To this place, she was no longer a returnee, merely a passerby.

After placing the key back, Jian Chou lingered no longer and returned directly from Human Solitary Island to Yashan.

At this time, the sun had not yet set, and it was still early.

However, before she could pass through the mountain-protecting formation and land on Lingzhao Peak, she spotted a figure sitting cross-legged by Guihe Well.

This posture was all too familiar.

A dirty Daoist robe that seemed like it would never be changed in this lifetime, and on the gaunt face, a pair of eyes that were particularly bright, with an extremely shrewd and perceptive feeling. But when paired with the broken bamboo pole placed to his left, the chicken leg gripped in his right hand, and that expression of intoxication confused by appetite…

It became rather indescribable.

At this moment, Jian Chou hadn’t even had time to sort out her inner thoughts when Fudao Shanren below had already spotted her.

The golden, glistening chicken leg in his hand had already been gnawed almost clean.

At this time, he forcefully threw it toward the sky!

“Smack!”

Precise, accurate, and ruthless!

Where was this any chicken leg? It was practically a unique hidden weapon capable of instantly killing most Nascent Soul cultivators in Shijiu Zhou!

Still in mid-air, Jian Chou only felt something flicker before her eyes, then felt a pain in her head as if someone had struck her with a large iron hammer.

With a “buzz” sound.

The spiritual power that had originally been flowing smoothly around her body suddenly dispersed.

At that moment, the many disciples still on Lingzhao Peak or on Yashan’s cliff walls only heard a tremendous “splash!”

A moon-white shadow fell from the sky.

Like a stone, it crashed pitifully to the ground—

By sheer coincidence, landing right at Fudao Shanren’s feet.

Looking again, who else could this be but Senior Master Uncle Jian Chou, who had only returned to the sect yesterday?

Countless disciples gasped in shock, too frightened to make a sound.

Only the “culprit” was triumphant, not only feeling no guilt for his ruthless treatment of his beloved disciple, but actually taking pride in it, even laughing heartily.

“Hahaha, it seems that in this emergence from seclusion, this mountain man’s blade is not only still sharp, but his cultivation has indeed greatly advanced. This chicken bone was thrown more accurately than ever before!”

“…”

At this moment, Jian Chou suddenly had an urge to jump up and give her chicken leg master’s knee a good kick!

However, being completely unprepared and struck down from high altitude, even though she had cultivated the “Human Artifact,” falling in such an extremely embarrassing “prostrate” posture was enough to make her drink her fill of suffering.

For a moment, she felt her entire face go numb.

Her head was dizzy, stars danced before her eyes, and she was almost seeing Young Master Ruhua’s seductive robes—a hundred flowers blooming!

She struggled to lift her head, coughed twice, and climbed up from the ground, leaving only a human-shaped crater where she had been, which made her furious.

“Master, you—”

“Me? This mountain man has practiced!”

Completely oblivious to the evil he had committed, Fudao Shanren chuckled, this single sentence nearly choking his current beloved disciple half to death. As if that wasn’t enough, he added another cut.

“How about it? Accurate, right?”

Accurate?

Accurate your big ghostly head!

If she hadn’t cultivated the “Human Artifact,” she might already be dead here!

After Jian Chou struggled to her feet, she had a thousand and ten thousand grievances she wanted to voice, not to mention reaching up to touch her forehead—greasy all over…

“…”

Why did she suddenly have an urge to commit master-murder? Someone please come hold her back!

She took a deep breath, expended great effort to suppress the lawsuit building in her head, and strove to speak calmly: “Master, next time could you not throw these chicken bones around randomly?”

“This mountain man didn’t throw randomly—I was aiming right at you, you little heartless one!”

Fudao Shanren sat by Guihe Well, glanced at her sideways, snorted coldly, then pulled out another chicken leg, took a bite, and muttered continuously.

“Really made something of yourself, not properly waiting for your master to emerge from seclusion, wandering around outside aimlessly. Hm?”

“I…”

Even though she had long known her master was rarely reliable, spending all day thinking about nothing but eating, drinking, and playing, when he dropped such an unreasonable big hat on her, Jian Chou simply had an urge to vomit blood.

“Didn’t your disciple have matters to handle in the hidden realm? Besides, you know you were in seclusion.”

“Oh, so it’s Master’s fault then?”

Rolling his eyes, stopping his chicken-gnawing motion, Fudao Shanren’s eye-roll was already directed at her.

There’s no reasoning with people who don’t want to be reasonable.

At this moment, Jian Chou finally deeply understood the true meaning of “bow to the big shot.”

She took another deep breath and bowed respectfully: “It’s all Jian Chou’s fault for making Master worry.”

When the words hadn’t left her mouth, she didn’t feel it, and the first half wasn’t very obvious, but when she reached the latter half, somehow, she suddenly became somewhat choked up.

