The turbulent floodwaters began to recede; high temperatures traveled along the currents, boiling and sending up plumes of steam that banished the harsh cold of winter, causing vast amounts of aquatic life to float to the surface.

Meanwhile, in the forest, animals scurried about, fleeing from the rising steam.

A white-haired monkey clutched a tree branch and, with a few leaps, landed on the topmost boughs, looking distantly at the enormous bell-shaped cover wrapped by nine dragons, its eyes flickering with lively resentment and mockery.

"You plotted and schemed so much, but in the end, you couldn't foresee that this divinity still had a trick up its sleeve."

With two chirps, the white monkey's mouth twisted into a sneer, then, as if recalling something, it angrily punched the tree trunk.

Agreeing to assist Ji Jiji came with a condition: to first obtain the Heavenly Water Pearl—using the other's power to ensure further recovery. This way, one could adapt to the situation and decide whether to continue the partnership or withdraw altogether.

However, what was unforeseen was that the Heavenly Water Pearl was bait; taking the pearl had sprung a trap, leading to being hunted down, and ultimately forced to abandon a physical body refined over many years due to unexpected interference from Sixth Brother.

Yet, he was still alive and had used this opportunity to escape the murky waters; there would come a day for an East Mountain revival.

The white monkey stared at the distant scene for a while before stretching out a hand; a stream of water stealthily beneath the tree soared up and fell into its palm, faintly revealing the phantom of a creature with eight heads, eight feet, and eight tails.

Afterward, it scratched its body like an ordinary monkey, climbed a large tree, and prepared to follow the other animals out of this place.

It was at this moment that a gentle voice suddenly called from behind, "Benefactor, please halt."

The white monkey pretended not to hear, racing to reach a safe area before the spreading mist got there, blending in indistinguishably with the other fleeing animals.

However—

"Boom!"

A streak of golden light cut through the sky and, after circling twice in midair, thunderously struck the ground, shaking the mountains.

In front of the white monkey, a sky-supporting giant rod stood erect, dazzling golden light radiating from it—both the pervasive steam and the boiling water quieted with its appearance, and the flood's retreat hastened.

"With the special trait of the Six-Eared Macaque, implanting its Dao Fruit into its own body, creating a second heart and a second self, even if the main body dies, it can still live another lifetime. Moreover, as one of the Four Apes of Chaos beyond categorization, its fate is difficult to discern, and there's no need to worry about being detected by Tianxuan Donor."

"Benefactor Wuzhiqi, everyone has underestimated you."

The voice carried leisurely, approaching slowly. Blocked by the giant pillar, the monkey also stopped, its face gradually becoming fierce, with four ears emerging on either side of its head, making six ears in total.

His name called out, Wuzhiqi knew well that his plan to escape had been seen through. Abandoning the act, his leonine face emanated a deep evil Qi, turning around 180 degrees like a wolf, glaring intensely behind him.

A Stone Pavilion came into view for Wuzhiqi, and within it, a figure dressed in white, with white hair and a pale face, looking like a Heavenly Man.

This figure immediately captured Wuzhiqi's attention.

As for the monk behind him, Wuzhiqi paid no heed; his gaze was focused solely on the Buddhist Zhen Ru, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints in utter shock.

As an old demon who had lived for more than two hundred years, Wuzhiqi's knowledge was undoubtedly vast; he recognized most of the strong beings in the world, naturally including—

The Awakened!

"Squeak!"

A monkey squeal burst from Wuzhiqi as he bolted like his tail was on fire, shooting into the sky without a care for being spotted by enemies from afar.

Compared to Tianxuan and Yin Tulong, Buddhist Zhen Ru was far more terrifying.

As he moved swiftly as a shadow, Wuzhiqi shot straight into the heavens, blurring past scenery flashing by him like lightning, and in an instant—

He looked up to see a smiling face as immense as the sky looming over him.

Around him, the former giant rod had vanished, but several more Sky-Supporting Giant Pillars appeared, jade-like in color and purity, with delicate textures. Closer inspection revealed they were not pillars at all but fingers.

"For Jiang Benefactor, the Mazer will always try to persuade if possible; though Jiang is not a good person, he is not utterly unforgivable. However, for Benefactor Wuzhiqi, the Mazer feels some drastic measures are necessary."

The skyscape face spoke, its gaze shifting, and a beam of golden light descended upon Wuzhiqi, materializing into a Golden Hoop that firmly ensnared his head.

"Benefactor, the Buddha Country needs someone of your talent."

The voice was distant, infinitely remote, but Wuzhiqi had no leisure to ponder further.

Once the Golden Hoop wrapped around his head, it took root, and an indescribable, excruciating pain penetrated his mind—such intense agony that the fierce Great Demon let out a spine-chilling scream.

The Golden Hoop tightened as if to crush his skull, Divine Soul, and consciousness together—pain greater than a thousand cuts, unbearable even for an old demon like Wuzhiqi.

