An Yi smiled. "Of course, if you really want to keep that little bit of fire energy you have left, it isn't entirely impossible. But you'll have to do me a favor."
Liu Qing froze, watching him warily. "What favor?"
An Yi pointed at the vast forest. "You just said the Great Elder gathered experts from all the Inner Academy's factions to hunt me down. But this forest is so big, and they're buzzing around like headless flies. They might never find me."
"And if I openly reveal my position and draw them all here, with dozens of Dou Lings attacking at once, I won't have room to maneuver. I might not be able to hold back. If I accidentally cripple a few of them and break the academy's rules, that could cause trouble."
"So, for everyone's safety, I'll trouble you to lend a hand and lure them here in batches."
An Yi looked at the dumbstruck Liu Qing, his smile growing ever brighter. "Once I've placed the same Seal on all of them and made sure they can't resist, I'll remove your Seals immediately! And you won't need to pay me any more fire energy afterward."
"What do you think? Better a fellow cultivator dies than this poor Daoist-use their fire energy to keep yourselves safe. That's a pretty good deal, isn't it?"
Liu Qing's expression froze completely. "Would you listen to yourself?!"
If he really did what An Yi said and screwed over every faction in the Inner Academy, what would that make him?!
The Inner Academy's public enemy?!
Would there be any place left for him in the Inner Academy?
He would probably have to sleep with one eye open to avoid being assassinated!
An Yi raised an eyebrow, the smile slowly fading from his face.