Seeing Yelan about to summon the Red Lotus Karmic Flame to strike Hei Zhe, Zhao Li quickly grabbed her wrist and transmitted her voice in a thread only Yelan could hear:
“Lan Lan, don’t hurt him! He’ll be useful to me later.”
The Red Lotus Karmic Flame unleashed by the purest Asura bloodline was terrifyingly powerful. If it had struck Hei Zhe, he would have been either dead or crippled.
Even if Yelan had killed Hei Zhe today, the Spirit Cat Clan wouldn’t dare seek retribution against the Asura Clan. They could only swallow their grievances in silence.
But a fully intact pawn could obviously serve Zhao Li much better.
Hearing this, Yelan withdrew the Red Lotus Karmic Flame.
The Evergreen Elder hurriedly stepped forward to mediate. “All of you are honored guests of the Flower-Fruit Mountain. Let’s not spoil the harmony. I’m certain Prince Hei Zhe never meant to trouble Princess Zhao Li, nor would he ever dare to oppose the Asura Clan.”
Hei Zhe, as if grasping at a lifeline, nodded frantically and forced an ingratiating smile. “Yes, yes! Just as the Evergreen Elder said, I—I was merely in a hurry and accidentally bumped into Princess Zhao Li. I would never dare offend the Asura Clan’s esteemed guest!”
He was quick-witted enough to drop his usual “this prince” in front of Yelan.
After stammering out his excuse, Hei Zhe put on an ugly, groveling expression, looking at Yelan with more obedience than he ever showed his own father.
Zhao Li watched the wretched cat’s humiliating display with a sneer, deliberately letting him see her contempt.
Hei Zhe knew this fox was using the Asura Clan’s influence to bully him, but there was nothing he could do.
Provoking the Asura Clan would mean annihilation for the Spirit Cat Clan.
He was well aware that his clan’s usual arrogance had earned them many enemies. If the Asura Clan came for them, no one would lift a finger to help.
Besides, this was the mighty Asura Clan! Even if the Spirit Cat Clan hadn’t been so domineering, what minor clan would dare stand up for them, like an egg smashing against a rock?
Only the Dragon Clan and the Human Clan had the power to oppose the Asura Clan.
But would either of them tear relations with the Asura Clan over a mere Spirit Cat Clan?
Though the Monkey Clan wasn’t fond of the Spirit Cat Clan’s behavior either, Hei Zhe was still a guest on their territory. As the host, the Evergreen Elder couldn’t openly side with Qingqiu and the Asura Clan to suppress the Spirit Cat Clan.
“Since neither Lady Ming nor Princess Zhao Li was harmed, I hope you can all grant this old man some face. Let’s shake hands and let bygones be bygones. How about it?”
Zhao Wu stepped forward and said, “Prince of the Spirit Cat Clan, regardless of your reasons, the fact remains that you pushed my daughter. By all rights, Qingqiu should demand an explanation. But today, we are here to celebrate the Evergreen Elder’s birthday. It would be improper to cause a scene on our host’s grounds and ruin the festivities for others. Since my daughter is unharmed, we will follow the Evergreen Elder’s suggestion—Qingqiu will let this go for now. But I hope there won’t be a next time!”
Hei Zhe and the two Spirit Cat Clan elders behind him darkened at his words, but they had no choice but to endure it.
Zhao Li secretly gave her father a thumbs-up.
His words had upheld the Evergreen Elder’s dignity while also bolstering Qingqiu’s prestige.
Yelan said calmly, “The Fox Clan leader makes a valid point. Shedding blood at Elder Bu Lao’s birthday celebration would indeed be inauspicious. After all, the only one harmed was the Fox Clan’s little princess. Since the Fox Clan has decided not to pursue the matter for now, our Asura Clan naturally has no need to stoop to the level of a mere Spirit Cat Clan.”
Her words simultaneously embarrassed Hei Zhe while also flattering the Fox Clan.
Zhao Wu looked surprised, instantly developing a much more favorable impression of the Asura Clan.
As Zhao Li returned to Zhao Wu’s side, she heard him stroking his chin and murmuring, “These Asura Clan people are actually quite decent, aren’t they?”
“Father, wasn’t your opinion of the Asura Clan quite different before?” Zhao Li teased with amusement.
Zhao Wu replied, “Ah, as the saying goes, ‘Hearing is not as good as seeing,’ and ‘Never judge a book by its cover.’ The Asura Clan has never had dealings with us before, yet they were willing to give you precious medicine, and their words and actions are so proper. This clearly shows the magnanimity of their clan. The number one clan of the Wuji Realm truly lives up to its reputation.”
