Outside the gates of Huanglong City.

"Senior Martial Uncle, this is Huanglong Prefecture."

Chen Qing gazed respectfully at the old Daoist beside him.

The Celestial Profound Sect was divided into three branches. This old Daoist was a major figure in the Taoist Sect, far stronger than his own master, Cangsong Taoist.

Having lived for over one hundred and thirty years, he was, by all accounts, an old monster.

Unlike Jianghu Martial Artists who focused on brawling, Three Religions Martial Masters specialized in Inner Strength. The saying that one grew more monstrous with age was a reference to them.

Other than a few people from the Celestial Profound Sect, no one had been told of Jiu Zhen True Man’s arrival in Ling Province.

After all, Ling Province now had its fair share of experts and was no longer the weak region it once was. The Celestial Profound Sect could no longer dominate everything. Otherwise, even setting aside the external powers, the Shuofang Jiedu Envoy alone would be more than enough for Jiu Zhen True Man to handle.

To avoid revealing their movements, only Chen Qing had accompanied Jiu Zhen True Man to Huanglong Prefecture this time.

Naturally, Chen Qing had to serve such a major figure with utmost care.

Compared to the strict and rigid Cangsong Taoist, Jiu Zhen True Man was much more easygoing.

"Nephew Chen, you’ve worked hard."

Chen Qing quickly replied, "It’s my duty."

He wasn’t like those foolish Daoists from the Celestial Profound Sect who had never descended the mountain. There were too many people in the world who seemed kind on the surface but were vicious behind your back.

’And who could ever be sure about a major figure like Jiu Zhen True Man?’

"Senior Martial Uncle, it would be best to change our attire if we’re entering the city."

Chen Qing was very experienced in the Jianghu. Unlike Weizhou, where the Celestial Profound Sect was located, Ling Province was practically uncivilized. Aside from the omnipresent Confucian Family, Daoists and monks were rarely seen in the cities.

Therefore, if the two of them entered the city in their Daoist robes, they would certainly be noticed by the Divine Mansion Sect.

After Cangsong Taoist was intimidated into retreating from Shenfu Mountain by Dong Wanjun that night, the Divine Mansion Sect had long been on guard against the Celestial Profound Sect.

Jiu Zhen True Man shook his head. "We’re not entering the city. We’ll go straight to Shenfu Mountain."

"Yes, sir."

Chen Qing wasn’t too surprised.

Cangsong Taoist had already told Jiu Zhen True Man that Xu Hui, in his search for immortals, had vanished on a hill on Shenfu Mountain. There was no way to avoid the place.

Chen Qing had spent a good deal of time in Huanglong Prefecture and was very familiar with the surrounding terrain.

They could reach Shenfu Mountain without passing through Huanglong City.

「An hour later.」

Two figures appeared on the outskirts of Shenfu Mountain.

Shenfu Mountain was enormous, so it was naturally impossible for the Divine Mansion Sect to expend the manpower to guard the entire mountain range.

Aside from the Thirteen Peaks and a few other important areas, disciples of the Divine Mansion Sect rarely set foot in other places.

"It truly is a place of auspicious feng shui."

Jiu Zhen True Man remarked in praise.

Xu Hui’s obsession with seeking immortals and reading feng shui wasn’t without reason; Jiu Zhen True Man himself was an expert in such matters.

Although he was not a formal disciple of the Divination Sect, he had acquired many of their techniques.

With just a single glance, he could discern the secrets of Shenfu Mountain’s layout.

Nestled by the mountains and water, sheltering the wind within, it was a rare and excellent location.

However, every major sect was extremely particular about its location, and the Celestial Profound Sect’s feng shui was a great deal better than Shenfu Mountain’s.

What truly concerned Jiu Zhen True Man was the power that had caused his disciple’s mysterious disappearance.

"Nephew Chen, you wait here for now."

As the two reached the edge of Shenfu Mountain, Jiu Zhen True Man suddenly spoke.

"Yes, sir."

Chen Qing obediently remained in place as commanded.

Jiu Zhen True Man walked into Shenfu Mountain alone.

