Inquiring about another's cultivation level was a taboo in the cultivation world. In his fear, Duan Weiran had completely forgotten this. But the words were out, and he couldn't take them back.
An embarrassed look appeared on Duan Weiran's face, and he felt a sense of apprehension. Li Yan had clearly been deliberately hiding his cultivation level before, which meant he didn't want others to know. Now, although he had revealed some of his abilities, if he just pretended not to know, there would still be some room for maneuver.
At the same time, Duan Weiran's mind raced. He had seen Li Yan fight before, and his Spirit Power fluctuations were only at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
Now, Li Yan's aura was extremely faint, almost imperceptible. But the fluctuations at the moment of his strike were exceptionally powerful. So, that must be his true realm.
The True Scripture of Gui Water itself had the effect of concealing one's cultivation realm. After Li Yan began to familiarize himself with the Pseudo-Core Realm, he suppressed his aura again, back to the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
Hearing this, Li Yan just smiled and changed the subject. "Brother Duan should prioritize healing his injuries. Does Brother Duan need my help with the poison on your body?"
He could see that Duan Weiran's injuries were quite serious, and he also knew from their previous conversation that he had been poisoned. If it was delayed for too long, it would be much more difficult to expel.
Seeing that Li Yan did not pursue his blunder, Duan Weiran's heart relaxed slightly. But his thoughts hadn't quite shifted back yet, and he was still thinking about Li Yan's earlier strike. 'That is definitely not something a Pseudo-Core cultivator can do. It seems he still hasn't revealed his true cultivation. Could he be a Golden Core senior?'
But seeing Li Yan change the subject, and since he did indeed need to heal, his expression turned serious. He bowed respectfully to Li Yan. "I won't trouble Fellow... Fellow Daoist Jiang. This poison is not very potent; it can be expelled. As for the other injuries, taking some medicinal pills and recuperating will be fine."
He had wanted to say "Brother Jiang," but considering his opponent's possible true cultivation level, and since the other party didn't want to reveal their senior status, he couldn't expose it. So, he changed his words.
After speaking, Duan Weiran sat down cross-legged, took out several white jade porcelain bottles, and immediately began to meditate, not caring that Li Yan was right beside him.
In fact, in his current state, even if he wanted to defend himself, he didn't have the ability. It was better to be straightforward. He was being pragmatic, knowing that if Li Yan wanted to kill him, he wouldn't have to go through so much trouble.
Seeing this, Li Yan's eyes flashed a few times. He then walked to the side of the pavilion and looked outside.
An hour later, Duan Weiran opened his eyes. Although his aura was still unstable, he was clearly out of danger. He was afraid that Li Yan would grow impatient from waiting, so as soon as his injuries stabilized, he interrupted his healing.
Seeing Li Yan standing by the side of the pavilion, seemingly admiring the scenery outside, Duan Weiran coughed lightly. In fact, he knew that the moment he opened his eyes, the other party must have already known, but was just pretending not to.
"Hehe, Brother Duan seems to be out of immediate danger!" Li Yan turned his head, glanced at Duan Weiran who was standing up, and said with a smile.
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Jiang, for protecting me!" Duan Weiran bowed to Li Yan again, his attitude quite respectful.
Li Yan rubbed his nose. "Protecting you?" He smiled to himself. He thought both of them were clear on whether he was truly protecting him, but since Duan Weiran had said so, he wouldn't deny it.
"By the way, Brother Duan's previous injuries should have been from Monk Yiming's sneak attack. But given Brother Duan's cautious nature, this shouldn't have happened," Li Yan asked with seeming concern.
Hearing Li Yan's question, Duan Weiran first sighed, but then changed the subject.
"Sigh, let's talk about this later. Fellow Daoist Jiang has saved my life before. But as a rogue cultivator, I probably don't have anything that would catch Fellow Daoist Jiang's eye. However, this time in the palace beneath the Red Maple Pool, I happened to obtain two items. Consider them a repayment for saving my life. I don't know if they will be to your liking, but I hope you won't refuse them."
Duan Weiran had been in the martial world for a long time and was worldly-wise. He could guess that since Li Yan could appear silently behind Monk Yiming, he must not have just arrived at the pavilion when he struck.
Li Yan must have heard their entire conversation. The fact that he hadn't killed him and taken his treasures was already a great act of kindness, truly rare.
Although he could conclude that the other party was not an indiscriminate killer, Duan Weiran was also a sharp and shrewd person. When Li Yan seemed to be asking about how he got injured, how could he not understand?
As Duan Weiran spoke, he slapped his waist, and two silver lights flashed out. Immediately, two identical Silver Pages slowly floated towards Li Yan.
Looking at the Silver Pages, a trace of reluctance and pain flashed deep in Duan Weiran's eyes. He had traded his life for these, but he had been unable to open them. His Divine Sense was repelled each time. He had hoped to find a way to open them in the future.
But thinking of Li Yan's methods and the fact that he truly hadn't killed him for his treasures, his heart calmed down after a moment.
He was also a person who could see the bigger picture. He had only been slightly emotional upon seeing the Silver Pages just now. Otherwise, not only would everything on him belong to the other person, but his life would have been lost as well.
Seeing the Silver Pages floating over, Li Yan secretly praised Duan Weiran for being pragmatic. With just a slight hint from him, the other party had voluntarily taken out the items. He was very curious about the Silver Pages and had determined that they were a major treasure.
