The people in the room looked at each other tacitly, and they all felt that the young patriarch was probably beyond saving.
The two girls, one big and one small, laughed and played for a while, and even the atmosphere in the room became much more relaxed. The middle-aged man and Yuan Bailang were both elders. Looking at how lively they were, they looked at each other and revealed helpless and doting smiles.
The one with the highest cultivation level in this team is Yuan Bailang. Previously, the spies from Biluo Mansion reported that there was a strong man in the fusion stage among these people. He was the one they were talking about. In fact, this person called Uncle Bai has a cultivation level of the seventh level of fusion.
Moreover, his surname is Yuan, and he is the younger brother of Yuan Hongli's father and Yuan Hongli's uncle. The middle-aged man is an old minister who followed Yuan Kaiji in his early years. However, due to serious hidden injuries in his body, his cultivation level regressed to the peak of the refining void level, so he could only act as a guard.
This Xi He also has the surname Yuan and is Yuan Hongli's cousin. She is well versed in the geography, customs and feng shui of Zhongzhou. Most of the credit goes to her for finding the location of the secret realm of Nirvana.
These people are all people with profound cultivation and no ulterior motives, otherwise how could Yuan Kaiji feel at ease letting his granddaughter go to Zhongzhou.
The reason they came out this time was because Yuan Hongli's grandfather, Yuan Kaiji, the patriarch of the Fuso clan, was assassinated by a traitor in the clan not long ago, and the handwriting of the saint who carried the truth was stolen. Although the traitor was killed in the end, the injury to Yuan Kaiji's soul palace was deepened again, and his life span was shortened again.
The Fuso people were in a panic, and Yuan Hongli had no choice but to do something with little hope, hoping that the illusory phoenix could save her grandfather.
The reason why Yuan Kaiji agreed and sent these people to accompany him was not without the intention of keeping Yuan Hongli away from disputes. After all, there might be more than one traitor. He could only hold on for another fifty years, but he still had to deal with internal and external troubles. He already felt overwhelmed.
Yuan Hongli was about to give up, but unexpectedly, there was a ray of hope and she received a note from Liu Yuan.
"You guys should step back first."
From outside the door came the voice of the beautiful woman named Su Lanfeng, the deputy leader of this branch temple who had been here not long ago, followed by the sound of the guards leaving.
The graceful middle-aged woman stepped into the room, smiled at the few people, then respectfully stepped aside and whispered, "Please come and protect the Dharma."
Yuan Hongli's heart skipped a beat and she looked over hastily, but she saw a completely unfamiliar man, dressed in black, with white hair and a tall figure. He walked into the door with a bit of wind and rain chill, his clothes fluttering slightly, his demeanor extraordinary, only the gentle smile in his eyes was exactly the same as it was then.
Chapter 294 Hmm? Brother-in-law?
As soon as Liu Yuan entered the room, he saw Yuan Hongli slightly raising her head and looking at him.
The woman had eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn water, and a pointed jaw on her fair face, which always gave people a feeling of pitiful weakness. However, her tightly pursed lips gave her a sense of toughness. She had slender shoulders and a thin waist, and a wide, thick red cloak trimmed with a circle of white fluff, which made her look particularly slender.
No matter how you look at it, she looks like a weak beauty, but she dared to confront Xie Qian at the beginning.
Four months later, Liu Yuan met the young chief of the Fuso tribe again, but he felt as if he was in a different world.
He traveled through time from having nothing to now preparing to use the power of the Biluo Mansion and the Demon Cult to weaken the power of the three halls of the Yuxu Taoist Sect, kill a few immortals, and send Ling Yao to the throne of the head sect.
In his eyes, the largest sect in Central Continent could be manipulated at his will with just a little effort. He could change the world at his will.
No one else in the world could do it, because according to the original trajectory, there was no one who could easily make the Demon Cult and the Biluo Mansion unite, make the seven major sects spontaneously impeach the Yuxu Taoist Sect for him, and make the Zhanhai Tower send envoys to come specifically.
As long as Liu Yuan is willing, as long as he can handle his hundred or so illustrations, he can integrate all the forces in Zhongzhou at will. This is his power.
In fact, if the three Yuxu halls on the Hualing River had not suddenly launched an attack, and Huang Quan had not personally intervened, he might have just been a guest in the Yuxu Taoist sect, and by the way, he would have checked on Lingyu and his cheap disciple, reported his safety to Wanjian City and Shuiyuewu, and then set off for Beifu in a few months.
