Chapter 69: Both Real and Illusory

As Mei Qing seemed to have no way to evade, Zhao Dayou and the others were greatly alarmed. Yet Mei Qing remained calm, holding a talisman with both hands while chanting incantations: “Yin and Yang divide, thunder arises and prohibitions are enforced…” It was precisely the same Thunder Prohibition Technique he had used before.

Zheng Jiu, seeing Mei Qing indeed resorting to the Thunder Prohibition Technique again, couldn’t help but reveal a faintly sinister smile on his face. Then, raising his right hand once more to form a mudra, he chanted: “Preserve the prohibition, guard my true body, hold fast!” Instantly, a blackish light flashed, and the giant serpent in the air was enveloped from head to tail in a grayish aura.

Seeing that Mei Qing had no way to avoid the situation, Zhao Dayou and the others were greatly alarmed. However, Mei Qing remained calm, holding a hand seal and chanting, “Yin and Yang separate, thunder arises, and the forbidden path is sealed…” It was the Thunder Forbidden Technique he had used before.

Zheng Jiu, seeing that Mei Qing indeed resorted to the Thunder Forbidden Technique again, couldn’t help but show a sinister smile. He then raised his right hand to form a seal and chanted, “Preserve the forbidden, guard the true self, hold!” A dark light flashed, and the giant snake in the air was enveloped from head to tail in a layer of grayish energy.

Zheng Jiu, being the most cunning, had already witnessed Mei Qing’s forbidden techniques and had some knowledge of the one Mei Qing had just used. Therefore, among all present, he was the most wary of Mei Qing. As soon as he took action, he was willing to sacrifice his bag of dragon ants to capture Mei Qing.

After secretly releasing the Iron-clad Snake from his waist, he kept a close eye on Mei Qing. Seeing that Mei Qing indeed intended to use the Thunder Forbidden Technique against the enemy, he immediately activated the countermeasure he had prepared.

Zheng Jiu had heard of the power of Mei Qing’s forbidden technique. Although his Iron-clad Snake was quite remarkable, he dared not be careless in the face of the legendary might of the Thunder Forbidden Technique. Therefore, he prepared a protective spell. As soon as Mei Qing activated the forbidden technique, he immediately cast the protective spell on the Iron-clad Snake. Although this protective spell couldn’t block all forbidden techniques in the world, it only needed to delay for a moment, which would be enough time to capture Mei Qing.

Zheng Jiu didn’t know that Mei Qing wasn’t as formidable as he imagined, and the Thunder Forbidden Technique Mei Qing practiced was only half-baked. If Mei Qing knew that this had caused the short Taoist to value him so highly, even at the cost of capturing him, he would surely regret his earlier actions.

Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, and Zhou Chang, seeing the giant snake descending from the sky and already reaching Mei Qing’s head, couldn’t help but shout in alarm, “Lord Mei!” However, after Zhao Dayou shouted, he leaped backward. Meanwhile, Yao and Zhou drew their steel swords and charged forward, left and right, trying to block the giant snake’s descent.

But the giant snake moved as swiftly as a flash of light, and Yao and Zhou were a step too late to save Mei Qing.

With a loud crash, the giant snake struck the ground like a meteor, creating a large crater where Mei Qing had been. The scattered soil covered Yao and Zhou, leaving them covered in dust.

Yao and Zhou were furious. Both of them were military men, and having their superior killed right before their eyes was a crime they couldn’t explain upon their return. They were ready to fight to the death, having already cast aside their fear of the giant snake and its dark magic. They swung their steel swords at the giant snake.

With two dull thuds, their swords struck the snake’s body, but not even a white mark was left. The giant snake let out a strange, chicken-like cry, flicked its tail, and sent both men flying.

Meanwhile, Zheng Jiu on the opposite side was utterly bewildered.

Earlier, he had thought his plan was meticulous, having anticipated Mei Qing’s reactions and countermeasures, and was certain that Mei Qing couldn’t avoid the giant snake’s strike. Everything had gone as he expected: Mei Qing chanted the forbidden spell, and he protected the snake’s body, just as he had planned. But when the snake’s mouth reached Mei Qing, Mei Qing, who had been standing there chanting, suddenly disappeared!

It wasn’t that Mei Qing had become invisible like Sun Busan, but he had genuinely escaped Zheng Jiu’s spiritual lock, vanishing from Zheng Jiu’s spiritual senses. The giant snake was connected to Zheng Jiu’s mind. If Mei Qing had been there, it would have swallowed him whole and captured Mei Qing to plan an escape. But with Mei Qing’s disappearance, the giant snake naturally lost its target, unsure of what to do, and thus crashed into the ground, creating a large crater.

While Zheng Jiu was still in shock, Sun Busi, who was beside him, didn’t stop. He formed a hand seal and controlled the green light from the jade tablet to strike the air above the cloth bag. With a loud bang, the bag was shattered into pieces, scattering like falling leaves.

With the bag destroyed, the swarm of dragon ants that had been buzzing and striking the copper bowl became chaotic, flying and colliding in all directions, creating a cacophony of clanging sounds. Then, a gentle breeze swept through, dispersing the swarm of ants like clouds blown away by the wind. The moonlight in the courtyard was as clear as water, and not a single strange insect could be seen.

“You cunning dwarf, you tried to trick me! Let’s see what I can do!” Sun Busan, somewhat disheveled, emerged from the copper bowl. As soon as he stood firm, his body became as solid as a vajra pestle, and he clasped his hands together, chanting like a bell, “Om… Ma… Ni…”

As he chanted the Buddhist mantra, the six-character Sanskrit mantra on the copper bowl lit up one by one, and a golden light shone brightly, exuding a solemn aura.

Even though they were worried about Mei Qing, Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, and Zhou Chang couldn’t help but laugh. Especially when they saw Sun Busi secretly raising the jade tablet again, preparing to strike, they found it both amusing and exasperating. These two brothers were too much. They had just played this trick on the white-clothed Yang Jin, and now they were trying the same trick again? Would it work?

