“What… what’s happening?” “Why do I feel like I heard some incredible secret? Is the Ghost King Clan up to something, or are the Eight Directions Cities up to something…” “What does Zhong Lanling mean?” “Can you understand what they’re saying?” “I thought he was some mysterious expert trained somewhere, but turns out he was just picked up! I was wondering how he suddenly appeared…” “What kind of development is this…”

Outside the Eighteen Levels of Hell, in the seventy-two cities of the Extreme Domain, everyone was somewhat dumbfounded. Seeing that someone had already entered the seventeenth level and the Cauldron Prime matter should be settled soon, when Jian Chou encountered Zhong Lanling, they almost thought a fight would break out the next moment.

Who would have thought they’d actually start chatting, and with such mystifying topics! Especially… Zhong Lanling’s self-narration about his origins and experiences sounded chillingly eerie. He had actually awakened on the Extreme Domain’s Yin-Yang Battlefield and seemed connected to some great secret within the Extreme Domain!

At this time, attention on the Cauldron Competition was gradually rising again. When this matter emerged, it immediately sparked intense discussions from all sides. The clever ones were already beginning to guess whether the Eight Directions Yama Halls had any connection to this matter, and what the identity of that mysterious elder who had given Zhong Lanling to the Ghost King Clan might be…

In the core area of Fengdu City, there was a wave of shock and terror. Here resided the strongest of the Ten Great Ghost Clans – the Ghost King Clan. The council hall was located in the deepest part of a cluster of deep black buildings.

Several elders discussing this session’s Cauldron Competition situation sat on chairs made from massive animal bones. They had just been talking about Zhong Lanling’s chances of victory when this suddenly happened.

The elder sitting in the head position was especially shocked and furious, actually slamming the table and rising: “What does this monster want to do! He… he actually… doesn’t he have no heart?!”

Both Lord Qin Guang and Lord Song Di had said that without a heart, consciousness couldn’t be infused and survival was impossible. Yet not only had this Zhong Lanling miraculously survived, now he was actually seeking out another strong enemy in the Cauldron Competition to inquire about this matter!

Shouldn’t he directly kill this female cultivator before him?! If this matter were exposed… Heaven knows what chaos might ensue!

Seeing him so enraged, the surrounding elders couldn’t help but look at each other. Zhong Lanling’s existence was actually a secret to them as well – only a few elders in the clan knew the truth…

The relationship between the Ten Great Ghost Clans and the Eight Directions Yama Halls had always been subtle. From Zhong Lanling’s earlier tone, this matter probably involved the Eight Directions Yama Halls. They just didn’t know what the exact situation was…

Everyone became curious for a moment. But they didn’t know that even within the Eight Directions Yama Halls, not everyone knew about this matter. When they heard of it, someone actually exclaimed “Eh?” and stood up to ask Lord Qin Guang: “What’s going on here?”

Of the eight seats, one was empty. Missing was Lord Du Shi Jiang Chang, who had left long ago. Before that old woman from the Snowy Domain perished, she had already departed and wouldn’t appear now.

Lord Qin Guang now sat on that throne, one hand resting on the armrest. Seeing the small boat on the river in the screen, his gaze fell on Zhong Lanling as he smiled: “Just a failed defective product. Elder Su said it doesn’t matter. That he would trace his origins now is human nature – probably also influenced by those residual soul fragments of Yashan cultivators. Does Lord Taishan feel something is wrong?”

Elder Su referred to the Extreme Domain’s master craftsman Su Daozi – the one who created the Heaven-Devouring Earth-Consuming Void Demon Umbrella.

Speaking thus, Lord Qin Guang turned his gaze toward the direction from which the question had come.

Sixth Hall, Lord Taishan. A burly figure like a small mountain, with blazing red hair that burned like magma, each strand like steel needles, his entire being radiating masculine strength.

His expression was serious but somewhat honest. Hearing Lord Qin Guang’s words, which seemed off somehow, his thick brows furrowed as he said rather rudely: “Lord Qin Guang seems to have forgotten? I knew nothing about this matter from beginning to end! What are you doing tormenting those thousand-odd Yashan remnant souls? The Yin-Yang Realm War only ended six hundred years ago – what are you planning now?!”

“…” Silence filled the hall.

After a long time, Second Hall’s Lord Chu Jiang leaned back against his throne, lazily and slowly saying: “Lord Taishan, please calm yourself. You’ve forgotten – there was once when you were in closed cultivation and we held council without you present. That’s exactly what we discussed.”