He and the Yuxu Taoist sect might be able to live in peace, and he might even help the Yuxu Taoist sect by revealing some secret locations that he knew of that had not yet been opened, and using Jiange and other sects that could be contacted as a foundation to consolidate Yuxu's position.
But there is no such easy thing in this world that others will do what you think. Often, these people like to go against the grain.
Therefore, Liu Yuan, who was unfortunately killed, had no choice but to break up the Yuxu Taoist Sect and rebuild it into the largest sect in Zhongzhou that he needed, instead of the original corrupt sect that was accustomed to internal strife.
Liu Yuan let out a long sigh, as if through the glance he exchanged with Yuan Hongli, he had crossed over the past four months and saw himself who had recklessly and ignorantly entered this world and the scenes that followed.
From this perspective, he is now more determined about his goals, or his resolution when facing Ling Yao's three questions.
If you want to have a harem, you must first have enough ability and power to protect them, and use your own strength to make them rely on you, instead of living off them and being powerless when your women get into trouble!
As soon as Liu Yuan had this thought, he felt that the soul that he had just cultivated in his body became more solid under the induction of Qi. The overflowing essence that had not had time to be consolidated after the dual cultivation was absorbed by the soul. As the spiritual power circulated, it suddenly broke through the threshold of the second stage of the transformation of the soul.
The spiritual power flowed through the meridians like mercury, so smoothly that it made the whole body feel comfortable, saving Liu Yuan at least a week of hard training.
This thought actually showed a hint of divine inspiration.
Is this the legendary sudden enlightenment of mind?
Liu Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Back then at the Ming Sword Conference, he had complained about Ling Yu's ease in breaking through the realm, as he could achieve a breakthrough with just one realization. But now it was his turn.
But at this moment, in front of so many people, and there were also unfamiliar people present, Liu Yuan could not show his inner surprise. He paused and simply stood there waiting for the spiritual power fluctuations that would break through the realm to end.
Su Lanfeng, who was about to help guide him to his seat, was bewildered for a moment. She felt the fluctuations of Liu Yuan's spiritual power, and it took her a while to come to her senses - this, this is a breakthrough? !
Su Lanfeng was a cultivator in the fusion stage. He was born as a killer in the Biluo Mansion and had been an undercover elder in the Demon Cult. He had lived for a long time, but he was stunned for a moment and felt shocked.
I've never seen this before! I've never seen this before. Who has ever seen this scene?
Breakthroughs can be achieved while walking silently, and a small realm can be crossed the moment one crosses the threshold.
Su Lanfeng now understood why the Palace Lord made him the only designated guardian. With such talent and courage, could it be that he was being trained by the next Palace Lord?
Although Liu Yuan looked very calm, out of duty as a subordinate, Su Lanfeng still asked cautiously: "Protector, are you okay?"
Liu Yuan took a breath and restrained the aura around him. He smiled and said, "It's okay. I just happened to break through."
Just right? I don't believe you!
Everyone present was secretly complaining in their hearts. As they were all people with cultivation experience, they could easily sense that the aura emanating from Liu Yuan when he just came in was extremely intimidating and sharp, and it was definitely someone who had just made a breakthrough not long ago.
And he broke through again right in front of them not long after he broke through. Yuan Bailang thought about it in his mind and realized that this person might have forcibly suppressed the last hurdle when he broke through before, and deliberately waited until this moment, and then broke through in front of them, in order to achieve the purpose of showing his power!
What a deep mind! What a great courage!
It seems that even his own subordinates were frightened. This subordinate's cultivation is higher than his, so he must have some other relationship to be able to command this person. Now, it is likely that Su Lanfeng has no ulterior motives. It is a good way to kill two birds with one stone.
No... maybe there is a third sculpture.
Yuan Bailang turned his head and saw that his young patriarch was looking at Liu Yuan with a strange look in his eyes. They even felt a spark flying when their eyes met.
Liu Yuan stepped forward and said, "Miss Yuan, long time no see."
Yuan Hongli nodded and said softly, "Well, long time no see."
She felt a little disappointed and a little relieved. It was Miss Yuan instead of Young Clan Leader, but it was not a more intimate title either. But that was okay too, as it showed that the other party was not a frivolous and reckless person. She then introduced the people behind her to him one by one.
Liu Yuan just felt that the woman in front of him was very close, probably because he had met her not long after traveling through time. He had a kind of intimacy as if "meeting an old friend in a foreign land", so his attitude became very gentle.
When Xi He saw this, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Although she was teasing Sister Hongli all the time, she was actually testing him because she was afraid that her young clan leader had been deceived and fell into some evil trap. There were many such stories in Zhongzhou where the simple and kind-hearted young clan leader was deceived both physically and mentally. She would never let the young clan leader follow in his footsteps!
