Xie Buchen finally stopped talking.

Jian Chou stood before him with her hands clasped behind her back, her lips carrying a cold smile that was three parts mockery and seven parts gentle kindness, showing not the slightest hint of any deep hatred with Xie Buchen.

In the distance, the clamor from the sea suddenly grew louder.

Zuoliu’s excited shouts came over: “Senior Sister, Senior Sister, come quickly!”

Jian Chou turned to look and saw that both Zuoliu and Young Master Ruhua were at one place, seemingly having witnessed something significant, waving vigorously toward her.

She had to see the excitement for herself?

She raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced back at Xie Buchen once, and sneered: “I’ll trouble Junior Brother Xie to slowly repair the array. I’ll go take a look over there.”

With that, she turned around, her figure swaying as she rode the wind away.

Xie Buchen stood in place, watching her back for a long moment, then for some unknown reason, let out a laugh.

Looking down at the array before him, he ultimately said nothing and took out several spirit stones from his sleeve, calculated their positions, and placed them one by one.

…

The sky above the sea more than ten li outside Deng Tiandao was already becoming lively.

There weren’t many cultivators out at sea during this season, but there weren’t few either, especially when excitement appeared.

As Jian Chou approached Young Master Ruhua and Zuoliu, she asked: “What’s wrong?”

“Senior Sister Jian Chou, look at that person.”

Seeing Jian Chou arrive, Zuoliu immediately pointed for her.

Following the direction of Zuoliu’s finger, Jian Chou immediately exclaimed: “Qian Que?”

On a reef not far below, a slightly plump man with two small mustaches held a golden abacus in his arms, his face full of shrewdness. With a roll of his eyes, countless schemes had already formed in his belly.

Jian Chou was too familiar with him.

She had heard his abacus sounds in the Killing Red Small Realm, and they had helped each other during the small meeting.

She just hadn’t expected to see him in the Western Sea.

What surprised her even more was that beside Qian Que, there was actually another person.

A man in long robes, broad-shouldered and bear-backed, with a lean and sturdy build, extremely imposing. Standing beside Qian Que, he made the originally average-sized Qian Que appear short and small.

He carried a long staff on his shoulder, frowning with some suppressed anger as he looked at the opposite side.

Across from them were several cultivators, all wearing Daoist robes, though obviously not from the same sect, their attire somewhat different. The leader had only four fingers on his left hand, his ring finger somehow severed.

The wound seemed to be from not long ago, looking quite fresh.

Beside these people was also a pale-faced, disheveled person who clenched his teeth and glared at the burly man beside Qian Que.

“Meng Xizhou, will you hand it over or not?!”

“Hand it over?” The burly man laughed coldly, his gaze sweeping across the several cultivators opposite. “I’ve lived this long, and this is the first time I’ve encountered such malicious slander. Heh, you want something? If you have the guts, come and take it!”

“Whoosh!”

He pulled the long staff from his shoulder and swung it fiercely in his hand, immediately producing a wind-breaking sound that seemed particularly powerful.

Watching this, a flash of inspiration struck Jian Chou’s mind: So it’s them!

Initially, when she heard the commotion here, she felt that one of the voices was somewhat familiar, but couldn’t recall where she had heard it.

Only when this disheveled, bedraggled youth opened his mouth and said the three words “Meng Xizhou” did Jian Chou immediately react: It was actually the three people from the Killing Red Small Realm!

This disheveled youth, completely without cultivation, wasn’t he the only mortal who had entered the Killing Red Small Realm?

And the staff-wielding burly man was the “Meng Xizhou” who had repeatedly called her senior.

Only…

Jian Chou’s gaze fell on Qian Que holding the abacus: If she remembered correctly, this fellow had assumed Meng Xizhou’s identity to participate in the small meeting. How did he end up mixing with the real Meng Xizhou now?

With doubts in her heart and not understanding the current situation, Jian Chou didn’t come forward or speak.

