[Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - 23

Chapter One:

Baoning Temple sits on a lake, surrounded by tall trees such as camphor, ginkgo, purple nanmu, pine, and maple. The wind rustles through the leaves. Although it is early summer, the temple's shadowy trees offer a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the world; a cool breeze rises from the verdant pines and cypresses, making it a rare summer retreat. Moss

grows on the rocks of the release pond, its delicate roots winding along the crevices of the artificial rockery; verdant branches spread out, casting patches of deep green shade on the walls. Several carp swim freely in the pond, releasing tiny bubbles, creating a scene of serene tranquility, like a secluded paradise.

Cheng Zongyang stands by the pond, yet feels a chill run down his spine. Jian

Yuji walks along the pond, her graceful figure like a delicate orchid, but her reflection is nowhere to be seen on the surface of the water, even though she is so close!

This unexpected discovery plunged Cheng Zongyang into an ice cellar, his blood seemingly frozen. A form before him, yet no reflection in the water—could ghosts truly exist? Was the woman before him a living person, or a formless demon?

Cheng Zongyang stared wide-eyed as if he'd seen a ghost, barely daring to breathe. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he sent a wisp of true energy to his forehead—the Life and Death Root was incredibly sensitive to the aura of death. If what lay before him was merely a lifeless ghost, the Life and Death Root would surely sense it, perhaps even allowing him to control it, like the corpse-devouring puppets the Yu sisters had wielded!

Jian Yuji walked slowly, her fairy-like figure still elegant. Looking only at her back, no one would suspect that such a beautiful figure concealed boundless demonic power.

Suddenly, Jian Yuji stopped, and the zither she held emitted a clear, melodious sound.

On the other side of the hall, Ximen Qing, with a gentle smile, nonchalantly toyed with his small white-bone umbrella. No blood was seen from the wounds on his shoulder and chest inflicted by the fan ribs; his face was pale and dark, yet his expression remained composed, as if the one caught in the trap was his opponent, not him.

Qin Hui stood with his hands behind his back about ten feet in front of him, keeping Ximen Qing and the witch at a distance. Two barbarian warriors stood on either side of Ximen Qing. Jin Wuzhu's leather shoulder armor had been torn to shreds by the withered tree beast, and the areas on his shoulders pierced by dry branches were a bloody mess. The blue-faced beast's nose was broken, and blood dripped continuously from its face, running down its sharp fangs, making it appear even more ferocious and monstrous.

Both sides glared at each other, but each hesitated to act, fearing for their own safety. For a moment, neither side made a move.

Then, a long laugh rang out from behind the hall. Before the laughter had even subsided, everyone in the hall sprang into action. It wasn't Qin Hui who made the first move, but the Blue-Faced Beast. His spear was best suited for long-range attacks. The moment Cheng Zongyang's laughter rang out, his spear emitted a low whistle that tore through the air, aiming straight for Ximen Qing's throat.

Ximen Qing, having repeatedly unleashed his blood sacrifice, was already at his limit, especially with Qin Huizhi standing beside him, clearly superior. The Heavenly Demon Umbrella flashed and then retracted, deflecting the Blue-Faced Beast's spear tip. He shifted sideways, leaping towards the wall, letting out a warning shriek.

The Witch Granny's large body pressed down like a dark cloud, her gleaming guillotine aimed straight for Qin Hui's nape. Qin Hui, as if blown away by the wind, parried with his right thumb, then extended it to catch the Witch Granny's guillotine. This seemingly simple gesture was delivered with full force; the scar on the Witch Granny's face turned crimson as if on fire, and she abruptly took a step back.

By the release pond, Jian Yuji twirled with effortless elegance, saying calmly, "So you finally saw through it?"

A cold sweat broke out on Cheng Zongyang's back, but he tried to remain calm, forcing a dry laugh, "My mortal eyes cannot discern the fairy's transformation."

Guo Huai, dressed as an old servant, coughed softly, "Impressive illusion." With a flick of his sleeve,

the graceful body before him dissipated like smoke, and from an angle completely unexpected by Cheng Zongyang, a jade hand emerged, followed by a smooth, jade-like arm. This was a woman he had never seen before! At a glance, four words flashed through Cheng Zongyang's mind: bright eyes and white teeth, flawless skin and jade-like bones, unparalleled beauty, and breathtaking allure!

The woman stood in mid-air, her hair piled high, her beautiful face a blend of dignity and charm, her almond eyes deep as abyss, gleaming with wisdom. She was tall, her skin glowing like a goddess, yet the clothes she wore made Cheng Zongyang feel a burning pain, as if seeing fire.

A necklace of gold rings adorned her neck, its brilliance shimmering against her snow-white skin. A golden armor draped down her smooth cleavage, transforming into two golden heart-shaped plates at her chest, tightening at her areolas and concealing half of her full, snow-white breasts. Beneath the golden armor, the other half of her snow-white flesh was exposed, displaying perfect roundness, trembling gently with her breath, round and elastic.

From her nipples to her lower abdomen, the woman's jade-like body was completely naked, her skin flawless like exquisite ivory; her waist and hips were exquisitely curved, instantly arousing lustful thoughts. Between her legs, like a warrior's belt buckle, fastened a gleaming golden beast head. Surprisingly, the metal buckle had no strap, resting directly between her smooth, jade-like thighs.

Her legs were long and graceful, her skin as smooth and white as jade. From the side, her slender toes led down to her long, beautiful legs, then to her full, snowy buttocks, her slender waist, and her delicate neck… all her skin was completely exposed from head to toe, without the slightest concealment.

The metal buckle below her abdomen reminded Cheng Zongyang of C-strings. He hadn't expected that there would be such fashionable women in the Six Dynasties. Women who could wear C-strings not only had the courage to expose themselves, but also the means to do so. While the elastic plastic products of his time were one thing, this woman easily wore a heavy metal buckle on her naked lower body. One could easily imagine the contours of her body: a firm vulva, a pert buttocks, a stunningly beautiful form that could drive men mad.

She held a long, gleaming sword in one hand, her white, beautiful feet dangling in mid-air, her toes slightly drooping. Her exquisite feet possessed a breathtaking beauty, hovering like a fairy a few feet above Cheng Zongyang's side. No wonder he couldn't see her reflection in the pool. He'd only seen her once before, and couldn't even remember her exact features. It turned out he'd only seen an illusion.

The figure Jian Yuji conjured with her illusion was already breathtakingly beautiful, but her true form was even more beautiful than Cheng Zongyang could have imagined. Compared to the delicate beauty of her illusion, her true form was radiant, dazzling with every glance, captivating all who looked away. Especially her full, snowy buttocks, enough to drive any man to ecstasy.

Unfortunately, only Cheng Zongyang was present; the other was… the imperial eunuch!

Faced with the fiery body, Guo Huai's bark-like old face remained expressionless. His withered hand emerged from his sleeve, poised to peck forward like a bird's beak.

Jian Yuji's figure shifted, the surrounding air subtly rippling, condensing into a wisp of smoke-like gauze, then turning opaque white, concealing her fleetingly alluring body before fluttering away in the wind.

Cheng Zongyang's laughter was abruptly cut off, filling Qin Hui with an ominous premonition. He forced the witch away with a single move, abandoning his pursuit of Ximen Qing, and immediately leaped onto the temple roof.

As his toes touched the eaves, Qin Hui saw a woman in white, carrying a zither, rise gracefully from behind the hall like a soft cloud. Her sash fluttered at her waist, her ethereal figure like a fairy descending from heaven, her graceful form possessing indescribable elegance and charm—it was Jian Yuji, who had appeared in the hall earlier.

In that instant, Qin Hui suddenly heard Cheng Zongyang shout, "Be careful!"

Jian Yuji smiled sweetly, her graceful figure brushing past him, composed and undisturbed, seemingly posing no threat whatsoever. Qin Hui suddenly felt a subtle killing intent pierce him like a needle. He flicked his sleeve, sending a wolf-hair brush flying towards Jian Yuji's heart, before it shot into the air.

Seeing the wolf-hair brush pass effortlessly through Jian Yuji's body, Qin Hui realized his grave mistake—despite being from the Black Demon Sea lineage, he had been completely fooled by her skillful illusions.

The Black Demon Sea Witch Sect was renowned for its various unbelievable witchcraft techniques, and its secret arts could be divided into four major schools: Demon Transformation, Illusion, Ghost Control, and God Bewitchment. Illusion included techniques such as Concealment and Shadow Manipulation, which allowed the manipulation of light and shadow to conceal one's presence; the pinnacle of illusion was creating illusory bodies, making them appear as if they were right before one's eyes.

Having lost the initiative, Jian Yuji could strike at any moment, and he hadn't even detected her true location.

In a battle between masters, life and death hang by a thread; at this critical juncture, Qin Hui unleashed his trump card, shattering a jade box with a bang.

A layer of dark blue mist emanated from Qin Hui's sleeve; sunlight filtering through the leaves instantly turned a ghastly green upon contact with the poisonous mist. The poison entered his skin, causing his muscles to instantly lose elasticity; Qin Hui's long, powerful fingers quickly turned grayish-black, losing their luster.

A gust of wind approached from an angle Qin Hui hadn't anticipated, its force far exceeding his expectations. By now, the poison had entered his bloodstream, and Qin Hui's limbs became stiff as iron. Jian Yuji's longsword pierced his back, producing a crisp, metallic sound.

Forced by the impact, Qin Hui's body plummeted, and with a crash, tiles scattered from the temple roof as he smashed through the roof like a block of iron, slamming into the lotus pedestal of the Buddha statue. The immense impact shattered half of the lotus platform, burying Qin Hui beneath the rubble, his fate unknown.

A sharp clang rang out from the main hall as a blade sliced through the bricks and tiles like wood, its chilling aura freezing the rooftop within a foot's radius. With a powerful push, Cheng Zongyang leaped onto the hall's roof and lunged at Jian Yuji.

Jian Yuji, clad in white, swiftly retreated, her toes barely touching a roof ridge beast, as if riding the wind.

A few feet away from Jian Yuji, Cheng Zongyang abruptly stopped, then spun around like a top, sending dozens of shards of tile flying like arrows in all directions. Tiles that struck Jian Yuji passed directly through her, while others that hit empty air exploded violently.

