“Jing…”

Jing Wen was about to call his name, but was interrupted.

“This humble monk’s dharma name is Dao Chen.” Dao Chen pressed his palms together and recited “Amitabha.”

“You’ve converted to Buddhism?” Jing Wen’s anger increased by three points.

Dao Chen merely smiled without speaking, touching the prayer beads on his wrist and releasing some Tianren sword energy.

Though Tianren was gentle, its sword energy was extremely pure. With Jing Wen’s level, he could immediately sense this and understand, his eyes suddenly brightening.

He understood that Dao Chen had become a monk to cultivate the sword.

“Father, it seems you already know.” Dao Chen was referring to the shameful matter of his beloved disciple sucking his blood to support her family.

“You knew about this back then?” Jing Wen took several steps forward, standing at the edge of the city tower, looking down at his only son. “You killed her, cut off her head, because she betrayed me?”

Dao Chen mocked: “You think too highly of yourself.”

A storm brewed in the depths of Jing Wen’s eyes, but it quickly dissipated. Slowly, the corner of his mouth curled into an enigmatic smile.

Back then, he had killed Dao Chen’s wet nurse because he saw that the woman wanted to profit from her position, deliberately making his son overly weak and excessively dependent on her.

Taking Dao Chen back to the Sword Pavilion but refusing to acknowledge his identity, making him start as a sword attendant—this was also because he didn’t want to elevate him too quickly, preferring to temper his character first.

He hadn’t expected that this young man would stay silent until he struck, and when he did, he killed his beloved disciple.

When Jing Wen saw that bloody head, his heart was both sorrowful and angry, but simultaneously, he strangely felt some comfort.

This was truly like his son, sufficiently mad and ruthless at his core.

He just needed some correction, and he would be good material for cultivating the killing sword.

But the young man had vanished without a trace, and he had searched for hundreds of years without finding him.

In Dao Chen’s sea of consciousness, Yin Changli said: “It seems that in your father’s eyes, his son is still more important than a beloved disciple.”

Dao Chen sneered: “It’s not that his son is important, but a son who conforms to his wishes is important.”

“Get out of the way first,” Jing Wen turned around. “After I finish the matter at hand, I’ll settle accounts with you.”

Dao Chen called to stop him, continuing to transmit: “Father, your beloved disciple’s lover died long ago. The current Xiang Heng is just a soul possessor.”

Jing Wen’s steps faltered as he turned his head to look at him: “Changing names and pretending to be possessed by another soul—you think that can fool me?”

Dao Chen: “Then you can examine him when he comes out of seclusion.”

Jing Wen: “Don’t think I don’t know you’re trying to stall for time, waiting until sunset.”

The letter informing him had been very clear. Xiang Heng had suppressed demon poison in his body for years, and in the past two years, it had reached an uncontrollable level that couldn’t be delayed anymore.

This seclusion was precisely to remove the poison. Today at sunset would complete exactly one major cycle, the time when it was easiest to be counterattacked by the demon poison and extremely easy to fall into demonic cultivation.

Dao Chen mocked: “Could it be that father is afraid that after Xiang Heng removes the demon poison, his cultivation will advance to a higher level, and you won’t be able to defeat him?”

Jing Wen had no desire to refute such ridiculous words: “The sooner I remove this thorn in my eye, the sooner I’ll feel relief. Why should I give him a chance?”

“Moreover, if he emerges from demonic cultivation, I’ll have legitimate grounds to kill him. Otherwise, with his reputation in Yin Sha, I would become the villain.”

Jing Wen didn’t want to waste any more time and prepared to invade Xiang Haikui’s spirit realm, trying his best to force Xiang Heng out without endangering her life.

Dao Chen blocked him again: “Father! How about a battle with me first? To cultivate the sword, I’ve been painstakingly establishing myself in Yin Sha for many years. I must stop you at least for appearances’ sake. Besides, I’m sure it won’t take much of your time!”

Jing Wen ignored him: “I don’t have time to play pretend with you.”

Dao Chen: “Then let’s make it real, and let me gauge how long it would take to defeat you!”

Hearing these words, Jing Wen indeed paused his steps.

Bai Xingxian, who had been following Dao Chen, took a detour and came to Lu Xiqiao’s side, pulling him away: “Don’t just stand there. This place is dangerous, quick, follow me into the city.”

Amid the string of unexpected events, Lu Xiqiao was dazed and let Bai Xingxian pull him along: “I know Sister Kui is someone who does big things, but isn’t this scene a bit too grand?”

“Even grander scenes are yet to come.” As they entered the city gate, remnants of sword energy lingered, cutting past them like winter wind stripping flesh from bone.

