Chapter 693: The Martial Ancestor Forms an Army (Chapter High Energy)

Luo Luo Shaojun burst into Luo Su Lijun's room, shouting: "Big sister, Seventh Brother is going to open an eye!"

Luo Su Lijun jolted awake from her dream, yawning and rubbing her eyes: "Open what eye?"

"Open the eye above!"

Luo Su Lijun gasped: "Why should he open it?"

Luo Luo Shaojun panicked: "It's not your eye he's opening—it's the eye of Boundless City! Seventh Brother has an emergency!"

In the vast ocean, a colossal worm surfaced, its spine exposed above the waves.

Boundless City has risen!

Luo Su Lijun stood in the Mingyi Hall, communicating with Boundless City, pleading for it to open a heavenly eye.

After a long exchange, Boundless City refused to open its eye. Luo Luo Shaojun cried out: "Sis, if you keep acting like this, how can Boundless City listen to you?"

Luo Su Lijun had fallen asleep yesterday after practicing shape-shifting into human form—her training had gone well—but waking up to Luo Luo Shaojun's shout terrified her; she thought Li Qi meant to open her eye, and now she couldn't revert back to her snail form.

Boundless City recognized Luo Su Lijun in human form, but found her appearance unappealing, so it refused to open the heavenly eye.

Luo Luo Shaojun negotiated with Boundless City for a while: "Good Ah Cheng, just open an eye! Whatever you want, I'll give you."

Boundless City threw a tantrum and refused all requests.

Luo Luo Yanjun entered the Mingyi Hall, followed by a worm.

Luo Su Lijun initially thought a servant had intruded into the Mingyi Hall and was about to rage—until she realized the creature behind Luo Luo Yanjun wasn't an ordinary worm.

This was Xi, the former servant who had sacrificed himself under Lü Lu Mosheng's orders to harm Li Qi, then followed Li Qi back to Lü Lu Mosheng's mansion. Under Li Qi's coercion, Lü Lu Mosheng personally elevated Xi to the rank of Scholar.

Scholar Xi, his throat damaged and unable to speak, pressed his body against a pillar and communicated with Boundless City through undulating movements.

All eyes turned to Scholar Xi.

After a brief exchange, Scholar Xi grew anxious, coiling his body around the pillar and wriggling up and down.

It seemed he was reasoning with Boundless City—the two appeared to be arguing.

Minutes later, Scholar Xi slid down the pillar and nodded to Luo Su Lijun.

Boundless City agreed!

Luo Luo Shaojun burst into tears of joy and sprinted back to the rear courtyard: "Seventh Brother, it's done!"

Above the sea, the worm's back split open, revealing a massive eye.

The eyeball could rotate and move, but its pupil was peculiar—hollow within.

Looking down through the pupil, it directly aligned with Jade Yu Yu Cuilou.

Jiang Linger called from the second floor: "Open!"

The roof of Jade Yu Yu Cuilou lifted open; Jiang Linger stood atop it and hurled three pairs of scissors into the sky.

The scissors flew through the heavenly eye and landed in the ocean.

The three pairs of scissors spun rapidly in the seawater, shearing off a massive mass of water that slowly drifted into the air.

Under the scissors' agitation, the seawater rapidly evaporated.

Jiang Linger opened a cabinet and took out eighty-one spools, arranging them in nine rows; each spool contained thread of a different color.

She tossed a box of steel needles—seven hundred and twenty-nine needles hovered in midair.

Jiang Linger manipulated the eighty-one spools, threading each needle with silk in a unique method: one needle linked to nine threads, each thread piercing nine needles.

The threaded needles flew into the air, darting through the steam, swiftly weaving the shape of clouds.

The rising vapor, bound by the threads, clustered tightly above Boundless City, condensing into a colossal raincloud.

Li Li Banfeng stood up, gazing at the clouds above Boundless City.

Jiang Linger said: "The cloud is heavy—but not too heavy. Don't charge upward with brute force. Fly it up like a kite."

Some things she couldn't fully express, but Li Li Banfeng understood her meaning.

