Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 124 The True and Simple Demoness's Daoist Assembly?

Xia Shu went to light the lamp, and Yan Qiu went to pour water.

The two young Taoist disciples, beaming with joy, moved with light steps. After finishing their tasks, they came over again, each grabbing one of their senior brothers' arms.

Several months have passed, and I have so much to say now.

Zhou Yi was also very happy, but he had to prioritize. After a brief chat, he patted the two children on the back.

"I'll tell you later, go to sleep now."

The two were unwilling.

Yan Qiu was quite reluctant to part, but Xia Shu stood up first and tugged at him:

"Senior brother, Sister Yina, you two chat."

They went back to their rooms, but they were all wide awake and most of them couldn't fall asleep anyway.

Aryuina seemed lost in thought, staring blankly at the lantern in the courtyard.

Zhou Yi found it strange. She usually had a cold and aloof demeanor and was indifferent to everything, but now she seemed a bit sentimental.

Only when she felt his gaze did Ina turn around.

"How are things going in the Jianghuai region?"

Zhou Yi hummed in agreement: "Putting aside what's outside, what did you mean by what you just said? Has someone found this place?"

"Yes."

Aruina's expression darkened slightly: "About a month ago, someone stepped on these roof tiles."

"Coming for you?"

“He didn’t know I was here. He must have been searching for Yang Dalong’s whereabouts and accidentally wandered into this place. I didn’t want to attract his attention, but I didn’t expect him to end up in the courtyard to investigate.”

Zhou Yi lowered his voice: "And then?"

"I killed him."

The girl moved to the front of the yard:
"Judging from the martial arts skills he displayed before his death, he was a master protector of the Zun Sect. If Xia Shu and Yan Qiu hadn't attracted his attention, it would have been difficult for me to keep him alive."

"After that, I sensed that more people were searching the city."

"More than ten days ago, someone broke into this place at night, but fortunately, the person did not check carefully and left in a hurry."

"I didn't know it was you returning tonight; I thought it was someone from the church again."

Seeing her haggard face, Zhou Yi frowned slightly, a hint of anger lurking beneath his skin.

The Great Ming Sect has many experts. When the Good Mother led people to surround and kill the Evil King, she could easily mobilize dozens of top-notch experts.

But that was the Evil King. He possessed two extraordinary skills: the Undying Seal Technique and the Illusionary Demon Body Technique, making him fearless in group battles.

Now this pressure has reached Nanyang.
It's easy to see why she looked so haggard.

"Have you informed Yang Zhen?"

"I sent him a message, only saying that someone was watching the Nanyang Gang and that he should be careful. Telling him this would only cause him more trouble. The sect's experts are nearby, and if he sends more people here, it will be easier for them to be discovered."

Moreover, Yang Dalong is in a difficult situation and cannot be distracted further.

Zhou Yi didn't ask any more questions:

“I will drive those people from the Great Ming Sect out of Nanyang.”

"Go and rest in peace, you don't need to sleep fully clothed anymore."

The girl glanced at him but didn't move.

"Although your skills have improved, you must never fight the Great Venerable Mother head-on. There is another person, the leader of the Five Bright Sons, the Wonderful Emptiness Bright Son."

His name is Lie Xia. He is extremely skilled in martial arts and is cunning. Be careful.

She had so much to say, but before she could finish, a white shadow flashed close.

Her legs suddenly felt light as she was lifted up horizontally.

After walking a few steps, I returned to the house.

She was placed on the bed, then footsteps turned out, the door closed, and she heard a gust of wind from a palm.

The few rays of light that peeked through the crack in the door dimmed.

Even the lanterns in the courtyard were extinguished.

In the endless darkness, the girl closed her eyes, listened to the sound of footsteps on the roof tiles, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

This was the most peaceful night's sleep she had had in months.
Zhou Yi stood on the rooftop, looking around. This small courtyard was located to the east of the Nanyang Gang and was relatively secluded.

The fact that they were able to trace it back to this point shows how closely the Nanyang Gang is being monitored.