Third Hall’s Lord Song Di showed nothing on his aged face, seemingly completely unaware of the explosive atmosphere in the hall. He only watched that screen, gazing at the female cultivator opposite Zhong Lanling.

“Anyway, those thousand-odd Yashan cultivators were only souls, and we’re done tormenting them now. Nothing worth pursuing. But this female cultivator – Zhong Lanling could have sought verification from anyone, so why her?”

This question hit the mark. Setting aside Zhong Lanling’s origins, he had said out of nowhere that he sensed familiar aura from Jian Chou, which was truly suspicious.

The souls of Yashan’s thousand cultivators were torn apart into countless fragments. Zhong Lanling’s soul body was assembled from these fragments – it should have been stitched together into a powerful monster, but because the heart fragment failed to embed properly, he became what he was now.

If he could sense familiar aura, wouldn’t that mean… Fourth Hall’s Lord Wu Guan held his cat, showing a crafty smile on his pale face: “This female cultivator must have some strange connection to Yashan, which is why Zhong Lanling found her familiar.”

Fifth Hall’s Lord Yan Luo tugged his beard without speaking. The remaining young Eighth Hall’s Lord Zhuan Lun narrowed his eyes, looking toward Lord Qin Guang: “This female cultivator has too many mysterious aspects. I wonder if Lord Qin Guang…”

“No rush.” Lord Qin Guang supported his forehead with one hand, a lustrous dark purple light flashing through his eyes as he spoke in a deep voice, still responding to Lord Song Di’s earlier comment.

“It’s already the final two levels. After the Cauldron Prime is decided and they exit the Eighteen Levels of Hell, it won’t be too late to deal with her then.”

On screen, that secretive female cultivator had already reopened her eyes. She appeared largely unchanged. Perhaps because Zhong Lanling’s words were truly shocking, or because the matters he mentioned involved the Yin-Yang Realm War that most people avoided discussing, the surroundings had also fallen completely quiet.

The air carried a rich fish soup aroma. But Chen Tingyan and the others had no mind to pay attention, because despite the distance, they had all heard Zhong Lanling’s earlier words.

Zhang Tang, who knew Jian Chou’s origins, showed some hidden worry in his eyes, fearing that many outside the Eighteen Levels of Hell had already discerned some clues.

The completely ignorant Chen Tingyan was dumbstruck, while Gu Ling beside him also felt deeply frightened. Only Fu Chaosheng held a long-handled ladle, gently stirring the pot. The snow-white fish soup had a bright, clear color. Almost ready to drink.

“My apologies.” When she opened her eyes, Jian Chou’s killing intent was hidden completely clean, showing only a trace of convincing regret.

She looked at Zhong Lanling, her voice calm and certain: “I’ve carefully considered, but truly know not a single detail about these matters, nor am I acquainted with any of those people you mentioned, having no connection whatsoever.”

“Then… does Fellow Daoist Jian Chou also not find anything familiar about me?” Zhong Lanling’s eyes held disappointment. Thus the melancholy beneath his profound gaze grew even heavier.

Jian Chou lowered her eyes and shook her head: “If I found anything familiar about you, Fellow Daoist, after being rescued by you atop the Ice Prison peak, I wouldn’t have fled immediately. As for the familiar aura you sense from me…”

Her voice paused slightly, as if she too was thinking. Finally, she smiled without flaw: “Fellow Daoist may not know – when I entered the Cauldron Competition, I only had Soul Pearl cultivation and minimal strength, so I brought many protective magical artifacts and various trump cards. But because they’re so varied, I haven’t had time to examine them all thoroughly, nor am I completely clear about their origins. Perhaps among them is something that, like your qin, came from Yellow Springs or the Yin-Yang Battlefield?”

Fu Chaosheng beside them looked at Jian Chou with suddenly strange brilliance in his eyes. Because only he knew— Jian Chou was lying.

In contrast, all expression on Zhong Lanling’s face suddenly went silent. In the Cauldron Competition, they were all enemies.

Jian Chou had risked coming this far, progressing all the way to the seventeenth level. His presumptuous inquiry was already very inappropriate. Now that she said the reason might lie in magical artifacts she carried, he couldn’t possibly ask her to display all her artifacts for his inspection.

At this point, he should give up hope. After all, Jian Chou came from the City of Unjust Death – her origins and identity should be verifiable. Even if she had truly been to the Yin-Yang Battlefield and was connected to those matters, if she was unwilling to speak, no one could force her.

