“Did it work?”

Xu Qi An’s heart leaped with joy as he kept watch of the activity overhead while moving toward Miao Youfang.

Though he had complete confidence in Luo Yuheng, he had to consider all possibilities. What if the Imperial Preceptor, due to her “Sorrow” personality, couldn’t match the Buddhist Arhat? Or if the Arhat had another trump card and defeated the Imperial Preceptor using home-field advantage? These were all possibilities.

If that happened, Miao Youfang would become his primary target, with finishing off Ji Xuan and the others being secondary.

His enemies weren’t fools either. While keeping watch on the activity in the sky, they quickly regrouped as Xu Qi An moved toward Miao Youfang.

The White Tiger transformed into its true form, two zhang in length, and picked up the siblings Xu Yuanshuang and Xu Yuanhuai onto its back. With its severed right foreleg, it looked particularly pitiful.

Liu Hongmian supported the gravely wounded Ji Xuan as they drew closer, tossing him onto the tiger’s back…

Though all parties were in motion, they still kept part of their attention on the golden bowl.

Even the severely wounded Ji Xuan couldn’t spare the energy to heal himself, keeping his eyes fixed on the sky.

The others too were treating the Arhat of Compassion as their last hope for survival.

“Crack!”

Suddenly, a breach appeared in the golden bowl, with spiderweb-like cracks rapidly spreading across its surface.

Then, under the increasingly horrified gazes of those below, the golden bowl exploded with a “boom.”

Three figures fell from within: a blood-covered Luo Yuheng, the trembling Holy Son, and the Arhat of Compassion.

The Arhat now had an iron sword covered in blood piercing through his baihui acupoint at the crown of his head, half buried in his skull and half exposed.

His expression was dejected, hands clasped in prayer, eyes closed, completely motionless.

Jing Xin’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Blood streamed down Warrior Monk Jing Yuan’s cheeks as he stared blankly in their direction.

“The Arhat has fallen!” Liu Hongmian screamed.

Qi Huan Danxiang, Ji Xuan, the Old Daoist of the Banana Leaf, and the others turned pale.

Without a word, the White Tiger took to the wind in retreat, its desperate state resembling that of a defeated dog.

Xu Qi An raised an eyebrow: “Trying to escape?”

He sprinted two steps and hurled the Taiping Blade with all his might. This time, inspired by Qi Huan Danxiang, he controlled the blade using heart insect techniques, just as he would control sparrows and orange cats.

This way, he could ensure the Taiping Blade wouldn’t fall under Qi Huan Danxiang’s heart insect influence after leaving his control.

In a sense, this was a unity of man and blade.

Whoosh… The blade’s piercing sound cut through the air like a knife, quickly catching up to the White Tiger. The blade Qi’s cutting edge made everyone’s hearts tremble.

With a soft “crack,” Ji Xuan crushed the teleportation jade talisman in his hand.

As the son of the Potential Dragon City Lord and a younger generation valued by Xu Pingfeng, he naturally had many methods of self-preservation.

How could one roam the jianghu if they had no countermeasures when encountering stronger opponents and could only wait to be slaughtered?

Just then, the Taiping Blade unexpectedly released a blade qi—thin and dark, like an arrow shot from ambush.

After the jade talisman was crushed, just as Ji Xuan and the others began to relax their tensed nerves, none of them reacted in time.

A dark golden blade light reflected in Ji Xuan’s pupils.

His expression turned to extreme terror—this blade qi was aimed at him, and his warrior’s body was already broken.

At that moment, the blade light in his pupils was blocked by a shadow.

That shadow immediately exploded, flesh and bone scattering, with the remaining blade Qi piercing through Ji Xuan’s shoulder before being stopped by the White Tiger’s bronze skin and iron bones.

At the critical moment, the Old Daoist of the Banana Leaf had stepped forward to take the blow for him.

A clear light rose from below, enveloping the group and teleporting them away.

“Throughout history, cousins have always been hateful—like Yun Zhonghe of the Four Great Villains!”

Xu Qi An clicked his tongue twice and muttered, “You’re lucky to be alive.”