The Great Venerable One, the Good Mother, the Queen of the Underworld, and the four great monks of Buddhism—all of these people are top-tier masters in the world.

If it were a one-on-one fight, with my current skill level, I couldn't defeat even one of them.

The idea of ​​dealing with them all at once is simply a pipe dream.

However, it's not hard to see from what happened in Champion City.

While the Holy Land attacked the Coffin Palace, both the Great Ming Zunjiao and the Yin Gui Sect watched from the sidelines.

It is evident that each of the three major sects has its own calculations.

With the addition of the coffin palace, it's essentially a battle between four major forces.

Zhou Yi paced on the rooftop, gazing up at the clear moon and stars, gradually clearing his mind.

Fortunately, Zhou Laotan is a beacon of light shining in Champion City; otherwise, if Nanyang County were targeted by several factions, it would probably be in complete chaos.

He had some ideas.

Suddenly, I heard a strange noise and looked up to the west.

The sound of wind breaking!

Upon hearing the commotion coming from the Nanyang Gang, Zhou Yi leaped out.

With each takeoff and landing, they drew closer and closer.

At first, some members of the Nanyang Gang gave chase, but they gave up before even leaving the gang's premises, seemingly only wanting to scare the pursuers away.

Zhou Yi could see clearly that there was a dark figure about forty feet ahead.

This person was extremely fast, heading straight towards the north of the city.

There are too many terrifying figures in the county town right now, and Zhou Yi dares not chase after them to their lair.

But a fire raged within him, and at that moment, he unleashed it fully, unleashing the power of his divine aura. His white shadow flickered between the buildings, and the sound of the wind echoed behind him!

The man in black had clearly noticed.

He turned around and his eyes suddenly filled with fear.

How can there be such terrifying figures in the city?

He dared not think too much, and used all his strength, breathing out one breath after another, flying through alleys and streets, fleeing for his life.

It was a despairing situation, as the distance between the two grew ever closer.

With no other options, he steeled his resolve, stepped against the alley wall, and suddenly turned around to strike with his palm!

The scorching palm strike sent force through the air, blowing off roof tiles and sending a blast of hot air rushing towards the face.

The man in black saw the man in white moving continuously.

With a flick of his sleeve, he struck out with his palm.

This palm strike was no ordinary matter. Zhou Yi not only used the Qi-breaking method combining the two major Qi acupoints, Lieque and Yunmen, given by Old Ma, but also, based on the Jingyun Shenyou technique, he frantically drew out the Xuanzhen Qi from Yongquan.

With a furious strike, the sound seemed to thunder through the clouds.

When force is exerted remotely, the difference in skill level is most obvious.

The black-clad man's scorching palm strike instantly crumbled and disintegrated, the hot air from the tiles swirling in all directions.

He was breathing heavily and rolled around on the spot.

With a "boom," the limestone that had been rolling exploded, and he was also affected by the palm strike at the edge, suffering internal injuries.

The man in white approached him, but he first feigned inaction.

Suddenly, he threw out a poisoned hidden weapon with his left hand, and a short blade fell out of his right sleeve. He lightly caught it in his palm and used it in conjunction with the hidden weapon to block his position. The short blade then stabbed out like a nimble snake!
The blade flashed up and down, its movement agile and skillful.

It has unparalleled speed, piercing through the air!
Zhou Yi gathered his inner energy in two fingers, simplifying the complex technique of disarming a sword barehanded with the Crane Hand, and combined it with his powerful eyesight, using it on just two fingers.

The arms and sleeves create a series of illusions, with shadows following each other. The layers of arms and shadows are dazzling and dreamlike.

Once the shadows merged, the man in black revealed a look of horror!
His short blade was actually caught between two fingers!
A chill rushed into his body from the short blade. He had used too much energy earlier, and his reaction was several steps slower. In an instant, his eyebrows turned frosty, and the sweat rolling down his forehead froze.

When the cold air from the frost invades the body, the blood and qi stagnate, and the movements immediately become slower.