Zhong Lanling finally stood up, holding his qin and bowing to Jian Chou: “In that case, I have disturbed you, making Fellow Daoist Jian Chou listen to my nonsense.”

“Fellow Daoist speaks too seriously. After all, atop the Ice Prison peak, I received your life-saving assistance. Sitting and talking briefly now causes no delay.” Jian Chou also stood and returned the courtesy.

“Now we’ve reached the seventeenth level of hell. I wonder if Fellow Daoist intends to compete for the Cauldron Prime yourself or help someone else compete?”

Looking at the Nebula Scroll would reveal that the Ghost King Clan currently had very few cultivators remaining. The original favorite Pan Hexun had already been turned to smoke and ash by Jian Chou’s Heaven-Devouring Earth-Consuming Void Demon Umbrella technique. And the other dark horse, “Lihan,” was currently on the boat.

When Jian Chou asked this question, inside and outside the Eighteen Levels of Hell, almost everyone cried out in unison: No one expected that after conversing with Zhong Lanling, she’d still be thinking about this! Was she trying to win over even Zhong Lanling?

Everyone immediately grew tense. Even the people on the boat were startled. Everyone watched Zhong Lanling.

Zhong Lanling himself hadn’t expected Jian Chou to ask such a question, which seemed to further prove that Jian Chou might have no connection to his origins whatsoever. Because from beginning to end, her heart remained focused on the Cauldron Competition.

Jian Chou’s gaze before him was calm, her invitation seemingly formal. But turning his eyes, he could see “Lihan” holding a soup ladle over there.

This “clansman” who had suddenly appeared and displaced his position. The previous battle remained etched in his mind. “Lihan’s” hostility toward him had been undisguised then, not even wanting him to approach Jian Chou.

With such a person present, the Cauldron Prime shouldn’t be a concern. The only question was whether “Lihan” wanted to claim the Cauldron Prime himself or help Jian Chou claim it.

In just a moment’s thought, Zhong Lanling smiled slightly, his bare feet floating as he stood at the boat’s prow, politely declining: “I neither compete for the Cauldron Prime nor help others compete. I plan to remain on this level. I wish Fellow Daoist Jian Chou smooth travels ahead.”

“…Thank you.” Jian Chou’s voice seemed to hide a trace of sighing. The Six Meridians Divine Mirror in her sleeve clenched tight, but ultimately slowly loosened.

Zhong Lanling merely said “Farewell,” and just as when boarding, transformed into a misty breeze before disappearing among the layered green mountains on shore, quickly vanishing without trace.

Only Jian Chou remained standing at the boat’s prow. She couldn’t articulate her inner feelings. She had developed killing intent. Not only killing intent toward the Extreme Domain and Eight Directions Yama Halls, but even toward Zhong Lanling, because he shouldn’t exist in this world.

He wasn’t really a person, nor really a soul. Even his consciousness… probably didn’t belong to himself. But she ultimately hadn’t acted.

At this moment, only her body felt ice-cold throughout. She couldn’t control herself from imagining the conspiracy hidden behind this matter, the brutal truths concealed within, and everything that would happen in the future…

And the depression of temporarily being unable to seek revenge. The surrounding world held the rushing sound of water. From the boat’s center came the sound of a ladle striking the pot’s edge. A rich aroma also spread as Fu Chaosheng’s voice rang out: “The soup is ready.”

Hearing this, Jian Chou turned her head back, showing no expression on her face. But Fu Chaosheng had somehow produced a set of rough porcelain bowls, setting them down and filling one seven-tenths full with soup. He lifted it to examine, then offered it to Jian Chou: “Have some soup?”

Chen Tingyan: “…” Zhang Tang: “…” Gu Ling: “…” Let’s all queue up.

Jian Chou had already guessed when she saw him catch fish and set up the pot, but didn’t know why he was cooking soup at this time. Seeing the bowl extended toward her, she still moved over and took it in her hands.

“Thank you.” The fish soup was warm, and the bowl was also heated to temperature. Jian Chou’s ice-cold fingers finally touched a trace of warmth. She casually sat on the boat before the soup pot, holding the bowl with both hands in silent quiet.

Fu Chaosheng then randomly filled several more bowls of soup, handing them to Gu Ling and Chen Tingyan, finally looking toward Zhang Tang who stood aside without moving.

At this moment, Zhang Tang was also watching him. Or rather, throughout this journey, this former Great Xia power-wielding cruel official had been watching him.

