The Moon Clan Grand Hall, Mount Moon Spirit.
"Clan Leader Moon, His Lordship the Sacred Master only asked for the Saintess as a hostage. He didn't mention any other demands. My patience is limited. Will you hand over the person yourself, or shall I come and fetch her? Clan Leader Moon, have you thought this through?"
An elder stood in the grand hall, unfazed by the presence of the Moon Clan's powerful figures. Facing him, Yue Zhengqi's expression was somber as he fell into deep contemplation.
"I will go with you. However, you must give me one day. Otherwise, I doubt your Sacred Master would want a corpse."
At that moment, a voice suddenly echoed from outside the hall. Everyone looked up to see Yue Fuyao approaching.
"Saintess!"
Upon seeing Yue Fuyao, the crowd cried out in unison. Yue Zhengqi glanced at Yue Fuyao, a flicker of guilt in his eyes, before slowly turning away.
"A person with the Moon Spirit Sacred Physique, truly courageous. Very well, I can afford to wait one day. But do not play any tricks then. If you escape alone, the entire Moon Clan will not fare so well."
The elder cast a glance at Yue Fuyao, then with a wave of his hand, he turned and left with four peak Eternal Realm experts.
"Everyone, please disperse. The Clan Leader and I have matters to discuss." After the Sacred Clan experts departed, Yue Fuyao surveyed the assembled crowd before turning her gaze to Yue Zhengqi.
The crowd sighed softly, then bowed in unison to Yue Fuyao before turning and leaving.
"Saintess, it is I who have failed you. Had I known this day would come, I should have let you and that Li Xuan leave. At least, we would have preserved some of our Moon Clan's bloodline." As the others departed, Yue Zhengqi slowly turned to Yue Fuyao and said.
"Clan Leader Moon, I am also a member of the Moon Clan," Yue Fuyao replied softly.
Yue Zhengqi nodded with a hint of relief, then looked at Yue Fuyao. "Speak, what do you require of me?"
"I implore the Clan Leader to allow my father and the others to leave. Even if it means returning to the Vast Continent." Yue Fuyao stated.
"This matter, I promise you," Yue Zhengqi nodded slightly.
"Thank you, Clan Leader." Yue Fuyao curtsied to Yue Zhengqi and then slowly turned to leave.
Deep into the night, as the world slept soundly.
"Who?" Yue Zhengqi, who was in seclusion in a secret chamber, stirred and looked up. A figure gradually materialized before him.
"Li Xuan?" Upon seeing the visitor, Yue Zhengqi's face registered surprise.
"Clan Leader Moon, long time no see. Are you well?"
The visitor was indeed Li Xuan. Having already reached the Immortal Realm, Li Xuan had easily bypassed the Moon Clan's restrictions.
"You were able to break through our Moon Clan's restrictions... No, your aura... You have already reached the Immortal Realm!"
Yue Zhengqi stood up, and after a brief sensing, was once again shocked. The last time Li Xuan had left, he was merely in the Profound Comprehension Realm. Ten years later, to see him as an Immortal Realm expert, such a change was terrifying even to Yue Zhengqi.
"Clan Leader Moon, your condition seems somewhat… amiss," Li Xuan said with a slight frown after observing Yue Zhengqi.
Yue Zhengqi chuckled bitterly and nodded. "Sacred Lingxiao placed restrictions within us. Furthermore, all four clans have signed life contracts. Daily, we are suppressed by these restrictions, so our condition is naturally not ideal."
"Life contracts? Does that mean you must obey Sacred Lingxiao's commands? No wonder all the news I received was of your four clans sealing yourselves off. So you are controlled by Sacred Lingxiao. Is there any way to annul these life contracts?" Li Xuan nodded as if understanding, then inquired.
"Unless Sacred Lingxiao cancels them himself or he perishes, there is no way to destroy the life contracts," Yue Zhengqi replied with a wry smile, shaking his head.
"If a powerful individual stronger than Sacred Lingxiao intervened, would that be possible?" Li Xuan pondered for a moment and asked. If they themselves could not achieve it, then theoretically, anyone stronger than Sacred Lingxiao should be able to undo Sacred Lingxiao's actions.
"Sacred Lingxiao's current strength is almost at the Boundless Realm. On this Eternal Continent, where else could such a powerful being exist..." Yue Zhengqi's eyes lit up as if he had an idea. He looked at Li Xuan eagerly. "If there is anyone on this Eternal Continent stronger than Sacred Lingxiao, it would likely only be Elder Dan."