He lost his grip on the short blade and it fell to the ground. Then his feet left the ground, and he felt a sharp pain in his throat as the person who had come to him grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up.

Life and death are entirely in the other party's control.

The man in black, however, was not afraid and asked sharply:

Who are you?

The voice that spoke was actually a woman's.

"Don't you recognize me? Isn't the Great Virtuous Mother looking for me?"

Zhou Yi tricked her, and sure enough, she was a member of the Great Ming Venerable Sect.

She wasn't stupid, and she understood the major powers in Nanyang; it was just that she was having some difficulty speaking at this moment.
"No wonder. You are the abbot of Wuzhuang Temple."

"It is indeed I, the humble Taoist. What brings you to Nanyang? And where is the Great Venerable Mother?"

"Heh heh. Don't even think about it. I'm just a crippled body now, what do I have to cherish? Since you've returned to Nanyang, you're going to die sooner or later anyway."

As she spoke, her face turned dark, clearly from biting down on the poison in her mouth.

Seeing this, Zhou Yi tossed her aside. The woman's eyes gleamed with a strange light; fearless of death, she chanted frantically as if possessed:
"Do you know that before this world was established, the two luminaries, Pure Wind and Good Mother, entered the realm of darkness and ignorance, and were then elevated?"

"Uh~~!"

She was reciting eerie scriptures that sent chills down her spine when Zhou Yi shattered her heart meridian with a single palm strike, interrupting her.

"Enough with the nonsense, this poison is taking way too long to take effect."

Zhou Yi searched her thoroughly but found nothing of value.

The people of the Great Ming Zun Cult are very wicked.

The Mother of Goodness's methods of bewitching people are truly remarkable. Apart from the top echelons of the sect, the rest of the group are all more insane than the last.

In comparison, Zhou Laotan found that what he had learned from Sabulagan was actually more profound.

It can also absorb some evil energy.

Zhou Yi squatted down and used his energy to examine her crown chakra and chest chakra.

My illusions were shattered.

When a person dies, their vital energy dissipates; the martial arts of the Great Ming Sect are no different.

Looking north towards the city, Zhou Yi thought for a moment, then decided not to investigate the hiding place of the Great Ming Sect and turned back towards the Nanyang Gang.

I didn't want to disturb Yang Dalongtou's rest.

At this moment, the Nanyang Gang is making a commotion, and the big boss has probably already woken up.

He was very familiar with the Nanyang Gang's plans and quickly found Yang Zhen's residence. The lights were on inside, and there were several figures.

Listen carefully, and a moment later, Zhou Yi fell directly from the roof.

The moment the footsteps sounded, the sound of weapons being drawn came from inside the house. Fan Naitang rushed out with his knife, but before he could even utter a shout, he abruptly stopped at the doorway.

His expression froze, and he looked towards the doorway.

The same was true for the three people behind them.

They were filled with anxiety, but the moment they saw someone coming from outside, the tension in their hearts eased instantly.

It felt like a stone that had been weighing on my chest had been removed.

A smile, rarely seen on Yang Zhen's tired face, appeared.

Su Yun and Meng Degong exchanged a glance: "We've finally made it through."

Yang Zhen stepped forward and asked, "Master, are you well?"

"I'm perfectly fine, it's just that I'm sorry to have troubled you all." Zhou Yi said apologetically, knowing how difficult it was for them.

The four of them simply smiled and did not complain.

They looked at the young man in white in front of them and sighed inwardly.

News of events near Qingliu had already reached Nanyang.

The Grand Commander of Jianghuai has subdued Jiangbei, slain fifteen major bandits, defeated a master of the Demonic Sect, and drunk his horse on the Huai River. He is now the most illustrious figure in the martial arts world.

Fan Naitang suddenly realized: "Just now, when I chased after that spy, I heard an extremely rapid gust of wind. Could it be the Celestial Master?"

"Well, it's me."

As Zhou Yi walked into the house, he said, "She was a member of the Great Ming Venerable Sect. I killed her, but I couldn't get anything out of her."

