A figure wearing gray hemp clothing and a bamboo hat darted swiftly through the forest. Their form appeared slightly distorted due to their extreme speed, with a pale gray light shield expanding around them…

This was all the information that could be captured by the web of the “Three-Eyed Spider.”

Based on Li Changshou’s observation, this person’s movement technique was formidable. The long blade at their waist was a weapon meant for killing, and their entire being exuded a fierce aura—someone accustomed to bloodshed.

Taking a light breath, Li Changshou adjusted his energy flow and suddenly increased his speed.

Shortly after, the pursuer at his side also accelerated, slightly adjusting their charging angle. Their target was undoubtedly Li Changshou.

The initial assessment of the opponent’s cultivation level was to Return to the Void sixth or seventh stage, but they might be concealing some of their power. Secondary assessment placed them around the sixth stage of the Return to Dao realm.

Since they were pursuing him using movement techniques rather than the more efficient method of flying, the likelihood of them being immortal was extremely low.

Li Changshou frowned—he had indeed been drawn into some strange affair.

How should he handle this situation?

Li Changshou’s first instinct was to use an escape technique, but he quickly realized that he had been under surveillance for the past two days. The opponent must have some means of tracking him.

If he escaped now but they remained determined to attack him, he would be in even greater danger.

Five li ahead in the forest was a clearing filled with poisonous grass but no trees…

Li Changshou inwardly snorted, his right hand gripping two small paper figures as energy quietly gathered in his palm.

“Five Elements Rotate, Virtue Transforms Life, Heavy Turbidity Unimpeded, Earth Centers All!”

The gray-white ground ahead showed slight wrinkles as Li Changshou once again employed his earth escape technique. After his form sank into the ground, his right hand suddenly blazed with light…

The pursuer frowned and coldly snorted, sensing the quickly moving energy signature through the earth. They changed direction again, increasing their speed to chase after it urgently.

Shortly after, Li Changshou emerged from a patch of poisonous grass. His form shook, dispersing the toxic soil and several poisonous insects from his body. He raised his hand to apply several poison-warding talismans to himself before preparing to dash away again.

At that moment, the sound of a sword whistle came from the side!

A flash of cold light, even faster than the sword whistle, slashed directly at Li Changshou’s neck!

Li Changshou whirled around but had no time to react before the thin blade struck his neck, sending his head flying backward!

A wisp of gray smoke gently twisted as the bamboo-hatted, gray-robed cultivator appeared behind Li Changshou. The front of their hat lifted, revealing a faint cold smile at the corners of their mouth.

“Just a Divine Transformation realm cultivator after all. This was effortless… You!”

Their words suddenly halted as they looked down sharply at their feet.

The “headless” Li Changshou had somehow grabbed their ankle!

The “assassin” reacted extremely quickly, immediately trying to retreat, but their vision suddenly blurred. It felt as if all strength had been drained from their body—their spiritual power and energy had become incredibly sluggish and completely impossible to circulate!

At this moment, the assassin saw a small opened bottle on the belt of the corpse gripping their ankle…

They had fallen for a trap!

The person bit their tongue forcefully, trying to clear their head, but now lacked even the strength to pierce their tongue. Their vision grew increasingly hazy!

Self-developed narcotic: Immortal Softening Powder.

Just then, a streak of light flew overhead and stopped—it was a paper umbrella inlaid with various spirit stones, somewhat strange in appearance.

The paper umbrella merely turned slightly, and the spirit stones embedded in it scattered and shot out. A barrier formation fifteen zhang in diameter appeared from thin air, using the treasure umbrella as its base and instantly isolating this area from the outside world!

Self-developed treasure: Heaven-Changing Treasure Umbrella.

Li Changshou’s form slowly emerged from the ground. His right hand waved, and three paper figures caught the wind and expanded, all transforming with a “poof” into Li Changshou’s appearance before charging forward.

Daoist technique: Paper Cut into Person.

Before the paper figures reached the assassin, Li Changshou’s left hand had already raised a bronze crossbow. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger, and a wooden arrow shot out, precisely penetrating the assassin’s brow!

The bamboo hat flew upward, revealing a somewhat fierce, gaunt face.

The short arrow was buried to its fletching in the assassin’s forehead, causing the light in their eyes to rapidly fade.

“You…”

The assassin let out their final rage-filled cry, though it remained weak and powerless. As their mouth opened, the three paper doubles had already arrived—

Paper Figure One struck with three long nails, directly piercing the assassin’s upper, middle, and lower dantian points, binding their three hun and fixing their seven po!

Paper Figure Two formed seals with both hands continuously before spitting out a pale white flame that completely enveloped the assassin’s form. The assassin’s physical body was immediately ignited by this white flame, melting away like a snowman encountering endless boiling water.

They couldn’t even manage to let out half a scream…

Paper Figure Three chanted continuously, using a soul-suppressing ghost-banishing incantation. Ripples formed before it, instantly dispersing the ethereal figure that appeared within the white flames!

By now, the assassin’s soul had scattered completely, leaving only a small pile of remains being consumed by the white flames.

Still not fully at ease, Li Changshou tossed out a thumb-sized pearl. As it gently rotated, it absorbed the faint traces of pale green light, leaving not even the slightest remnant of the opponent’s soul.

Walking forward a few steps while holding the bronze crossbow, Li Changshou carefully gripped the pearl. By now the white fire had extinguished, leaving only a small pile of black ashes, half a sword blade, and a small ring on the ground.

The three paper doubles sat down cross-legged simultaneously and began rapidly reciting scriptures.

One paper figure recited the Daoist Scripture of Salvation, one recited the widely-spread Western Sect’s Rebirth Mantra, and one recited the Daoist “Disaster-Dispelling Fortune-Seeking Mantra.”

