Chapter 691: Martial Ancestor Forms an Army (High Energy in This Chapter)

Luo Shaojun burst into Luo Lijun's room, shouting, "Big Sister, Seventh Brother is about to open his eyes!"

Luo Lijun woke with a start, yawned, and rubbed her eyes. "Open what eyes?" she asked.

"The eyes on top!"

Luo Lijun was horrified. "Why should he open them?"

Luo Shaojun grew anxious. "Not your eyes, the eyes of Boundless City! Seventh Brother has an urgent matter!"

In the vast ocean, a colossal worm's back surfaced.

Boundless City had surfaced!

Luo Lijun stood in the Hall of Clarity, communicating with Boundless City, hoping it would open a celestial eye.

After a long exchange, Boundless City remained closed. Luo Shaojun anxiously called out, "Sister, in your current state, how can Boundless City listen to you?"

Yesterday, Luo Lijun had practiced shapeshifting and fallen asleep in human form. Her practice had been quite effective, but Luo Shaojun's sudden appearance had startled her awake, making her think Li Qi intended to open *her* eyes. Now, she couldn't transform back into a snail.

Boundless City did recognize Luo Lijun in her human form, but it found her appearance less approachable and therefore refused to open its celestial eye.

Luo Shaojun conversed with Boundless City for a while. "Good Ah Cheng, please open an eye! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

Boundless City was being petulant, refusing to agree to anyone.

Luo Yanjun entered the Hall of Clarity, a worm trailing behind him.

Luo Lijun initially thought an indentured servant had entered the Hall of Clarity and was about to get angry, but then she realized the worm following Luo Yanjun was no ordinary one.

This was Xi, the indentured servant who had once sacrificed himself to harm Li Qi under Lü Mosheng's orders, and later followed Li Qi back to Lü Mosheng's residence. Under Li Qi's coercion, Lü Mosheng himself had elevated Xi to the status of a scholar.

Scholar Xi, whose throat was damaged, could not speak. He pressed his body against a pillar and communicated with Boundless City through the wriggling of his body.

Everyone placed their hopes on Scholar Xi.

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

It seemed he was reasoning with Boundless City, and the two appeared to be having an argument.

A few minutes later, Scholar Xi climbed down from the pillar and nodded towards Luo Lijun.

Boundless City had agreed!

Luo Shaojun wept with joy and quickly ran back to the backyard. "Seventh Brother, it's done!"

On the ocean surface, the worm's back split open, revealing a colossal eye.

The eyeball could move and rotate, but only its pupil was unusual; it was hollow.

Looking down through the pupil, it was perfectly aligned with Jadeite Pavilion.

Jiang Linger called out from the second floor, "Open!"

The roof of Jadeite Pavilion opened, and Jiang Linger stood on the rooftop, throwing three pairs of scissors towards the celestial eye above.

The scissors flew out from the celestial eye and fell into the ocean.

The three pairs of scissors spun rapidly in the seawater, cutting out a large mass of water that slowly drifted into the air.

Under the agitation of the scissors, the seawater rapidly evaporated.

Jiang Linger opened a cabinet and took out eighty-one spools of thread, arranging them in nine rows. Each spool had a different colored thread.

She tossed out a box of steel needles; seven hundred twenty-nine needles hovered in mid-air.

Jiang Linger manipulated the eighty-one spools, threading the needles. The threading method was very special: one needle connected nine threads, and one thread passed through nine needles.

The threaded needles flew into the air, darting back and forth through the water vapor, quickly weaving it into the shape of clouds.

The evaporating water vapor, bound by the needles and threads, gathered tightly above Boundless City, condensing into a massive rain cloud.

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

Jiang Linger said, "The cloud is heavy, but not too heavy. Don't push it up with brute force; fly it up like a kite."

She wasn't very good at expressing some things, but Li Banfeng understood her meaning.

When she said "very heavy," she was referring to the mass of the cloud.

And when she said "not too heavy," she meant the density of the rain cloud.

Li Banfeng had once sent cotton "clouds" into the sky, and cotton "clouds" filled with water vapor were not light. He understood the technique involved here.