Zuoliu quickly came over and explained in a low voice: “A patch of white dragon shells suddenly flew out from the sea surface here. These three people were all on the island at the time, but the big guy seemed to react faster and grabbed them first. Once white dragon shells die, their shells automatically float to the surface, and whoever picks them up owns them – naturally it’s first come, first served. Unexpectedly, this disheveled fellow actually maliciously accused others of stealing his things, and all these miscellaneous people behind him were called over by him.”

Young Master Ruhua beside them listened and looked ahead once more, frowning strangely: “When we arrived, we only saw them already in conflict. How do you know it’s definitely this person slandering Golden Abacus and that big guy?”

“Tch…”

Hearing Young Master Ruhua’s question, Zuoliu showed a self-satisfied smile for the first time since the small meeting.

“I’ve been a rogue for over ten years and know this trade well. They can’t fool my eyes!”

Young Master Ruhua: “…”

Jian Chou: “…”

Suddenly didn’t know what to say.

The words left in Black Wind Cave of the past floated before her eyes again, leaving Jian Chou helpless.

However, undeniably, Zuoliu’s intuition and analysis were both correct.

Because Jian Chou thought the same way.

On Qian Que and Meng Xizhou’s side, there were only two of them. Their opponents, aside from Qin Ruoxu whose cultivation was barely discernible, still had five others. Though their cultivation might not necessarily be higher than Qian Que’s, it wasn’t much different.

They were about to start confronting each other. If it came to fighting, Qian Que and Meng Xizhou probably wouldn’t fare well.

After considering this, Jian Chou stood to the side, smiled, and called out loudly: “Fellow Daoist Qian, Fellow Daoist Meng, it’s been several days since we’ve seen each other. Have you been well?”

“Eh?”

This voice!

His fingers were already positioned on the golden abacus. Qian Que was truly holding back anger today. Coming to sea with Meng Xizhou, who would have thought they’d encounter such rogues?

And damn it, it was someone he’d met in the Killing Red Small Realm.

In the past at the Killing Red Small Realm, Meng Xizhou had said he wanted to help this Qin Ruoxu who came to the Nineteen Continents seeking immortality. But later, being unlucky, he encountered him again at the third trial and had to kick him out.

Today, meeting again at the Western Sea edge, Meng Xizhou remembered his past words and prepared to help out a bit.

Who would have thought that before he could even speak, a white dragon shell flew out, and Meng Xizhou instinctively grabbed it. This stirred up a hornet’s nest.

This Qin Ruoxu had been mixing around the sea for about a year or two. Who knows where he got cultivation techniques from, but he had actually barely stepped onto the cultivation path with just Qi Refining cultivation. Yet he knew these “thugs” from the sea behind him.

There were often idle cultivators at sea, too lazy to search for treasures themselves. They would gather together, and once they saw someone obtain treasures, they would immediately come out to rob them.

Because of their large numbers, solitary cultivators often couldn’t match them and had to offer their treasures with both hands.

Therefore, experienced cultivators would travel in groups.

Those who dared to come out alone were either inexperienced fools or those very confident in their cultivation.

What Qian Que encountered today was the same situation.

Originally, he had never feared anyone and often bought goods from these sea bandits. Who would have thought he’d be robbed by bandits today?

With anger rising in his heart, Qian Que was about to have a good fight with them. Unexpectedly, just as he set up his formation, he heard this voice…

Have you been well?

Eyes widening, Qian Que turned toward the voice. At that moment, the feeling in his heart was truly indescribable – he almost threw the golden abacus in his hand straight up to the sky: “Fellow Daoist Jian Chou!”

“Se-se-se-senior!”

Beside him, Meng Xizhou felt like he was dreaming.

Standing beside Zuoliu and Young Master Ruhua was the axe-wielding female cultivator he had seen at the small meeting.

Unexpectedly, though he thought there would be no chance to see her again, who would have thought they’d encounter each other by chance in the Western Sea!

In just an instant, Meng Xizhou felt his entire body burning up, his gaze toward Jian Chou incomparably fervent!

