This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

The raging floodwaters spread everywhere, and the water monster appeared, instantly changing the landscape.

The once azure sky was quickly shrouded in dark clouds, the thick clouds pressing down so low they seemed almost within reach.

A fierce wind swept in, knocking down trees and houses along the street, the sound of the wind and people's screams mingling together.

Immediately afterwards, a torrential downpour began, with large raindrops hitting the ground and splashing up layers of water.

The people in the nearby town were stunned by this sudden change.

At first, they thought it was just a normal storm, but they soon discovered that the situation was far more serious than they had imagined.

The floodwaters surged in from all directions like a ferocious beast, and the water level rose rapidly.

People rushed out of their homes, staring in disbelief at the scene before them.

The floodwaters on the streets quickly rose above ankle level, and people began to scatter and seek higher ground for refuge.

"Run! The flood is coming!"

A young man shouted as he pulled his elderly parents through knee-deep water.

However, the floodwaters were moving faster and faster, and the force of the waves was increasing. One wave came and swallowed the family of three in an instant.

At the market, vendors fled for their lives, neglecting to pack up their goods.

The exquisite porcelain and silk were scattered and destroyed by the flood, drifting away with the current.

The children clung tightly to their parents' hands, crying in terror; their cries sounded particularly mournful in the wind and rain.

A mother was hit by a collapsing house while trying to protect her child.

Life came to an abrupt end at that moment, but her hands remained tightly protecting the child in her arms.

The water monster swam freely in the flood, and wherever its enormous body went, houses collapsed.

The eight hideous heads were raised high, spewing black venom from their mouths. The venom fell into the water, making the flood even more deadly.

People who come into contact with floodwater contaminated with toxic substances will have their skin rapidly ulcerated, and will struggle in agony in the water, but no one can save them.

The disaster was only the beginning. The Water Demon Beast's rage was now tangible. After being sealed for so long, when the Water Demon Beast looked at the Erhai Lake around it, beams of light suddenly burst forth from its body. The endless waters of Erhai Lake began to surge and, with a roar, poured out and spread...

Above Erhai Lake, lightning flashed and thunder roared, dark clouds gathered, and torrential rain continued to pour down. The Water Demon Beast, who controlled the water element between heaven and earth, meant that disaster was about to strike.

Thousands of miles away from Erhai Lake, Zhong Bai sensed the direction of the Water Spirit Orb and transformed into a long rainbow, rushing towards it.

Even from about a hundred miles away, the powerful aura made Zhong Bai frown.

"A demon emperor at the Nascent Soul stage!"

After muttering to himself, Zhong Bai did not hesitate and quickly flew to Erhai Lake on his sword. When he was 10,000 meters away from the water demon beast, Zhong Bai's expression suddenly changed.

"Everything was fine a few days ago, how did this water monster suddenly break the seal?"

Zhong Bai pondered. He believed it was impossible for anyone to bring Zhao Ling'er from Maoshan. Therefore, the breaking of the seal on the Water Demon Beast must be closely related to the Water Spirit Orb.

Looking at the people in the distance who were experiencing the disaster, Zhong Bai roughly knew who they were.

"The leader of the Moon Worship Cult, huh..."

Shaking his head, Zhong Bai was powerless in the face of the Water Demon Beast. This was a demon emperor at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, who even controlled the Great Dao of Water, making him even more terrifying than an ordinary Nascent Soul demon emperor!
Zhong Bai is currently struggling against even the early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators and can only watch as disaster strikes.

"Let's go check out the Moon Worship Cult first..."

Shaking his head, Zhong Bai turned and left.

......................................................

On a cliff a few hundred miles from Erhai Lake, the Sword Immortal was in a state of extreme turmoil. Before him, Lin Qing'er had gradually returned to her physical form from her statue-like state. The petrified sculpture was now a lifelike beauty, though she was still devoid of any life force. However, soon, the sound of a heart pounding could be heard from Lin Qing'er's chest.

Upon seeing this, the Sword Immortal's face immediately lit up with excitement. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lin Qing'er gradually opened her eyes, which had been slightly closed. When she looked around, she saw that she was no longer in the center of Erhai Lake, and she no longer resembled a sculpture.

"Qing'er, you're awake?"

Upon suddenly hearing the voice of the Drunken Sword Immortal, Lin Qing'er quickly straightened up, looked around, and then examined the Drunken Sword Immortal in front of her. Although they hadn't seen each other for many years, Lin Qing'er could still recognize the Drunken Sword Immortal. Even though he had become weathered and his beard was unkempt, the look in his eyes was still the same as before.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Qing'er disregarded the burning desire in the Sword Immortal's eyes and anxiously asked, "Water Demon Beast, the Water Demon Beast has broken free of its seal!"