After a moment of confusion, the short Taoist Zheng Jiu quickly regained his composure and couldn’t help but show a mocking expression. It seemed that these brothers had been taught this trick by someone, but unfortunately, they weren’t very bright and didn’t know how to adapt. This time, they would have to be taught a lesson.

Zheng Jiu formed the shapes of a tiger and a crane with his hands. The giant snake in the crater rose like a dragon drinking water, completely ignoring Sun Busan’s pretentious act. The snake’s tail lashed out like a whip towards the green light from the jade tablet, while the snake’s head, trailing a black light, secretly attacked Sun Busi from below.

Zheng Jiu thought that as long as he blocked the jade tablet’s strike and successfully ambushed Sun Busi, the fake monk who only knew how to bluff would be no match for him.

But this time, things turned out completely unexpected for everyone. Sun Busan’s voice, like an echo in a valley, continued to chant without pause, “Ba… Mi… Hong…” The last syllable was like the tolling of a great bell. To everyone’s ears, it was just a vibrating sound, but in Zheng Jiu’s spiritual senses, it was like a thunderclap.

If Zheng Jiu had been prepared for this, he wouldn’t have fallen for Sun Busan’s trick. But he thought Sun Busan was bluffing again, just like before, so he paid no attention. As a result, he was completely unprepared for Sun Busan’s sonic attack, which shook his spiritual senses. This blow left Zheng Jiu’s vision dark, his internal energy churning like a stormy sea, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

With Zheng Jiu injured, the giant snake lost control and froze in mid-air, unsure of what to do. Sun Busi’s jade tablet’s green light didn’t hesitate, arcing down and striking Zheng Jiu’s head directly, causing it to explode like a thousand peach blossoms. Zheng Jiu’s head was driven into his torso, and from a distance, it looked as if his already short stature had shrunk even further.

Poor Zheng Jiu, who was only at the stage of condensing his core and hadn’t yet formed his nascent soul, had his body destroyed and his spirit left with nowhere to go, resulting in his soul scattering.

His short body stiffened on the spot, and after a moment, it fell backward with a thud. The giant snake also fell to the ground with a “plop,” twisted a few times, and then, with a “sizzling” sound, the entire snake’s body began to melt away. Its scales and flesh rapidly dissolved, and soon it became a pool of foul-smelling blood that seeped into the ground, turning it black.

“Ah, what a sin, what a sin. Second brother, you pretended to be a monk again and tricked someone. Look what you’ve done…” Sun Busi’s bitter voice rang out again. “Nonsense! When did I pretend to be a monk? I just chanted a few mantras, does that make me a monk? That last strike was clearly yours, so if anyone’s going to hell, it’s you, not me!” Sun Busan retorted in his shrill voice.

But this time, no one found it funny. The short Taoist Zheng Jiu, who had been secretly laughing in his heart, was now a broken corpse in the dust.

“Where is Lord Mei? How is he?” Zhao Dayou, who had been hiding in the back, finally calmed down enough to think of Mei Qing. But when he looked into the crater created by the giant snake, there was no sign of Mei Qing.

“I’m here, thank you for your concern,” Mei Qing’s voice suddenly came from behind them. Everyone turned to see Mei Qing walking leisurely into the courtyard from outside. “You two seniors have displayed great power in killing this villain. Mei Qing thanks you.”

“Lord Mei!” Zhao Dayou exclaimed, both surprised and delighted. “You’re alright? How did you… suddenly end up outside?”

Not only Zhao Dayou, but the others were also puzzled. Even the Busan and Busi brothers, who considered themselves experts, hadn’t seen clearly in the heat of the moment. Naturally, they couldn’t bring themselves to ask, but they also looked at Mei Qing, waiting for his explanation.

Mei Qing smiled and said, “That monkey played the trick of diverting attention last time. This time, I noticed that this guy seemed to be targeting me, so I was prepared. Fortunately, I’ve learned a bit of magic, so escaping was easy.”

Mei Qing’s words weren’t entirely truthful. The first part was correct; he had indeed been cautious and noticed Zheng Jiu’s sidelong glances, so he prepared an escape technique. But the part about the “bit of magic” was more nuanced.

At that moment, Mei Qing had been chanting the Thunder Forbidden Technique’s spell, which had deceived Zheng Jiu into thinking Mei Qing was going to counter the giant snake with the forbidden technique. However, Mei Qing had only learned two types of magic: forbidden techniques and escape techniques. To master these two methods for self-defense and subduing enemies, he had put in some effort.

Normally, when casting a spell, one chants the corresponding incantation. Only when one’s magic is advanced and one is skilled can one chant silently or even cast spells with a thought. Mei Qing, however, had come up with a unique method. Not only could he chant silently, but he had also developed a new trick through occasional inspiration.

Thus, after secretly releasing the iron-armored serpent from his waist, he had been closely watching Mei Qing. Seeing Mei Qing attempt to counterattack with the Thunder Prohibition Technique, he immediately enacted the countermeasure he had prepared in advance.

Seeing Mei Qing with no way to escape, Zhao Dayou and the others were greatly alarmed. However, Mei Qing remained calm, holding a hand seal and chanting, “Yin and Yang divide, thunder arises, halt the advance…” It was the Thunder Restriction Technique he had used before.

Zheng Jiu, seeing Mei Qing indeed resorting to the Thunder Restriction Technique again, couldn’t help but show a sinister smile. He then raised his right hand to form a seal, chanting, “Preserve the restriction, guard my true self, hold!” A dark light flashed, and the giant snake in the air, from head to tail, was enveloped in a layer of grayish energy.

Zheng Jiu, known for his deep cunning, had already seen Mei Qing’s restriction technique and had some knowledge of it. Thus, among those present, he was the most wary of Mei Qing. At the first move, he was willing to sacrifice his bag of dragon ants to capture Mei Qing.