He grasped a corner of the cloud and ascended with the wind. He had only flown a little over ten meters when a gust of sea breeze nearly disoriented him.

The Judge's Brush supported Li Banfeng, stabilizing him, then darted back and forth within the cloud to maintain its balance.

It could assist, but not carry Li Banfeng. To lift the cloud, Li Banfeng had to do it himself; otherwise, even if the Judge's Brush helped him, the cloud wouldn't retain Li Banfeng's combat power and popularity.

Li Banfeng reached a certain height and suddenly couldn't ascend further. The feeling was familiar, like encountering an unnamable barrier in Puro Province.

"Isn't this an Inner Province? Why would an Inner Province have an unnamable barrier?"

The Judge's Brush said, "Don't think about that for now!"

Li Banfeng found it increasingly difficult to fly. His already exhausted body quickly reached its limit.

"I can't hold onto this cloud much longer, it's really too heavy." Li Banfeng's body began to slowly descend.

Jiang Linger watched from below the celestial eye, sensing that Li Banfeng was in trouble.

But there was nothing she could do; Jiang Linger couldn't help him. Only a cloud lifted by Li Banfeng himself could establish a connection with him—this was crucial for the Cloud Gate technique.

"Does he not have this fate?" Jiang Linger frowned, pondering a solution, when suddenly she saw Li Banfeng flying up again, a dark figure assisting him.

Was that his own shadow?

It was indeed his shadow: Companion Feng B, who was in a similarly poor state.

Li Banfeng gritted his teeth. "I'm afraid this cloud can't be sent up; I truly can't hold on anymore."

Companion Feng B snorted. "What kind of talk is that? Do you still want to die?"

Li Banfeng suddenly remembered something. "When did you learn to ride the wind and clouds?"

Companion Feng replied, "I didn't know how before this. You insisted I be a vanguard, and I was forced into a corner by that Blade cultivator. I learned it by fighting for my life."

"Do you really think I can get this cloud up?"

Companion Feng B chuckled. "What's the big deal? It's just carrying a heavy load, isn't it? We could carry it even when we had no food!"

"Old Jia, let's go!"

Jiang Linger watched as Li Banfeng fell again and again, only to climb back up each time.

She herself knew the Cloud Gate technique and had seen others use it, but she had never witnessed Li Banfeng's methods.

Could he actually do it?

Was he capable?

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

He flew up again, very high this time.

Not long after, Li Banfeng fell again.

But this time, the cloud did not fall.

It was done!

The cloud hung in the sky!

Jiang Linger embraced Li Banfeng, placed him on the bed, and asked, "Can you transfer half of your popularity onto the cloud?"

Li Banfeng didn't know if he could; he hadn't tried.

The Judge's Brush said, "Yes!"

Companion Feng B lay on the cloud, nodding. "I think so!"

Companion Feng C lay beside Companion Feng B. "Confucius said, 'Yes!'"

Companion Feng D said, "Ah Chou, don't move around; this cloud isn't stable!"

Companion Feng E snorted, "Call me Ah Jun!"

Li Banfeng nodded to Jiang Linger. "Yes."

Jiang Linger extended her right hand, making a scissor gesture with her index and middle fingers, and said to Li Banfeng, "Then let's begin."

The two fingers sliced open the skin, as if cutting inch by inch.

Li Banfeng's eyes were bloodshot.

If his wife were here, it would be better. Her method of advancement was much gentler than Jiang Linger's.

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

Had her husband encountered trouble?

She knew her phone was vibrating, and that her husband needed her urgently, but she couldn't speak right now.

The Blood-Infused Pendulum was almost unable to stand. She regretted bringing Luo Yuni's body out today; if she were merely a pendulum, she could at least hide herself.

But without this body, she couldn't carry the new torch Zhao Xiaowan had made.

Zhao Xiaowan had created a new torch, and she had originally wanted to invite Li Banfeng to test it with her.

However, she worried it wouldn't work, leading to her husband's disappointment.

So she brought the torch and three magical artifacts to the border between Seven Autumn City and Ink Fragrance Shop, preparing to test the torch.