Li Changshou casually levitated the jade ring into his palm but didn’t rush to break its restrictions. He merely wrapped it in layers of spiritual power before tossing it into his spare Heaven Grade Four storage treasure.

Afterward, he stared at the pearl for a few moments, his face showing understanding. He walked past the three paper figures and began employing his earth escape technique.

Just as the three paper figures finished quickly reciting their respective scriptures, slight ripples appeared on the ground. Li Changshou’s long sleeve waved, and the assassin’s small pile of ashes scattered in the wind.

The three paper figures leaped into the air, transforming back into palm-sized paper sheets that flew back into Li Changshou’s sleeve.

He retracted the umbrella, the spirit stones returning to its surface as the formation instantly dissipated.

Li Changshou’s left hand formed a sword seal, and a stream of sword energy surged out, penetrating the poisonous mist above and precisely striking a black beetle, instantly shattering it…

This series of actions flowed seamlessly as if rehearsed countless times before.

Li Changshou turned to look once more at the now-normal ground, lightly tapping the headless paper figure and setting it aflame, leaving not a trace behind.

Taking a step forward, Li Changshou’s form sank into the ground, quietly disappearing.

Ah, crafting a paper figure does take quite some effort…

Though with this person’s “assets” as compensation, it wasn’t a loss.

From the remnant souls collected in the pearl, Li Changshou saw many memory fragments and consequently understood these people’s purpose and entire scheme.

The assassin who ambushed him went by the name “Assassin Dove,” with cultivation at the second stage of the Return to Dao realm. They were a cultivator hired with spirit stones to specifically handle dirty work.

The reason for ambushing him was to obtain his communication talisman, using it to draw Senior Sister Jiu Zhou away from her position. Once Senior Sister Jiu Zhou rushed to his location, they would immediately move against Liu Yan’er and Wang Qi, using them as bait to lure Senior Sister Jiu into a trap formation… and their true target was that Six Princess of whatever country—

You Qin Xuanya.

But this group wasn’t aiming to kill You Qin Xuanya. Such elaborate scheming seemed to be for achieving some more unsavory purpose.

Judging from the memory fragments of this “assassin,” the mastermind behind it all appeared to be fellow disciple Yuan Qing or some secular power behind Yuan Qing.

Li Changshou’s mouth twitched as he inwardly commented: ‘Indeed, you can’t judge people by appearances alone—most warm guys are just putting up a front.’

But none of this had anything to do with him.

The fact that they went to such lengths to lure Senior Sister Jiu into a trap formation clearly showed they didn’t dare to confront her directly. Thus, Li Changshou did not need to worry about the safety of a True Immortal realm expert…

A breeze passed by, the poison mist returned, and the clearing regained its tranquility. The poisonous grass swayed gently, and apart from another small pile of grass burned to ashes, not a single trace remained.

No one would imagine that moments ago, a not-particularly-intense “life-and-death battle” had erupted here.

Shortly after, only the wind remained, whispering as if humming some melody…

‘Killed you in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and even scattered your ashes!’

…

On a beach by the East Sea, hundreds of disciples were engaged in a fierce battle with shrimp demons that continuously emerged from the sea.

In one corner of the battlefield, several Qi Condensation realm junior disciples hid behind a reef, chanting spells and activating magical treasures to support their senior brothers and sisters fighting at the front. However, their gazes were all drawn to an enchanting figure standing not far away.

They watched as Lan Ling’e held two porcelain bottles, lightly sprinkling powder toward the front before blowing out a breath of spiritual energy. The powder instantly swept toward more than ten charging shrimp demons.

These, not particularly intelligent shrimp demons instantly became soft-legged shrimp, collapsing to the ground one after another, foaming at the mouth with rolling eyes…

Ling’e floated out holding a short sword, precisely delivering killing blows one by one, accurately piercing their demon souls, her movements full of immortal grace.

Soon, she floated back to her original position, waiting for the next wave of the tide to arrive, completely unaware that she had become the focus of many fellow disciples’ attention.

‘Senior Brother’s poison powders are too effective.

I wonder if Senior Brother is safe now—Northern Luzhou is so dangerous, they say even a single insect there can take an immortal’s life.

Sigh… that annoying Senior Brother always tells others to be steady, yet he goes to take risks himself.

And he didn’t even bring along his clever and brave little junior sister!’

The more Ling’e thought, the more annoyed she became. Suddenly, a shadow appeared before her…

“Junior Sister Ling’e, look out!”

“Quick, dodge!”

Suddenly, several urgent shouts rang out beside her ears. Ling’e instinctively looked up to see seven or eight shrimp demons already before her, more than ten gleaming claw blades chopping down at her head!

There were several holes in the ground—these shrimp demons had launched a sneak attack from underground!

In that lightning-fast moment, Ling’e let out a light cry and casually took out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve and threw it out. Senior Brother’s voice echoed in her mind…

‘When encountering urgent situations or troublesome enemies, throw this bottle.’

Crack!

The porcelain bottle shattered among the shrimp demon group, releasing a green smoke that instantly enveloped these demons.

In the next moment, all the shrimp demons hung suspended in mid-air.

As the sea breeze blew, these hard-shelled shrimp demon bodies dissipated into thin air, transforming directly into rainbow-colored bubbles that floated gently in the wind…

Lan Ling’e let out a long sigh of relief but then noticed something odd about the atmosphere around her.

Looking around, she saw several senior brothers and sisters who had rushed toward her frozen not far away, their expressions rather strange.

“Hmm?” Ling’e blinked gently.

With a clang, a male disciple at the Divine Transformation realm dropped his long sword by his feet and hurriedly picked it up.

“Junior Sister Ling’e, you carry on… carry on.”

“We were just passing by… passing by…”