After secretly releasing the Iron Clothed Snake from his waist, he kept a close eye on Mei Qing. Seeing Mei Qing indeed attempting to use the Thunder Restriction Technique against the enemy, he immediately activated his prearranged countermeasure.

Zheng Jiu had heard of the power of Mei Qing’s restriction technique. Although his Iron Clothed Snake was quite remarkable, fearing the legendary power of the Thunder Restriction, he dared not be careless. Therefore, he prepared a protective technique, which he immediately applied to the Iron Clothed Snake upon seeing Mei Qing activate his restriction. Although this protective technique couldn’t block all restrictions, it only needed to delay for a moment, giving enough time to capture Mei Qing.

Zheng Jiu didn’t know that Mei Qing wasn’t as he imagined, and the Thunder Restriction Technique was only half-mastered. If Mei Qing knew that this had caused the short Taoist to value him so highly, willing to pay any price to capture him, he would surely regret his earlier move.

On the side, Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, and Zhou Chang, seeing the long snake strike down from the air, already at Mei Qing’s head, couldn’t help but shout in alarm, “Lord Mei!” However, Zhao Dayou, after shouting, leaped backward. Yao and Zhou, on the other hand, drew their steel swords and charged forward, trying to block the giant snake’s descent.

But the giant snake moved like a fleeting shadow, arriving in an instant. Yao and Zhou were a step too late, how could they save him?

With a loud bang, the long snake struck the ground like a meteor, creating a large crater where Mei Qing had been. The scattered soil covered Yao and Zhou, leaving them covered in dust.

Yao and Zhou were furious. Both were military men, accompanying their superior, yet they had failed to protect him in front of their eyes. This crime would be hard to explain upon their return. Both were ready to fight to the death, having already thrown their fear of the giant snake to the wind, their steel swords slashing at the snake.

With two dull thuds, Yao and Zhou’s swords struck the snake’s body like hitting rotten leather, leaving not even a white mark. The giant snake let out a strange cry, like a rooster’s crow, and with a flick of its tail, sent both men flying.

Meanwhile, Zheng Jiu on the opposite side was bewildered.

Earlier, he had thought his plan was precise, having considered Mei Qing’s reactions and countermeasures, believing the giant snake’s strike would be unavoidable. Indeed, things started as he thought, with Mei Qing chanting the restriction spell, and he protecting the snake’s body, just as he had planned. But when the snake’s mouth reached Mei Qing, the chanting Mei Qing suddenly disappeared!

It wasn’t that Mei Qing had become invisible like Sun Busan, but he had truly escaped Zheng Jiu’s spiritual lock, disappearing from his spiritual sense. The giant snake, connected to Zheng Jiu’s mind, would have swallowed Mei Qing whole if he were present, capturing him to plan an escape. But with Mei Qing’s disappearance, the snake naturally lost its target, confused, and thus crashed into the ground, creating a large crater.

While Zheng Jiu was still in shock, Sun Busi’s subordinate didn’t stop. He formed a hand seal, controlling the jade tablet’s green light to strike the air bag from above. With a loud bang, the bag shattered into pieces, scattering like falling leaves.

With the bag broken, the group of dragon ants that had been buzzing and striking the copper bowl suddenly became chaotic, flying and colliding everywhere, the clanging sounds intensifying. Then a gentle breeze blew, dispersing the ants like clouds parting, and in an instant, the moonlight in the courtyard was clear, with no trace of any strange insects.

“You shorty, you actually tricked me, let’s see my skills!” Sun Busan, somewhat disheveled, emerged from the copper bowl, standing firm like a vajra pestle, hands clasped together, chanting like a bell, “Om… Ma… Ni…”

As he chanted the Buddhist mantra, the six-character Sanskrit mantra on the copper bowl lit up one by one, naturally emitting a bright golden light, a solemn sight.

Even though they were worried about Mei Qing, Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, and Zhou Chang couldn’t help but laugh. Especially seeing Sun Busi secretly raising the jade tablet again, ready to strike, they found it both amusing and frustrating. These two brothers were too funny, having just played this trick on the white-clothed Yang Jin, and now trying the same trick again? Would it work?

The short Taoist Zheng Jiu, after a moment of shock, quickly reacted, showing a mocking expression. It seemed these brothers’ trickery had been taught by someone, but unfortunately, their brains weren’t flexible enough to adapt. This time, they would have to be taught a lesson.

Zheng Jiu formed the shapes of a tiger and crane with his hands, and the giant snake in the crater rose like a dragon drinking water, completely ignoring the pretending Sun Busan. The snake’s tail lashed out like a whip towards the jade tablet’s green light, while the snake’s head, with a black light, sneaked up from below towards Sun Busi’s feet.

In Zheng Jiu’s mind, as long as he blocked the jade tablet’s strike and successfully ambushed Sun Busi, the fake monk who only bluffed would be no match.

But this time, it was beyond everyone’s expectations. Sun Busan’s voice, like an echo in a valley, continued without pause, chanting, “Ba… Mi… Hong…” The last sound was indeed like a great bell, vibrating in everyone’s ears, but in Zheng Jiu’s spiritual sense, it was like a thunderclap.

If Zheng Jiu had been prepared for this, he wouldn’t have fallen for Sun Busan’s trick. But he thought Sun Busan was bluffing like before, so he didn’t pay attention, resulting in Sun Busan’s sound attack directly shaking his spiritual sense. This blow made Zheng Jiu’s vision go black, his internal energy surging like a storm, and a mouthful of blood spurted out.

With Zheng Jiu injured, the giant snake lost control, stopping in mid-air, confused. Sun Busi’s jade tablet green light didn’t hesitate, drawing an arc from above, directly striking Zheng Jiu’s head, making it burst like ten thousand peach blossoms, driving Zheng Jiu’s head into his torso, making his already short stature seem even shorter.

Poor Zheng Jiu was only in the condensation stage, his nascent soul not yet formed. With his body destroyed, his spirit had nowhere to rely, naturally leading to his soul scattering.