Lin Qing'er seemed extremely anxious, but the Sword Immortal remained unmoved upon hearing this, instead calmly shaking his head.

"Qing'er, you have already dedicated your years to the ancient kingdom of Nanzhao. Now that the water demon beast has broken the seal again, it proves that it is the will of heaven. Why should Qing'er care anymore?"
Think of your daughter...

I've met Ling'er, and she looks seven-tenths like you. Don't you want to see your daughter?

Upon hearing this, Lin Qing'er hesitated for a moment. The Sword Immortal was right; she missed her daughter.

However, just as Lin Qing'er was about to say something, a divine light suddenly descended from the void, and then a young figure appeared beside the two of them.

"Sword Immortal of Wine... I didn't expect to find you around here. And who is this...?"

Upon hearing the voice of the newcomer, even without deliberately observing him, the Sword Immortal still guessed the person's identity.

"Zhong Bai of Maoshan!"

At this moment, the Sword Immortal was undoubtedly furious, but his anger meant nothing to Zhong Bai.

"Are you Ling'er's mother?"

Zhong Bai smiled with a hint of respect. Lin Qing'er and Ling'er looked remarkably alike. With the appearance of the Drunken Sword Immortal, who else could it be but the High Priest of Nanzhao Kingdom who sealed the Water Demon Beast?
Upon hearing her daughter's name, Lin Qing'er finally took a closer look at Zhong Bai in front of her.

A youthful face, an upright posture, and a gentle aura emanating from him, like a summer matcha, making people feel relaxed.

"You know my daughter?"

Lin Qing'er asked with some doubt.

Zhong Bai nodded.

"If you are truly Ling'er's mother, then Zhong Bai should call you Mother-in-law!"

In an instant, Lin Qing'er's expression became slightly strange. Zhong Bai's words were quite clear: the other party not only knew her daughter, but was also her daughter's husband.

"How is Ling'er doing now?"

Lin Qing'er continued to ask questions, trying to deduce her daughter's life over the years based on Zhong Bai's description.

"Mother-in-law, please rest assured, Ling'er is currently in Maoshan and living quite comfortably. If you have time, you can even go to Maoshan to see Ling'er. I imagine Ling'er would very much like to see you!" Zhong Bai smiled, while the Sword Immortal beside him, seeing the hint of interest in Lin Qing'er's eyes, immediately revealed a cold glint in his eyes.

"Qing'er, do not listen to this person!"
He's not a good person!

Zhong Bai did not refute it. Admittedly, what the Drunken Sword Immortal said was not wrong; he was indeed not a good person.

"How ridiculous, Sword Immortal of Wine. I was here on Erhai Lake just a few days ago. At that time, the seal on the Water Demon Beast was still secure. But now, only a few days later, the Water Demon Beast has broken the seal."

If you say this has nothing to do with you, I simply won't believe it!

"And this is Ling'er's mother, my mother-in-law, while you are nothing but a drunkard from Mount Shu who only knows how to drink every day. How dare you spout such nonsense here!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhong Bai unleashed a terrifying burst of true energy, causing the Sword Immortal's face to flush slightly.

He could clearly sense that Zhong Bai's strength was many times greater than it had been a few months ago.

I was no match for him before, and if we were to actually fight now, I would only be waiting to die!

"you!"

Zhong Bai merely snorted coldly, ignoring the Sword Immortal's current rage. The reason he hadn't acted immediately was out of respect for the Sword Saint, but if the other party still didn't know what was good for him, Zhong Bai wouldn't mind killing the Sword Immortal on the spot!

"I'll say it again: if you know what's good for you, leave now, or even if your senior brother is a sword saint and the head of the Shu Mountain sect, you'll still die!"

Zhong Bai's murderous intent gradually became apparent, and the Drunken Sword Immortal was extremely wary. He looked at Lin Qing'er, but saw that she ignored him completely.

That heart, already on the verge of breaking, felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar...

"Mother-in-law, let's leave here first..."

Zhong Bai ignored the Sword Immortal and instantly expanded the spiritual sword beneath his feet. Although Lin Qing'er had just awakened, she also possessed considerable cultivation, and her late-stage Nascent Soul realm instantly appeared on Zhong Bai's spiritual sword.

With a whoosh, the two transformed into streaks of light and vanished from the spot, leaving only the Drunken Sword Immortal dumbfounded and extremely annoyed.

"Qing'er, Qing'er, I've done so much for you, but you still can't see it?"

After taking two large gulps of wine from his gourd at his waist, the Drunken Sword Immortal's eyes became unfocused. He could no longer see himself clearly, nor could he see the road ahead...

