"Today, you have won."

The failure of the Wrathful Killing Arhat to honor his commitment led to the Chiling Saintess's final arrangements falling through.

Staring indifferently at Li Jiufang on the city tower, whose expression was solemn, the figure of the Chiling Saintess slowly ascended, an endless brilliance beneath her feet condensing into a path of light shaped like flower petals.

"However, Li Jiufang, though I have lost today, I am not convinced.

"I did not lose to you.

"If it weren't for the interference of that Sword Cultivator.

"Today's victory or defeat, you know in your heart.

"The grievances between us are not yet settled.

"One day, I will certainly wash away the disgrace of today."

The figure of the Chiling Saintess gradually faded along the petal path of light, her voice echoing, empty.

"We won?"

Looking at each other, a group of Lv Shuai cautiously began to smile.

"We won!"

"We won!"

"We won!"

"We won!"

Suddenly, cheers erupted from atop the city walls like a tsunami. The soldiers, who had always been prepared to die for their country, never thought they would survive this war. They immediately embraced each other to celebrate. Their faces were filled with the joy of victory, and their eyes revealed determination and courage.

Below the city walls, residents witnessed it all. They expressed their respect for the valiant actions of the defenders with warm applause and cheers. Men, women, the old, and the young, hugged each other, jumped, and chanted victory slogans at this moment. They released the pressure and fear that had built up in their hearts, replacing it with joy and celebration.

The entire city came to a boil, with the festive atmosphere permeating every corner. People flooded the streets to celebrate this successful defense together.

At this moment, daylight suddenly broke. A gleam of dazzling sunlight poured down, illuminating a little girl's face like a warm embrace. She closed her eyes slightly, her face radiating pleasure and peace.

Looking back at the people singing and dancing, celebrating the arrival of victory, Li Jiufang's face showed a gratified and content smile.

Finally, everyone has survived.

While everyone was celebrating and cheering, a figure hidden in the thin mist prepared to depart quietly.

Sensing something as if by fate, Li Jiufang turned and saw the silently departing mist. Her gaze shifted subtly, but she did not make it known. Li Jiufang quietly followed Qi Xiu, who was about to leave.

In a hidden corner of the city wall, a figure suddenly stopped in front of Qi Xiu's Escape Light.

"This humble one, Qingliu County Magistrate Li Jiufang, earnestly requests that you stay for a moment," Li Jiufang said, her expression sincere as she cupped her hands.

Stopped by this County Magistrate, Qi Xiu frowned in contemplation for a moment, then performed a spell to disperse the mist and Escape Light. But his face was still obscured by a white mask created by the Hundred Faces Mask.

"With the great enemy just repelled and many matters requiring attention, County Magistrate Li, why are you not attending to official duties but stopping me instead?" Qi Xiu asked in a deep voice.

But just as Qi Xiu finished speaking, Li Jiufang opposite him bent down and gave him a deep bow.

"You risked your life to protect seven hundred thousand citizens of Qingliu County. Please accept Jiufang's deepest thanks."

Startled by this sudden bow from Li Jiufang, Qi Xiu was just about to sidestep when he heard a voice transmission in his ear. It was the voice of Daoist Qingya.

"Don't dodge."

This voice seemed to contain an inexplicable power. Upon hearing it, Qi Xiu subconsciously stopped moving and accepted Li Jiufang's bow.

"Today, thanks to your righteous action, Qingliu County would certainly have been breached by the traitors, and the people within the city might have been slaughtered. May I ask for your name? So I can let the citizens know who saved them," Li Jiufang spoke earnestly.

"There's no need for that." Always seeking to keep a low profile, Qi Xiu's eyes flickered as he suddenly had an idea. "If you wish to give thanks, thank Lingguang Treasure Sect's Daoist Qingya. The act of saving Qingliu County this time was actually guided by him."

Daoist, don't say I haven't done you a favor. Now that the Opportunity is mine, the fame is yours. It can be considered a repayment for your teachings.

"Daoist Qingya…" Upon hearing these words, Li Jiufang's gaze became complex and strange. She remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "You... know Daoist Qingya?"

Hm? Does Li Jiufang have a grudge against him?

Sensing that Li Jiufang's tone and expression were somewhat unusual, Qi Xiu changed his approach. "Sort of, but we are not close."

"You misunderstand. I have no enmity or involvement with Daoist Qingya. It's just that when you mentioned the Lingguang Treasure Sect's Daoist Qingya, to my knowledge, there indeed was a Daoist Qingya in Lingguang Treasure Sect, but he was expelled from the Mountain Gate six years ago."

"What?" Qi Xiu's expression shifted slightly. "Why?"

"I have only heard rumors. It is said that this Daoist Qingya trespassed on the forbidden grounds of Lingguang Treasure Sect, not only stealing several volumes of taboo ancient scriptures but also causing a disturbance in the sect and injuring many people. Afterward, Lingguang Treasure Sect offered a sizable bounty for this Daoist's capture. But for some reason, they later withdrew it. Since then, Lingguang Treasure Sect sealed its Mountain Gate, until today."

Li Jiufang's words stirred up huge waves in Qi Xiu's heart. That chubby Daoist, who was always smiling and whose eyes glittered at the sight of Talisman Scripts, turned out to be a tough character who had once caused a commotion at Lingguang Treasure Sect and gotten away scot-free. Moreover, from the fact that Lingguang Treasure Sect first put a bounty on him and then suddenly withdrew it, it seemed that Daoist Qingya not only left the sect unharmed after causing a disturbance but must also have some leverage over Lingguang Treasure Sect. Otherwise, how could Lingguang Treasure Sect be forced to cancel the manhunt and even seal their Mountain Gate?

