"Third brother, why did you bring this person back?"
As the old woman of the Hua clan spoke, the other two men and two women in the room also looked over.
Hua Yaoyu quickly stepped forward and said, "Mother, this lord has matters to cooperate with us on."
"Lord? Cooperate?" The old woman's gaze sharpened as she glanced at Li Xuan, a hint of surprise in her eyes. This was because she sensed no spiritual energy fluctuations from Li Xuan.
Seeing this, Hua Yaoyu let out a bitter smile. His mother must have also seen Li Xuan's lack of spiritual energy, just as he had initially. Otherwise, how could Li Xuan have captured him in a single encounter?
However, Hua Yaoyu had a feeling that no matter how cautious he was, he wouldn't have been able to escape Li Xuan's methods.
"Third brother, with your strength, you can't even deal with this kid?" The eldest brother, Hua Yaorong, who stood at the front, stepped forward. As his voice fell, he looked at Li Xuan. His peripheral vision also briefly swept towards the old woman Hua clan seated above.
The Hua clan nodded slightly and then looked at Li Xuan.
"You want to cooperate with us? You'll have to show us if you have the ability!" After receiving his mother's nod, Hua Yaorong moved. His body shot out like a ferocious tiger, swiftly lunging towards Li Xuan.
"Big brother..." Hua Yaoyu cried out in alarm. But before he could finish, he saw Li Xuan, just as he had captured him before, lift his eldest brother, Hua Yaorong, with just one hand.
"Senior, please be merciful," Hua Yaoyu said with a bitter smile, while also feeling a slight sense of relief.
If Li Xuan couldn't even defeat his eldest brother, then their cooperation would have to end. However, seeing his elder brother, whose strength was even greater than his own, fall into Li Xuan's hands, Hua Yaoyu had no choice but to step forward and plead.
Li Xuan glanced at Hua Yaorong in his hand, directly let him down, and then looked at the Hua clan seated above, saying, "Now, can we discuss cooperation? Or, do you, with your Immortal Realm strength, want to try?"
The Hua clan's expression changed instantly, but soon they shook their heads with a bitter smile.
Someone who could subdue the eldest brother, Hua Yaorong, with a single hand was not someone they could contend with. After becoming a Spiritual Master, the Hua clan had long been aware of powerful beings.
At this moment, they understood that the reason they couldn't sense this person's spiritual energy fluctuations was likely due to their own weakness.
Thinking of this, the Hua clan sighed, then stood up and bowed to Li Xuan, saying, "Senior, your arrival is our oversight, please forgive us. As for this cooperation, how does Senior wish to proceed?"
"Mother, this lord said..." Hua Yaoyu began, then repeated what Li Xuan had told him earlier.
"What!"
The Hua clan and Hua Yaorong, who had recovered, were all shocked. To promise to increase their strength by one level, and to lead them into the second or even third level of the cave dwelling?
"Senior, with your strength, I naturally don't think you're joking. However, if Senior were to leave us after entering the cave dwelling, I fear we would be unable to escape the clutches of those monsters."
"And we don't know if there are other beings still in that cave dwelling. So, can Senior tell us your origins, or take an oath?" After a moment of excitement, the Hua clan quickly regained their composure and looked at Li Xuan cautiously.
"Fine. It seems you won't feel at ease without some guarantee. Since you are already Spiritual Masters, you must know of the Azure Hall. This is an Azure Hall token, which should be enough to prove my identity. Now, tell me your decision."
Li Xuan said this and took out the Seven Peaks Token, his expression showing a hint of impatience.
"Azure Hall!" Hearing these three words, the Hua clan and Hua Yaorong's expressions trembled. They exchanged glances.
If it were before, they wouldn't have known. But after becoming Spiritual Masters, the Hua clan and Hua Yaorong had specifically inquired. On the Azure Firmament Continent, the Azure Hall was the ruling power. They never expected this person to be from such a faction.
The Hua clan seemed to sigh with emotion, then bowed to Li Xuan, saying, "I never imagined Senior was from the Azure Hall. With this identity, we naturally have no more worries. As for the cooperation, it is entirely at Senior's command."
Li Xuan retracted the Seven Peaks Token and then looked at the Hua clan, saying, "I will not bully others. My previous promises still stand. Now, you can tell me the location of the cave dwelling and when it will open."
The Hua clan nodded and replied, "Back to Senior, this cave dwelling is beneath our residence. As for the time, counting down, it will begin in half an hour."
Li Xuan was stunned. He hadn't expected the Hua clan family to build their city above the cave dwelling. And Li Xuan was also surprised that the cave dwelling would open in just half an hour.
"It seems to be just right. In that case, you should adjust your states first. As for the monster, leave it to me. However, if I discover you have any other intentions, don't blame me for not warning you." Li Xuan pondered for a moment before speaking.
After all, one must guard against others. Although the Hua clan family seemed very respectful to him, who knew if someone would become greedy in the face of great treasure.
The Hua clan let out a bitter smile and replied, "Senior, please rest assured, we would not."
Li Xuan nodded, then walked to a side chair, sat down, and slowly closed his eyes.
The Hua clan family exchanged glances, and under the Hua clan's signal, Hua Yaoyu and the others also sat down cross-legged, beginning to adjust their states.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, half an hour had gone by. Li Xuan's mind moved, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Seemingly noticing a hint of confusion in Li Xuan's eyes, the Hua clan hastily said, "Senior, the cave dwelling opens on the same day every year. And the time will not deviate by more than ten minutes. Although there are no signs yet, please believe that the cave dwelling will open today."
Li Xuan nodded slowly. Just as he was about to close his eyes again, a slight vibration came from under his feet. Li Xuan sensed it, a smile flashed across his face, and he said, "It's here."
The Hua clan and others were all surprised. Then, the ground began to shake violently. The fluctuation was quick. In just over ten breaths, a cave door about three meters wide and high appeared before everyone's eyes.
Seeing this, the Hua clan's certainty grew. Li Xuan's strength was definitely greater than theirs. After all, they hadn't sensed the appearance of this fluctuation before.
"Since the cave dwelling door has opened, let's go in." As Li Xuan's voice fell, he leaped directly inside.
"Mother, we..." Seeing Li Xuan jump in, Hua Yaorong looked at the Hua clan with a hint of nervousness.
The Hua clan naturally knew what Hua Yaorong was worried about. They shook their heads and said, "Let's go in too. Since this senior dared to enter so fearlessly, he must have some means of support. If we don't go down, it will only arouse this senior's displeasure."
After speaking, the Hua clan was the first to leap into the stone door of the cave dwelling. Hua Yaorong and the others could only shake their heads helplessly and then all jumped down.
Seeing the Hua clan and the others jump down, Li Xuan, who had been waiting below for a while, smiled slightly, "I thought you wouldn't dare to come down. But since you've taken this step, my previous promise will naturally be fulfilled."
"Thank you, Senior," the Hua clan said, bowing to Li Xuan. At the same time, the Hua clan felt a slight sense of relief.
Li Xuan smiled, glanced around, and then looked at the Hua clan, saying, "It seems you've searched this first level thoroughly. Now take me directly to the second level."