The Jiaohu Beast was Jiu Su’s pet beast. Summoning it now was to break the Twenty-Four Constellation Formation.

Though his words claimed that no one present was his match, he knew very clearly in his heart that without breaking this formation, he couldn’t gain any advantage under the pincer attack from Zhong Xi and Kong Hou.

Once the Jiaohu Beast appeared, its roar shook the heavens, and all the great powers changed their expressions. Once the Twenty-Four Constellation Formation was activated, those guarding the formation points couldn’t easily move. Had Jiu Su thought of this point and summoned the fierce and vicious Jiaohu Beast?

Kong Hou and Huan Zong stood back-to-back. Seeing the Jiaohu Beast charging toward a senior, she swung her phoenix-headed qin and flew to intercept it: “I’ll handle the Jiaohu Beast. Leave the rest to you.”

Jiu Su, who remained, was too lazy for further words and entangled himself in combat with Huan Zong.

The exchanges between masters could be described as sun and moon losing their light, sand and stones flying, thunder and lightning flashing.

The Yong City citizens hiding in houses secretly pushed open their window cracks, listening to the thunderous sounds from the mountain, unable to stop themselves from clasping their hands together to pray to the gods. The people of this land lived peaceful days only under the protection of sect cultivators. Evil cultivators wreaking havoc troubled everyone under heaven. If the cultivators above Yunhua Sect were defeated by evil cultivators, the entire cultivation world would be finished.

“The battle above isn’t over yet. Where do you think you’re going?”

Muxi looked warily at the man pointing a sword at him and retreated a step backward.

“Don’t move. If you take one more step back, this sword of mine will advance two steps forward.” The man shook the sword in his hand. “Haven’t held a sword in many years. I’m a bit rusty.”

“Who are you?” Muxi’s instinct told him this person was not simple. This man had not the slightest trace of cultivator aura on him, and the sword in his hand was so ordinary it didn’t have a thread of spiritual energy. Yet such a person with such a sword forced him not to dare move.

“Would knowing my name before death let you die with eyes closed?” The man raised his eyebrow, his thick brows lifting slightly, appearing utterly unrestrained.

Cold sweat seeped from Muxi’s palms: “If Senior could tell this junior your esteemed name, this junior would be endlessly grateful.”

“Then forget it. Letting you die with eyes wide open can also count as one good deed.” As the man’s words fell, the sword in his hand became fast as an afterimage, piercing through Muxi’s spiritual platform.

Muxi lay on the ground, his eyes wide with terror. Though he was a formation master not adept at battle, he was still an Out-of-Body Stage great power. He shouldn’t lack even the ability to dodge.

“You… you actually…” Blood kept pouring from Muxi’s mouth. His whole life of scheming and cautious conduct, yet he never expected to die here. When he saw the righteous sects had prepared defenses against enemies, he had a premonition of misfortune, which was why he wanted to take the opportunity to leave Yong City.

Looking at the city gate so close at hand, his consciousness gradually blurred.

Long, long ago, he joined a small sect. The disciples fought to please their elders over meager resources. Because his talent was too good, he was everywhere obstructed by the head disciple, and was later even expelled from the sect.

On the day he was expelled, he was angry and unwilling. What was he thinking then?

He wanted to become the most formidable formation master in the cultivation world, making the entire sect regret what they had done.

Was his past wish really only this?

He slowly closed his eyes. Hazily, many souls filled with sorrow and rage suddenly lunged at him. Many of these faces were strange, and there were also cultivators who died at his hands.

No, no, no, don’t come over.

In that moment before death, he opened his eyes wide with terror…

The thunderous sounds on Yunhua Mountain rang for a full day and night, still not stopping.

Kong Hou was struck in the stomach by the Jiaohu Beast’s head charge, fell to the ground and rolled several times, gasping as she climbed up from the ground. Monk Fatan, only one step away from her, casually tossed out a string of prayer beads. When the Jiaohu Beast charged over, the beads emitted golden Buddhist light. The Jiaohu Beast howled in pain and retreated several steps backward.