After all, there had been no news for sixty years.

From Qingfeng Monastery’s hidden realm to the Extreme Domain competition, how many life-and-death trials had she passed through?

Being able to return safely was truly not easy.

Just from the “cold war” between Yashan and Kunwu when she first returned to Shijiu Zhou, one could know how much worry and effort the entire Yashan, especially Fudao Shanren, had expended for her whereabouts and safety.

So what had originally been just a joke about bowing her head, somehow Jian Chou became genuinely emotional.

Even her eyes inexplicably reddened somewhat.

Fudao Shanren was startled by her appearance, nearly dropping his chicken leg, and quickly waved his hands, no longer daring to act like some big shot.

At this time, he only rolled his eyes around, looking at the sky.

“Cough, well, anyway, it’s good that you came back alive. It’s not as miserable as this mountain man imagined—no missing arms or broken legs or anything…”

“…”

Hey, just how poor do you think I am?

The bit of genuine emotion she had just brewed up successfully flew to Java after Fudao Shanren’s words.

Jian Chou suddenly didn’t want to say a word.

Her face completely flattened like a board, expressionless, just staring at him quietly.

“You have an opinion?” Fudao Shanren looked at her.

She shook her head: “I wouldn’t dare. I’m just suddenly seeing Master emerge from seclusion and am beside myself with joy.”

Your family’s “beside oneself with joy” is expressionless?

Fudao Shanren didn’t believe her at all, but was too lazy to quibble. After all, honestly speaking, seeing her return safely with even improved cultivation was truly great news.

However…

“Tell me, your three souls and seven spirits aren’t even fully restored yet—why are you so eager to break through? Look, you’ve already stepped into the threshold of late Nascent Soul stage. Once you leave your body, who knows when you’ll encounter the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation. You, as a disciple, cultivate faster than me, your master. Is there any justice?”

This sounded like great concern for Jian Chou, but she carefully considered it—the latter half was the real point!

Jian Chou looked up at him: “Your disciple was also at a life-or-death moment. If I didn’t break through, it would be death. Between early death and late death, naturally I chose the latter.”

“Oh right, speaking of which, I haven’t even asked what you experienced.” Fudao Shanren slapped his forehead, as if only now remembering. “Good, tell me about how miserable your sixty years were! Let this mountain man be happy.”

“…”

Suddenly feeling so tired.

Jian Chou didn’t even have the energy to roll her eyes. Dragged by Fudao Shanren, just like when she had sat on the floor of Lanyue Hall with Sect Master Zheng Yao, she sat by Guihe Well and related her experiences truthfully.

She had already told Zheng Yao once before. Obviously, with such lengthy events, Zheng Yao hadn’t retold everything to Fudao Shanren, so she had to speak slowly herself.

Starting again from the hidden realm, continuing onward.

When speaking of the poems left by Buyu Shangren outside the hidden realm, the statues in Wandering Hesitation, and her theories about heart demons ascending while the true master died, Fudao nodded approvingly.

When speaking of Lijun’s incident, Fudao also showed regret.

Then speaking of the sneak attack and scheme against Xie Buchen, fighting over Buyu Shangren’s comprehension scroll related to the “Nine Bends River Map” on the Buddha’s peak—namely the “Qingfeng Monastery Forty-Eight Records”—and that final fierce battle—

Fudao Shanren finally couldn’t restrain himself, angrily stamping his feet: “That little monster taught by the old monster of Kunwu! If I had known this would happen, this mountain man should have given you a few more good things initially. Even if we couldn’t beat him with skill, we could have crushed him to death with magical artifacts!”

Jian Chou was embarrassed.

She hadn’t thought to escalate the struggle between her and Xie Buchen into grievances between Yashan and Kunwu sects. Moreover, Xie Buchen himself hadn’t borrowed Real Person Hengxu’s power to fight her. If both sects’ elders had intervened, that would have been bad.

So she laughed awkwardly and only said: “Anyway, I didn’t let him gain any advantage. Looking at it now, in this battle at Qingfeng Monastery’s hidden realm, I was slightly superior.”

“Hmph. You’re satisfied with just this little? No ambition! I’m too lazy to scold you.”

Fudao Shanren was quite disdainful, but after thinking, he changed his tone.

“But at least Kunwu didn’t gain any advantage. It’s not that this mountain man is slandering him, but Hengxu, that old monster, has nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine cunning schemes if not ten thousand. Absolutely devious!”

Jian Chou agreed with this and listened quietly without rebuttal.

“Originally, the ‘Nine Bends River Map’ was in the hands of Bajie Daozun, also belonging to their Kunwu. Later, when Bajie Daozun ascended, this River Map was snatched away by that old witch Luye. After comprehending it, she threw it to Buyu like discarding worn shoes. That’s why there was that wrongful incident of Buyu slaughtering Mingri Xinghai.”

