The eight Barbarian Monks once again raised the Demon Lamp to form an array and released Demon Fire that engulfed the entire cave.

Xiong Man was about to enter the battle again with her Flying Sword when she suddenly felt her Primordial Spirit restricted. Looking inward, she saw an Eight-Armed Demon standing behind her Primordial Spirit. This unexpected shock filled her with dread, realizing she had fallen into the enemy's trap.

Before, she and Xiao Shijiumei had fought to a draw against the eight Barbarian Monks. Now with her Primordial Spirit restrained, not to mention winning a swordfight, a moment of carelessness could lead to her Primordial Spirit being captured from afar.

She made a swift decision. While collaborating with Xiao Shijiumei to fend off the Demonic Fire surging like floodwaters from all sides, she took out the Michen Banner and placed it in Xiao Shijiumei's hands, conveying to her through a whispered message, "My Primordial Spirit is restricted, I cannot leave. You must escape quickly to Fujian's Taishan, Mo Xiao Cliff to find my master. Inform him of my plight, hurry!"

Xiao Shijiumei also knew the direness of the situation. Any further delay would mean they'd both be doomed here. She flicked the Michen Banner, a treasure refined by Lady Bao Xiang of the Heavenly Fox according to the secret technique passed down by Elder Xue Xue and later further strengthened by Shi Feiyang, its power immense. As soon as the banner unfurled, it emitted golden light that enveloped Xiao Shijiumei.

With a "crack" sound, as if a thunderclap erupted from the ground, Golden Light Thunder shattered the stone walls, blowing open a large hole extending over ten meters diagonally, and shot outside.

Xiao Shijiumei dared not delay and hurried to get help.

She didn't head to Fujian Taishan; firstly, she didn't trust Shi Feiyang, and secondly, Fujian was too far. She quickly flew to Laojun Cave nearby to seek help from Mr. Zhong of the Kunlun Sect.

Mr. Zhong was one of the four Great Elders of the Kunlun Sect, with powerful mana and exquisite swordsmanship. Although Xiao Shijiumei didn't have a deep relationship with him in the past, they had seen each other a few times when she was cultivating in Min Mountain, as they were all in Sichuan territory.

Xiao Shijiumei knew of the formidable Western Demon Cult. Lesser help would be futile, and speed was of the essence. Xiong Man was a solitary female immortal in cultivation; if she really ended up in a den of vice to become a Demon Consort, and her purity was lost, her life would be ruined. Xiao Shijiumei knew her sister's temperament well—she would undoubtedly take her own life on the spot.

Upon arriving at Laojun Cave, she found it bustling with visitors and went directly to the rear hall to seek someone.

However, Mr. Zhong was absent, away visiting friends, and his esteemed disciple, the young Huo Renyu, was handling the temple's affairs in his stead.

Huo Renyu, having heard of the great reputation of the Min Mountain Three Heroines, received her with junior's courtesy and invited her into the interior to inquire about the situation.

Hearing that Mr. Zhong was not present, Xiao Shijiumei felt extremely disappointed and briefly explained the situation.

Upon hearing that Xiong Man had been captured by the Demon Cult, Huo Renyu immediately stood up to find his big senior brother, the young immortal Yu Xiao.

Yu Xiao was an impulsive character. "With master absent, we'll accompany you. We must rescue her as soon as possible!"

Xiao Shijiumei delicately suggested that only Mr. Zhong's personal intervention would suffice. Yu Xiao was displeased. "You're underestimating us too much! It's perfect, I've just mastered our sect's most powerful Five Thunder Heavenly Heart True Method. I'll test the might of my Thunder Skill on these fiends!"

Huo Renyu, known as the "old youth," truly had maturity beyond his years. Although young and not yet fully shed of juvenile features, he possessed the demeanor of a grown man.

He gleaned from Xiao Shijiumei's attitude that the opponent would be formidable. Knowing his senior brother's impetuous nature might lead to disadvantage, he proposed that they go together. In case of any adversity, the brothers would be there for each other. His words were considerate, "When people like us encounter such events, it's our unavoidable duty. Having one more person adds to our strength. Besides, I'm young and often busy overseeing mundane matters in the temple. Accompanying my seniors and brother will broaden my horizons and accumulate experience."

Yu Xiao, in a great rush, retorted, "There's no need for such a drawn-out rationale. If you want to join, then just go. Hurry, give a few instructions to the others, grab what's needed, and let's get moving fast!"

