Half a month later, Li An smoothly returned to the main pavilion of the Treasure Pavilion.

On the way, he also made a detour to the location of the Crocodile Pool to retrieve a few treasures he had buried there earlier.

Third Grade Spirit Medicine Green Light Herbs, Tier Three Artifact Refining Jade Stone, and two pieces of Tier Two Artifact Refining materials.

Back then, when he came to White Tiger City, Qin Xuan wanted to kill him, but Li An turned the tables, and these things fell into his hands.

They have been hidden until now.

Now that Qin Xuan and Gu Cai'Er are both gone, taking out these things naturally attracts no further inquiries and is quite safe.

Entering Celestial Yang City, his abode remained unchanged.

His "Zuo Mansion" had been managed by servants all these years and had not been occupied by others.

Today, upon his return, many in the city moved to extend congratulations.

The chief Artifact Evaluator of the Treasure Pavilion is considered a "big figure" in all of Celestial Yang City, and many Foundation Establishment cultivation forces in the city sought to befriend him.

The former owner of Yun Dao Tea House, Cai Chao, passed away more than a decade ago, and his son Cai Bin inherited the restaurant, also coming to befriend Li An.

The granddaughter of Song Mingzhang, Song Qingqing, married into a Foundation Establishment family over a decade ago.

Although Li An was far away in White Tiger City at the time, he still sent a gift through someone, and with this strong connection from Li An, Song Qingqing held a high status in her husband's family, effectively becoming the "Young Mistress," virtuous and gentle.

If Song Mingzhang knew this from the afterlife, he would rest in peace.

Even Gu Hong came to visit; after many years, her appearance remained unchanged, only her eyes showed a deeper sense of weariness. She gave Li An a Second Grade Pill as a gesture of goodwill.

Li An treated her with indifference, still not revealing his identity.

After receiving many guests.

...

The next day, Li An went to the Treasure Pavilion.

"Master Zuo, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Under the guidance of an administrator, Li An walked into the room of the new Pavilion Master, where a remarkably young, beautiful woman sat behind the table. Upon seeing Li An arrive, she warmly rose, "Please sit—"

She was the new Pavilion Master, Su Xiuwan.

Her beauty was not inferior to that of Qin Xuan in the past, and she was even younger, more enchanting, and prettier than Qin Xuan back then!

Moreover, as Li An knew, Su Xiuwan was even "close friends" with the Third Princess, yet had become King Jingbei's new "lover," gaining the trust of the Prince Mansion.

She was definitely an ally of the Third Princess!

Undoubtedly a follower of the Demon Sect.

He must be cautious when dealing with her.

Li An bowed respectfully, "Old me pays respects to the Pavilion Master!"

"I originally intended to guard White Tiger City for the Treasure Pavilion until my natural years ended, never expecting to receive the gracious promotion from the Pavilion Master, endlessly grateful, endlessly grateful..."

"Master Zuo is too modest."

Su Xiuwan smiled faintly, "By the way, there's a procedure that needs to be completed before officially becoming chief..."

"The Prince Mansion requires a check on the chief to ensure a clean selection. Master Zuo, you wouldn't mind, would you?"

Li An indeed knew about this.

A force like the Prince Mansion naturally follows strict laws; anyone holding an important position needs to be checked unless their background is well known to prevent infiltration by enemies.

"Alright."

Su Xiuwan clapped her hands, and immediately, an old man with snow-white hair entered. His face was gentle and kindly: "Chief Zuo, please close your eyes and relax—"

Li An glanced at the old man, obediently closed his eyes.

But inwardly, he was already on alert... because he had encountered the life aura of this white-haired old man before!

The very person who had once infused mysterious demonic qi into his body!

It was him.

Yet he showed no change in expression, quietly waiting.

He felt the old man's hand press against his Dantian, sensing the aura within.

Li An operated the Life Nourishing Immortal Skill, keeping the Life Seed dormant, and thus the Yin Yang Demonic Qi, blood and flesh demonic qi, and other auras in his Dantian remained hidden.

But he specifically did not conceal that mysterious demonic qi.

Because he had always tried to make his enemies think he was unaware of the mysterious demonic qi's existence. If he concealed it now, it would give him away.