Seeing the beast’s fur was scorched black where it touched the beads, Kong Hou took the opportunity to pop two Recovery Elixirs into her mouth, turning her head to say to Monk Fatan: “Monk Fatan, if you had this, you should have taken it out earlier.”

At least she wouldn’t have been worn out by a vicious beast to the point of losing all composure, without even time to take Recovery Elixirs.

“Amitabha.” Monk Fatan pressed his palms together. “Kong Hou, young friend, these prayer beads were made from the relics of our temple’s predecessors.”

Kong Hou bent down to pick up the relic that had fallen to the ground, carefully wiped the dust off with her sleeve, and stuffed it back into Monk Fatan’s hands. Turning around, she gathered spiritual energy in her ten fingers and plucked the strings.

The music transformed into invisible wind blades that sliced at the Jiaohu Beast. The Jiaohu Beast roared furiously, abandoning the great powers at the formation points and charged at Kong Hou.

“Idiots are just idiots. The master is a pig-brain, and the pet beast raised is also stupid, ugly, and stinking. The creature resembles its master.” Swinging the phoenix-headed qin to smash it on the Jiaohu Beast’s neck, the beast’s body tilted, and it turned its head trying to bite Kong Hou standing on its back.

Kong Hou’s toes touched down lightly as she drew out the Shuishuang Sword and stabbed it into the Jiaohu Beast’s abdomen. After battling Kong Hou for a day, the beast’s stamina was already insufficient. It hadn’t expected that a lowly human would actually make it bleed, which made it furiously enraged. No longer caring about Jiu Su’s orders, it only focused on pursuing and killing Kong Hou.

Kong Hou led it out of the Twenty-Four Constellation Formation, and the two entangled in combat together, dust flying everywhere.

Here, Jiu Su battling with Huan Zong already had no time to spare for the Jiaohu Beast. He never expected that after a day and night had passed, Zhong Xi could still fight him to a draw.

“Your spiritual platform has already healed?!” Jiu Su almost dared not admit this fact. How exactly did Zhong Xi gather all the medicinal materials?

Huan Zong ignored his words, sharp sword intent swirling around him, every move fierce and relentless, leaving not half a point of mercy.

Jiu Su, momentarily careless, actually let a strand of sword intent cut his neck.

Touching the blood on his neck, Jiu Su laughed coldly: “I didn’t expect you could actually reach this step. Since it’s so, I have no choice but to bring out my full strength.” Having said this, he bit his index finger and drew a strange pattern on his forehead.

“With my heart’s blood, I summon the evil gods from all directions. What use is keeping such a world of hypocritical righteousness?”

In that instant, the earth shook and mountains trembled, as if some terrible thing was about to break through the earth.

Seeing everyone present change their expressions, Jiu Su laughed wildly: “This world doesn’t count just because you righteous sects say so!”

“Focus your minds!” Jinyue gathered spiritual energy in his throat. “Cannot move positions.”

The earth trembled more and more violently, as if the entire Yunhua Mountain was about to be torn in half. Jiu Su’s hair gradually turned white, his pupils dyed crimson red. “You want to sacrifice for the common people under heaven. Today I’ll give you the opportunity.”

The cracks in the ground grew larger and larger. Just as the great power closest to the crack was about to fall into the crevice, Huan Zong flew down and landed. “Stabilize Mountains and Rivers!”

The Longyin Sword let out a dragon’s roar. The spiritual energy of all Yunhua Mountain gathered together, coiling in the air into a golden dragon that used its body to tightly wrap around the entire Yunhua Mountain. The earth-shaking slowly stopped, and even the opened cracks began to close.

The smile on Jiu Su’s face faded: “Your cultivation is already at Divine Transformation great perfection?”

In that instant just now, the spiritual energy around Huan Zong leaked out, also letting Jiu Su see clearly his cultivation level.

