Chapter 233: Daoist Virtue is Supreme! In Broad Daylight, Ren Xiao Appears

"You are Zhang Fan? Come with me!"

The indifferent words fell into Zhang Fan's ears, carrying an unquestionable majesty and a high-and-mighty posture that made Zhang Fan reveal a strange expression.

He remembered that when he had just descended from Profound Heaven Mountain, his Daoist arts were newly formed and his strength was weak; many people didn't even consider him a threat.

Especially that day at Taoyuan Square, when Hai Zhu used the He family to open the fierce Dragon Vein gate to refine Dragon Saliva Liquid, the other party hadn't even placed him in their eyes.

However, ever since Zhang Fan stepped into the Gao Gong rank, it had been a long time since anyone had taken such a posture before him.

Even when facing Li Changgeng that day, he had remained... immovable.

"Who are you?" Zhang Fan looked at the woman who had suddenly appeared, Hua Yanqiu, and said indifferently.

"I am a member of the Supernatural Association's investigation team, Hua Yanqiu..."

"Representing the Daoist Alliance Headquarters, I have entered Jiangnan Province to investigate the death of Meng Qinghuan. You are a person of interest, so come back with me to accept an investigation."

Hua Yanqiu announced according to procedure, her words calm, without the slightest fluctuation of emotion.

"Supernatural Association!?"

Beside him, Lin Jianyue's gaze tightened, and she couldn't help but size up the woman before her.

As one of the thirteen Ren Xiao, she had naturally heard of the Supernatural Association. Which of those who could enter the Supernatural Association was not a heaven-favored child gifted with supernatural powers!?

However, as soon as her gaze fell upon Hua Yanqiu, the latter became alert instantly, her beautiful eyes flowing as she met her gaze.

"What keen perception!" Lin Jianyue felt a chill in her heart and slowly withdrew her gaze.

Just by this reaction, she could conclude that this woman not only possessed supernatural powers but had long since entered the Gao Gong rank; her divine intent was square and changing, not that of an ordinary expert.

"Supernatural Association..." Zhang Fan was lost in thought.

He had long known that Meng Qinghuan's death would not be settled so simply.

In fact, Sui Chunsheng had already greeted him, saying that the Daoist Alliance Headquarters would send an investigation team down, and that they would inevitably come to question him; he just hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly.

"Fine, let's go." Zhang Fan nodded.

If it were just simple questioning, that would be fine. Furthermore, the reason he agreed so readily, even eagerly, was because Lin Jianyue was still by his side.

She was Mao Tu among the thirteen Ren Xiao.

Zhang Fan had come today to notify her to leave Yujing City quickly. If she were targeted by the Daoist Alliance's investigation team, then Zhang Fan would truly be in a situation where "if it's not shit, it's still shit in the yellow mud on his pants"—he would never be able to clear his name.

By then, even if Meng Qinghuan's death had nothing to do with him, and even if he had no connection to Ren Xiao, he would inevitably be implicated.

"You come with me too."

At this moment, Hua Yanqiu changed the subject and suddenly looked at Lin Jianyue beside him.

"Hmm!?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Fan's temples throbbed, and killing intent flashed in Lin Jianyue's eyes.

"A good gaze." Hua Yanqiu sneered.

"It's fine for me to go with you, but she is my friend, just an ordinary person, and has nothing to do with this case. Why must she go with you too?" Zhang Fan said in a deep voice.

"An ordinary person? Just the trace of killing intent she just revealed proves she is absolutely not an ordinary person. Harboring weapons but not daring to show them—I suspect she is a demonic person of the Wu Wei Sect."

Hua Yanqiu's mind was sharp and agile. In just a few words, she seemed to have grasped the initiative, and a powerful aura surged forth, pressing down on Zhang Fan and Lin Jianyue.

At this moment, she truly displayed the majesty of the Supernatural Association's investigation team.

She represented not just herself, but the Bai He Temple, the Supernatural Association, and the Daoist Alliance...

