Having seen the seller, the villa was purchased, but it still needs tidying and organizing here, so it can't be moved into right away.

Ye Fan wanted to add more items here, but when he suggested it to Lu Xiaoman, she considered it too extravagant, as Lu Xiaoman truly is a thrifty and frugal girl. Now at the Golden Core Stage, Lu Xiaoman no longer needs material enjoyment, but her attachment to Ye Fan is gradually deepening.

By afternoon, Ye Fan had to leave. He couldn't stay outside for too long, and Sang Yuan had already sent word that Sect Master Ling had been found.

On Earth, five or six hours passed, while two or three days had already gone by in the Pan Gu Secret Realm. Even if Sect Master Ling could evade tracking by the Earth Yuan Sect, wounded as she was, she couldn't escape the net Sang Yuan had set within the Pan Gu Secret Realm.

Ye Fan escorted Lu Xiaoman and Mo Xiaoyan home and, after a moment of affectionate entanglement, left. Lu Xiaoman was satisfied, but over at Mo Xiaoyan's side, she seemed like a resentful young woman, constantly glaring at Ye Fan as if her gaze could kill him.

Not returning to see Li Zhaojun and the others, Ye Fan left Earth directly with Sang Yuan and headed to the Pan Gu Secret Realm.

Following Ye Fan's previous instructions, even if Sect Master Ling was found, the action should not be taken immediately; rather, her contacts were to be observed. It was known that Sect Master Ling had hermits scattered across various locations behind the scenes, possessing the potential to threaten Sang Yuan's mysterious forces.

But after Sect Master Ling's escape, she was severely injured, fleeing to the region of Mi Luo Domain near the void in the Pan Gu Secret Realm, an area stretching tens of thousands of miles without a soul. She was healing in a cave under a pond surrounded by abundant Spiritual Energy, using the natural energies to form a barrier, believing she could elude pursuit.

Sect Master Ling was acutely aware of the intelligence network arranged by Earth Yuan Sect; she knew the scout distribution in the secret realm's various sectors by the sect's mountain gate. Mi Luo Domain always had few sects; only some Loose Cultivators liked to come here, posing no threat to the Earth Yuan Sect, so the sect masters of Earth Yuan through generations never stationed many here. However, she didn't know that this barren land of Mi Luo Domain was actually one of Sang Yuan's secret cult altars, with many people arranged by Sang Yuan in the vicinity, allowing them to trace Sect Master Ling's whereabouts and notify Sang Yuan, so that Sang Yuan and Ye Fan could come.

"Divine Envoy, young master." Ye Fan and Sang Yuan appeared on the mountain ridge outside the cult altar, welcomed by a late-Combination Stage female cultivator accompanied by several early-Combination Stage male and female cultivators.

According to Sang Yuan's arrangement, each secret cult altar was stationed with a large number of experts.

Sang Yuan directly used Spiritual Energy to form a slap, striking the female cultivator's face. The female cultivator, who thought she'd found Ling and was delighted for achieving merit, was confounded by the unexpected slap.

Only hearing Sang Yuan's rebuke: "You don't understand the rules. At any time, the position of Sect Master should be above mine; we are all merely the young master's servants!"

The female cultivator then realized her mistake in the order of address; it was her habit to always have "Divine Envoy" at the top, followed by "Divine Mother," or referred to as "Holy Mother," which was the god worshipped by the religion established by Sang Yuan, being the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman.

"This servant has erred, please Divine Envoy...young master, punish!" the female cultivator hurriedly knelt and acknowledged her mistake.

Sang Yuan looked at Ye Fan and said, "Everything is subject to the young master's disposal!"

Ye Fan had no time to fuss over such minor issues of address. To him, it didn't matter what she was called as long as she could accomplish tasks. He waved his hand, "Stand up and speak; where is the person?"

The female cultivator still apprehensively led the way, guiding Ye Fan and Sang Yuan to the pond where Sect Master Ling was hiding.