Buddhist Zhen Ru watched impassively, slowly closing his hand, beckoning the towering Jingu Bang back to rest on the stone table.

"The Six-Eared Macaque is not among the ten types, and Heavenly Mechanism is difficult to calculate, but its fate is intertwined with that of the Intelligent Stone Monkey, Benefactor, when you chose the Six-Eared Macaque as your way out, you were already destined to join my Sect. All is preordained by heaven."

Buddhist Zhen Ru sighed softly, waving his hand gently, making the Stone Pavilion and the person disappear once again.

...

...

"Retrieve!"

Yin Tulong, maintaining the Fatian Xiangdi stance, raised the Qiankun Ring, and an Invisible Power drew the flood into the ring, instantly making the tidal waters vanish and revealing the muddy ground beneath.

"The Tianwu Dao Fruit has disappeared as well."

Yin Tulong furrowed his delicate brows, fire sparking in his eyes. "Wuzhiqi has escaped."

"But the floodwaters have indeed stopped rising, and..."

Jiang Li landed on a nearby mountaintop and glanced into the distance. "Wuzhiqi's fate might not turn out well."

Just moments ago, a Sky-Supporting Giant Pillar appeared far away, catching Jiang Li's attention, but it quickly vanished into thin air.

Thinking of the pillar's form, Jiang Li quickly associated it with the Jingu Bang he had seen earlier.

'Wuzhiqi won't be a concern for a while.'

Jiang Li thought this and looked toward his master.

Ever since Zhang Zhixuan stepped back, Tianxuan had been floating in midair, gazing towards Wushan, sensing the two vast and almighty Qi Mechanisms.

It was the Great Venerable entangled in a fight with Ji Jiji, and from the look of things, the battle would not end anytime soon.

The Great Venerable's Cosmic Light Divine Ability could advance to attack, retreat to defend, or be used in the intermediary to infuriate others, truly a versatile Divine Skill. Although Ji Jiji's Dao Fruit was unknown, with the myriad transformations of the Yin Talisman Scripture, it could not be easily defeated in a short time.

With the strength of both, without outside interference, they could battle for three days and three nights without any issue.

"Disciple."

Tianxuan seemed to sense Jiang Li's gaze, looked down, and said, "You return to the Sect."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li was first startled, then came to a realization, 'Master also suspects that the Sect Leader is Ji Jiji... no, she must have suspected it for some time. She has always been wary of the Sect Leader.'

And now, with Ji Jiji suspected to be the Sect Leader being detained by the Great Venerable and unable to leave Wushan, Jiang Li could return to the Sect and then...

"You carry the Authority Seal with you, and return to the Sect with Qing Yue, retrieve the Ochre Whip, and then enter the Secret Place to take back the Life-breaking Spear."

A streak of golden light fell from the sky, and Tianxuan's voice came through, "On this journey, should you face peril, cut through any hindrance and return to the Sect. If no enemies block your way, then retreat by the same path and do not enter the Sect."

Jiang Li reached out to catch the streak of golden light, and upon looking down, saw that it was a Jade Seal, similar in size to Gongsun Qingyue's Authority Seal, but far surpassing it in appearance.

The Jade Seal was flawless and a bright yellow color, with a noble and extraordinary Yellow Dragon coiled upon it.

Without a doubt, this was the symbol of Tianxuan's identity, and it also represented the authority of the Gongsun Family Head. Together with Gongsun Qingyue's accompaniment, theoretically, Jiang Li could exercise authority on behalf of his teacher within the Sect.

'Master had planned this all along,' thought Jiang Li.

Since she had long suspected the Sect Leader, the act of sending Elder Tianpeng back to the Sect carried deeper significance. Perhaps it was to alert the Sect Leader to Wuzhiqi's danger, thereby luring her out of the Sect.

Afterward, discovering Wuzhiqi near Wushan, just as Feng Manlou arrived...

'The Great Venerable's detainment of Ji Jiji might have involved his doing as well.'

With Ji Jiji, the suspected Sect Leader trapped in Wushan, Jiang Li could take the opportunity to return to the Sect and retrieve the Ochre Whip, which was already within his reach but unattainable due to concerns about the Sect Leader. It seemed like a loss not to kill Wuzhiqi in this battle, but beyond that loss lay a new opportunity for advancement.

If the Sect Leader were to be inattentive, the room for maneuver would be vast.

Compared to that, whether Wuzhiqi lives or dies is of less importance.

The Great Venerable, the stirrer of troubles, seemed to have been outmaneuvered this time, but this could well have been his deliberate retreat.

Although Tianxuan's campaign was not successful, it might yet have matched her intentions.

And indeed, the flood had receded, Wuzhiqi was likely off to be spiritually purified, which couldn't be deemed a complete failure.

For Jiang Li, having the chance to obtain the Ochre Whip was the greatest benefit.

Holding the Authority Seal, a growing ardor ignited within him.

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