Moreover, although he had refined most of that demonic qi, if he didn't actively control it, it appeared the same as before, invisible to others.

Behind the Dantian is the Spirit Platform!

These two places are the most important and fundamental for cultivators.

Li An felt his Spirit Platform was being scrutinized!

Just like when he was being inspected by White Tiger Master.

He cannot help but think this might be the main focus.

Inspecting his Primordial Spirit, checking if he had been possessed by others and so on.

In the fire of the soul, Li An's own Primordial Spirit sat cross-legged, motionless.

After a long while.

"Okay,"

The old man smiled faintly, "No problems found."

"Congratulations, Chief Zuo—"

The old man said, then informed Su Xiuwan of the situation and left.

"From today on, Master Zuo will officially assume the position of chief. Xiuwan, being new here, is not familiar with many things in the pavilion and will rely on Chief Zuo's guidance."

Su Xiuwan smiled as she naturally walked up to Li An, took out a badge, and pinned it to his chest.

The badge was made of Second Grade exotic gold and had an eaglehead design, enabling clarity of mind for the wearer.

It was a token exclusive to the chief!

"Zuo Wen will do his utmost!"

Li An spoke gratefully.

...

Returning home.

"Sure enough, very cautious..."

The mysterious demonic qi's owner clearly valued Li An highly.

Upon his return from White Tiger City, the mysterious demonic qi's owner also suspected he might have undergone some changes, so personally came forward to test.

"The target of White Tiger Mountain is the Prince Mansion..."

"Yet the owner of this mysterious demonic qi is from the third princess's faction, unbeknownst to the Prince Mansion."

Li An keenly detected the opposition within this situation.

There were three factions publicly and privately fighting!

The first was the White Tiger Mountain Demon Sect.

The second was the Prince Mansion Demon Sect!

The third was the Demon Sect from the third princess's faction!

Based on Li An's current judgment, White Tiger Mountain and the Prince Mansion are arch-enemies.

But very likely... neither side knows about the Demon Sect situation of the third princess's faction.

The mysterious demonic qi's owner is the most insidious...

The Prince Mansion wants to deal with White Tiger Mountain, and White Tiger Mountain wants to deal with the Prince Mansion. In such a scenario, the third princess's faction is actually the most terrifying.

"I need to probe the relationship between the third princess's faction and the Prince Mansion..."

Li An pondered.

He was now caught in the middle of several forces, becoming a pawn.

He must understand the tendencies and interest relations of each party.

Only then can he navigate freely while avoiding harm and seeking benefit.

...

At this moment.

In a secret chamber in Celestial Yang City.

"Li An is astute and cautious by nature; I always said, even in White Tiger City for decades, he wouldn't have been discovered by White Tiger Mountain..."

Life-taking Horse-Faced respectfully said, "Now you can rest assured."

In front of him was a faint bloody silhouette, seemingly a female figure. She said calmly:

"He indeed wasn't discovered, his Primordial Spirit remained unchanged, and the qi I left in his body only grew stronger."

"It seems my foolish sister remains adorably naive; the innate Demon Body was right before her eyes, yet she missed it..."

There was apparently a hint of mocking coldness in her eyes, "But that's fine too; if she discovered the innate Demon Body, it would only cause trouble."

"If she knew Li An is an innate Demon Body, what would she do?" Life-taking Horse-Faced asked.

"She would directly take over Li An using the Primordial Spirit Cauldron Skill." the woman replied calmly, "No one can resist the lure of an innate Demon Body..."

Life-taking Horse-Faced could not help but nod, "Next, just wait for Li An to reach the Core Formation realm..."

There was a touch of anticipation in his eyes.

Practicing two Demon Skills had left him in a very dangerous state.

Only when this senior acquired the innate Demon Body... could he be saved.

"Have Su Xiuwan keep a close eye on Li An, report every move promptly..."

The woman ordered, and then suddenly asked, "Did Li Xiaoyuan obtain that Female Cultivator of Core Formation thirty years ago?"

"Three Yang and One Yin Skill, by the calculation of time, he's bound to plot a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul."

"My foolish sister will likely act against him, though she doesn't know King Jingbei is just a decoy I casually set up."

"At that time... obtaining the Demon Body, cleaning up the house, all shall be dealt with at once."

...

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