Facing the person he had framed to death, Fu Chaosheng felt no guilt whatsoever. Different species. Their concepts of right and wrong were completely different.

He just found it interesting. So holding a soup bowl, Fu Chaosheng also extended it toward Zhang Tang: “Minister Zhang, please—”

Zhang Tang’s cold gaze swept across his features. “Lihan” was moody and unpredictable, but those glass-like blue eyes faintly hid a feeling that made him extremely uncomfortable.

This gesture was nearly provocative. He stood without moving for a moment. But Fu Chaosheng didn’t withdraw his hand either, only holding a nearly mocking smile at his lips as he watched him.

Not nearly – this was provocation. Zhang Tang vaguely confirmed something. He lowered his eyes. The dark official robe draped over him made him appear so unapproachable. But he reached out his hand and wordlessly took the soup bowl from Fu Chaosheng.

Gaze met gaze – for a moment there seemed to be war drums and clashing weapons, sword shadows and blade light. But it extinguished in a blink.

Fu Chaosheng released his grip, and the bowl passed to Zhang Tang’s hands. He sat back down, directly opposite Jian Chou with a pot between them. No fire was lit, but the soup was boiling hot, with a cooked fish lying inside.

The final bowl of soup was ladled by Fu Chaosheng into the last bowl, cradled in his own hands. He tasted it – this time it should be acceptable.

But looking across, Jian Chou held her soup bowl without drinking, so he asked with seeming smile, seeming mockery: “Fellow Daoist Jian Chou actually let that Zhong Lanling go. Did you develop compassion?”

This was questioning why Jian Chou hadn’t killed Zhong Lanling. To others, this statement sounded perfectly normal. After all, they were all opponents, and “Lihan” had “old grievances” with Zhong Lanling, so Jian Chou not acting against him was indeed strange.

But to Jian Chou, these words held another meaning. She knew Zhong Lanling’s origins, guessed at some secrets behind him, even suspected there were many, many more like him – or rather, “hearted” existences, “successful” groups…

Fu Chaosheng also knew. Moreover, he had known earlier.

Jian Chou closed her eyes briefly, finally taking a small sip. Warmth gradually returned, yet her heart remained cold: “I originally developed killing intent and was about to act. But his final answer was withdrawal – I don’t kill non-combatants.”

Zhong Lanling’s body was assembled from soul fragments of Yashan’s thousand cultivators! Just seeing him made her feel chilled, disgusted and terrified, as if suffering piercing heart pain. But was this person at fault?

Though he shouldn’t exist in this world, he currently hadn’t committed any sinful acts. Even if he might in the future… Evil deeds in this world should be judged by “traces.”

How could she kill based on speculation? Jian Chou truly couldn’t articulate her inner feelings. She could only find a barely acceptable explanation that Fu Chaosheng could understand to state her reasons.

But Fu Chaosheng shook his head and sighed: “Mercy…” This was also a quality he didn’t understand. A quality belonging to “humans.”

But he didn’t ask more about this matter, only using his ladle to poke at the fish lying in the soup pot, casually tapping the fish head once. One fish eye actually burst out from the force.

“Thud.” With a light sound, Fu Chaosheng deftly caught it in his palm.

“This fish in the water is also an unusual species – even its eyes seem to carry extraordinary aura…” The gray-white fish eye, rotated between his fingers, indeed emanated a somewhat different aura.

Fu Chaosheng’s gaze rested on it, playing with it briefly before suddenly flicking his finger. The fish eye whooshed out, shooting straight toward Jian Chou’s face!

Jian Chou frowned, but her blocking motion was swift as wind. In just a blink, the fish eye was stopped and gripped in her palm!

“I’ve heard that eating fish eyes has the effect of clearing the heart and brightening the eyes. I was merely testing Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s skills casually – please don’t mind.”

Fu Chaosheng looked at her with meaningful eyes. Borrowing a fish eye, returning a fish eye. This fish eye was that fish eye.

The moment the fish eye landed in her palm, Jian Chou knew this was the Universe Eye she had obtained from Fish Eye Grave at the former Left Three Thousand small gathering. It could observe past and future.

This was what Fu Chaosheng had borrowed initially. Now he was returning it through this opportunity. But she simply couldn’t control this object, and furthermore…

Her gaze shifted as Jian Chou looked up at Fu Chaosheng, but shook her head and loosened her grip, actually returning the fish eye to him: “My heart is already clear – I need no eye to clarify it. But Fellow Daoist Lihan, being moody and quick to kill, should know the road ahead is perilous. You should indeed eat more fish eyes to brighten your eyes and clear your heart.”