Yang Zhen stroked his long beard:

"These great sects have profound foundations, and those who dare to come and investigate are all experts, making them truly difficult to deal with."

"To be honest, Master, we have never killed any spies who came to spy on us before. It would have far-reaching consequences if we did so, so we dare not make any large-scale plans to take action against them."

This is what it's like to live in a tight spot.

Zhou Yi entered the house with them, and Su Yun poured them a cup of tea.

After taking a few sips of water haphazardly, they started talking about serious business.

"Where are the people of the Holy Land?"

"At Xiangyan Temple in the city, Master Jiechen was entertaining them."

Zhou Yi had an impression of Master Jiechen; he was in this mansion back then, and they even dealt with the coffin and firewood together.

"Are the holy monks still in the city?"

Yang Zhen said, "Two of them have returned, only Master Zhihui is still in the city."

Zhou Yi dared not underestimate him in the slightest.

Master Zhihui of the Tiantai School was known for his mastery of Buddhist mental techniques among the four great monks. His moves contained Zen principles. Although he ranked low in terms of martial arts skills, he was still a top master who could rival the Empress Yin.

What is their attitude now?

"This"

Yang Zhen looked conflicted: "We were just discussing this matter, and it's difficult to make a decision."

"If this attack on the Coffin Palace by the Holy Land had been carried out outside the city, the three holy monks and many Buddhist masters would have been enough to shatter the Coffin Palace. The only way for the people from the Evil Extreme Sect to survive would be to run away."

"The troublesome thing about Champion City is that it not only has experts from the Coffin Palace, but also a large army under Zhu Can."

"The Buddhist sect suffered a loss and realized the problem. To take down this impregnable Champion City, they need to borrow troops, either from Nanyang or Xiangyang."

Yang Zhen looked at Zhou Yi: "Master Zhihui means that I should reorganize the troops in Nanyang and attack Champion City with him."

"Oh?"

Zhou Yi pondered for a moment, feeling a bit strange: "Is the Buddhist sect so angry that it wants to fight the Evil Extreme Sect to the end?"

"actually not."

Yang Zhendao:
"Master Zhihui wanted to lead the 'non-greed' who had already fallen into demonic possession out of the championship, but because Old Master Zhou was upset, he used this Vajra from Jingnian Temple to humiliate Buddhism. He mocked that becoming a demon was better than becoming a Buddha, and said that the non-greed was a great enlightenment."

This shift in mindset led him to grasp the true meaning and become a grandmaster of the demonic sect.

Zhou Yi shook his head slightly. No wonder the holy monk was angry; the old man was just messing with people's mentality.

"What will happen if we don't send troops?"

“The wise master said that if we turn a blind eye and stop paying attention to the affairs of Nanyang, they will return to the Eastern Capital.”

Yang Zhen revealed a hint of helplessness:
"It's unclear how the Coffin Palace will react now that they're gone. The Yin Gui Sect and the Great Ming Venerable Sect will inevitably come out into the open. Qian Duguan, the leader of Xiangyang, has already taken people to Xinye. We are too busy to deal with it."

The nearest place is the Great Ming Zunjiao (Great Ming Revered Sect).

These people are in the north of the city. If we spend some time, we should be able to find their hiding place, but right now we are powerless to do so. I am worried that something might happen in the city and the situation might get out of control, so I didn't want to alert them.

All four people in the room were focused on Zhou Yi.

The Nanyang Gang has no shortage of manpower, but they lack top-tier experts to engage with.

Once the Celestial Master returns, things will be different.

Zhou Yi thought for a moment and first tried to reassure them:

"This time, I'm not the only one who's come back; several friends from the Taoist sect have come to help. We're facing a crisis, but there's still a way out."

Yang Zhen, recalling his success in Jianghuai and worried about his youthful arrogance, couldn't help but offer a word of advice:
"Although the Celestial Master's skill is advancing by leaps and bounds, his cultivation period is short. It would be very unwise to confront them head-on at this time. The best course of action is to adopt a conciliatory approach and delay the inevitable."

