The orange cat suddenly stiffened, maintaining its arched-back posture for a few seconds, then suddenly let out a piercing scream and began rolling on the ground.

One of its pupils turned pitch black, while the other became a pure golden color, both eerie and divine.

The orange cat’s cries were shrill and hoarse, its limbs thrashing wildly as if in great pain.

Xu Qi’an wasted no time. He flicked his finger, sending Cao Qingyang’s soul into his forehead, then turned to approach the orange cat.

The White Lotus Daoist stopped him, looking around at the disciples and scolding gently: “Don’t just stand there! Quickly form the Taishang Formation and channel merit!”

As she spoke, she threw out a thin rope woven from golden threads, tightly binding the orange cat.

The cat’s screams grew even more piercing.

The Heavenly Alliance disciples snapped out of their daze and rushed forward, surrounding the orange cat. They formed hand seals and began chanting.

“Fortune and misfortune have no door, only humans invite them; the retribution of good and evil follows like a shadow. Thus, the gods of heaven and earth who oversee transgressions…”

Their voices, initially chaotic, gradually became uniform, merging into a single voice. After a moment, it seemed as if only the chanting remained in the entire world.

Xu Qi’an saw streams of dawn-like golden light emanating from the Heavenly Alliance disciples’ foreheads, as gentle as spring rain, showering onto the orange cat.

The golden light in the cat’s left eye grew intense, overpowering the blackness in its right eye. It gradually stopped struggling and screaming, quietly lying on the ground, completely silent.

Meanwhile, Cao Qingyang had just regained consciousness and heard the layers of grand chanting. He looked around somewhat bewildered, then turned to the Martial Arts Alliance members:

“What happened? I remember I was defeated by the Dao Leader of the Human Sect, and my soul was scattered.”

He couldn’t distinguish whether his previous experience was an illusion or reality.

Seeing him awake, the Martial Arts Alliance members were greatly relieved.

The mistress of the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion said charmingly, “Alliance Leader Cao, it was Young Master Xu who saved you.”

“The Imperial Tutor only extracted your soul. Just now, Young Master Xu brought your soul back.”

Yang Cuixue and others explained, hinting in their words that Constable Xu’s “plea” played a crucial role, causing the Imperial Tutor to show mercy and not pursue the matter to the end.

The Martial Arts Alliance members wore smiles, their eyes filled with gratitude and approval as they looked at Xu Qi’an.

Although they hadn’t obtained the lotus seed this time, they had gotten to know Constable Xu through this conflict. For these gang members who secretly admired Xu Qi’an, their hearts were filled with warmth.

Cao Qingyang nodded slowly, his righteous face turning towards Xu Qi’an. He cupped his fists and said, “Many thanks to Constable Xu for your mercy.”

Xu Qi’an returned the gesture, “Alliance Leader Cao, you’re too kind. It is I who should thank you.”

After a pause, he said solemnly, “I see that Alliance Leader Cao is not a greedy person. Why are you so fixated on the Nine-Colored Lotus?”

Cao Qingyang didn’t answer, but said calmly, “Tonight, I will host a banquet on Quanrong Mountain. I hope Constable Xu will honor us with your presence.”

Meaning it’s not convenient to talk here… Cao Qingyang seems to want to befriend me, to take our relationship further… Xu Qi’an nodded:

“I’d be honored. Oh, could the Alliance Leader help drive away the surrounding jianghu wanderers?”

Seeing him agree, the Martial Arts Alliance members’ faces broke into smiles.

Cao Qingyang nodded: “I’ll leave some people on the outskirts of the manor to guard against the Earth Sect Daoists returning opportunistically.”

Relying solely on the Heavenly Alliance’s combat power, if the Earth Sect and Duke Huai’s spies were to return, it might be difficult to resist.

As expected of Alliance Leader Cao, an old hand in the jianghu, experienced and thorough… Xu Qi’an cupped his hands: “Many thanks.”

After the Martial Arts Alliance members left the Yuezhi Manor, Xu Qi’an and the others waited quietly for a moment. Soon, the chanting of the Heavenly Alliance disciples weakened and then disappeared.

Sighs of relief rose as if they had just been through an intense battle. The disciples continuously wiped the sweat from their foreheads.

The orange cat remained lying down, motionless.

Xu Qi’an watched the cat while approaching the White Lotus Daoist, asking, “What’s going on?”

Chu Yuanzhen, Nangong Qianrou, and other outsiders looked over curiously.

“Senior Brother Golden Lotus and a strand of Black Lotus’s divine consciousness have merged, and it’s temporarily difficult to determine a winner. We were just channeling merit to Senior Brother Golden Lotus, helping him suppress Black Lotus’s demonic thoughts,” the White Lotus Daoist explained. “This was part of the plan we had decided on earlier.”

