People’s hearts are easily changed

"Senior Sister…" Li Fan looked at Zhao Shijie, who was about to be summoned alone by Sect Leader Ji, her expression unreadable, and he hesitated to speak.

"Hm? Junior Brother, what's wrong?" She glanced at Li Fan and said softly, "We've faced life and death together for over a hundred years. Is there anything we can't tell each other?"

"It's nothing." Li Fan smiled freely. "Senior Sister, you should go. Remember, no matter what you do, I will support you."

Zhao Shijie smiled sweetly and walked into the Sect's main hall.

"Boom!"

The heavy doors slammed shut. Li Fan watched Zhao Shijie's disappearing back, a trace of complexity in his eyes that was hard for others to notice.

Instead of dutifully waiting outside the main hall, he returned to Penglai Peak, where he and Zhao Shijie resided, and thoroughly searched their Immortal Cave, clearing out everything of value.

Then, pretending to be on patrol, he came near the exit of the Sect-protecting formation.

Seemingly no different from any ordinary Disciple, Li Fan was actually prepared to flee at any moment.

It wasn't because Li Fan wanted to betray the Great Dao Sect, but because… during the hundred years they spent down the mountain, Li Fan had accidentally discovered that Zhao Shijie was secretly collecting the blood of Cultivators and even Mortals infected with the Immortal Plague.

Although she only took one drop each time, and her actions were extremely secretive.

But how could she escape the eyes of Li Fan, who spent every day with her?

Initially, after each blood sample collection, Zhao Shijie would fall seriously ill.

It was only with Li Fan's careful nursing and ample Medicinal Pills protecting her body that she safely pulled through.

Li Fan asked her the reason, but Senior Sister only joked that she also wanted to try reversing the principles of the Immortal Plague and directly attain Eternal Life.

Li Fan naturally didn't believe her.

However, knowing Zhao Shijie's personality, once she made a decision, even he, her Dao Companion of a hundred years, couldn't dissuade her.

So he didn't try to stop her, only telling her to "prioritize her health."

Later, she seemed to genuinely heed Li Fan's advice and gradually stopped collecting blood samples.

The intervals between her illnesses grew shorter, and the symptoms of each infection became lighter.

But Li Fan knew it was all an illusion.

Zhao Shijie had not given up her insane behavior at all.

And the reason she appeared to have no abnormalities seemed to be because she had mastered a method to isolate the effects of the Immortal Plague… These years, although they had always stayed together.

Zhao Shijie's Cultivation had grown increasingly profound, reaching a point where even Li Fan could not see through her.

The various Qi she inadvertently emitted from time to time made Li Fan secretly alarmed.

Even though he could be certain that Zhao Shijie had no intention of harming him, Li Fan still felt an inexplicable sense of crisis in his heart.

Although Zhao Shijie didn't say anything, Li Fan could guess. Her collection of so much blood containing the power of the Immortal Plague was probably to deal with Ji Changxi, the Sect Leader of the Great Dao Sect.

A century of deliberate suppression had pushed Zhao Shijie's dissatisfaction with this Sect Leader to its limit.

As the saying goes, "If you obstruct my Dao, we will never rest until one of us is dead."

Li Fan believed that the deranged Zhao Shijie was not incapable of doing such a rebellious thing.

The killing intent that flashed in her eyes when she entered the Sect's main hall not long ago was definitely not Li Fan's imagination.

"Although Ji Changxi has been in Dao Integration for over six hundred years, his Divine Abilities and profound methods are unfathomable. But he is not yet in the Eternal Life Realm."

"Judging by the talent and actual combat power Zhao Shijie has displayed, coupled with the aid of the Immortal Plague, she might not be without a chance of winning."

"But what if it's a narrow victory? Killing one Ji Changxi, there are still a dozen or so Dao Integration Elders. There are even those two reclusive Eternal Celestial Venerables to hold the line."

"Could it be that she plans to kill them all?"

Li Fan was utterly perplexed as to why Zhao Shijie would make such a decision.

Regardless of success or failure, everyone in the Great Dao Sect would know.

At that time, not only would she face the siege of the entire Sect, but Li Fan, as Zhao Shijie's Dao Companion, would likely not be spared either.

Thus, Li Fan, being prepared for anything, had made arrangements to flee early on.

As for why he wasn't leaving now, it was purely out of anticipation, hoping to see if a miracle would occur.

Time passed bit by bit.

Because Ji Changxi had previously given an order that he and the Dao Child had important matters to discuss, and no one was to disturb them.

So the Sect's main hall remained sealed.

Li Fan gazed at the mountain peak from afar, his heart growing increasingly uneasy.

Seven days later.

The doors of the main hall slowly opened, and Li Fan's breath hitched.

However, something completely unexpected happened.

Ji Changxi walked in front, Zhao Shijie behind.

The two walked out together.

"They didn't fight to the death? Was I overthinking?" Surprised, Li Fan couldn't help but squint slightly.

Not only did Zhao Shijie not make a desperate, all-out attack, but their relationship even seemed much more harmonious than before.

Even when she finally left, Ji Changxi patted her on the shoulder, as if to encourage her.

And Zhao Shijie accepted it calmly, without the slightest change in her expression.

Seeing this scene, Li Fan's heart instantly trembled, filled with many unanswered questions.

In the past, besides himself, Zhao Shijie was very averse to physical contact with others.

But now… feeling a sense of unease, many thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind.

However, there was no time to ponder them.

Li Fan first realized that he still had something undone.

He hurried back to Penglai Peak, and before Zhao Shijie returned, he put everything back in its original place.

When Zhao Shijie returned, she didn't notice any abnormalities in their Immortal Cave.

After all, they hadn't returned to this "home" for a hundred years.

"Senior Sister, we've been busy with trivial matters for a hundred years outside; it seems we haven't had any intimacy for a long time. How about…?" Li Fan tentatively extended an invitation for Dual Cultivation.

A hint of nostalgia also flashed in Zhao Shijie's eyes. Her expression was charming, and she readily agreed.

After a night of ecstasy, the doubts in Li Fan's heart couldn't help but gradually fade.

"Sect Leader summoned you this time, for what reason?" Li Fan held Senior Sister's flawless, jade-like body in his arms and asked casually.

"He said that soon, he will pass the position of Sect Leader of the Great Dao Sect to me. He wants me to prepare in advance." Zhao Shijie's tone was calm, without the slightest fluctuation.

It was as if she wasn't inheriting the position of the leader of the Ten Immortal Sects, but some kind of plaything.

But this seemingly lighthearted remark, which she completely disregarded, landed in Li Fan's ears like a thunderbolt, making his brain roar and temporarily depriving him of the ability to think.

"What about the Scripture of the Great Dao of Executing Heaven?" Li Fan, his mind blank, couldn't help but ask subconsciously.

"Hehe, the Sect Leader's exclusive Cultivation Technique, of course, will also be given back to me to cultivate," Zhao Shijie said with a light laugh, her head resting against Li Fan's chest, her fingers circling his heart area, as if she had reclaimed her beloved toy.