Just as Bi Zhen was about to assist Shi Mengzhu in gathering her family and preparing to leave, she suddenly sensed a violent fluctuation of spiritual energy in the air. Turning quickly to look, she saw Mei Qing’s figure vanish into thin air, while limbs and armor fragments scattered in all directions, and the surrounding spiritual energy became chaotic and turbulent. The magical formation suddenly emitted a terrifying burst of light and sound, then exploded, causing a violent upheaval in the atmosphere.
Bi Zhen was greatly alarmed, unsure of what had happened to Mei Qing. At that moment, however, a mental message reached her—Mei Qing’s voice assuring her that he was safe and urging her to be cautious. Only then did Bi Zhen relax slightly. Seeing the two Xi girls already too weakened to continue and gradually being recalled, she felt even more reassured.
Yet just as she was calming down, a cheerful voice suddenly called out from behind, “Young lady, please don’t be in such a hurry.”
Bi Zhen’s heart jolted—she hadn’t sensed anyone approaching at all, meaning the newcomer must possess cultivation at least equal to her own. She turned swiftly and saw two figures emerging from the shadows—one fat and one thin. The fat one was a monk, bald-headed, with a face like a Maitreya, smiling broadly as he said, “Esteemed Mr. Shi, we would like to invite you to our humble abode for a chat. We hope you won’t mind accompanying us?”
Shi Mengzhu merely lifted his eyes slightly toward the monk, but said nothing. Bi Zhen, however, snapped, “Where did this wild monk come from? Why aren’t you chanting sutras in your temple, running around like this?”
The fat monk chuckled, “My dear young lady, don’t mistake me for a rogue monk. I do have a modest reputation in the cultivation world—I go by the name Xiao Milet. Today, I have official business requiring Mr. Shi’s presence. I hope you’ll be kind enough to oblige.”
“Xiao Milet?” Bi Zhen tilted her head thoughtfully. “I’ve never heard of you. Besides, Qing told me to watch out for those who smile while hiding a dagger. Mr. Shi doesn’t wish to go, so you needn’t bother asking further.” As she spoke, she subtly formed a magical seal within her sleeve, sending the monk’s name to her master.
Xiao Milet’s expression turned regretful as he shook his head, “My dear lady, you seem to be from a prestigious sect. May I ask which one you hail from? Let’s not damage our mutual goodwill.”
Xiao Milet and his companion hadn’t actually witnessed Bi Zhen’s earlier combat. They had only seen several magical artifacts floating around her, each radiating powerful spiritual energy. Her demeanor and bearing clearly marked her as a direct disciple of a major sect or the descendant of some renowned cultivator. Thus, they were reluctant to provoke her directly and instead tried to gauge her intentions through conversation.
Bi Zhen, however, was completely oblivious to the monk’s subtle probing. She simply found his smiling face irritating. Thinking her master would soon arrive to assist, she decided to deal with the monk herself.
Without hesitation, Bi Zhen turned to Shi Mengzhu and said, “Mr. Shi, you take your family and go first. I’ll handle these two.”
Shi Mengzhu knew he would only be in the way and would hinder Bi Zhen. Without any pretense, he nodded and said, “Please be careful, young lady,” before quickly leading his family away.
Xiao Milet furrowed his brows, but before he could speak, Yuan Hufa, his companion, had already grown impatient. Seeing Shi Mengzhu’s group attempting to leave, he rolled his strange eyes and let out a snort, stepping forward to speak.
But before he could utter a word, a cold glint of light flashed before him, dispersing into countless star-like sparks. Piercing with a sharp, killing aura, it rained down upon him without warning.
Bi Zhen had been watching the white-haired old man closely. His gloomy expression, like someone owed him money, already annoyed her. When he stepped forward to block Shi Mengzhu, she wasted no time and immediately unleashed her Lümie Hairpin.
This hairpin had been with Bi Zhen for a long time and was the artifact she wielded most skillfully. Before she left the capital, senior elders had even specially refined it again and taught her the incantations to control it with great flexibility. Thus, with a mere thought, it erupted like a storm of rain, striking fiercely.
Yuan Hufa’s real name was Yuan Chongzhen. He used to have the Daoist title of Yuanwang, reportedly once a hunter who never belonged to any sect. In his youth, he had obtained a strange manual and thus entered the cultivation path.
Though Yuanwang’s cultivation wasn’t particularly high, he possessed a unique technique—summoning and refining living creatures for his own use. After years of practice, he once captured an Iron-arm Ape, which he refined into a guardian beast, earning him great renown in the cultivation world, hence his title “Yuanwang.”
Being self-taught, Yuan Chongzhen lacked formal training and had limited knowledge of the intricacies of the cultivation world. He had only gained his reputation through a single technique. Thus, watching Xiao Milet and Bi Zhen exchanging words politely, he had already grown impatient. Seeing Bi Zhen as merely a young girl, he naturally looked down on her.