He turned around and happily praised, “Imperial Preceptor, you captured the Arhat of Compassion?”

Though the fact was before his eyes, he still wanted to confirm it once more.

Luo Yuheng nodded slightly, her brow furrowed with sorrow:

“We must leave quickly.”

Xu Qi An carefully examined her and noticed the Imperial Preceptor’s qi was weak, her beautiful eyes concealing exhaustion, and blood seeping through her magnificent feathered robes, clearly indicating serious injuries.

“Are you badly wounded?”

Luo Yuheng nodded, her gaze fixed in the distance, her pleasant voice revealing fatigue:

“My physical body is severely damaged, but my Yang Spirit Law Body is unharmed.”

For Dao cultivators, as long as their primordial spirit remained, they wouldn’t die—at worst, they could dissolve their physical form. Of course, this would have endless consequences.

For Luo Yuheng, to advance to First Grade Immortal, she would need to merge her physical body with her Law Body during tribulation to achieve an immortal form.

If her physical body were destroyed now, reaching First Grade would be impossible.

Luo Yuheng continued: “The destruction of the golden bowl caused quite a disturbance. Those two Vajra must have noticed the anomaly here. We shouldn’t linger.”

Xu Qi An understood her meaning—if the two Vajra were determined to rescue their people and escape, the Heavenly Sect’s Yang Spirit might not be able to stop them.

It was well known that warriors were notoriously difficult to deal with, and the Vajras’ physical defense was even stronger than third-grade warriors of the same level.

And now Luo Yuheng was in poor condition.

Xu Qi An immediately summoned the distant Pagoda of Buddha, collecting Miao Youfang, Li Lingsu, Jing Xin, and Jing Yuan into it.

The broken pagoda had refused to act against Buddhist disciples, watching from the sidelines all this time, but now that the outcome was decided, it no longer remained stubborn.

Since the Arhat couldn’t enter the Pagoda of Buddha, Luo Yuheng swept her sleeve, gathering up Xu Qi An and the Arhat of Compassion before riding the wind away.

Just two or three minutes later, the ground trembled with a rumbling sound as two golden lights shot forward along the ground.

This was the phenomenon caused by the two Vajra running at full speed.

Behind the two golden lights, the Heavenly Sect’s Bingyi Immortal and Daoist Xuancheng rode their flying swords like howling winds in hot pursuit.

But upon seeing the main battlefield decided and empty, the two Heavenly Sect Yang Spirit cultivators immediately slowed their pace.

They exchanged a glance, turned their flying swords ninety degrees upward, and disappeared into the vast sea of clouds.

“The Arhat of Compassion has fallen.”

Vajra Dunan, massive in stature and stern in expression, surveyed the surroundings, sensing the residual qi of the golden bowl.

This guardian Vajra, who had survived the Demon Purge sixty years ago from five hundred years past, was filled with rage.

The Asura Vajra Dufan pinched his brow, calming his inner turmoil, and spoke slowly:

“He should only be sealed. Among those of the same level, none can kill the Arhat of Compassion.

“Luo Yuheng’s condition can’t be very good right now. Let’s split up to search Yong Province and the Green Apricot Garden.

“We’ll meet back here before sunset.”

Vajra Dunan grunted in agreement, “I will report this to Karura Tree Bodhisattva.”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the corpses of monks strewn across the ground, and he remained silent for a long time.

“Amitabha!”

The Asura Vajra clasped his hands and bowed his head, quietly chanting the Buddha’s name as he collected the monks’ bodies into his storage artifact.

…

Somewhere in the wilderness of Yong Province.

A fierce wind howled past, transforming into a White Tiger two zhang in length, missing one front leg.

The White Tiger descended on the wind, shaking off its passengers before crawling to one side to lick the dark red stump of its right foreleg.

Everyone tumbled down ungracefully.

Ji Xuan clutched his chest with one hand while half-supporting the Old Daoist of the Banana Leaf with the other, calling out hoarsely:

“Give me medicine, Yuanshuang, quickly give me medicine…”

Xu Yuanshuang remained silent, not because she was refusing to help, but because her pouch containing magical tools and pills had been taken by Xu Qi An.