His short body stiffened on the spot, and after a moment, fell backward with a thud. The giant snake also fell to the ground with a “plop,” twisted a few times, and then with a “sizzling” sound, the entire snake body melted away, scales and flesh disappearing at a visible speed, soon turning into a pool of foul-smelling blood, seeping into the ground, turning it black.

“Ah, sin, sin, second brother, you pretended to be a monk again. Look what you’ve done to him…” Sun Busi’s bitter voice rang out again. “Nonsense! When did I pretend to be a monk? I just chanted a few mantras, does that make me a monk? That last strike was clearly yours, so if you go to hell, it’s your fault, not mine!” Sun Busan still retorted sharply.

But this time, no one found it funny. The short Taoist Zheng Jiu, who had been secretly laughing in his heart, was now a broken corpse in the dust.

“Where is Lord Mei? How is he?” Zhao Dayou, hiding in the back, finally calmed down and remembered Mei Qing. But looking into the crater made by the giant snake, there seemed to be no trace of Mei Qing.

“I’m here, thank you for your concern,” Mei Qing’s voice suddenly came from behind. Everyone turned to see Mei Qing calmly entering from outside the courtyard: “You two seniors have shown great power, killing this beast, Mei Qing thanks you here.”

“Lord Mei!” Zhao Dayou said with both surprise and joy: “You’re alright? How did you… suddenly run outside?”

Not only Zhao Dayou, but the others were also puzzled. Even the Busan and Busi brothers, in the urgency of the situation, hadn’t seen clearly. But as self-proclaimed experts, they naturally couldn’t ask directly, but they also looked at Mei Qing, waiting for his explanation.

Mei Qing smiled: “Last time, that monkey played the trick of feinting east and striking west. This time, I saw this guy seemed to be targeting me, so I was naturally prepared. Fortunately, I’ve learned a bit of magic, so running away was convenient.”

Mei Qing’s words weren’t entirely truthful. The first part was correct; he had indeed been cautious, seeing Zheng Jiu’s sidelong glance at him while speaking, so he prepared an escape technique. But the latter part about a bit of magic was somewhat mysterious.

At that time, Mei Qing was chanting the Thunder Restriction Technique’s spell, thus deceiving Zheng Jiu into thinking Mei Qing was using the restriction to counter the giant snake. But what Zheng Jiu didn’t know was that Mei Qing had only learned two types of Taoist techniques: restriction and escape. Therefore, to use these two methods proficiently for self-protection and subduing enemies, he had put in some effort.

Normally, when casting a spell, one chants the corresponding spell. Only when the spell is deeply mastered and skillfully applied can one chant silently or even cast with a thought. But Mei Qing had a unique approach, not only practicing silent chanting but also occasionally having a flash of inspiration, eventually developing a new trick.

What Zheng Jiu did not know, however, was that Mei Qing was not actually from the background he had imagined, and his Thunder Prohibition Technique was only half-baked. If Mei Qing had known that this short Daoist priest held him in such high regard, going to such lengths to capture him, he would have deeply regretted his earlier decision to act.

Meanwhile, Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, and Zhou Chang, seeing the long serpent descending from the sky and already reaching above Mei Qing’s head, couldn’t help but cry out in alarm: “Lord Mei!” Immediately after shouting, Zhao Dayou leaped backward. Yao and Zhou, however, simultaneously drew their steel sabers and charged forward from left and right, attempting to block the serpent’s downward strike.

But the serpent moved like a fleeting shadow, arriving in an instant. Yao and Zhou were just too late to save him.

With a thunderous crash, the serpent struck down like a falling star upon the spot where Mei Qing stood. Dust and debris flew everywhere, and the ground was blown into a large crater by the impact, scattering soil that covered Yao and Zhou, leaving them covered in dirt and dust.

Yao and Zhou were furious. Both were military men, accompanying their superior officer on an outing, yet someone had killed their superior right before their eyes. They feared they would be unable to explain this upon their return. Both were filled with the resolve to fight to the death, casting aside all fear of the monstrous serpent’s sorcery. Wielding their sabers, they slashed toward the serpent.

But the sabers struck with dull thuds, landing on the serpent’s body like cutting through rotten cloth, leaving not even a white mark. Then, with a strange crow-like cry, the serpent shook its long tail and flung the two men away.

Meanwhile, Zheng Jiu on the opposing side wore a stunned expression.

Earlier, he had been confident in his calculations, anticipating Mei Qing’s reaction and countermeasures with clarity. He was certain that Mei Qing would not be able to evade the serpent’s strike. Yet, as events unfolded exactly as he had predicted—Mei Qing chanting his incantation and Zheng Jiu protecting the serpent—when the serpent reached Mei Qing, the latter, who had been standing there chanting, suddenly vanished!

It wasn’t that Mei Qing had hidden like Sun Busan, but had truly escaped Zheng Jiu’s spiritual perception, disappearing entirely from his awareness. The serpent was connected to Zheng Jiu’s mind; had Mei Qing still been present, it would have swallowed him whole. Then, with Mei Qing gone, the serpent naturally lost its target, confused, and ended up crashing headfirst into the ground, creating a large crater.

Zheng Jiu was still stunned when Sun Busi’s subordinate on the side did not pause. He formed a Daoist mudra with his fingers, controlling the jade tablet’s green light to strike downward upon the floating sack in the air. With a loud bang, the sack was shattered into pieces, scattering like falling petals.

Seeing that Mei Qing had no way to avoid the situation, Zhao Dayou and the others were greatly alarmed. However, Mei Qing remained calm, holding a hand seal and chanting, “Yin and Yang separate, thunder arises, halt…” It was the Thunder Restriction Technique he had used before.

Zheng Jiu, seeing that Mei Qing indeed resorted to the Thunder Restriction Technique again, couldn’t help but show a sinister smile. Immediately, he raised his right hand to form a seal and chanted, “Preserve the restriction, guard my true self, hold!” A dark light flashed, and the giant snake in the air, from head to tail, was enveloped in a layer of grayish energy.