Without hesitation, Cheng Zongyang slashed at the empty space with his blade! A soft laugh echoed from the void, and a longsword flicked out, striking the side of the Dragon-Slaying Saber. Cheng Zongyang's palm felt as if it had been struck by a hammer; the Dragon-Slaying Saber almost flew from his hand.

His dantian spun rapidly, stabilizing his stance, and then he unleashed the full power of the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber. Jian Yuji's eyes widened in surprise, letting out a soft "Eh," seemingly astonished by Cheng Zongyang's rapid advancement in cultivation.

Wu Erlang's Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber was already fierce, but now, wielded with the indestructible Dragon-Slaying Saber, it was like adding wings, multiplying its power several times over. Even Jian Yuji had to temporarily evade its attack.

Ximen Qing was in a sorry state under the combined attack of Jin Wuzhu and the Blue-Faced Beast. If it weren't for the fact that all three were injured, increasing the chances of openings in their attacks, they would have already been wounded by the two beast-like warriors.

Ximen Qing's screams grew increasingly shrill, almost crying out, "Fairy, save me!"

Without Qin Hui's interception, Granny Wu didn't immediately offer assistance. Instead, she turned and stormed into the main hall, wielding her guillotine and delivering three brutal blows to Qin Hui, who was buried under the rubble. Even an iron man would be cleaved into four pieces. Only then did she leap out, hissing, "My lord, don't panic! I'm here!" Granny Wu leaped to the side, bumping into a dusty figure.

Guo Huai, dressed as an old servant, coughed softly and extended his right hand, his four fingers together, thumb spread, and fingertips bent—a rare "Dragon Claw Hand " technique in the martial world.

Although Granny Wu didn't know the identity of this servant-like old man, she immediately recognized the power of his claw attack. She pushed off with her feet, shattering several bluestones to steady herself, and then raised her blade to block Guo Huai's claw.

With a clang, Guo Huai's four fingers pierced through the blade, twisting the steel guillotine like a braid.

Jian Yuji shouted, "Go!"

Even the fierce Wu Mama, upon hearing this, stopped fighting. She threw down her hoe, turned, and fled. Guo Huai subtly dodged, blocking Wu Mama's path. Wu Mama howled, unleashing a barrage of punches at Guo Huai like a storm. Then she turned and fled again, this time bursting into the main hall and breaking through the wall at the back. Guo Huai pursued her relentlessly, soon forcing Wu Mama to turn back.

Ximen Qing used his agile skills to dodge swiftly in the confined space. Jin Wuzhu, with a shoulder injury, found it difficult to wield his heavy hammer, so he simply slung it behind his waist, fighting Ximen Qing like a beast, relying on his powerful claws.

Ximen Qing faced repeated dangers; soon, half of his brocade robe was torn by Jin Wuzhu's beastly claws, and one of his arms was almost ripped off. He aggravated his injury and coughed up blood. Seeing the two barbarian warriors' attacks weave a net of destruction, leaving him nowhere to escape even with his agility, Ximen Qing suddenly sank his feet into the ground like nails, refusing to retreat an inch. He then ripped open his robes, revealing his pale chest, and roared, "Who dares to kill me! (Advertisement: Still relying on your hands? How can that be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! Healthy anti-premature ejaculation masturbation exerciser, real oral sex pleasure experience, hot recommendation! Maintain ejaculation sensation for 30 minutes, so pleasurable you'll faint! Fully automated masturbation with 12 different sex positions and vibration frequencies. Click to enter!)"

Ximen Qing's skin ripped open, and a wolf's claw suddenly emerged from his chest, gripping the blue-faced beast's elbow, which was as large as a bull's head, leaving three deep gashes on his arm.

Amidst the blue-faced beast's screams, Jin Wuzhu shoved him aside with his shoulder, swung his heavy hammer, and slapped it at Ximen Qing's head like swatting a fly.

Granny Wu was intercepted by Guo Huai and was preoccupied with her own survival. Before joining the Cheng clan of Panjiang, Jin Wuzhu was the leader of the Beast Barbarian Camp. His peak fifth-level cultivation was comparable to Wu Erlang in the Southern Wilderness. With a single blow, he shattered the wolf claws on Ximen Qing's chest, leaving him a bloody mess. Blood

spurted from Ximen Qing's mouth and nose. He had exhausted all his skills and was now struggling against Jin Wuzhu's heavy blows, on the verge of death.

"Thus have I heard! Once an oath is sworn, all directions will see it, and heaven and earth will respond." Jian Yuji's clear voice was like a zither melody, yet her words were sharp as knives. "Old monk, are you going to break your oath?"

"Hahahaha!" A hearty laugh came from outside the wall, followed by a loud thud as someone kicked a large hole in the earthen wall overlooking the lake. The "dead monk" strode in, rubbing his bald head with one hand and pulling up his trousers with the other, and said arrogantly, "What are you saying, Fairy? This old monk just needed to relieve himself. You can ask Shan'er if you don't believe me!"

Jing Shan coldly stared at the sky as if she didn't recognize him.

The sudden return of the supposedly dead monk, who had already left, filled Cheng Zongyang with both anger and hatred. These old bastards were indeed all the same! The "dead monk" had pretended to relieve himself, but in reality, he was using this as a pretext to observe from the sidelines, having been listening intently outside the wall. Now, exposed by Jian Yu Ji, he jumped out to reap the rewards. Jian Yu Ji and Eunuch Guo shared the same idea, using their superior forces against the inferior ones, picking on the weakest to eliminate their opponents first.

Jian Yu Ji had left Qin Hui in a state of life or death with one move, and Guo Huai was also confident in defeating the witch, expecting to take the shrew's life in two or three more moves. Guo Huai's strategy was perfectly reasonable. As long as Cheng Zongyang could hold off Jian Yuji for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Granny Wu would surely die; once Granny Wu was dead, Ximen Qing would be trapped like a caged bird—but how easy would it be to hold off Jian Yuji? If Jian Yuji hadn't unintentionally harmed him, and if the power of the Dragon-Slaying Saber hadn't been so great that even she couldn't withstand its sharpness, he would probably have died even faster than Granny Wu. Damn it, couldn't that dead eunuch have foreseen this earlier, which is why he let him fight Jian Yuji to the death?

Jian Yuji sneered, "Although your cultivation has improved, young master, your swordsmanship is not your forte. This Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber has the form but not the spirit."

Cheng Zongyang's face flushed slightly. He wasn't someone who put a lot of effort into martial arts; his real hard training was during the few days when Meng Laoda forced him to attend classes in Qingzhou. He had specifically borrowed the Dragon-Slaying Saber for this life-or-death battle with Jian Yuji, intending to erase his reputation as a battlefield junk king. However, while the Dragon-Slaying Saber was powerful, there was only one. Originally a dual-wielder, he was forced to use a single saber, which felt awkward no matter how he wielded it. As a result, Jian Yuji saw right through him. It felt like borrowing a suit and shoes to meet his future mother-in-law, only to be exposed as completely ill-fitting – a truly embarrassing situation.

Enraged, Cheng Zongyang roared, "You bitch! Try taking my blade!"

Jian Yuji's longsword slashed diagonally, directly blocking the Dragon-Slaying Saber's furious attack, but slightly shifting the blade to avoid its sharpness. Cheng Zongyang felt relieved. He had thought Jian Yuji was invincible, but it turned out she was wary of the Dragon-Slaying Saber's sharpness. Without hesitation, Cheng Zongyang unleashed a wide, sweeping attack with the Dragon- Slaying Saber, its blade flashing as it hurtled towards Jian Yuji.

Compared to the Dragon-Slaying Saber's ferocious power, Jian Yuji's swordsmanship was like that of an ethereal fairy, light and graceful, possessing an indescribable mystical quality. Although Cheng Zongyang's Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade was fierce and sharp, it couldn't even touch the hem of her clothes.

Suddenly, the blade twitched, and a wisp of true energy, like a spider's thread, burrowed into his arm. Cheng Zongyang's true energy surged, neutralizing all her attacks. At this moment, the energy wheel in his dantian suddenly stagnated, followed by an overwhelming pressure emanating from his opponent. Jian Yuji seemed to transform into a sharp sword, pressing down on Cheng Zongyang until

he could barely breathe. The old monk, who had fought Cheng Zongyang like a sick duck on the verge of death, now transformed into a gyrfalcon against Jin Wuzhu. He laughed and flew forward, spreading his arms in mid-air like an eagle spreading its wings. One arm swept away Jin Wuzhu's planted bone, while the other grabbed Ximen Qing and threw him backward, shouting, "Catch!"

Jing Shan ignored him, flashing into the fray, leaving Ximen Qing to fall headfirst to the ground, instantly losing consciousness. The deceased old monk quickly glanced back, then clasped his hands together in reassurance, saying with a benevolent expression, "Amitabha, well done, well done."

Blood streamed from the blue-faced beast's elbow, but now, enraged, he ignored his injury, his mane flying wildly as his spear rained down countless cold stars at the old monk's bald head. The deceased old monk roared, throwing a punch at the spearhead, seemingly intending to use his formidable cultivation to directly confront the blue-faced beast's spear. However, his right leg twisted cunningly, and he aimed his knee at the blue-faced beast's shin. If this knee struck, even if the blue-faced beast was a true wild beast, it would surely cripple one of its legs.

"My Buddha—" the deceased old monk cried out in agony, clutching his foot, but before he could even unleash his attack, Jing Shan's disciple stepped on his instep and twisted it hard.

The Blue-Faced Beast, having narrowly escaped a broken leg, refused to accept any thanks, proudly proclaiming with blood streaming from his nose, "I am the invincible warrior of the beast race! Blue-Faced Beast! In the prime of my life! Unmarried!"

Jin Wuzhu kicked him in the back of the knee, sending him sprawling, his furry claws blocking a straight punch from the dead old monk.

The dead old monk, Jin Wuzhu, and the Blue-Faced Beast fought a chaotic battle. His techniques were peculiar; his body was as supple as noodles, and he attacked with incredible force from unbelievable angles. Both Jin Wuzhu and the Blue-Faced Beast possessed level five strength, naturally gifted and incredibly strong, yet they couldn't gain the upper hand against the old monk's attacks. If it weren't for Jing Shan's interventions at several dangerous moments, they would likely have been injured by the old monk long ago.