“Young Master, don’t waste the medicine.”

The Old Daoist of the Banana Leaf waved his hand, looking down at the huge hole in his chest before shaking his head with a wry smile:

“With such severe injuries, it seems this is the end for me.”

Everyone fell silent.

Pain flashed through Ji Xuan’s eyes as he said softly, “I won’t let you die.”

The old Daoist shook his head:

“Young Master, don’t speak. Let the old Daoist use what time remains.”

He swallowed a mouthful of blood, his expression turning serious as he spoke gravely:

“This journey through the jianghu was a trial for you, with many in Potential Dragon City watching.

“The City Lord may not favor you as his illegitimate son, but he is a ruler of great talent and strategy. He won’t neglect or reject you due to personal preference.

“If you can collect dragon qi or advance to Third Grade, you can become the future City Lord.

“Remember, you don’t need to gather all the dragon qi.

“Though the City Lord and Imperial Preceptor tasked you with gathering all the dragon qi, heh, Potential Dragon City lacks top-tier combat strength. If you can reach Third Grade…

“The position of future heir—they’ll have to give it to you, whether they want to or not.

“This old Daoist had hoped to see you reach the pinnacle, but alas, I won’t live to see that day.”

That he could speak so clearly and without pause despite such severe injuries was likely what they called a final burst of clarity before death.

The Old Daoist of the Banana Leaf drew a breath and paused briefly:

“Today’s battle was a complete defeat.

“Young Master must remember this lesson. In the days to come, avoid Xu Qi An and collect the dragon qi scattered in other places.

“With the Arhat of Compassion captured, the Buddhist sect won’t let this end here. The Shamanic Divine Cult hasn’t made its move yet. These are all forces you can utilize.

“Additionally, do everything you can to keep the Seven Stars of the Azure Dragon by your side. Don’t let the Imperial Preceptor recall them.

“These past days, this old Daoist has been thinking constantly, and has somewhat guessed the Imperial Preceptor’s next move.”

He didn’t continue, instead looking at Ji Xuan with gentle eyes:

“Young Master, do you remember when we first met?”

Ji Xuan responded with a nasal “mm.”

“I’ve always believed that flames will rise from broken tinder, burning away all decay.” The Old Daoist of the Banana Leaf gripped Ji Xuan’s hand tightly.

“That day will come,” Ji Xuan said softly.

The Old Daoist of the Banana Leaf exhaled, a smile spreading across his face.

The smile froze there forever.

Liu Hongmian remained silent for a moment before performing a Daoist bow to the Old Daoist of the Banana Leaf.

It seemed this old Daoist had quite a story, but she had no intention of prying deeper—after all, who among those who had drifted to Potential Dragon City didn’t have their tale?

…

At Xiushui Town, southwest of Yong Province.

The Fourth Grade secret agent “Chen,” wearing a hood and cloak, arrived at the town after riding hard, stopping before a house built near the water.

He knocked on the gate in a specific rhythm.

Light footsteps approached, and the door was opened by Xu Yuanshuang, wearing a plum-colored jacket and skirt, her features delicate and her temperament cool.

Her complexion wasn’t good, but she nodded in acknowledgment upon seeing Agent Chen.

Following Xu Yuanshuang into the house, Agent Chen said in a low voice:

“I came as soon as I received Young Miss’s letter.”

Passing through the courtyard into the hall, Agent Chen was startled when he saw Ji Xuan and the others, doubting if he had recognized the right people.

First was Ji Xuan, originally the composed and reserved team leader, now sitting in a chair with thick bandages around his chest, his face bloodless, his once bright and spirited eyes somewhat vacant.

He stared blankly at the ground, lost in thought, ignoring Chen’s arrival.

To his left was the equally dejected and silent Qi Huan Danxiang, the volatile heart insect master huddled like a defeated dog in her colorful robes.

Beside the heart insect master was the burly White Tiger, his right arm missing below the elbow, wrapped in thick bandages faintly showing dark red blood.