A little grievance is bearable. We've gotten used to it these past few days.

How could Fan Naitang and the other two not understand?

In just two short years, they witnessed firsthand what it means to "make rapid progress."

The three of them cupped their hands in unison: "The Great Dragon Head is right, the Celestial Master should prioritize his own well-being!"

Zhou Yi sensed their concern and said earnestly:

"Don't worry, I won't put myself in danger, but I'll help my brothers vent their frustrations!"

Seeing his sincerity, the four felt a warmth in their hearts, realizing they hadn't misjudged him.

When does the holy monk require our reply?

"The Buddhist master is recuperating at Xiangyan Temple. There are eight days left. If they do not receive a definite answer by then, they will set off to return to Dongdu."

Yang Zhen added, "There's another layer to this: he wants me to submit to his authority." Given how important Nanyang County was, and how it concerned the grand plan of Buddhism, Zhou Yi guessed it without Yang Zhen even needing to speak.

Ning Sanren, the Four Great Monks, Fan Qinghui, and Liaokong. Oh, and there's also Fan Qinghui's sycophant, the Martial Arts Judge.

Just these top experts combined are already a behemoth.

Zhou Yi asked again, "Has the Holy Maiden Cihang arrived yet?"

"They've arrived. The Holy Maiden is at Xiangyan Temple."

"Okay, I'll come and talk to them in eight days."

Zhou Yi finalized the plan and then explained some of the more complicated details to them.

Not long after, they left the Nanyang gang and headed straight for Meiwu Lane.

Meiwu Lane was quiet at night.

This place usually has someone on guard duty at night, but today there's not a single person there.

If it weren't for the news about Chen Laomou that came from Yang Zhen, one might have thought that Chen Laomou was already dead.

There was no one inside the teahouse.

Zhou Yi had no choice but to give up and plan to come back to search again tomorrow.

After resting for the night in the small courtyard where Yan Qiu and the others were, Zhou Yi went to Meiwu Lane the next morning after recharging.

I still haven't seen Chen Laomou.

But he ran into a member of the Kun Gang and learned that the Kun Gang had moved its headquarters and that Yang Zhen hadn't even had time to inform them.

It seems we've run into some trouble.

As Zhou Yi was walking out of the alley, he suddenly realized why Chen Laomou wanted to move.

His brows furrowed, and he ignored the gaze behind him.

Walking along Nanyang Street towards the center, all you can hear are the shouts of vendors.

In the second month of spring, the city's nine streets are warm with smoke, and the willows sway like gold.

Along the way, wine flags stood askew, and the sounds of a Hu woman playing the sheng (a type of reed pipe instrument)

As I admired the spring street scene, the footsteps behind me grew closer and closer.

Before long, she arrived at his side.

Zhou Yi stopped and turned to walk to the left side of the road.

Three old locust trees leaned against the roadside, a blue cloth shed was set up, and snowball-like dough was piled on a paulownia wood cutting board, which was a soup noodle stall.

The copper pot bubbled and sputtered, the broth made from lamb bones swirling with golden oil, and on the table, in a celadon bowl, thinly sliced ​​lamb and a few clusters of snow-white scallions.

The shop owners were a middle-aged couple, and the man's technique was very skillful.

With the left hand, pinch off a piece of dough, and with the right hand, quickly tear it into a butterfly shape, where it falls "plop, plop" into the boiling soup.

Zhou Yi found a place to sit down, but before he could say anything, another person sat down next to him, and at the same time, a very pleasant female voice rang out.

"Shopkeeper, two bowls, please."

"okay."

The woman answered and went to prepare the soup.

Zhou Yi glanced sideways at his side and was met with a pair of charming, elfin eyes.

She was very different from the ordinary.

Not only did she tie her hair up, but she also disguised her face, wore a light green dress, and even wore a pair of round-toed cloth shoes, only revealing her fair ankles.

Her alluring charm was somewhat masked, giving her a more grounded,江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) feel, but upon closer inspection, she was still captivating.