Once again, Jing Shan tripped him up, and the dead old monk's sure-fire palm strike missed by a hair's breadth, allowing the Blue-Faced Beast to dodge. The old monk angrily declared, "I'm done fighting! I'm done fighting!" and turned to leave.

Only Jin Wuzhu, the Blue-Faced Beast, and Jing Shan remained on the field. Although they were enemies, neither side had any fighting spirit. Jing Shan's face was ashen. Jin Wuzhu and the Blue-Faced Beast, these two burly beasts, puffed out their chests and bellies, barking and brandishing in front of her, raising their arms and hooking their fists like in a war dance, displaying their muscles and trying their best to show their masculine aura.

Jing Shan was both annoyed and amused. After a while, she said, "This is not your battlefield. Go back."

The Blue-Faced Beast puffed out his chest and said, "I am the invincible warrior of the beast race! Blue-Faced Beast! In the prime of your life! Not yet..."

Jin Wuzhu kicked him to the ground, leaning on his giant hammer and said, "I! Jin Wuzhu! What race are you?"

Jing Shan snorted coldly and turned away, giving him the back of the head.

The two beastmen's fight with the old monk was thrilling but without serious consequences, but Cheng Zongyang encountered a big problem. Jian Yuji's sword energy surged, and her true energy surged like giant waves. Although Cheng Zongyang had the Dragon-Slaying Saber in his hand, he was still completely suppressed.

Although Cheng Zongyang knew that Jian Yuji was wary of the Dragon-Slaying Saber's sharpness and was relying on brute force, if he retreated even slightly, Jian Yuji's true energy would be unstoppable and could directly kill him. Left with no other choice, Cheng Zongyang could only grit his teeth and endure, ultimately abandoning his strengths and turning it into a war of attrition, a contest of internal energy.

Under immense pressure, the energy wheel in his dantian spun at an almost frantic speed, the tiny, shimmering lights that had coalesced into a wheel rapidly dimming, and his true energy quickly dissipating. Although the energy wheel could be replenished after meditation, this time, Cheng Zongyang didn't know if he had enough luck to hold on until the end.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, a sudden, sharp pain shot through his dantian. Cheng Zongyang was horrified to discover that the energy wheel had exhausted its last bit of true energy, almost completely depleted. Although he had expected it, the speed at which his true energy was being consumed still exceeded his expectations. Through internal observation, he could see his dantian becoming increasingly thin, the rotating energy wheel changing from a bright white to a pale red, like a flickering candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

Cheng Zongyang gritted his teeth, struggling to hold on. Just a little longer, just a little longer, and he could get through this…

The color of his Qi Wheel gradually dimmed, turning a dark red like an extinguished candle; in the instant it almost went out, the Qi Wheel suddenly expanded. If this scene had occurred during normal cultivation, Cheng Zongyang would have assumed it was an imminent breakthrough, the Qi Wheel swelling dramatically, and his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds. However, at this moment, there was only one possibility: his true essence was exhausted, and he was about to perish.

This wasn't a change in the Qi Wheel, but a harbinger of its explosion.

A fine layer of sweat simultaneously seeped from Cheng Zongyang's forehead and the tip of his nose. If the Qi Wheel exploded, there was a more than 90% chance he would die on the spot. If he were incredibly lucky and encountered the less than 10% chance, he would probably become a cripple.

There was no other possibility.

At this moment, Cheng Zongyang had only one thought: "Why isn't anyone dying! No matter who dies, as long as someone dies, the Root of Life and Death can capture the death energy, allowing him to hold on for a little longer!" The Dragon-Slaying Saber in Cheng Zongyang's hand seemed to weigh over a thousand pounds, and the true energy attacking through the blade seemed endless, without a moment's respite.

Suddenly, his lips were wet, and a string of warm blood dripped from his nose. Cheng Zongyang gritted his teeth, desperately activating his Qi Wheel, his thoughts racing. Perhaps it was in the face of life and death that his mind was exceptionally clear. At the instant the Qi Wheel exploded, Cheng Zongyang's heart stirred, and he made a startling move.

He abruptly dispersed all his true energy, allowing the true energy attacking him from Jian Yuji to rush straight in and attack his dantian. The fragile Qi Wheel shattered easily like a blown-up balloon, and blood gushed from Cheng Zongyang's mouth and nose at the same time. In the excruciating pain that was almost the point of losing all his power, he did only one thing—he guided the chaotic energy in his dantian into the Root of Life and Death!

The death energy absorbed by the Root of Life and Death flows unidirectionally into the dantian. Now, taking advantage of Jian Yuji's attack, Cheng Zongyang recklessly reversed his true energy, directing it from the dantian to the Root of Life and Death. With a knife-like pain, the shattered Qi Wheel touched the Root of Life and Death, causing it to suddenly cave in. Cheng Zongyang's face contorted, enduring the drastic changes within his body with superhuman willpower.

In the chaos, something the size of a pinhead seemed to appear within his dantian. Even with internal vision, its shape and details were imperceptible, but its existence was undeniable. Because the Qi Wheel was shattered, the tiny specks of light flowing in the Qi Sea were all attracted by this thing, indiscriminately sucked in regardless of size or shape. The speed at which this thing attracted energy increased rapidly, and then the true essence scattered throughout the meridians and acupoints, the true energy attacked by Jian Yuji, and even the indistinguishable aura permeating the world outside, were all sucked in.

Cheng Zongyang clearly saw Jian Yuji's astonished expression. He was overjoyed to have made this cunning and ruthless man lose his composure, but alas, he couldn't laugh. He felt his blood and energy being devoured by that thing. If Jian Yuji stopped now, she wouldn't even need to lift a finger to witness his laughable demise as a cloud of blood mist.

Suddenly, an overwhelming chill surged from his arms into his dantian. It was so powerful, its tidal wave-like momentum far exceeding his cultivation level, and it was also incredibly cold, freezing his meridians along the way. Cheng Zongyang's gushing nosebleed froze instantly, hanging in a strange shape on his face, while the Dragon-Slaying Saber in his hand trembled slightly as if awakened. Then, a long roar echoed in his mind, a roar that seemed to have cycled through countless ages in the vastness!

It was a dragon's roar! This was the only thought in Cheng Zongyang's mind.

Chapter Two:

That thing that seemed to devour everything finally reached its limit. The next moment, a chakra suddenly appeared in his depleted dantian. It was much dimmer than the original chakra, but it contained several times more true essence. What surprised Cheng Zongyang even more was its far more chaotic and disorganized state than he had imagined, as if the entire Qi Sea had returned to the primordial chaos of the universe, with surging Qi constantly gathering and finally condensing into true Qi anew.

At the same time, the Dragon-Slaying Saber in his hand seemed to lighten considerably—not in weight, but a purely instinctive sensation. To illustrate, imagine a hard drive filled with various types of adult films, rich in profound and weighty content, suddenly formatted, leaving it pale and lifeless. However, the blade remained unchanged, its edge still sharp, retaining its invincible edge.

"What is that?" A rare hint of gravity lingered in Jian Yu Ji's voice.

"Want to know?" Cheng Zongyang stepped back, taking the opportunity to regulate his breathing, and shouted sharply, "Kneel down and ask my bird!"

Jian Yu Ji's watery gaze fixed on him, and without hesitation, she raised her sword to strike.

Having just escaped death, Cheng Zongyang now confidently swung the Dragon-Slaying Saber, inwardly shouting: "

Damn it!"

The moment he channeled his energy, Cheng Zongyang cried out in agony; the true energy he had painstakingly cultivated was more than ten times more chaotic. Besides the familiar aura within his energy chakra, a whole host of incomprehensible things had appeared around the tiny points of light in his energy wheel. Although his true essence was several times more abundant, the mutual restraint meant he could use less true energy than before. If the Dragon-Slaying Saber hadn't remained as sharp as ever, this

single strike would have embarrassed him on the spot. Jian Yuji sneered, her swordplay shifting from its previous elegance to a sudden ferocity. With this shift in power, Cheng Zongyang found it increasingly difficult to cope, even with the divine might of the Dragon-Slaying Saber, he found it harder and harder to defend himself. The change in his dantian had only occurred in the blink of an eye. Cheng Zongyang secretly calculated that it wouldn't be long before he, this inferior horse, was killed by the superior.

What worried Cheng Zongyang even more was the situation outside the temple. Judging by the time, Yi Biao and the others should have arrived long ago, but there was still no movement. Even a fool could guess that Jian Yuji had another plan; besides the temple, she had hidden an ambush! Although his direct battalion couldn't compare to the veterans of Xingyue Lake, their training had made them far more refined than ordinary martial arts masters. Even the loss of just one would be a painful blow.

Seeing his inferior horse about to stumble before Guo Huai's reinforcements arrived, Cheng Zongyang didn't hesitate. He took out a black and white jade pendant and smashed it down, shouting, "Old thief Lin! Get out here!"

Jian Yuji's attack paused slightly upon hearing this, then she flew backward like a bird, creating several feet of distance.

Cheng Zongyang grinned maliciously. The jade pendant shattered into eight pieces with a thud, but after a full minute, there was still no movement!

Cheng Zongyang was dumbfounded. To eliminate Ximen Qing, besides inviting Guo Huai, he had also secretly contacted Lin Caiquan, the new leader of the Taiyi Zhenzong sect, to join forces against the Black Demon Sea, their common enemy. Lin, that old scoundrel, had readily agreed, only to renege on his promise at the last minute.

Cheng Zongyang cursed Lin's ancestors in his mind. The old man's words were more eloquent than his songs: "Seeing an object reflects the person"; "A gentleman's promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold"; "Eliminating evil is the responsibility of even the most humble man and woman"; "Young Master has championed righteousness, and I, the Taiyi True Sect, am willing to follow suit"; "Young Master has given his token, and I, Lin, will respond immediately"... All that passionate rhetoric was just empty talk!