This gaze made Jian Chou somewhat uncomfortable.

She smiled bitterly inwardly and only nodded slightly: “It’s rare to have excitement to watch. Coming over, I didn’t expect it to be you two. This counts as fate.”

My heavens!

Luck!

Simply luck!

Qian Que wanted to slap his thigh. Seeing Jian Chou’s gaze, his eyes simply sparkled, as if he’d grown a tail behind him that was wagging furiously.

Immediately, he unhesitatingly pulled Meng Xizhou and came before Jian Chou, pointing forward with righteous indignation: “Senior Sister Jian Chou, you’ve come at the perfect time. These people are slandering us maliciously and want six people to fight us two. It’s simply inhumane, utterly heartless!”

“You!”

Qin Ruoxu still didn’t understand the current situation. With his low cultivation, everyone seemed stronger than him. He only felt that the two words “Jian Chou” were somewhat familiar, as if he’d heard them somewhere.

Seeing that Qian Que actually lowered his face and directly filed a “false accusation” against him, he was nearly angered to the point of having his nose go crooked.

“Fellow Daoists…”

Under extreme anger, Qin Ruoxu only wanted to turn back and ask these “friends” he’d made at sea. Who would have thought that as soon as he turned around, his voice stopped.

Because…

When these people heard Qian Que shout “Fellow Daoist Jian Chou,” they had all changed color!

The Left Three Thousand small meeting, famous in one battle, alone ascending the high platform!

The Jianzhu Sect changed to new heavens because of her, nearly a hundred people died on the spot.

White bones paved the road to heaven, fresh blood dyed the evening clouds.

Heaven and earth changed wind and clouds for her, only turning day into starry night!

Who didn’t know, who hadn’t heard of the two words “Jian Chou”?

The leading broken-fingered cultivator now felt cold sweat soaking his clothes. His gaze wandered among Jian Chou’s group, and his scalp immediately exploded!

An unremarkable ordinary cultivator with rolling eyes looking at him, holding a newly made jade folder and broken brush in his hands, looked exactly like the legendary Zuoliu who had no sect or school yet entered the third trial of the small meeting;

The other was even more frightening…

Though there weren’t eight beautiful servant girls attending at his side, just look at this embroidered robe that couldn’t find a second piece in all the Nineteen Continents – who couldn’t recognize his identity?

Wuyi Sect’s Young Master Ruhua!

These three people before him were actually three of the participants in the third trial of this small meeting!

The broken-fingered cultivator had absolutely no idea why they came here, nor did he need to know.

He only knew: He’d hit an iron plate!

Who could have thought that these two unremarkable fellows actually knew such ferocious figures?

The broken-fingered cultivator wanted to die!

Seeing that Qin Ruoxu was about to open his mouth and say something, he angrily roared: “Shut up!”

“…I…”

Qin Ruoxu hadn’t even had time to speak when he was shouted at like this, as if someone had hit him with a club. He was completely bewildered.

Seeing this, Jian Chou immediately felt a strange sensation.

So this was what the Nineteen Continents were like.

Qin Ruoxu was also a cultivator from the mortal isolated islands, but he wasn’t doing very well.

Looking at his delicate skin, he probably wasn’t from a hardship family in Great Xia either, yet he also came seeking immortality?

People…

Recalling the various reasons Fudao Shanren had described for mortals seeking immortality, Jian Chou suddenly didn’t quite understand, especially seeking immortality yet having such a narrow mind and such despicable methods – this was even more puzzling.

She shook her head, dismissing the chaotic thoughts in her mind, and looked at the broken-fingered cultivator with a half-smile.

“Senior Jian Chou above, this junior and others were blind. This is all a misunderstanding. We definitely dare not cause trouble again. Please show mercy, Senior Jian Chou.”

The broken-fingered cultivator forcibly suppressed that heart-pounding impulse. Even with cold sweat streaming down his cheeks, he didn’t dare wipe it with his hand.

“Am I this frightening?”

