Gandalf had just crossed five meters from the vat when Angeliya Zhen Xiaoran blinked, stunned by an unbelievable sight.

Gandalf, whose face moments before had been full of curiosity and excitement, now wore an expression of utter bewilderment. Stranger still, he was pacing back and forth in the same spot, circling endlessly around the five-meter mark from the vat!

What in the world was happening?

It wasn't just her who wanted to know; Gandalf himself was desperate for an answer. He truly couldn't grasp it. Why had the scene before him suddenly flashed, followed by everything becoming blurred? Why was there such a thick fog here? Why did it feel like he had been walking for ages yet remained rooted to the spot?

Little did he know, this was a formation laid out by Zhong Shenxiu. Though it lacked the power to slay gods or demons, it possessed the ability to trap an enemy completely.

Forget Gandalf, a magician ignorant of formations; even masters who had reached the Nascent Soul stage would be utterly helpless if caught within it!

It was that formidable, that audacious—you simply had to accept it!

Fortunately, the formation Zhong Shenxiu set up was designed only for containment, not slaughter, so beyond pacing in circles, Gandalf was in no immediate danger!

“Hey, are you alright?” Angeliya called out with concern, but Gandalf gave no sign of hearing her.

It wasn't that Gandalf had gone deaf. Zhong Shenxiu had layered an auditory isolation array over the main formation, purely to prevent the sounds from the outside world from disturbing Robin inside the vat! Truly thoughtful consideration!

But Angeliya knew nothing of this; all she saw was a deeply bizarre situation.

Although Angeliya’s voice couldn't penetrate, Gandalf’s voice carried out without any hindrance.

“Where is this place? Are you still there, miss? Why can’t I see you?” Gandalf was starting to panic now, especially surrounded by this vast, white mist.

Angeliya’s expression tightened. The shock and dread in her heart grew immense. Though she couldn't discern exactly what had happened to Gandalf, she could guess his predicament was far from optimistic!

What should she do? Could she just stand by and watch?

Angeliya was fundamentally kind-hearted. While she dared not rush in to pull him out, she could certainly toss in a stick, a rope, or something similar!

With that thought, Angeliya quickly found a long pole, about four meters long, and cautiously extended it toward Gandalf.

But the next sight made her jaw drop. As the pole neared Gandalf, it simply vanished from sight, as if the tip had been erased by someone using a large rubber.

Angeliya hastily yanked the pole back in fright, yet the stick was perfectly intact! She tried this several times, but the result was always the same.

At this point, Angeliya was nearly at her wit's end. She could only stand there dumbfounded, watching Gandalf shout and rage, completely powerless!

Gandalf, trapped within the formation, was apparently tired of shouting and walking. He decided to sit down for a rest.

But the moment his backside touched the ground, he sprang up with a loud "Ow!" and stared at the spot where he had just been sitting in wide-eyed terror.

Angeliya had been agonizing over how to get Gandalf out when she was startled by a piercing, pig-like shriek from Gandalf, nearly making her collapse with fright!

What now?

It turned out that the instant Gandalf sat down, a fierce gout of flame had suddenly erupted from beneath him—the searing heat clearly asserting that this was not an illusion! (Though, in reality, it was precisely the opposite!)

However, the flames vanished the second Gandalf stood up again—coming and going without a trace!

Adopting the philosophy of, "If I won't descend into hell, who will?" Gandalf, unafraid of death, tried again. As he tentatively allowed his rear to "kiss the earth," the flames roared back, seemingly fiercer than the first time, even giving Gandalf the illusion of being burned!

The ability to materialize the visualized into tangible sensation, bringing sight into the realm of touch, truly showed how extraordinary this formation was!

It certainly justified the enormous number of Immortal Stones Zhong Shenxiu had expended!

Where did the Immortal Stones come from? He picked them up! Where from? Off the ground! (Two...?)

It was just Gandalf’s terrible luck; he couldn’t even sit down to rest! One had to say the old man was cursed. He had been explicitly warned not to approach, or suffer the consequences, but he didn’t listen. Now look at him! Served him right!

Compared to Gandalf’s living torment, Angeliya felt a pang of guilt. Hearing Gandalf repeatedly cry, "Miss, save me," and "Miss, help me," was driving her to distraction! Now, all she could do was secretly blame herself for not stopping him in time, and watch helplessly!

The only viable solution was to wait for Zhong Shenxiu to return!

Seconds ticked by, and finally, amidst Angeliya's anxious waiting, the courtyard gate creaked open. Zhong Shenxiu walked in, beaming with self-satisfaction!

Zhong Shenxiu had successfully purchased the adjacent courtyard. However, because that property was far larger, it cost him over two hundred Diamond Coins, making him sigh once more.