Unexpectedly, she encountered Mr. Kong Fang in a grove of trees along the border.

Zhao Xiaowan hid in a banyan tree, undetected for the moment.

Mr. Kong Fang did not yet know Zhao Xiaowan's exact location, but he had sensed her presence.

Mond shrank into the pocket watch, trembling uncontrollably. The second hand vibrated more violently than the phone. If not for Zhao Xiaowan's sound cultivation technique, Mr. Kong Fang would have long since heard the watch's ticking.

If it were just Mr. Kong Fang, Zhao Xiaowan genuinely had methods to fight him. Although this puppet body was weak and she hadn't made many preparations beforehand, even if she couldn't win the fight, Zhao Xiaowan was at least confident she could escape.

But Mr. Kong Fang hadn't come alone.

Having lost over two thousand copper coins on the cloud, Kong Fang couldn't swallow his anger. He summoned five members of Snowfall Shore to Seven Autumn City, determined to get to the bottom of the matter.

Among these five were the Merchant Cultivator Feng Chongli, the Joy Cultivator Shang Rongchu, and the newly joined Painter Cultivator and Joy Cultivator Mu Yuejuan. With these three masters above the "cloud" level, this battle would be difficult.

Zhao Xiaowan looked at the torch in the pendulum's hand, then at the distant boundary line.

Her intention was that if the situation turned dire, she would throw the torch onto the boundary line and destroy it immediately.

Tears streamed from the pendulum's eyes. She knew that if it came to this, she would likely perish alongside Zhao Xiaowan.

Among the magical artifacts, only the Old Teapot remained calm. Having endured many battles, it was ready for a desperate struggle.

The Joy Cultivator Shang Rongchu smelled the sweat on the pendulum's body; he particularly liked that scent.

Following the scent, he slowly approached the banyan tree. Zhao Xiaowan also prepared to act.

Zhao Xiaowan truly wished it were Mr. Kong Fang approaching. She didn't want to waste an ambush opportunity on Shang Rongchu, but the current situation gave her no choice.

Just as Shang Rongchu was about to use a technique to test, he suddenly turned his face to Mu Yuejuan, staring at her for a long time.

"Why are you staring at me?" Mu Yuejuan frowned. Although they were both Joy Cultivators, Mu Yuejuan intensely disliked Shang Rongchu, always feeling he was too effeminate and lacked masculinity.

Shang Rongchu scoffed, "Old sister, who would want to stare at you? I'm looking at the young woman beside you." Beside Mu Yuejuan stood a thirty-something Journey Cultivator.

This woman, named Qian Yueyi, was trembling intermittently, as if suffering from a cold.

"Are you ill?" Mu Yuejuan frowned and moved away.

To join Snowfall Shore, one's cultivation had to be at least "above the cloud," and ordinary illnesses couldn't fell cultivators of that level.

Could Qian Yueyi be so severely ill due to some other means?

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

Shang Rongchu, sympathetic to beauty, stepped forward and cradled Qian Yueyi. "Miss Qian, what's wrong?"

Everyone thought Qian Yueyi was ill, but Mr. Kong Fang approached, took a look, and shook his head. "She's not sick; this is a reaction to good fortune and ill omen."

Everyone looked at Mr. Kong Fang. Who among those who could join Snowfall Shore lacked knowledge? At most, a reaction to good fortune and ill omen would cause a shiver, not convulsions to the point of near-shock, as this woman was experiencing.

Mr. Kong Fang looked into the distance, a hint of tension in him as a copper coin spun continuously on his fingertip.

Zhao Xiaowan was also very tense. She created subtle cicada chirps, completely masking her own presence.

Using her Insightful Spirit Sound, she heard some sounds, footsteps—extremely unusual footsteps.

A lean middle-aged man walked into the woods, looking at the group. "I'm looking for someone. Do you know where Li Qi is?"

"Li Qi?" Shang Rongchu looked at the middle-aged man. "We're also looking for someone, and it might be..."

He wanted to say it was Li Qi, which was true. Few people could ambush Mr. Kong Fang in Seven Autumn City, and Li Qi was Mr. Kong Fang's primary suspect.