Although the Sect Leader of the Divine Mansion Sect was not at a high realm, he had many tricks up his sleeve and had even mastered the Gu-arts of the Southern Border to a divine degree.

If Chen Qing were to enter Shenfu Mountain, he would very likely be discovered.

Jiu Zhen True Man had no intention of exposing his presence just yet.

Chen Qing stood in place, watching Jiu Zhen True Man’s retreating figure. He felt a sense of bewilderment. The man was clearly a person, yet he somehow felt that there was no difference between Jiu Zhen True Man and the surrounding trees.

’Such powerful Inner Strength!’

Chen Qing was shaken.

’It seems my Senior Martial Uncle’s Tongchen Technique has improved again.’

...

A figure appeared silently atop a small hill within the Divine Mansion Sect’s territory.

Jiu Zhen True Man carefully examined every blade of grass and every tree.

According to Zhou Yun, this was where Xu Hui had disappeared.

"My dear disciple,"

Jiu Zhen True Man murmured under his breath.

Under his influence, Xu Hui had become obsessed with seeking immortality and the Dao, causing a great deal of trouble in the process. But each time, Jiu Zhen had intervened to cover it up.

Deep affection between master and disciple?

Perhaps there was some...

But for the most part, Jiu Zhen True Man regarded Xu Hui as a guinea pig to scout the path ahead.

The real reason he had taken Xu Hui as a disciple was because he valued Xu Hui’s unique constitution.

Daoist legends spoke of a constitution that was naturally attuned to immortal energy, and Xu Hui possessed just that.

Therefore, he wasn’t particularly angry about Xu Hui’s death. Xu Hui had fulfilled his purpose: he had found an Immortal Cave Mansion for him.

"The Divine Mansion..."

Jiu Zhen True Man’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He had already learned of the legend of the Divine Mansion from Cangsong Taoist.

Jiu Zhen True Man walked to the spot where Xu Hui had meditated. His ten fingers moved rapidly, forming hand seals that, upon closer inspection, were identical to the ones Xu Hui had used.

"Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, the Three Realms and the Netherworld, without reaching the Void, the Yin Spirit is hard to see..."

The familiar chant rang out once more.

He had taught Xu Hui all his tricks. Naturally, Jiu Zhen True Man knew all these methods for luring out immortals.

Just then, a ball of bright light enveloped Jiu Zhen True Man completely.

...

「Meanwhile.」

Divine Mansion Sect, Sect Leader Hall.

Bai Yuan, who was in the middle of concocting a poison, froze and looked toward the small hill.

The tremor in the ground was slight, but he felt it clearly.

’The Celestial Profound Sect?’

Bai Yuan’s mind raced.

He was the one who had planted the Gu-worm in Zhou Yun’s body, so he had sensed it when the Gu was forced out of her.

It was clear that what was happening on that small hill could no longer be hidden.

With a flicker, Bai Yuan’s figure shot toward the hill.

When he reached the summit, he saw an unfamiliar old Daoist fighting against a massive, bloody maw.

The old Daoist had some skill, to be able to last so long against the Tier Eight Great Demon Raccoon Power.

But from his wretched state, it was clear he would be defeated within ten moves.

Jiu Zhen True Man was being chased all over the hill.

He cursed inwardly.

’Who would have thought that a Tier Eight Great Demon would be hiding on this perfectly ordinary little hill?!’

At that moment, he also noticed Bai Yuan’s arrival. His mind spun, and he immediately charged in Bai Yuan’s direction.

"Old bastard!"

Bai Yuan saw through Jiu Zhen True Man’s intentions. The old Daoist was clearly trying to drag him into the mess to create an escape route for himself.

He turned and fled down the mountain.

However, the old Daoist’s Body Technique was exceptionally profound, even faster than his own Night Wanderer Step.

The distance between them closed rapidly.

Suddenly!

Bai Yuan came to an abrupt stop. In an instant, the distance between him and the old Daoist shrank to only three feet.

BANG!

Bai Yuan reversed direction and sprinted madly, crashing right into the old Daoist’s chest.

A sizzling sound, like ice meeting a blazing fire, was heard.

The old Daoist let out a strange cry.

"You brat! You use poison!"

