He added, "Thirteenth Mistress, this Taoist priest is so formidable that he made you lose the will to fight? ...

Thirteenth Mistress, you have always reveled in the mortal world, why this persistence?" His final sentence carried the power of a Buddhist mantra. Thirteenth Mistress trembled, her expression shifting.

The hazy apricot eyes regained their clarity, and she let out a soft laugh, "Very well, it was my fault. Let us join forces and fight him!" Saying this, she glared fiercely at Qingxuan.

The Tianqu sound had failed to complete its execution, subtly backfiring and causing her to lose her fighting spirit and fall into a disadvantage. Li Mozhan smiled and nodded, placing his palm against her back and channeling his internal energy.

He raised an eyebrow as her body became like a colossal vortex, generating a massive suction force, akin to a whale swallowing water. Li Mozhan remained unmoved; he was never one to lack internal strength.

Simultaneously, he activated the Tianyuan Breathing Technique and the Diyuan Absorption Technique, allowing trickles of internal energy to pour into his body. After a moment, a bit of color returned to Thirteenth Mistress's face, and she chuckled lightly, "Master, that should be enough." Li Mozhan said, "No hurry, continue!" As the internal energy poured in, the suction grew stronger, and the speed accelerated.

The operating speeds of both the Tianyuan Breathing Technique and the Diyuan Absorption Technique quickened further. Li Mozhan deftly manipulated the energy.

He transferred the suction force emanating from Thirteenth Mistress—a maneuver of Yihua Jiemu (Grafting Flowers onto a Tree)—and redirected it onto himself, integrating them into one entity. His own body began to emit an equally powerful suction.

Thus, the depletion of his own internal energy was minimal, removing any concern over shortage. The Taoist priest Qingxuan sheathed his sword, his stance relaxed yet centered.

His gaze remained gentle as he watched the pair, showing no intent to interrupt the sudden assault. Li Mozhan felt a slight tension around his body.

This Taoist priest Qingxuan’s mind was as placid as a lake, pure and clear; his mind-reading abilities were ineffective here. A quarter of an hour passed quickly, and the suction force in Thirteenth Mistress’s body vanished.

Li Mozhan slowly withdrew his palm. The Tianyuan Breathing Technique and the Diyuan Absorption Technique continued to cycle, replenishing any lost internal energy and bringing him to peak condition.

Thirteenth Mistress’s skin now glowed faintly, rosy beneath the white, exuding a captivating radiance. Li Mozhan inwardly marveled; what a powerful cultivation method!

It was incredibly dominant, possessing miraculous healing efficacy. Clearly, this was a technique to devour the essence of heaven and earth to strengthen oneself.

Li Mozhan sighed inwardly; with such a domineering heart method, Thirteenth Mistress's origins must be significant. "Hee-hee..." Thirteenth Mistress suddenly opened her apricot eyes and giggled sweetly, "Master is observing from the sidelines.

I will take the first move!" Li Mozhan smiled and stepped back. Thirteenth Mistress’s deep internal energy was astonishing, far surpassing his own.

Her gentle restraint implied she felt his skill was insufficient. "Little Taoist, how did you find me?!" Ninth Mistress took five light, hesitant steps, stopping two zhang away from the Taoist priest Qingxuan, humming lazily.

The Taoist priest Qingxuan drew his sword. "This poor Daoist was traveling the world when I happened upon this place and heard Miss Zhang’s singing." "A blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse!" Thirteenth Mistress retorted, immediately puckering her lips and spitting, feeling insulted that she was equated with a dead mouse—too inauspicious.

The Taoist priest Qingxuan nodded solemnly. "Indeed, a stroke of luck!" Thirteenth Mistress said, "Why didn't you pretend not to see me?

Why this insistence?" "My sect has issued an order; it cannot be disobeyed," the Taoist priest Qingxuan shook his head and stated firmly, "Miss Zhang, you killed two of my senior brothers. This vengeance must be exacted." "Hmph, they were supposed to be monks, yet they indulged in lust and lechery.

They deserved to die!" Thirteenth Mistress’s exquisite face darkened, and she said coldly, "Your Shangqing Temple harbors filth and corruption. To produce such disciples, your sin is not small." The Taoist priest Qingxuan shook his head.

"Miss Zhang, why slander my two Buddhist brothers? They were both upright gentlemen." "Hypocrites!