The three departed from Laojun Cave and returned to Wei Da's cave, only to find it empty, with few signs of any magical duel.

With no other choice, Xiao Shijiumei parted ways with them to seek Luo Ziyuan's help in Heng Mountain. Yu Xiao flew into the high sky to search around in a foul mood, while Huo Renyu pointed to a concealed section of the wall, "Someone has left us a message here."

It turned out that Wei Da, seeing that Xiong Man was being besieged by Barbarian Monks and realizing his grave mistake, didn't try to stop them, knowing it would be futile. Instead, he took the opportunity when they weren't paying attention to carve words on a concealed part of the wall, identifying himself as Wei Da and that Xiong Man had been taken to Haideng Temple in West Sichuan by the Chuandeng Monk, who possessed high and powerful mana, urging the rescuers to be cautious.

"It's that Chuandeng old baldy!" Yu Xiao knew of the Chuandeng Monk, and instead of feeling fear, he was excited to test his newly mastered Thunder Skill on him.

When the brothers arrived at Haideng Temple, they found Chuandeng Monk conducting a ceremony inside. Seeing two streaks of sword light approaching rapidly from afar and himself unable to divide his attention, the Monk hastily wrote a letter for a visitor to deliver, then suddenly a dense cloud gathered above, followed by several loud thunderclaps. The temple lamps flared up three times, then the clouds started to dissipate.

Later, he learned from his senior brothers that two young Righteous Sect Sword Immortals had arrived, causing trouble, but had been repelled by the Abbot himself, nearly captured on the spot. Unfortunately, they fled quickly, and with the Abbot occupied with rituals in the inner courtyard, sending disciples to pursue was too late.

Wei Da surmised they were Xiao Shijiumei's reinforcements and worried about their situation, realizing that even with help, it was nearly impossible to rescue Xiong Man from the powerful and boundless Chuandeng Monk. A moment of misjudgment had led him to harm the one he loved, filled with regret and too late to remedy.

Only then did Shi Feiyang and Jiang Shu arrive; thinking they were the same Righteous Path Sword Immortals returning, he urgently transmitted a message to persuade them to come back later that night for the rescue.

Shi Feiyang obtained new information and after re-examining the Gua Xiang, he unraveled many new things.

Not waiting for the hour of Zi, just as night fell, four streaks of sword light flew from the horizon. Yu Xiao and Huo Renyu returned, accompanied by two extremely beautiful female Immortals, both disciples of the Half-Sided Divine Nun.

The Half-Sided Divine Nun herself was once an Elder of the Kunlun Sect. Ever since the Founder of the Kunlun Sect ascended, with no leader left, the decision-making for the sect fell upon the nine Great Elders. Of them, the Half-Sided Divine Nun, known for her forthrightness and unsightly appearance paired with an even fouler temper, came into conflict with the other eight and, in a fit of rage, took her disciples and left the Kunlun Sect.

Coincidentally, True Master Zhang Sanfeng of the Wudang Sect ascended without designating a successor. With the five Great Elders each going their own way and some beginning to act increasingly at odds with the sect's principles, almost to the extent of joining an evil cult, Divine Nun Xin Ming, with her junior brother Ling Lingzi, refined the Taiyin Splitting Light Sword left behind by Zhang Sanfeng. In front of the ancestral statue in Wudang Mountain, they embarked on a massacre to cleanse the sect. In the end, only Hao Xingjian fled far to the North Sea, and the other two, along with their disciples, were all slain.

Approaching the end of her life, Divine Nun Xin Ming, who practiced both Buddhism and Daoism, knew her junior brother Ling Lingzi could not manage the affairs of the sect. She invited her good friend, the Half-Sided Divine Nun, to become the Sect Leader of Wudang for several decades.

The Half-Sided Divine Nun took an oath to enhance the reputation of Wudang Sect, and then, upon achieving success, she would step down and return to Kunlun.

Since she was previously an Elder of the Kunlun Sect, she was very close with the younger generation. The two disciples invited by Yu Xiao and Huo Renyu this time were her disciples, Piaomiao'er Shi Mingzhu and female Kunlun Shi Yuzhu. Shi Mingzhu had long held affection for Yu Xiao; they were essentially in a romantic relationship. Shi Yuzhu, full of chivalry, happened to be nearby and seeing Yu Xiao injured, she felt pained and immediately joined forces with him, eager to battle the Evil Monk once more!

