Dark and dim, void of day and night, such an environment existed only in one place in Liangzhou Province— in the Three Mountains, west of Broken Sky Gorge, where Wushan was located.

Wuzhiqi the Water Monkey, after suffering severe injuries, was still unwilling to leave Liangzhou Province, clearly waiting for the further outbreak of the Water Disaster, while also healing his injuries in hopes of advancing.

At this moment, Wuzhiqi, like Jiang Li before, was waiting for his injuries to recover, and then he hoped to advance in one fell swoop.

He must still be in Liangzhou Province—otherwise, how could he advance? After all the hard work of creating the Water Disaster, everything was now in place, but if he left, wouldn't all that previous toil be in vain?

Yet it was unexpected that he would choose the Three Mountains near the headquarters of the Devil God Sect.

It should be noted that Elder Da Kun was injured by the Great Venerable. As the son-in-law of the Dragon Palace, Wuzhiqi would naturally stand with Elder Da Kun. Moreover, this Water Monkey had not ventured north for a century, clearly harboring deep apprehensions about the Great Venerable. Who would have thought he would deliver himself to them at this time?

Wuzhiqi's move was somewhat akin to being "invisible under the light."

The most dangerous place is the safest place, a saying that, though trite and overused, never becomes outdated. Because most of the time, people rely on logic, common sense, and inertia, rarely forsaking the more likely choices and heading directly for a direction that seems nearly impossible.

Now that the clues were organized, Jiang Li had also found Wuzhiqi's location, which was an extremely good piece of news.

On the other side, Tianxuan regained her calm and graceful demeanor, with her hands folded elegantly as if the previous dance had been but an illusion.

However, from the pallor that quietly emerged on Tianxuan's forehead, it was evident that the previous divination had consumed a lot. Especially that final Blood Moon······

Jiang Li focused his senses, used "Unity" to communicate with the Array Plate, and through the plate, he indirectly sensed that Tianxuan's vital energy seemed depleted. Her last action to bring Jiang Li back probably cost her some essence blood.

Jiang Li instinctively started to circulate his Innate Qi, transforming it into Pure Yang, about to assist Tianxuan in her recovery.

However, just at that moment—

"Who's there?"

A clear voice rang out, followed immediately by rising Flame Qi, manifesting as a dragon shape.

Someone was approaching the peak at this time.

Jiang Li and Tianxuan both turned to look and saw, in the undispersed pitch-black sky, a slender and elegant figure slowly approaching, clad in red garments fiery as flames, yet her eyes resembled two deep pools, brewing an imperceptible undercurrent.

"Sister?" Jiang Li was astonished.

The one who came at such a moment was Gongsun Qingyue, who was supposed to be in Divine Capital.

And she came silently, not even Yin Tulong could stop her, while Jiang Li and Tianxuan were fully engaged in using Qimen Dunjia for divination, depleted quite a bit, leading to a situation······

The atmosphere between master and student seemed somewhat ambiguous, and this ambiguity had been detected by Gongsun Qingyue.

Jiang Li had just started to circulate energy, about to habitually physically connect with his beloved teacher, when the Sister arrived. His hand had already been extended.

It was too fast, too unexpected.

While Divine Capital and this place were not thousands of miles apart, still several thousand miles at least, this Red County Divine Land, though resembling the ancient times of Jiang Li's previous life, was at least ten times larger.

Even with Gongsun Qingyue's pace, even if she had set out immediately after receiving the news, she couldn't have arrived this night. She wasn't a specialized Divine Travel Grand Protector.

No, even a Divine Travel Grand Protector couldn't be this fast.

No, what should be thought of now was how to handle the situation.

Jiang Li felt his mind was a bit messy, with overly active thoughts making him truly feel a sense of boundless fanciful thinking—thinking about this for a while, about that for another, truly mastering the essence of Zhuang Zhou's Dao Fruit.

"Move, my brain, my astonishing wisdom!"

Jiang Li began to use the wisdom of the Great Grandmaster to think about how to break out of this impasse.

Meanwhile—

"It seems like I've arrived at a bad time."

Gongsun Qingyue remarked softly.

Jiang Li: "······"

She indeed had noticed something.

Then again, although Gongsun Qingyue was at the bottom of the food chain among the three disciples, it did not mean she was foolish. After all, she was a disciple trained by Tianxuan for many years, competing with Yun Jiuye for the position of future Sect Leader; how could she lack observational skills?

So at this moment, what should Jiang Li do?

With the wisdom of a Grandmaster, yet straddling two boats, Jiang was doing this for the first time and facing capsizing for the first time as well.

The principle of not taking initiative, not refusing, and not denying, seemed to lose its effect at this time.

Before Jiang Li could figure out a solution, Tianxuan spoke first.

"No, your timing is perfect."