Such great momentum naturally gave her a sense of superiority and tyranny, looking down from above with the power of life and death.

"Oh? That's quite interesting. What will happen if she doesn't go with you?" Zhang Fan's expression turned cold.

"She won't go with me?" Hua Yanqiu laughed. She looked at Zhang Fan, only finding such words to be incredibly naive.

"You can try and see."

"I know you, Zhang Fan... You think that by helping the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance solve a few cases and capturing Yin Hu, you can act arrogantly before me?"

"I'm not afraid to tell you, we came this time to even beat and knock the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance into shape. What do you count for?"

"You won't go with me? I'd like to see how you manage not to."

Hua Yanqiu spoke word by word, like flickering blades, aggressive and pressing.

"Fine, truly tyrannical. Supernatural powers, supernatural powers—today I shall see just how powerful the people of the Supernatural Association are." Zhang Fan laughed in anger.

He had never seen any woman dare to be so arrogant before him.

"You want to see my supernatural powers? You aren't qualified yet." Hua Yanqiu smiled lightly.

Supernatural powers are heaven-sent and cannot be lightly shown to others.

That day, Meng Qinghuan had been forced into a corner by Zhang Fan's 【Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover】 before she finally unleashed her Daoist supernatural power, 【Rainbow Feather Garment】.

Furthermore, in broad daylight and in public, Hua Yanqiu would even less likely use her supernatural powers at will.

This was organizational discipline.

However, even without using supernatural powers, she had the confidence to suppress this thorn in her side.

"You are a disciple of True Wushan. Speaking of which, the last time the Bai He Temple and True Wushan crossed hands was ten years ago."

Hua Yanqiu whispered, and suddenly, her delicate body trembled. Three feet above her head, her primordial spirit left her body.

Primordial spirit battle—between reality and void; ordinary people naturally find it hard to perceive.

Rumble...

Hua Yanqiu's primordial spirit rose like a gale, gathering without form, possessing great supernatural power. The terrifying aura pressed down, and everyone on the entire street stopped in their tracks, invisibly affected.

"Primordial spirit manifestation!?"

Lin Jianyue frowned. She was well-informed and knew deeply that the primordial spirit of an ordinary Daoist practitioner was exactly the same as their own appearance, merely a three-foot-tall person.

However, those with profound cultivation and extraordinary destiny would inevitably have manifestations within their primordial spirit, extraordinary and capable of suppressing those of other sects.

Just like herself; a bright moon followed her primordial spirit, pure and holy.

Hua Yanqiu was a disciple of the Bai He Temple, born with awakened supernatural powers, her primordial spirit refined a hundred times; naturally, she was extraordinary.

"I'll give you one last chance. Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!" Hua Yanqiu's voice suddenly rang out in Zhang Fan and Lin Jianyue's minds.

The gale gathered, the formless power manifested.

"I thought you were something special. With this meager cultivation, you dare to spout such nonsense before me? Simply ignorant."

At this moment, Zhang Fan snorted coldly, slapped his forehead, and three feet above his head, his primordial spirit left his body.

Rumble...

In an instant, the world seemed to fall into darkness, and everything before them became hazy and chaotic.

A terrifying primordial spirit soared into the sky, dark and indescribable, as if hidden in the vast dark universe, with only boundless light rippling around it.

"This... how is this possible?"

"His primordial spirit actually ignores Hua Yanqiu's pressure!?"

At this moment, Xu Qinglai and Lan Tingzhu's expressions changed drastically; they simply could not believe the reality unfolding before them.

In their dazed gaze, Zhang Fan's primordial spirit was extremely strange. A mist surged around his body, chaotic and dark, like the vast night of the heavens, carrying a thick, ominous aura. As it writhed, it actually faintly suppressed the light of Hua Yanqiu's primordial spirit.

At this moment, they couldn't even see the appearance of Zhang Fan's primordial spirit clearly.

Hum...

