Another three months passed. The summer solstice arrived.
The peaks of Western Kunlun were still blanketed in white snow. The snow on the mountains never melted, and the blood clouds overhead never dispersed. Red and white reflected one another, like blood covering bones, giving an inexplicable impression of gore and uncanny evil.
Kunlun Summit, Blood God Palace.
"How did Li Yuanhua respond?"
The Blood God Child sat cross-legged on a blood-jade bed and asked. Bloodlight flickered all around him, surging like something baring its fangs and claws. There was no telling what demonic art he was cultivating now.
"He wouldn't be persuaded."
Below the steps leading to the blood-jade bed, Li Yingqiong stood solemnly, her back straight, her figure like a longsword. She shook her head and answered,
"Li Yuanhua is deeply favored by Xun Lanyin. Before Qi Lingyun and Qi Jinchan were born, she practically treated him as her own son, so he holds Miaoyi and his wife in the highest esteem. Besides, he has now entered the Fourth Realm, and his standing in the sect has risen again. He is enjoying his success. Although he did look after me for a time, I couldn't persuade him."
Deng Yin merely nodded at this, seemingly unconcerned, and said,
"There's no hurry. Set it aside for now, but don't give up entirely. He used to be treated as their own son, but now they have children of their own. That leaves a gulf between then and now. From what I've seen, Li Yuanhua is narrow-minded but highly ambitious. The Fourth Realm alone probably won't satisfy him. If some friction develops between him and the Qi Household later, we can still make use of him."
"I understand."
Li Yingqiong answered, then volunteered,
"Among the previous generation of Emei disciples, the Seven Flyers