Central Region, Langya Pavilion

"Just carry out your original plan," Xiao Han said. "Where were you planning to withdraw to?"

"Wutan City." Worried that Xiao Han might not know it, Xiao Zhan added, "It's an extremely remote little city. The factions inside are only average in strength, so it perfectly meets the requirements."

"Good. Also, after Xiao Lin wakes up, don't let news that he's still alive spread. Tell him to hide his identity," Xiao Han instructed. "Make your preparations first and wait for me to return."

"Yes."

Seeing that everyone in the Xiao Clan was filled with fighting spirit, Xiao Han left in satisfaction.

The information Xiao Han had given today was partly what he had investigated, and partly what he had known all along.

Saying it this way was meant to put enough pressure on them, to make them broaden their horizons and stop causing trouble over this tiny patch of land.

Above the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Han spread out his Soul Strength, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Found you!"

Space instantly twisted, and Xiao Han stepped inside.

He had come here for no other reason than to seek out the overlord of this mountain range—the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

At this moment, the Amethyst Winged Lion King was still only a Tier 6 Intermediate Magical Beast, lazily basking in the sun in front of his cave.

"What a pleasant life," the Amethyst Winged Lion King sighed. In his long beast life, aside from slaughter, sunbathing was one of his few pleasures.

Suddenly, a white-clothed man walked out of the space before him.

"Hello there!"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King shot to his feet, trembling all over. "I didn't know a senior had graced me with your presence. What guidance might you have? I, Old Zi, will tell you everything I know, hold nothing back, work like an ox or a horse, and spare no effort..."

The corner of Xiao Han's mouth twitched. He was actually this cowardly!

It was no wonder the Amethyst Winged Lion King was so quick to obey his instincts. The bloodline inheritance within him told him that if he encountered this person before him, he should immediately bow his head and submit, not flee, and absolutely not resist.

Forget it. Xiao Han gave up.

"I came to ask you for a favor..."

"No problem. Senior, just give the order. I, Old Zi, won't say a word against it." As he spoke, he patted his chest with a paw in guarantee.

"..."

"As compensation, I..."

"No compensation needed. It is an immense honor to work for Senior. How could I possibly accept a reward?" the Amethyst Winged Lion King hurriedly stopped him.

Damn it, he's testing me! Good thing I'm smart and quick-witted!

The Amethyst Winged Lion King laughed smugly in his heart.

Looking at the Amethyst Winged Lion King's somewhat sleazy smile, Xiao Han had no idea what he had imagined on his own.

He simply stated his price. "One Transformation Pill."

The Amethyst Winged Lion King immediately became conflicted. On one hand, he was worried this was a test, and that if he agreed, the powerful expert before him would directly take his magical core. On the other hand, he truly needed this pill...

For a moment, the Amethyst Winged Lion King sank into hesitation, glancing at Xiao Han from time to time.

Xiao Han could not take it anymore. With a toss of his hand, a Jade Bottle appeared in front of the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

"Hurry up and take it. Stop dawdling!"

The Lion King was overjoyed. "Yes."

He opened it and took a look, sensing it for a moment. "That's right."

Only then did he remember that there was still a big shot here, and he respectfully said, "What orders does Senior have?"

A contract appeared in front of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. At first, his expression turned solemn, thinking that the person before him wanted to make him his servant.

But after he finished reading all of it, he happily signed it at once.

There was no other reason. The contents of this contract were simply a benefit package.

All he needed to do was regularly provide large quantities of Medicinal Herbs and secretly arrange for magical beasts to protect certain humans.

For him, as the boss of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, this was just a matter of moving his mouth.

Not only could he obtain a scroll of an Earth Rank Cultivation Method, he could also receive pills from time to time.

He had even latched onto the thigh of a peak expert just like that.

He had originally thought today would be a calamity, but he had never expected it to be an opportunity instead. This round was pure benefits.

But after signing, the Amethyst Winged Lion King did react, and he asked cautiously, "May I ask, Senior, why you would offer such favorable conditions? Even if you directly used force..."

"That's none of your concern. Just do what's written in the contract." Before he could finish, Xiao Han cut him off.

Just as the Amethyst Winged Lion King had said, with Xiao Han's strength, he could absolutely have forced the Amethyst Winged Lion King to sign a master-servant contract, rather than this contract that resembled a partnership.

It would have achieved the same goal. But this involved Xiao Han's principles in handling matters.

