From the moment this person entered, he had begun guessing his identity. His earlier strike wasn’t actually to impress Elder Mo from Wangjiang Tower, but merely to test the cultivation levels of these Yashan people.

But the moment this person made his move, Tao Zhang guessed his identity.

Seeing Jian Chou and the little fatty also enter together, he stroked his chin and paced two steps.

Qu Zhengfeng didn’t answer Jian Chou’s words, only gesturing: “Eldest Senior Sister, please take the seat of honor.”

“…”

In that instant, Jian Chou was truly bewildered.

The direction Qu Zhengfeng indicated was the topmost chair on the left side. Opposite the left chair on the right was another chair, representing the hierarchy of host and guest.

This…

How could she go up there herself?

She instinctively wanted to refuse, but looking up, she saw Qu Zhengfeng’s light gaze carrying an indescribable quality.

At this moment, she suddenly remembered that she was Yashan’s Eldest Senior Sister.

All the words she wanted to say were swallowed back. Jian Chou hesitated for a moment but still nodded slightly and slowly walked up.

Elder Mo from Wangjiang Tower had also entered and was right nearby. Seeing this scene, he was also somewhat surprised.

Eldest Senior Sister?

“This must be the recently renowned Senior Jian Chou with exceptional talent that people throughout the Central Domain have been discussing? The Central Domain has truly produced talents in abundance lately—heroes indeed emerge from the young. Mo Yuanxing pays his respects here.”

“Elder Mo is too kind.”

So her thirteen-day Foundation Establishment and Heavenly Disc matter had indeed spread?

Seeing Mo Yuanxing’s strange gaze, Jian Chou suddenly felt this wasn’t very pleasant, quite odd.

As an elder of Wangjiang Tower, Mo Yuanxing was responsible for handling this matter and was half a host, so he also gestured: “Please take your seat.”

Jian Chou bowed in return and finally sat down.

The others also sat, with Qu Zhengfeng taking the first position to Jian Chou’s right, and Jianghe very consciously sitting in the position below Qu Zhengfeng.

Originally, the other two executive elders from Wangjiang Tower should have sat across from them.

Unexpectedly, Tao Zhang directly stepped forward, kicked over a chair, grabbed the only remaining chair, and plopped it under his bottom, sitting boldly across from Qu Zhengfeng.

“You!”

The other two were so angry their beards bristled and eyes bulged, but with the three from Yashan present, they couldn’t lose their temper.

A cold smile flashed across Tao Zhang’s face. That one eye examined Qu Zhengfeng with interest, and he spoke again.

“I heard you’ve been lingering at Nascent Soul Peak for quite a while. Let me calculate…” Tao Zhang pretended to count on his fingers. “Tsk, it’s already been one hundred thirty years. That seems a bit wrong.”

Regarding Qu Zhengfeng’s cultivation, Jian Chou only had some knowledge from that day when Qu Zhengfeng fought Shen Jiu on the Sword-Drawing Platform.

Now hearing Tao Zhang speak, she couldn’t help but frown.

She only knew Qu Zhengfeng was already at Nascent Soul Peak, but didn’t know how long he’d remained there.

Since this was Qu Zhengfeng’s matter, Jian Chou couldn’t speak up.

But…

Qu Zhengfeng himself sat unmoved by the eight winds, with no intention of speaking.

The Wangjiang Tower elder looked around and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly that this Tao Zhang was truly a desperado who feared nothing—he dared say anything.

Hmph…

However, Yashan’s way of doing things was quite impressive!

If they couldn’t investigate clearly in three days, they’d kill this Tao Zhang and return to report.

If they could find Wangjiang Tower’s disciples, the matter would be resolved; if they couldn’t find anyone, killing Tao Zhang would still be venting anger.

Mo Yuanxing estimated that Yashan was probably siding with Wangjiang Tower.

Who told Tao Zhang to be so arrogant?

Thinking this way, Mo Yuanxing became even more leisurely, sitting aside to watch coldly, watching Tao Zhang perform, watching how he’d offend Yashan.

Among everyone, the first who couldn’t hold back was Jianghe.

He gnawed on his finger, rolling his eyes: “You’re just someone who barely formed a Golden Core—what right do you have to talk to Second Senior Brother? You can’t even beat me!”

“…”

At these words, silence fell around them.

Tao Zhang’s expression finally completely darkened.

Jianghe was chubby and short, looking like a child. When he rolled his eyes, saying, “You can’t even beat me,” he was insufferably smug.

That feeling made people want to shout, “refreshing and satisfying”!

Even Jian Chou, sitting above, felt the urge to pull this little fatty over for a couple of kisses!

