Who would have thought that Ancestor Ming Quan's expression would turn solemn at this moment, "Fellow Daoist Yuan, I won't lie, this Magic Treasure was specifically brought from the Sect to detect whether someone has cultivated the Nine Elements Technique. Now, there are two spirit lights within the Jade Ring, indicating that you have two strands of the Nine Elements Technique essence on you, the green represents Nascent Soul, the purple represents Returning Void."

Yuan Ming frowned instantly, realizing the bad omen.

With his current strength, being exposed wasn't much of an issue, but if the people from Chang Chun Temple were to find out that he had turned their missing Returning Void Ancestor into a Blood Slave, they would never let the matter rest.

"Back then, the affair with Qu Jiang was due to my unworthy disciple acting rashly, attacking Fellow Daoist without authority. I do not wish to argue with you about this now. However, please explain the strand of Returning to Void Stage Nine Elements Technique essence that you possess," Ancestor Ming Quan said earnestly.

"The one who cultivated the Nine Elements Technique to the stage of Returning Void has already been refined into a Puppet by the Undead Tree Demon. He was even directed by the Tree Demon to attempt to ambush us. Fortunately, I managed to subdue him using a Secret Technique, narrowly escaping with my life," Yuan Ming said, no longer concealing the truth.

"Indeed, our temple has records that three thousand years ago, an Elder San Jue ventured alone into the Three Immortals Island, only to vanish without a trace. According to your words, the one you subdued might indeed be him, and since the Magic Treasure could detect him, Elder San Jue must still be alive! I request you to return him immediately, so that our Chang Chun Temple can welcome back the ancestor!" Ancestor Ming Quan's eyes brightened.

"Heh, he offended me and was subdued by me after substantial effort. Chang Chun Temple wants to claim him back just by virtue of its name? How could there be such a good deal in this world!" Yuan Ming sneered.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, this is not about pride. I am aware you have made significant efforts. Once I'm back at the temple, I will surely speak favorable words for you, and perhaps once Elder San Jue recovers, he might even reward you. Moreover, it's a time of chaos, with the Wu Yue Sect rising from the ashes and causing unrest throughout Yunhuang. Our temple, as well as the people of the land, urgently need a great power at the Returning Void Stage to take charge of the Central Plains to resist the strength of the Wu Yue Sect. If Elder San Jue could be awakened by our temple, he could stabilize the Central Plains," Ancestor Ming Quan shook his head, speaking with significance and profundity.

"Heh, if Chang Chun Temple truly cared for the world, why would you, as a Nascent Soul Ancestor, not fight against the Wu Yue Sect and instead come to the East Sea? Could it be that you foresaw the attack on Fusang Island? In the end, it's all for your self-interest! Always moralizing, always using righteousness as an excuse, why should I comply with Chang Chun Temple's righteousness? Is it impossible for Elder San Jue in my possession to fight the Wu Yue Sect? They say the Wu Yue Sect aims to unite Yunhuang, but I see no difference between Chang Chun Temple and them!" Yuan Ming scoffed disdainfully.

In response to those words, Ancestor Ming Quan's face grew dark. He considered making a desperate move and attacking Yuan Ming directly but refrained due to Yuan Ming's formidable strength.

He was hiding inside Ni Mu's Space Treasure, merely hearing the situation secondhand, and knew little about what went on within the Three Immortals Island. But Yuan Ming's bold challenge to the Blood Demon Ancestor, as well as the fact that Elder San Jue had been defeated by Yuan Ming's hand, all reminded him that Yuan Ming, although seemingly just a Nascent Soul Early Stage Cultivator, was not an easy opponent to deal with.

The current situation actually required him to be wary of himself, as if Yuan Ming were to attack fiercely and kill him, it was unlikely anyone else would take action, and the matter of Elder San Jue might never reach Chang Chun Temple's ears.

With this thought, although Ancestor Ming Quan harbored deep resentment, he ultimately retreated without saying another word.