As Bai Xingxian spoke, he touched the snake jar and small black ball hanging at his waist, then turned to look at Dao Chen, who was standing outside the city, looking up at Jing Wen, and worried about his uncle in his heart.

After entering the city, they rushed straight toward Xiang Haikui.

Though there were many people on the street, Xiang Haikui was easy to spot, trapped among dozens of pillars with electric arcs sizzling between them.

“It’s useless, all of you stay back.” Xiang Haikui was driving away the crowd that had approached, trying to help her escape.

Jing Wen suddenly turned his back, facing outside the city, no longer paying attention to her.

The cultivators in Yin Sha City then began trying to rescue her.

But no matter what magical tools they used, once they approached these pillars, the tools would become scrap metal and might even backfire on their owners.

“You move aside, let me try…”

“Let me try first…”

“All of you move back! Your meager abilities can’t help!” Though touched by their efforts, Xiang Haikui still fiercely shouted to stop them.

Jing Ran stood to the side, not stepping forward, not because he feared his master’s blame, but because with his current cultivation level, he could do nothing.

This world was somewhat different from the cultivation world he had imagined.

Shouldn’t cultivators be detached from desires, adhere to the Dao heart, and guard themselves?

Why did it seem not much different from Earth?

It gave him a sense of déjà vu of civilization regressing to feudal society, or even slave society.

More backward?

Xiang Heng reminded him of the great generals described in history textbooks, adored by the people.

And his newly appointed master, who appeared to be otherworldly and immortal-like, had behaved today in Yin Sha in a way that surprised him considerably.

“Little Sister Kui.”

“Sister Kui!”

Bai Xingxian and Lu Xiqiao ran forward.

“Stop!” Xiang Haikui extended her palm, indicating they shouldn’t approach the cage.

“Holy crap, appearances are truly deceiving.” As a disciple of the Sword Academy at the Golden Spirit Academy in the royal capital, Lu Xiqiao had heard countless tales about the supreme elders.

They were praised to high heaven, making the disciples’ hearts surge with excitement.

Today, seeing it firsthand—yes, they were indeed formidable, but their character was truly rotten.

“I always thought my father was the most unscrupulous person in the royal capital, but it turns out he’s not.” He squatted down with his arms folded and sighed. “No wonder my father often says my vision is narrow and my experience shallow.”

Meanwhile, to everyone’s amazement, Bai Xingxian broke off his two golden front teeth, transforming them into the Heavenly Treasure Twin Swords: “Little Sister Kui, let me help nourish your sword. Don’t worry, Dao Chen is stalling Jing Wen, trying to drag it out until sunset.”

“Dao Chen?” Xiang Haikui was surprised. No wonder Jing Wen suddenly disregarded her; it was because his biological son had appeared. “Is it Dao Chen, not your uncle?”

Once the Heavenly Treasure Sword emerged, strands of golden light drifted toward Heaven Fury inside the cage, unimpeded by the prison.

Like charging a battery, Xiang Haikui’s excessively depleted spirit and energy began to slowly rise.

“Uncle temporarily returned the body to Dao Chen, fearing Jing Wen would see through the ruse.” Before Xiang Haikui could ask, Bai Xingxian explained, “Uncle said he can control Dao Chen, so don’t worry. Besides, Dao Chen’s interests are now aligned with ours…”

“Aligned how?”

“In opposing Jing Wen.”

Xiang Haikui was confused: “What’s going on here?”

Bai Xingxian: “Well, it all starts with the body your father’s soul transmigrated into…”

After listening to Little White’s explanation, Xiang Haikui was stunned for a moment.

Damn! Xiang Tianqing’s background was so messy that it was hard to look at.

But thinking of Meng Xilou’s domineering CEO acting foolishly, she wasn’t surprised anymore.

The problem was that her dad was truly unfortunate, suddenly having a huge black pot dumped on his head!

Xiang Haikui was almost rolling her eyes in anger.

“Master Dao Chen!”

“The Master has flown up to the city tower!”

Voices rose one after another. The people didn’t seem surprised by Dao Chen’s sudden appearance.

In Yin Sha’s life-and-death crisis, Master Dao Chen would certainly come to help.

Seeing their expressions, most of which said, “I truly haven’t been a fan of the wrong person,” Xiang Haikui’s temple twitched, not knowing what to think.

But how long could they rely on Dao Chen to stall?

Xiang Haikui saw the father and son standing face to face on the city tower, the wind blowing their robe hems, but they were as motionless as statues. Her heart suddenly moved, and her pupils contracted tightly.

“Little White, is Senior using Dao Chen to challenge Jing Wen’s divine sense?”