Li Yan reached out and took the two Silver Pages. With just a sweep of his Divine Sense, he could see that they were identical to the one Bu Luo had given him.
He tucked them into his wide sleeve without a trace, storing them in the "Earth-Spot." He didn't even say a word of polite refusal.
As Duan Weiran had thought, it was already good that he hadn't killed him and robbed him. That was out of consideration for the friendship Duan Weiran had initiated back then, and because he had saved him again this time. At the same time, Li Yan's last trace of killing intent also dissipated completely.
Given Duan Weiran's worldly wisdom, he wasn't worried that he would leak the fact that he had killed Monk Yiming.
He figured the other party also knew why he had acted just now and completely erased Monk Yiming from this world.
Even if Duan Weiran were to speak of this matter in the future, someone would have to believe him. There was no trace of evidence. Others could just as well say that he, Duan Weiran, had killed him. Otherwise, why would he have spared Duan Weiran and left a witness?
Therefore, Li Yan had the intention of letting Duan Weiran go, but it was mainly because of Duan Weiran's straightforwardness.
If he had valued treasures as much as his life, the possibility of him selling him out would have existed. Although Li Yan didn't care, it would still bring him some trouble. So, that final killing intent had always been there before.
During this time, if any of Duan Weiran's actions had not met Li Yan's expectations, Li Yan would not have cared about that little bit of friendship at all.
Seeing Li Yan accept the two Silver Pages without any courtesy, Duan Weiran was not unhappy. Instead, his heart completely relaxed. His life was safe this time.
He then smiled and changed the subject.
"I entered this place a year and a half ago. I believe Fellow Daoist Jiang also knows that entering the passage is a life-and-death trial. After the body and mind have been washed by blood in the passage, what is most needed is quiet comprehension and cultivation, which can give us a great opportunity for transformation. Every pavilion here is the best place for cultivation. The Spiritual Energy is so dense it's astonishing. After arriving here, I searched for a suitable place and finally found this place. Then, I entered this pavilion..."
When Duan Weiran reached this point, Li Yan suddenly interrupted, "Fellow Daoist Duan, have you not encountered any other cultivators on your way here?"
"Oh, I did encounter three fellow daoists, which is why I kept heading deeper, to put some distance between us. Although most of the pavilions are about a hundred zhang apart, we usually look for an empty pavilion at least a thousand zhang away. This way, both parties feel safer. But the suppression of Divine Sense here is too severe. Beyond a few dozen zhang, one's Divine Sense can't detect the other party. One can only search deeper bit by bit. But basically, everyone abides by this rule. Could it be that Fellow Daoist Jiang didn't see any other cultivators on your way over..."
Towards the end of his speech, Duan Weiran looked at Li Yan with some confusion. The cultivators he had met couldn't have all left in a year. How could it be such a coincidence?
Hearing this, Li Yan finally confirmed something in his heart. He rubbed his nose, his expression unchanged, and said lightly, "I didn't meet any. Your place is the first one where I detected Spirit Power fluctuations and rushed over."
After hearing this, a look of disbelief appeared on Duan Weiran's old face. But then, his expression changed, as if he had thought of something. Finally, after thinking that this matter would not bring him a fatal disaster, he asked with some hesitation.
"Could it be that Fellow Daoist Jiang came from that direction?" After asking this, he raised his hand and pointed in the direction Li Yan had come from, his face still showing disbelief.
Seeing Duan Weiran's expression, Li Yan still nodded.
"The black passage? Fellow Daoist Jiang took the black passage. This..." After Li Yan confirmed it, Duan Weiran's expression became solemn.
Li Yan touched his forehead with his hand and said with some helplessness, "Sigh, to be honest with you, this is my first time entering the interior of the 'Flame Palace.' I was tricked by that guardian Bright Fire Qilin and mistakenly entered the black passage. I only managed to escape today. Hmm, but I wonder what the situation is like in that golden passage?"
"You actually managed to walk out of the black passage?" Duan Weiran was still muttering to himself, not asking Li Yan how long he had been in the black passage.
In his view, no matter how long it was, anyone who could walk out of the black passage was a powerhouse in both heart and cultivation, and would definitely become a prominent figure of their generation in the future.
It wasn't until Li Yan coughed lightly with some impatience that Duan Weiran came back to his senses, an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang dared to enter without knowing the internal situation of the 'Flame Palace.' Duan... I, hmm... am impressed, impressed." Duan Weiran was at a loss for words for a moment and could only express it with two "impressed."
Then, seeing the questioning look in Li Yan's eyes, Duan Weiran gave a bitter smile. "Fellow Daoist Jiang, there are two passages below this 'Flame Palace.' One is called 'Darkness,' and the other is called 'Light.' From the names, you should know that you clearly walked the 'Darkness' passage. The 'Light' passage is for slaughter, a tempering of one's Spirit Power and will. Inside the passage, Vicious Souls from the Foundation Establishment stage to the Pseudo-Core realm will appear, from weak to strong. The number of Vicious Souls also increases from few to many, keeping the cultivators who enter in a constant state of battle. It is a baptism in hell. A single mistake will leave you there forever, to be devoured by the Vicious Souls. Usually, it takes three to six months to pass through the 'Light' passage. To be constantly killing for such a long time, very few cultivators can pass through."