Well said!

She glanced at Qu Zhengfeng and found he also had a smile at the corner of his lips. She couldn’t help but cough and speak: “Though I’ve only recently begun cultivation, I know that cultivation depends on opportunity and talent. As Fellow Daoist Tao Zhang just said, when we first met, I was barely at Qi Refining.”

Who didn’t know Jian Chou was one of the Central Domain’s most popular geniuses recently?

The legends about her and Kunwu’s Xie Buchen had long spread throughout the Central Domain. One achieved Foundation Establishment in ten days and became the number one below Golden Core thirteen days later; one achieved Foundation Establishment in thirteen days and, though not becoming number one below Golden Core, cultivated the world’s rare Heavenly Disc.

Though some said Kunwu’s Xie Buchen also had a Heavenly Disc, it hadn’t been confirmed by Kunwu, and this rumor wasn’t as widespread as “Yashan’s Jian Chou has a Heavenly Disc,” so people were curious but didn’t dare confirm it.

But Jian Chou’s Heavenly Disc was almost a foregone conclusion.

Now, when Jian Chou said this, it had the same wonderful effect as little fatty Jianghe’s “you can’t even beat me.”

Even more…

Though only at mid Foundation Establishment, Jian Chou, with her Heavenly Disc, would be more dazzling than the little fatty.

Poor Tao Zhang—he’d only made one sarcastic comment about Yashan’s Second Senior Brother Qu Zhengfeng, yet suffered such fierce “verbal assault” from both Jian Chou and Jianghe. How pitiful!

The three elders from Wangjiang Tower, one sitting and two standing, somehow felt a surge of satisfaction and relief.

On the spot, Tao Zhang slowly straightened his posture.

He looked at Jian Chou, his mind recalling how she had gripped the Nine-Section Bamboo after blocking Lanyuan’s strike, clearly having no strength left but still holding on.

“Senior Jian Chou speaks truly—it’s this Tao who was arrogant. Since only three days remain, I won’t joke with my own life. After all, before me sits the lofty Yashan.”

This seemed like they were finally going to discuss business.

After the verbal sparring, Wangjiang Tower’s side finally calmed down, and Mo Yuanxing bowed to Jian Chou.

“Having heard the cause of events, Yashan has understood. We trapped this person and even risked turning against the Wuyi Sect, all for the safety of our two Wangjiang Tower disciples. That reef has now collapsed, and our people are searching outside but have found nothing. We want to know how to enter the door beneath the reef, but this Tao Zhang claims complete ignorance, wanting those two disciples to die!”

Mo Yuanxing became agitated as he spoke.

“Since Elder Fudao has sent you three, please seek justice from this person for our Wangjiang Tower!”

Qu Zhengfeng sat with lowered eyelids. Since saying a word or two at the opening to control the scene, he’d shown no intention of speaking up, keeping his mouth tightly shut.

Jian Chou glanced at him calmly. Seeing that he still didn’t move, she understood somewhat.

This was forcing a duck onto a perch…

Why did she feel that “Junior Brother” Qu was somewhat displeased with her?

This thought only flashed by, but Jian Chou’s expression didn’t show it as she spoke normally: “I heard three disciples went down to the reef, with one returning alive. Where is this person?”

Hearing this, Tao Zhang immediately sneered.

“Of course, they’ve hidden him away. Though I, Tao Zhang, have done much evil, I’m now a Golden Core stage cultivator. There’s no need to kill those two small fry—what are they worth?”

Though his words were contemptuous, they seemed reasonable.

But since no one knew what happened below, Jian Chou didn’t dare conclude this person was innocent. She only turned to look at Mo Yuanxing.

Mo Yuanxing was already furious: “Nonsense! When you came out, you were covered in blood. The bloodstains haven’t even faded—how dare you argue? If this blood isn’t from others, could it be your own?!”

This statement drew everyone’s attention to the bloodstains on Tao Zhang’s azure robe.

There were indeed stains.

The old bloodstains had turned deep brown, but there were also fresh bloodstains on top.

Tao Zhang also looked down at his blood-stained robes and immediately smiled with narrowed eyes, his one eye holding indescribable mockery.

“Yes, Wangjiang Tower has many people and bullies others with power. This blood covering me is indeed my own.”

“You!”

Mo Yuanxing was so angry he couldn’t speak.

Jian Chou guessed that the blood on Tao Zhang, at least the fresh blood, was indeed his own. Not for any other reason than his behavior being too outrageous—he’d probably clashed with Mo Yuanxing.

This was Wangjiang Tower’s territory, so Tao Zhang’s suffering and being wronged were probably inevitable.