Only Liu Hongmian seemed somewhat normal, though she too was caught in the atmosphere, having lost her usual alluring manner.

“Where is Young Master Yuanhuai?” Agent Chen’s heart tightened.

“His arm and knee bones were shattered. He’s lying down in the room,” Xu Yuanshuang said softly.

Agent Chen finally relaxed, then asked:

“Where are the Seven Stars of the Azure Dragon?”

“Bandaging their wounds in the back courtyard,” said Xu Yuanshuang.

From her words, one could tell that the Seven Stars hadn’t fared well against Sun Xuanji.

Soon, Azure Dragon arrived from the back courtyard with seven cloaked figures, his hoarse voice carrying a tone of accusation:

“Why did the Heavenly Sect’s Yang Spirit appear here?”

Agent Chen shook his head:

“I didn’t expect them to be in Yong Province either. The Heavenly Sect usually stays out of worldly affairs, their disciples rarely move through the jianghu.

“In this generation, only the Holy Son and Holy Daughter venture out.”

Azure Dragon pressed aggressively:

“This is a failure of your intelligence. You must take responsibility.”

Agent Chen frowned:

“No intelligence organization can accurately track the movements of transcendent realm experts, especially when they act discreetly.

“We didn’t even know the Heavenly Sect’s Yang Spirit had begun traveling the world.”

Dao sect Yang Spirit cultivators come and go like shadows—in Yong Province today, perhaps in the capital tomorrow.

Whose intelligence network could keep up with that?

Moreover, the two Yang Spirit cultivators from the Heavenly Sect had acted quietly, arriving in Yong Province without fanfare.

Even if agents had seen them at an inn, how could they recognize them as Yang Spirit cultivators at a glance?

Seeing Azure Dragon fall silent, Agent Chen exhaled and considered for a moment before looking at Ji Xuan and the others:

“It seems Xu Qi An found quite a few helpers.”

Even with the Heavenly Sect’s Yang Spirit cultivators helping, the transcendent realm experts would at most be evenly matched. Their side had two peak Fourth Grade experts from the Buddhist sect, plus Fourth Grade masters like Ji Xuan and White Tiger.

Without transcendent realm experts intervening, they should have been nearly invincible.

That they were now in such a sorry state could only mean Xu Qi An had made thorough preparations and gathered many Fourth Grade masters to assist him.

At these words, Liu Hongmian looked over with a complex expression.

Qi Huan Danxiang and White Tiger’s lips twitched.

Xu Yuanshuang said softly: “There were no helpers. It was just him alone.”

Just him alone… Agent Chen’s eyes, hidden behind his veil, widened suddenly as he hurriedly asked:

“He—has he recovered his Third Grade cultivation?”

Liu Hongmian and the others’ expressions grew even more complicated.

“No, he’s still in Fourth Grade,” Xu Yuanshuang shook her head bitterly.

The hall fell silent, with no one speaking for a long while.

…

Luo Yuheng took Xu Qi An away from Yong Province, flying north on golden light.

They passed over vast mountain ranges, plains, and rivers until city walls appeared below.

Luo Yuheng descended the golden light, landing outside the city.

“I need to meditate and heal. Let’s find an inn first.”

She instructed softly.

They didn’t return to Yong Province because the two Vajras, Dunan and Dufan, would certainly be conducting extensive searches.

The Arhat of Compassion sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, silent and motionless like a lifeless statue.

He floated beside Luo Yuheng, controlled and guided by her power.

Entering the small city, they walked along the main street. Xu Qi An scanned the fluttering banners and flags on both sides, easily picking out an inn.

Luo Yuheng made a hand seal, guiding the Arhat of Compassion as she followed behind Xu Qi An.

“Guests, staying for a meal or the night?”

Upon entering the inn’s main hall, the attendant eagerly came forward to greet them, seemingly blind to both Luo Yuheng and the Arhat with an iron sword in his head.

Other guests also appeared unable to see Luo Yuheng, with no stunned gazes being cast her way.

Xu Qi An glanced at her before saying: “One room.”