“…” In this instant, Fu Chaosheng suddenly felt quite subtle.

The road ahead is perilous. He smiled slightly: “Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s concern – I thank you…”

This smile, to others, carried a kind of evil and arrogance. After all, he had just asked why Jian Chou hadn’t killed Zhong Lanling. This exchange sounded like the prelude to a falling out.

Everyone else on the boat became secretly alert, the atmosphere growing somewhat tense. But Jian Chou continued drinking soup, and Fu Chaosheng also drank soup.

Neither showed any intention of fighting. Chen Tingyan’s gaze wandered left and right, finally detecting something amiss, but upon reflection, his eyes swept across the Cauldron Ring on his finger as he suddenly said: “Zhong Lanling took a shortcut – what about the others?”

Jian Chou frowned, sinking her consciousness into the Cauldron Ring to check the current situation.

“By rights, we should be in the lead…” But their time passing through the middle ten levels had been too long – long enough for many to have fortuitous encounters, long enough for unexpected changes no one could anticipate.

If someone like Zhong Lanling had surpassed them, it wasn’t impossible. So the urgent matter was checking how many people still remained in the Cauldron Competition and who they were.

Their team was naturally present; Zhong Lanling who had just left was also safe; besides them was Sima Languan who had nearly fought Jian Chou earlier – arguably the foremost formidable enemy among the survivors.

“The Buddhist Chan and Esoteric sects probably still have many survivors. But both sects treat the Cauldron Competition as a place for enlightenment and cultivation, so they shouldn’t pose much threat to us…”

Chen Tingyan was also examining the Nebula Scroll while providing analysis. Everyone agreed with this assessment.

But when Gu Ling heard “Esoteric Sect,” she immediately furrowed her delicate brows tightly, even showing a trace of killing intent on her young face. The old woman’s death remained a shadow in her heart.

Jian Chou glanced at her but ultimately said nothing – she herself was unwilling to let go of hatred and didn’t approve of letting go of hatred, so how could she advise otherwise?

So after just a glance, she withdrew her gaze and refocused on the Nebula Scroll. The sparsely arranged statues were like scattered, sparse star points. Not many people remained.

The Third Round Cauldron Competition truly deserved to be called a slaughter feast. Jian Chou’s feelings were hard to express. Just as she was about to put away the Nebula Scroll and plan their next move with everyone, her consciousness suddenly paused—

“This person…” A male statue with noble bearing, like a bright moon in the sky. Among the few remaining “living people,” such an appearance still gave the impression of standing out from the crowd.

Jian Chou looked at the name: Shang Lu. Those who could survive until now were almost without exception extraordinary. Especially after that chaotic battle where the stronger ones should have appeared, even Zhong Lanling who hadn’t appeared then, Jian Chou had just seen, having been encountered by Fu Chaosheng much earlier.

But only this Shang Lu… Jian Chou’s brow immediately furrowed tightly as she asked everyone: “I have no impression of this person at all. Have any of you encountered him?”

Zhang Tang also frowned. Chen Tingyan and Gu Ling both shook their heads, clearly having never seen him either.

Only Fu Chaosheng, thinking of the “Pan Hexun” he had encountered before the Reincarnation Canon, smiled: “This one—”

Just two words out, he stopped abruptly. His pupils suddenly contracted as he leaped up without hesitation, his wide dark blue sleeves transforming like bat wings, like a dark cloud covering the sparkling river surface!

“Bang bang bang!” A torrent of soul power forcibly pressed the river surface down three inches. Immediately after, the surrounding water surface exploded violently!

Dozens of zhang of spray thunderously erupted! Over a dozen figures in red or white robes were forced to emerge with the massive waves, all crying out in unison!

Snowy Domain Esoteric Sect! These robes and bearing were too memorable. Jian Chou didn’t even need to see any particular face to clearly identify the newcomers’ identities!

These people had actually appeared from the river water! An ambush? Jian Chou couldn’t be certain, but had already noticed that pale blue light lines connected all these dozen people to each other.

A strange and unfamiliar power transmitted between the dozen monks through these light lines. This was… A formation? And a terrifying great formation at that!

Jian Chou’s mood was actually already extremely poor, especially seeing these eyesore Snowy Domain Esoteric Sect members using such underhanded methods!