It turned out that Zheng Jiu was the most cunning among them. He had already seen the restriction technique Mei Qing used and had some knowledge of the technique Mei Qing had just employed. Therefore, among those present, he was the most wary of Mei Qing. As soon as he made his move, he was willing to sacrifice a bag of dragon ants to capture Mei Qing.

After secretly releasing the Iron-Clad Snake from his waist, he had been keeping an eye on Mei Qing. Seeing that Mei Qing indeed intended to use the Thunder Restriction Technique to counter, he immediately activated the prepared countermeasure.

Zheng Jiu had heard of the power of Mei Qing’s restriction technique. Although his Iron-Clad Snake was quite remarkable, fearing the legendary power of the Thunder Restriction, he dared not be careless. Thus, he prepared a protective technique. As soon as Mei Qing activated the restriction, he immediately applied the protective technique to the Iron-Clad Snake. Although this protective technique couldn’t block all restrictions, it only needed to delay for a moment, which would be enough time to capture Mei Qing.

Zheng Jiu didn’t know that Mei Qing’s background was not as he imagined, and the Thunder Restriction Technique was only half-mastered. If Mei Qing knew that this had caused the short Taoist to value him so highly, willing to pay any price to capture him, he would surely regret his earlier actions.

On the side, Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, and Zhou Chang, seeing the long snake strike down from the air, already reaching the top of Mei Qing’s head, couldn’t help but shout in alarm, “Lord Mei!” However, after Zhao Dayou shouted, he leaped backward. Meanwhile, Yao and Zhou drew their steel swords and charged forward, left and right, trying to block the giant snake’s downward strike.

But the giant snake moved like a fleeting shadow, arriving in an instant. Yao and Zhou were a step too late; how could they save him?

With a loud crash, the long snake struck the ground like a meteor, creating a large crater where Mei Qing had been. The scattered dust covered Yao and Zhou, leaving them disheveled.

Yao and Zhou were furious. Both were military men, accompanying their superior on this mission. To have their superior killed before their eyes was a crime they couldn’t explain upon their return. Both were ready to fight to the death, casting aside their fear of the giant snake and its evil magic. They swung their steel swords at the snake.

With two dull thuds, their swords struck the snake’s body like hitting rotten leather, leaving not even a white mark. The giant snake let out a strange, chicken-like cry, flicked its tail, and sent both men flying.

Meanwhile, Zheng Jiu on the opposite side was bewildered.

Earlier, he had thought his plan was meticulous, anticipating Mei Qing’s reactions and countermeasures, certain that Mei Qing couldn’t avoid the snake’s strike. Indeed, things started as he expected: Mei Qing chanted the restriction, and he protected the snake, just as planned. But when the snake’s mouth reached Mei Qing, the chanting Mei Qing suddenly disappeared!

It wasn’t that Mei Qing had become invisible like Sun Busan, but he had genuinely escaped Zheng Jiu’s spiritual lock, vanishing from his spiritual sense. The giant snake was connected to Zheng Jiu’s mind. If Mei Qing had been there, it would have swallowed him whole, capturing Mei Qing before planning an escape. But with Mei Qing’s disappearance, the snake lost its target, confused, and thus crashed into the ground, creating a large crater.

While Zheng Jiu was still in shock, Sun Busi’s subordinate didn’t stop. He formed a hand seal, controlling the jade tablet’s green light to strike the floating cloth bag in the air. With a loud bang, the bag shattered into pieces, scattering like falling leaves.

With the bag destroyed, the buzzing dragon ants that had been striking the copper bowl became chaotic, flying and colliding in all directions, creating a cacophony of clanging sounds. Then, a gentle breeze blew, dispersing the swarm of dragon ants like clouds parting under the wind. The moonlight in the courtyard was as clear as water, with no trace of any strange insects.

“You sneaky dwarf, you tried to trick me! Let’s see my skills!” Sun Busan, somewhat disheveled, emerged from the copper bowl. As soon as he steadied himself, he stood like a vajra pestle, hands clasped, chanting like a bell, “Om… Ma… Ni…”

As he chanted the Buddhist mantra, the Sanskrit six-syllable mantra on the copper bowl lit up one by one, radiating a golden light, exuding a solemn aura.

Even though they were worried about Mei Qing, Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, and Zhou Chang couldn’t help but laugh. Especially when they saw Sun Busi secretly raising the jade tablet again, preparing to strike, they found it both amusing and frustrating. These two brothers were too much. They had just played this trick, deceiving the white-clothed Yang Jin, and now they were trying the same trick again? Would it work?

The short Taoist Zheng Jiu, after a moment of confusion, quickly reacted, showing a mocking expression. It seemed that these brothers had been taught this trick, but unfortunately, they weren’t very bright and didn’t know how to adapt. This time, they would have to be taught a lesson.

Zheng Jiu formed the shapes of a tiger and a crane with his hands. The giant snake in the crater rose like a dragon drinking water, completely ignoring the pretentious Sun Busan. The snake’s tail lashed out like a whip towards the jade tablet’s green light, while the snake’s head, trailing a black light, sneaked towards Sun Busi’s feet.

Zheng Jiu thought that as long as he blocked the jade tablet’s strike and successfully ambushed Sun Busi, the fake monk who only bluffed would be no match.

But this time, things took an unexpected turn. Sun Busan’s voice, resonating like an echo in a valley, continued to chant without pause, “Ba… Mi… Hong…” The final syllable was like a tolling bell, vibrating in everyone’s ears, but in Zheng Jiu’s spiritual sense, it was like a thunderclap.

If Zheng Jiu had been prepared, he wouldn’t have fallen for Sun Busan’s trick. But he thought Sun Busan was bluffing again, so he paid no attention, leaving himself completely open to Sun Busan’s sonic attack. This direct hit left Zheng Jiu’s vision dark, his internal energy churning like a stormy sea, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

With Zheng Jiu injured, the giant snake lost control, hovering in mid-air, confused. Sun Busi’s jade tablet green light didn’t hesitate, arcing down and striking Zheng Jiu’s head directly, causing it to explode like ten thousand peach blossoms, embedding Zheng Jiu’s head into his torso, making his already short stature seem even shorter.