But the middle-aged man before them was certainly not here to help. Mr. Kong Fang subtly waved his hand, signaling Shang Rongchu not to speak to him.

Although his physique and appearance were entirely unfamiliar, Mr. Kong Fang felt he had seen this middle-aged man before, and not just once.

The middle-aged man scanned the group and asked, "Who exactly are you looking for? Tell me honestly."

Shang Rongchu's brows furrowed.

What did "honestly" mean?

Was this an interrogation?

An elder cupped his fists at the middle-aged man. "Friend, we are from Snowfall Shore."

This elder, Zhou Piaoyu, was a third-level "cloud" cultivator, highly experienced within Snowfall Shore and adept at handling such sudden incidents.

Snowfall Shore had a strong reputation in Puro Province. Normally, stating their affiliation would 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'm looking for Li Qi, and I need to know his whereabouts right now."

Who was he talking to?

Zhou Piaoyu's face darkened. "We don't know Li Qi's whereabouts either. Go ask someone else."

The middle-aged man glanced at Zhou Piaoyu. "Who is 'someone else'? Bring them here, and I'll ask."

A vein throbbed in Zhou Piaoyu's temple. In all his years with Snowfall Shore, he had never been so provoked.

Feng Chongli said to the middle-aged man, "Sir, we are strangers meeting by chance, owing each other nothing. What is the reason for your imperious demeanor towards us?"

"'Owe each other nothing'?" The middle-aged man smiled. "What is your relationship with the Peddler?"

Feng Chongli replied, "I consider myself a disciple of the Peddler."

"When did the Peddler ever take disciples?" The middle-aged man shook his head. "Perhaps some sect is on the verge of extinction, so... he couldn't bear it and taught you a couple of techniques. You seem quite clever. This task is yours. Go find Li Qi immediately and report back to me today."

Everyone looked at the middle-aged man, silent.

The middle-aged man shouted, "Are you all deaf? What are you standing around for?"

Seeing his aggressive posture, it was clear this man was beyond reason. The Snowfall Shore members prepared to strike.

Zhou Piaoyu stood at the front, Shang Rongchu close behind, while Feng Chongli observed the middle-aged man's stance.

Mu Yuejuan stood beside Mr. Kong Fang, lowering her voice. "This person's aura feels a bit familiar."

Mr. Kong Fang remained silent for a long moment, then Zhou Piaoyu suddenly attacked.

He flicked three arrows from his sleeve. They split into six, then twelve, multiplying into over a hundred in the blink of an eye.

They flew towards the middle-aged man's face.

Feng Chongli attacked simultaneously, using the Merchant Cultivator technique, "No Deception to Young or Old."

This was the Peddler's unique technique, which not only countered Foolish Cultivators but also the Art of Substitution.

The Art of Substitution involved creating substitute objects with techniques to withstand damage.

Shu Wanjuan and Boss Lu often used words to block fatal blows from opponents, a typical example of the Art of Substitution, where their words served as substitute objects.

The "No Deception to Young or Old" technique could dismantle substitute objects, but whether they could be completely negated depended on the cultivator's skill level.

Feng Chongli certainly couldn't break Shu Wanjuan's Heavenly Union technique, but ordinary substitution arts wouldn't work against him.

The Arrow Cultivator's shots were guaranteed to hit, and Feng Chongli ensured the middle-aged man couldn't defend himself.

Shang Rongchu followed closely, using the Joy Cultivator technique, "Playful Banter."

This prepared for the next step. Even if the middle-aged man's physique was formidable and he survived the arrows, it wouldn't matter.

As soon as he was hit by an arrow, the "Playful Banter" technique would immediately take effect, rendering all his subsequent attacks as soft and powerless as a lover's teasing.

The three had excellent chemistry; this attack left no room for the opponent to survive.

The man watched the incoming arrows expressionlessly, without dodging, parrying, or using any techniques.

He simply stomped his foot.

The stomp had considerable force, causing many withered leaves to fall from the trees.

Logically, withered leaves fall very slowly, but these leaves, driven by some unknown force, not only fell quickly but also landed with extreme precision, each leaf perfectly intercepting an arrow.