When she said "heavy," she meant the cloud's mass.

When she said "not too heavy," she meant its density.

Li Li Banfeng had once carried a cotton "cloud" into the sky; even cotton saturated with steam was no light load—he knew the technique.

He gripped one edge of the cloud and rode the wind upward. After rising only ten meters, a sea gust struck him, nearly flipping him over.

The Judge's Pen supported Li Li Banfeng, steadying his form, then darted through the cloud, maintaining its balance.

He could assist—but couldn't carry Li Li Banfeng. To lift the cloud, Li Li Banfeng had to do it himself; otherwise, even if the Judge's Pen carried it up, the cloud wouldn't retain Li Li Banfeng's combat power or popularity.

Li Li Banfeng reached a certain height, then could ascend no further—the sensation was familiar, like encountering the Unnameable Barrier in Pulu Province.

"Isn't this Inner Province? Why is there an Unnameable Barrier here?"

The Judge's Pen said: "Don't think about that now!"

Li Li Banfeng struggled harder with every meter—he was already at his limit, his body near collapse.

"I can't hold onto this cloud anymore—it's too heavy." Li Li Banfeng began to slowly sink.

Jiang Linger watched beneath the heavenly eye, sensing Li Li Banfeng's condition was dire.

But there was nothing she could do. Only the cloud Li Li Banfeng personally lifted could form a resonance with him—that was the essence of Yunmen Technique.

"Is he not destined for this?" Jiang Linger frowned, searching for a solution—then suddenly saw Li Li Banfeng rise again, a dark shadow aiding him.

Was that his own shadow?

It was his shadow—his counterpart, Li Banfeng Yi, in equally dire condition.

Li Li Banfeng gritted his teeth: "I can't lift this cloud—I'm done."

Li Banfeng Yi sneered: "What kind of talk is that? Are you really willing to die?"

Li Li Banfeng suddenly remembered: "When did you learn to ride the wind and cloud?"

Li Banfeng Yi replied: "I didn't know how before. You forced me to become Vanguard Commander—I was cornered by the Blade Cultivator, fought for my life, and learned it."

"You really think I can lift this cloud?"

Li Banfeng Yi laughed: "What's the big deal? It's just carrying a heavy sack. Didn't we carry heavier loads when we had nothing to eat?!"

"Old Jia, go!"

Jiang Linger watched Li Li Banfeng fall again and again, then rise again and again.

She knew Yunmen Technique herself and had seen others use it—but never anything like this.

Could he even do it?

Was he capable?

Li Li Banfeng lost his grip and nearly plunged into the sea.

He rose again—this time much higher.

Soon after, he fell again.

But this time, the cloud stayed aloft.

Success!

The cloud hung in the sky!

Jiang Linger embraced Li Li Banfeng and laid him on the bed: "Can you split half your popularity into the cloud?"

Li Li Banfeng didn't know—he'd never tried.

The Judge's Pen said: "Yes."

Li Banfeng Yi lay atop the cloud and nodded: "I think so."

Li Banfeng Zi lay beside Li Banfeng Yi: "The Master said: 'Yes!'"

Li Banfeng Bing said: "Ah Chou, don't move—this cloud isn't stable!"

Li Banfeng Chou grunted: "Call me Ah Jun!"

Li Li Banfeng nodded to Jiang Linger: "Yes."

Jiang Linger extended her right hand, forming a scissor gesture with her index and middle fingers: "Then let's begin."

Her fingers sliced through skin, inch by inch.

Li Li Banfeng's eyes were bloodshot.

If my wife were here, it would be better—her ascension method was far gentler than Jiang Linger's.

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan shivered, feeling a sharp pain in her heart.

Has my husband encountered trouble?

She knew her phone was vibrating, knew he urgently needed her—but she couldn't speak now.

The Blood Bell Pendulum could barely stand. She regretted it—she shouldn't have taken Luo Luo Yuni's body today. If she'd remained just a pendulum, she could have hidden herself.

But without this body, she couldn't carry Zhao Zhao Xiaowan's new torch.