“It’s you!” Gu Ling, who had been mostly silent, finally roared angrily. Her large eyes immediately reddened as flames erupted around her body, actually charging directly at one of the dozen figures!

The dozen monks almost all watched the people on the boat with cold gazes. Their faces showed expressions of loathing, even sneering when they saw Gu Ling approaching: After killing one Buddha Mother who betrayed the Esoteric Sect, now a little one wants revenge!

“Seeking death!” For some reason, the still-living Zong Tu didn’t appear among this group. The current leader was a monk with a sinister expression who merely raised his hand to form seals, striking high toward Gu Ling: “Boom!”

“Be careful!” Jian Chou had the Six Meridians Divine Mirror in hand, immediately ready to strike!

But unexpectedly, someone was faster than her – Fu Chaosheng beside her had his pale right hand completely covered in black scales, even his fingernails turned black!

Ghost Claw! The Ghost King Clan’s Immovable Wisdom King dharma body! Fu Chaosheng naturally learned it perfectly, directly blocking in front of Jian Chou while clawing toward the leading monk with incomparable ferocity!

“I’ll handle this place. We’re close to the eighteenth level – Fellow Daoist Jian Chou should focus on traveling!”

Focus on traveling… Jian Chou barely restrained the attack about to launch, but before her was already Fu Chaosheng’s figure flying into the formation’s midst with devastating force.

Truly worthy of a great demon! Even while disguised as Lihan and forced to suppress his cultivation to Jade Nirvana stage, his movements in battle and innate coldness far exceeded ordinary cultivators.

Just watching him gave her a secretly alarmed feeling. Gu Ling was naturally safe now. But the formation before them remained troublesome. Several Esoteric Buddhist cultivators charged directly toward the boat as Zhang Tang and Chen Tingyan immediately engaged in battle.

Everyone was connected to the formation, which expanded continuously as their movement range enlarged! Fu Chaosheng was right— She couldn’t afford to wait!

Now that Esoteric Buddhist cultivators had appeared in ambush here, if she delayed further, there was no telling what the eighteenth level of hell would look like. She hadn’t forgotten the strategy she’d set for herself.

Use the fastest speed to reach the eighteenth level of hell. There lay the Shitian Creation Formation. As someone who was originally alive, she need only retrieve her physical body and unite body and soul to easily pass through the formation and return to the Nineteen Continents!

The brilliance in Jian Chou’s eyes brightened then dimmed. But making the decision took only a moment: “Then I’ll trouble you.”

“Whoosh!” River wind suddenly struck her face, piercing as blades! Jian Chou had already launched herself skyward, transforming into a streak of swift lightning, actually flying directly from the small boat and breaking through the Esoteric Buddhist cultivators’ encirclement!

Among the flowing waves, she rushed toward the river’s end! The surrounding otherworldly immortal landscape flashed past the edges of her vision.

In a blink, she was already thirty li away! But just as she glimpsed the Form Realm Heaven Prison Bureau at the river’s end and sky’s edge, light laughter suddenly drifted over, floating ethereally across the river surface.

“Senior Sister Jian Chou, why walk so quickly?”

It was Zong Tu’s voice. But this tone was slightly different from Zong Tu’s usual manner.

Jian Chou’s brow immediately turned cold as she frowned. Though she saw no trace of movement, she already struck with her mirror toward her left side!

“Boom!” A phantom light flashed, but was caught by a blooming red lotus. The red-robed monk’s figure slowly revealed itself within the red lotus. His eyes held complete solemnity and sanctity, as if inviolable, distant yet pure.

Golden embroidered patterns on his red robe’s edges added several traces of stern dignity. The prayer beads hanging around his neck were now gripped in his hand: “Greetings, Senior Sister Jian Chou.”

Zong Tu… Jian Chou’s form was forced to stop, robes billowing as she hovered above the river surface in the void, only feeling absurd in her heart.

“You’re not Zong Tu.” “Oh?” “Zong Tu” seemed somewhat surprised, merely pressing palms together with a solemn smile on his face.

“Senior Sister Jian Chou, could it be that in your urgency, you can’t even recognize Zong Tu?” Jian Chou showed no expression. Behind her were the sounds of Fu Chaosheng, Zhang Tang and others battling, but she wasn’t at all worried about their lives and deaths. Rather, this person before her…

“Fellow Daoist Shang Lu, are you so eager to ‘depart’? Let me send you on your way—” “How about it?”