After Divine Transformation Stage came Grand Ascension Stage. He was one cultivation level higher than Zhong Xi, but sword cultivators like Zhong Xi were different. Though he had Divine Transformation cultivation, he could exert Grand Ascension Stage strength.

Even so, one move of Stabilize Mountains and Rivers still consumed thirty percent of Huan Zong’s spiritual energy.

Huan Zong gripped the Longyin Sword with both hands, spiritual energy from his body continuously being absorbed by the Longyin Sword.

Seeing him willing to expend spiritual power during combat for others’ sake, Jiu Su sneered and spiritual energy whistled toward Huan Zong in attack.

“Hum.”

The massive phoenix-headed qin blocked in front of Huan Zong. A phoenix cry transmitted from the phoenix-headed qin, and faintly in the air appeared a seven-colored phoenix, spreading its giant wings to shelter the entire Yunhua Mountain beneath its plumage.

If Yunhua Mountain fell, those who died wouldn’t only be the cultivators on the mountain, but also the tens of thousands of common people below. If Yong City fell, the entire cultivation world’s spiritual energy would become chaotic, demons would run rampant, and common people without the strength to truss a chicken could only become food in their bellies.

Huan Zong couldn’t afford to gamble, Kong Hou couldn’t afford to gamble, and these cultivators on the mountain also couldn’t afford to gamble.

Summoning the seven-colored phoenix was still too strenuous for Kong Hou. If not for the assistance of the great powers in the Twenty-Four Constellation Formation, she fundamentally couldn’t use such a powerful technique. Her face deathly pale as she spat out two mouthfuls of blood, she pulled the Shuishuang Sword from the throat of the dying Jiaohu Beast. Just now, taking advantage of the earth-shaking, Kong Hou seized the Jiaohu Beast’s weakness and finally brought it down to the ground.

After pulling out the Shuishuang Sword, afraid the Jiaohu Beast could still get up, she used her last few breaths to stab it several more times, even severing its leg tendons. It was said some wild beasts could play dead. She couldn’t distinguish whether this Jiaohu Beast was truly dead or faking death—only a vicious beast that couldn’t move was safe.

The phoenix-headed qin and Longyin Sword together seemed to have a miraculous resonance. They firmly protected Yunhua Mountain together, not dimming because their masters’ spiritual energy was nearly exhausted. Instead, they automatically absorbed heaven and earth spiritual energy, protecting Yunhua Mountain without moving a thread.

Bending over to spit several mouthfuls of blood on the ground, Kong Hou used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth corner, flying to Huan Zong’s side: “Huan Zong, looks like we two really will become suffering mandarin ducks.”

Huan Zong released the Longyin Sword, letting it remain stuck in the ground. Gripping Kong Hou’s slightly cool hand, Huan Zong smiled: “We are Dao companions recognized by the Heavenly Dao. If this life we cannot stay together forever, in our next life we definitely will still be together.”

Jiu Su was too lazy to listen to the two profess their feelings. He looked at the phoenix-headed qin protecting the two before them, just preparing to sweep it aside with his sleeve, when suddenly footsteps sounded.

The footsteps were neither fast nor slow, but each step was very steady—so steady that even Jiu Su couldn’t help but doubt who would dare come up at this time. He turned his head to look. A man wearing gray-blue short clothes walked this way, his face still wearing a smile.

Seeing everyone looking at him, the man waved his hand: “I just came to deliver a blessing. After I deliver it, I’ll leave. You can continue fighting.”

The great powers: “…”

There was a mountain protection formation below. How did this person come up? And coming to deliver blessings—they were all about to be beaten to death, the new couple’s Dao-binding ceremony had long ended. What kind of blessing was he delivering at this time?

The man seemed unable to read their facial expressions. Stepping with a swagger, he lazily walked into the Twenty-Four Constellation Formation and said to Kong Hou: “Sorry, there are too many good food and fun places in Yong City. I forgot yesterday was your Dao-binding ceremony. Coming today isn’t too late, is it?”