Tianxuan spoke calmly, without any hint of urgency, "I have just forcefully divined the people of the Devil God Sect. It's depleted my Essence Blood significantly, so I need you two to help me recuperate. Qing Yue, won't you use your Dao Fruit Ability?"

Without haste, as if turning a page, he issued the orders as if they were to be expected.

The ambiguous atmosphere had cleared, and his nonchalant demeanor made it involuntarily believable.

No additional methods were needed, just this plain and composed manner, which was consistent as always.

Suddenly, Jiang Li discovered that although his rank was high, in some ways, he was still no match for old demon Tianxuan.

"The most brilliant hunters often appear in the guise of their prey."

"Jiang Li had always thought himself the hunter, but now he couldn't help but doubt in his heart—"

"Am I the prey?"

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Jiang Li saw the text that appeared on the Karma Collection, making him feel both embarrassed and a chilling coolness.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Jiang Li denied in his heart.

He was supposed to be the tough type, the Dragon King's Affiliated Son-in-law, not to be completely controlled like Feng Manlou. The pleasure he felt over Feng Manlou's familial subservience was now matched by his strong resolution to deny such a possibility.

No doubt about it, Jiang was not the prey.

Meanwhile, Gongsun Qingyue met Tianxuan's calm, lake-like eyes. Their eyes locked, and a wordless silence spread.

It was not her first time perceiving hints of something amiss. She'd been fooled once before, but this time it might not be so easy to let it slide.

However, just at that moment, a wail arose, and Yin Tulong rode in on the Wind and Fire Wheel, hauling a figure through the air.

"This Daoist here, I truly am Jiang Li's older brother, if you don't believe me, ask Jiang Li himself." Feng Manlou was held aloft, keeping his arms crossed, somewhat impatient in his speech but idly in his demeanor.

Upon seeing Jiang Li, he laughed heartily and waved, saying, "Younger brother, I've brought niece Qing Yue to see you."

So, it was you, you old rascal, who brought the elder sister here.

I wondered how elder sister came so silently, not even blocked by Yin Tulong. It turns out you were pulling strings behind the scenes.

As soon as Jiang Li saw that smiling face, he knew it was Feng Manlou brewing trouble, intentionally bringing Gongsun Qingyue to stir things up for Jiang Li.

However, the arrival of the two did indeed break the eerie silence.

Gongsun Qingyue slowly nodded, her face composed as she gently lifted her right hand, from which a jade-like Lotus Lamp materialized in her palm. As Gongsun Qingyue floated over, streaks of Jade Light fell onto Tianxuan, nourishing his vitality.

This was the Dao Fruit Ability "Treasure Lotus Lamp": it could summon the ethereal image of the Divine Artifact Treasure Lotus Lamp, guarding, healing, and boosting power, combining many functions into one.

Jiang Li had seen Gongsun Qingyue use "Treasure Lotus Lamp" before, but back then, the Lotus Lamp was like an apparition, elusive and intangible. Now, however, it was as real as any object, impossible to see as false.

It seems in this period, Gongsun Qingyue's representation of her Dao Fruit had greatly improved.

He just wondered how she had managed such advancing in her Dao Fruit so quickly, nearly catching up to his progress.

Internally contemplating, yet outwardly calm, he slowly pressed his palm, releasing Innate Qi and transforming it into medicinal power, injecting it remotely into Tianxuan's body.

No matter how anxious he felt inside, he must appear calm and composed on the outside, unmoved even should Mount Tai collapse before him, remembering—

"I am innocent."

Jiang Li silently chanted to himself, using "Carefree Travel" to soothe his anxiety, his spirit being at ease, exuding the demeanor of an upright gentleman from within.

He and Gongsun Qingyue, one on each side, channeled Primordial Qi and divine radiance, aiding Tianxuan in recovering his depleted Essence Element. In a short time, the pallor under his mask had faded, though full recovery would still take some time.

The surrounding Array Plates gradually dissipated, and the sky regained its brightness, moonlight bathing the three of them, covering them like a layer of white frost, encasing them as if they were sculpted from jade.

After a while, Tianxuan circulated his True Qi, kneading his blood and Qi, while speaking, "It's about enough, disciple. Your own extension of cause and effect has also drained you, withdraw your hand now. Having Qing Yue help your teacher is enough."

Hearing this, Jiang Li slowly withdrew his Innate Qi, obediently stepping back from the altar, leaving the healing space to Tianxuan and Gongsun Qingyue.

Then, he came face to face with Feng Manlou's smiling visage.

"Little Brother, long time no see," Feng Manlou laughed heartily.

"Not long."

Jiang Li looked somberly at this formidable big brother, saying, "Really, not long."

If his guess was correct, his separation from Feng Manlou had indeed not been long—it was merely a day.

No, more likely accurate.

Otherwise, why would Feng Manlou be in such a rush to test his strength?

Or could it be unintentional?

"Heh, if he's unintentional, I might as well believe I'm Emperor Qin Shi Huang."

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