Wan Zhang, hearing his forceful questioning, cursed silently in his heart, but his hands moved even faster. He drove the White Feathered Sparrow to peck ferociously several more times, forcing Liu Yanyi to retreat step by step. By the time the last fragment of her Xuan Guang was torn away, her figure was already swaying unsteadily in the air, seemingly on the verge of falling at any moment. Anyone watching could see that she had little strength to resist anymore.

Although Qiu Hanyue was held tightly in Wen An's grasp, she could see the situation clearly. Alarmed, she cried out, "Wan Zhang, if you dare to harm Sister Liu, I swear I won't let you off! My master and Junior Master Zhang won't let you off either!"

Wan Zhang burst into laughter and said, "Very well then! I will first cripple all her cultivation and see who dares to stop me!"

But just at this moment, a calm voice reached his ears, "Oh? I'd like to see who dares touch my disciple."

Wan Zhang's face froze in shock, and his whole body shuddered violently. Even the small tripod in his hand nearly fell from his grip. In disbelief, he turned to look behind him, only to see a strikingly dignified Daoist clad in black robes standing amidst the clouds, his arms folded behind his back. His cold, piercing eyes revealed an unrestrained killing intent.

The moment Wan Zhang met that gaze brimming with deadly menace, his mind thundered with an echoing roar. Unconsciously, he recalled the image of this man rampaging across the Six Rivers and Four Islands years ago, his fury burning like an inferno. His body went limp, and his words stammered out in fright, "Zh-Zh-Zhang..."

Liu Yanyi also froze in astonishment, as if in a dream. Overwhelmed by a mix of joy and disbelief, her trembling voice called out, "Master?"

Zhang Yan nodded slightly toward her, giving her a glance of approval. His gaze then swept coldly over Wen An and Wan Zhang as he icily declared, "The two of you dared to come here and torment my disciple. Then neither of you shall leave here alive."

Wen An, who had initially donned an indifferent expression, now turned grave upon witnessing Zhang Yan's arrival. There was no other reason than Zhang Yan's towering reputation. Though he had left the Mountain Gate while still at the Xuan Guang First Realm, the fact that Wen An hadn't sensed Zhang Yan's approach at all just moments ago signaled that his cultivation had grown even deeper than before. This was a threat he dared not overlook.

Wen An was Fang Hong's disciple. Back then, because Zhang Yan had refused to implicate Ge Shuo, Fang Hong had failed to escape the sect's punishment, and this indirectly caused Wen An to suffer years of unjust treatment.

In the sect, the supply of elixir pills, cultivation techniques, magic artifacts, and spirit lands was limited. Without the protection of his master, resources that would have been his were claimed by others, greatly hindering his cultivation. Fueled by resentment, he held a grudge against Zhang Yan all these years. This time, with the opportunity for revenge, he was willing to collaborate with Wan Zhang, a member of a noble family, even if their paths did not align.

Wen An's fingers trembled slightly as he inhaled deeply. In a stern voice, he said, "So, you are Zhang Yan? Such arrogant words! Allow me, Wen An, to challenge your audacity."

With a shout, he pointed his hand forward, releasing dozens of brilliant golden rays of light in one breath. As they soared into the air, the setting sun cast its glow upon them, imbuing the rays with a blood-colored brilliance.

Earlier, when facing Qiu Hanyue, just one of these golden rays was enough to force her into retreat. Now, sending out dozens of rays in a single move clearly showed he was unleashing his full strength.

Zhang Yan chuckled faintly and stepped forward, striding through the dazzling cascade of light with ease. In the blink of an eye, he was standing before Wen An. Extending a single finger, he pressed it against Wen An's brow, allowing a faint green light to flow from his fingertip and enter Wen An's forehead.

Wen An's body convulsed as if struck by lightning. He froze in place, unable to move. Zhang Yan's cold voice rang out, "You are unworthy."

Terror flooded Wen An's eyes as he stammered, "You... you have already..." Before he could finish, his entire body exploded into a cloud of blood mist with a loud "boom."