Leaves were not substitute objects; they were genuine physical items.

But what good were physical objects? Using leaves to block an Arrow Cultivator's arrows? Was this man insane?

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

However, the situation today was very unusual. All the arrows became embedded in the leaves and fell to the ground.

One hundred ninety-two arrows landed, with three leaves remaining suspended in mid-air.

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

Mr. Kong Fang wanted to save the three, but it was too late. From the moment they attacked until the three leaves landed, it happened in the blink of an eye.

The middle-aged man first looked at Feng Chongli. "You claim to be a disciple of the Peddler. I'll give the Peddler face and spare you this once."

The abacus in Feng Chongli's hand shattered, its beads crumbling into dust. The fragments left a bloody hole on his arm, making Feng Chongli tremble in pain.

The middle-aged man then turned to Shang Rongchu. "I truly dislike Joy Cultivators. Your sect harms people, so I'll give you a chance to repent and start anew."

Shang Rongchu clutched his groin and collapsed, bleeding profusely.

He had been castrated.

The middle-aged man then looked at Zhou Piaoyu. "Arrow Cultivators are going extinct. I despise those who shoot sneak arrows on the battlefield, so I'll let your sect go extinct!"

Zhou Piaoyu split open from his forehead down to below his waist, cleaved into two halves.

Qian Yueyi, lying on the ground, convulsed even more severely, and Mu Yuejuan couldn't help but tremble.

"Are you Shan Chengjun?" Mu Yuejuan asked.

Shan Chengjun smiled. "Juan'er, you're still as beautiful as ever."

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

Mu Yuejuan wanted to draw her brush and fight to the death.

Shan Chengjun waved his hand, signaling her not to move. "Juan'er, wait aside for now. I'll deal with my unworthy disciple first."

He turned to Mr. Kong Fang. "Ye Qing, you didn't recognize me just now?"

Mr. Kong Fang indeed hadn't recognized Shan Chengjun just now; Shan Chengjun's appearance had changed greatly.

Now he recognized him, but it seemed too late.

Shan Chengjun had no immediate plans to kill Mr. Kong Fang. "I'm looking for a traitor. This scoundrel has been causing trouble in Puro Province, even establishing a false crown prince, colluding with corrupt officials in the court, and attempting rebellion. He is truly beyond redemption, guilty of the Ten Abominations. I've come to Puro Province by imperial decree to bring this traitor, Li Qi, to justice. This city was built by that traitor, so you and your people go investigate the traitor's whereabouts. All the old and young in the city are accomplices of the traitor; spare none, slaughter them all."

Mr. Kong Fang stood motionless. Shan Chengjun looked at him. "Didn't you hear what I just said? The Emperor has decreed Li Qi a traitor. I'm telling you to go kill the traitor."

Mr. Kong Fang replied, "He's the Emperor's traitor. What concern is that of mine?"

Shan Chengjun asked, "Aren't you a subject of the Emperor?"

Mr. Kong Fang retorted, "Why should I be his subject? What's in it for me?"

Shan Chengjun couldn't comprehend Mr. Kong Fang's thoughts. "Ye Qing, you're not young anymore. You should be past your reckless youth."

Mr. Kong Fang shook his head. "Master, this has nothing to do with age. I just dislike that Emperor. Besides you, he is the one I dislike the most."

Shan Chengjun nodded. "That's quite bold of you. You dare be so arrogant in front of me?"

Kong Fang squeezed the copper coin in his hand. "You only dare to be arrogant in front of me. You wouldn't be so arrogant if the Peddler were here."

"Is that so?" Shan Chengjun chuckled. "No wonder you've been carrying the Peddler's banner for so many years. You wanted to be his dog, but he wouldn't have you, right?"

Mr. Kong Fang spun the copper coin twice on his fingertip. "In your eyes, if one isn't the Emperor's dog, then one must be someone else's dog, right?"

A strong gust of wind swept into the woods, stirring up some dust.

As the dust passed Shan Chengjun, it suddenly accelerated, whistling towards Mu Yuejuan.