Xu Qi’an asked in surprise, “Golden Lotus Daoist can contend with a strand of the Earth Sect Leader’s demonic thoughts?”

He thought to himself that this didn’t make sense. The Earth Sect Leader’s avatar was third-tier, while Golden Lotus Daoist was at best fourth-tier, certainly not third-tier. How could he manage this?

“Senior Brother is using a secret technique of the Earth Sect,” the White Lotus Daoist explained with an unchanging smile.

Xu Qi’an nodded, accepting this explanation.

So, Golden Lotus Daoist had a strategy prepared for the Earth Sect Leader’s avatar all along. The task for the holders of the Book of Earth fragments was to deal with the Martial Arts Alliance and others. No, in Golden Lotus Daoist’s view, Li Miaozhen and Chu Yuanzhen were just extras. He truly valued me…

The White Lotus Daoist frowned slightly and said, “Just now, they wanted to seize Cao Qingyang’s body. I don’t know why they suddenly changed their minds and possessed a cat instead.”

The Heavenly Alliance disciples were also puzzled.

Why? Probably because of his deep love for cats… Xu Qi’an shrugged, pretending he didn’t know.

At this moment, the orange cat’s tail twitched slightly, seeming to regain consciousness. It slowly rose and sat, its mismatched black and gold eyes slowly scanning everyone.

“It’s me!”

The cat spoke in human language, with Golden Lotus Daoist’s slightly weathered voice.

Everyone present collectively sighed in relief.

“I’ve temporarily suppressed it. Um, where is the Nine-Colored Lotus?” Golden Lotus Daoist asked somewhat impatiently.

“It’s with me,” Li Miaozhen said.

The cat nodded its head slightly, saying gently, “Give the lotus seeds and rhizome to White Lotus. Sister White Lotus, let’s prepare to go to the next hiding place.”

Just then, a ghostly light flashed in the cat’s black right eye.

“Hiss…”

The cat bared its teeth and suddenly pounced towards the White Lotus Daoist. A cold, eerie voice came from within its body: “Sister White Lotus, come back to the Earth Sect with me for dual cultivation.”

Whack!

Xu Qi’an swung his scabbard, knocking the cat to the ground.

“Hiss… hiss…”

The cat struggled for a moment, then the golden pupil in its left eye lit up, and it regained rationality. It sat elegantly, coughing:

“Although I’ve suppressed him, he occasionally takes control. Sister White Lotus, please don’t mind.”

The White Lotus Daoist’s smooth forehead was covered in black lines. Her face twitched slightly as she said calmly, “Chanyí, drive away all the female cats in the manor.”

Golden Lotus Daoist raised a front paw, patting the ground forcefully, his tone slightly panicked: “There’s no need for that…”

The White Lotus Daoist said softly, “Senior Brother Golden Lotus naturally wouldn’t do anything morally corrupt. We need to guard against the demonic Black Lotus. He has entered the demonic path and is capable of anything.”

Is she trying to save face for Golden Lotus Daoist?… Xu Qi’an couldn’t help it and burst out laughing.

With him taking the lead, suddenly…

“Pfft!”

“Pfft!”

“Pfft…”

Chu Yuanzhen, Li Miaozhen, Lina, and others couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud.

The Heavenly Alliance disciples’ expressions were extremely peculiar, caught between sorrow and laughter.

“By the way, Golden Lotus Daoist, there’s something I need to discuss with you,” Xu Qi’an looked towards Li Miaozhen, gesturing for her to take out the Nine-Colored Lotus.

The Holy Maiden of the Heaven Sect took out the Book of Earth fragment, turned the mirror face down and lightly tapped the back. A large and a small section of dark golden lotus rhizome, along with the lotus head, fell out.

“Daoist, a small section of the rhizome has been cut off,” Xu Qi’an said.

“It’s fine,” the cat glanced at it, “It can be restored after a dozen years of nourishment.”

Xu Qi’an took the opportunity to say, “This small section of rhizome… can I have it?”

“You want to use it to refine medicine?” the cat asked in return.

Uh, it was my aunt who asked me to get it… Xu Qi’an thought for a moment, then said, “I’m acting on someone else’s behalf.”

He was hinting heavily.

The cat nodded in understanding: “Once separated from the main root, the rhizome will wither in twelve hours and lose all vitality in twenty-four hours. Only then can it be used in medicine.”

The Daoist is quite generous, I thought this task would be quite difficult… Xu Qi’an thought about being able to report back to the Imperial Tutor upon returning to the capital. His mood relaxed, and he casually asked:

“Can’t it be kept alive?”

