artifact Harmony Bell was something she liked very much.
It was just that Li Zichen paying such a high price was destined to cost him both the wife and the soldiers.
Li Zichen had shown her ardent attention for many years, wanting to claim both master and disciple and enjoy all blessings at once.
Now that he gave her the Harmony Bell, it was likely that his illicit intentions had not died out.
"It is merely a small trinket."
"Although Gu Qing has affection for you, even if you become Dao companions, the Primal Demon Sect will still be your most solid support."
Li Zichen spoke solemnly, yet his heart was filled with indescribable frustration.
The coveted beauty he had long desired had been plucked by someone else.
And he could do nothing to the two of them.
He only hoped that their relationship would sour one day and that Hongluan would come seeking him.
"Thank you for the Old Ancestor's care. This disciple will remember it in my heart."
Hongluan thanked him sincerely, gripping the leather strap of the bell, then added casually, "Gu Qing should also like the Harmony Bell gifted by the Old Ancestor."
"Heh heh!"
The speaker had no intent, but the listener did.
Li Zichen let out two dry laughs. After Hongluan said this, he suddenly felt deep regret, thinking he never should have given this enchantress the Harmony Bell.
Was it too late to regret it now?
Li Zichen looked at Hongluan, the meaning clear without words.
Hongluan gave a charming smile and calmly put away the Harmony Bell.
Too late already… Li Zichen's mouth twitched.
"Vice Sect Master, may I ask what purpose Divine Son Gu has in coming this time?"
The First Elder spoke up.
Although they knew Gu Qing had come for Hongluan and that the two had already been together, some words still needed to be stated clearly.
"Naturally, it is to marry me."
Hongluan curved her red lips slightly. Her fair, jade-like oval face was full of allure.
Her pair of peach-blossom eyes seemed to contain endless charm, like a bewitching demoness who brought calamity to the world.
"Then when does the Star Temple plan to hold the Dao companion ceremony?"
"Is there a possibility for our sect to cooperate with the Star Temple?"
The Star Temple possessed coordinates of the myriad heavens and worlds, with influence spread across them all.
If they could establish ties with the Star Temple, the Primal Demon Sect would benefit immensely.
Thus, even though Hongluan was a goddess unattainable to countless male cultivators, they did not oppose it.
Of course, opposition would have been useless anyway.
"Soon. As for the specific time, I still need to discuss it with Gu Qing."
Hongluan responded smoothly, using a few excuses to brush the matter aside.
A meeting that determined the fate of the sect ended in such a perfunctory manner.
After everyone in the hall had left, only the First Elder and Li Zichen remained.
The First Elder bowed deeply. "Master, I suspect that Lin Xuan's curse has not been removed at all."
"Mm."
Li Zichen responded with a sound, his expression ugly.
In fact, it was not only master and disciple who held this suspicion. Many elders likely did not believe Yan Hongluo's nonsense.
Since ancient times, curses had been unsolvable. How could Lin Xuan possibly resolve it within a single day?
He suspected that the Lin Xuan appearing now was merely a clone, or perhaps a dharma manifestation clone condensed through a secret method to confuse everyone.
Given the relationship between Yan Hongluo and Lin Xuan, the possibility that they were deceiving them was very high.
Yan Hongluo's purpose in doing this was simple. She wanted to shelter Lin Xuan and allow him to hide within the Primal Demon Sect from those pursuing him over the curse.
Because of this suspicion, everyone tacitly remained silent and planned to observe for a while longer.
If Lin Xuan had truly removed the curse, then they would treat it as if nothing had happened.
If he had not, then it would suit them perfectly.
"Send someone to kill Lin Xuan's disciple and see how Lin Xuan reacts."
"Yes, Master!"
"Also, create some trouble for Gu Qing."
"Ah?"
"Mm?"
"Master, you may not know this, but Gu Qing has slain a peak Venerable Realm expert. His combat strength is terrifying, and there should be a Divine Fire Realm protector by his side."
"..."
No wonder that enchantress Hongluan could not wait to throw herself at him. It turned out Gu Qing was so outstanding.
Li Zichen pondered for a moment, then said coldly, "Then find a way to drive a wedge between them."
He could not even see the man. How was he supposed to drive a wedge between them?
The First Elder grumbled inwardly, but outwardly he respectfully accepted the order.
He knew very well how much Li Zichen desired the master and disciple pair of Yan Hongluo and Hongluan, having long regarded them as his private possessions.
Even taking him as a disciple had merely been for the convenience of pursuing the two of them.
If he refused this task, he would likely be slapped to death on the spot.
"By the way, did you find the Demon Immortal Vine I asked you to look for?"
Li Zichen asked.
"I found it."
The First Elder respectfully handed over a jade box, sighing helplessly in his heart.
Everything about this master of his was good, except that he was too servile.
He constantly sent all kinds of treasures. If Yan Hongluo refused to accept them, he would be unhappy and insist on forcing them on her.
Other things aside, this Demon Immortal Vine was a divine object with the potential to grow into a god.
"This time, you did very well."
Li Zichen smiled in satisfaction and immediately rewarded the First Elder with a treasure.
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