This doubt arose in Jian Chou’s heart.

Her gaze swept over the broken-fingered cultivator’s profuse cold sweat. Seeing that the other party was so sensible, she really couldn’t pursue anything for the moment, only saying: “Showing mercy isn’t necessary. You know right from wrong in your hearts – I don’t need to say more. Get lost now, and don’t let me see you a second time.”

“Thank you, Senior Jian Chou, for your great kindness and virtue…”

Only then did the broken-fingered cultivator feel like he’d escaped disaster, hurriedly bowing and retreating.

“We’ll leave immediately, leave immediately…”

“This…”

How was this different from what he’d thought?

Qin Ruoxu looked at the broken-fingered cultivator, then glanced at Jian Chou standing there indifferently, completely failing to understand the situation: Wasn’t she just an ordinary female cultivator? How was she worth such fear from them?

He still wanted to say something.

The broken-fingered cultivator was already furious, glaring at him fiercely.

Damn it, he’d originally thought this Qin Ruoxu had decent cultivation and held several things he wanted, so he was prepared to play along. Who knew he’d turn out to be a trouble-making fool?

After this matter passed, he’d turn around and kill him, take the several things from his hands, then find a way to break them.

Several people retreated slowly toward the back of the reef under Jian Chou’s watchful gaze, bowing.

Qian Que shook his head, watching the show with schadenfreude and clicking his tongue twice, along with Meng Xizhou.

Jian Chou’s face showed no particular joy or anger, her hands behind her back, though her fingers were also forming hand seals. If these people dared to sneak attack, probably only one word awaited them: “death.”

“Senior Sister Jian Chou, fellow Daoists, the teleportation array has been properly repaired.”

Just as those people were about to leave the reef, Xie Buchen’s calm voice came from Deng Tiandao.

At this time, that Qin Ruoxu had already been brought by the broken-fingered cultivator onto a flying sword.

Hearing the voice, he instinctively raised his head to look toward Deng Tiandao.

A figure in azure robes, holding a sword and standing tall with some imposing bearing, was looking up toward the reef.

Qin Ruoxu clearly saw his face at once. In this instant, he felt an intense sense of familiarity.

Too familiar!

In the past on the mortal isolated islands, in the Great Xia Dynasty, at capital gatherings, he was merely the bastard son of a merchant family, only able to sit at the end, watching with envious eyes as other noble sons and renowned scholars of distinguished status raised their cups and exchanged toasts.

And this figure was the most dazzling existence of those days, making everyone look up to him…

“Third Young Master Xie!”

Some confusion appeared in his eyes. Qin Ruoxu was about to look more clearly when the broken-fingered cultivator had also seen the person on the island.

In an instant, his pupils contracted sharply, his soul nearly leaving his body!

The pain at his severed finger immediately intensified, as if returning to the day his finger was cut off!

Damn it, he was really seeing ghosts!

What was happening today?

One killing god after another!

The one standing on the island talking to Jian Chou – wasn’t he the terrifying cultivator who had counter-robbed him and cut off his finger when he tried to rob him a few days ago?!

Just that same azure robe, though he had no sword in hand then.

Damn it!

Bad luck!

The broken-fingered cultivator no longer dared to stay. Regardless of Qin Ruoxu’s sudden resistance, he directly stepped on his flying sword and fled for his life!

Powerful people were everywhere – staying longer would be foolish!

Poor Qin Ruoxu didn’t have time to carefully confirm his memory and was carried into the air, disappearing from sight.

Jian Chou and the others standing in place all sensed something abnormal.

Zuoliu muttered: “Isn’t he running too fast?”

“Hehe…” Young Master Ruhua lightly pinched his paper fan with his fingers, dark light flowing in his eyes as he looked toward Xie Buchen’s figure on the island, letting out a sinister laugh. “It seems this Fellow Daoist Xie traveling with us is also not a simple person.”

Jian Chou frowned tightly, still looking toward the direction where those people had disappeared.

Had she heard wrong?