The pond was surrounded by dense forests stretching thousands of miles, situated amidst towering mountains. In such a vast secret realm, Ling's choice to hide in such a small place made it extremely difficult for others to find her. Even Ye Fan, when within a few hundred meters of Sect Master Ling's vicinity, could only detect faint Spiritual Energy signals, indicating the natural Spiritual Energy barrier was still very strong.

Ling finding her way here was a right choice; she just hadn't anticipated Sang Yuan had established a cult altar here.

"Young master, the person is underwater; should we capture her?" Sang Yuan's face showed traces of ruthlessness.

Having escaped from under her watch, Sang Yuan considered it a great humiliation, which also led to Ye Fan doubting her, making her yearn to capture Sect Master Ling and annihilate her to vent her anger.

Ye Fan raised his hand, "Don't alarm her; come down with me!"

Sang Yuan took the order, followed Ye Fan, and the group entered the pond. The water inside was quite cold, and only upon reaching the bottom did they find a cave leading elsewhere. After walking less than dozens of meters, they arrived at a small space where Sect Master Ling was adjusting her breath.

Sect Master Ling was also aware of intruders. Initially thinking to fight, but upon seeing it was Ye Fan and Sang Yuan, a trace of sadness appeared on her face as she closed her eyes, seemingly no longer resisting or struggling.

She was already severely wounded and had exhausted herself and sustained further injuries in the struggle between two assailants to escape here. Not to mention Ye Fan, even an ordinary Nascent Soul Stage cultivator left her helpless.

"You wicked woman, the young master trusted you to take you to the Death Sea to collaborate with the seven major sects, yet you dare escape, putting our young master to disgrace?" Sang Yuan stepped forward, pushed Sect Master Ling to the ground, and tightly held her with Spiritual Energy. At this moment, Ling seemed like a weak girl, with no ability to resist in front of Sang Yuan.

This blow from Sang Yuan made Ling spit out blood, lying sideways on the ground with no resistance left.

"Speak! The array beneath the Death Sea, what relation does it have to your Earth Yuan Sect?" Sang Yuan intended to use interrogation to force Sect Master Ling into compliance.

But at this moment, Ling's attitude was firm; she was not afraid of death, refusing to submit, harboring a resolve to die.

Sang Yuan's anger surged, ready to continue the interrogation when Ye Fan raised his hand again; she had to relent, standing up to heed Ye Fan's instructions.

"Sect Master Ling, you are a master of your generation; I do not wish to make things too difficult for you," Ye Fan said, "The grievances between Earth Yuan Sect and the six major sects have accumulated over thousands and tens of thousands of years, not something borne by you alone. Your escape is understandable to me..."

Sang Yuan observed Ye Fan, puzzled at his seeming empathy for Ling, stirring jealousy in her heart.

As a woman, and although Sect Master Ling was the leader of Earth Yuan Sect, she too was a woman. Sang Yuan keenly understood the more favored women beside Ye Fan didn't gain their positions by capability but by affections shown to them. Just as she could never surpass Li Zhaojun and Lu Xiaoman in Ye Fan's heart.

Sang Yuan had no wish for Ye Fan to grow emotionally attached to Sect Master Ling, for that would make her position precarious, with the possibility of Sect Master Ling gaining precedence over her, rendering her humiliated.

Yet, Ling seemed unaffected, spitting blood, "Since defeated, grant a quick end."

"I won't kill you because I need you to rally Earth Yuan Sect; you are still its Sect Master," Ye Fan stated resolutely, "In your absence, the one who harmed you has already arrived on Earth, claiming the title of Earth Yuan Sect's Sect Master, seeking allegiance. Unfortunately, the only Earth Yuan Sect Master acknowledged by me is Sect Master Ling. Is Sect Master Ling willing to abandon darkness for light? I will certainly help you deal with Earth Yuan Sect's traitors!"

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