Utterly laughable!" Thirteenth Mistress sneered disdainfully. The Taoist priest Qingxuan stated seriously, "Miss Zhang, you are too extreme." "Enough chatter.

Watch this!" Thirteenth Mistress raised both hands, and a beam of white light shot out from her embroidered sleeve, transforming into a silver serpent that lunged toward the Taoist priest Qingxuan. The Taoist priest Qingxuan slowly waved his sword, creating a half-arc of light that struck the white ribbon.

There was no trace of hostility; it was as light and effortless as clouds drifting by. The white ribbon went limp, instantly wrapping around the long sword and coiling a few times.

It yanked the sword back, momentarily freezing the priest. With a "Teng" sound, the white ribbon straightened, then undulated like waves.

Li Mozhan raised his left hand and pointed. With a "Wu!" sound accompanied by a tiger’s roar, a surging wave of energy erupted from his Daji Finger, slicing through the air and colliding with the Taoist priest Qingxuan’s long sword.

With a "Bo!" sound, like a small pebble dropping into a deep well. The area around the Taoist priest Qingxuan shimmered, rippling like lake water, and a sudden gust of wind swept up from the ground, causing the clothes of the three to billow.

Though his Daoist robe flapped, he stood firm as a mountain, holding the sword steady. His expression was peaceful as he stared at Thirteenth Mistress, not sparing Li Mozhan a single glance.

Thirteenth Mistress’s beautiful face became solemn, her gaze locked on her opponent, unmoving. Li Mozhan was surprised; this Taoist priest indeed possessed profound cultivation.

He had not expected that in less than one exchange, they would engage in a contest of internal energy. A battle of internal energy was countless times more perilous than a mere exchange of techniques, often leading to death.

"Chi! Chi!

Chi! Chi!..." He rapidly waved his ten fingers, his finger strikes crisscrossing like arrows raining down upon the Taoist priest Qingxuan.

The Taoist priest Qingxuan simply held his sword, immovable as Mount Tai. He flipped his left palm, drawing a circle, and pushed gently outward.

The myriad finger strikes instantly dissipated into nothingness. He glanced at Li Mozhan, his gaze gentle.

Li Mozhan was astonished, not by his martial arts skill, but by his profound composure and cultivation of Yangqi. Such mastery was exceedingly rare; his entire being exuded a warm, lustrous sheen, like a piece of fine jade.

Li Mozhan shook his head and smiled, taking a step forward. He placed his palm against Thirteenth Mistress’s back, and his feet sank an inch instantly.

With a "Chi," they sank another inch. After a few breaths, another inch was lost.

In a short time, the bluestone ground beneath them was pressed down several inches deep, reaching to his calves. He merged with Thirteenth Mistress, controlling the energy with exquisite precision, using the Yihua Jiemu technique to channel the opponent's surging internal energy into her lower body, dissolving it completely.

As a result, the pressure on Thirteenth Mistress greatly lessened, and she had no fear of being attacked from behind. The two acted as one in offense and defense, their roles clearly defined: Li Mozhan primarily defended, dealing with Qingxuan’s internal energy—either diminishing it, redirecting it, or utilizing it—neutralizing harm while attacking.

Thirteenth Mistress, primarily attacking, had no reservations and attacked with relentless force. Li Mozhan’s involvement broke the balance between the two.

Previously, Thirteenth Mistress was at a disadvantage; now, the tables had turned, and she was slowly gaining the upper hand. As time wore on, the white ribbon gradually tightened.

The Taoist priest Qingxuan had unknowingly sunk several inches deeper, his face flushing red. Thirteenth Mistress revealed a smile, then suddenly cried out fiercely.

With a muffled "Peng" sound, like an arrow leaving the bowstring, the white ribbon abruptly yanked the long sword. She flickered past and struck the Taoist priest Qingxuan.

The Taoist priest Qingxuan was thrown backward, spewing a stream of blood mid-air. With a heavy "Peng," he landed hard, sliding nearly ten meters before crashing into the steps on the west side.

"Pfft!" He spat out another mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale. Despite this, his expression remained unchanged, gentle and calm, devoid of anger or joy.

He used one hand to push himself up and gazed peacefully at Thirteenth Mistress. Thirteenth Mistress slowly approached the Taoist priest Qingxuan, a cold smile playing on her lips, the light in her apricot eyes shimmering.

Li Mozhan withdrew his palm, stepped out, and stood aside with his hands behind his back, shaking his head and sighing inwardly. Thirteenth Mistress stopped a zhang away, looking down at the Taoist priest Qingxuan, "Qingxuan, you didn't expect this, did you?