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan had crafted a new torch, intending to invite Li Li Banfeng to test it together.

But she feared it might fail, causing him false hope.

So she brought the torch and three magic treasures to the border between Qiuqi City and Ink Fragrance Shop, preparing to test the torch.

Unexpectedly, on the forested border, she encountered Master Master Kongfang.

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan hid atop a banyan tree, undetected for now.

Master Master Kongfang didn't yet know her location—but had sensed her presence.

Meng De shrank into the pocket watch, trembling violently; the second hand vibrated more fiercely than the phone. Had her Voice Cultivation technique not masked its sound, Master Master Kongfang would have heard it long ago.

If only Master Master Kongfang were alone, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan could have fought him—despite this puppet body's weakness, despite insufficient preparation—even if she lost, she could escape.

But Master Master Kongfang wasn't alone.

Over two thousand copper coins were lost in the clouds—Master Master Kongfang couldn't swallow this insult. He summoned five members of Snowflake River to Qiuqi City, determined to uncover the truth.

Among them were the Commerce Cultivator Feng Feng Chongli, the Joy Cultivator Shang Shang Rongchu, and the newly joined Snowflake River member, the Painting Cultivator and Joy Cultivator Mu Yuejuan—three masters from the Clouds Above. This battle would be far from easy.

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan looked at the torch in Zhong Bai's hand, then at the distant boundary.

She meant that if things turned bad, she would throw the torch onto the boundary and destroy it outright.

Zhong Bai's tears fell; she knew that if it came to this, she would likely die alongside Zhao Zhao Xiaowan.

Among the magic treasures, only the old teapot remained calm—he had endured countless battles and was prepared for a final, desperate struggle.

Huanxiu Shang Shang Rongchu caught the scent of Zhong Bai's sweat; he particularly loved this smell.

Following the scent, he slowly approached the banyan tree, and Zhao Zhao Xiaowan readied herself to strike.

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan truly hoped the approaching figure was Master Master Kongfang; she didn't want to waste a chance at ambushing Shang Shang Rongchu, but the situation left her no choice.

Shang Shang Rongchu was about to test with a technique when suddenly he turned his face toward Mu Yuejuan and stared at her for a long time.

"Why are you staring at me?" Mu Yuejuan frowned; though both were Huanxiu, she despised Shang Shang Rongchu intensely, finding him too effeminate and lacking in masculine vigor.

Shang Shang Rongchu sneered: "Old sister, who'd want to stare at you? I'm looking at the young woman beside you."

Standing beside Mu Yuejuan was a Xiu Xiu, a woman in her thirties named Xiao Qian Xiao Qian Yueyi, whose body trembled uncontrollably, as if stricken by a chill.

"Are you sick?" Mu Yuejuan frowned and stepped aside.

Anyone who joined Snowflake River must have at least a Cloud-Ascendant cultivation base; ordinary illness couldn't bring down a Cloud-Ascendant cultivator.

If Xiao Qian Xiao Qian Yueyi was this severely ill, had she been targeted by some other means?

As they spoke, Xiao Qian Xiao Qian Yueyi suddenly collapsed, convulsing and vomiting.

Shang Shang Rongchu, ever the tenderhearted one, stepped forward and embraced Xiao Qian Xiao Qian Yueyi: "Miss Xiao Qian, what's wrong?"

Everyone assumed Xiao Qian Xiao Qian Yueyi was ill, but Master Master Kongfang approached, glanced at her, and shook his head: "She's not sick—this is avoiding misfortune and seeking fortune."

Everyone turned to Master Master Kongfang; anyone who joined Snowflake River had some experience—avoiding misfortune might cause a shiver, but no one convulsed like this, nearly fainting.

Master Master Kongfang gazed into the distance, tense; a copper coin spun continuously on his fingertip.

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan was equally tense; she generated faint cicada sounds to completely mask her own presence.

Using her Insightful Spirit Sound, she heard something—footsteps, utterly unusual footsteps.

A thin middle-aged man entered the forest and looked at the group: "I'm looking for someone. Do you know where Li Qi is?"

