Chapter 417: Support From All Sides

Once Priest Qian Que finalized the arrangements, he left a few priests behind to assist Priest Ai Jing. The rest of the group followed Li Ban out of Nihility State.

Having spent so long in Nihility State, they finally crossed the River of Helplessness and returned to the Nine Provinces. Feeling the rich spiritual rhinoceros suffusing the air, everyone took a deep breath.

Their bodies and minds reveled in the comfort.

Only Li Ban still felt as if two heavy stones weighed on his heart.

He kept it hidden, however. Aside from Little Cat, no one noticed anything amiss.

Cat Girl could sense that Li Ban didn't share the others' joy.

This wasn't due to sharp perception; it was pure intuition.

Still, she refrained from asking him about it in front of the others.

After leaving Nihility State, Priest Qian Que went ahead to the Unreturning Place, while Li Ban and Cat Girl took a detour to Priest Hunyou's mountaintop courtyard.

Priest Hunyou had sent word that he needed to speak with him.

Upon arriving, Li Ban found Priest Hunyou chatting and chuckling with Priest Chu Zhan of the Imperial Dynasty.

"Priest Chu Zhan, what brings you here?" Li Ban asked, stepping forward with Cat Girl to greet them.

Priest Chu Zhan smiled and stroked his beard. "Because I've successfully handed my heavy burdens over to Li Zhai, of course."

He nodded to acknowledge their greetings.

"Li Zhai reached the 9th Tier?" Li Ban asked in surprise.

That speed far exceeded his expectations.

Priest Hunyou smiled and invited everyone to sit around the stove for tea.

"Li Zhai repeatedly proved his merit during the operations against Xiao Suo, so we gave him a push," Chu Zhan explained. "His strength definitely won't match a normal 9th Tier, though. Knowing he had no hope of naturally forming a Wizard Embryo Fragment on his own, he chose to exchange his merits for the advancement."

Li Ban nodded. "There is nothing wrong with that choice."

For ordinary people, advancing naturally grew more difficult the higher they climbed. But for those with a special identity, ascending wasn't actually that hard.

Often, they would deliberately slow their progression to preserve their strength, build up their talent, and wait for better opportunities.

They didn't lack opportunities to elevate their identity; what they lacked was the possibility of becoming a Priest.

Priest Chu Zhan looked toward Cat Girl. "I never expected you to be a Priest by the time we met again. The Myriad Ancient Pagoda's luck has been entirely too good these past few years."

Hunyou chuckled. "Priest Cat Girl's current identity is an imperial inspector. If you ask me, she counts as a Priest of the Imperial Dynasty."

Cat Girl offered a reserved smile but said nothing.

She had only become a Priest because Li Ban found a Wizard Embryo Fragment for her, helping her turn a fatal crisis into an opportunity.

It wasn't wise to mention such things to outsiders; doing so would only bring trouble to Li Ban.

After a few more pleasantries, Priest Hunyou finally got to the point.

"Brother Ban, back in the Imperial Palace, I promised to compensate you with a plant-type Superior Element. Today, I have finally found one." Priest Hunyou beamed proudly, as happy as a child.

Li Ban quickly tried to refuse. "Priest Hunyou, I merely offered an item I acquired by chance; it cost me practically nothing. Given how much you've helped me, you should keep this Superior Element and fuse with it yourself."

"Absolutely not!" Priest Hunyou slapped the table. "My state of mind isn't as disciplined as yours. If you make me go back on my word, you'll force my cultivation to regress."

Priest Chu Zhan chimed in. "Brother Ban, Priest Hunyou is right. This matter has weighed on his heart for a long time. Denying him the chance to resolve this lingering attachment will truly hinder his mental cultivation."

Li Ban smiled bitterly. He truly didn't lack elements, not even Superior Elements.

Right now, he was far more eager to continue advancing his tier.

But the two men kept calling him "Brother Ban" rather than "Priest Ban," all because they remembered his camaraderie in offering the Cyan Silk Algae during the battle at the Imperial Palace.

"Thank you both for your kindness, Seniors, but I already have a few Superior Elements on hand," Li Ban said, still hoping to untie the knot in Priest Hunyou's heart. "Priest Chu Zhan has already gifted me one, and I unexpectedly obtained another while inside the Shattered Mirror. Even if you give this Superior Element to me, I won't have the opportunity to fuse with it."

Priest Hunyou waved a large hand dismissively. "That's different. How many Superior Elements do you have now, and how many did you have back then when you had just reached Spiritual Initiation? If you don't have room to fuse with it, I'll help you swap out another element you no longer need. I'm an expert at this."

Without waiting for Li Ban to speak, he smacked a small wooden box onto the table and pushed it forward.

"I've given it to you regardless. If you have too many Superior Elements, give it away, toss it around for fun, or dig a hole and plant it for all I care."

Seeing that Priest Hunyou was about to lose his temper, Li Ban hurriedly accepted the box with both hands. "Then I respectfully accept."

"Once I advance to Solar, I will fuse with it immediately."

Priest Hunyou had gone out of his way to find this Superior Element for him; how could Li Ban possibly give it away or throw it out?

Besides, Li Ban didn't actually need to swap out his other elements.

Compared to a Superior Element, the amount of spiritual rhinoceros absorbed by elements of Good Grade and below was practically negligible.

"However, Priest Hunyou, I do have a favor to ask."

"Speak."

Li Ban gestured to Cat Girl. "I'd like your help to extract the Chaotic Green Silk Algae from Cat Girl's body."

Priest Hunyou looked startled. "Why is that?"

Li Ban quickly explained, "Because of her bloodline, Cat Girl had a very hard time advancing to the 6th Tier, so she fused with the Chaotic Green Silk Algae to secure an opportunity. But now she's a Priest. With a Wizard Embryo Fragment nourishing her, she no longer faces a ceiling to her advancement. After what happened to Priest Xiu Ye, I can't feel at ease leaving a Chaos Element in her. It's better to take it out."

The two Imperial Dynasty Priests were aware of Priest Xiu Ye's fate. Exchanging a solemn glance, they nodded. "That is for the best. However, if you remove an element, you must replace it as soon as possible. Are you prepared to do so?"

Li Ban was about to say that he would prepare one for her, but Cat Girl pressed her hand over his. "I have prepared one myself."

Li Ban looked at her in surprise.

When had she prepared that?

Cat Girl proudly puffed out her chest. "I haven't been slacking off. I already have a solid lead on a Superior Element, and I'll have my hands on it very soon!"

Li Ban opened his mouth to speak, but Cat Girl raised a hand to cover it.

"I don't need your help. I know you have a lot to do. Once the Chaotic Green Silk Algae is removed, go do what you need to do. Don't keep delaying your own plans for me."

Cat Girl winked at Li Ban. "Have you forgotten? I used to be a Gold Badge assassin."

"Alright, I wouldn't dare underestimate you." Li Ban turned back to Priest Hunyou. "Priest Hunyou, I'll be heading into the Shattered Mirror a few more times. It might take a while, so I'll leave Little Cat's element in your hands. If you need anything at all, just let me know."

"Haha." Priest Hunyou laughed and pointed at Cat Girl. "Since I'm swapping her element, she'll naturally be the one paying the fee. What does that have to do with you? Hurry up and go. To think you actually tried to refuse my Superior Element just now—such blatant favoritism. Get out of here, looking at you just makes me mad."

Priest Chu Zhan stroked his beard, pressing his lips together in silent amusement.

The 'blatant favoritism' Priest Hunyou mentioned naturally referred to how Li Ban had accepted Chu Zhan's Superior Element, yet tried to decline his.