The Li Huo Sect has a notorious reputation in the area, and Ye Tian quickly found the location of the main hall after some inquiries.
In reality, it is called a main hall, but the Li Huo Sect only has this one location. After all, in a small town like this, which spans only a few hundred miles, one could easily stroll around in a day. The distinction of having multiple halls is meaningless here.
According to local residents, the Li Huo Sect is truly ruthless, committing all sorts of heinous acts without remorse. There is hardly any wrongdoing that they are not involved in.
"Thank you, old man," Ye Tian said as he cupped his hands in gratitude to the elder he had just asked for information from, preparing to turn and leave.
"Wait a moment, young man. You seem to be an outsider," the elder quickly called out to Ye Tian.
"That's right. Is there something you need, old man?" Ye Tian turned back. From the elder's tone, Ye Tian could tell that he harbored deep resentment towards the Li Huo Sect and had likely suffered at their hands.
Since Ye Tian's purpose for coming here was to take down the Li Huo Sect, he would be more than willing to help if the elder had any requests.
"I don't have any particular matters; I just wanted to ask if you're planning to eliminate this malignant tumor known as the Li Huo Sect," the elder whispered cautiously while glancing around.
Hearing this, Ye Tian frowned slightly. His past experiences had taught him to be vigilant. Although the elder seemed harmless, one could never be sure if he was an informant for the Li Huo Sect lurking among the townsfolk.
However, even if he were an informant, Ye Tian wasn't afraid. If the Li Huo Sect came looking for him, it would save him some effort.
With that thought in mind, Ye Tian nodded and smiled, saying, "That's right; I am indeed here for that purpose."
Upon hearing Ye Tian's confirmation, the elder sighed and said, "Young man, let me give you a piece of advice: while it's good to be ambitious and have made some progress in your cultivation, don't let it lead you to your own demise."
"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Ye Tian asked with slight confusion. It seemed from the elder's words that the Li Huo Sect might still possess considerable strength.
"To be honest with you, many heroes with intentions similar to yours have come here before. In the end, they either got bribed by the Li Huo Sect or were killed by them. No one has managed to eliminate them," the elder said seriously.
"Bribery?" Ye Tian was even more puzzled. It was quite normal to be harmed by the Li Huo Sect while trying to destroy it, but what did being bribed mean? Those who were willing to take risks were usually strong-willed, and this situation truly surprised Ye Tian.
"That's right, there are secrets within the Li Huo Sect, but it's not something ordinary folks like us can understand." The old man patted Ye Tian's shoulder meaningfully and added, "In any case, young man, heed my advice and don't go looking for trouble."
"Thank you, old man. But don't worry, within a day I will definitely eradicate the Li Huo Sect and bring peace to the villagers," Ye Tian thanked him again before turning to leave.
The old man watched as Ye Tian gradually disappeared around the corner, silently sighing.
"A young talent has fallen into the tiger's den..."
...
Based on the clues provided by the old man, Ye Tian quickly found the location of the Li Huo Sect's main hall.
It was situated in a mountain range fifty miles south of the town. The main hall of the Li Huo Sect was built beside a river and surrounded by mountains, boasting beautiful scenery and an ethereal quality.
To an uninformed observer, one might think that the Li Huo Sect was a holy sect that transcended worldly affairs.
Ye Tian scoffed lightly; those who pretended to be virtuous often enjoyed playing such superficial games.
He approached the entrance of the hall, where two guards came forward to greet him.
These were two robust men, appearing to be around thirty years old, handsome and tall with a certain air of heroism.
Ye Tian was taken aback, thinking that the "front" of this place was indeed well managed if even the guards looked so striking.
"Stop! May I ask what brings you here, young hero?" One of the men blocked Ye Tian's path. His voice was magnetic and extremely pleasant to hear.
Even Ye Tian felt somewhat overshadowed; he wasn't arrogant but rarely encountered a male with a more pleasing voice than his own. However, this person in front of him made him feel somewhat inadequate.
"I am not a chivalrous hero; I am here to visit your sect's leader," Ye Tian said with a friendly smile. As the saying goes, one should not strike someone who is smiling. Since the other party referred to him as a chivalrous hero, he felt it was inappropriate to act on his original intention of simply dismissing him.
The man looked Ye Tian up and down, but no matter how he examined him, he sensed two distinct energies emanating from the young man before him. One was sharp and fierce, like a sword drawn from its sheath, while the other was ethereal and elusive, often referred to as righteous energy.
Thus, he addressed Ye Tian as a chivalrous hero.
"Do you have any token of invitation?" the man asked again.
"No, I am just passing through this area. I felt that your sect has an extraordinary aura, and I thought your leader must be a remarkable figure," Ye Tian began to fabricate his story.
The man studied Ye Tian for a moment before saying, "The chivalrous hero is somewhat lacking," and then turned to report back.
"May I ask where the chivalrous hero hails from?" another person began to converse with Ye Tian.
"I come from Divine Wood County; I am a wandering cultivator," Ye Tian replied with a smile.
"Not quite; you seem to come from a prestigious sect," the man remarked.