"Li Qi?" Shang Shang Rongchu turned to the middle-aged man. "We're also looking for someone—maybe the same one…"

He wanted to say it was Li Qi—it was true. Few could ambush Master Master Kongfang in Qiuqiu City, and Master Master Kongfang's first suspect was Li Qi.

But this man wasn't here to help; Master Master Kongfang gave a slight hand gesture, warning Shang Shang Rongchu not to speak to the man.

Though the man's appearance was unfamiliar, Master Master Kongfang felt he had seen this middle-aged man before—more than once.

The man scanned the group and asked: "Who exactly are you looking for? Tell me honestly."

Shang Shang Rongchu frowned.

What did "honestly" mean?

Was this an interrogation?

An old man bowed to the middle-aged man: "Friend, we are from Snowflake River."

The old man was Zhou Zhou Piaoyu, a Cloud-Ascendant third-layer cultivator with considerable seniority in Snowflake River and ample experience handling sudden incidents.

Snowflake River was renowned throughout Pulu Province; announcing their name should normally make the other party retreat.

But the middle-aged man acted as if he hadn't heard, continuing: "I don't care who you're looking for—I want to know Li Qi's whereabouts, and I want to know now."

Who was he speaking to?

Zhou Zhou Piaoyu's face darkened: "We don't know where Li Qi is. Ask someone else."

The middle-aged man glanced at Zhou Zhou Piaoyu: "Who else? Bring him to me—I'll ask him."

Zhou Zhou Piaoyu's veins bulged; in all his years in Snowflake River, he had never endured such disrespect.

Feng Feng Chongli addressed the man: "Sir, we've merely crossed paths—we owe you nothing. Why do you treat us with such arrogance?"

"Owe you nothing?" The man smiled. "What's your relationship with the Peddler?"

Feng Feng Chongli replied: "I'm his disciple."

"When did the Peddler ever take a disciple?" The man shook his head. "Perhaps some Dao sect was about to vanish, and he couldn't bear it—he taught you two techniques."

"You're clever enough. This task is yours: go find Li Qi right now, and bring me word by today."

Everyone stared at the man in silence.

The man barked: "Are you all deaf? What are you standing around for?"

Seeing this, it was clear no reasoning was possible; Snowflake River's members prepared to strike.

Zhou Zhou Piaoyu stepped forward, Shang Shang Rongchu right behind him, Feng Feng Chongli observing the man's stance.

Mu Yuejuan stood beside Master Master Kongfang and whispered: "His aura feels… familiar."

Master Master Kongfang remained silent. Suddenly, Zhou Zhou Piaoyu struck.

He flung three arrows from his sleeve—three, then six, then twelve—within an instant multiplying into over a hundred.

They shot toward the man's face.

Feng Feng Chongli struck simultaneously, using the Huanxiu technique "Honesty to Old and Young."

This was the Peddler's unique technique, effective not only against Foolish Cultivators but also against False Substitution Arts.

False Substitution Art involves creating illusory substitutes via technique to deflect damage.

Shu Wanjuan and Old Lu often used written characters to block fatal blows—those characters were false substitutes.

The "Honesty to Old and Young" technique could dismantle false substitutes, but whether it succeeded completely depended on cultivation base.

Feng Feng Chongli couldn't break through Shu Wanjuan's Heaven-Union Art, but ordinary False Substitution Arts would never work against him.

Arrow cultivators always hit their target; Feng Feng Chongli ensured the man couldn't defend himself.

Shang Shang Rongchu followed closely, using the Huanxiu technique "Flirtation and Quarrel."

This was preparation for the next strike; even if the man survived the arrows due to his robust physique,

This was preparation for the next strike; even if the middle-aged man's physique was robust and survived the arrow,

Once he was struck by even one arrow, he would immediately fall under "Flirtation and Quarrel"—every action he took afterward would become as weak and limp as a lover's play.

These three moved with perfect coordination; their attack left no opening for survival.

The man stared at the incoming arrows, expressionless—no dodge, no parry, no technique activated.