"Li Xuan, since you are Elder Dan's disciple, could you request Elder Dan's intervention? If Elder Dan were to act, our restrictions would have a great chance of being broken."
"Clan Leader Moon, it's not that I am unwilling to help. It's just that since I emerged from seclusion, I have been unable to contact Elder Dan at all. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come here alone," Li Xuan said with a hint of apology, shaking his head slightly.
Perhaps fearing Yue Zhengqi's disappointment, Li Xuan paused for a moment before speaking again. "However, Clan Leader Moon, rest assured, concerning the safety of the Eternal Continent, if I receive any news of Elder Dan, I will certainly ask him to assist."
"It's alright. It is all fate. Since that is the case, I will not force it. By the way, did you come here for the Saintess?" Yue Zhengqi nodded with some understanding, then his mind moved, and he asked.
"Indeed. I heard that something has happened to the four clans of the Moon Clan, and I was worried about Fuyao's safety. Clan Leader Moon, how is Fuyao now?" Li Xuan nodded and asked.
"This..." Yue Zhengqi hesitated. If Li Xuan were still only at the Profound Comprehension Realm, Yue Zhengqi would not have had too many concerns. But now, Li Xuan was an Immortal Realm expert. Even though his strength was two realms lower than Yue Zhengqi's, he could still be considered an equal. Coupled with his connection to Dan Wushuang, Yue Zhengqi naturally had to treat Li Xuan with respect. However, regarding Yue Fuyao, Yue Zhengqi found himself in a difficult position.
"Clan Leader Moon, has Fuyao encountered any trouble?" Li Xuan became anxious upon seeing this.
"It's not that she's encountered trouble, but Sacred Lingxiao sent a Saint Elder to specifically take the Saintess away. You know, I have Sacred Lingxiao's restrictions within me. Moreover, that Saint Elder possesses a contract given by Sacred Lingxiao to control me, so I..." Yue Zhengqi nodded, speaking with a hint of helplessness.
"Sacred Lingxiao wants to take Fuyao? Clan Leader Moon, I understand your predicament. However, Fuyao absolutely cannot be taken to the Sacred Clan. No wonder I sensed several powerful presences just now; they are from the Sacred Clan. Clan Leader Moon, what is the strength of that Saint Elder?" Li Xuan's expression turned serious upon hearing this.
"That Saint Elder's strength is at the middle stage of the Immortal Realm. However, he has been at the middle stage of the Immortal Realm for nearly a thousand years. I don't know if he has truly broken through. At least, in my eyes, his strength is not to be underestimated."
"If you intend to make a move against him, I'm afraid I must advise you to reconsider. Furthermore, the Saintess herself has agreed to the terms with that Saint Elder, so this matter is quite troublesome," Yue Zhengqi stated.
"Fuyao agreed? Clan Leader Moon, when do they depart?" Li Xuan's brow furrowed. After some thought, he roughly guessed the reason for Yue Fuyao's agreement. After a moment of contemplation, he looked at Yue Zhengqi again and asked.
"The Saintess and the Saint Elder have negotiated terms, securing one day. They will depart tomorrow at noon," Yue Zhengqi sighed.
"Clan Leader Moon, if I were to intercept them midway and take Fuyao away, would it have any impact on your Moon Clan?" Li Xuan nodded slightly and then asked.
"Since you are not of our Moon Clan, and that Saint Elder has seen you, if the Saintess is taken by you, I believe it would not have a significant detrimental effect on our Moon Clan. However, with your strength alone, I fear..." Yue Zhengqi stopped speaking, seemingly hesitant.
"With my strength alone, of course, it's not enough. I have my own arrangements for this matter, so Clan Leader Moon need not worry. Since it will not pose any threat to the Moon Clan, I must make some preparations. Without further ado, I shall take my leave. Clan Leader Moon, I have one more matter to ask you." Li Xuan paused for a moment, then looked at Yue Zhengqi.
"Whatever I know, I will tell you without reservation," Yue Zhengqi replied.
Li Xuan shook his head and asked, "If the restrictions within you were removed, would you still have the confidence to wage war against the Sacred Clan?"
"This..." Yue Zhengqi was startled for a moment, then his expression became firm as he nodded.
"Very well, I am relieved. Do not inform Fuyao of this matter for now, lest we alert the enemy," Li Xuan nodded slightly, then cupped his fists in a salute to Yue Zhengqi before his figure slowly melted into the void and disappeared.
As Li Xuan departed, the secret chamber returned to silence. After a long while, Yue Zhengqi let out a slow sigh. "So be it. If this endeavor is successful, our Moon Clan's lineage will continue."