Kong Hou shook her head blankly: “Uncle, why did you come at this time?”

Was life too comfortable, so he ran here now to die together?

“Growing this big, I still don’t know what the Evil Venerable looks like, so I came over to take a look.” Uncle Xianyu touched his messy beard. “White hair, red eyes. Isn’t this the appearance of villains going mad in variety shows? Rest assured, generally when bad guys show this appearance, they won’t live much longer. You all fight at ease. Let me also watch the excitement from the side.”

Having said this, he flashed to avoid Jiu Su’s attack and stood outside the Twenty-Four Constellation Formation, rummaging on his person—rummaging and rummaging—pulling out a thick cloth to spread on the ground: “Come, come, come, continue.”

Kong Hou: “…”

In such a serious setting, suddenly having such an interlude, it seemed even the murderous atmosphere diminished quite a bit.

Jiu Su was enraged by Uncle Xianyu’s arrogant attitude, but he had already fallen into the Twenty-Four Constellation Formation and couldn’t easily escape. He ground his teeth and glared coldly at Uncle Xianyu: “Watching my excitement will come at a price!”

Uncle Xianyu paid him no mind, removing the wine gourd from his waist, leisurely drinking wine.

Kong Hou’s heart stirred: “Uncle, seeing as we’re so familiar, could you help us with a favor?”

“Won’t help, won’t help.” Uncle Xianyu waved his hand, but just happened to release a strand of spiritual energy that repelled Jiu Su who was preparing to attack Kong Hou. “Old arms and old legs, can’t compare with you young people’s constitution. Already can’t move for fighting.”

The great powers saw that in casual conversation he prevented Jiu Su from getting near Kong Hou’s body, their hearts greatly shocked. Who exactly was this person, his cultivation actually so unfathomably profound?

“If you don’t help, Huan Zong and I can’t hold on. If you let this evil cultivator destroy Yong City and the entire cultivation world, where will you eat delicacies? Who will still buy your salted fish?” Kong Hou took this opportunity to stuff two spiritual power calming elixirs into her own and Huan Zong’s mouths. “Moreover, if our Yunhua Sect is destroyed, your small courtyard and shop in Yong City won’t be worth anything.”

“That’s also true.” Uncle Xianyu touched his chin. “Then you two go fight him. I’ll cheer you on from here.”

“Thank you, Uncle.” Kong Hou pulled up the phoenix-headed qin and entangled in combat with Jiu Su.

Huan Zong’s Longyin Sword had to protect Yunhua Mountain’s spiritual veins, so it couldn’t move. He retrieved a divine-grade spiritual sword from his storage ring.

“Wait.” Uncle Xianyu tossed out a sword. “Use this one.”

Huan Zong caught the sword. On the sword, a dragon’s aura flowed, very similar to the Longyin Sword’s aura. He looked at Uncle Xianyu once and bowed: “Many thanks.” Having given thanks, he stepped forward to battle Jiu Su together.

Since the righteous path gained a strange helper, Jiu Su discovered he was restricted everywhere. Whenever he could harm Huan Zong and Kong Hou, that mysterious man would intervene to help. At this moment, he was like a fish trapped in a water jar, unable to advance or retreat.

After Huan Zong established his foundation, he often battled with people. Evil cultivators who died at his hands were not few. His every move and technique showed no mercy. Coordinating perfectly with Kong Hou, in less than two hours, Jiu Su’s body was already bloody all over, almost without a single intact place.

“Alas.” Uncle Xianyu shook his head from the side. These young people nowadays still had too little practical combat experience. Two hours already and they still hadn’t dealt with this menace. Truly one generation worse than the last. The cultivation world had really declined.

Jiu Su was forced by Kong Hou and Huan Zong to a dead end. He suddenly laughed strangely: “The Heavenly Dao is unjust. Since I’m destined not to ascend, then you hypocrites also shouldn’t think about having it easy.”