Seeing the arrow flying toward him, the man showed no expression, neither dodging nor parrying, nor activating any technique.

His step carried great force; many dead leaves fell from the trees.

Normally, falling leaves descend slowly, but these leaves, driven by some unseen power,

didn't just fall fast—they landed with pinpoint precision, each leaf intercepting one arrow.

Leaves weren't false substitutes—they were real, physical objects.

But how could real objects block arrow cultivators' projectiles? Was this man mad?

Zhou Zhou Piaoyu's arrows could pierce brick walls—how could leaves stop them?

Yet today was unusual: every arrow was embedded in a leaf and fell to the ground.

One hundred and ninety-two arrows lay scattered, and three leaves remained suspended in midair.

The middle-aged man waved his hand; the three leaves flew toward Zhou Zhou Piaoyu, Feng Feng Chongli, and Shang Shang Rongchu.

Master Master Kongfang tried to save them, but it was too late—between their attack and the leaves landing, it was but a blink.

The man first looked at Feng Feng Chongli: "You claim to be the Peddler's disciple. I'll spare you out of respect for him."

Feng Feng Chongli's abacus shattered, its beads reduced to powder, leaving a bloody gash across his arm; he trembled from the pain.

The man turned to Shang Shang Rongchu: "I despise Huanxiu. Your sect corrupts people. I'll give you a chance to repent."

Shang Shang Rongchu clutched his groin and collapsed, blood gushing.

He had been castrated.

The man looked at Zhou Zhou Piaoyu: "Arrow cultivators are dying out. I hate those who fire ambush arrows on the battlefield. So let your sect vanish."

Zhou Zhou Piaoyu split from forehead to waist, cleaved cleanly in two.

On the ground, Xiao Qian Xiao Qian Yueyi convulsed more violently; Mu Yuejuan began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Are you Shan Chengjun?" Mu Yuejuan asked.

Shan Chengjun smiled: "Juan'er, you're still so beautiful."

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan's hair stood on end; she crouched on the tree, holding her breath.

Mu Yuejuan reached for her brush, ready for a final, desperate fight.

Shan Chengjun waved his hand: "Juan'er, wait over there. First, I'll check on my unworthy disciple."

He turned to Master Master Kongfang: "Ye Qing, you didn't recognize me just now?"

Master Master Kongfang had indeed not recognized Shan Chengjun—his appearance had changed drastically.

Now he recognized him, but it seemed recognition came too late.

Shan Chengjun had no immediate intention of killing Master Master Kongfang: "I'm hunting a traitor. This dog has stirred chaos in Pulu Province, installed a fake crown prince, conspired with corrupt court officials, and plotted treason—he is utterly irredeemable.

I've been ordered by His Majesty to come to Pulu Province to bring Li Qi to justice. This city was built by that traitor.

Take your people and scout for his whereabouts. Every old man, woman, and child in the city is his accomplice—leave none alive. Execute them all."

Master Master Kongfang stood motionless. Shan Chengjun stared at him: "Didn't you hear what I just said? His Majesty's decree: Li Qi is a traitor. I command you to kill him."

Master Master Kongfang replied: "He is His Majesty's traitor—what does that have to do with me?"

Shan Chengjun asked: "Aren't you His Majesty's subject?"

Master Master Kongfang replied again: "Why should I be his subject? What benefit is there?"

Shan Chengjun couldn't comprehend Master Master Kongfang's thinking: "Ye Qing, you're no longer young. You've passed the age of reckless folly."

Dan Chengjun couldn't understand Master Master Kongfang's thoughts: "Ye Qing, you're no longer young—you should have outgrown your reckless youth."

Master Master Kongfang shook his head: "Master, it's not about age—I simply despise that Emperor. Aside from you, 【202】 he's the one I hate most."

I despise him the most.

Dan Chengjun nodded: "That's bold talk. How dare you be so reckless in front of me?"

Master Kongfang squeezed the copper coin in his hand: "You only dare be reckless in front of me. If the peddler showed up, you'd never dare speak like that."