As for Yuan Ming, he indeed had contemplated killing Ancestor Ming Quan. However, unless he never used Elder San Jue's powers or killed everyone who had seen Elder San Jue's abilities, Chang Chun Temple would inevitably hear of it.

Given his current strength, he did not fear Chang Chun Temple that much. Furthermore, he was well aware that Ni Mu had released Ming Quan. If a conflict arose, it was hard to say whether Ni Mu would intervene.

After weighing the pros and cons, killing Ancestor Ming Quan didn't seem to be particularly beneficial. Moreover, Ming Quan wasn't the Blood Demon Ancestor, and there was no risk of letting a tiger return to its mountain. Yuan Ming's attention quickly shifted away from Chang Chun Temple and Ancestor Ming Quan, turning instead to worry about Wulu's situation.

At the same time that Yuan Ming was in conflict with Ancestor Ming Quan, elsewhere, Luo Qi, seeing the Blood Demon Ancestor escaping, collected the Daluo Chessboard with considerable irritation. His gaze swept around and finally landed on Wu Yuezhi.

Wu Yuezhi seemed to know he couldn't avoid the situation, and his expression imperceptibly shifted, revealing a glimpse of tiredness and guilt.

He looked up at Luo Qi, pursed his lips, and eventually stepped out from beside Ni Mu, bowing to Luo Qi.

"Master."

With just two simple words, Luo Qi's face darkened instantly, "You still have the face to call me that!"

Ni Mu had been focusing on the confrontation between Ancestor Ming Quan and Yuan Ming, but hearing the noise here, he immediately turned his head to look at Luo Qi.

Luo Qi noticed his gaze and his expression grew even worse, "Ni Mu, I haven't settled the score with you for the past incident. What, do you want to fight with me now?"

"I've said it many times. It was not my doing that my brother stole the Heavenly Star Chessboard, and besides, can't you see even now? With the Three Immortals Island completely under the control of the Undead Tree Demon, he did that for..." Ni Mu began with a frown.

"Elder brother!"

Wu Yuezhi interrupted Ni Mu, "No need to say more, no matter what, I let down master in this matter."

Unexpectedly, Luo Qi shook his head, "You think I am not aware of these things? Yuezhi has been raised by me since he was little; I know his thoughts better than you do."

"Then why do you..." Now it was Ni Mu's turn to be somewhat astonished.

"Three Immortals Island is a dangerous place, and even though there might be opportunities, I never intended to let Yuezhi enter. According to my original plan, he should be overseeing Blood Swallow Island by now. That way, even if something were to happen to me this time, the foundation and lineage of Blood Swallow Island wouldn't be affected. However, ever since he got mixed up with you, learned about the dangers pervasive throughout Three Immortals Island, and that nearly all who set foot on the island perish, he's been fixated on stealing the Heavenly Star Chessboard. His goal was to thwart me from refining the Daluo Chessboard and to venture onto Three Immortals Island alone."

Luo Qi said this with a curl of his lips, looking towards Wu Yuezhi, "To complete the Daluo, one must start with the Heavenly Star. You think you've fathomed its mysteries, but did you really think the Luo family, with its longstanding aspirations, would only prepare the materials for one refinement? After our ancestors mastered the technique of refining the Heavenly Star Chessboard long ago, countless bases for the chessboard were made as backups. Even if one were stolen, as long as the remaining materials were replenished, it's not difficult to refine another one."

Wu Yuezhi was somewhat surprised, yet also somewhat enlightened. No wonder, despite the theft of the Heavenly Star Chessboard, Luo Qi was still able to refine the Daluo Chessboard before Three Immortals Island opened.

"Since you know everything, why are you so angry now?" Ni Mu was even more puzzled.

