The heavy rain was pouring down, blurring heaven and earth.
On the banks of the raging Nu River, in a certain mountain forest.
A white streak of rain, "whooshing" through the air, shot fiercely through the blurred curtain of rain.
Upon closer inspection, petals of lotus flowers danced in the air, scattering chaotically around a monk draped in bloodstained clothing.
The monk’s originally yellow robe was soaked with blood. The tattered monk’s robe hung from his body, exposing flesh that was marred with blood-red cracks, as if porcelain had shattered, indicating that his body was on the verge of falling apart, teetering on the brink of severe injury and death.
This person was none other than Yuanzhen, the monk from Feilong Temple.
Above in the heavens, thunderclouds roiled, and the rain poured down. In the distance, dragon roars that captivated one’s soul, along with barely audible screams that pierced the sky, urged him to not stop for even a moment.
At this moment, Yuanzhen clenched his teeth tightly, his face twisted fiercely, his heart filled with a rage as turbulent as the surface of the raging Nu River.
He had planned everything out perfectly!
Yet, a Mountain Patrol Military Officer appeared out of nowhere, severing an arm of his Yin God. Now, within Qingshan County, a man named Chen Yuan had emerged. It seemed that the Demon Cult’s Azure Dragon held great enmity with him and vented its fury on them, unleashing a slaughter.
His own body was barely grazed by the tail of the Green Dragon Venerable’s Evil Dragon and was almost destroyed. He suffered severe injuries. If not for his cultivation of the Divine Skills that allowed him to narrowly dodge that strike, he would have met the same fate as the others.
The sheer frustration of being caught in an undeserved catastrophe twisted Yuanzhen’s face into a fierce expression, and the ever-widening cracks on his body signaled his injuries were reaching their limit. But he dared not stop for even a moment.
"Quick, quick, quick!"
He gritted his teeth and desperately urged his True Qi, the lotus flowers beginning to flicker with strands of golden light, suddenly accelerating towards a certain direction.
He had to reach Tiger Roar Valley in Langdang Mountain, where the Mountain Lord resided, before his body fell apart—that was his only hope.
At this time, on both banks of the Nu River and throughout the surrounding mountains,
there were several dire figures fleeing in panic.
One of them, wearing broken silver armor and with hair disheveled and face filled with terror, held a broken long spear that was red as blood in his hands. Its bloody glow dimmed, riddled with cracks, and it was gradually becoming ethereal.
That was a wisp of Taoist Soldier True Intent bestowed upon him by his master, which the Azure Dragon had broken. It was only thanks to this wisp of True Intent that he managed to narrowly escape from the Demon Sect Venerable’s clutches.
His fellow disciples, however, had not made it out.
He must get the message back!
As Sima Liuyun kept moving without stopping, he drew a shining, emerald green Jade hairpin from his disheveled hair and stimulated his True Qi with his hands.
The Jade hairpin expanded with a breath of green light, then transformed into a green bird about the size of a foot.
Sima Liuyun’s mouth moved rapidly with incantations, and following that, the green bird flapped its wings and turned into a streak of green light, first flying westward before rapidly soaring towards the Southern direction.
"Miss Fang has been in quite good spirits each day since she escaped from that Night Navigation Ship."
In the small courtyard, Chen Yuan looked at Fang Qingzhu before him and spoke calmly.
The woman across from him smiled faintly, shaking the candied haw on a stick in her hand.
"Perhaps it’s because I stayed on that broken ship for too long. I haven’t experienced this kind of worldly atmosphere in a while, making Brother Chen laugh at me!"
"I understand," Chen Yuan nodded, "I, Chen, have been too busy these past few days and have not fulfilled my duty as a host. Miss Fang, don’t take offense. However, there are some matters that are better to be discussed openly."
With that said, he lifted his eyes,
"Miss Fang, while I naturally welcome you to stay here, there are two concerns: first, propriety between men and women, and second, as you have probably seen, with the Demon Cult rampant, I am entangled in many affairs and fear I cannot provide adequate care. I can arrange a separate courtyard for Miss Fang."
When Chen Yuan said this, he was of course looking for an excuse.
A woman of unknown origin living under the same roof, he did not feel at ease.
Fang Qingzhu listened, her beautiful eyes curving into a smile,
"Brother Chen is indeed forthright. However, these matters are of no concern to Qingzhu."
Chen Yuan’s eyebrows raised,
"Miss should speak plainly. If there is no pressing need, I will have to ask Miss to leave."
This statement completely undid Fang Qingzhu’s attempt to remain composed, who had been all smiles until now.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her pale purple pupils sized up Chen Yuan.
This Brother Chen really wasn’t ordinary, she thought as her expression returned to normal and her gaze grew serious.
"Since Brother Chen is so forthright, I won’t beat around the bush either."
"The issue began on that ship, where I also managed to break through the Fourth Heavenly Barrier like you, Brother Chen, but, I too encountered a Heart Demon..."
"At the Scripture Debate Place, I personally witnessed the law that Brother Chen cultivates: shining with golden light, supremely yang and forceful. Thus, I wanted to find an opportunity to ask Brother Chen for help with healing my injuries. However, these past few days, Brother Chen has been in a hurry and I had no chance to speak."
Her words meant that at the Scripture Debate Place, when facing the Heart Demon Slash, she failed and got injured. The injury was not physical but spiritual—her Divine Soul was tainted by the Heart Demon. If this injury remained unresolved, not only would her cultivation realm stall, but it could also explode at any moment, like a ticking time bomb.
Having seen with his own eyes that when Chen Yuan broke through the Fourth Heavenly Barrier, the golden light that emerged carried everyone with it, its supremely yang and forceful nature started to ameliorate her injuries. That’s why she made excuses to stay and kept thinking about how to get familiar with him in order to ask for help.
Hearing her words, Chen Yuan’s frown finally relaxed.
If this woman had any ulterior motives, he would have definitely kept his distance. But it was just healing after all.
"If Miss had mentioned this earlier, I would certainly not have been rude. After all, you generously lent your strength at the Scripture Debate Place."
"It’s just that with the current circumstances, I have to be extremely cautious. Please understand."
"Miss Fang, tell me, how can I assist you?"
Seeing his swift change of attitude, Fang Qingzhu’s beautiful eyes widened, then she couldn’t help but purse her lips and chuckle, her chest trembling slightly.
"Brother Chen really is a remarkable man!"
"Then I’ll have to trouble you!"
A few minutes later, the door to the inner room closed.
Beneath the gazebo, a White Fox and Little Squirrel, who had been told to behave and not to disturb, suddenly heard a faint hum from a woman inside.
Seemingly enduring something, the sound was intermittent, like a plea filled with sobs.
Their ears twitched, and the two little critters exchanged glances, their eyes revealing curiosity.
the two curious little creatures perched in front of the window, peering carefully inside.
Wasn’t this supposed to be healing?
Why was there crying involved?
The little critters seemed not to understand.
The sun gradually sank behind the mountains.
Two thousand miles away, a streak of azure light shot into Langya Mountain in the north side of Hundred Emperors City in the afterglow of the setting sun.
At a cliff in Langya Mountain,
a green bird flew in front of Xiahou Yuan, who was holding a chess piece, playing against himself.
The green bird spoke, unbelievably articulating human language, conveying an urgent voice.
Xiahou Yuan’s expression darkened upon hearing the message,
The chess piece in his hand instantly turned into dust.
A domineering and fierce aura exploded all around in an instant, shattering everything to smithereens, causing the air to burst,
"The Demon Sect’s Azure Dragon, damn him!"
His deep voice echoed throughout Langya Mountain.