The sound of the wind outside began to change, becoming distorted, then gradually transforming into voices.
Zhang Rongfang’s heart stirred, and he let down his guard, allowing his consciousness to be drawn into a trance.
Soon, his vision blurred and then cleared again.
Everything around him was no different from before, with the sole exception of an additional person in the study.
A person he was quite familiar with.
"It’s been such a short ti, and you have already given this poor Daoist quite a surprise." The person was draped in a white Daoist robe, long hair cascading over the shoulders, fair and chubby, with kind eyes and a benevolent gaze.
It was none other than another Yue Dewen, who had been hiding in Wish Girl Gorge — Xue Tong.
He looked much cleaner and tidier than before.
"Senior!" Zhang Rongfang slightly raised his eyebrows. "I had no choice."
He sighed.
"The previous events were forced by the prevailing circumstances. I couldn’t hold out by myself, and the power at my side was nowhere near comparable to those who had accumulated power over many years. Thus, I was compelled to resort to such asures."
"Now that the Daoists of the Human Immortal Temple have scattered and left, what are your plans?" Xue Tong asked in a deep voice. "Do you know they have been continuously creating their own forces using bloodlines without your knowledge? These small factions are erging quickly. Too many people desire to regain their youth."
"I understand. I anticipated such a situation would arise." Zhang Rongfang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the cliff outside the window lattice.
"All of this is just a stopgap asure."
"What have you mastered from the Eastern Sect’s secrets that allows you to accomplish such exaggerated feats? Do you know that the Human Immortal Temple has shaken the foundations of the gods and Buddhas’ rule? They will surely retaliate fiercely and hunt you down! What will you use to defend against that? The people you released..."
"Since they chose to gain, they must also pay the price." Zhang Rongfang interrupted him.
"The bloodline that left the Human Immortal Temple is like dandelion seeds scattered by the wind. When they land, they take root and grow new branches and leaves. This is what they inevitably must face."
"It seems you understand. Then I won’t say more. This ti, I ca to discuss sothing with you." Xue Tong shifted the topic.
"Please go ahead, Senior." Zhang Rongfang smiled.
"You seem to have a good relationship with the Wish Girl?" Xue Tong inquired.
"Just mutually beneficial."
"That’s enough. As long as there’s communication, could you lend a hand to leave this gorge?"
"Just give the command, Senior. How should we cooperate? Please tell." Zhang Rongfang responded directly, thinking it was normal to repay the favor since the other party had helped him before.
"It’s simple. As long as you help ..." Suddenly, Xue Tong’s figure flickered and distorted as if interrupted by a signal, then dissipated like a soap bubble.
The voice stopped abruptly.
Zhang Rongfang was slightly startled, his expression turning solemn.
He sensed sothing was amiss.
It seed... sothing was approaching.
Quickly!! Very fast!!
After a mont of contemplation.
Swish!
He suddenly vanished from the study and darted out of the cave, heading toward the approaching entity.
*
*
*
Outside Wish Girl Gorge.
A young man in a white shirt with a blue overcoat, holding a folding fan, was sprinting towards the gorge.
Behind him was a giant nearly three ters tall, who had just departed from the Western Sect’s True Buddha Temple — Yuan Feng.
He had reported the details of the mission to the Sect Leader Sang Lan.
The Sect Leader, without any hesitation, set off imdiately. Only the two of them, traveling swiftly towards Wushan Prefecture.
They made no preparations, rely dressed in plain clothes and set off.
On the way, if thirsty or hungry, they caught so prey to deal with it.
At this mont, the two of them were passing through the forest like rockets, in the blink of an eye traversing nurous trees, then lightly leaping onto a nearby high slope at Wish Girl Gorge, gazing inward.
"A place shrouded by the Residual God." Sang Lan looked at Wish Girl Gorge and said leisurely.
"Shall we go in?" Yuan Feng, slightly panting behind, asked. Their running speed was so fast that even he struggled to keep up.
"No need, head straight to the destination. The sooner we locate the forbidden point, the sooner we can return to enjoy the Hundred Fragrance Banquet." Sang Lan, unfazed, turned slightly and continued rushing toward Wushan Prefecture.
Such was his decisive personality.
Yuan Feng remained silent, unable to respond.
The so-called Hundred Fragrance Banquet was an upgraded version of the Celestial Demon Dance, rely replacing the won with stronger martial won for the guests’ entertainnt.
Unfolding their body techniques, the two disappeared from sight in an instant.
Shortly after their departure.
A figure shot out from Wish Girl Gorge, landing on the high ground. It was Zhang Rongfang, who had just sensed sothing was wrong.
He furrowed his brows, searching the vicinity for clues.
"Two people. Very strong. One of them can even interfere with the conditions inside the gorge..."
Zhang Rongfang’s expression was grave; just approaching was enough to affect the environnt within the gorge, indicating the newcors must have a deep connection with the gods and Buddhas.
After all, with the Wish Girl’s protection over the gorge, no force other than the gods and Buddhas should be able to affect it.
Kneeling down, he closely examined the traces on the ground.
On the entire high ground, there were only two sets of footprints, leading towards Wushan Prefecture.
"It seems they’ve headed to Wushan Prefecture."
By this ti, the guards from within the gorge were already reacting and quickly approaching the area.
Although their speed was already quite fast, they still had a long way to reach the pinnacle level. This was indisputable.
