Chapter 5 The Terrifying Courtyard_1

"Master, what should we do? We've recognized the wrong person..."

Wei Yushan sent his inquiry through spiritual sense.

"But, if it's not the ancestor, why would the Divine Water Stone acknowledge him as its master? Why would he give the Divine Water Stone to us?!"

The old Sect Master did not understand.

"...Master, in my opinion, could it be that this senior has some past connection with our Lihuo Sect's ancestors, and hence extended a helping hand to us?"

Wei Yushan ventured uncertainly.

"Very possible!"

The old Sect Master also expressed some doubt.

In the meantime, Li Fan had already started walking toward them.

"Why have you come again? Who are these two?"

Li Fan asked Mu Qianning.

Could it be that because he gave this girl a precious stone, her family wanted to find more?

That must be it, after all, though they seemed to dress decently, according to Auntie Zhang's description, they even ate weeds, which was quite pitiful...

If they found a gemstone, perhaps their days would get a little better?

It really is hard for cultivators too...

Li Fan roughly made a judgment.

"Senior, these... these two are elders from our sect. They wanted to visit with the senior, so I came presumptuously..."

Mu Qianning began stuttering, and now, she felt even more reverence toward the senior before her.

"Alright,"

Li Fan said, "Let's talk at my place."

He then bid Auntie Wang farewell and led the group towards his dwelling.

"Master, what should we do?"

On the way, Wei Yushan asked anxiously.

Yet the old Sect Master said, "Such a person this senior is, his seemingly casual actions must all have deep meanings, since he is taking us to his cave abode, there must be profound reasons, let's just follow him..."

It wasn't much longer before they arrived at Li Fan's residence.

Simple, tidy, constructed from stone and wood materials.

"Master, this... what kind of Immortal's Cave Abode is this? I feel that merely by approaching, spiritual power is wildly surging, tremendously active, as if increasing..."

Wei Yushan was astounded!

This place couldn't simply be described as a cave abode...

Yu Qishui was completely entranced, murmuring, "This is clearly... clearly a world of its own..."

The more powerful the cultivation, the more one could sense the vastness and inscrutability of this place.

It was Mu Qianning, with her insufficient cultivation, who did not perceive these deep layers.

She simply felt very comfortable, very natural.

As she approached this courtyard, she became entirely serene, as if all worries were forgotten, and her Dao heart was incredibly peaceful.

"Such a place is truly where an Immortal would live, natural, spontaneous, yet detached from the material world..."

She couldn't help but glance at Li Fan, thinking that such a highly cultivated individual chose to live here in seclusion, mixing with common people, sharing in the decay of plants and trees...

Perhaps this, truly was what it meant to earnestly cultivate the Dao?

"Come in."

At that moment, Li Fan had already opened the door and turned back to speak.

Yu Qishui and Wei Yushan both took a deep breath, feeling as though they were poor folk facing a resplendent great hall, somewhat at a loss!

They followed Li Fan inside.

"In this courtyard, the essence of the Dao is so rich, I feel I'm about to enter meditation."

Wei Yushan exclaimed in shock, sensing the shackles that hadn't loosened in many years suddenly showing a slight possibility of breaking.

This was too fearsome.

"Such a senior, yet he raises chickens, farms the land..."

In Mu Qianning's beautiful eyes, there was a clear sense of envy; all she sensed was nature and leisure.

How many cultivators throughout the world could possess the state of mind of this senior?

After Yu Qishui entered, confusion flickered in his eyes.

In this courtyard, every single plant and tree gave him an inexplicable, indescribable feeling!

He saw the earth chickens strutting around the yard, his brow furrowed tightly as if he was trying to make sense of something.

Just at that moment, one of the chickens in the flock suddenly glanced his way.

Boom!

At that instant, Yu Qishui felt as if he was facing an ancient ferocious beast, a cosmic demon. His mind buzzed, his dao heart nearly collapsed, sweat poured down, and he stumbled, almost falling to the ground!