Suddenly, Granny Wu let out a scream as Guo Huai's dragon claw hand twisted her arm, the fierce true energy flowing in reverse, shattering all her meridians. Granny Wu's legs seemed unable to support her weight, and she collapsed to her knees, spitting blood; Jian Yuji, however, remained unmoved, seemingly indifferent to the life or death of her trusted ally.

Guo Huai, his hands tucked into his sleeves, approached, his back hunched. Cheng Zongyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With the old eunuch by his side, at least he wouldn't die so quickly.

Jian Yuji, standing on the eaves, was as beautiful as a painting. Cheng Zongyang didn't know what Jian Yuji looked like in Guo Huai's eyes, but in his own, her exquisite figure seemed to subtly change every moment—sometimes she wore a light veil, sometimes silk shoes, and even her position seemed to shift.

Guo Huai exposed Jian Yuji's illusion, and Cheng Zongyang briefly saw her true form—but that fiery figure vanished in an instant. When she reappeared, Jian Yuji was wearing a soft white silk robe, making Cheng Zongyang wonder if what he had just seen was Jian Yuji's true form, or just another illusion.

Seeing Jian Yuji's calm and composed demeanor, as if she had everything under control, Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but feel extremely angry.

"Hahaha! A mere jade pendant has scared the fairy so much she's lost her bearings! Haha! That's hilarious!"

Jian Yuji seemed oblivious to his mockery, suddenly leaping into the air, her movements graceful and captivating, her sword before her. She headed towards a low wall within the temple.

"Amitabha!"

From behind the wall, a sword light burst forth like the sun, instantly enveloping Jian Yuji in its glow.

Jian Yuji turned and thrust her sword forward, the tips of the two swords meeting, their blades curving into arcs, then snapping apart.

Jian Yuji retreated to the eaves, while a figure gracefully flipped backward, landing silently on the low wall.

He wore a light blue Taoist robe, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a powerful aura—a completely unfamiliar Taoist priest.

Cheng Zongyang stared blankly at the expert, unsure if he had summoned him, for a long while before asking, "Who are you?"

Cheng Zongyang didn't recognize him, but Jian Yuji was quite familiar with him. She coldly replied, "So you're Fellow Daoist Mi of the Taiyi True Sect."

Before Mi Yuanzhi could answer, Cheng Zongyang chuckled and clasped his hands, saying, "So it's Daoist Mi! I've heard Sect Leader Lin mention you before! It's an honor to meet you!"

Mi Yuanzhi bowed and said, "Is this Young Master Cheng? An urgent message came from the sect. The Sect Leader had no choice but to return to Longchi, and specially ordered me to rush to Xiaoyingzhou, firstly to apologize to you, and secondly to eliminate the demons of the Black Demon Sea. I didn't see you after arriving on the island, and just now, while fighting someone, I suddenly sensed the Sect Leader's jade pendant arriving late. Please forgive me, Young Master."

It turned out that the old scoundrel Lin had slipped away without a word, but at least he sent someone, showing some decency.

Cheng Zongyang, disregarding any pretense of forgiveness, hurriedly asked, "You were just fighting someone? Who was it?"

Mi Yuanzhi replied, "They were some bandits, led by a woman in black. Your men formed a defensive formation and are well-prepared."

It was indeed Sister Qi, who hadn't shown herself! A huge weight lifted from Cheng Zongyang's heart. Sister Qi had already revealed herself; the Black Demon Sea had likely exhausted its trump cards in Song. If it hadn't been Sister Qi, but rather a new card played by Jian Yuji, he would have been in serious trouble.

“Fellow Daoist Mi,” Jian Yuji said calmly, “your senior brother Wang Gui died in Jiangzhou, yet you choose to serve the enemy who killed him?”

Mi Yuanzhi replied calmly, “Senior Brother Wang abandoned the sect and left, having no further connection with my Taiyi True Sect. I, Mi, am following the sect leader’s orders to eliminate the demons of the Black Demon Sea; though I die, I have no regrets.”

“Your lineage has been frustrated and unsuccessful in the Taiyi True Sect for generations. It’s rare that your generation has produced a few accomplished disciples, yet each one is more foolish than the last.” Jian Yuji sighed, “Thinking back, if they weren’t so foolish, they might not have achieved what you brothers have.”

Mi Yuanzhi’s expression changed slightly, clearly struck by Jian Yuji’s words. He remained silent for a moment, then drew his sword and said,

“Those who walk different paths cannot work together. Please.”

Ximen Qing was rescued by the old monk. The Blue-Faced Beast and Jin Wuzhu, weighing their own strength, estimated they couldn’t possibly win the fight; they wanted to chat with the little leopard girl, but she ignored them, so the two beasts could only return dejectedly.

The blue-faced beast leaned on his spear, gazing thoughtfully at Jing Shan, his thoughts written all over his face. Jin Wuzhu, still somewhat shrewd, plunged into the half-collapsed hall, emerging a moment later to say sorrowfully, "Dead."

The blue-faced beast turned back, offering a sympathetic look, "My lord, please accept my condolences."

Cheng Zongyang, his face dark, retorted, "Whether Qin Huizhi lives or dies is none of my business! Besides, he's not dead yet!"

Jin Wuzhu grumbled, "No breath! His body is stiff, his face is black. Completely dead, completely dead."

Cheng Zongyang rolled his eyes, "Shut up! I said he's not dead, and that's it!"

Jin Wuzhu patted his shoulder understandingly, sighed, and said nothing more.

Cheng Zongyang almost choked. If Qin Hui were so easily killed, how could his Life and Death Roots be completely unresponsive? The treacherous minister must have some kind of life-saving trick, but these two beasts acted as if he had just lost a concubine, making him want to stab them both.

Ignoring the need to teach these two beasts a lesson, Cheng Zongyang quickly used his internal vision to examine his Qi Sea. The Qi Wheel in his Dantian, which was originally filled with bright spots like a galaxy, was now much sparser. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't that the number of bright spots had decreased, but rather that half of them had transformed into something invisible. These transformed into something else, which coexisted with the remaining bright spots, rotating in pairs like a tug-of-war, forming a new balance. No wonder he felt his Qi Sea was fuller than before, but he could use much less true Qi.

The bright spots and their companions condensed into Qi Wheels, in addition to a large amount of chaotic Qi flow, indistinguishable between Yin and Yang, and difficult to discern as real or illusory. However, upon careful examination with his internal vision, he could occasionally see flashes of multicolored light within them. Aside from that, the Qi Wheel showed no other abnormalities, continuing to operate and gather true Qi as before.

Cheng Zongyang couldn't understand these changes, so he simply ignored them. However, he still couldn't fully comprehend the changes in his dantian, and dared not make another move for the time being. But there were others who could.

Cheng Zongyang looked back and saw Granny Wu's stout body curled up on the ground, blood gushing from her mouth and nose. Although she still had a breath left, she was powerless to resist.

Cheng Zongyang frowned and said to Guo Huai, "Why didn't you kill her?"

Guo Huai bowed and said, "Make the best use of her."

Cheng Zongyang understood. "You want to use her to lure that big fish, Jian Yuji? What if Jian Yuji doesn't care?"

"It's not too late to kill her then."

Cheng Zongyang asked curiously, "Are you confident you can defeat Jian Yuji?"

Guo Huai didn't answer, but his eyes revealed an indescribable confidence.

Jian Yuji gracefully raised her hand—whether she truly raised it or not, Cheng Zongyang couldn't discern with his eyes—and said calmly,

"Dead Master, please."

The old monk, his initial senile demeanor gone, his eyes flashing with ferocity, rubbed his bald head, and snarled with banditry, "Taiyi True Sect! Good, good, good!" He pushed with both palms, and the earthen wall where Mi Yuanzhi stood, about ten feet away, collapsed as if struck by two giant hands.

Mi Yuanzhi let out a long howl and leaped down from the wall like a meteor. He held a sword in his right hand and formed a sword incantation with his left; before the sword even arrived, the sword energy surged forth like a raging river.

The dead old monk clenched his fists and slammed them into the ground with a thud. The paving bricks surged up like waves, and Mi Yuanzhi's feet seemed to sink into mud, his speed suddenly decreasing. He stepped onto a brick, his body suddenly rising about ten feet, then gripped the sword hilt with both hands, raised it above his head, and thrust it straight at the dead old monk's neck.

The old monk, now deceased, was half-crouched, his fists buried in the ground. Just as the longsword was about to pierce his neck, his robe suddenly ripped apart, revealing two pale golden arms. One hand held a copper bell, which jingled as it blocked the sword; the other held a six-inch-long vajra, aiming to pierce the Taoist's hand.

Mi Yuanzhi flipped his left palm, pressing down on the old monk's pale golden hand, using the momentum to retreat, his expression becoming extremely grave.

"Damn it!" the old monk growled, and two more pairs of arms emerged from behind his shoulders, making a total of eight arms, each hand holding a magical weapon, appearing both divine and demonic.

Mi Yuanzhi shuddered: "The Eight-Armed Demon Monk!"

Cheng Zongyang gasped. "Is this guy a monster? What's his background?"

Guo Huai coughed softly. "The deceased monk, also known as the Eight-Armed Demon Monk, was a Buddhist disciple, but infamous for committing over ten rapes and murders. He fled to Longchen. Rumors say he was a disciple of the Pomi sect, and the Ten Directions Forest has sent men to hunt him down multiple times, all to no avail."

"You can't judge a book by its cover! How could someone with his physique commit rapes and murders?" Cheng Zongyang asked. "What grudge do they have against the Taiyi True Sect?"

"The Ten Directions Forest and the Taiyi True Sect each hold sway over Buddhism and Taoism respectively, each claiming to be the righteous path and communicating with each other. When they wiped out the Pomi heretics, the Taiyi True Sect also sent several elders," Guo Huai said. "The Imperial City Guard received news a few days ago that a large band of bandits had infiltrated Lin'an; it must be this Eight-Armed Demon Monk."

"Wasn't he always cultivating in the temple?"

"So-called meditation is mostly just a smokescreen,"

Cheng Zongyang realized, then asked, "What about that guy surnamed Mi?"

