"Isn't it just returning the money and apologizing!" Gongyang Hao, enduring pain in body and mind, threw twenty high-grade spirit stones onto the ground. He then bowed deeply and apologized loudly, "I was wrong! I'm sorry!"
Afterwards, he scurried away, afraid of being called back by Xu Yi.
Xu Yi was amused by the adaptable Gongyang Hao. She drew the twenty spirit stones back into her palm, then, in front of Yuan Dahai, unreservedly placed them into her storage ring.
These spirit stones were the reward for building the teleportation array. Gongyang Hao had no right to receive them, but it was only right that she did.
The young man who saw this wanted to say something, but was stopped by Yuan Dahai's stern gaze.
"Gongyang Hao deliberately built the teleportation array this way so he could extort more money from you. He was likely waiting here all along, which is why he showed up when I was working on the teleportation array," Xu Yi said.
Yuan Dahai and the young man were stunned. Recalling the messy teleportation array and their previous conversation, they immediately believed Xu Yi's account.
"So that's how it is. Thank you, Senior Su. If you hadn't intervened, I would have been severely swindled by him."
Yuan Dahai felt a chill of fear and cursed Gongyang Hao profusely in his heart.
Xu Yi waved her hand dismissively, unconcerned.
It wasn't for Yuan Dahai's sake, but mainly for her own convenience.
"Lu Zaiye, let's go."
Because Lu Zaiye had shielded her earlier, Xu Yi's attitude towards the seemingly cold junior became much gentler.
She knew that everyone from her Xuanji Sect was a good child.
Seeing that Xu Yi didn't dwell on the incident, Lu Zaiye didn't mention it, but he silently noted down today's events.
Master Chou had left with a resentful expression, clearly not intending to let things go. He would need to be more wary of people from the Formation Heavenly Alliance in the future.
Xu Yi had great confidence in the teleportation array she had built. After Lu Zaiye stepped onto it, she placed spirit stones in the formation's core. Under the expectant gazes of Yuan Dahai and the other, she activated the teleportation array.
When they opened their eyes again, they had arrived in an unfamiliar wilderness.
Lu Zaiye identified their direction and pointed southwest, "Li City is that way."
Xu Yi nodded, took out her Divine Soaring Ship, and headed in the direction of Li City.
Meng City.
Formation Heavenly Alliance Pavilion.
Qiu Tianying grabbed his attendant by the collar and snarled, "Investigate! Investigate for me!"
"Yes, yes."
The attendant responded in a panic, then was kicked out of the room by Qiu Tianying.
He was already injured, and this fall sent a surge of intense pain into his brain, causing his vision to blacken and almost making him faint.
He dared not cry out, so he pinched himself hard to regain his senses. Then, limping, he went to carry out Qiu Tianying's orders.
"Ahhhh!"
Qiu Tianying felt the rage burning within his chest, leaving his internal organs in turmoil.
He had never suffered such humiliation since he began cultivating.
"Su Meier!"
"Gongyang Hao!"
"...Present."
Qiu Tianying glared menacingly at the timid Gongyang Hao by the door and roared, "You dare show your face here again!"
"Master Chou," Gongyang Hao, enduring Qiu Tianying's murderous gaze, entered the room and immediately knelt on the ground. "Master Chou! I, I also didn't expect that Su Meier would have such abilities, she..."
"Silence! Do not mention her name!" Qiu Tianying almost lost control of his temper and killed this troublemaker Gongyang Hao with a single palm strike.
"I won't mention her, I won't," Gongyang Hao trembled in fear and kowtowed repeatedly.
He regretted his actions.
The reason he had the idea to swindle Yuan Dahai was because he had spent considerable effort to curry favor with Master Chou. After almost a year of constant service, he had finally secured an opportunity to ask for the other's help.
He had thought that even if something went wrong, he could rely on Master Chou for assistance, which was why he had acted so recklessly. He never expected to hit a wall on his first attempt.
Not only had he used up his chance for help, but he had also offended Master Chou, a complete loss on all fronts.
Now, he not only had to endure Master Chou's wrath but also find ways to resolve his problems, or he would be the one to suffer the consequences.
"Master Chou, I, I have a way that can help you vent your anger."
Qiu Tianying's eyes narrowed, "Speak quickly."
He now considered Su Meier his archenemy and wished he could crush her under his heel immediately.
"I tested it before, and it seems she's not from the Formation Heavenly Alliance at all. So, we can use the Formation Heavenly Alliance to deal with her. Furthermore, I know the next place she's heading to is Li City, so we can have the people in Li City make preparations..."
After Gongyang Hao finished speaking, he waited for Qiu Tianying's response but received none. He cautiously looked up, only to meet the other man's blood-red eyes. As if pricked by a needle, he immediately lowered his head.
"When did you learn of my identity?"
A voice devoid of emotion echoed above Gongyang Hao's head.
"A, a year ago. I found out by accident."
Gongyang Hao buried his head even lower.
Qiu Tianying was not only the youngest Grade Four Formation Master in Meng City, but his father's status was also extraordinary.
It was precisely because Gongyang Hao knew this that he had gone out of his way to flatter him.
"Heh, no wonder... I see. Get out, and don't appear before me again."
The moment the words fell, Gongyang Hao scrambled out of the room on all fours.
He feared that if he didn't leave immediately, he wouldn't be able to leave at all.
"Li City."
Qiu Tianying grinned sinisterly and took out the communication disk from his waist.
...
"Master, Xu Yi, what artifact did you just use..."
On the Divine Soaring Ship, Lu Zaiye suddenly broke the silence and inquired about Xu Yi's ruler.
Xu Yi opened her eyes and looked at Lu Zaiye with some surprise. She took out the ruler. "This is a Chastisement Ruler. It's a Grade Four artifact I chose from the sect's inner storehouse."
Xu Yi's original artifacts had all been destroyed by the lightning tribulation. Later, Elder Liu, who managed the affairs hall, learned of this and allowed her to choose a few artifacts that resonated with her from the inner storehouse. This Chastisement Ruler was selected at that time.
To be precise, it was the Chastisement Ruler that chose Xu Yi.
As soon as Xu Yi entered the inner storehouse, the Chastisement Ruler repelled all other artifacts that tried to approach her and fell into her palm.
The Chastisement Ruler was entirely dark, neither stone nor something else, an arm long and a fist wide, with a chilling touch.
Xu Yi tried holding it and found it comfortable, so she didn't choose any other artifacts.
When she came out with the Chastisement Ruler, the elders even teased her, saying she looked more like a grand ancestor holding it.
Xu Yi had also asked them about the origin of the Chastisement Ruler, but the elders had all shaken their heads. In fact, if Xu Yi hadn't taken it out, they wouldn't have known such an artifact existed in the inner storehouse.
Lu Zaiye looked at the Chastisement Ruler, suddenly recalling some past events. He slightly furrowed his brows, concealing the complexity in his eyes, and softly said, "So that's how it is."
Xu Yi felt that Lu Zaiye's demeanor was somewhat peculiar and wanted to probe further, but she realized he had already closed his eyes and begun meditating. She shrugged, thinking she might have been overthinking things. She then put the Chastisement Ruler into her storage ring, cleared her mind, and began to cultivate.