Such trivial matters were certainly not Yashan’s focus.

Jian Chou thought for a moment and directly addressed the key issue: “Let’s set aside past grievances for now. Fellow Daoist Tao Zhang should know that our Yashan’s Junior Brother Qu Zhengfeng might strike at the slightest disagreement, so Jian Chou has a few questions. Please think carefully and answer properly.”

Raising an eyebrow, Tao Zhang looked at Jian Chou, sizing her up.

Yashan, Yashan…

Did a Yashan cultivator dare stand before him with mere mid Foundation Establishment cultivation and question him like this?

Glancing sideways at Qu Zhengfeng, who seemed to be casually rubbing the Seashore Light Sword’s sheath with his finger, Tao Zhang suddenly felt somewhat frustrated.

He had to admit these two were working in tandem, and he had to accept it.

To leave this place, he could only choose to first help these three disciples from Yashan, where the enforcement elder resided.

Tao Zhang was quite sensible and spoke directly: “Tao and Senior Jian Chou are old acquaintances. Yashan isn’t like Wangjiang Tower’s petty ways—this Tao trusts you more and will certainly speak without reservation.”

The nearby Wangjiang Tower elders felt like they’d been slapped hard across the face—it hurt terribly!

They wanted to stand up and rebuke Tao Zhang, but seeing the three Yashan disciples sitting nearby, they immediately held back.

Stand up to deny Tao Zhang’s words?

Then what would Yashan be?

Mo Yuanxing’s anger was quickly suppressed, but his heart felt stifled, and his face reddened.

Tao Zhang felt pleased seeing this and finally showed a smile.

Looking at Jian Chou again, he truly felt this “Yashan disciple” was adorable and beautiful no matter how he looked.

Jian Chou knew these two were jabbing at each other but didn’t participate in their verbal sparring. After thinking, she asked: “What’s most urgent now is finding a way to open the door beneath the reef. The two Wangjiang Tower disciples’ life tablets haven’t broken, proving they should still be alive, so rescuing them comes first. Fellow Daoist Tao Zhang should know how to get down there?”

“The reef has already collapsed—what door are you talking about?” Tao Zhang sneered. “I don’t know anyway.”

“Oh?”

Jian Chou was quick-witted and looked at Tao Zhang thoughtfully, smiling slightly.

“I’m only asking about the method to open the door. Since Fellow Daoist Tao Zhang could enter, you must know. So you only need to tell the truth… Otherwise, we can only assume Fellow Daoist Tao Zhang wants those two Wangjiang Tower disciples trapped beneath the reef to die, to bury certain things that shouldn’t be known at the bottom of the sea.”

This…

This was a slanderous accusation!

Little fatty Jianghe below was stunned, looking at Jian Chou!

In that instant, he was utterly amazed by this Eldest Senior Sister!

Qu Zhengfeng couldn’t help but nod.

He slowly raised his eyes to look at Jian Chou. Though her cultivation was currently low, after being firmly placed in the seat of honor, she quickly calmed down, understood his meaning, and her words, while not showing great family style, weren’t much worse.

Especially this move…

It perfectly captured Master’s shameless essence…

Perhaps she was qualified to become Yashan’s Eldest Senior Sister.

Only Tao Zhang, recalling the Jian Chou he first met and looking at this Jian Chou sitting high in the seat of honor, smiling at him, truly felt like he was dreaming…

He had forgotten that from the moment Jian Chou shielded Nie Xiaowan behind her and stood before him, re-activating the Nine-Section Bamboo, she was already a perfectly qualified Yashan disciple.

Willing to risk everything.

Yashan…

Tao Zhang was silent for a long time. After looking at Mo Yuanxing beside him, whose eyes were bulging as if he wanted to devour him, he finally laughed: “It seems now this Tao can only preserve his small life this way. Unfortunately, this opening method is an untransmitted secret of our Wuyi Sect. Those three small fry from Wangjiang Tower only benefited from my presence to enter together. I could bring them in, but I’m not necessarily responsible for bringing them out.”

“So?”

Jian Chou knew that since he’d compromised, there must be more to come.

Indeed, Tao Zhang’s smile became strange: “I can open the door beneath the reef for you, but I can’t tell you how. It’s that simple.”

“You! This is going too far!”

Mo Yuanxing truly hated Tao Zhang to the bone—those two disciples were his beloved students.

Going beneath the reef to search for treasure, they’d originally expected some gain, but unexpectedly encountered Tao Zhang below. Tao Zhang was ahead and opened a door, but due to that location’s special environment, he didn’t notice people following behind, and they entered together.

When they came out, disaster struck—only one returned intact, truly infuriating Mo Yuanxing.