"Holy Emperor, where are you going?"

"If you keep causing trouble and shouting nonsense, I won't pay you a single word."

Wanwan stared at his indifferent face: "Alright, so where is Brother Yi going?"

"Where?"

Zhou Yi accepted the soup noodles offered by the shop owner, thanked him, and casually said, "Of course, I'm going to Xiangyan Temple to find the Holy Maiden."

"Don't go. What's so great about the saintess?"

"The Holy Maiden is truly simple and honest, speaks elegantly, and doesn't play any tricks on me. Isn't that good enough?"

Seeing that he was serious, Wanwan's smile faded considerably.

She slowly placed the slices of mutton that were covering her soup bowl into Zhou Yi's bowl, somewhat displeased:
“The monks are eyeing Nanyang City. Shi Feixuan is a disciple of Cihang and is in cahoots with them. Why would they treat you well?”
If she's nice to you, it's definitely because she wants to use you as practice. She cultivates the Compassionate Sword Manual, which requires mental training to achieve sword clarity before entering seclusion.

He added another piece of meat to Zhou Yi's plate and continued:
"The Cihang Sword Manual originates from the Record of Demonic Thoughts. Brother Yi has already cultivated the Dao Heart Demon Seed, which is unprecedented in history. That is the source of the sword manual. As soon as she saw you, it would be perfect for her to use you to train her mind. Therefore, you should not believe her words."

She will toy with your feelings.

Zhou Yi, without looking to the side, took a sip of mutton soup:
“I am a true disciple of the Daoist school, and I only cultivate the internal skills of the Xuanmen. If you want to plant a demon in your Daoist heart so badly, then let Yin Hou go and find Zhou Laotan.”

Wanwan pretended not to hear and suddenly asked again, "Have you ever seen Shi Feixuan once?"

"Ah."

"No wonder."

Wanwan suddenly realized: "Do you know that I had a great battle with Shi Feixuan right outside Nanyang City?"

"The results of it?"

There was a hint of annoyance in her tone:

"My skills have improved greatly, yet I still couldn't win. Since she has seen you before, it's not surprising. She must have used you to temper her mind, which is why her swordsmanship has improved so quickly."

"Don't blame everything on me. My relationship with the saintess is completely innocent. We were just having tea together."

Wanwan didn't believe him at all, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Things are different now. Zuo Youxian suffered such a crushing defeat, so it's perfectly normal for him to be more assertive than before.

The speed at which he practices his skills changes every year.

There were some things she didn't even dare to tell her master openly.

Fearing that his master would come knocking and things would completely fall apart, given this man's temper, there was probably no room for reconciliation.

"Were the Giant Kun Gang members scared away by you?"

Hearing this indifferent tone, Wanwan picked up the last piece of mutton from her bowl, but was stopped by someone with chopsticks.

She explained, "It wasn't me."

"You should thank me instead, because I saved them."

"tell me the story."

"The Giant Kun Gang has been sending you messages within the city, and has even spread to Xiangyang City. The Extinction of Emotions Sect suggests eliminating these people first. Some elders in our sect also agree with this, but I advised them not to act rashly in Nanyang."

However, about ten of your gang members in Xiangyang were killed in the last few days. When your men heard the news, they naturally had to move to another location.

I knew you had left Jiangnan to return to Nanyang, so I waited for you in the city.

Wanwan raised her sleeve: "If I weren't staying in the city for so long, why would I need to hide? I have no ability to deal with the Four Great Monks."

Zhou Yi put down the chopsticks he was holding and let her pick up the mutton.

Wanwan smiled charmingly, as if she had learned a little more about him.

Zhou Yi then said, "You have people in Xinye, right? I suggest you tell them to leave and never set foot in Nanyang again."

Wanwan smiled and said, "This is not something I can decide."

"Although Master's martial arts are high, he is not the highest in the sect. Grandmaster has come to Xiangyang and reached an agreement with the people of Tianlian Sect, Mieqing Dao, and Laojun Temple to join forces with Daming Zunjiao to deal with Xieji Sect."