“Tell me, could Kunwu be willing to accept this?”

“The ‘Nine Bends River Map’ not only contains mysterious and profound dao techniques, but also some heavenly secrets. Though the old monster hasn’t said so, I feel he’s always believed this thing belongs to Kunwu. So in the hidden realm, that little monster surnamed Xie’s purpose was probably exactly on this River Map.”

These matters, Fudao Shanren had never spoken of before, but now he was rarely being completely honest.

After all, Jian Chou’s cultivation had reached this level—it was time she knew more things.

How did that saying go?

With great power comes great responsibility—similar principle.

Before entering the hidden realm, Jian Chou had heard Xie Buchen mention these old matters, so it was within expectation.

She understood Fudao Shanren’s meaning.

“It seems Master is very satisfied that I snatched half of the ‘Qingfeng Monastery Forty-Eight Records’?”

“Hahaha, of course!”

Once Fudao Shanren became proud, he forgot about despising Jian Chou. His face was full of joy, happily rubbing his hands.

“Anything that can spoil the old monster’s plans makes this mountain man happy. Come, quickly, take out that half for me to see.”

The “Qingfeng Monastery Forty-Eight Records” was exactly what Jian Chou and Xie Buchen had fought over in the hidden realm. It was Buyu Shangren’s insights from studying and cultivating the “Nine Bends River Map” and some mysterious techniques transcribed from it.

At that time, this scroll was placed at the very top of the great Buddha’s pagoda.

Fortunately, Jian Chou had been quick-eyed and fast-handed, tearing away half.

However, this “half” was probably different from the half Fudao Shanren imagined.

Jian Chou looked at her unreliable master’s expectant expression, coughed stiffly to hide her smile, then took out that half scroll.

The snow-white scroll, made from some unknown demon beast’s fur, appeared extremely smooth. Lines of vertically written dark golden small characters were clearly discernible seal script, emitting a faint and lustrous white light along with the scroll itself.

However, when Fudao Shanren looked, his face turned green!

Half?

So this was how it was “halved”?!

Anyone hearing Jian Chou say she tore away half the scroll would think she had either torn away the first half of these “Qingfeng Monastery Forty-Eight Records” or torn away the latter half.

But who could have thought!

This scroll wasn’t torn vertically, but horizontally!

How could this be read?

Read what?!

If you cut a bamboo slip horizontally and gave you the upper half, could you understand it?

Fudao Shanren nearly popped his eyeballs out, raising his finger to point at Jian Chou, his lips trembling along with his finger: “You, you, you…”

“Master, I really didn’t do this on purpose…”

What could she do?

She was helpless too!

Jian Chou tried to defend herself: “Actually, if you think about it this way—I only took this half of the scroll, and Xie Buchen only has half. I can’t read it, and he can’t read it either. Since we didn’t let Kunwu succeed, isn’t that also good?”

“Good my ass!”

Fudao Shanren wasn’t someone who had seen nothing. Even when the Heaven-Flipping Seal was in Jian Chou’s hands, he hadn’t given it a second glance. But now he was extremely concerned about these “Qingfeng Monastery Forty-Eight Records” that had such great connection to the “Nine Bends River Map.”

“What you did really harmed others without benefiting yourself! Now great—even you can’t read it.”

You must know that the three great powers who ascended at the junction of ancient and present times all had connections to the “Nine Bends River Map.” Being able to see more would mean more assurance of becoming stronger.

Not to mention that Jian Chou’s soul was currently incomplete.

Who knew if there might be some secret method on it?

Fudao Shanren actually didn’t care whether Xie Buchen got this scroll, since he clearly understood why that person existed.

Reportedly, Kunwu still needed to rely on him to get through that damned “Hundred-Year Calamity.”

But he very much cared whether Jian Chou could see it.

Seeing that the half scroll she had torn back was like this, he felt indescribably frustrated.

Jian Chou observed her master’s expression, light flowing in her eyes. After thinking for a moment, she smiled and comforted him: “Don’t be angry—it’s not such a big deal. Now I have half and Xie Buchen has half. Put these two parts together and we can read it. Find an opportunity to cooperate with him, or snatch that half away.”

“Smack!”

Fudao Shanren suddenly slapped his thigh, pointing the greasy chicken leg at Jian Chou and praising: “Makes sense!”

However, he immediately came to his senses, made a fist with his hand, placed it by his lips, pretentiously coughed once, and said: “Well, our Yashan and Kunwu are ultimately in the same boat. You two had better ‘cooperate amicably,’ ‘cooperate amicably’—don’t cause any trouble.”

Cooperate amicably…

Mm, Jian Chou nodded, showing a faint, pure smile: “Rest assured, your disciple understands.”