Now he felt relieved, but the other party seemed to be emotional but polite. He only admired the young patriarch and had no romantic feelings towards him. This made it difficult.
Xi He blinked his eyes, looked left and right hesitantly, and muttered, "Sister Hongli, you can't control me now. I was just saying that I would complain to my brother-in-law, and now he's here."
"Hmm?" Liu Yuan heard Ling Yao following behind him say, "Brother-in-law?"
Chapter 295 Liu Yuan's Thousand-Layered Routine
Ling Yao asked suddenly from behind, causing Liu Yuan to subconsciously feel a little nervous.
But on second thought, he and Yuan Hongli really had no relationship. They only met once, and when they first met, they were almost hostile to each other because they both went to ask for Xie Qian's scroll.
Although he gave the girl a scroll because she was pretty, it was just pure admiration and there was no communication between the two parties. Until now, this was only their second meeting.
If there really was some shameful affair, it could only be that the girl fell in love with him at first sight, dreamed of him every day, and now she is determined to marry him and is deeply infatuated with him.
Think about it, think about it carefully, is this possible?
A young patriarch of the Fuso tribe, who is a princess of a country and pampered by everyone, is actually throwing herself at a strange man whom she has only met once?
Obviously, this is impossible.
Therefore, the little girl in front of him who didn't know the truth must have misunderstood something, or was just joking.
Thinking of this, Liu Yuan felt much more at ease. His expression remained unchanged and he calmly asked, "Brother-in-law?"
The hint of doubt in his eyes, almost questioning, was so genuine, and the slight confusion was reflected in his slightly furrowed brows, fully demonstrating the professionalism of an innocent passerby.
At this moment, the best strategy is to remain unchanged in the face of ever-changing situations.
As the saying goes, a man of integrity fears no slander. There is nothing wrong between him and Yuan Hongli, so there is no need to worry about a sudden Shura scene.
Ling Yao was originally suspicious, but Liu Yuan's natural doubt came from the heart, which made her look at the girl again.
Su Lanfeng, who was standing next to him, watched his nose with her eyes and his heart with her nose. Having been an undercover agent in the Demon Cult for decades, she knew very well that it was the principle of listening more and talking less. At this time, it was obviously the private matter of the Protector, so it would be better for her to just be a wooden stake with no sense of existence.
But she was secretly complaining in her heart. No wonder they had to call the young clan leader directly. So this was the relationship between them... But the person behind him seemed to be the guard of the Holy Envoy. He seemed to be particularly concerned about Protector Zhu's private life.
The Dharma Protector is worthy of being the Dharma Protector. His debts of love are much more and more serious than those of others.
A faint blush quickly spread across Yuan Hongli's face. She quickly pulled the girl in front of her back and said, "Xihe, don't talk nonsense! Mr. Hufa and I are just friends who know each other."
She didn't know Liu Yuan's current situation, so she could only cautiously continue to use Su Lanfeng's address.
Xi He's mouth was covered and she whimpered a few times, shaking her head with a look of begging for mercy. Yuan Hongli was so anxious that she warned her with her eyes that if the situation did not allow it, she would probably use her weak little pink fists to beat her cousin.
Xi He nodded quickly, and was then released. He hid behind the middle-aged man, made a little face, and then quickly disappeared. Only a small voice was heard saying, "Even the tokens of love were exchanged, how can the relationship be just ordinary friends!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned. Not only Yuan Hongli was stunned, but Liu Yuan was especially confused.
Wait, wait, wait, when will the tokens of love be exchanged?
Liu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then realized that this was probably referring to the exchange of the Golden Crow True Yang and the scroll at that time. However, how could this be equated with the exchange of a token of love? This little girl was clearly making trouble.
This is not the time to joke. He had just told Ling Yao that he had nothing to do with Yuan Hongli, but now he's calling her "brother-in-law" and "token of love". I'm afraid even ghosts wouldn't believe what he said.
Liu Yuan could only apologize to Yuan Hongli in his heart, and then snorted coldly: "Little girl, if you really want to say that, the one who exchanged with me should be Yuan Kaiji. What, your clan leader and I are having an affair?"
The little girl's insolence reminded him that he must not destroy his own image now.
In this situation, his external image is that of a cold and vicious killer from the Biluo Mansion and Huang Quan's personal protector. He cannot suddenly become close to the young patriarch of the Fuso tribe. Instead, he should act as if he puts interests first.
...and keeping this distance can make Ling Yao less suspicious and worried.
