Chapter 549: 521: Old Friends May Change

Chapter 549: Chapter 521: Old Friends May Change

“Sister Zhao…” Li Fan looked at Sister Zhao who was about to be summoned privately by the Sect Leader Ji. Her mysterious expression made him pause before speaking.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Junior Brother?” She glanced at Li Fan and in a soft voice said, “We’ve fought through life and death together for more than a hundred years, so what can’t we talk about openly?”

“Nothing.” Li Fan flashed a carefree smile. “Go ahead, Sister Zhao. No matter what you do, I will always support you.”

Sister Zhao grinned and walked into the Sect Main Hall.

“Boom!”

The heavy door slammed shut. As Li Fan watched Sister Zhao disappear from sight, a complex emotion, invisible to others, flashed in his eyes.

He didn’t stay honestly outside the Grand Hall to wait. Instead, he went back to Penglai Peak, where he and Sister Zhao resided, and ransacked all valuable items from the Cave Mansion.

Then he pretended to patrol around, arriving near the exit of the Sect Protection Great Array.

His actions seemed no different from ordinary disciples, but in reality, Li Fan was ready to flee at any moment.

His preparation to flee was not because he wanted to betray the Great Taoist Sect, but because…

During the hundred years at the foot of the mountain, Li Fan stumbled upon Sister Zhao secretly collecting blood samples from both cultivators and mortals afflicted with the [Immortal Plague].

Although she only took one drop each time, and did so very covertly…

How could these actions escape the eyes of Li Fan, someone who was always by her side?

In the beginning, Sister Zhao would get seriously ill after each collection of blood samples.

With Li Fan’s careful took after of her and the protection of a substantial amount of elixirs, she was able to recover.

When Li Fan asked her about why, Zhao responded jokingly, wanting to reverse the logic of the [Immortal Plague] and attain longevity directly.

Of course, Li Fan didn’t believe it.

However, he knew Sister Zhao’s character – once she made up her mind about something, even he, her Dao partner for a hundred years, won’t be able to convince her otherwise.

Hence, he didn’t try to dissuade her but just told her to consider her own health.

After a while, she appeared to have considered Li Fan’s advice, gradually slowing down her blood collection.

The intervals between illnesses shortened, and the symptoms of each infection lightened.

However, Li Fan knew that it was all an illusion.

Sister Zhao hadn’t given up on her radical actions.

Her seemingly normal state appeared to have been achieved because she was able to isolate the effects of the [Immortal Plague]…

Over the years, although they always stayed together, Sister Zhao’s cultivation had grown to a level that Li Fan couldn’t comprehend any longer.

The various aura unintentionally emitted from her body from time to time startled him.

Even though he was certain Sister Zhao meant him no harm, Li Fan still felt an inexplicable sense of danger.

Even though Sister Zhao didn’t speak it, Li Fan could guess that she collected so many blood samples containing the power of the [Immortal Plague] precisely to deal with Sect Leader Ji Changxi.

After enduring subtle oppression for over a hundred years, Sister Zhao’s dissatisfaction with Ji Changxi had reached its limit.

The idea goes: “Hinder my path, and we fight to the death”.

Li Fan believed it was not beyond reason for Sister Zhao, in her desperation, to commit such an unforgivable act.

When she entered the Sect Main Hall not long ago, there was an unmistakable trace of murderous intent in her eyes – it was not Li Fan’s imagination.

“Ji Changxi, although he has been on the Unity-Path for over six hundred years and has unfathomable Divine Techniques and Lessons, is not in the Immortal Realm.”

“Considering Sister Zhao’s talents and actual combat capability, plus the assistance of the [Immortal Plague], she might have a chance.”

“But so what if she wins? Apart from Ji Changxi, there are also more than ten Unity-Path Elders. And there are also the two Immortal Sovereigns who are in reclusion.”

“Does she think she can kill them all?”

Li Fan couldn’t understand why Sister Zhao would make such a decision.

Whether she succeeds or not, everyone in the Great Taoist Sect will find out.

When that happened, not only would she have to face the entire sect’s siege, he, Li Fan, being Sister Zhao’s Dao partner, probably wouldn’t escape unscathed either.

So, mindful of the future, Li Fan had prepared for flight long ago.

As for why he is not leaving now, he is merely hoping for a miracle to happen.

Time passed slowly.

Due to Ji Changxi’s earlier order that he and Zhao had an important matter to discuss, and no one should disturb them, the Sect Main Hall remained closed.

Li Fan watched from afar, his heart growing increasingly uneasy.

Seven days later.

The doors of the Grand Hall slowly opened, making Li Fan catch his breath.

Then to his surprise, both Ji Changxi, leading, and Sister Zhao, following, emerged from the hall.

“Did the two not fight to the death? Was I overthinking?” Startled, Li Fan squinted his eyes slightly.

Not only did the desperate fight he expected between Sister Zhao not take place, their relationship seemed to have improved substantially from before.

Just before Sister Zhao left, Ji Changxi patted her shoulder encouragingly.

She accepted it calmly, showing no trace of discomfort.

Seeing this, Li Fan felt a tremor in his heart, filled with confusion.

In the past, other than Li Fan himself, Sister Zhao was very opposed to physical contact with others.

But now…

Sensing something was wrong, a flood of thoughts filled Li Fan’s mind.

However, he didn’t have time to think through them.

Li Fan quickly realized there was something he had not yet done.

He hurried back to Penglai Peak, stowing everything back into its original position before Sister Zhao returned.

When Sister Zhao finally returned, she didn’t notice anything amiss in their Cave Mansion.

After all, they hadn’t been home for a hundred years.

“Sister Zhao, we’ve been outside for a hundred years, and it seems we haven’t been intimate for quite a while. Why don’t we…” Li Fan tested the waters and proposed a dual cultivation.

A hint of yearning flashed in Sister Zhao’s eyes, and she agreed gracefully, her expression charming.

After a passionate session, Li Fan’s earlier suspicion began to fade.

“What did the Sect Leader summon you for this time?” As he hugged Sister Zhao’s immaculate white jade body, Li Fan casually asked.

“He told me that he would soon pass on the position of Sect Leader of the Great Taoist Sect to me, and that I should prepare in advance.” Zhao responded indifferently, without any noticeable emotion.

It seemed as if the position she was about to inherit was not the head of one of the Immortal Dao Ten Clans, but a mere child’s plaything.

But this casual remark, from a seemingly uninterested Sister Zhao, sounded like a thunderclap in Li Fan’s ears. It shocked him so much that his brain echoed with the sound, temporarily losing the ability to think.

“And what about ‘The Scripture of the Great Way of Heaven’s Punishment’?” A dazed Li Fan subconsciously asked.

“Heehee, the Sect Leader’s exclusive techniques will naturally be handed down to me, of course, for my cultivation.” As if she had reclaimed her favourite toy, Sister Zhao stuck her head on Li Fan’s chest, her finger making circles around his heart area, and light-heartedly replied.