Almost at the same moment, Hua Yanqiu retreated rapidly, fear in her eyes. She hadn't been damaged, but it was an instinctive reaction.

The primordial spirit within that chaotic black mist made her feel an unprecedented discomfort.

"You are merely Gao Gong rank, yet you can actually resist the light of my primordial spirit?"

Hua Yanqiu looked at Zhang Fan in disbelief, and a look of solemnity finally appeared in her eyes.

By this time, she had to face Zhang Fan squarely. The rumors from the outside world finally had a shred of authenticity in Hua Yanqiu's eyes.

Rumors do not arise without cause.

Rumble...

At this moment, Zhang Fan took a step forward, pressing in close. His chest heaved violently, and he exhaled a breath that changed mysteriously, catalyzing True Fire and illuminating the vast dark night.

Immediately after, a blade of firelight formed, controlled in his palm.

He unleashed the 【Fire Dragon Cinnabar Sword】, manifesting the 【Great Flame Blade】. The hunting firelight displayed its might, and the light sound of the blade shattered the dark night.

Such a preemptive strike caused Hua Yanqiu's expression to change slightly. Ever since Zhang Fan had elevated the 【Fire Dragon Cinnabar Sword】 to a Great Completion technique, he had realized many moves, each with its own mysteries.

For example, the 【Five Dragon Body】, using five fires to entangle the body, specializing in power.

Or the 【Seven Kill Seal】, which possessed the mystery of talismanic sealing.

The Great Flame Blade specialized in slaughter, its fierce might imposing.

That day, Zhang Fan had used this move to break the formless sword qi of Xu Qinglai's 【Black Sword Umbrella】.

"This move again..."

At the alley entrance, Xu Qinglai watched, past memories attacking like a nightmare, making his teeth itch.

He knew this move was powerful and couldn't help but look at Hua Yanqiu. The latter had only retreated three steps before stopping abruptly, her pretty face without the slightest ripple.

The next moment, Hua Yanqiu pulled the gourd from her waist and took a drink.

Immediately after, she formed seals with both hands and sprayed a mouthful out; the fragrance of wine overflowed.

Splash...

A mouthful of wine was sprayed out, transforming upon meeting the wind. In the blink of an eye, it was like a heavy rain attacking, splashing toward the Great Flame Blade.

In an instant, a vast white mist rose between the firelight and the wine, the permeating fragrance of wine becoming thicker, while the firelight of the Great Flame Blade gradually dimmed.

"The 【Wine Rain Method】 of Qiyun Mountain!" Zhang Fan's gaze sank.

He had once heard that Qiyun Mountain possessed a technique for summoning rain called the 【Wine Rain Method】, capable of using a mouthful of secretly refined cinnabar wine to transform into sweet dew and extinguish fire.

Previously, he had only seen various legends of this technique in the 【Daoist Secret Records】; seeing it today, it was indeed miraculous.

"Only by obtaining the Pure Yang intent can one catalyze the Fire Dragon..."

"A good fire technique, worthy of being trained by True Wushan." Hua Yanqiu was calm and composed, though there was a look of appreciation in her eyes.

"I also have a fire technique; you should take a look at it too."

At this moment, Hua Yanqiu changed the subject. The hand seals changed, she stepped on the Heavenly Dipper, and chanted words.

"Primordial Lord General, One Qi Divine Lord. Flying through clouds and mist, commanding thunder and lightning. Light reflecting the four seas, slaying evil and destroying sects, divine might capturing quickly, ten thousand ghosts hiding in the void..."

The mysterious sound was faint, echoing in the cold long night.

Suddenly, a firelight rose mysteriously, slowly ascending from behind Hua Yanqiu. Within the blinding red glow, it was actually accompanied by bursts of thunder, flashing and galloping, rumbling loudly.

"This is..."

"Thunder Fire Technique! Wang Lingguan's Thunder Fire Technique!?"

At the alley entrance, Xu Qinglai and Lan Tingzhu looked at each other, unable to hide the look of awe on their faces.