Mu Yuejuan wanted to use her scroll to block it, but she couldn't pull out a painting in time. The sand was too fast; if it hit her, it would riddle her like a sieve.

Just as the sand was about to strike her face, a handful of copper coins flew in, forming a wall that blocked the sand.

To fight Shan Chengjun, one had to be prepared for anything; no one knew what he would use as a weapon next.

Shan Chengjun kicked the ground with his toe, sending a cloud of dust, twigs, and withered leaves flying towards Mr. Kong Fang.

"Go!" Mr. Kong Fang, his body covered in swirling copper coins, bore the brunt of the attack and ordered the Snowfall Shore members to retreat immediately.

Mu Yuejuan seized the opportunity, pulling Qian Yueyi into a painting scroll. Feng Chongli dragged Shang Rongchu, also into the scroll. Shan Chengjun found Mu Yuejuan's behavior unusual. "This woman's temperament has changed. She can still care for others while fleeing for her life. It seems you've trained her well. If you keep her as a helper, perhaps you can survive a little longer."

Mr. Kong Fang didn't believe him. "It's too difficult. I've been with you for so many years, and I've rarely seen you leave anyone alive."

Shan Chengjun laughed. "Do you think Mu Yuejuan and the others can escape?"

Mr. Kong Fang shook the copper coins on his body. "One step of escape is better than none!"

Shan Chengjun waved his hand, and a willow tree rose from its roots. Its branches, like whips, lashed out at Mr. Kong Fang.

Mr. Kong Fang parried with his copper coins. The coins blocked three lashes, shattering a large number of them. The flexible willow branches wielded by Shan Chengjun surprisingly demonstrated such immense power.

Mr. Kong Fang quickly replenished his copper coins, but his supply was limited, as Li Banfeng had taken too many recently.

A branch whipped down, and Mr. Kong Fang changed tactics, using the edges of his copper coins to sever the branch.

The willow branch was cut, but the willow leaves flew over, shattering Mr. Kong Fang's bamboo hat.

The veil beneath the hat fell, and the life-saving string of coins on it also dropped, revealing Mr. Kong Fang's true appearance.

From his cheekbones to his cheeks, from his forehead to his chin, his face bore hundreds of scars; even his eyelids were uneven.

For so many years, Mr. Kong Fang had refused to show his true face. Now that his hat was off, he still tried to cover his face. Shan Chengjun squinted, a look of disgust on his face. "I shouldn't have hit your head just now. How many years has it been since I last saw your ugly face? Just one look at you, and I won't be able to eat for days."

Mr. Kong Fang no longer tried to hide his face. He picked up the shattered bamboo hat from the ground and threw it, and the hat transformed into a sharp blade, chopping the willow tree into splinters.

Shan Chengjun picked up a willow branch and casually whipped Mr. Kong Fang's arm.

Mr. Kong Fang clutched his arm and stumbled back two steps. That single blow had broken his left arm bone.

Zhao Xiaowan, hidden in the tree, saw clearly. The disparity in strength was immense, yet Mr. Kong Fang was truly brave today.

He had not flinched in his fight against Shan Chengjun.

Shan Chengjun, holding the willow stick, trimmed it slightly. "I am an imperial envoy, dispatched by decree to Puro Province to apprehend a traitor. As master and disciple, I will ask you one more time, Ai Yeqing, will you accept the imperial decree?"

Mr. Kong Fang shook his head, tapping his toe on the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Shan Chengjun smiled, swept his sleeve, and easily blocked the dust.

Not only did he block it, but the deflected dust also left Mr. Kong Fang covered in bloody marks.

Shan Chengjun sighed. "You should stick to your copper coins; at least those are decent. Don't show off your mediocre skills, you're embarrassing me."

As he finished speaking, Shan Chengjun grabbed the willow stick and attacked again. It was only a matter of time before Mr. Kong Fang would be beaten to death.

But as he struck, Shan Chengjun's eyes were suddenly obscured by a splash of ink. He dispelled the ink with his sleeve and saw Mu Yuejuan standing beside Mr. Kong Fang.

Shan Chengjun chuckled. "Well, this is new. Juan'er, you, someone so afraid of death, actually dared to come back for me?"