"Is that so?" Dan Chengjun laughed. "No wonder you've carried his banner for years. You want to be his dog, but he won't take you, right?"

Master Kongfang spun the coin twice around his fingertip: "In your eyes, if you won't be the Emperor's dog, you must be someone else's dog, is that it?"

A gust of wind swept through the grove, stirring up dust.

The dust passed Dan Chengjun, then suddenly accelerated, howling toward Mu Yuejuan.

Mu Yuejuan tried to block it with her scroll, but she couldn't draw it out in time—the sand moved too fast. If it struck her, it would turn her into a sieve.

As the sand neared her face, a string of copper coins flew in, forming a wall that blocked it.

Fighting Dan Chengjun meant being ready for this—no one knew what he'd use as a weapon next.

Dan Chengjun kicked his toe against the ground, sending a cloud of dust mixed with dead leaves and twigs flying toward Master Master Kongfang.

"Go!" Master Master Kongfang's body shimmered with flying coins as he absorbed the blow, ordering the Snow River group to retreat immediately.

Seizing the moment, Mu Yuejuan dragged Xiao Qian Xiao Qian Yueyi into the scroll; Feng Feng Chongli hauled Shang Shang Rongchu in after them. Dan Chengjun found Mu Yuejuan strange: "This woman's changed. Even when fleeing for her life, she still cares for others. 【215】 Looks like you've trained her well. If you'd kept her as an ally, you might've lived a little longer."

It seems she's been trained by you; if you keep her as an assistant, you might live a little longer.

【215】 And you've never backed down from fighting Dan Chengjun until now.

Master Master Kongfang didn't believe it: "Too hard. I've followed you for years and never seen you leave a single survivor."

Dan Chengjun smiled: "Do you really think Mu Yuejuan and the others can escape?"

Master Master Kongfang rattled the coins on his body: "One step at a time!"

Dan Chengjun waved his hand—a willow tree uprooted itself, its branches whipping like whips toward Master Master Kongfang.

Master Kongfang blocked with coins; three lashes were stopped, but many coins shattered. The soft willow branches, in Dan Chengjun's hands, had become terrifyingly powerful.

Master Kongfang quickly replenished his coins, but his supply was limited—Li Li Banfeng had stripped him too thoroughly lately.

One branch struck down; Master Kongfang changed tactics, slicing the branch with the edge of a coin.

The branch was cut, but willow leaves flew toward him, shattering his hat.

The hat's inner lining fell off, along with the string of lucky coins stitched to it, revealing Master Kongfang's true face.

From cheekbones to jaw, forehead to chin, his face bore hundreds of scars—even his eyelids were uneven.

For years, Master Master Kongfang refused to show his face. Now that his hat was gone, he tried to cover it again. Dan Chengjun narrowed his eyes, repulsed: "I shouldn't have hit your head earlier. How long has it been since I saw this ugly face? Just one look and I won't be able to eat for days."

Master Kongfang stopped covering his face, picked up the shattered hat, and hurled it—it turned into a blade, chopping the willow tree into splinters.

Dan Chengjun picked up a willow branch and casually whipped it across Master Kongfang's arm.

Master Kongfang clutched his arm, stepped back two paces—the blow had shattered his left forearm bone.

Zhao Xiao hid in the tree, watching clearly: the power gap was immense, yet Master Master Kongfang showed real guts today, 【231】 never once backing down in battle with Dan Chengjun.

Has never backed down from fighting Dan Chengjun.

Dan Chengjun trimmed the willow branch slightly: "I'm here as an Imperial Envoy, carrying the Emperor's decree to apprehend rebels in Pulu Province. We've been master and disciple—let me ask you one last time, Ai Ai Yeqing: will you accept the decree?"

Master Master Kongfang shook his head, tapped his toe, and kicked up a cloud of dust.

Dan Chengjun smiled, swept his sleeve, and effortlessly deflected the dust.

Not only did he deflect it—the rebounding dust carved bloody marks across Master Kongfang's body.

Dan Chengjun sighed: "Stick to your coins. That's the only thing still decent. Don't show off those third-rate tricks—they're an embarrassment to me."