Poor Zheng Jiu, only at the core formation stage, had not yet formed his nascent soul. With his body destroyed and his spirit without a vessel, he could only face the fate of soul dispersion.

His short body stiffened on the spot, and after a moment, fell backward with a thud. The giant snake also fell to the ground with a “plop,” twisted a few times, and then with a “sizzling” sound, the entire snake body began to melt, its scales and flesh rapidly dissolving into a pool of foul-smelling blood, seeping into the ground, turning it black.

“Ah, sin, sin, brother, you pretended to be a monk again and tricked someone. Look what you’ve done…” Sun Busi’s bitter voice rang out again. “Nonsense! When did I pretend to be a monk? I just chanted a few mantras, does that make me a monk? That last strike was clearly yours, so if anyone’s going to hell, it’s you, not me!” Sun Busan retorted sharply.

But this time, no one found it funny. The short Taoist Zheng Jiu, who had been secretly laughing in his heart, was now a broken corpse in the dust.

“Where is Lord Mei? How is he?” Zhao Dayou, who had been hiding in the back, finally calmed down and remembered Mei Qing. But looking into the crater made by the giant snake, there seemed to be no trace of Mei Qing.

“I’m here, thank you for your concern,” Mei Qing’s voice suddenly came from behind. Everyone turned to see Mei Qing leisurely walking into the courtyard from outside. “You two seniors displayed great power, killing this villain. Mei Qing thanks you here.”

“Lord Mei!” Zhao Dayou exclaimed, both surprised and delighted. “You’re alright? How did you… suddenly end up outside?”

Not only Zhao Dayou, but the others were also puzzled. Even the Busan and Busi brothers, in the heat of the moment, hadn’t seen clearly. But as self-proclaimed experts, they naturally couldn’t ask directly, so they just watched Mei Qing, waiting for his explanation.

Mei Qing smiled. “Last time, that monkey played the trick of feinting east and striking west. This time, I saw that this guy seemed to be targeting me, so I was prepared. Fortunately, I’ve learned a bit of magic, so escaping was convenient.”

Mei Qing’s words weren’t entirely truthful. The first part was correct; he had indeed been cautious, noticing Zheng Jiu’s sidelong glance and preparing an escape technique. But the latter part about a bit of magic was somewhat mysterious.

At that time, Mei Qing had been chanting the Thunder Restriction Technique’s incantation, which had deceived Zheng Jiu into thinking Mei Qing was countering the giant snake with a restriction. However, Mei Qing had only mastered two techniques: the restriction and the escape technique. To use these two methods to protect himself and subdue enemies, he had put in some effort.

Normally, when casting a spell, one chants the corresponding incantation. Only when one’s magic is advanced and well-practiced can one chant silently or even cast spells with mere thoughts. Mei Qing, however, had come up with a new trick. Not only could he chant silently, but he had also developed a new technique through a stroke of inspiration.

“You lowlife! You dared to trick me! Now watch my power!” Sun Busan, somewhat disheveled, emerged from the copper bowl. As soon as he steadied himself, he stood like an unshakable golden pillar, hands clasped together, chanting in a metallic voice: “Om…”

As he recited the Buddhist mantra, the Sanskrit syllables on the copper bowl lit up one by one, radiating brilliant golden light, creating a solemn and majestic aura.

Despite their shock at Mei Qing’s disappearance, Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, and Zhou Chang couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. Especially when they saw Sun Busi secretly raising the jade tablet again, preparing to strike, they were even more amused. These two brothers were just too ridiculous. Just moments ago, they had played this trick on the white-robed Yang Jin, and now they were repeating the same act, trying to ambush someone again? Would it really work this time?

After a moment of stunned silence, the short Daoist priest Zheng Jiu quickly regained his composure, a mocking expression appearing on his face. It seemed these brothers had been taught this underhanded trick by someone, but unfortunately, they were not very clever and lacked adaptability. This time, he would have to teach them a lesson.

Zheng Jiu formed a tiger-crane mudra with both hands. The giant serpent in the crater on the ground rose like a dragon drinking water, ignoring the posturing Sun Busan. Its tail lashed like a whip toward the jade tablet’s green light, while its head swept upward in a black arc, stealthily attacking Sun Busi’s feet.

Zheng Jiu thought that as long as he blocked the jade tablet’s strike and successfully ambushed Sun Busi, the false monk who only knew how to bluff would be easy prey.

But this time, things took an unexpected turn for everyone. Sun Busan continued chanting, his voice echoing like a mountain reverberation: “Padme…” The final syllable rang out like a great bell. To the others, it was merely a powerful sound vibration, but to Zheng Jiu’s spiritual sense, it was like a thunderclap.

If Zheng Jiu had been prepared, he naturally wouldn’t have fallen for Sun Busan’s trick. But he had assumed Sun Busan was bluffing again, just as before, so he paid no attention. As a result, he was completely unprepared when Sun Busan attacked his spiritual sense with the sound technique. The impact struck Zheng Jiu like a blow to the head, his vision darkening, his inner energy surging chaotically like a storm-tossed sea, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

With Zheng Jiu injured, the giant serpent lost control, freezing mid-air, confused and directionless. Without hesitation, Sun Busi’s jade tablet emitted a green arc of light, striking down from above directly onto Zheng Jiu’s head. The impact shattered his skull into countless fragments, as if his short frame had suddenly become even shorter.

Poor Zheng Jiu, still at the Foundation Building stage without having formed his Nascent Soul, had his physical body destroyed, leaving his spirit homeless, destined only to dissipate.

His small body stiffened on the spot. After a moment, it collapsed backward with a thud. The giant serpent also fell to the ground with a loud smack, writhing for a moment before emitting a hissing sound. Its entire body began to melt, scales and flesh dissolving visibly at an alarming rate. Soon, it had become a pool of foul, black blood, seeping into the ground.