Mu Yuejuan gritted her teeth. "I had no choice but to find you. You just left a mark on me; wherever I run, you'll catch me. Rather than waiting for you to kill me, I'd rather fight alongside Ai Qiandao against you!"

As she spoke, Mu Yuejuan bit her wrist, dipped a brush in her blood, and painted a magnificent striped tiger.

This fierce tiger charged at Shan Chengjun. It was drawn with Mu Yuejuan's blood, and this single tiger was enough to handle a cultivator of the first "cloud" level.

Shan Chengjun swung his willow stick, instantly smashing the tiger to pieces.

While he was distracted, Mr. Kong Fang pulled off a string of copper coins and wrapped it around Shan Chengjun's neck.

Shan Chengjun casually tore off a piece of tree bark, used it to cut the copper coins, and then, in the same motion, plunged the bark into Mr. Kong Fang's chest.

Mu Yuejuan then painted two more golden eagles, which advanced to battle Shan Chengjun.

Shan Chengjun snatched a leaf, dispersed the eagles with it, and then sent the leaf flying towards Mu Yuejuan.

A low hum sounded, like the muffled roar of a beast or the noise of machinery.

Amidst the hum, the leaves hovering in mid-air lost their momentum and fell to the ground.

Shan Chengjun paused, surprised. Who was attacking in secret?

Zhao Xiaowan had made her move.

She perfectly understood Mu Yuejuan's unusual action, because today's opponent was Shan Chengjun.

Anyone facing Shan Chengjun had to be prepared for a fight to the death.

Shan Chengjun knew someone had used a sound cultivation technique. He grabbed a handful of dirt and sand from a tree and threw it. If Zhao Xiaowan used the sound technique again, Shan Chengjun could determine her position by the trajectory of the dirt and sand.

But the dirt and sand didn't fly far; they were intercepted by a curtain of water.

The water curtain, after blocking the dirt and sand, continued its flight towards Shan Chengjun.

Shan Chengjun plucked a banana leaf to defend himself, but it couldn't fully block the attack. Some water splashed onto his face; its temperature was extremely high, scalding Shan Chengjun's cheeks crimson.

Where did this water curtain come from?

Did Ai Yeqing create it?

Seeing Ai Yeqing's profound and composed expression, it indeed seemed like his doing.

Shan Chengjun looked around, but found no source of water.

Martial cultivators could find weapons anywhere, using whatever was at hand. There were no ponds or springs nearby; Ai Yeqing couldn't possibly dig a well to get water, could he? This didn't fit a martial cultivator's fighting style.

Ai Yeqing wanted to create his own Deception Cultivation; was he playing a trick?

Mr. Kong Fang himself didn't know where the water came from, nor did Mu Yuejuan figure it out.

Was there another Water Cultivator nearby?

Had Water Yongquan arrived?

Mu Yuejuan didn't think so. She knew Water Yongquan's capabilities; with his skill, he absolutely couldn't harm Shan Chengjun.

*Splash!*

The sound of water rang out again.

Zhao Xiaowan felt the water sound was quite close and turned to look at the pendulum.

Had this little wretch peed herself from fright?

The pendulum shook its head, indicating she hadn't.

Mond, huddled in the pocket watch, trembled continuously but also had no water.

Zhao Xiaowan then looked at the Old Teapot. The Old Teapot lifted its lid, indicating that its contents were all tea.

So where did the water come from?

A pretty woman stood up from the bushes, pulling up her skirt.

Shan Chengjun stared at her for a long moment.

The woman, blushing, said, "I was peeing. What are you looking at?"

Shan Chengjun touched his face. "This is your pee?"

The woman nodded and chuckled, "If you don't believe me, taste it!"

Shan Chengjun gritted his teeth and smiled. "What are you doing here?"

The woman replied with a serious expression, "I'm here to meddle!"

Shan Chengjun frowned. "Crazy old woman, what's so important here for you to meddle in?"

The woman's smile vanished, her expression turning menacing. "Blind dog! Don't you see whose territory this is?"

Many thanks to Alliance Leader "Died Without Blood Rage" for their strong support of this work.