There are also fewer chances of darkening.
He called Yuan Kaiji by his full name, which made the faces of the Fuso people change slightly. Yuan Hongli was also slightly startled, probably because he felt that Xihe's words annoyed him, so he was about to step forward to apologize.
Liu Yuan waved his hand impatiently, strode to the seat at the head, and said in a cold voice: "Okay, I didn't call you here to reminisce about the past. There is no need to hold a grudge against you. No matter what you are here for, if you want to get the address of Zhenhuang, you need to answer a few questions for me."
His aura changed and he seemed moody.
He was speaking gently just now, but now he is sneering and mocking at a child's words, and his words are full of cold interests.
Xi He hid behind the middle-aged man and felt like a bucket of cold water was poured on him. He looked at Yuan Hongli helplessly, feeling that he might have done something bad.
Yuan Hongli subconsciously thought that Liu Yuan was harmless and was about to nod, but was suddenly interrupted by Yuan Bailang, whose face was covered with knife marks. The latter said in a deep voice: "May I ask how many questions you have? Which questions are they? And... how can you guarantee that the address of the True Phoenix you know is the real Phoenix Nest?"
Several other Fuso tribe members also came back to their senses from the atmosphere just now, and gradually formed an impression of the young man in front of them. It was different from the image described by the young patriarch, and it was more real and realistic.
Liu Yuan felt relieved and very satisfied. This was right. With this kind of relationship where everyone got what they needed, there wouldn't be any trouble.
He sensed it briefly and found that the senior sister behind him looked stunned, but she definitely didn't think that he had any relationship with Yuan Hongli.
"The questions I want to ask are very simple. First, why are you looking for the Phoenix? Second, what are you going to do after you find the Phoenix? Third, what is the current situation in the Fusang Sea?"
Liu Yuan continued, "As for how I can guarantee that the Nirvana secret realm I found is real, I will not hide it from you. I have lost a lot of my lifespan for some reasons, so I can say that I am going to die soon. If I don't find the Phoenix Blood, I will age and die quickly in no time."
Yuan Hongli exclaimed in surprise, looked at his head full of white hair and murmured, "How could it be..."
Yuan Bailang nodded and said, "I see. You need Phoenix Blood more than we do, so you can't find a fake one to deceive us. I roughly understand. You want to learn about the situation in the Fuso Sea through us, and this is the price we need to pay."
It is dangerous to let a Central Plains person know the current situation of Fuso Sea, but they have no choice now.
Yuan Bailang was silent for a long time, then began to talk about the current situation in Fuso Sea and why they came to look for Phoenix blood.
This is really a long story. After Yuan Bailang answered the three questions, he suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid that we will hold you hostage, threaten you and force you to hand over the Phoenix Blood? You are only at the Spiritual Transformation Stage. At this moment, you are only three steps away from me. If I want to, the person behind you can't stop me."
Behind Liu Yuan is naturally Ling Yao.
Liu Yuan smiled faintly and said, "You won't. Yuan Kaiji is cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and Miss Yuan is gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. They are both upright and sincere people. If you can protect her by her side, they naturally can't be people with despicable means. What's more... Mr. Yuan is wrong."
Yuan Bailang looked at him: "What did I see wrong?"
Before he finished speaking, his pupils suddenly shrank. The aura of the young man sitting at the top in front of him, who was originally in the Spirit Transformation Stage, suddenly changed and increased several times. He was actually in the Fusion Stage!
Liu Yuan said: "I am a timid person. If I don't have the strength, I naturally wouldn't dare to sit so close to you."
Chapter 296: The Biggest and Worst Freeloader in Upper Central Realm
Yuan Bailang stood up suddenly, stared at Liu Yuan in silence for a long while, and then slowly said: "I see... Now I know why my father thinks so highly of you."
He sat down again, and the way he looked at Liu Yuan was completely different.
Before, he only regarded Liu Yuan as a young man with some status and means, who had done favors for Yuan Kaiji, but now, he completely regarded him as a strong man of the same level. There is a world of difference between the two.
If he could have doubted and disbelieved before, he would also casually utter threatening words, all because he felt that the other party had some characteristics of a gigolo, not only because he was concerned about his niece, but also the woman behind him.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the woman behind him was very powerful, but she followed him as a guard. And judging from her behavior and her previous suspicion of the word "brother-in-law", she must have a close relationship with him. One's first reaction was to guess that this woman was in love with him and was willing to protect him.
Otherwise, if he dared to be so arrogant when he was only in the Spirit Transformation Stage, it would seem a bit presumptuous.