“Oh dear, what a sin, what a sin. Brother, you tricked people again by pretending to be a monk. Look at what you did to him…” Sun Busi groaned in exasperation.

“Nonsense! When did I pretend to be a monk? Just because I recited a few mantras, does that make me a monk? That final blow was clearly your doing. If anyone goes to hell for this, it’ll be you, not me!” Sun Busan retorted shrilly.

But this time, no one found it amusing. The short Iron-Robed Daoist Zheng Jiu, who had been secretly scheming just moments ago, was now a broken corpse among the dust.

“Where is Lord Mei? How is he?” Zhao Dayou, who had been hiding at the back, finally regained his composure and remembered Mei Qing. Looking into the crater created by the serpent’s strike, however, there was no sign of Mei Qing.

“I am here. I appreciate everyone’s concern,” a voice suddenly came from behind them. Everyone turned to see Mei Qing calmly entering from the courtyard’s entrance: “Esteemed elders, your great display of power in defeating this villain is much appreciated.”

“Lord Mei!” Zhao Dayou exclaimed, both startled and delighted: “You’re alright? How did you suddenly end up outside?”

Not only Zhao Dayou, but the others were equally puzzled. Even the Busan and Busi brothers, caught up in the urgency of the moment, hadn’t seen clearly what had happened. However, considering themselves superior figures, they naturally refrained from asking directly, but still watched Mei Qing closely, waiting for his explanation.

Mei Qing smiled: “The last time, that monkey used a feint tactic. This time, seeing that this fellow seemed to target me, I naturally prepared in advance. Fortunately, I’ve learned a few minor spells, so escaping was not too difficult.”

Mei Qing’s words were not entirely accurate. The first part was true—he had indeed been cautious, noticing Zheng Jiu’s sidelong glance when he spoke, so he had prepared an escape technique. But the part about “a few minor spells” was a bit more complex.

Seeing that Mei Qing had no way to avoid the attack, Zhao Dayou and the others were greatly alarmed. However, Mei Qing remained calm, holding a hand seal and chanting, “Yin and Yang divide, thunder arises, the forbidden path…” It was the Thunder Forbidden Technique he had used before.

Seeing that Mei Qing indeed resorted to the Thunder Forbidden Technique again, Zheng Jiu couldn’t help but show a sinister smile. He immediately raised his right hand to form a seal and chanted, “Preserve the forbidden, guard the true self, hold!” A dark light flashed, and the giant snake in the air, from head to tail, was enveloped in a layer of grayish energy.

Zheng Jiu, being the most cunning, had already witnessed Mei Qing’s forbidden technique and had some understanding of it. Among those present, he was the most wary of Mei Qing. As soon as he took action, he was willing to sacrifice his bag of flood ants to capture Mei Qing.

After secretly releasing the Iron-Clad Snake from his waist, he kept a close eye on Mei Qing. Seeing that Mei Qing indeed intended to use the Thunder Forbidden Technique against the enemy, he immediately activated the countermeasure he had prepared.

Zheng Jiu had heard of the power of Mei Qing’s forbidden technique. Although his Iron-Clad Snake was quite extraordinary, he dared not be careless in the face of the legendary power of the Thunder Forbidden Technique. Therefore, he prepared a protective technique and immediately cast it on the Iron-Clad Snake as soon as Mei Qing activated his forbidden technique. Although this protective technique couldn’t block all forbidden techniques, it only needed to delay for a moment, which would be enough time to capture Mei Qing.

Zheng Jiu didn’t know that Mei Qing wasn’t as formidable as he imagined, and his Thunder Forbidden Technique was only half-baked. If Mei Qing knew that this had caused the short Taoist to value him so highly, even at the cost of capturing him, he would surely regret his earlier actions.

On the side, Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, and Zhou Chang, seeing the giant snake descending from the sky and already reaching Mei Qing’s head, couldn’t help but shout in alarm, “Lord Mei!” However, after Zhao Dayou shouted, he leaped backward. Meanwhile, Yao and Zhou drew their steel swords and charged forward, trying to block the giant snake’s descent.

But the giant snake moved like a fleeting shadow, arriving in an instant. Yao and Zhou were a step too late and couldn’t save Mei Qing.

With a loud crash, the giant snake struck the ground like a meteor, creating a large crater where Mei Qing had been standing. The scattered dirt covered Yao and Zhou, leaving them covered in dust.

Yao and Zhou were furious. Both of them were military men, and seeing their superior killed before their eyes was a crime they couldn’t explain upon their return. They were ready to fight to the death, their fear of the giant snake and its dark magic completely forgotten. They swung their steel swords at the giant snake.

With two dull thuds, their swords struck the snake’s body but left no mark. The giant snake let out a strange, chicken-like cry, flicked its tail, and sent both men flying.

Meanwhile, Zheng Jiu on the opposite side was bewildered.

He had thought his plan was foolproof, anticipating Mei Qing’s reaction and countermeasures, believing that Mei Qing couldn’t avoid the giant snake’s attack. Indeed, things started as he expected: Mei Qing chanted the forbidden spell, and he protected the snake’s body, just as he had planned. But when the snake’s mouth reached Mei Qing, Mei Qing, who had been standing there chanting, suddenly disappeared!

It wasn’t that Mei Qing had become invisible like Sun Busan, but he had genuinely escaped Zheng Jiu’s spiritual lock, vanishing from his spiritual perception. The giant snake, connected to Zheng Jiu’s mind, would have swallowed Mei Qing whole if he had been there, capturing him and then planning an escape. But with Mei Qing’s disappearance, the snake lost its target, confused, and crashed into the ground, creating a large crater.

While Zheng Jiu was still in shock, Sun Busi’s subordinate didn’t stop. He formed a hand seal, controlling the green light from the jade tablet to strike the floating cloth bag in the air. With a loud bang, the bag shattered into pieces, scattering like falling leaves.

