In the Dantai clan under the morning sun, Dantai Jingyue performed the forbidden longevity technique, devouring the life essence of twelve young girls around the altar to save the critically injured and dying Li Ziye.

A shocking and unconventional scene unfolded, trading life for life. The vitality within the twelve beautiful girls rapidly drained away, while on the altar, Li Ziye’s wounds visibly healed at an astonishing speed.

This unheard-of longevity technique, even to the widely knowledgeable Confucian scholars, caused endless ripples in their hearts upon witnessing such an astonishing sight.

It seemed that since the Celestial Maiden took control of the Dantai clan, their development to this stage was no coincidence.

Such a forbidden technique was not something an ordinary martial artist could perform. This Dantai Celestial Maiden was truly unfathomable.

“Master, can you discern her cultivation level?”

Below the altar, Chen Qiao’er gazed at the Dantai Celestial Maiden above and asked in a serious tone.

“I cannot see through it.”

The Confucian Scholar shook his head and said, “The twelve stone steles around her seem to mask her aura, making it difficult to discern her true realm.”

“I feel like those twelve stone steles are very similar to the Heavenly Books of the Confucian School,” Chen Qiao’er remarked.

“Indeed, there is a similarity in their ingenious workings.”

The Confucian Scholar nodded and said, “Perhaps Dantai Jingyue’s mastery of such a powerful forbidden technique is related to those twelve stone steles.”

“If that’s the case, those twelve young girls, despite their tender age, possess the cultivation of the third realm, most likely because of those twelve stone steles,” Chen Qiao’er speculated.

“Yes, that’s a possibility.”

The Confucian Scholar agreed with a grave expression, “I never imagined that such divine objects existed in the world. It’s just that we don’t know the specific abilities of these twelve stone steles. The Confucian Scholar once said that if the issue with the northern demons cannot be resolved, the eight tribes of the Desert North might march southward. When that time comes, a battle between Great Shang and the eight tribes of the Desert North is inevitable, and this Dantai Celestial Maiden will surely become a significant threat to Great Shang. The trouble is, we know too little about her.”

“Perhaps when the young Li lad wakes up, we can have him probe the Dantai Celestial Maiden’s reality.”

As they spoke, Chen Qiao’er adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose and suggested.

“Oh?”

Hearing this, the Confucian Scholar’s expression changed, saying, “You mean Li Ziye? I’m afraid that in his impulsiveness, he might clash with the Dantai Celestial Maiden again.”

“He won’t.”

Chen Qiao’er shook her head confidently, “Li Ziye may seem unruly and reckless, but he’s actually extremely astute. Even if he knows it was the Dantai Celestial Maiden who wanted him dead, he won’t tear his face with Dantai Jingyue until he’s absolutely sure he can take revenge. You can rest assured on that, Master.”

“It seems that Instructor Chen has a lot of confidence in this Li lad,” the Confucian Scholar said, surprised.

“Actually, from all his actions so far, one can see a pattern.”

Chen Qiao’er spoke calmly, “Everything he does seems outrageous, but in reality, it’s all within our tolerance. He has a good grasp of this limit. There are many things we are constrained by rules and unwilling to do, yet he can do them without care. To achieve his goals, he wouldn’t hesitate to use certain means. I think this is why the Confucian Scholar allowed the Li lad to join us.”

“Well then.”

The Confucian Scholar sighed softly, “If he wakes up this time, from now on, as long as he doesn’t go too far, I’ll turn a blind eye and pretend I didn’t see anything.”

Hearing the Confucian Scholar’s assurance, Chen Qiao’er smiled faintly, “I think if that lad heard what you just said, he’d be jumping for joy.”

“He’d better not cause me any more trouble.”

The Confucian Scholar said irritably, “But this time, I was indeed too careless, which led to this misfortune for the lad, nearly costing him his life.”

The Confucian Scholar had been explicitly instructed to protect these youngsters on their journey, and it was his lapse in vigilance that led to this incident.

In hindsight, it was his dereliction of duty.

“I and Li Qingshan also bear responsibility.”

Chen Qiao’er spoke softly, “All along, these young people have performed too well, making us gradually forget that they are still youngsters who need tempering.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

The Confucian Scholar nodded, “Every coin has two sides. Although the journey to the Desert North is dangerous, it’s an opportunity for them to gain experience and become independent sooner.”

As the two conversed, not far away on the altar, with Dantai Jingyue’s execution of the forbidden longevity technique, Li Ziye’s vitality gradually stabilized.

A quarter of an hour later, Dantai Jingyue ceased her technique, a fleeting look of exhaustion in her eyes, and the surging Genuine Qi around her quickly receded.

“Take Instructor Li back to rest. After a few days of quiet recuperation, he should wake up.”

Dantai Jingyue’s gaze shifted to the two below as she spoke.

Upon hearing this, Bai Wangyu and Wen Xiuru exchanged glances and stepped onto the altar.

“Thank you.”

As they passed by, Bai Wangyu spoke out, and then he and Wen Xiuru lifted the unconscious Li Ziye and headed down from the altar.

Around them, Li Qingshan and the disciples of the Confucian School followed suit and left.

On the altar, Dantai Jingyue watched the departing Confucian School members, her expression slightly condensed.

She was well aware that she had saved the last person she should have saved.

It could only be said that fate was playing tricks on her.

The favor from the past, her Dantai clan had repaid!

From now on, her Dantai clan owed no one.

“Everyone, go back and rest.”

Dantai Jingyue descended from the altar, her gaze sweeping over the twelve pale-faced girls, and spoke calmly.

“Yes!”

The twelve girls rose, their faces pale, and respectfully bowed before leaving.

Not far away, outside the felt tent, Dantai Jingyue approached, looking at her father with a caring expression, “Father, why have you come out?”