Shi Feiyang and Jiang Shu, watching from the cliff, saw the four flying on their swords towards Haideng Temple. They observed the brilliant lights of the temple, forming a tremendously powerful Demon Formation. It seemed obscure but was actually many times more potent than the daytime with the Sun. Those four youngsters, relying on their impetuous nature, plunged into it, as if eagerly rushing to be captured.

He silently calculated in his mind, knowing that they would not heed his advice and were bound to suffer today, but he still felt the need to try. After all, his own disciple was held captive within the temple, and it would be improper to simply watch them rush into a trap with indifference.

Thus, he cast a spell from atop the cliff, reaching out into the void, generating a tremendous suction that seized the four steaks of sword light, diverting them toward him.

As the four were flying, they suddenly felt a force pulling from below to the left, changing their trajectory. Turning their heads, they spotted two people standing on a distant cliff, unsure if they were friends or foes. A clear voice reached their ears, "Four young friends, please come down for a moment, I have an important matter to discuss with you."

The four, seeing Shi Feiyang and Jiang Shu exuding an aura of righteousness, not resembling affiliates of Evil Demons, despite their confusion, descended all the same.

Barely setting foot on the ground, Yu Xiao asked, "Who are you, and why have you stopped us?"

Shi Feiyang gave his and Jiang Shu's names. Hearing his own name was one thing, but upon hearing "Jiang Shu," they were all surprised, exchanging glances and pondering how this youth could have the same name as the Demon Suppression True Master of the Qingcheng Sect.

"You're planning to rescue someone inside Haideng Temple? That Xiong Man is my Disciple."

The four exclaimed in surprise, with Yu Xiao saying, "Then why aren't you rescuing your disciple who's been captured by the demonic monks, yet you stand here idly watching?"

Shi Feiyang said, "This is her fated calamity. Rescuing her prematurely would do her more harm than good. She must withstand this tribulation by her own strength."

Yu Xiao scoffed, "She's a woman who's fallen into a den of lechery, and you're talking about her fated calamity? If she truly loses her honor to those demon monks, not only will she be unable to face others, but as her master, this would reflect poorly upon you as well."

Shi Feiyang knew that Xiong Man and Wei Da had to settle their destined affairs through this tribulation, or else it could have been avoided earlier; simply not letting her come to Central Earth would have sufficed. But there was no need to explain such matters to outsiders.

He stated firmly, "Man will not be defiled by those demon monks."

The only possibility for Xiong Man to be dishonored was with Wei Da, and the final outcome would depend on her will and choices.

Of course, Yu Xiao was not convinced: "I grew up listening to the tales of the Three Heroines of Min River. Later, after entering the Immortal Path, Grandmother Jin was on par with my master, and they were our seniors. Heroine Xiong was her second sister. You're her master, aren't you older than Grandmother Jin and my master? Seeing you act so weak, compared to them, or even to us... Heh, you're not that great!"

This damned kid's words were truly unpleasant to the ear, yet Shi Feiyang did not get angry. First, they came with the intent to rescue his disciple, so he should bear any excessive language. Second, this was his grandson's generation; he could not equate himself with them.

Ignoring Yu Xiao, he spoke to Huo Renyu and Shi Yuzhu, "Inside Haideng Temple, a Golden Lamp Formation has been laid out, like an inescapable net. If you enter now, you will be trapped."

Yu Xiao angrily declared, "Even if it truly is an inescapable net, we must attempt a breakthrough. Even though my disciple isn't within..."

Huo Renyu calmed him and respectfully apologized to Shi Feiyang, "Then, according to senior's viewpoint, what should we do?"

Shi Feiyang said, "Inside there is a middle-aged monk named Wei Da. He claims that this is the Great Sun Tathagata Golden Lamp Formation, planning to extinguish three lamps from the Xun Position at the hour of Zi, to weaken the power of the formation before letting us in. However, according to my calculations, every move he makes is under the surveillance of the Chuandeng Demon Monk. Even his thoughts are fully known by his adversary.

Wei Da says the formation can absorb the True Sun Fire, suggesting it's more powerful during the day and weaker at night. In truth, the opposite is true – the formation does not correspond with Bing Fire but rather with Ding Fire, and at night its power is at its peak. The Chuandeng Monk will surely use this to set an ambush to capture us all at once. We must use their own strategy against them…"

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