Guo Huai lowered his eyes and said, "Mi Yuanzhi is from a collateral branch of the Taiyi True Sect, and he's from the same lineage as Wang Gui and Qin Zhongyue. In terms of seniority,

he's a junior disciple of Sect Leader Lin." Cheng Zongyang remembered Wang Gui vividly; he was a high-ranking general in the Imperial Guard, with cultivation levels approaching Xie Yi's, and was killed by Meng Laoda and Hou Erge in the Battle of Jiangzhou. If Mi Yuanzhi possessed similar strength, he would be a valuable ally.

Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "You, the Grand Eunuch, though confined to the palace, seem to know all the ins and outs of the martial world."

Guo Huai replied expressionlessly, "The Imperial City Guard is the court's henchman, His Majesty's eyes and ears; how dare we close our eyes and ears?"

Cheng Zongyang quickly assessed the strength of both sides: although his side had six people, Qin Hui's fate was unknown, and Jin Wuzhu and the Blue-Faced Beast were both injured. Besides himself, only his two invited helpers remained: Guo Huai and Mi Yuanzhi.

The situation on the Black Demon Sea's side was surprisingly similar to Cheng Zongyang's. Granny Wu and Ximen Qing were exhausted, and besides Jian Yuji, only the deceased old monk and Jing Shan remained. In terms of strength, Cheng Zongyang's side had the upper hand.

A strong killing intent surged in Cheng Zongyang's heart. This was a rare opportunity. Jian Yuji's calculations were flawless; besides setting up the scheme involving the Overturning River Society and Sister Qi, she had also invited the Eight-Armed Demon Monk and his disciples, and even personally participated, placing a huge gamble on this Hongmen Banquet.

If he only had his own strength, he would have been utterly defeated by now, but she could never have predicted that he would summon the help of the Imperial Palace and the Taiyi True Sect. They currently held a 60% chance of victory; if they missed this opportunity, it would be difficult to get Jian Yuji to intervene again.

Cheng Zongyang secretly gave Guo Huai a wink, while shouting, "Old monk! Didn't you want the cassock? Take it!"

The dead old monk, acting like a madman, swung his eight arms like wheels, forcing Mi Yuanzhi to retreat step by step. Hearing this, his expression shifted slightly, and Mi Yuanzhi seized this opportunity, his longsword flashing like lightning, aiming for the dead old monk's heart. The dead monk's four arms simultaneously retracted, grabbing Mi Yuanzhi's longsword.

At this moment, a chilling aura swept in, and Cheng Zongyang, like a ferocious tiger, slashed down with his Dragon-Slaying Saber.

With a clang, the vajra in the dead monk's hand snapped in two, leaving a foot-long wound on his pale golden arm. The wound froze from the blade's chill, his muscles contorting like an ice sculpture.

"Mahavairocana!" A golden hand suddenly swelled behind the dead monk, slamming down with intense heat, striking the back of the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

Bricks flew as Cheng Zongyang's Dragon-Slaying Saber sliced into the ground like tofu. The dead monk's four arms gripped Mi Yuanzhi's longsword; one arm was injured, another held the Dragon-Slaying Saber, and the remaining two twisted in front of him.

The dead monk, his eyes blazing with fury, roared, "Vajrasattva!" A hand holding prayer beads opened in the air, reaching for Cheng Zongyang's chest.

Cheng Zongyang's Dragon-Slaying Saber was embedded in the ground, unable to be pulled out. Seeing the dead monk's attack, he braced his elbow against the ground, leaping sideways like a street dancer, his feet landing a flurry of kicks on the monk's palm. Mi Yuanzhi let out a clear whistle, his longsword aimed at the dead old monk's right eye.

As Cheng Zongyang drew his blade, Jian Yuji was also busy, facing Jin Wuzhu and the Blue-Faced Beast. One wielded a heavy hammer, the other a long spear, both charging at Jian Yuji with all their might.

Guo Huai, the eunuch in a swift movement, pointed his fingers at the brow of the slumped Ximen Qing. Ximen Qing, just regaining consciousness, rolled over in a disheveled state, crying out, "Help—" Jing Shan glanced at him coldly, then leaped up like a snow leopard, attacking Guo Huai's side. The old eunuch's eyes, hands, body, and mind were all locked on Ximen Qing, his attack relentless, seemingly intent on killing the scoundrel with a single blow. But the moment Jing Shan moved, his fierce attack, like a breached dam, swept towards her instead.

Jing Shan was ultimately no match for the old eunuch's cunning. If Guo Huai had held back some strength when fighting the witch, this move was deliberately designed to lure Jing Shan into attacking. Jing Shan felt a gust of wind cutting her face and instinctively leaped to the side, trying to avoid the old eunuch's attack.

Ximen Qing's eyes flashed with icy coldness. Suddenly, he slapped Jing Shan in the back, throwing her towards Guo Huai. Then, the Illusionary Demon Umbrella in his hand transformed into more than ten white bone short swords, shooting towards Mi Yuanzhi on the other side!

Mi Yuanzhi's true energy surged beneath his Taoist robe, his sword light flashing like lightning, incomparably sharp, displaying at least a level six cultivation. However, he gained no advantage against the eight-armed demonic monk, the one who had died.

"Buzz!"

The old monk chanted incantations, his eight arms forming hand seals, while the magical weapons in his other hands resonated, suppressing Mi Yuanzhi's swordplay.

"Ban!"

More than ten white bone short swords pierced through the old monk's arm, their speed suddenly doubling, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

"Zha!"

The old monk's injured arm met the Dragon-Slaying Saber, unsurprisingly breaking off.

"Sa!"

The old monk's severed arm spread its five fingers, striking Cheng Zongyang's chest with a palm.

Cheng Zongyang sheathed his saber to protect himself, his attack momentarily halted.

"Moo!" With the final Buddhist chant, the remaining seven arms of the deceased old monk simultaneously struck at Mi Yuanzhi.

Mi Yuanzhi shrank back, his longsword weaving a silver-white light screen, like a cocoon protecting his vitals. Although the rapidly shooting white bone short swords were incredibly powerful, not a single one penetrated the light screen; they were all deflected by the sword net.

"Heaven and Earth!" With a roar, the deceased old monk's arm cleaved into the sword net, immediately being cut by countless crisscrossing wounds from the sword energy. But Mi Yuanzhi's tight sword net was also torn open by this arm, and then two pale golden arms reached in from the gap in the sword net. One hand grabbed Mi Yuanzhi's face, and the other held a ring-shaped magic weapon, slashing down from his throat and cutting straight into his abdomen.

Amidst the splattering of blood, the deceased old monk's arms stretched out, like a madman, shouting, "I, Buddha, am supreme!"

Cheng Zongyang shredded the severed arm and lunged at Mi Yuanzhi. Mi Yuanzhi suffered a massive gash from his chest to his abdomen, yet he did not die instantly. He sat cross-legged, pressing his hands against the wound, a hazy yellow light emanating from his palms as he used the secret Qi-cultivation and spirit-preserving techniques of the Taiyi True Sect to stabilize his injuries.

The already dead old monk, disregarding Mi Yuanzhi's life, swooped down on Guo Huai like a hawk, shouting fiercely, "You old eunuch! Put down this old monk's disciple!"

Jing Shan was shoved forward by Ximen Qing's palm, involuntarily crashing into Guo Huai. The prayer beads on her chest suddenly split open, fanning out towards Guo Huai.

Guo Huai lowered his eyes, his sleeve flicking slightly as he concealed all eighteen golden sandalwood prayer beads within his sleeve. Then, he struck Jing Shan's ribs with his palm; Jing Shan flew out like a kite with a broken string, all her ribs on her left side shattered.

The old monk, now dead, grabbed a stone incense burner from the courtyard with both arms and hurled it at Guo Huai. His other five arms formed hand seals

as he roared, "Wrath!" Guo Huai's small, thin figure was swept away by a whirlwind, flying several feet. Suddenly, a flick of his sleeve released a thin, dark whip. The setting sun seemed to dim, leaving only a dark whip shadow in the sky.

The stone incense burner in the eight-armed monk's hand shattered with a crash, stone fragments flying like raindrops. Two pale golden arms were entangled by the whip's shadow, their bones twisting, breaking, and shattering in an instant.

The whip's shadow vanished into thin air, disappearing back into his sleeve. Guo Huai landed on the ground, his back hunched, his sparse white hair peeking out from under his cloth hat, his wooden expression like an inconspicuous piece of furniture.

Only then did Cheng Zongyang realize that this powerful eunuch's true cultivation far exceeded his expectations; the eight-armed monk, who surpassed Mi Yuanzhi, had been defeated in a single move, losing cleanly and decisively.

The dead old monk stared coldly at Guo Huai's sleeve, then suddenly burst into laughter, "Hahahaha!"

Before the laughter subsided, the dead old monk leaped up, grabbing Jing Shan with one hand: "My lord! You dare harm my disciple! This grudge will surely be avenged!"

Ximen Qing said in a sinister voice: "The one who harmed your disciple was that old eunuch! What does it have to do with me, Ximen!"

"Pah!" The dead old monk spat back without any politeness, "That old eunuch is already a piece of trash! Why should I bother with him? Fairy, be careful! This old monk is off!" The dead old monk, carrying his disciple, leaped over the wall, and then the two enormous figures flew up simultaneously, crashing heavily to the ground like boulders.

Jian Yu Ji's graceful figure walked through the air, her feet hovering about a foot in the air, her toes spotless. Although it was known that this was just her illusion, one couldn't help but marvel at her exquisite beauty.

Jian Yuji smiled faintly, uttering three words softly between her jade teeth: "The Star-Sweeping Whip."

Guo Huai's posture grew even more hunched, and he coughed a few times without speaking.

"The Star-Sweeping Whip that King Wu Mu stole from our sect is indeed on Guo Da Diao Dang's person," Jian Yuji said with a sigh of relief. "The Master will surely be overjoyed to know this."

Guo Huai remained silent, the Star-Sweeping Whip emerging a foot or so from his sleeve like a snake, swaying slightly in front of him.

"The bandit Yue entrusted this Star-Sweeping Whip to you, presumably to protect Liu E," Jian Yuji chuckled. "He's quite generous, but unfortunately, although this whip is exceptionally wondrous, improper use can easily lead to its master's demise. Da Diao Dang's incessant coughing must be due to misuse of this whip, damaging his lung meridian."