“To see what an old friend looks like after all these years.”

The Great Sovereign of Dantai spoke softly, “Jingyue, you’ve worked hard.”

“It’s worth it to resolve a matter of the heart for Father.”

Dantai Jingyue replied, then stepped forward to support her father, saying, “It’s windy outside; let me help you inside.”

“Yes.”

The Great Sovereign of Dantai nodded, and they both entered the tent together.

In the following days, due to Li Ziye’s condition, the Confucian School members decided to postpone their journey northward and took the opportunity to rest properly.

After all, they had only stayed in the Helian tribe for two days before rushing here non-stop.

After days of travel, both the people and the horses were exhausted.

“Master, Instructor Chen, Brother Li is awake!”

On the third day, early in the morning, Wen Xiuru suddenly rushed out of the felt tent and went to inform the Confucian Scholar and the three instructors.

“He’s awake?”

Hearing this, the Confucian Scholar, Chen Qiao’er, and the others all showed joy on their faces and hurried over.

At the same time, the disciples of the Confucian School received the news and also quickly made their way there.

Inside the tent, Li Ziye sat up on the bed, looking at the crowd that surrounded him in layers, and said with annoyance, “Everyone, stop staring. Disperse, please. With so many of you here, it’s making me dizzy.”

“Ha ha, I knew you wouldn’t die so easily.”

Yao Guihai patted the shoulder of the young man in front of him and said, “It’s true what they say, ‘Good people don’t live long, but troublemakers last a thousand years.’ You’ll definitely outlive us all.”

“Heh, thanks a lot!”

Li Ziye grimaced from the patting and replied.

“Alright, Instructor Li has just woken up and needs to rest. You all should go back now.”

The Confucian Scholar turned around, looked at the crowd packed inside and outside the tent, and said with a smile.

“Yes!”

Hearing this, the disciples of the Confucian School reluctantly bowed and then left one after another.

Instructor Li’s life was truly tenacious; he had nearly breathed his last that day.

This was what the disciples of the Confucian School were thinking at the moment.

“Kid, how do you feel?”

After the disciples left, the Confucian Scholar looked at the young man on the bed, his expression softened a bit, and he asked with concern.

“Not too bad, just sore all over.”

Li Ziye replied with a sullen face, “Damn it, I’m always plotting against others, and this time, I got outplayed.”

“You realize someone deliberately plotted against you?”

The Confucian Scholar said in surprise, looking at the two disciples beside him. Had they told the kid?

“We haven’t said anything yet.” Bai Wangyu immediately denied.

“Don’t look at them; I figured it out myself.”

Li Ziye said irritably, “I felt something was off from the start, and it wasn’t until Dantai Zhen made a move on me that I was sure. This whole setup was meant to kill me. That woman is too cruel; she made her move so quickly.”

“Brother Li, the person who attacked you that night was Dantai Zhen?” Bai Wangyu asked in surprise.

“Yeah.”

Li Ziye nodded, “He probably thought he had a surefire way to take my life, so he didn’t bother to conceal his martial arts much. I had a bout with him during the day, so I could recognize some of his martial arts style.”

“Brother Li is amazing. Master Brother and I didn’t notice it,” Wen Xiuru promptly flattered.

“Get lost!”

Li Ziye said irritably, “I fought with that Dantai Zhen for nearly two quarters of an hour, of course, I could tell. You only exchanged a few moves?”

“Cough!”

The Confucian Scholar, hearing the young man in front of him daring to call himself ‘old man’ in his presence, couldn’t help but roll his eyes and coughed.

“Master.”

Li Ziye seemed to remember there was a powerful backer here and immediately put on a look of grief and indignation, “You must stand up for me. Everyone knows that on this trip, we are all under your protection. That psycho woman dared to make a move on me; isn’t that slapping you in the face?”

“Brother Li, the one who saved you is the ‘psycho woman’ you mentioned,” Wen Xiuru reminded from the side.

“She saved me?”

Li Ziye was startled upon hearing this and didn’t react for a moment.

Why would that woman bother? First, send someone to kill him and then save him?

“Brother Li, the copper token that Sword Enthusiast gave you before we left was the token that the Great Sovereign of Dantai left with Sword Enthusiast,” Bai Wangyu explained with a smile.

It must be said that before and after Li Ziye woke up, the change in the personality of this Confucian School’s Master Brother was like night and day.

“Damn, what a coincidence?”

Hearing Little Red Riding Hood’s explanation, Li Ziye couldn’t help but curse, “I was wondering why that psycho woman would bother to save me.”

Inside the tent, the Confucian Scholar, Chen Qiao’er, and the others watched the young man’s usual unrestrained and unconventional behavior, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on their faces.

“By the way, kid, we have a task for you.”

Chen Qiao’er seemed to remember something and said, “These past few days, we’ve discussed it with the Master, and we’ve decided it’s best if you do it.”

“I’m not going.”

Li Ziye immediately showed a wary look upon hearing this, “I’m still injured and can’t do anything.”

These old folks and wicked women definitely didn’t have good intentions.

“Not going?”

Chen Qiao’er stepped forward, adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose, her eyes narrowing slightly, and said, “Are you sure?”

Seeing the dangerous glint in the woman’s eyes, Li Ziye shivered and said with less conviction, “What’s the task?”

“Just a small matter.”

Chen Qiao’er said indifferently, “When the Dantai Celestial Maiden saved you, she used twelve stone steles, very similar to the Heavenly Books of the Confucian School. Find out the origin and specific functions of those twelve stone steles. Of course, if you can manage to steal one or two of them, we’ll pretend we know nothing about it.”

“Steal? That… that doesn’t seem right, does it?”

Li Ziye’s face showed difficulty, “As an instructor of the Imperial Academy, a role model, how can I do such a thing?”