The boss’s divine sense was stronger than Jing Wen’s. Was he trying to trap Jing Wen in his sea of consciousness?!

But the boss’s soul was now extremely weak. The slightest mistake could severely damage his soul, and he might even be scattered!

Bai Xingxian was also worrying about this point. He lowered his eyes slightly and softly comforted her: “Don’t worry, my uncle is super strong. In both intellectual and physical battles, he has never lost.”

“That was before. Now he can be chopped by me with a single knife, how is that strong?” Xiang Haikui, who had been subtly beginning to accept her fate, now stood up with Heaven Fury, red-eyed, swinging her sword to chop at the cage.

Seeing the wounds on her body continuously bursting open due to emotional agitation, with flesh turning outward, looking ferocious and terrifying, Bai Xingxian hurriedly took out the small black ball from his belt and handed it to her: “Really, my uncle has always been three steps ahead. Before he was injured and lost his memory, he must have set up a backup plan.”

Xiang Haikui paused slightly, looking at the small black ball in his hand.

The small black ball had changed compared to the previous days, now surrounded by some black light.

Bai Xingxian: “On our way here with uncle, he asked me to take it out to study further, to see if we could open the palace door. That’s when we discovered it had become somewhat strange…”

After listening to his explanation, Xiang Haikui understood that the boss likely didn’t lose the small black ball due to injury.

Instead, he actively separated from it and, upon leaving, placed a time-locked lock on the small black ball.

Now the countdown was about to end, the palace was about to unlock, and the door was about to open.

What was the boss doing?

Xiang Haikui could never predict his thoughts; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been fooled by him time and again.

The crowd began to stir.

“Why aren’t they moving?”

“They’re comparing divine sense.”

More time passed.

“Is Master Dao Chen’s divine sense so powerful?”

“Perhaps Buddhist cultivation counters the killing sword?”

As time slowly passed, the sunset gradually retracted its golden threads, and the desert world fell into darkness, yet the two still stood motionless on the city tower.

If not for the clouds moving overhead, it would have been a frozen oil painting.

Xiang Haikui’s heart was almost in her throat when she heard Xiang Tianqing call from behind: “Little Kui!”

Xiang Haikui turned her head to see her running over with a pale face, followed by Wu Mian.

Wu Mian had been frozen by Jing Wen earlier, and it took Xiang Tianqing a lot of effort to wake him up. After hearing the guards explain the situation at the city gate, she ran here like a madwoman.

“Little Kui, you didn’t reveal father’s seclusion location, did you?” Xiang Tianqing asked anxiously.

“If I had, would I be trapped here?” Xiang Haikui knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, but at this moment, seeing her, she felt anger welling up.

Wu Mian opened his mouth but stayed silent behind Xiang Tianqing.

“Ah!”

The crowd suddenly let out a cry of surprise.

Xiang Haikui quickly withdrew her gaze and looked back toward the city tower.

They saw blood flowing from Dao Chen’s eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

In no time, large amounts of blood gushed from his mouth. He covered his spirit platform and continuously retreated several steps, half-kneeling on the ground.

Bai Xingxian nearly shouted “Uncle!” in front of everyone.

…

Jing Wen fixed his gaze on Dao Chen: “What monster have you raised in your sea of consciousness?”

As soon as Dao Chen opened his mouth, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Jing Wen frowned: “This monster cannot remain. It seems to have little strength now, but once it recovers, you will be consumed without a trace.”

“Yin Changli, how are you?” Dao Chen transmitted into his sea of consciousness.

No response.

“Yin Changli?”

After a while, a weak voice said, “Not good, but enough to suppress you again.”

Dao Chen wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and smiled: “I know what choice is most beneficial for me, don’t worry.”

Then, he slowly raised his head to look at Jing Wen. “Sooner or later, I will defeat you.”

“I look forward to that day.” Jing Wen wasn’t angry. “Alright, go heal your wounds.”

As he finished speaking, he felt a strong battle intent transmitted from behind!

He quickly turned around.

It was the small black ball in Bai Xingxian’s hand, suddenly bounced out!

“This is…” Bai Xingxian was surprised. It wasn’t just because the seal had weakened; he had just felt a force inside the small black ball, continuously pushing outward!

The small black ball, baring its saw-toothed mouth, rolled along the main road toward the city tower ahead.

Jing Wen was truly stunned—what was this thing?

After reaching the base of the tower, the small black ball expanded, sprouted spikes, and transformed into a super-large sea urchin.

It bounced on the ground a few times, using the momentum to leap high into the air.

Jing Wen stepped back and, with two fingers together, slashed down a diagonal energy sword.

The small black ball opened its large mouth and gulped down the sword energy.