You came to kill me, but now you will be killed by me!" The Taoist priest Qingxuan smiled faintly and, with difficulty, sat cross-legged. He pressed his palms together in prayer.

"Every drink and every peck is fated by heaven. This poor Daoist’s calamity has arrived.

Miss Zhang, grant me a swift end!" "Hmph, what a stubborn fool!" Thirteenth Mistress scoffed coldly. "Very well, I shall grant your wish.

Go keep company with those two dead Daoists!" She raised her hand, and a flash of white light appeared. The white ribbon shot from her sleeve like a venomous snake from its hole, aimed at the Taoist priest Qingxuan’s chest.

With a "Chi!" soft whistle, a stream of finger energy ripped through the air and struck the white ribbon. With a crisp sound, the white ribbon went limp and dropped to the ground.

Thirteenth Mistress uttered an "Yi," retrieved the ribbon, and turned to look, "Master?" Li Mozhan sighed. "Where mercy can be shown, one should show it.

Thirteenth Mistress, perhaps let him live this time." Thirteenth Mistress’s apricot eyes widened, and she exclaimed loudly, "Master, are you mad?!" "...If I spare him now, he will try to kill me again next time. Next time, if you aren't here, I might not survive!" Li Mozhan smiled, "I will be living in Tianlong City after this." Thirteenth Mistress shook her head and huffed, "Absolutely not.

No matter what, this fellow must die. All the bull-nosed priests of the Shangqing Temple deserve death!" Li Mozhan asked, "Thirteenth Mistress, is the Shangqing Temple your enemy?" The Taoist priest Qingxuan slowly spoke, "Miss Zhang belongs to the Heavenly Demon Sect, which is an ancient enemy of our Shangqing Temple." "Heavenly Demon Sect?" Li Mozhan frowned and pondered, but the name did not surface in his memory.

The Taoist priest Qingxuan explained, "The Heavenly Demon Sect, like our Shangqing Temple, is an esoteric sect. Most people in the mundane world do not know of it." "I see..." Li Mozhan nodded.

Both sects exuded an air of mystery. Esoteric sects that emerged from seclusion often pursued lofty goals and demanded absolute dedication; their martial arts were invariably formidable.

Setting aside the fact that both possessed unshakeable minds, rendering his mind-reading useless, the sonic attack technique used by Thirteenth Mistress was entirely novel to him—a true eye-opener. If not for his deep meditative skills and the Guantian Renshen Zhao Jing scripture, he would have been defenseless against the sonic assault.

The cultivation of the Taoist priest Qingxuan was even deeper; he had condensed protective True Qi outside his body, meaning Li Mozhan was certainly no match for him. For them to possess such cultivation at such a young age clearly indicated that the martial arts of their respective sects were by no means inferior to the Canghai Sword Sect, perhaps even surpassing them.

Thirteenth Mistress glanced over and saw him deep in thought, his expression focused. Seizing the opportunity, she flickered, and a flash of white light showed the white ribbon reaching the Taoist priest Qingxuan's chest.

With a "Chi!" and another soft whistle, a finger strike collided with the white ribbon. It was like a snake being struck on its vital point; the white ribbon instantly went slack and lost its power.

"Master—Master!" Thirteenth Mistress stamped her foot, her anger tinged with exasperation. Li Mozhan had just lent her a hand, giving him a subtle understanding of her internal energy circulation.

Knowing the nature of her force made breaking it relatively easy. She cultivated yin and soft internal energy; he employed the Xiaoji Finger technique, channeling his energy through the Taiyang meridian, transforming it into the ultimate essence of hardness and yang.

It was like the sun melting snow, dissolving the internal energy within the white ribbon. Since their cultivation levels were not vastly different, and Li Mozhan’s purity was superior, he succeeded.

Li Mozhan sighed, "Thirteenth Mistress, just let him go this time!" Thirteenth Mistress shook her head and said, "No, I must kill him!" Li Mozhan smiled, "Then I must save him!" "Fine then!" Thirteenth Mistress playfully admonished. In a sudden flash, she appeared on the northern steps, sat cross-legged, placed her ancient zither across her knees, and pressed her slender, jade-like fingers onto the strings, her bright eyes sparkling as she watched Li Mozhan.

Li Mozhan shook his head helplessly, "Thirteenth Mistress..."