The headquarters of the Moon Worship Cult.

This place is a thousand miles away from Cangshan and Erhai, but for Zhong Bai, it is only a moment's distance.

Upon arriving at the Moon Worship Cult, before Zhong Bai could even pay his respects, a dark shadow gathered before him.

Then it conjured up the appearance of the Moon Worship Cult Leader.

"Fellow Daoist Zhong Bai, what brings you here?"

The leader of the Moon Worship Cult greatly admired Zhong Bai, not because of his talent, but because his thoughts were so similar to his own.

Zhong Bai took out the Thunder Spirit Pearl from his dantian, and bolts of lightning spread around him. At the same time, the Thunder Spirit Pearl emitted an extremely dazzling light.

"Master, I have come here for the Water Spirit Pearl!"

Upon hearing this, the leader of the Moon Worship Cult made no attempt to conceal his identity and took out a glowing bead from his own pocket.

The sky-blue light, both gentle and piercing, was instantly recognized by Lin Qing'er.

"This is the Water Spirit Pearl!"

At this moment, Lin Qing'er was unaware that the Moon Worship Cult Leader in front of her was the one who broke her seal and was also the sinner who brought the Water Demon Beast into the world, so she had no hostility towards him.

Although Zhong Bai guessed that it was likely the Moon Worship Cult Leader who opened the seal, his purpose was the Water Spirit Orb, so he chose not to say anything.

"You came all this way just for this bead?"

The leader of the Moon Worship Cult asked softly, his tone somewhat nonchalant, as if he felt that Zhong Bai shouldn't be so superficial.

But Zhong Bai nodded solemnly.

"My Daoist partner is a descendant of Nuwa, and my future daughter needs the Water Spirit Orb!"

Seeing Zhong Bai's serious expression, the Moon Worship Cult Leader couldn't help but chuckle.

"The Five Elemental Pearls are so powerful that even Nascent Soul Realm experts want to possess them. What makes you think I, the sect leader, would give you this Water Elemental Pearl?"

Zhong Bai originally intended to fool the Moon Worship Cult Leader, but suddenly, a divine soul burst out from between Zhong Bai's eyebrows!

The moment the divine soul appeared, it transformed into a body ten thousand feet tall. With the release of the divine power of "Law of Heaven and Earth", the entire Baiyue Sect's territory was enveloped within it!

Zhong Bai was somewhat surprised. The aura of this divine soul did not belong to the Ten Ancestors, but rather came from the Maoshan Sect Master, Tianning Shangren, of this world!

When the magnificent Dharma Image appeared, even the usually composed Master of the Moon Worship Cult appeared unusually solemn. He looked at the boundless Dharma Image in the void, his solemn expression carrying a hint of respect as he bowed.

"The leader of the Moon Worship Cult pays respects to the senior!"

"Zhong Bai greets the Sect Leader!"

In the void, the ten-thousand-foot-tall Dharma form transformed from the divine soul of Venerable Tianning was somewhat indifferent. He glanced at the Moon Worship Cult Leader below, said nothing, and simply reached out his hand, causing the Water Spirit Pearl in the Moon Worship Cult Leader's hand to fall into Venerable Tianning's hand.

"This Water Spirit Pearl originally belonged to the Nuwa bloodline clan, and now I am taking it back for the Nuwa bloodline clan to use as well."

Does the younger generation have any objections?

Upon hearing this, how could the leader of the Moon Worship Cult dare to have any objections?
"Senior, you are overthinking it. Even if you didn't show yourself, Baiyue would still be willing to give the Water Spirit Pearl to Fellow Daoist Zhongbai. However, it is my great honor to be able to see your magnificent figure!"

Master Tianning smiled faintly. This is the world of cultivation; the law of the jungle always applies.

“You’re quite sensible, Zhong Bai. Just return to Maoshan directly. As for the water demon beast, I’ve already informed Shushan. After all, the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom is close to Shushan, and there are some things Shushan can’t avoid…”

As for you, Lord of the Moon Worship Cult, I have also learned about your deeds. This world is vast, not just the small land of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom. Why be confined here?

That's all I have to say. You can ponder this on your own now!

After speaking, the Dharma image of Master Tianning disappeared into the void, while the leader of the Baiyue Cult had a thoughtful expression on his face.

He was not afraid of death, but only wanted to pursue the meaning of life. However, this was the first time that the Moon Worship Cult Leader had faced a powerful being in the Nascent Soul Realm, and the deep sense of powerlessness pierced his heart.

At the same time, it also subtly ignited the fighting spirit of the Moon Worship Cult Leader. Perhaps the world wasn't as bad as he imagined, perhaps he could explore his life in another way...

(End of this chapter)