"You still have the face to ask! Who was it that told me the true nature of Three Immortals Island years ago? And now, who brought him into this perilous place? I thought – Ni Mu, you might have great ambition and are ruthless in your methods – but deep down, you still valued brotherhood. But now, for your own purposes, you've brought Yuezhi into Three Immortals Island. Did you ever consider whether he was strong enough to face these dangers?" Luo Qi glared with furious eyes, and more spirit lights illuminated on the Daluo Chessboard in his hands.

"Master, please calm your anger. It's not big brother's fault; it was I who insisted on coming to Three Immortals Island to help him," Wu Yuezhi said, his eyes filled with even deeper guilt.

Luo Qi did not respond, his gaze swept over Wu Yuezhi's face, noticing the guilt there, as well as the pain hidden beneath it.

His eyes softened a bit, then filled with sorrow. After a long silence, he sighed deeply and put away the Daluo Chessboard.

"Enough, enough. From the moment you stole the Heavenly Star Chessboard, I knew you were a person with your own convictions. My arrangements might not necessarily be the best path for you. The sky's the limit, and in the end, you have to carve your own way. Just remember these two things," Luo Qi said with a stern face.

Seeing his familiar expression, Wu Yuezhi's eyes brightened again, "I am all ears for your teaching, Master."

Luo Qi glanced at Ni Mu irritably, "Your current strength is not enough for your brother's ambition. If you still want to follow him, you must advance to the Nascent Soul within five years. Otherwise, I'll drag you back to Blood Swallow Island for closed-door cultivation."

"Yes, your disciple will keep this in mind," Wu Yuezhi nodded vigorously.

"And remember to come back and visit when you have time," Luo Qi said with a smile.

Wu Yuezhi was stunned for a moment, and his eyes seemed to well up with tears.

Ni Mu, watching from the side, couldn't help showing a slight smile.

Yet, despite having reconciled with Wu Yuezhi, Luo Qi still gave Ni Mu a cold look. After snorting disdainfully, he left. Ni Mu didn't take it to heart, and after exchanging a few words with Wu Yuezhi, he turned to leave as well.

What he didn't notice was that Wu Yuezhi, whose face had just been full of emotion, suddenly stiffened as Ni Mu turned away. In his tear-filled eyes, strands of gray smoke began to rise.

Not far away, Ancestor Ming Quan took a step back for the moment, giving Yuan Ming a chance to breathe. Although he had been in the middle of a dispute, he had heard Luo Qi and the others talking.

Yuan Ming wasn't particularly interested in the bygones of Luo Qi and the others, but seeing Ni Mu involved, he suddenly remembered that Ancestor Ming Quan had been released by him. There must be some deal between them, right?

However, it seemed like Ancestor Ming Quan was not aware of Ni Mu's identity as the Wu Yue Sect Venerable; otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned in front of Yuan Ming that Chang Chun Temple was preparing to act against Wu Yue Sect.

But then again, considering what happened at Shura Palace, whether Ni Mu was truly loyal to Wu Yue Sect was also questionable. The deal between him and Ancestor Ming Quan, whether it was instructed by Wu Yue Sect or just for his own personal gain, was hard to say.

As Yuan Ming pondered the complex relationships between these matters, Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow flew over.

"Is everything settled between you all now?" It shone brightly with golden light.

Yuan Ming came to his senses and bowed to Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow, "Thank you for your assistance after several battles, Elder."

"Ah, enough of that. If we really get down to it, I should be thanking you all. Without you, the Lank Chessboard and I really couldn't have done much against the Undead Tree Demon," Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow shook its bow body, seeming particularly pleased.

"We were also fighting for our own survival," Yuan Ming said with a smile.

Hou Yi's Sun Shooting Bow was nonchalant, "Either way, you've helped me greatly, and as the Golden Sunflower Immortal once said, when you're helped by others, you must give appropriate rewards, otherwise karma will haunt you and sooner or later, you'll face big trouble. However, I don't have much I can offer now. I thought about it and there's only one thing that all of you would want."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces showed curiosity, wondering what it was that he was referring to.

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