"Wushan Prefecture..." Zhang Rongfang pondered.
He was sowhat worried about his sister there, fearing trouble from such strong individuals passing through.
"Co here!"
"Present."
A master from the Rebel Sect quickly rushed out of the woodland and saluted him.
"Ask the peripheral affiliated forces if anyone just passed by. Then send soone to Wushan Prefecture to confirm the informants and see if any experts have entered the city," Zhang Rongfang swiftly instructed.
"Yes!"
As soon as the words fell, Zhang Rongfang was already heading towards Wushan Prefecture.
*
*
*
In a small house in the alley within the city.
Ah Kuan held a small wooden puppet in his hands, occasionally coughing a few tis, and enthusiastically played with the puppet’s arms and legs, bending them into various poses.
Bang.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and the latch behind the door was easily snapped.
Startled by the sound of the latch breaking, Ah Kuan imdiately stood up from his stool, nervously staring at the doorway.
Two burly n, one tall and one short, quickly walked into the house.
One was dressed like a wealthy young master, with a refined and scholarly look.
The other was three ters tall, had to duck to get through the door, and exuded a rugged air with a strong muscular build, dressed as a monk.
"Here it is."
The one dressed like a wealthy young master was none other than the recently arrived Sect Leader Sang Lan.
He swept his calm gaze around the room and quickly locked onto the small boy, Ah Kuan.
"Is it him?" Yuan Feng’s eyes fell on the small boy.
"No, it’s the thing in his hand," Sang Lan replied more precisely. With a glance, he identified the root of the taboo.
He stepped forward and reached to grab the puppet from the boy’s hand.
"Taking from a child is not a gentlemanly act."
Suddenly, a voice ca from outside the door.
Sang Lan, holding the puppet, turned his head to look at the doorway.
A plain-chested woman in blue clothes was standing outside the door.
She held a short knife, her brows furrowed, staring intently at the two inside the house.
It was Ran Xinyue, who had been wandering around the city and noticed sothing amiss, prompting her to co.
After her encounter with Zhang Rongfang, she took the opportunity to relax and shop for so miscellaneous items in the city.
However, with rising prices and controlled supplies, there were far fewer items available, so she hadn’t managed to gather everything despite spending quite so ti on it.
Feeling troubled, she didn’t expect to see Sang Lan strolling into the city with no concealnt whatsoever, as if they owned the place.
So she followed them here.
"Who are you?" Yuan Feng’s expression sharpened, sensing that she too was a worshiper, and imdiately questioned her.
"A passerby who cannot stand injustice. Speak, what are your intentions here? If you’re honest, I might consider letting you go," Ran Xinyue said confidently.
She sensed that the two n across from her were also worshipers, with so odd and obscure aura, but in a small place like this, they couldn’t be anyone formidable.
The more critical point was that their organization paid a lot of attention to Zhang Rongfang’s every move.
The puppet was sothing Zhang Rongfang personally gave to this little boy, and it must carry so deeper aning.
They also had people observing and investigating nearby, and didn’t want anyone interfering here.
So, combining that with her being nearby and the Zhang Rongfang factor, she decisively stepped forward.
"Let us go?" Sang Lan suddenly laughed. "The weaker one is often the more confident."
"Mr. Sang Lan, she is also a worshiper; how should we handle this?" Yuan Feng asked from the side.
"Take care of it. Our actions are righteous, and no one would oppose it. Make it quick; I still need to return for the banquet," Sang Lan said, picking up the puppet for a closer look, finding nothing unusual on it.
"Handle ? What big talk!" Ran Xinyue’s face turned cold, and she slowly tightened her grip on the short knife in her hand.
*
*
*
A mont later.
Trickling blood flowed from beneath Ran Xinyue, slowly streaming away through the gutter at the mouth of the alley.
She knelt on the ground, the large gash on her abdon trying to heal automatically, but the edges of her wound seed severely damaged, the spiritual line healing far slower than usual.
She could hardly believe it, just a few moves!
She was completely suppressed, her attacks predicted, forced into defense, and then her defenses pierced, her vitals hit. Part of her spiritual line was devoured.
It all happened within seconds.
"Apologies, it was not my wish to strike a woman," Yuan Feng perford a one-handed Buddhist salute, "But since you are entangled here, this is the only way."
"Not revealing your final move yet?"
He stepped towards Ran Xinyue.
Ran Xinyue gritted her teeth, trying to get up, but couldn’t move at all. She didn’t dare use her final move, as it would certainly draw the attention of the gods she worshiped, negating all her previous protective asures.
Whoosh!
In an instant, a figure in a black dress lightly landed, blocking Ran Xinyue.
The figure had black hair to her waist, sharp eyes, and wore thin, silvery gloves. It was Celestial Maiden Tong Zhang, temporarily residing in the city.
Moreover, outside the alley, an elderly man in a gray robe, with flowing sleeves and white hair, stepped leisurely into the alley, seemingly indifferent to the blood on the ground, as he approached the group.
"I haven’t shown my face in ages, and yet, the mont I do after years of seclusion, I’m discovered...." The old man’s face was kindly, with the youthful appearance of white hair, resembling a regular old teacher from an academy.
But he wore sothing not of ordinary style.
It was... a Confucian Robe!
"Confucian Sect? Dongfang Mu?" Yuan Feng froze upon seeing the newcor.
Their sudden attack unexpectedly drew out all sorts of hidden figures?
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