The cat chuckled, “The Earth Sect has been passed down for thousands of years, yet there’s only one lotus rhizome. Why do you think that is?”

That’s true, if it could be kept alive, they would have cultivated it on a large scale long ago. The reason why heavenly treasures are called heavenly treasures is largely due to their rarity. Xu Qi’an made an “mm” sound and bent down to pick up the rhizome.

“Hiss…”

As he bent down, he heard the cat’s hiss near his ear. Without thinking, he instinctively reached out and pressed down.

The cat’s head was pressed to the ground by him, its two paws frantically scratching at his arm. Black Lotus’s curses came from its mouth: “The rhizome is the Earth Sect’s greatest treasure, you can’t take it away, you can’t take it away…”

The Earth Sect Leader is quite cute! Xu Qi’an slapped it away with one hand.

The cat rolled softly, absorbing the force, and changed its target. It raised its tail and pounced toward Qiu Chanyí: “Little girl, you’re quite pretty. Come back to the mountain with me for dual cultivation.”

Qiu Chanyí screamed in fright, then kicked the cat away.

The power within its body seemed to be in a relatively balanced state, unable to use divine abilities or Daoist techniques, so it was no different from an ordinary cat…

I suddenly understand why they say lust is the greatest evil… Watching the cat persistently attacking Qiu Chanyí and frantically trying to protect her, Xu Qi’an had this realization.

Not just the Earth Sect Leader, but other demonic cultivators who have entered the demonic path always put forbidden topics on their lips first. From this point, one can see that humanity’s greatest evil is the word “lust”.

The charging cat suddenly stopped, looking around somewhat confused, then pretended nothing had happened and said calmly, “Let’s divide the lotus seeds.”

Daoist, your topic change is too abrupt… Xu Qi’an silently covered his face.

According to the previous agreement, Xu Qi’an would get two seeds, while Chu Yuanzhen, Li Miaozhen, Lina, Hengyuan, and Nangong Qianrou would each get one.

The White Lotus Daoist’s long, delicate fingers peeled open the dark golden lotus head and distributed them to everyone, advising:

“If you want to enhance an item, peel open the lotus seed and place it together with the object in a jade box for three hours. If you want to gain enlightenment, consume it directly.”

“Thank you!”

The holders of the Book of Earth fragments bowed in gratitude.

The White Lotus Daoist then turned to Xu Qi’an and said softly, “Young Master Xu, come with me. This poor Daoist has something to say to you in private.”

The two walked side by side to a secluded spot. The White Lotus Daoist slid a small jade mirror from her sleeve and said:

“This was entrusted to me by Senior Brother Golden Lotus. He anticipated he might have trouble after the battle, so he gave it to me. He instructed me to return it to you afterward.”

Xu Qi’an quickly took the Book of Earth fragment, glancing at the mirror surface. Seeing that the pattern position hadn’t changed, meaning no one had touched the vulgar objects inside, he felt relieved.

After they returned, the White Lotus Daoist gathered the Heavenly Alliance disciples and, carrying Golden Lotus Daoist’s physical body, prepared to depart, leaving Sword Province for their next base.

They certainly couldn’t stay in Sword Province any more. Fortunately, like a cunning rabbit with three burrows, the Heavenly Alliance had other bases elsewhere.

“Brother Chu, Miaozhen, Master Hengyuan… please escort them for a while,” Xu Qi’an looked towards Li Miaozhen and the others.

The outstanding disciples of the Heaven and Human Sects nodded.

“Young Master Xu.”

The girl’s voice was like wind chimes under the eaves. Qiu Chanyí stood prettily before him, her face red, and stuffed a sachet into Xu Qi’an’s hand.

People reacted differently to this scene.

The Heavenly Alliance disciples watched with smiles, some even teasing. The Earth Sect didn’t prohibit marriage.

Li Miaozhen raised an eyebrow.

Chu Yuanzhen smiled without speaking.

Hengyuan and Lina had no particular reaction.

Nangong Qianrou wore a cold smile. He was used to responding with cold smiles to things he disdained, such as a certain philanderer seducing another pure girl.

Young girls’ emotions are always tender… Xu Qi’an gratefully kept the sachet, pleased that another fish had entered his pond.

“You seem very happy?”

Suddenly, he received a telepathic message from Li Miaozhen.

“I’ve made a new friend, of course I’m happy. These are all connections for navigating the jianghu in the future,” Xu Qi’an replied telepathically.

“Huh, I had a senior brother who used to think the same way,” Li Miaozhen sneered.

She didn’t explain further. Stepping onto her flying sword and carrying Lina, she rose with the Heavenly Alliance crowd and whooshed away.

Your senior brother must be thriving now, Xu Qi’an thought to himself.