Is it because Yelan’s words gave the Fox Clan so much face that you’re secretly overjoyed, Father?
After all, the Asura Clan has never shown such respect to another clan before.
Zhao Li couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. I haven’t even started my act yet, and you’ve already changed your view of the Asura Clan, Father.
Ah, the simple-mindedness of our fox clan really is hereditary.
…
The Asura Clan was accommodated in the best guest rooms of Huaguo Mountain.
The five Asura clansmen accompanying Yelan were all guards from the Ming family assigned by brothers Ming Jing and Ming Yao to escort their ancestor, each at least around level 76.
Originally, the Ming brothers wanted to personally accompany Yelan, but she refused.
Having members of the Ming family attend Elder Bu Lao’s birthday banquet wouldn’t attract Yinglong and Huangfu Yu’s attention.
But if level 80+ Spirit Saints were to appear, it would be a different story.
For this banquet, Yelan came under the guise of being a junior member of the Ming family.
After instructing the Ming family guards to stand watch outside the door and allow no one to enter, Yelan concealed her form and went to find Zhao Li in her guest room.
Zhao Li was delighted to see Yelan and threw herself into her arms, nuzzling her head against her affectionately.
Yelan felt a warmth in her heart as she patted Zhao Li’s head and asked, “That fall earlier. You weren’t really hurt, were you?”
“No, no, I’m perfectly fine. That damned cat—I could predict his moves with my eyes closed. How could he possibly hurt me? But, Lan Lan, your words just now were so domineering! Even my father’s impression of you and the Asura Clan improved a lot!”
Yelan was taken aback. “Your father… how…?”
She hadn’t even done anything yet.
Zhao Li laughed. “Haven’t I told you before? Our fox clan is especially simple-minded (or silly). Although Lan Lan was just being polite, you gave our Fox Clan so much face that my father is secretly overjoyed! In his eyes, anyone who shows goodwill to the Fox Clan is a great person!”
Their criteria for distinguishing “good” from “bad” really are more peculiar than most. Otherwise, in her past life, she wouldn’t have been fooled so thoroughly by Qing Tong.
Yelan shook her head with a wry smile.
Zhao Li stepped back from Yelan’s embrace and asked, “By the way, Lan Lan, do you have a way to enter Huaguo Mountain’s secret realm?”
Although Zhao Li already knew from her illusionary powers that Yelan’s divine weapon—the Asura Blade—could cut through any barrier, she still wanted to confirm it with her.
Yelan nodded. “I can, but the clansmen who came with me cannot.”
Without needing the Asura Blade to cut through the barrier, at the level of a Spirit Emperor’s cultivation, ordinary secret realms couldn’t stop them anyway.
What Zhao Li didn’t know was that even the Old Man of Immortality wouldn’t be restricted by the secret realm of his own territory.
For every clan’s territorial secret realm, the clan leader possessed a special method to bypass the level restrictions and enter freely. However, this “rule” was only passed down from the current clan leader to the next, and even the clansmen were unaware of it.
Zhao Li nodded happily and said, “Having Lan Lan here is more than enough. Lan Lan, when the secret realm opens, just enter under the name of the Yue Spirit Master. After all, your Asura Clan is so formidable—even if you don’t bring any guards, no one would dare to touch you, much less question why you’re alone. We’ll meet at the entrance of the secret realm then.”
That damned cat didn’t know she had already reached the Spirit Lord level. If he still assumed Yelan’s cultivation wasn’t high, given his arrogant and domineering nature—especially after suffering such a humiliating defeat today—he would surely seize the chance to take revenge inside the secret realm.
After all, spirit techniques were unpredictable. If a fight broke out in the secret realm over the Peaches of Immortality, accidental casualties were common.
Moreover, acting within the secret realm made it easier to dispose of the evidence without leaving a trace.
No matter how powerful the Asura Clan was, they couldn’t possibly slaughter every participant in the secret realm challenge just to vent their anger if they couldn’t find the culprit, could they?
Yelan smiled and nodded.
She never questioned or doubted Zhao Li’s words, nor would she ask why she made such arrangements.
As long as it was what Zhao Li desired, she would do everything in her power to fulfill her wishes.
Because she loved her, Yelan was willing to do anything for her—even if it meant paying with her own life. She wouldn’t hesitate.