After all, the Lingguang Treasure Sect was no minor faction. It was a thoroughly established, old-school sect of the Righteous Path. This could be seen from its monopoly of the talisman market in Dianchuan Province, indicating its colossal scale and profound strength. And yet, such a prestigious sect had met its match at the hands of Daoist Qingya. Just how terrifying was the hidden power and foundation of that normally smiling, plump Daoist?

"Let's talk about the details of this matter at home." The voice of Daoist Qingya once again reached Qi Xiu's ears, prompting him to silently nod in agreement.

Although Daoist Qingya had such a formidable identity and background, the two had gotten along quite well over this period, and he hadn't shown much of a vicious or ruthless demeanor. Moreover, if Daoist Qingya truly wanted to do something to him, with the strength he demonstrated by causing uproar in the Lingguang Treasure Sect, any resistance from Qi Xiu would be like an ant trying to shake a tree, a moth flying into the flames.

"As for today's matter, I hope County Magistrate Li will keep the part about Daoist Qingya a secret. I cannot explain the reasons now, but consider it the only request I have for saving the city's populace. I wonder, could County Magistrate Li agree to it?" Gathering his sleeves and lifting his hand, after a moment of contemplation, Qi Xiu made a confidentiality request to Li Jiufang.

"Rest assured, about the matter concerning Daoist Qingya, I, Li, will not utter a single word." Understanding that this mysterious Sword Cultivator likely had a low-key temperament and preferred not to be too conspicuous, Li Jiufang did not press further. After thanking Qi Xiu once more for his intervention in saving Qingliu County, she courteously watched him leave.

Riding the Escape Light with a slightly grave expression, Qi Xiu returned to the small courtyard within the city.

In the courtyard, Daoist Qingya, who had already brewed a pot of Spiritual Tea, was lying on a rocking chair. The rocking chair, which normally required Qi Xiu's push to move, today swayed comfortably up and down.

"You're back. Congratulations, the Opportunity is now in your hands." Hearing the sound of the door opening, Daoist Qingya cheerfully raised his head.

"Daoist, your acting skills are top-notch. You've deceived this little cultivator quite miserably! The ten outstanding youths of the Lingguang Treasure Sect, the Dashing Talisman Hero, the reputed demon-eliminating and righteous path-upholding Daoist of Dianchuan Province. Why didn't you say you're the next Sect Master of the Lingguang Treasure Sect?" Walking up to sit next to Daoist Qingya, Qi Xiu unreservedly picked up a cup of Spiritual Tea and downed it in one gulp.

"That certainly would've been possible..." Daoist Qingya murmured almost inaudibly, then revealed his signature smile. "I never lied to you; those were my titles before I was expelled from the sect. Not one of them was false. But let's not dwell on presumptions. I've already helped you obtain the Opportunity, so you should fulfill your promise now. Tell me, who is your master really?"

"Opportunity, Opportunity, I still don't understand what you mean by 'Opportunity.' As for who my master is…" With a meaningful glance at Daoist Qingya, Qi Xiu turned his cup upside down, rolled up his sleeves, and squinted his eyes. "With the Daoist's wisdom, I'm afraid you've already seen through it all, as clear as a mirror. Do you need to ask me?"

"You kid…" Narrowing his eyes in the same manner, Daoist Qingya too gathered up his sleeves.

Their eyes met. The atmosphere grew tense.

"HAHAHA!" Unable to hold back, they both burst into laughter. Daoist Qingya, clutching his own plump and round belly, said, "From the first moment I saw you, I knew all this talk about 'your master' and 'a minor sect with just three to five disciples' was all nonsense. I'm not boasting; there isn't a talisman sect in the Great Xuan Dynasty I haven't visited. So I saw right through you long ago."

After the laughter subsided, Qi Xiu slowly dropped the smile from his face. "Since that's the case, why then did the Daoist transmit this Dharma Gate to me and assist me in obtaining this Opportunity from Qingliu County?"

"And why is that? Of course, it's because I took a liking to you." Daoist Qingya sat up from the rocking chair, his gaze unusually focused and sharp. "You carry a different air than that of ordinary cultivators, especially those disciples from the major, established sects. A distinct personality, unfettered and unrestrained, and completely devoid of awe. I see a lot of my younger self in you. The path I walk now is too solitary. A lone journey, vast and desolate. And you, you have the potential to walk alongside me."

Surprised to receive such high praise from a great cultivator like Daoist Qingya, Qi Xiu replied with a smile, "So the Daoist guiding me to seize the Opportunity is like an investment in me?"

"Exactly. You do have potential, but you're still too green. Reaching the Dao-Entering Realm may seem like becoming a land immortal to the secular world, but in the Cultivation Realm, the Initiate Realm is merely a beginning. Bloodstain, Dao Body, Primordial Spirit. The path you have to tread is still long and arduous.

"Qi Xiu, you have the potential to stand shoulder to shoulder with me in the future, but that is in the future. Helping you this one time is already the limit. Overly meddling with your growth would instead be harming you.

"Practice the Dharma Gate I have passed on to you diligently, but never reveal a single detail to anyone else. Remember, remember!

"I hope that the next time we meet, your progress will give me a pleasant surprise."

His words still echoing, Daoist Qingya's smiling figure, under Qi Xiu's gaze, gradually grew indistinct, eventually vanishing completely into thin air. Only the rocking chair remained, still swaying gently...

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