The Thunder Fire Technique was a secret transmission of the Daoist Xuan Sect, with Wang Lingguan as the main deity; it possessed both the might of fire techniques and the vastness of thunder.

One must know, Wang Lingguan was the Daoist Dharma-protecting Mountain-guarding Divine General; every Daoist temple gate must have incense offerings to him.

Therefore, there was a saying: "Whether going up the mountain or not, first worship Wang Lingguan."

Rumble...

Once Hua Yanqiu's True Fire was formed, the red divine light became a sea of fire, the vast thunder revealed its divine might, and the surrounding air crackled.

The narrow alley could no longer bear such power, and cracks appeared on the walls.

"Worthy of being a high disciple of Qiyun Mountain."

Zhang Fan's gaze tightened, and he felt a trace of pressure.

The Great Being's primordial spirit produced light; although his primordial spirit was not suppressed, he was still bearing considerable pressure. Coupled with the vast divine might of this Thunder Fire Technique, it already had the aura of Great Completion.

"If you have any other methods, don't be reluctant to use them." Hua Yanqiu's mouth curled slightly, revealing a faint smile.

Rumble...

In the blink of an eye, she was within ten steps of Zhang Fan.

The surging 【Thunder True Fire】 arrived suddenly, the fire burning fiercely, the thunder shaking, the terrifying power completely blocking Zhang Fan's retreat.

"Eight Desolations Fire Dragon!"

Almost at the same moment, eight streaks of firelight soared into the sky, as if catalyzed by madness, extremely violent.

This move was infinitely close to the Great Completion power of the 【Fire Dragon Cinnabar Sword】 and was also a killing move that Zhang Fan could unleash instantly without thought.

Rumble...

The red scorching firelight illuminated the vast night, eight fire dragons roared ferociously, entangling with each other like great stars streaking across the sky, crashing into Hua Yanqiu. The terrifying power directly collapsed the walls on both sides of the alley, exposing the garbage dump next to it.

Bang bang bang...

Several explosions fell, the Thunder True Fire like a resurrected fierce beast, the thunder like sharp claws, the True Fire like fangs, actually tearing the red light formed by the 【Eight Desolations Fire Dragon】 to shreds.

"It's broken!" Xu Qinglai and Lan Tingzhu were overjoyed.

Rumble...

The Thunder True Fire surged over, like an angry sea, covering Zhang Fan from all sides.

"Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover!"

At this moment, in that subtle gap, Zhang Fan finally unleashed his killing move.

Nine fire dragons soared into the sky, coiling and entangling with each other like a huge cover sealing the eight directions and isolating the ten lands, actually covering Hua Yanqiu and the Thunder True Fire together.

In an instant, the high temperature and high pressure released by the nine fire dragons pressed inward; the thunder shook, actually collapsing and scattering in an instant, and the True Fire like sharp claws also twisted and deformed.

"This... what kind of fire technique is this?" Xu Qinglai's expression changed drastically.

In the blink of an eye, the situation reversed, and Hua Yanqiu became a turtle in a jar.

"Fire technique Great Completion!?"

Hua Yanqiu looked at the barrier formed by the nine fire dragons, feeling the rapidly rising temperature and high pressure around her, and the look in her eyes as she looked at Zhang Fan finally revealed a trace of dread.

"I believe a little now that you are a disciple of True Person Chaoran. A mere Gao Gong rank, yet you actually forced me to this step." Hua Yanqiu sighed.

"If you have any other methods, don't be reluctant to use them." Zhang Fan was expressionless, returning Hua Yanqiu's earlier teasing word for word.

Immediately after, his heart moved, and the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover closed in for the kill. The terrifying firelight formed high pressure, completely pressing down on Hua Yanqiu.

"Rainbow Feather Garment!"

Suddenly, a faint voice came from within the scorching firelight.

The next moment, the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover, which had manifested supreme fierce might, actually collapsed inch by inch, and the surging firelight gradually dissipated into nothingness.