Once she had his promise, Liu Feiyan became remarkably cooperative.

Even the animosity and hatred in her eyes had all but vanished.

It seemed that as long as she and Fan Wei could be a pair of doomed lovers, even in death, she cared for nothing else.

Li Chang’an asked her, "What is Huang Sha True Monarch’s Cultivation?"

"Early Stage of Nascent Soul. He formed a True Soul. As for his actual strength, I’m not sure. I haven’t reached the Nascent Soul Realm, so I can’t judge it accurately."

Liu Feiyan answered slowly and truthfully.

Indeed, it was very difficult for a Golden Core Cultivator to accurately judge the strength of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Li Chang’an didn’t press her on the matter.

"Daoist Liu, what is your relationship with Fan Wei?"

He finally asked the question that had long been on his mind.

Though he had his suspicions, he wanted to hear the truth from Liu Feiyan herself.

"He and I were childhood sweethearts. We grew up in the same Mortal Realm, sought out Cultivation Immortality together, entered Mandarin Duck Valley together, and even studied under the same master..."

As she spoke of this, a flicker of sorrow crossed Liu Feiyan’s eyes.

According to her,

after she and Fan Wei both reached Foundation Establishment, they had wanted to become Daoist companions.

Unfortunately, the Saint Child of the Yellow Sand Sect at the time had taken a fancy to her. He was a ruthless man, and he threatened Fan Wei’s life to force her into becoming his Daoist companion.

That Saint Child of the Yellow Sand Sect was none other than the current Huang Sha True Monarch.

After that, Fan Wei grew disheartened. Thinking Liu Feiyan had no feelings for him, he became Daoist companions with another female cultivator.

"I see."

The story matched what Li Chang’an had suspected.

The reason so little was known about the matter in the outside world was simply because it involved Huang Sha True Monarch, a Nascent Soul Powerhouse.

Huang Sha True Monarch’s feelings for Liu Feiyan were indeed genuine. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given her so many Treasures.

But his methods were dishonorable.

However, in the Cultivation Immortality Realm, the weak were prey for the strong.

This sort of thing had happened countless times throughout the history of the Cultivation Immortality Realm.

After some more questioning, Li Chang’an brought up the matter of the key.

"Where did you get this key?"

"In a Secret Realm."

Liu Feiyan described in detail how she had obtained the key.

Of course, like Shi Hu Master, she didn’t cultivate the Ancient Wood Evergreen Technique. She didn’t know the key’s specific function, only that it felt extraordinary.

Over the years, she had tried all sorts of methods, but the key never reacted to her in the slightest.

Furthermore, she had tried to find information about the key.

She had unexpectedly learned that besides her, another disciple from the Yellow Sand Sect had also obtained a similar key.

At this, Li Chang’an’s attention sharpened.

"Oh? And who might that be? How strong are they?"

"He’s Huang Sha’s head disciple, Gu Yunqi. Right now, he’s the strongest Saint Child in the Yellow Sand Sect."

’So it’s him.’

Li Chang’an frowned. This person would not be easy to deal with.

Gu Yunqi’s strength should be comparable to Zi Xi’s, making him virtually invincible below the Nascent Soul Realm.

He must have a great many tricks up his sleeve.

Li Chang’an suspected that this man could even hold his own for a short while against a true Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Even outside the Yellow Sand Sect, killing him would be no easy feat.

Moreover, the man spent most of his time within the Yellow Sand Sect.

Li Chang’an asked, "Does Gu Yunqi have any weaknesses? Is it possible to lure him out of the Yellow Sand Sect?"

"Weaknesses... I’m not sure."

Liu Feiyan thought for a moment before shaking her head.

"However, he is in desperate need of a certain Ancient Treasure Pill. The few times he has left the Yellow Sand Sect were in search of it. If you have that pill, you might be able to lure him out."

"What Treasure Pill?"

"The Earth Cloud Yellow Sand Pill."

Liu Feiyan slowly spoke a name that was very familiar to Li Chang’an.

She continued, "Although this pill is only a Tier Three Elixir, its Pill Formula was lost long ago. It’s not in any of the alchemical lineages, and even the Tier Four Alchemist of the Yellow Sand Sect doesn’t know how to refine it."

’To think it’s that pill.’

Li Chang’an’s heart skipped a beat. As it happened, he had the Pill Formula for the Earth Cloud Yellow Sand Pill!

Previously, he had helped Qi Yao obtain the legacy of a senior Pill Master.

That legacy contained over a dozen Ancient Pill Formulas, including the one for the Earth Cloud Yellow Sand Pill.

According to the Pill Formula, the pill was suitable for cultivators with an Earth Spirit Root, and its benefits were especially pronounced for those with a Yellow Sand Spirit Body.

"Could Gu Yunqi have a Yellow Sand Spirit Body?"

"That’s right!"

Liu Feiyan gave Li Chang’an a surprised look.

"He’s exceptionally talented. His Spiritual Root is an Earth Spirit Root, and he also possesses the Yellow Sand Spirit Body. The quality of his Golden Core is Immortal. That’s how he stood out among all the Saint Children and Saintesses to become the one in the Yellow Sand Sect with the greatest hope of reaching Nascent Soul Formation."

’An Immortal Golden Core... ’

Li Chang’an pondered for a moment.

The only other Immortal Golden Core cultivators he’d known of were himself and Ye Mengxian.

And Ye Mengxian had only managed to form such a Golden Core because of her special constitution.

A Golden Core of that quality was simply too difficult to form.

Once formed, one’s strength would far surpass that of other cultivators at the same level.

’In that case, Zi Xi must also have an Immortal Golden Core. She also has an Earth Spirit Root and a Spirit Body, not to mention a Nascent Soul True Monarch for a master. Her circumstances are almost identical to Gu Yunqi’s.’

Li Chang’an decided he would find Zi Yun when he had a chance and ask about Zi Xi’s actual strength.

As Zi Xi’s own sister, Zi Yun was bound to know a great deal.

By gauging Zi Xi’s strength, he could estimate Gu Yunqi’s.

Regardless, Gu Yunqi had to be killed.

The man was already hostile toward him and also carried the last key. He had to find a way to eliminate him.

If Gu Yunqi were allowed to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm, Li Chang’an would face an even greater threat.

’In the days to come, I’ll first investigate his strength properly. At the same time, I need to figure out how to gather the Treasures required to refine the Earth Cloud Yellow Sand Pill.’

Li Chang’an had long since memorized the contents of the Earth Cloud Yellow Sand Pill’s Pill Formula.

Most of the required Treasures were quite common.

However, a few were exceptionally rare—so rare that most Golden Core Cultivators had likely never even heard of them.