A moment later, a strong light burst from the slightly open crack of its mouth. The light was so dazzling that for an instant, the already dark Yin Sha City was as bright as day.

Just as everyone thought Jing Wen’s sword energy had exploded its core, a person flew out from the strong light.

Dressed in black robes with sharp eyebrows and eyes.

He should have been an extremely handsome man, but perhaps from spending too long on the battlefield, he carried a sharpness like a blade’s edge.

The crowd was stunned: “Great—Great City Lord?!”

Wu Mian also stammered: “Mas—Master?”

Xiang Tianqing covered her mouth: “Father? Wasn’t Father in seclusion?”

Xiang Haikui’s reaction was identical to Xiang Tianqing’s.

Both of them had personally seen their father enter seclusion, watched him lock the formation, so how did he now emerge from the small black ball?

Xiang Haikui couldn’t help but recall the day she found the little black snake, which was the same day she and Xiang Tianqing sent their father to the cave for seclusion.

Their father’s seclusion cave was three levels underground.

As they came up, they were trapped by an approaching sandstorm at the entrance of the first underground level.

Then, Xiang Tianqing discovered the little black snake.

Right, she and Bai Xingxian had only just left Master’s Ten Thousand Bones Valley, and at that time, the boss was with Master.

According to Little White, Ten Thousand Bones Valley wasn’t even in the mortal realm, let alone how far it was from Yin Sha.

Why would the boss’s true form suddenly appear in her father’s secluded cave?

This was something she seemed to have overlooked all along.

…

At this moment, another person rarely showed surprise—Meng Xilou, standing on the inner city tower.

Not only had Xiang Heng suddenly appeared, but he had also glanced at him.

That glance carried three parts heartache and seven parts killing intent.

“He wasn’t in seclusion; he seems to know everything…”

The elder was equally perplexed: “But Xiang Heng’s demon poison has been completely cleared. How is this possible? The demon poison had already infiltrated his bone marrow. There’s no divine medicine that could make him fully recover within seven days, and even advance his cultivation…”

Unless it had been transferred to another person.

But that person would need to have a much higher cultivation level to bear the full transfer.

Such a powerful figure wouldn’t be coerced by him.

Was it voluntary?

But this powerful figure might lose half his life.

Besides close kin, who would help Xiang Heng like this?

…

Xiang Heng withdrew his gaze from Meng Xilou and looked at the city tower.

The small black ball was rolling around on the city wall as if in high spirits.

Xiang Heng cupped his hands toward Jing Wen: “Senior Jing, I hear you’ve been looking for me?”

As he spoke, he looked at Dao Chen, who was kneeling behind Jing Wen.

Of course, his gaze was truly focused on Yin Changli within Dao Chen’s spirit platform.

…

The whole matter traced back to seven days ago, the day Xiang Heng entered seclusion.

When Xiang Heng entered the cave, bid farewell to his two daughters, and activated the seclusion barrier, he took out the demon-expelling medicine given by Yin Changli.

Xiang Heng was skeptical and hadn’t planned to drink it.

This series of strange events was too bizarre—he had mistakenly welcomed the wrong person, and then his daughter returned on her own.

Furthermore, his daughter’s behavior was too unusual. When she put down the sword box on her back, it cracked the ground.

How could a girl who had just established her foundation carry it?

Suddenly becoming so powerful and continuously urging him to go into seclusion was too abnormal.

So Xiang Heng pretended to agree to seclusion, intending to hide and observe his daughter.

He never doubted that his daughter would harm him, but worried that she was young and might be manipulated by someone. What if something went wrong?

That would break his heart worse than any demon poison.

However, when he heard the sisters walk away and was preparing to follow them, the demon medicine bottle in his hand suddenly popped open from the bottom, and a small black ball emerged.

He was startled but recognized it as Yin Changli’s palace, having once sought Yin Changli to teach him the formation to welcome his daughter.

“If you go out like this, unless you’re thousands of zhang away from your daughter, Heaven Fury will still sense you.”

The small black ball fell to the ground and expanded, its mouth opening to reveal terrifying teeth, through which the golden splendor inside could be glimpsed.

“Please enter.”

It was Yin Changli’s voice. “I’m quite pleased that you’re alert. After all, given your daughter’s flat chest and her cherry-sized adorable brain, if you couldn’t spot anything unusual, you truly wouldn’t be worth conspiring with.”

Xiang Heng:?

Was he saying both father and daughter were fools?

Yin Changli’s laughter came again: “Even fools have their advantages; there’s no need to feel inferior.”

Who the hell feels inferior?

This wasn’t Xiang Heng’s first interaction with him. He shook his head speechlessly and bowed to enter the small black ball.