Guo Huai snorted coldly, the Star-Sweeping Whip rising and then falling, in an instant seemingly tearing open a corner of space, revealing a shimmering starry night sky beneath its shadow.

Jian Yuji's beautiful figure vanished like the wind, then her radiant true form was revealed.

The Star-Sweeping Whip lashed out straight, its body curving like waves the instant it clashed with the sword. The blue bricks in the courtyard, already shattered by the dead old monk's fists, were now reduced to dust by the whip's gust of wind. A thin whip mark then pierced the sword, writhing like a small snake within, heading towards Jian Yuji's slender fingers.

Jian Yuji's smile froze; her jade-like fingers tightened, forcing the whip's shadow out of the sword. In that instant of change of move, she had lost the initiative, enveloped by the surging whip shadow.

Guo Huai slowly said, "That day, King Wu Mu used this whip to strangle Lady Ximen, capturing one of her souls and placing it within the whip. Please be careful, Fairy."

Suddenly, a clear whistle rang out, and the surging whip shadow abruptly receded. Jian Yuji, like a radiant peacock, flew out from the whip's shadow, her long sword spun slightly, piercing Guo Huai's ribs.

Guo Huai's figure flashed, sliding out of his clothes. The clothes, now unsupported, retained their original shape before being shredded by the sword light.

"A fine move, 'Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell'," Jian Yu Ji said. "Great Sable, take another strike from me!"

Guo Huai's expression changed slightly, and he shouted sharply, "Where did you learn this swordsmanship!"

Jian Yu Ji's beautiful eyes shone brightly: "Great Sable, you have good eyesight! It's the Xuan Yuan Immortal Sword of the Hua Miao Sect!" A layer of dazzling and mysterious light emanated from the sword.

"Die!" Cheng Zongyang roared, his Dragon-Slaying Saber slicing through several meters of space, instantly reaching Jian Yu Ji.

The dazzling sword light froze under the cold light of the Dragon-Slaying Saber, scattering into countless meteors.

Jian Yu Ji didn't even flinch, but Cheng Zongyang, along with his saber, was sent flying, only regaining his footing thanks to Guo Huai's support from behind.

Jian Yuji said, "It really is the Taiyi Scripture. No wonder You Chan fell for your trick."

Guo Huai took a step forward, and the Dangxing Whip stretched out horizontally. Although the speed was slow, the air it tore apart emitted a sharp whistling sound, like the cry of ghosts.

As Jian Yuji raised her arm, the clash of their energies was followed by a soft, melodious chant: "Profound and mysterious, the gateway to all wonders."

The sword energy crisscrossed, like a spiderweb, attacking the weakest point of the Star-Sweeping Whip.

In an instant, the dark whip's shadow unleashed countless rings, deflecting the sharp sword energy one by one. Then, the whip tip suddenly flicked up, piercing Jian Yuji's elbow.

A spray of blood appeared on Jian Yuji's snow-white arm, and the longsword clattered to the ground. At that moment, Guo Huai's arm trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Behind him, a longsword drifted down like a feather, its ever-changing swordplay poetic and dreamlike, lightly piercing through the last ring of the Star-Sweeping Whip, stabbing into Guo Huai's right shoulder without the slightest pause, disappearing completely into the hilt.

Guo Huai's hunched body collapsed to one knee, as if overwhelmed by the weight. Blood splattered his dry, white hair, and a sword hilt rested on his right shoulder. The hilt was adorned with intricate bird-script characters, and the hilt, only an arm's length long, was extremely ancient in style, made of neither gold nor jade, with only a faint, shimmering light flowing across it.

The woman gripping the hilt was none other than Jian Yu Ji, the woman opposite him! A hush fell over the arena in

Chapter Three

. Everyone stared at the long sword at Guo Huai's neck and the beautiful woman wielding it, experiencing a momentary sense of temporal and spatial distortion.

Two Jian Yu Ji appeared simultaneously before and behind Guo Huai. The Jian Yu Ji opposite him sat slumped to the ground, her elbow, pierced by the Star-Sweeping Whip, bleeding profusely. The other appeared identical to the injured Jian Yu Ji, but possessed an ethereal quality.

Guo Huai coughed, blood splattering from the wound on his shoulder. With his cough, Jian Yuji's figure subtly shifted. Her once radiant face turned as cold as frost, revealing her to be the woman Cheng Zongyang had seen in the Southern Wilderness: Sister Qi.

Standing behind Guo Huai, Jian Yuji lightly drew her longsword, and blood gushed from Guo Huai's shoulder like a fountain.

Jian Yuji said calmly, "Great Sable Dang has passed away to paradise today, a cause for celebration."

Mi Yuanzhi had mentioned that the woman fighting Yi Biao and the others was a woman in black, so Cheng Zongyang had assumed it was Sister Qi, completely ignoring that little bitch Xiao Ling'er. Both Jian Yuji and Sister Qi were masters of illusion and concealment, but Sister Qi had impersonated Jian Yuji, successfully deceiving everyone present. In the end, it was Jian Yuji's true form that delivered the fatal blow to Great Sable Dang Guo.

No wonder Cheng Zongyang felt that Jian Yuji wasn't as formidable as he had imagined when they fought. At first, he thought she wanted to spare his life, but now he realized that the moment they flew into the main hall, those two bitches had probably switched places.

By the time Cheng Zongyang realized he'd fallen for Jian Yuji's trap, the situation was beyond repair. Mi Yuanzhi and Guo Huai had both been seriously injured, leaving him all alone, while his opponent had Jian Yuji and Sister Qi. Even though Sister Qi's elbow was injured and she couldn't wield a sword, there was still the unpredictable Jian Yuji.

The sudden turn of events nearly made Cheng Zongyang's eyes pop out. In the blink of an eye, both of his henchmen were seriously injured, and the tide of battle had turned. He had used all his trump cards, and the scoundrel on the other side seemed to have endless tricks up her sleeve. He had made thorough preparations for this trap, but Jian Yuji was ultimately superior. He feared that his attempt to steal a chicken would backfire, and he would lose everything.

Rather than sit and wait for death, he might as well fight to the death! Without a word, Cheng Zongyang lunged at Jian Yuji.

Jian Yuji smiled slightly, raised her sword, and touched the hilt of the Dragon-Slaying Saber. With a slight flick, the Dragon-Slaying Saber that Cheng Zongyang was gripping tightly flew out of his hand.

The two were now only a foot apart. Cheng Zongyang, his weapon out of his hand, was now a toothless tiger. Jian Yuji raised her white jade palm and struck towards Cheng Zongyang's chest. Suddenly, a bright light shone from Cheng Zongyang's chest. In a flash, a beam of light pierced through Jian Yuji's jade palm, yet not a drop of blood was splattered

. This was not another illusion he had struck; rather, the lightning had pierced Jian Yuji's palm, and any blood that might have flowed was instantly evaporated.

Cheng Zongyang reached into his robes, his clothes torn at the chest. When he extended his hand, a long, lightning-fast blade gleamed in his palm—the very same laser-powered sword he had hidden in his robes!

If he had revealed the laser-powered sword first, given Jian Yuji's swordsmanship, she would have at most wielded another dragon-slaying blade. Moreover, his dantian had recently undergone a change, making its use difficult and further weakening his strength. Cheng Zongyang took a risky strike, gripping the hilt of the blade and forcing the blade out from his robes, finally wounding this woman who seemed invincible.

The Dragon-Slaying Saber, still flying through the air after being thrown back, was separated from Cheng Zongyang after a brief clash, with Jian Yuji retreating several feet. Her beautiful eyes remained calm, showing no shock or surprise, but her subordinates erupted in commotion.

Ximen Qing, clutching his chest, laughed, "The Fairy Maiden is actually injured, hahahaha..."

Qi Jie, disregarding her own injuries, rushed to Jian Yuji's side, grabbed her wrist, and said sharply, "How could this happen! The Master said that once you are injured—" Jian Yuji gave her a cold glance, and Qi Jie immediately shut her mouth, her chest heaving, unable to hide the shock and anger in her eyes.

Suddenly, Jian Yuji looked up and saw a figure leap into the air from behind the collapsed hall, grabbing the Dragon-Slaying Saber and then slashing down.

Cheng Zongyang was overjoyed, thinking that the treacherous minister had a change of heart and had risen from the temple, but upon closer inspection, it was just a masked man.

The man descended from the sky wielding the Dragon-Slaying Saber, his attack already creating a whirlwind of blades before it even arrived, a truly awe-inspiring display

of power. Sister Qi stood in front of Jian Yuji, her left hand gripping her sword to meet the saber. Having fought this saber for some time, she knew its sharpness lay solely in its blade; as long as she avoided the edge, she could fight back with an ordinary steel sword.

The man's swordsmanship was far superior to Cheng Zongyang's; with a sideways movement, he severed Sister Qi's longsword in half, leaving a long, chilling gash on her arm.

Jian Yuji remained composed. Seeing her beloved arm in danger, she lightly flicked her left finger, narrowly avoiding the blade's edge, and pressed it against the side of the saber. Although the Dragon-Slaying Saber was sharp, it was now locked in place by her inner energy, as if imprisoned within its sheath.

The masked man, gripping his swords with both hands, swung them to the left and right, breaking free from Jian Yuji's jade-like fingers. He then leaped back, grabbing Cheng Zongyang by the collar: "Go!"

Hearing this voice, Cheng Zongyang cursed, shouting, "You can't escape! Kill her!"

The man didn't hesitate: "Fool! If you won't leave, I will!"

Cheng Zongyang advanced instead of retreating, his slender laser sword whistling down. The masked man stomped his foot, turning to attack Jian Yuji, shouting, "Just one move!"

Jian Yuji's phoenix eyes flashed coldly. Her left hand gripped the hilt of her sword, the longsword drawing a mysterious arc, striking the center of the laser blade.

Cheng Zongyang's dantian underwent a change, the sword formed from his true qi becoming incredibly fragile, barely managing to block half the attack, the laser blade nearly slipping from his grasp.

But he bought the masked man half a move. The masked man remained silent, his Dragon-Slaying Saber sweeping towards Jian Yuji like a whirlwind.