That kind mother's methods are comparable to my master's; therefore, the situation in Nanyang is no longer something one person can control.

She fell silent after she finished speaking and lowered her head to eat her soup noodles.

Zhou Yi turned to look at her: "You're telling me all this because you want to use me as a weapon against those who don't submit to the Empress, right?"

Why do you always think so badly of me?

Wanwan lowered her head to eat and drink, not even glancing at him.
"I mean you no harm, I don't want to be your enemy, and also..."

Her expression changed, and she suddenly turned to look at Zhou Yi. The alluring look in her eyes vanished completely, replaced by clear, elfin eyes that were as pure as a lotus emerging from clear water, untouched by any dust, exuding a captivating and sacred feeling.

"I don't want to see you being deceived by Shi Feixuan."

"Isn't this what a saint looks like? So simple and unpretentious. What's so special about that? I can do that too."

As she said this, she suddenly broke into a laugh, her eyes crinkling into a smile, and she transformed back into a little enchantress.

Zhou Yi chuckled:
"You're really good at causing trouble. From now on, you should just pretend to be a saint."

Upon hearing this, Wanwan seemed to enter a state of mind, and even her eating movements became more elegant.

However, she will eventually give herself away while pretending.

Zhou Yi knew her motives were impure, but at this moment, the little vixen didn't make him dislike her.

"Which one from the Extinction of Emotions Sect has come?"

Wanwan hesitated for a moment, then said, "The Dao of Extinction of Emotions is quite mysterious; you may not have heard of him."

"who is it?"

His name is Xu Liuzong.

Zhou Yi silently took a sip of soup, muttering to himself.

Xu Liuzong, it's him. Like An Long, this guy secretly supports the Evil King.

Could it be that Shi Zhixuan also wants the Dao Heart Seed Demon in the Coffin Palace?
"He's the one who said he wanted to kill my men."

"Ah."

Wanwan reminded her, "Those people in that alley you just went in were saved by me. You should remember my kindness."

Zhou Yi seemed not to have heard those words, his mind preoccupied with Xu Liuzong's matter.

He quickly realized that the evil king's men were just as deserving of death.

Then I heard her say:

"Your biggest crisis is still Shanmu. She is currently in Nanyang City. Be careful that she doesn't suddenly attack you. Although you are powerful now, if she ambushes you, you probably won't survive."

"Don't die, or I'll have no one to practice my skills with."

Zhou Yi's heart tightened, and he turned to stare at her.

Wanwan met his gaze, noticing his suspicion, and said with dissatisfaction, "He didn't lie to you."

After Zhou Yi finished the last bite of the soup dumpling, Wanwan paid the bill.

"You did a good job today, come with me."

Zhou Yi showed a hint of pleasure, then turned and left.

Wanwan walked over with a smile, and very naturally took his arm. The two of them entered the Yuelai Inn.

It took about half an hour.

They came out of the inn again, and the little vixen looked at them with seductive eyes: "Brother Yi, can you not go to see Shi Feixuan?"

"can."

Zhou Yi ruthlessly broke free from her delicate hand: "Lend me the Heavenly Demon Strategy to take a look, and I won't go looking for it."

The most indifferent man in the Sui Dynasty was heading towards Xiangyan Temple.

The little enchantress stood gracefully at the inn's entrance, her eyes deep, watching the white figure disappear into the crowd.
Zhou Yi turned a corner and did not go to Xiangyan Temple.

The initial idea was to talk to the saintess.

But after learning new information from the demoness, the plan needs to be changed.

Although Wanwan was using him, he didn't mind this time.

Zhou Yi was very cautious because there were people from the Great Ming Zunjiao sect inside the city.

He circled around a few corners to make sure no one was watching, then entered a fan shop in the city. This was a location closer to the city center, safer than the secluded Meiwu Alley.

Inside the fan shop, Zhou Yi lifted the blue cloth covering the outside and saw a familiar face.