Bai Yuan sneered inwardly. ’That’s right, I’m poisoning an old turtle like you.’

Since the old Daoist was trying to divert disaster onto him, he saw no reason to hold back.

Jiu Zhen True Man was certainly capable. Despite being poisoned by Bai Yuan, besides losing some flesh, he wasn’t killed outright.

The old Daoist, enraged, struck Bai Yuan’s chest with his palm.

Bai Yuan spat blood and was sent flying dozens of meters.

But it was precisely because of Bai Yuan’s momentary obstruction that the Tier Eight Great Demon Raccoon Power was able to get behind Jiu Zhen True Man.

With a sickening RIP, a huge chunk of flesh was torn from the old Daoist’s back by the Raccoon Power’s bite, exposing gleaming white bone.

Jiu Zhen True Man smelled the stench of death.

He took a deep breath, and in the next instant, his body swelled up like a balloon.

Bai Yuan’s eyes narrowed at the sight.

’To think the Celestial Profound Sect, which always proclaims itself as righteous, would also practice Evil Refining Techniques!’

Jiu Zhen True Man’s body continued to swell, then suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon, transforming into a phantom that shot down the mountain.

At the same time, the Raccoon Power’s massive, bloody maw opened once more!

In that hair’s breadth of a moment, Bai Yuan keenly noticed something stuck between the Raccoon Power’s teeth.

He gritted his teeth and thrust his right palm forward.

He pushed his Spirit-Seizing Technique to its absolute limit.

The object between the Raccoon Power’s teeth began to loosen. Finally, just as its great jaws snapped shut, the object broke free and was caught securely by Bai Yuan.

Ignoring his injuries, Bai Yuan fled desperately down the mountain.

Fortunately, the Raccoon Power’s target seemed to be the old Daoist, so it didn’t attack Bai Yuan.

"HUFF... PUFF..."

Bai Yuan gasped for air.

He glanced behind him. The Raccoon Power wasn’t in pursuit. A wave of relief washed over him, followed instantly by a crushing weakness that made him collapse to the ground.

That old Daoist’s palm strike was terrifying. Though it had seemed soft and weak, it had contained the force of a thousand catties.

Bai Yuan had at least a dozen broken ribs.

Still, compared to the old Daoist, his injuries were actually quite light.

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached.

Yu Hui appeared before Bai Yuan, leading the Firearms Team.

Yu Hui was shocked to see Bai Yuan’s battered state. "Sect Leader, what happened?"

Bai Yuan gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet. "Lock down Shenfu Mountain! Don’t let anyone out! You must capture that old Daoist—no, don’t let any old man escape!"

"As you command!"

Yu Hui’s expression turned grim.

He knew something major must have just happened.

Bai Yuan’s strength was already considered top-tier in Huanglong Prefecture. Anyone who could injure him so severely had to be incredibly powerful.

He immediately led the Firearms Team in the direction Bai Yuan had indicated. At the same time, he ordered his subordinates to summon the Divine Mansion Army to seal off Shenfu Mountain.

’The old Daoist...’

A murderous glint flashed in Yu Hui’s eyes.

Only after watching Yu Hui lead his men in pursuit did Bai Yuan flop back onto the ground.

’That old Daoist must be from the Celestial Profound Sect.’

’Since the old Daoist has discovered the secret of the Divine Mansion, he must die.’

’Jiu Zhen True Man was grievously wounded by the Great Demon Raccoon Power and has just exhausted himself using an evil technique. This is when he is weakest. I have to kill him before he recovers.’

’I don’t care what sect he’s from. Anyone who dares to touch my things must be killed.’

’Otherwise, if word of the Divine Mansion gets out, the Divine Mansion Sect will never know a day of peace. Even the Royal Family will send people to seize it, and not even Old Dong would be able to protect us.’

Bai Yuan took out several jade vials from his robes and downed their contents in one go.

Finally, he recovered about thirty percent of his strength.

He slowly got to his feet and looked at the object he had retrieved from the Raccoon Power’s teeth.

It appeared to be a piece of beast hide.

A few lines of small characters were faintly written on it.

"A hundred refinements of a divine art, ascend to immortality through the Martial Dao..."