The Dragon-Slaying Saber's power increased exponentially in his hands, its ferocious aura seemingly ready to fight Jian Yuji to the death. Jian Yuji and Sister Qi attacked simultaneously, but the masked man deftly flicked his foot, like kicking a ball, to lift the broken stone incense burner in two, striking both of them. Then, he grabbed Cheng Zongyang and tossed him over the wall, remaining motionless on his shoulder and without shaking his hand, retreating rapidly while kicking up a series of broken stones and bricks.

His footwork was so exquisite that Cheng Zongyang had never seen anything like it before. The bricks and stones under his feet seemed to come alive, flying straight, slanting, even spinning, circling, and curving, like raindrops flying in all directions, then returning to attack Jian Yuji and Sister Qi. If this were a football field, each kick would be a world-class goal. However, the old man was even faster. Cheng Zongyang, clinging to the wall, hadn't even had a chance to watch properly before the old man vanished without a trace.

But he left behind a loyal message: "The Xuan Tian Sword is here! Who dares to kill me!"

Sister Qi cried out and flew off to give chase, but was stopped by Jian Yuji: "A trick."

Cheng Zongyang wanted to leave, but he had been so focused on watching the masked man's footwork that he missed his chance. The masked man had deliberately led them to chase after him, but they weren't falling for it, so leaving now wouldn't be easy. He forced a smile and said, "Fairy, your true form is dressed so revealingly. Have you been in the Black Demon Sea for too long and developed a penchant for exhibitionism?"

Jian Yuji said calmly, "My body is like a mirror. What you see is merely what you think."

"You're kidding me! I was hoping you'd show yourself." Cheng Zongyang said, "Enough nonsense! If you have the guts, kill me!"

Jian Yuji stretched out her palm, the wound on her palm disappearing. "In the past ten years, only you, young master, have been able to hurt me."

"Was it Yue Niaoren last time?" Cheng Zongyang chuckled. "I heard that guy always rapes and kills women who are his enemies. I wonder where you were injured last time, Fairy?"

Ximen Qing was about to speak when he suddenly showed a look of fear. Then,

he kicked his feet and desperately pulled himself up. His clothes at his waist and abdomen suddenly tore open, and a gleaming sword tip silently emerged from his abdomen, then sliced horizontally, spraying blood like a fan, from his ribs.

Everyone's expression changed at the same time. The Black Demon Sea members were shocked, never expecting that Cheng Zongyang had a hidden trick up his sleeve until now; Cheng Zongyang was both shocked and delighted. Heaven knows where the assassin came from, but at least it wasn't one of the Black Demon Sea members.

The longsword vanished as abruptly as it had appeared, leaving no trace. The swordsman's skill was even superior to the masked man's.

Ximen Qing's wound at the waist nearly severed his body in two. He collapsed to the ground with a thud, coughing up blood as he struggled to speak, "Save me! Save me..."

Sister Qi was initially shocked, then revealed a cold smile: "Don't worry, my lord, even if only your head remains, the Master can bring you back to life."

Ximen Qing's eyes flashed with resentment; clearly, the taste of resurrection was not pleasant.

Jian Yuji's expression remained calm, but her gentle gaze revealed a hint of regret. She sighed softly and said indifferently, "It was my miscalculation. Young Master's moves were relentless. Next time we fight, I will be extra careful."

Cheng Zongyang sneered, "Don't be in such a hurry to leave! It's still early. Let's chat for another two hours, talking and watching the great man die. I wouldn't trade that kind of fun for two rich men!"

Ximen Qing's status in the Black Demon Sea was extraordinary. His injuries were almost equivalent to being cut in half at the waist. Every moment of delay increased the danger. Cheng Zongyang was certain that Jian Yuji wouldn't dare gamble with Ximen Qing's life, so he played along perfectly.

Sure enough, Jian Yuji endured his mockery, nonchalantly sheathed her sword, took a step back, bowed, and said softly, "I hope you take care, Young Master."

Sister Qi gave Cheng Zongyang a cold look, then picked up Ximen Qing and Granny Wu, and the two flew away.

If luck had been on his side, he would have died seven or eight times already, but Cheng Zongyang felt no fear, only deep doubt. He could guess the identity of the first masked man with seventy percent certainty just by looking at his incredibly skillful footwork, comparable to a money-grabbing technique. Plus, his objective was direct: grab the Dragon-Slaying Saber and run. If he couldn't figure out the old man's identity, he might as well give up.

But who was the assassin who nearly cut Ximen Qing in half? Cheng Zongyang had no clue. The assassin retreated immediately after the attack, without revealing a single trace, so much so that even Jian Yuji couldn't figure out his identity and abruptly stopped. Cheng Zongyang considered all his connections in Lin'an but couldn't figure out which deity had intervened to save him.

But one thing was certain: the assassin was still in the temple and meant him no harm.

Cheng Zongyang first checked the injuries of Jin Wuzhu and the Blue-Faced Beast. They had been wounded by the elusive Jian Yuji herself; their injuries were serious but not fatal.

The more seriously injured was Mi Yuanzhi. His chest and abdomen had been slashed open by the Eight-Armed Demon Monk. Anyone else would have died long ago, but the masters from the Taiyi Zhenzong sect truly had a unique skill in the art of preserving life. Mi Yuanzhi calmed his breathing and focused his mind, and his injuries did not worsen, though he was unable to move. It seemed that sending him back to the Taiyi Zhenzong sect's Taoist temple could save his life.

Guo Da Diaowei was beyond saving. His breath was like a wisp of smoke, barely keeping his heart warm, but his life was like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment. He lowered his eyes and said hoarsely, "Please, young master... send this old servant back to the palace..."

Cheng Zongyang comforted him, "Don't worry, Da Diaowei, I have a doctor here. He'll be fine after a few more days of recuperation."

Guo Huai placed a thin, smooth whip in his hand, coughed twice, and fell silent. His body became stiff like withered wood, but he shielded his six senses and entered a deep meditation.

Cheng Zongyang straightened up and called out, "Friend, come out."

Before his words even finished, a sword light flashed, instantly covering more than ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) and decapitated Mi Yuanzhi.

The phoenix-feather-like longsword, dripping with blood, trembled slightly as it struck the ground. Blood splattered from the severed neck onto the scattered bricks and stones. Mi Yuanzhi's headless body sat stiffly for a moment before collapsing to the ground.

The deathly aura that Cheng Zongyang had long awaited finally appeared, but only when the outcome was already decided. He almost instinctively pressed his temple, preparing to cope with the excruciating pain of absorbing the deathly aura. However, this time the scar on his temple showed no reaction; instead, the qi wheel in his dantian suddenly surged, drawing in the absorbed chaotic qi.

Cheng Zongyang pressed one hand to his temple, watching the assassin appear with a strange expression.

A beautiful woman swayed gracefully from among the flowers. Her steps were light and soft, each step accompanied by a nimble, gentle sway of her body, like a lotus leaf swaying in the wind. She walked straight to Cheng Zongyang before kneeling down, her jade-like hands outstretched before her. With a reverent gesture, she pressed her head to the ground and softly said, "This servant greets Master."

Looking at the graceful and beautiful Zhuo Yunjun, Cheng Zongyang finally understood. He sighed, "No wonder you wanted to kill him, ruthless enough!" Although he didn't understand why the girl had let her come out alone, this wasn't the time to talk. Cheng Zongyang gave a brief order: "Cuiwei Garden, Tianxiang Pavilion."

The beautiful woman bowed and vanished from the temple like a wisp of smoke.

Just as Zhuo Yunjun left, footsteps sounded outside the temple, and then Yi Biao pushed open the gate and strode in. His shoulders, arms, legs, and back were covered in blood, clearly from a fierce battle, yet his back remained ramrod straight.

Yi Biao tapped his feet together and saluted Cheng Zongyang, "Report! The First Platoon of the Direct Battalion was attacked! Seven dead and sixteen wounded."

Cheng Zongyang felt a pang of heartache. Jian Yuji had shown him mercy in every way, but spared no effort against his men. The directly subordinate battalion lost a quarter of its platoon in a single battle. If Jian Yuji hadn't retreated voluntarily, the casualties would likely have been even greater. If it weren't for the two unexpected pawns disrupting her plans, total annihilation wouldn't have been impossible.

"Where are Lao Kuang and Feng Dafa?"

"The two mages are safe and sound."

Cheng Zongyang hesitated for a moment. "Where's Shuai Shuai?"

"Miss Shishi has broken several ribs and is still unconscious." Yi Biao's face flushed slightly. "That woman was kidnapped."

"You Chan?" Cheng Zongyang's heart tightened. He and You Chan had only met by chance, at most it was a casual fling, each taking what they needed, nothing more. But compared to the other women in the Black Demon Sea, You Chan, who mistakenly thought he was the Flying Bird Jonin, was undoubtedly the most innocent. Now that his identity was exposed, the punishment You Chan faced was unimaginable.

Cheng Zongyang thought for a moment and said, "Let's go back to the garden first!"

Including Cheng Zongyang, only eight people in the directly subordinate battalion were unharmed. Although Kuang Zhongyu and Feng Dafa were not injured, they were exhausted from overexertion.

Fortunately, Cuiwei Garden and Xiaoying Island were separated only by a narrow strait. The group split into three boats, transporting the dead and wounded comrades back to the garden. The Snow Falcon Regiment handled the remains of the others on the island.

After hearing Yi Biao's account, Cheng Zongyang realized that it was indeed Xiao Ling'er who had intercepted the Direct Battalion. After unleashing the chilling aura of the Dragon-Slaying Saber, she hid underground, and upon revealing herself, injured Lieutenant Zhou Feng. Accompanying her were more than twenty masked men, short in stature, dressed in black. These men were elusive and their attacks were unpredictable; the Direct Battalion suffered heavy losses as soon as they engaged them. Feng Dafu desperately blasted an open area with grenades, allowing the group to regain their footing.

Fortunately, Cuiwei Garden had purchased a large quantity of medicinal herbs to treat Cao Ziyuan's injuries, preventing a complete rout. Lin Qingpu, who was already waiting in the garden, was startled to see Qin Hui being roughly carried in. Qin Huizhi could be considered Cheng Zongyang's most capable subordinate. Even he suffered a crushing defeat, so even if they won this battle, they might not be able to make up for their losses.