If it wasn’t Tao Zhang who harmed them, who could it be?

Now with this uncooperative attitude, if not for the three from Yashan being here, he would have chopped him up long ago!

“Please calm down, Elder Mo.”

Jian Chou already had an idea. She glanced at Qu Zhengfeng.

Qu Zhengfeng nodded almost imperceptibly.

So Jian Chou turned back, directly stood up, and said to Tao Zhang: “Since Fellow Daoist Tao Zhang is willing to cooperate, that’s excellent. Why don’t we go to the Western Sea reef now to investigate the situation and see if Fellow Daoist Tao Zhang has a place to be useful?”

Tao Zhang was stunned, then slowly smiled.

Then he burst into laughter.

“Gutsy! But it’s a foolish idea! Since Senior Jian Chou has spoken, this Tao dare not refuse—I’ll accompany you on this trip!”

Tao Zhang was certain there was no “place for him to be useful” there.

Jian Chou frowned and looked back at Qu Zhengfeng, seeing that he also wore a thoughtful expression.

Qu Zhengfeng said quietly: “We’ll know after going to look.”

So the group finally decided to depart directly from this courtyard.

Tao Zhang wasn’t modest at all and walked directly to Jian Chou’s side.

Jian Chou looked back at him.

Tao Zhang said frankly: “It’s safer walking beside you all. Otherwise, I fear I won’t reach the Western Sea before ending up dead on the road.”

This was satirizing Wangjiang Tower’s conduct. Jian Chou ultimately didn’t respond.

The three people behind—Mo Yuanxing and the others—were so angry their hearts panicked, but they still endured it. They still hoped for Tao Zhang to open the door; after all, the two disciples were most important.

“There’s a teleportation array ahead going to Dengtian Island. Please follow me.”

Mo Yuanxing led the way.

Leaving the water pavilion, they departed across the lake.

When passing the blooming lotus flowers by the lakeside, Jian Chou’s steps slowed.

When arriving, she had seen mayflies on the lotus leaves. Now, white “corpses” floated on the water’s surface. She reached out and gently picked up a tiny, almost invisible mayfly from a lotus leaf.

It didn’t move at all. Its body was plump, but it was already dead.

Jianghe curiously came over, looked, and frowned: “They’re all dead. What are you picking it up for, Eldest Senior Sister?”

“Nothing…”

Just felt this situation was somewhat strange.

With a plump body, this wasn’t a mayfly that died last night, but one that was born this morning and died shortly after.

Perhaps it was just a coincidence.

With business to attend to, Jian Chou slowly placed the mayfly back where it was and followed the others out.

No one paid attention to this interlude. Everyone quickly stepped into a teleportation array carved on the opposite shore of the lake. In a flash of light, they were already on Dengtian Island in the Western Sea.

“That reef is not far west of Dengtian Island. We can go from here.”

Mo Yuanxing was still the one explaining the situation.

He was the first to emerge from the teleportation array. Jian Chou also came out and looked up to see quite a few people on Dengtian Island at this time. Seeing this teleportation array light up, many turned to look.

Li Sui was talking with fellow disciples when he suddenly saw everyone looking that way, so he followed their gaze.

In that instant, he was stunned.

Jian Chou stood with Qu Zhengfeng, guided by Mo Yuanxing, looking west. She held the faintly golden Liwai Mirror in her hand, her gaze calm and quiet, faintly showing the extraordinary composure and tranquility she’d displayed when directly shielding Nie Xiaowan that day.

If Li Sui remembered correctly, the dark-robed man beside her was exactly the first person on the fourth Heavenly Tablet, Yashan’s former Eldest Senior Brother Qu Zhengfeng.

Standing in place, Li Sui recalled a question he’d once asked…

Dao companions?

He couldn’t help but smile.

Li Sui remembered a thought he’d had with Zhou Kuang on Dengtian Island.

“Perhaps before long, her name will also be carved together with those many past stories, becoming a legend passed down among the Nineteen Continents’ cultivators…”

Now, watching from afar, he felt this premonition was coming true soon.

The salty sea breeze seemed to carry yesterday’s flavor still.

Jian Chou felt somewhat dazed. Listening to Mo Yuanxing’s voice, she nodded and looked around. When she looked toward her right side, not far away, she suddenly paused, then smiled.

This smile was rarely genuine.

She walked in that direction.

Both Qu Zhengfeng and Jianghe looked at her in surprise.

“Senior Sister Jian Chou?”

“I’ve encountered an old friend—going to say hello.” Jian Chou answered lightly and was already a few steps away from Li Sui. “Senior Brother Li, have you been well?”