“Hehe…”

Fudao Shanren finally felt comfortable.

This disciple he had picked up was just ice-snow clever.

Think about Hengxu scheming and calculating heavenly secrets, specially going to Human Solitary Island to take Xie Buchen as a disciple, but now he still couldn’t match his randomly picked disciple!

Just imagining Hengxu’s feelings made him feel delighted.

“Alright, then let’s talk about what happened after. I heard you later fell into that dangerous place in the Extreme Domain. That old boy Zheng Yao also told me you encountered something strange inside that must be personally conveyed to me?”

Fudao said this, suddenly remembering this matter and asking.

Jian Chou was startled, then knew which matter he meant.

In fact, she had always kept this matter in mind. But because the affair was truly bizarre and involved great importance, and because the Nine-Headed Bird’s remnant soul had given instructions, she had temporarily told not even Zheng Yao, only saying she must first report to Fudao Shanren.

“The matter is like this…”

She mentioned all the details related to Yashan after entering the competition, especially those concerning Zhong Lanling and reincarnation, and finally the Nine-Headed Bird.

“I encountered Him in some space within the eighteen levels of hell. He said to let me report to you that His remnant soul still exists. He also said, ‘In the Yin-Yang Realm war, please temporarily set aside internal grievances within Shijiu Zhou, concentrate forces, first attack the Extreme Domain, and restore reincarnation.'”

Before she had finished speaking, the originally improper expression on Fudao Shanren’s face suddenly faded.

When her last word fell, his face became completely cold.

When not speaking or laughing, Fudao Shanren actually looked somewhat frightening. Under those eyes whose penetration rivaled Hengxu’s, countless sharp calculations flashed past, finally brewing several points of gloomy oppression.

After Jian Chou’s trip to the Extreme Domain, she had guessed that Yashan should hide some past and secrets behind it, so before speaking these words, she had speculated how Fudao Shanren would react.

But this approaching storm of dark clouds, and the line of anger faintly showing through those tightly pressed lips, was not within her expectations.

“Master…”

She opened her mouth wanting to say something, ask something.

Unexpectedly, Fudao uncharacteristically raised his hand, stopping her next words, directly standing up and saying: “These words shouldn’t be spoken outside. Follow your master.”

Jian Chou also stood up.

Before she could react much, Fudao Shanren’s hand had already directly settled on her shoulder. Immediately after, she felt her entire person begin rapidly descending, and before her eyes flashed a heavy darkness. She could vaguely smell the damp, strange scent belonging to rock.

A moment later, her feet touched solid ground.

In just a blink, she was no longer on Lingzhao Peak.

Though Yashan was only one mountain, it excelled in size and even more in utilizing various spaces within the mountain’s belly. The Scripture Repository and Beast Prison that Jian Chou knew of were both carved within the mountain’s belly.

But she had never seen this place before.

In the pitch-black enormous space, one could hardly see one’s hand in front of one’s face.

The surroundings were extremely spacious and extremely quiet, as if even breathing would produce echoes. Looking up slightly, one could see stalactite-like rocks hanging down from the unknown height above, appearing both magnificent and eerie.

But at the limit of Jian Chou’s vision, there was a point of faint white light.

It was a stark white skeleton, occupying some high place, with clothes still intact on its body.

The white light Jian Chou saw came from this white bone.

But the moment their feet touched ground and they entered this space, that white light gently flowed, quickly becoming hazy golden light.

A wondrous scene immediately appeared.

Jian Chou actually witnessed with her own eyes that after the golden light emerged, meridians, flesh, and skin suddenly grew on this white skeleton!

In just one or two breaths, an extremely gaunt but genuinely flesh-and-blood elder appeared before her eyes!

Only then did she discover that this skeleton—or rather this elder—was not suspended in mid-air, but sitting cross-legged on a tall circular platform.

On the circular platform was spread a huge bronze mirror.

Jian Chou could see this completely because this bronze mirror at the high place clearly reflected the golden light emanating from the elder’s body.

However…

At this moment, Jian Chou stared at that tall circular platform, looking at the edge of that huge bronze mirror, and genuinely gasped!

Too familiar.

This circular platform looked exactly like the altar she had seen in the eighteenth level of hell in the Extreme Domain!

She even remembered that on the surface of that altar in the Extreme Domain, there were many pitted marks.

At that time, she had thought: originally, some round object should have been placed on that altar, later forcibly dug away by someone.

Now seeing this tall altar where the elder sat cross-legged, Jian Chou’s heart suddenly beat like a drum.

Then she heard the voice of Fudao Shanren, who had already stepped forward: “Old Ancestor, my disciple went to the Extreme Domain and brought back some news concerning reincarnation and related to the Nine-Headed Bird—”