Perhaps because his strength had grown too quickly, Xiao Han had never had to worry about cultivation resources, and his Cultivation Techniques and Combat Skills had been directly maxed out.

Though there had been hardships along his path of growth, it had mostly been smooth sailing.

Having never taken too much of society's beating, Xiao Han still leaned more toward the ways of his previous life when it came to dealing with people.

Under normal circumstances, he upheld equal exchange and would never use his cultivation to pressure others or bully the weak.

Of course, that did not include those who maliciously provoked him. Xiao Han would make those people understand exactly why flowers were so red.

On the survival-of-the-fittest Dou Qi Continent, this was practically a breath of fresh air.

It was precisely because of Xiao Han's way of doing things that his reputation across the continent had always been quite good. Others were generally happy to befriend him.

"After this, wait for me to send you a message. Then the transaction will begin."

"Yes."

After resolving matters in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Han prepared to return to his own faction—Central Region, Langya Pavilion.

Thinking of the figure waiting for him at Langya Pavilion, Xiao Han could not help but smile.

Central Region, Langya Pavilion.

As a faction founded by the former wandering cultivator and Peak Dou Zun Ice Saint, Langya Pavilion had always been the first choice for wandering cultivators who wished to join a force.

Ice Saint was immensely powerful, yet he never bullied the weak. He was even strict in his demands of the disciples under him.

Because of this, Langya Pavilion had an excellent reputation throughout the Central Region. At the same time, compared to the factional struggles, infighting, and suppression within many forces, Langya Pavilion's atmosphere was relatively harmonious. Though there was competition, most of it was healthy. Because of that, it had also attracted quite a few experts who wished to enjoy their later years in peace.

Although the disappearance of Langya Pavilion Master Ice Saint a hundred years ago had caused the faction to suffer great losses, through the efforts of its many guest elders and the disciples of Langya Pavilion, they had managed to preserve this foundation.

Recently, however, everyone in Langya Pavilion had been extremely excited, for no other reason than that their Pavilion Master, Ice Saint, was about to return.

"Hurry up, work properly, arrange it a bit more neatly..."

"A little over there, yes, yes, yes..."

"I'm telling you, Pavilion Master is about to return. The welcoming ceremony has to be prepared properly. No slacking off."

"Do you hear me?" A young disciple was directing a group of junior brothers and sisters as they decorated the entrance and arranged the venue.

"Yes!"

The oppression accumulated over many years had all been released during this period.

Even the elders, whose faces had once been gloomy, were now all smiling cheerfully.

And right now, many elders were craning their necks in anticipation, a hint of anxiety mixed into their expectation.

At the very front stood a beautiful woman in a ruqun, her bearing elegant and her face filled with joy. It was none other than Langya Pavilion's Deputy Pavilion Master, Yi Huang, a Five Star Dou Zun.

"Deputy Pavilion Master, the Pavilion Master is arriving today, right?" The one asking was none other than Langya Pavilion's Grand Elder, Ye Jianxin—Ice Saint's sworn brother, an Eight-Star Dou Zun.

Yi Huang glanced at him. "Don't worry. He said it would be today.

Old Ye, you've asked more than ten times in half a day. Are you that anxious?"

Hearing this, Ye Jianxin said, "How could I not be anxious? He's been missing for a hundred years."

"Relax. He said he was only trapped in a secret realm, that's all. Isn't that very common?" As she spoke, a faint blush appeared on Yi Huang's face, and she said mysteriously, "And he said there's also a surprise waiting for us."

"Oh?" This made Ye Jianxin look forward to it. There was no other reason—Xiao Han had never disappointed anyone.

"Are things finally about to work out between you two?" Seeing the joy on Yi Huang's face, Ye Jianxin teased her.

As Xiao Han's brother, he could be said to have been unbearably anxious about the matter between Yi Huang and Xiao Han.

His own child was already a Dou Wang, yet his brother was still a bachelor. How could he not be anxious?

Especially since Xiao Han was such a dull gourd, refusing to understand no matter what. Yi Huang, too, was deeply devoted to Xiao Han, hanging herself from this one crooked tree.

She had even held Langya Pavilion for him for a hundred years without receiving the slightest bit of news.

As one of the only two people who knew Xiao Han's secret, he also understood the misgivings in Xiao Han's heart.

But if even this did not lead to any result, Ye Jianxin might very well disregard their brotherly bond and draw his sword to chop someone down.