“Girl, why are you standing there? Where is that old man you were supposed to be watching?” Zhong Shenxiu asked casually. He had already spotted Gandalf trapped in the formation, but he asked deliberately.

Angeliya snapped back to reality, realizing this wasn't a hallucination. She pointed toward Gandalf. “He’s over there! That… you have to think of a way, he seems stuck!”

Zhong Shenxiu smacked his lips and uttered a phrase that instantly infuriated Angeliya: “Let him stay inside. He went in there himself, and I warned him beforehand!”

Angeliya immediately adopted an expression of sheer disbelief: Oh my god, how could he be so cruel?

The young girl was still too naive. If she truly understood the terrifying nature of the "genius" Zhong Shenxiu, she would find this reaction perfectly normal!

After all, Zhong Shenxiu was a "genius" capable of driving even highly cultivated cultivators to collapse; this little matter was nothing to him!

Seeing that Zhong Shenxiu was ignoring her again, Angeliya timidly spoke up once more, “But he’s still calling out in there!”

Angeliya’s unspoken meaning was: He’s shouting so miserably in there; shouldn’t we help him?

Zhong Shenxiu stared at Angeliya blankly for a moment, then a wicked smile spread across his face as he said calmly, “Hmm, you have a point. Him shouting around like that is quite bothersome.”

Then, Zhong Shenxiu formed a hand seal and snapped his fingers toward the formation. Instantly, Gandalf’s cries vanished—Zhong Shenxiu had simply disabled the "sound transmission to the outside" function!

“There, no more noise,” Zhong Shenxiu said, turning away from Angeliya and walking into the room!

Angeliya felt intensely wronged! She thought to herself: That’s not what I meant! I wanted you to let him out!

Now, watching Gandalf’s mouth moving with no sound coming out was agonizing for her.

Silence reigned through the night; indeed, Zhong Shenxiu never released Gandalf.

The next morning, Zhong Shenxiu was refreshed, clearly having slept well.

In contrast, Angeliya looked as haggard as a girl who had been up all night gaming—she had barely slept a wink!

Zhong Shenxiu acted as if nothing had happened, going about his usual routine! After her suggestions were repeatedly dismissed, Angeliya could only offer silent prayers for Gandalf!

Another day passed like that.

Today, Zhong Shenxiu seemed possessed by a benevolent spirit and finally, in an act of supreme mercy, released Gandalf!

Gandalf’s appearance was now sufficiently 'beggar-like' to qualify for the Beggars’ Clan recruitment standards. His half-lidded eyes seemed to announce a new skill he had mastered: I can sleep while standing up!

Zhong Shenxiu walked up to Gandalf with a smile, asking with feigned concern, “Old man, are you alright?” (Right as if!)

No response. Gandalf stood there like a wandering ghost.

“Old man, are you hungry?” (As if he wouldn't be!)

Gandalf seemed to have reached a state of selflessness, remaining utterly silent!

However, this state of composure didn’t last. As the enticing aroma of cooking food drifted over, he finally proved one thing to the world: Even old men can go mad!

In a flash, Gandalf lunged forward like a starving wolf, his eyes focused solely on the feast on the table, unable to register anything else!

Gandalf’s hands moved quickly; a snow-white steamed bun was about to be within reach. But someone was faster—Zhong Shenxiu!

Just as Gandalf’s hand was less than a foot from the bun, his body froze stiffly!

Yes, Zhong Shenxiu had struck his pressure points again.

Angeliya hadn't processed what was happening and looked between the two men with a blank expression! But when she saw the wicked smile creep back onto Zhong Shenxiu’s lips, she vaguely guessed what was unfolding.

Zhong Shenxiu first glanced at Gandalf, then picked up a piece of vegetable dish and asked, “Want some?”

Gandalf, whose remaining faculties were now purely instinctual, nodded, his face etched with desperate longing.

“Mmm, smells delicious.” To Gandalf’s shock, Zhong Shenxiu popped the mouthful of food into his own mouth.

A distinct shadow of pain crossed Gandalf’s face, more agonizing than when Zhong Shenxiu had confiscated his magic ring!

“Will you behave from now on?” Zhong Shenxiu asked, picking up another pristine white steamed bun.

Excitement reignited in Gandalf’s eyes, and he nodded again fervently.

“Girl, let’s eat,” Zhong Shenxiu said, completely dismissing Gandalf as he began tearing into the bun himself.

That was it???

Angeliya stared at Zhong Shenxiu, dumbfounded. She had assumed he was going to feed Gandalf, but clearly, he had no such intention!

In that moment, a thought struck Angeliya: I must never defy Zhong Shenxiu again. Whatever he says, goes!