As he spoke, Dan Chengjun lunged again with the willow branch—Master Kongfang's death was only a matter of time.

But mid-strike, Dan Chengjun's vision was suddenly obscured by ink. He brushed it away with his sleeve and saw Mu Yuejuan standing beside Master Master Kongfang.

Dan Chengjun laughed: "How novel. Juan'er, you who fear death so much—how dare you come back to me?"

Mu Yuejuan gritted her teeth: "I have no choice. You left a mark on me—I can't run far enough to escape you. Better to fight alongside Ai Xiao Qian Dao than wait for you to kill me!"

As she spoke, she bit her wrist, dipped her brush in her blood, and painted a fierce, colorful tiger.

The tiger charged Dan Chengjun—this was blood-painted, and alone, it could handle a Cloud-Upper Level cultivator.

Dan Chengjun swung the willow branch, smashing the tiger into pulp.

Seizing the opening, Master Kongfang tore off a string of coins and wrapped it around Dan Chengjun's neck.

Dan Chengjun ripped off a strip of bark, cut the coins, and shoved the bark into Master Kongfang's chest.

Mu Yuejuan painted two golden eagles, sending them to attack Dan Chengjun.

Dan Chengjun plucked a leaf, shattered the eagles, and sent the leaf flying toward Mu Yuejuan.

Hum!

A low growl rose—like a beast's muffled roar, or the noise of machinery.

Amid the sound, the flying leaves lost their force and fell to the ground.

Dan Chengjun froze—who was interfering?

Zhao Xiao had acted.

She understood Mu Yuejuan's strange behavior perfectly—today's opponent was Dan Chengjun.

Anyone facing Dan Chengjun must be ready to die fighting.

Dan Chengjun knew someone had used a Sound Cultivation technique. He grabbed a handful of mud from a tree and threw it—if Zhao Xiao used the technique again, he'd track her by the mud's trajectory.

But the mud didn't fly far—it was blocked by a curtain of water.

The water curtain didn't stop; it surged toward Dan Chengjun.

Dan Chengjun blocked with a banana leaf, but couldn't fully stop it—some water splashed his face. The water was scalding hot, burning his cheeks red.

Where did this water come from?

Was it Ai Ai Yeqing's doing?

Looking at Ai Ai Yeqing's calm, composed expression, it seemed like it could be.

Dan Chengjun scanned the area—no water source in sight.

Wu Xiu used whatever was at hand as weapons. There were no ponds or springs nearby—could Ai Ai Yeqing have dug a well? That wouldn't fit Wu Xiu tactics.

Was Ai Ai Yeqing faking a new Sound Cultivation technique?

Master Master Kongfang didn't know where the water came from. Neither did Mu Yuejuan.

Was there another Water cultivator nearby?

Had Shui Shui Yongquan arrived?

Mu Yuejuan doubted it—she knew Shui Shui Yongquan's strength. He couldn't possibly harm Dan Chengjun.

Splash!

The sound of water rose again.

Zhao Xiao felt the water was close—she turned to look at the pendulum.

That bitch—did she just piss herself?

The pendulum shook its head—she hadn't.

Meng De huddled inside the pocket watch, trembling, but no water.

Zhao Xiao looked at the old teapot—it lifted its lid, indicating it was just tea.

Then where did the water come from?

A beautiful woman rose from the grass, pulling up her skirt.

Dan Chengjun stared at her for a long moment.

The woman blushed: "I was peeing! What are you staring at?"

Dan Chengjun touched his face: "Is this your urine?"

The woman nodded, smiling: "Don't believe me? Taste it!"

Dan Chengjun gritted his teeth and smiled: "What are you doing here?"

The woman's face turned serious: "I'm here to meddle in other people's business!"

Dan Chengjun frowned: "Crazy hag, what business here is worth your meddling?"

The woman dropped her smile, her expression turning fierce: "Blind dog—don't you know whose land this is?"

PS: Isn't this Qiuluoye's territory?

Thank you, Patron, for never bleeding out—thank you for your tremendous support of this work.