When Wan Zhang saw how effortlessly Zhang Yan killed Wen An, he was utterly paralyzed by fear. Any hope he had of survival evaporated completely, leaving him no will to fight. With a cry, he activated the small tripod in his hands,

relentlessly driving the White Feathered Sparrow to attack Zhang Yan. Not daring to witness the outcome, he turned and fled desperately.

Zhang Yan's eyes gleamed momentarily, and with a flick of his finger, a drop of You Yin Heavy Water flew forth. The water struck the White Feathered Sparrow, instantly reducing it to a mass of shredded flesh. Without losing momentum, the droplet surged toward Wan Zhang's back, making a soft "pop" as it pierced the back of his skull and exited through the front of his forehead. Without a sound, Wan Zhang fell lifelessly to the ground.

Zhang Yan waved his hand, capturing Wan Zhang's primordial spirit and tossing it into his sleeve. He then turned his gaze toward the two young women.

Liu Yanyi hurriedly pulled Qiu Hanyue forward to pay their respects, bowing her head as she said, "Disciple Liu Yanyi greets Master."

She knelt respectfully and kowtowed three times.

Zhang Yan nodded slightly and said, "Hmm, no need for excessive formality, my disciple. Yanyi, I am aware of the many grievances you have suffered over the years, bearing punishment on behalf of your master. Now that I have returned to the Mountain Gate, I will ensure that no one dares to mistreat you again."

Although Liu Yanyi was naturally resilient, she was, after all, still a young woman. Hearing these words, her eyes reddened, and she choked up as she said, "It is this disciple's own incompetence that has caused Master concern."

Qiu Hanyue looked at Zhang Yan with a mixture of fear and admiration. Deep down, she thought, "I've heard that this Junior Master Zhang once defeated enemies and formations, earning the reward of the Zhao You Heavenly Pond. Afterward, he left to search for ingredients. Now, over twenty years later, it seems his return to the Mountain Gate is to refine a Solidifying Pill."

Core Formation is a significant endeavor. Even someone as brilliant as Ning Chongxuan had to return to the Mountain Gate to undergo Core Formation. Based on her deductions, this Junior Master Zhang must already have all the elixir pills prepared and only lacked the final step.

At this moment, Zhang Yan turned his gaze to her, prompting her to hurriedly step forward and bow respectfully as a junior, saying, "Disciple Nie Qiu Hanyue greets Junior Master Zhang."

Zhang Yan scrutinized her briefly before smiling and asking, "Whose disciple are you?"

Qiu Hanyue stole a glance at Liu Yanyi, feeling a bit self-conscious as she replied, "My master... is Fan Changqing."

"Oh? So you are Senior Brother Fan's esteemed disciple."

With a small turn of thought, Zhang Yan immediately understood Fan Changqing's intent. Fan had likely been discreetly looking out for Liu Yanyi as a favor to Zhang Yan and to curry favor in return.

For instance, if Liu Yanyi and Qiu Hanyue had both been captured earlier, Fan Changqing would have a valid reason to intervene in the matter, ensuring their safety.

This careful and subtle approach was very much in line with Fan Changqing's style.

Liu Yanyi looked at her friend in astonishment, unable to hold back her reproach as she said, "Sister, you're actually Master Fan's disciple? You've kept me in the dark all along."

Now that her secret was out, Qiu Hanyue relaxed, giggling as she blinked mischievously, "Sister, you never asked, did you?"

Liu Yanyi cast her an exasperated look but could only shake her head helplessly. Qiu Hanyue's cultivation level was not high, and she had never actively revealed her sect affiliations. Liu Yanyi had assumed her junior sister had her reasons and refrained from prying. Never did she imagine that Qiu Hanyue's background was quite remarkable.

Just as the two exchanged words, Zhang Yan's brow furrowed deeply. He cast a glance into the skies above and said gravely, "Both of you, stand behind me."

...

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