With the bag destroyed, the swarm of flood ants that had been striking the copper bowl became chaotic, flying and colliding in all directions, creating a cacophony of clanging sounds. Then a gentle breeze blew, dispersing the swarm of ants like clouds parting, leaving the courtyard bathed in moonlight, with no trace of the strange insects.

“You sneaky dwarf, you tried to trick me! Let’s see what I can do!” Sun Busan, somewhat disheveled, emerged from the copper bowl. As soon as he stood firm, he assumed a posture like a vajra pestle, clasped his hands together, and chanted in a resonant voice, “Om… Ma… Ni…”

As he chanted the Buddhist mantra, the six-character mantra on the copper bowl lit up one by one, and a golden light shone brightly, exuding a solemn aura.

Even though they were worried about Mei Qing, Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, and Zhou Chang couldn’t help but laugh. Especially when they saw Sun Busi secretly summoning the jade tablet again, preparing to strike, they found it both amusing and frustrating. These two brothers were too much—they had just played this trick on the white-clothed Yang Jin, and now they were trying the same thing again? Would it work?

The short Taoist Zheng Jiu, after a moment of confusion, quickly regained his composure and couldn’t help but show a mocking smile. It seemed that these brothers had been taught this trick by someone, but unfortunately, they weren’t very bright and didn’t know how to adapt. This time, they would have to be taught a lesson.

Zheng Jiu formed the shapes of a tiger and a crane with his hands. The giant snake in the crater rose like a dragon drinking water, completely ignoring Sun Busan’s pretentious act. The snake’s tail lashed out like a whip towards the green light from the jade tablet, while its head, trailing a black light, sneaked towards Sun Busi’s feet.

Zheng Jiu thought that as long as he blocked the jade tablet’s attack and successfully ambushed Sun Busi, the fake monk who only knew how to bluff would be no match.

But this time, things took an unexpected turn. Sun Busan’s voice, like an echo in a valley, continued to chant without pause, “Ba… Mi… Hong…” The final syllable resonated like a great bell, vibrating in everyone’s ears, but in Zheng Jiu’s spiritual perception, it was like a thunderclap.

If Zheng Jiu had been prepared for this, he wouldn’t have fallen for Sun Busan’s trick. But he thought Sun Busan was bluffing again, just like before, so he paid no attention. As a result, he was completely unprepared for Sun Busan’s sonic attack, which directly struck his spiritual perception. This blow left Zheng Jiu’s vision dark, his internal energy surging like a raging sea, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

With Zheng Jiu injured, the giant snake lost control and froze in mid-air, confused. Sun Busi’s jade tablet, without hesitation, drew an arc and struck Zheng Jiu’s head directly from above, shattering it like a blooming peach blossom. From a distance, it looked as if Zheng Jiu’s already short stature had shrunk even further.

Poor Zheng Jiu, who was only at the Core Formation stage and hadn’t yet formed his Nascent Soul, had his body destroyed and his spirit scattered, leaving him with no chance of survival.

His short body stiffened on the spot, and after a moment, it fell backward with a thud. The giant snake also fell to the ground with a “plop,” twisted a few times, and then began to emit a sizzling sound. The entire snake’s body melted away at a visible speed, its scales and flesh turning into a pool of foul-smelling blood that seeped into the ground, turning it black.

“Ah, what a sin, what a sin. Second Brother, you pretended to be a monk again and tricked someone. Look what you’ve done…” Sun Busi lamented again. “Nonsense! When did I pretend to be a monk? I just chanted a few mantras, does that make me a monk? That last strike was clearly yours, so if anyone’s going to hell, it’s you, not me!” Sun Busan retorted in his shrill voice.

But this time, no one found it funny. The short Taoist Zheng Jiu, who had been secretly laughing in his heart, was now a broken corpse in the dust.

“Where is Lord Mei? How is he?” Zhao Dayou, who had been hiding in the back, finally calmed down enough to remember Mei Qing. But when he looked into the crater created by the giant snake, there was no sign of Mei Qing.

“I’m here, thank you all for your concern,” Mei Qing’s voice suddenly came from behind them. Everyone turned to see Mei Qing walking calmly into the courtyard from outside. “You two seniors have displayed great power in killing this villain. I thank you.”

“Lord Mei!” Zhao Dayou exclaimed, both surprised and relieved. “You’re alright? How did you… suddenly end up outside?”

Not only Zhao Dayou, but the others were also puzzled. Even the Busan and Busi brothers, who considered themselves experts, hadn’t seen clearly in the heat of the moment. But they, being the “seniors,” naturally didn’t ask directly, though they also looked at Mei Qing, waiting for his explanation.

Mei Qing smiled and said, “Last time, that monkey played the trick of diverting attention. This time, I noticed this guy seemed to be targeting me, so I was prepared. Fortunately, I’ve learned a bit of magic, so escaping was easy.”

Mei Qing’s words weren’t entirely truthful. It was true that he had been cautious, noticing Zheng Jiu’s sidelong glances and preparing an escape technique. But the part about “a bit of magic” was more nuanced.

At the time, Mei Qing had been chanting the Thunder Forbidden Technique, which had deceived Zheng Jiu into thinking Mei Qing was using the forbidden technique to counter the giant snake. However, Mei Qing had only learned two types of Taoist techniques: forbidden techniques and escape techniques. To master their use for self-defense and subduing enemies, he had put in some effort.

Normally, when casting a spell, one chants the corresponding incantation. Only when one’s magic is advanced and their skills are refined can they chant silently or even cast spells with their thoughts. Mei Qing, however, had come up with a unique method. Not only could he chant silently, but he had also developed a new trick through occasional inspiration.

Ordinarily, when a cultivator performs a spell, the incantation they chant corresponds directly to the spell they cast. Only when their skills become highly refined can they silently chant or even act purely by thought. Mei Qing, however, had devised a unique approach—he not only mastered silent chanting but later, in a moment of inspiration, discovered a new variation.