“Senior Sister…” Li Fan looked at Senior Sister Zhao, whose expression was complex as she was about to be summoned alone by Sect Master Ji. He wanted to speak but stopped himself.
“Hm? What’s wrong, Junior Brother?” She glanced at Li Fan and said softly, “We’ve lived and died together for over a century. What is there that we cannot be honest about?”
“Nothing.” Li Fan smiled freely, “Go ahead, Senior Sister. Just remember, no matter what you do, I will support you.”
Senior Sister Zhao smiled and walked into the grand hall of the sect.
“Boom!”
The heavy doors slammed shut, and Li Fan watched her disappearing figure, a trace of emotion flickering in his eyes that was hard for others to notice.
Instead of waiting outside the hall as he was supposed to, Li Fan returned to the Penglai Peak where he and Senior Sister Zhao resided, gathering all valuable items from their cave dwelling.
Then, pretending to patrol, he made his way near the exit of the sect’s protective formation.
On the surface, he acted no differently from an ordinary disciple, but in truth, Li Fan had already prepared to flee at any moment.
During their century together at the foot of the mountain, Li Fan had accidentally discovered that Senior Sister Zhao was secretly collecting the blood of cultivators—and even mortals—who were infected with the “Immortal Plague”.
Although she only took a single drop each time and was extremely discreet, how could her actions escape the eyes of someone who had spent so much time with her?
At first, after each sample was taken, Senior Sister Zhao would fall gravely ill.
Thanks to Li Fan’s attentive care and a supply of medicinal pills to protect her, she managed to recover each time.
When Li Fan asked her about it, she would jokingly say she wanted to attempt reversing the “Immortal Plague” and directly achieve eternal life.
Li Fan, of course, didn’t believe her.
However, knowing her nature, once Senior Sister Zhao made up her mind about something, even a partner of a hundred years like Li Fan couldn’t dissuade her.
So he simply stopped trying, telling her only, “Take care of your health.”
Later, it seemed that she had indeed listened to his advice and gradually stopped collecting blood samples.
The intervals between her illnesses grew longer, and the symptoms became milder each time.
But Li Fan knew it was all a façade.
Senior Sister Zhao had never truly abandoned her reckless behavior.
The reason she no longer showed signs of abnormality was that she had likely mastered a method to shield herself from the effects of the Immortal Plague…
Over the years, though they had always been together, Senior Sister Zhao’s cultivation had advanced to a level that even Li Fan couldn’t fathom.
The various auras that occasionally emanated from her made Li Fan secretly alarmed.
Even though he was sure she had no intention of harming him, Li Fan couldn’t shake the nagging sense of danger in his heart.
Although Senior Sister Zhao didn’t say it outright, Li Fan could guess her intentions. She had been collecting so much blood infused with the. “Immortal Plague” to likely deal with Sect Master Ji Changxi.
A century of deliberate suppression had pushed Senior Sister Zhao’s resentment toward the sect master to its limit.
As the saying goes, “Those who block my path to the Dao shall not live.”
Li Fan believed that his increasingly fanatical Senior Sister might very well carry out such a rebellious act.
Not long before, when she entered the sect’s grand hall, a flash of murderous intent in her eyes was no illusion.
“Ji Changxi may have been at the Dao Integration stage for over six centuries, with powers and abilities that are unfathomable. But after all, he hasn’t yet reached the Longevity stage.”
“Considering Senior Sister Zhao’s displayed talent and her real combat strength, combined with the help of the Immortal Plague, she might stand a chance.”
“But even if she wins by a narrow margin, what’s the point? Even if she kills Ji Changxi, there are still a dozen Dao Integration elders, not to mention the two hidden Heavenly Sovereign who rarely appear.”
“What, will she kill them all?”
Li Fan couldn’t understand why Senior Sister Zhao would make such a decision.
Whether she succeeded or failed, the entire Grand Dao Sect would know.
At that point, not only would she face the entire sect’s attack, but Li Fan, as her Dao companion, wouldn’t be spared either.
Thus, Li Fan, always planning ahead, had long prepared to escape.
As for why he hadn’t fled yet, he was simply hoping that a miracle might happen.
Time passed bit by bit.
Because Ji Changxi had previously ordered that he had important matters to discuss with his Dao child, no one was allowed to disturb him.
As a result, the grand hall remained sealed.
Li Fan gazed at the mountain peak from afar, growing increasingly anxious.
Seven days later.
The grand doors slowly opened, and Li Fan’s breath instantly hitched.
However, what happened next was completely unexpected.
Ji Changxi walked out first, followed by Senior Sister Zhao.
The two of them exited together.
“They didn’t fight to the death? Was I overthinking things?” Puzzled, Li Fan squinted slightly.
Not only had the expected deadly clash not occurred, but the relationship between the two seemed to have improved.
In fact, when Senior Sister Zhao left, Ji Changxi even patted her on the shoulder as if offering encouragement.
And Senior Sister Zhao accepted it without any unusual expression on her face.
Seeing this, Li Fan’s heart trembled, filled with confusion.
In the past, aside from him, Senior Sister Zhao had always been extremely averse to physical contact with others.
But now…
Feeling that something was amiss, countless thoughts flashed through Li Fan’s mind.
But he didn’t have time to ponder them all.
First, he remembered that there was something he hadn’t yet done.
He hurried back to Penglai Peak and, before Senior Sister Zhao returned, placed everything back where it belonged.
When she returned, Senior Sister Zhao didn’t notice anything unusual in the cave.
After all, the two hadn’t been back to this “home” in a century.
“Senior Sister, we’ve been busy with trivial matters for a hundred years and haven’t spent much time together. How about…” Li Fan tentatively suggested dual cultivation.
A trace of nostalgia flashed in Senior Sister Zhao’s eyes, and with a coy smile, she agreed.
After a passionate encounter, Li Fan’s suspicions gradually faded.
“What did the sect master summon you for this time?” Li Fan asked casually, holding her flawless, jade-like body in his arms.
“He said that soon, the position of Grand Dao Sect master will be passed on to me. He wants me to prepare in advance,” Senior Sister Zhao said flatly, without the slightest fluctuation in her tone.
It was as if the position she was about to inherit, as the leader of one of the top ten sects in the immortal world, was merely a child’s toy.
But those words, spoken so casually, struck Li Fan like a thunderclap. His mind went blank, and he temporarily lost the ability to think.
“And the Heaven-Slaying Dao Scripture?” Li Fan asked reflexively, his brain still in a daze.
“Hehe, the sect master’s exclusive technique? Of course, it will be handed over to me for cultivation,” Senior Sister Zhao laughed softly, tracing circles around Li Fan’s heart with her finger as if she had just reclaimed her favorite toy.