"Silly boy, what are you shouting for? Haven't I come back?"
When Li Chen returned with the ring, he caught Xia Ziyi anxiously searching the entire room for the Bronze Ring and spoke with an amused chuckle.
Xia Ziyi was overjoyed to see him, but also deeply ashamed. "I'm sorry, Elder Bai. I misunderstood you."
Li Chen said, "It wasn't your fault. Those people from the Immortal Alliance simply came too suddenly."
Xia Ziyi asked, "Elder Bai, aren't those people from the Immortal Alliance righteous cultivators? Why did you hide from them?"
Li Chen said, "Enemies can be righteous or wicked. Do you remember what I told you before?"
Xia Ziyi exclaimed in surprise, "So they're the enemies who harmed you!"
Li Chen said with a smile, "They aren't worthy of being my enemies, but they have a Great Power backing them. I'll yield for now. All right, this has nothing to do with you. You're a child; don't concern yourself with so much."
He gave those words added emphasis, imprinting the power of suggestion upon the boy's mind.
Xia Ziyi nodded, only half understanding. "I understand."
Li Chen considered for a while, then said, "They only just inspected you. They probably won't have time to pay you any more attention for a while. This is the perfect opportunity to advance and leap into the ranks of this city's few true experts."
Xia Ziyi was delighted. "Elder Bai, is that really true? You're finally willing to let me advance! Actually, I've felt for a long time that my foundations were sufficient. Even taking a Foundation Establishment Pill directly wouldn't be a problem."
Li Chen said, "And isn't that all thanks to my tireless efforts, personally reshaping your sinews and cleansing your meridians to improve your root bone? Ordinary people would