This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

Bai Susu lowered her head, her body still trembling.

Bai Zhengyang sighed helplessly, then quickly walked up to Li Daoxuan and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Thank you so much for your kindness, senior..."

Bai Susu only then realized what was happening, and followed her master to Li Daoxuan, looking embarrassed.

"S-senpai..."

Li Daoxuan chuckled upon hearing Bai Susu's hurried tone.

"Haven't seen you for half a month, how come you've become a senior?"

Bai Susu looked even more embarrassed and explained:

"Previously, Su Su was blind and failed to recognize that the senior was a reclusive master, thinking..."

"In short, thank you so much for saving my life, senior..."

Bai Zhengyang, who was standing to the side, was somewhat surprised by Bai Susu's words.

"Susu, you and the senior already knew each other?"

Bai Susu nodded and then briefly recounted her encounter with Li Daoxuan and Lingxi.

Bai Zhengyang's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in surprise:

"So it turns out that you and Susu have such a connection. In that case, you are Susu's savior and also a great benefactor of our Beast Taming Sect."

"Please accept my bow..."

As he spoke, Bai Zhengyang was about to kneel down again.

Li Daoxuan grabbed him and said helplessly:

"You, a sect leader of a holy land, why do you kneel down so easily?"

Bai Zhengyang didn't think it was a big deal at all, because he knew better than anyone what the consequences would be if Bai Susu died.

"Senior, you may not know this..."

Seeing that he was about to explain with a serious expression, Li Daoxuan waved his hand and said:

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, and you all stop calling me 'senior'."

"Just call me Taoist Master, as always..."

Bai Susu nodded; she also felt a little awkward calling him "senior."

Li Daoxuan glanced at Bai Susu and pointed to her chest, saying:

"What...is sealed inside?"

Bai Susu glanced at the spot where Li Daoxuan was pointing, her cheeks flushed, and she subconsciously raised her hand to cover her chest.

Li Daoxuan also realized that this action seemed a bit lewd, and with an awkward smile, he explained:

"Sorry, that's not what I meant, it's just..."

Bai Susu naturally knew what Li Daoxuan was talking about, and shook her head, saying:

"fine..."

Bai Zhengyang hesitated upon hearing Li Daoxuan's question.

Bai Susu's background is related to a secret of his Beast Taming Sect. Although Li Daoxuan saved Bai Susu's life, he is ultimately not one of their own...

Seeing this, Li Daoxuan did not press the matter further.

"It's fine if you can't tell me."

After saying that, he turned and pointed to the Dayi Marsh not far away:

"You have disturbed that person this time, and none of you have escaped unscathed except for Miss Susu."

"When you get back, you should spread the word that from now on, people should not come near this place, especially not near that island in the middle of the swamp."

"He won't come out unless you go looking for yourselves to die."

Bai Zhengyang was unaware of the situation inside. After hearing Li Daoxuan's words, he looked at Bai Susu with a puzzled expression.

Bai Susu's face paled as she recalled the terror of the strange beast Tianwu.

Looking at his master, Bai Zhengyang's eyes reddened as he said:

"Master, the information is wrong. What was born in the center of the Great Yi Marsh is not an ancient beast cub, but a fully grown ancient ferocious beast, and it is Tianwu, a ferocious beast with the power of the water god."

"Elder Tian and all the fellow disciples died at the hands of that ferocious beast..."

Bai Zhengyang was greatly surprised upon hearing this.

"Tianwu? It's actually Tianwu in his adult form?"

The ancient ferocious beast Tianwu is said to have peak combat power comparable to that of a martial god.

They never expected to encounter such a terrifying creature.

Bai Zhengyang realized that this matter was of utmost importance, turned to look at Li Daoxuan, and said solemnly:

"Daoist, I need to go back and discuss this matter with the elders of my sect as soon as possible. If you have time, Daoist, why don't you come with me to my Lingxu Blessed Land? That way, the entire Beast Taming Sect can properly repay your great kindness."

Bai Susu stood beside Bai Zhengyang, secretly glancing at Li Daoxuan with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

Li Daoxuan shook his head and said:

"Thank you for your kindness, Sect Leader Bai. I just left the City of Ten Thousand Beasts not long ago, so I won't bother you any longer."

Bai Susu was visibly disappointed upon hearing this, but she kept her head down and dared not look at Li Daoxuan.

Seeing this, Bai Zhengyang dared not insist on keeping him. After thinking it over, he flipped his hand and took out a jade tablet engraved with animal patterns, handing it over.

"This is the Jade Token of the Holy Master of my Beast Taming Sect. If you happen to pass through the City of Ten Thousand Beasts next time, you can use this token to enter my Spirit Ruins Blessed Land without any hindrance. At that time, the entire Beast Taming Sect will certainly welcome you with open arms..."

Li Daoxuan accepted the jade token without hesitation, bowing and saying:

"Alright, I will definitely come again if I have the chance."

The two bowed and said goodbye. Bai Zhengyang casually tossed out a magical treasure, which carried the two of them into the sky, disappearing into the distance.

Bai Susu turned around and watched as Li Daoxuan and Ling tide's figures rapidly shrank until they disappeared completely. A hint of disappointment quietly crept into her stunningly beautiful eyes.

In this vast and boundless world of mystery, this farewell may be forever.

Bai Zhengyang glanced at his disciple, said nothing, but sighed softly with a hint of regret.

She was clearly the most talented disciple of the Beast Taming Sect since that ancestor, yet fate had decreed that her life would only be a tragedy...

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

At the edge of the Dayi Marsh, Lingxi only dared to step out from behind Li Daoxuan after watching Bai Susu leave.

She patted her chest with her little hand and let out a long sigh of relief.

Upon seeing this, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but laugh and said:

"With Master here, what is there to be afraid of?"

Lingxi nodded, then shook her head.

"It's different... Sister Susu... No, that's not Sister Susu... It's scary... I feel... it's going to eat me."

Li Daoxuan ruffled Lingxi's hair and teased her:

"If people find out about your background, let alone the thing inside Bai Susu's body, even normal humans would probably want to bite you."

Upon hearing this, Lingxi suddenly shivered, then quickly clutched Li Daoxuan's clothes, and timidly said:

"Then I'll stay by my master's side forever, and no one in the world can hurt me then, hehe..."

Li Daoxuan chuckled, sighed, and gently shook his head.

Lingxi's words immediately stirred his thoughts.

Gentle breeze, bright moon, Wang Jingshu...

These disciples also said the same things as Lingxi.

However, in this life, no one can accompany you from beginning to end without ever leaving you.

From the day we are born, we are learning how to face separation and death.

Ultimately, you have to walk this long road of life by yourself.

Parents and children, husbands and wives, teachers and disciples, and like-minded friends—it's all the same...

Li Daoxuan looked up at the star-studded night sky, his thoughts racing, and couldn't help but murmur softly:

"I wonder... how are they all doing..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Jingming Cave Heaven, Qingxu Mountain.

In a valley more than ten miles east of Zixiao Palace, there is a deep pool.

This deep pool was originally nothing special; its depth was only a dozen or so feet.

But later, Zhu Jiu took a liking to this place and made some changes to it, expanding the deep pool more than ten times and digging it several dozen feet deeper. From then on, he led the giant snakes and pythons he had enlightened to hide and cultivate.

Now, if you think about it, more than a decade has passed.

Today, Qingfeng was cultivating in Zixiao Palace when he suddenly felt something and got up to fly towards the deep pool.

When he arrived, he saw that Mingyue had already arrived as well.

"Junior sister, what's going on? I sense something's off about junior brother's aura."