He reached his hand toward his chest and slapped, forcing out his Nascent Soul.

“He’s going to self-destruct!” Jinyue shouted in shock.

A Grand Ascension perfection cultivator’s Nascent Soul self-destructing was enough to destroy all of Yong City!

“Amitabha!” A Buddha Dharma manifestation suddenly rose in the sky. Before everyone could react, a monk wearing robes but without kasaya suddenly absorbed Jiu Su’s forced-out Nascent Soul into his own body.

“Monk Yuanchen?!”

Kong Hou recognized that this slightly plump monk was precisely Yuanchen, who once had entanglements with Hongyan Zhenren. She walked forward a step but was pulled back by Huan Zong.

Monk Yuanchen pressed his palms together and smiled slightly at Kong Hou: “Buddha says, if I don’t enter hell, who enters hell? Everyone, please protect me well.”

As these words fell, his entire person was exploded by the powerful Nascent Soul, turning to ashes.

Kong Hou stared blankly at this scene, reaching out to try to grasp the blue smoke dancing in the air, yet only grasped a handful of emptiness.

Having lost his Nascent Soul, Jiu Su wilted to the ground. He never imagined that at such a time, someone would actually dare to take his Nascent Soul into their body, using all their spiritual energy to wrap around the Nascent Soul, controlling the harm to the smallest range.

These hypocrites—why could they do this?

He didn’t believe it, he didn’t believe it!

Years ago, he accidentally entered the Star Palace and glimpsed heavenly secrets, saying he had no ascension opportunity in this life and would suffer ruined reputation. He didn’t believe in destiny, only in himself. Why, after all his efforts, was the final outcome still just as predicted in the heavenly secrets?

A sword pierced his chest. The one killing him was not the long-renowned Zhong Xi, but that young girl.

“Sect Master Wang Su didn’t deceive you. The true child of destiny is me.” Kong Hou pulled out the Shuishuang Sword, watching Jiu Su fall unwillingly. Her body swayed, and she turned to look toward the direction where Uncle Xianyu was.

Uncle Xianyu had long since left, having quietly departed at some unknown time.

She could no longer hold on. Her eyes went black as she fell toward the ground.

Having a Sound Cultivator with only Spirit Severing Stage cultivation exert Grand Ascension Stage strength—she had used even the strength from nursing in her mother’s womb. Now that the crisis was resolved, how could she have the willpower to keep holding on? Closing her eyes, she wished she could sleep for ten or eight years.

“Kong Hou!”

“Miss Kong Hou!”

“Kong Hou Xianzi!”

The commotion at Yunhua Sect finally stopped. The corpses in the city were cleaned up spotlessly, as if the fighting from days ago had never appeared.

The common people of Yong City talked in the streets and alleys about the extravagance and grand display of Kong Hou Xianzi’s Dao-binding ceremony. Children gathered in clusters, comparing who grabbed more red envelopes. Adults shouted for children not to run around wildly. The children chattered noisily. The entire city was filled with the fresh vitality of mortal life.

“Selling salted fish, selling salted fish. Fine salted fish, one and a half spirit stones for one, five spirit stones for three.”

“Boss, why do three of your salted fish cost more than one?”

“This old man is in a good mood today and wants to sell them more expensively.”

The great powers descending from Yunhua Sect heard this exchange and couldn’t help but stop their steps, looking to the side.

“Do you immortal elders want to buy salted fish?” Uncle Xianyu sat in a reclining chair, lazily calling out.

The great powers who didn’t like eating salted fish gritted their teeth and nodded: “Buy.”

Such a mysterious figure—they couldn’t afford to offend.

“Ten spirit stones for one, one hundred spirit stones for five.”

The great powers: “Why is the salted fish sold to us more expensive? Is it because the fish are better?”

“No.” Uncle Xianyu stood up, using a palm-leaf fan to shoo away flies in the shop. “I prefer gouging rich fools.”

The rich fools: “…”

Buy!