"Oh?" Ye Tian feigned surprise, thinking to himself that this person had quite an eye.
"The aura around you is something ordinary people do not possess; it must be influenced by a renowned sect," the man said with a smile, revealing two rows of neat white teeth.
"You are mistaken; I truly am just a wandering cultivator," Ye Tian insisted. He did not want to reveal that he was a disciple of Cloud Sea Sect because his thoughts had changed. This Li Huo Sect seemed quite different from what he had imagined, and he was eager to explore further.
Of course, the notion of being different did not imply that he believed Li Huo Sect was malevolent; rather, their ability to disguise themselves was exceptional. This piqued Ye Tian's curiosity and sparked his desire to see just how vast the gap between their outward appearance and inner reality truly was.
While they were engaged in casual conversation, the person who had gone to report returned, accompanied by a woman.
The woman was very beautiful and slender, dressed in a thin veil. As she walked, her figure could be faintly seen, exuding an enchanting allure.
She approached Ye Tian, gave a slight bow, and said, "Young Master, you have waited long."
As she spoke, her eyes were intentionally or unintentionally sizing up Ye Tian. However, he did not feel as if he were being scrutinized for his strength; instead, he felt an odd sensation as if he were being admired like a piece of porcelain.
"Could it be that the Li Huo Sect only values appearances?" Ye Tian thought to himself, but he politely replied, "I dare not impose; it is I who am intruding upon your esteemed sect."
"Please, Young Master," the Seductive Woman said as she stepped aside and gestured for him to enter.
Ye Tian nodded in acknowledgment and stepped inside. Only then did the Seductive Woman follow him, walking side by side. The faint fragrance enveloped Ye Tian, causing his mind to waver.
"Hmm?" Ye Tian suddenly became alert. Although the woman was enchanting, he had no interest in her; why did he suddenly feel his mind swaying?
"Could it be... this scent is an aphrodisiac?"
Realizing this, Ye Tian quietly released a bit of Spiritual Energy, and immediately his mind cleared. The Seductive Woman remained unaware as they continued to converse casually.
It must be said that the Li Huo Sect was quite unique, with intricately carved halls and bridges, artificial hills, and an abundance of exotic flowers and plants. Even in winter, they still bloomed vibrantly.
"The scenery of your sect is delightful; being able to cultivate here again must greatly benefit one's progress," Ye Tian remarked sincerely as he surveyed the surroundings. A pleasant environment always contributes positively to cultivation.
"You flatter me, Young Master," the Seductive Woman replied with a gentle smile, her eyes sparkling.
Ye Tian responded with a calm smile of his own.
"This young man has a very firm mind," the Seductive Woman thought to herself in surprise. She did not expect someone so young—barely seventeen or eighteen—to possess such steadfastness; the seductive fragrance seemed to have no effect on him.
"Hehe, but even if you have a heart of steel and the wisdom of Buddha, when you meet the Sect Leader later, you might still be captivated."
As they walked slowly, Ye Tian was keen to explore the serene and elegant scenery of the Li Huo Sect. Moreover, he wanted to find some clues since the old man had mentioned that the Li Huo Sect often captured strong men and young boys and girls.
However, in the end, he still gave up, because on the surface, the Li Huo Sect really had no flaws to speak of. Even the disciples there were quite polite, each behaving like a gentleman.
Before him was another corridor, and upon seeing Ye Tian and the Seductive Woman, the guards bowed and greeted them with warm smiles.
This was yet another handsome guard; counting the two who had been at the gate earlier, Ye Tian had seen a total of twenty-four male guards along the way, all of whom were exceptionally good-looking.
"What is going on? Could it be that the leader of the Li Huo Sect has a preference for delicate relationships?" Ye Tian couldn't help but think of Hu Lue from Black Wind Stronghold.
Thinking of Hu Lue naturally led him to recall Fan Fenglin, who later became his friend. This guy had fallen into a coma after the Crimson Dragon incident, and later Ye Tian was thrown into the Golden Blood Blood Pool. By the time he was reborn, Fan Fenglin had already vanished without a trace.
"Sigh, I wonder how Brother Fan is doing now." Ye Tian sighed inwardly; life is unpredictable. Reflecting on the present and then on the past truly made him feel that everything had changed.
"Young Master, I haven't asked for your esteemed name yet," the Seductive Woman suddenly spoke up, her tone soft and gentle, as if a layer of mist had enveloped them.
"My surname is Ye, with just one character for my given name: Tian. May I ask how to address you, Miss?" Ye Tian always introduced himself by his real name. At this moment, facing the Seductive Woman's obvious flirtation, he chose to follow her lead.
After all, if he kept others at arm's length, it would surely raise suspicion.
"I have no name; I only have a title given by the sect: Late Blooming Fragrance," the Seductive Woman chuckled lightly. Her snow-white skin was faintly visible beneath the Thin Veil, and her bosom was like a piece of white jade ready to emerge, truly enchanting.
"Late Blooming Fragrance?" Ye Tian silently repeated in his mind. This name combined with the Seductive Woman's alluring demeanor easily led men to indulge in their fantasies.
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