Then the wounded were brought in one by one. Including Yi Biao, the seventeen soldiers of the directly subordinate battalion suffered injuries of varying degrees, with the three most seriously wounded in imminent danger of death. Lin Qingpu knew nothing of medicine and was about to send someone to fetch a doctor when Kuang Zhongyu stopped him. If so many wounded were seen by outsiders, there would be no other option but to silence the doctor.

Kuang Zhongyu opened Li Shishi's needle box and took two thin needles, inserting them into her forehead and philtrum. Cheng Zongyang carefully placed Guo Huai on the stretcher, turned around, and was stunned by what he saw.

If Kuang Zhongyu were a skilled physician, it wouldn't be so bad, but his acupuncture technique looked utterly amateurish. Cheng Zongyang quickly put his arm around Li Shishi's shoulder, saying, "Old Kuang, what are you doing, sticking needles like that?"

Kuang Zhongyu replied sternly, "To save lives, of course we should consult the esteemed physicians of the Bright Temple."

Cheng Zongyang felt a headache coming on. The animosity between Xingyue Lake and the Bright Temple was evident in Kuang Zhongyu's tone. He couldn't help but complain, "Old Wen, aren't you being a bit petty?"

Kuang Zhongyu replied without batting an eye, "Thank you for the name, Major Cheng! From now on, I'll just call you Petty Old Kuang."

The beautiful woman in his arms stirred slightly, waking from her unconsciousness. Seeing Cheng Zongyang's arms around her shoulders, Li Shishi's face flushed red. She struggled to break free from his embrace, then turned pale. She clutched her ribs, her brows furrowed, and looked at the group of wounded in the hall with surprise.

Cheng Zongyang said, "Rest for a moment, I'll send someone to find a doctor."

Li Shishi understood. She shook her head laboriously, glanced at the soldier beside her, and said, "He was injured by a sharp weapon. When he fell, the wound was mixed with mud and sand. Although the acupoints have been sealed to stop the bleeding, the injury has worsened. Quickly clean the wound with soybean oil, then apply a wound medicine; take three feet of white cloth, preferably boiled in boiling water and dried, to bandage it."

Lin Qingpu and the uninjured soldiers immediately treated their comrade's injury according to her instructions.

Another soldier was injured by a blunt weapon, with a broken right arm. At this moment, Li Shishi was unable to set the bone, so she temporarily used a willow splint to immobilize it.

Cheng Zongyang summoned Lin Qingpu and whispered, "You take care of things here. I'll send Guo Da Diao Dang back to the palace first."

Lin Qingpu replied, "Someone from the Taiyi Zhenzong sect came to visit the patriarch and has been waiting until now. Why don't you go and meet them first, young master? It won't be too late to send her back after Miss Shishi has seen Da Diao Dang's condition."

Cheng Zongyang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright, don't let Shishi get tired. Inform me immediately after you've seen Da Diao Dang."

The blood-stained cloth was untied layer by layer, finally revealing Mi Yuanzhi's decapitated corpse.

Two disciples from the Taiyi Zhenzong sect pinched their noses, glanced at it hastily, and nodded quickly.

Cheng Zongyang lamented, "Master Mi displayed his divine might, fighting against seven experts from the Black Demon Sea! Alas, outnumbered and outmatched, despite defeating several enemies, he ultimately died with bitterness."

The two Taoists bowed and said, "The Sect Master has issued a decree that Mi, having slain demons and monsters for the world, will surely become an immortal if he undergoes self-dissolution. He was originally from a branch sect; his attainment of the Great Dao is a rare and fortunate destiny."

Cheng Zongyang felt a chill. Mi Yuanzhi had been sent by Lin Caiquan as a scapegoat, his body riddled with entrails and headless, yet that old scoundrel Lin claimed he had

achieved immortality through self-dissolution. It was as if the old man could make a pile of dog excrement sound fragrant. Perhaps it was his imagination, but the two Taiyi Zhenzong disciples seemed unmoved by Mi Yuanzhi's death, even appearing somewhat relieved. After verifying their identities, they carried Mi Yuanzhi's body away.

A moment later, a soft sound came from behind the screen, and a woman in a Taoist robe emerged. “One of these two is a disciple of Helin Temple, but I’ve never seen the other one before.”

Cheng Zongyang remained seated, lazily saying, “Is that so?”

Zhuo Yunjun said softly, “Helin Temple is part of the Lin bandits’ faction. If they bring the body back to the temple, someone with a discerning eye can easily recognize my swordsmanship.”

Cheng Zongyang frowned. “Did you do this on purpose?”

Mi Yuanzhi was beheaded from behind by Zhuo Yunjun. Such an injury, unless deliberately left as a mark, would be easy to conceal; for someone to recognize it, it could only be intentional.

Zhuo Yunjun said, “This was Mother’s order. This servant dared not disobey.”

“You brat ordered you to do this? Where is she?”

“Mother told this servant to come and serve first. Mother will be here shortly.”

Cheng Zongyang frowned. What is that brat up to, letting this bitch come to Lin’an alone and deliberately revealing her identity? Although Zhuo Yunjun was cursed by that brat, Taiyi Zhenzong is a master of magic. If she were to break the curse, it would be troublesome to catch her again.

Zhuo Yunjun greeted her master, Cheng Zongyang, again. She knelt down, placed her hands on the ground, and bowed deeply, saying in a sweet, coquettish voice, "This servant greets Master, may Your Majesty be blessed."

After the greeting, Zhuo Yunjun's ethereal beauty instantly transformed into a seductive allure. If she had been a graceful, otherworldly fairy just moments before, she now resembled a courtesan meeting her patron.

Having not been seen for many days, Zhuo Yunjun's Taoist robe was loose and elegant, giving her an otherworldly air, but her face possessed an unusual radiance, as if she had just applied makeup. Upon closer inspection, although her kneeling posture was graceful, the curves of her body beneath her robe were fully revealed, trembling slightly and exuding a captivating allure.

Cheng Zongyang's heart stirred slightly, and he raised the corners of his lips, saying, "Zhuo Meiren, let your master see if you've gained or lost weight."

Zhuo Yunjun gracefully rose, pulling her silk sash at her waist, causing her Daoist robe to slip to the ground like molting wings, revealing a jade-like body as white as snow, as she walked slowly towards him.

Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but whistle. Since being hidden away by Xiao Zi that day, he hadn't seen this vile woman for some time. Now, Zhuo Meiren's entire body appeared meticulously groomed, without a single flaw. Her breasts were even more full and firm, trembling slightly with each step, like soft, snow-white mounds, exuding an alluring sensuality.

In the soft glow of the setting sun, her entire body was as white and smooth as jade, without a single hair from the tip of her nose down, as flawless as a piece of porcelain.

His gaze shifted downwards, and Cheng Zongyang's eyes flickered. Zhuo Meiren was wearing a pair of ivory-carved high heels! The slender, elegant heels and the delicate, flowing soles were exactly as he had described to Xiao Zi. However, these high heels were only half the size of normal shoes, yet Zhuo Yunjun's jade-like feet felt surprisingly small and comfortable inside.

Because her feet were so small, Zhuo Yunjun had to carefully find her balance with every step. Her slender waist swayed from side to side like a jade willow, her round, snowy buttocks swaying gently, adding to her alluring charm. Especially noticeable was her beautiful phoenix-eye-shaped vulva, peeking out from between her fair legs. With each step, the delicate vulva became more moist, its lustrous sheen seemingly about to flow from within.

Under Xiao Zi's care, Zhuo Yunjun's injuries were fully healed, and her cultivation was completely restored. She had traveled from Jiangzhou to Lin'an, a journey of thousands of miles that took less than ten days, yet even a short walk inside the house was incredibly difficult. She felt weak all over as soon as she reached her master.

Cheng Zongyang cradled the stunningly beautiful woman in his arms like a baby, lifting her jade-like legs and removing her ivory shoes.

He wondered what secret technique the girl had used; Zhuo Yunjun's feet, without any visible movement, had shrunk by half, becoming exceptionally small. Her delicate feet, like carved white jade, were so small they could barely be held in his palm, indescribably smooth and supple. Such tiny feet had to bear her entire weight; no wonder she walked so swayingly without using her cultivation.

Cheng Zongyang clicked his tongue, "The only female instructor of the Taiyi True Sect has a pair of feet more wanton than a whore's. If you were to reveal those feet, the men who wanted to sleep with you could line up from Lin'an all the way to Dragon Pool."

Zhuo Yunjun, already accustomed to being teased, felt a sense of relief upon hearing Cheng Zongyang's taunts, as if she had finally found refuge under her master's wing after days of hardship. She nestled softly in her master's arms, gently kicked off the other ivory shoe, and raised her feet, saying sweetly, "My little feet are white and soft, smooth as grease, and as soft as cotton, perfect for my master to admire."

Cheng Zongyang held her soft, fragrant body, his hands grasping her delicate, boneless feet, and felt a surge of intense desire. Her feet were incredibly sensitive, like ice-cold jade, yet soft and alluring in his hands, slender and perfectly proportioned. Her smooth skin was as fine as white jade, her arches exquisitely curved, light and graceful, like soft jade exuding fragrance.

Cheng Zongyang barely managed to suppress his burning desire and chuckled, "Is there more?"

Zhuo Yunjun wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, "My phoenix eye orifice is tight on the outside and slippery on the inside. Master only needs to insert your yang organ, and it will go deeper and deeper."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "I'd like to pay for a prostitute, but unfortunately I have no money."

Zhuo Yunjun's jade cheeks flushed slightly, and she said seductively, "As long as Master likes it, it's free."

As Cheng Zongyang spoke, he lifted her chin. Zhuo Yunjun obediently raised her face and stuck out her fragrant tongue. Cheng Zongyang kissed her lips without any restraint, showering her with kisses while his hands caressed her body.

After a long while, Cheng Zongyang released her and sneered, "Beautiful Zhuo, you've been in Lin'an for a while now, haven't you? What have you been doing that you're only now coming to see your master?"

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