He never expected Bi Zhen to ignore all formalities and attack without a word. At that moment, Yuan Chongzhen hadn’t even summoned his guardian ape, so he was caught off guard and suffered an initial setback.
The wave of star-like sparks Bi Zhen released was a dazzling sight—some as large as rice grains, others as fine as river sand, shimmering with multicolored light. Before Yuan Chongzhen could react, he was completely engulfed.
Yuan Chongzhen, not a formal disciple of any sect, had limited experience and had never encountered such a technique before. However, his years of wandering had honed his reflexes. Sensing danger, he immediately summoned his guardian beast. A massive white ape suddenly appeared before him.
The ape stood nearly eight feet tall, its snow-white fur glistening with an unusual metallic sheen on its long arms. As soon as it appeared, it pounded its chest and let out a thunderous roar.
At that moment, the wave of star-like sparks was already approaching rapidly. Obedient to its master’s command, the ape roared again, then began swinging its massive arms furiously. Its cheeks puffed out like balloons as it opened its enormous mouth and exhaled a stream of green qi.
This white ape was a rare breed from Kunwu, possessing iron-hard arms and immense strength. More importantly, it was skilled in channeling spiritual energy and controlling the winds. As it exhaled the green qi, a violent gale erupted before it.
In an instant, the wave of star-like sparks collided with the green qi.
To everyone’s surprise, the sparks vanished upon contact with the green qi, like snow melting in a furnace. Revealed beneath them was a jade hairpin, only a few inches long, which let out a sharp metallic ring as it shot straight toward the ape’s left eye!
Despite the ape’s quick reflexes, raising its long iron arms to shield itself, the hairpin, though seemingly unremarkable, was incredibly sharp. A clanging sound rang out as the hairpin pierced through both arms of the ape, skewering it like a string of meat, and continued forward, stopping mere inches from the ape’s head.
The ape and Yuan Chongzhen both let out a loud cry, and the ape leapt into the air in pain. But Bi Zhen’s attack wasn’t over yet. Having pierced the ape’s arms, the hairpin transformed into several long, thin threads that began wrapping tightly around the ape’s body.
“Wretched girl!” Yuan Chongzhen roared in fury upon seeing his beloved guardian beast wounded. He and the ape had long been spiritually linked, so the pain was shared. Enraged beyond reason, Yuan Chongzhen clapped his hands together, holding a round pearl between them. As he twisted his palms, he chanted, “Preserve and guard, the true form shall not perish—hold!”
At the sound of Yuan Chongzhen’s incantation, the massive white ape suddenly grew even larger. Its long white fur radiated golden light as it let out terrifying roars that shook the ground. Within moments, the golden ape had grown to a height of twelve feet, its mouth bristling with long, protruding fangs. Its iron arms, though bound by the threads, writhed violently, trying to break free of Bi Zhen’s restraint.
Bi Zhen felt a tremendous force pushing back against her. In an instant, it had nearly exceeded her control. She realized then that the old man indeed possessed formidable skills, and the ape was indeed incredibly strong. Sensing the danger, she immediately formed a new seal and recalled the hairpin without hesitation.
The white ape, suddenly freed from the binding threads, pounded its chest again, roaring furiously. It took a step forward, its massive foot slamming into the ground with a thunderous boom, sending dust flying in all directions.
Letting out another fierce roar, the ape swung its door-sized hand straight toward Bi Zhen.
Even before the iron palm reached her, Bi Zhen could feel the violent gusts of wind cutting across her face painfully.
Bi Zhen had no intention of engaging the beast directly. She had already prepared herself the moment the ape broke free. As soon as it moved, she hurled her bracelet forward. Rings of spiritual energy spiraled outward in layers, encircling the ape.
Caught off guard, the ape could only swing its iron arms, generating gusts of wind to shatter the incoming rings. As the endless waves of energy kept coming, and Bi Zhen herself remained safely hidden behind them, the ape grew increasingly enraged, roaring and stomping furiously.
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Xiao Milet stepped forward with a smile and said, “Little girl, why don’t you stop playing with these toys and just stay out of this? If you don’t listen, I’ll have to get serious.”
“Which cultivator dares to threaten my disciple so boldly?” A calm, composed voice suddenly sounded from behind Bi Zhen. Another figure appeared—his head marked with the scars of precepts, clad in a saffron robe, his expression serene. It was Ku Dashi, who had finally arrived.
Though Xiao Milet usually wore a smile, upon recognizing the newcomer, his expression momentarily stiffened. He then chuckled softly and said, “What if it is me?” At the same time, he silently transmitted a message to Yuan Chongzhen: “Old Yuan, hold off this monk for a moment. I’ll seize Mr. Shi and we’ll leave immediately.”
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