Fortunately, Li Fan turned around in time and grabbed him, shaking his head and saying, "At such an old age, you can't even walk steadily, yet you insist on rushing about, it's indeed hard work."

The moment Li Fan's hand touched Yu Qishui, the terrifying pressure he faced vanished, and his spirit recovered in an instant!

With lingering fear, he saw that the earth chickens had already resumed pecking at the corn on the ground, paying him no attention.

Yu Qishui did not dare to look any longer, swiftly lowering his head and trembling!

Damn it, what kind of earth chickens were these that the senior kept?

The might of these earth chickens was even more terrifying than the famous fire beast in the Fire Nation Imperial Palace!

It was possible that the realm of these earth chickens was above the Hollow Void Realm...

Just who was this senior, really?

At that moment, he truly felt afraid, his gaze not daring to roam around any longer, fearful of attracting some formidable existence.

Fortunately, Li Fan quickly led them into the hall.

"I'm aware of the purpose of your visit."

Li Fan spoke indifferently.

Hearing this, Yu Qishui, Wei Yushan, and the others were all taken aback.

"Indeed, how could our intentions have escaped the perception of such a senior whose powers align with creation?"

But thinking this over, they all felt relieved, because in their eyes Li Fan's realm was simply too lofty.

"That stone, it happens to share some fate with me, having encountered it many times."

Li Fan continued to speak.

A surge of elation filled Yu Qishui's heart. The meaning in the senior's words was clear: he did indeed have some connection to the Lihuo Sect!

Could it be that an elder of the Lihuo Sect once had a relationship with this being?

That must be why he nonchalantly returned the Divine Water Stone to the Lihuo Sect, right?

"However, it's just that one stone alone."

Li Fan glanced at the three of them and said, "So you shouldn't think too much about it."

He thought to himself that he couldn't find another stone for them anyway, so Li Fan felt quite helpless.

But upon hearing his words, the three of them suddenly turned pale!

How could they not hear the warning in the senior's words? It was clear.

Just that one stone, they couldn't think too much about... it meant that the senior's connection with the Lihuo Sect was only that much!

They shouldn't hope for anything more...

Yu Qishui felt a bitter taste in his heart, very helpless, understanding that the more one was at Senior Li's level, the more one valued fate and causation. Since he had said this, they really should not have any more undue expectations...

Just now, he had been hoping to ask Senior Li to look after the Lihuo Sect...

Mu Qianning also felt a tinge of disappointment.

"However, it was not easy for you to come all the way here," said Li Fan, noticing the look of disappointment and discomfort on their faces, he couldn't bear it and said, "Have some tea and a simple meal before you go."

After speaking, he went to make tea for the three of them.

The elderly one was so hungry that he was frail, and could barely walk steadily. If they didn't have a meal before leaving, Li Fan really feared they might have an accident.

"Teacher..."

Wei Yushan looked towards Yu Qishui.

Yu Qishui shook his head and said, "Let it be. The senior helped us recover the Divine Water Stone and also helped Qian Ning reach Golden Core Perfection. He has already granted us a huge favor. We really shouldn't ask for anything more."

But Mu Qianning said, "Teacher, Senior Teacher, I feel that if Senior Li brought us here, it shouldn't be just to dispel our thoughts so simply..."

Yu Qishui paused upon hearing this, then suddenly his eyes lit up, "I've figured it out!"

"What have you figured out, Teacher?" Wei Yushan quickly asked.

"What did Senior Li say just now? He said it wasn't easy for us to come all the way, suggesting we have some food and drink before leaving... isn't this a sign that he is bestowing an opportunity upon us?!"

"Have you forgotten? After Qian Ning drank the senior's water, she reached Golden Core Perfection!"

His old eyes were filled with excitement!

A being as terrifyingly powerful as Senior Li, even a little something spilled from his fingertips was enough for them to benefit from for a lifetime!

Immediately, Wei Yushan and Mu Qianning were also filled with expectation!