Old Chen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting:

"In just a few days, the Celestial Master's demeanor is even more impressive than before. This trip has not only made him famous throughout the land, but he has also gained control of the counties north of the Yangtze River and most of the Huai River region. Looking across the world, there are few who can match him."

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "Your information is outdated."

"Where is it outdated?"

"You should say that I control the entire Huai River."

Old Chen's mind raced, and a look of surprise appeared on his face: "Could it be Yan County!"

"Exactly."

"Hahaha, even this cautious and timid man, Wei Che, has made the right decision. It must be thanks to the good deeds of his ancestors."

"The Heavenly Mandate Fruit is in the hands of the Celestial Master! Now that he also controls the salt fields, gold and silver are pouring in!"

Seeing that he was getting more and more excited, Zhou Yi quickly stopped him: "Let's not talk about this. Let's deal with the troubles in Nanyang first."

Seeing the worry on his face, Chen Laomou immediately raised his voice, a hint of anger in his eyes:
"Master, do not worry! Things in Nanyang can't get too bad."

"If they push us too far, we'll mobilize all the troops in the city, and have Huai'an and Yiyang send more men. Let's see how capable these people are!"

"The reason why the Great Ming Sect can be so arrogant in Nanyang is simply because we are concerned about the situation here and do not want to cause trouble."

"Do they really think they can mess with the gods?"

Zhou Yi patted him on the back with a smile: "Alright, Mr. Chen, don't be so angry."

"First, find the den of the Great Ming Venerable Sect, and I'll take them down first."

"it is good!"

"..."

After discussing it, the two quietly launched various operations in Nanyang City.

Six days later, east of Nanyang City, the guards suddenly saw a strange man coming from outside the city.

The man was short and stout, dressed in tattered clothes, as if he had just been in a fight.

He had a gourd of wine hanging from his waist and a nine-toothed rake on his shoulder.

Upon seeing the Nanyang city wall, the short, stout, and strange man's broad face revealed a genuine joy, as if he felt right at home.

"Friend, who are you?"

The guards were fairly friendly.

"Master Daoist, I want to see Zhou... um, I want to see the Abbot!"

The guard was startled: "What is your relationship with my abbot?"

"We're old friends, take me there quickly!"

Seeing that his expression seemed genuine, the guards dared not be negligent.

"Please come in, Taoist priest!"

They entered the city, summoned two horses, and led the strange Taoist priest all the way to the Nanyang Gang.

Upon hearing the guard's report, the steward in charge of reception immediately became enthusiastic: "This way, Daoist Master!"

Their hurried footsteps were heard by the people in the hall early on.

With a hint of doubt, Zhou Yi moved to the doorway.

Upon seeing the newcomer, his expression turned strange, and he let out a soft "Eh."

"Fellow Daoist Mu?"

"How come you've lost weight?"

With a clang, the nine-toothed rake fell to the ground.

Upon seeing Zhou Yi, Mu Daoren immediately felt a sense of kinship and, unusually for him, asked for a hug.

Zhou Yi quickly dodged.

"I've finally met you. If I were to stay with those three unlucky dragons any longer, my Dao heart would immediately collapse."

He started talking and left Zhou Yi completely bewildered.

The wooden Taoist glanced sideways at the hall and was stunned.

The sun rises from the west?
A group of Taoists had gathered here.

"What's going on? Is this some kind of grand Daoist assembly?"

"How could I not know?"

Zhou Yi smiled slightly: "This is not a Taoist gathering; these are all my good friends."

The wooden Taoist gave an "oh" and then asked, "Is something important happening?"

Zhou Yi whispered:
"I'm preparing to negotiate with the Buddhist community and also make a small fortune in Xinye."

"That's perfect!"

The wooden Taoist touched his empty pockets and laughed heartily:
"My skills have improved greatly recently. Since this is your matter, I, the Daoist, will naturally lend a hand!"

Zhou Yi showed a look of gratitude.

Pigsy (Bajie) is not a bad person at heart.
……

(End of this chapter)