Several sect masters led disciples in buying a pile of stinking salted fish. Walking at the very back, the Jiufeng Sect Master couldn’t help but stop and say: “Senior, might you be Kuiying Zhenren?”

Uncle Xianyu patted the salt frost stuck to his hands, not even lifting his head: “Who is Kuiying Zhenren? Don’t know him.”

The Jiufeng Sect Master was stunned, bowing: “This junior has disturbed you.”

Uncle Xianyu paid him no mind.

“Brother Long.” After these great powers left, the bookshop owner next door poked his head out: “Are you going to close shop and go out to play again?”

Uncle Xianyu smiled proudly: “Gouged some rich fools, this old man is going out to enjoy himself properly.” He saw a sign hanging at the bookshop entrance with “Miaobi Ke new book in stock” written on it, guessing it was some famous book writer, and said, “Give me a copy of this whatever Miaobi Ke’s book.”

“Right away.” The bookshop owner nodded. “Good thing you asked early. Otherwise by evening, it would be sold out.”

Uncle Xianyu casually replied: “Seems this Miaobi Ke’s books are quite popular.”

The bookshop owner chuckled, turning to retrieve several of Miaobi Ke’s books and stuff them to Uncle Xianyu: “Take all of these.”

Uncle Xianyu lowered his head to look at the books in his hands. The topmost one was titled “Forever Together.” He twitched his eyebrows. What nonsense was this? He, a widower without a Dao companion—what “Forever Together” should he read?

The disciples of Yunhua Sect discovered that although their main hall was smashed to pieces, their sect master’s mood seemed not affected in the slightest. All day long he was delighted, as if he’d picked up some enormous advantage.

The disciples wanted to ask, but none of the elders would say much. They could only keep quiet. However, thinking that the Evil Venerable was already eliminated, they became happy again. In the future, they could once again live peaceful, safe, and leisurely days.

On Qiyue Peak, Kong Hou, who had just awakened from sweet dreams, leaned against Huan Zong’s embrace, watching the rolling cloud layers in the mountains: “Huan Zong, do you think Monk Yuanchen truly let go of Hongyan Zhenren?”

Huan Zong shook his head: “I don’t know.” He lowered his head to kiss Kong Hou’s forehead. “I only know I can never let you go.”

Kong Hou smiled, reaching her arm around Huan Zong’s neck: “The weather is just right. Let’s go dual cultivate.”

“Not going to dual cultivate with heaven and earth?” Huan Zong’s thumb gently traced across Kong Hou’s red lips.

Kong Hou blinked. “Why not both?”

Li Rou discovered that in the first year after Kong Hou Shishu and Zhong Xi Zhenren became Dao companions, Zhong Xi Zhenren didn’t return to Liuguang Sect. When Liuguang Sect disciples came to visit, they saw a sign hanging at Kong Hou Shishu’s cave dwelling entrance with “Striving to Cultivate and Ascend, Do Not Disturb” written on it.

The Liuguang Sect disciples returned.

In the third year after Kong Hou Shishu and Zhong Xi Zhenren became Dao companions, Zhong Xi Zhenren still hadn’t returned to Liuguang Sect. Liuguang Sect disciples came to visit again. The sign at Kong Hou Shishu’s cave dwelling entrance had already accumulated dust. The “Striving to Cultivate and Ascend, Do Not Disturb” on it had become blurred and unclear.

In the fifth year after Kong Hou Shishu and Zhong Xi Zhenren became Dao companions, Zhong Xi Zhenren brought Kong Hou Shishu to live at Liuguang Sect for a year. The two didn’t ascend.

In the fiftieth year after the two became Dao companions, Kong Hou Shishu’s cultivation advanced to Grand Ascension Stage. The two hung up a “Ascending, Do Not Disturb” sign on their cave dwelling at Qiyue Peak, but… they still didn’t ascend.

What exactly did this sign mean—that matters of ascending shouldn’t disturb them, or that they shouldn’t be disturbed from ascending?