A flash of cyan light erupted, scattering fragments everywhere, but those tatters of clothing instantly vanished into nothingness. It turned out that the vast sleeve opening was merely an manifestation of True Person Diancang’s spiritual power, not a physical object. This maneuver was merely a spell called Sleeve Universe, which most cultivators of profound power knew how to use, though some preferred it and some did not, meaning the things they could gather varied.

For True Person Diancang to dare use Sleeve Universe to capture a cultivator who understood magic indicated absolute confidence in this move. However, just as the spell was about to envelop Ning Ruxue, the sudden burst of sword qi completely shattered the technique.

“Hmm? The girl child certainly has some means!”

The sword light dispersed, and Ning Ruxue stood elegantly at a distance, her beautiful face filled with murderous intent. She then said to Ye Wen beside her, “Senior Brother, do not intervene. Let Junior Sister teach this fellow a lesson!” Initially, when Ye Wen saw True Person Diancang attack Ning Ruxue, righteous anger surged in his heart, and he was about to let the old man taste his newly improved "Lightning Speed Fist." But since his Junior Sister had spoken, he couldn't easily interfere. He only cautioned, “This old ghost is not weak in power; Junior Sister must be careful in handling him!”

The others nearby had all changed their expressions the moment True Person Diancang attacked. They instantly summoned their respective magic treasures. For Hermit Beihe, the Star River Divine Blade emanated a faint, bluish aura circling him; the blade would slash down at Hermit Beihe’s mere thought. However, Hermit Beihe was quite confident in Ye Wen’s strength, so his reaction was relatively composed. He summoned the treasure as a precaution, not with the immediate intent to strike.

As for Yan Xing and Zhou Chong beside him, they immediately summoned their flying swords and unleashed their sword light, preparing to attack True Person Diancang. Unexpectedly, before they had even fully taken their stance, Ning Ruxue had already broken True Person Diancang’s spell, remaining completely unharmed and without having moved an inch from her spot.

Only then did the two snap back to reality, realizing that everyone beside them was stronger in cultivation than they were. If a real fight broke out, it seemed unlikely they would even get a chance to act.

Retracting their sword light, Yan Xing quietly instructed Zhou Chong, “Judging by the situation, it seems there’s nothing for us to do today. You and I just need to stand here quietly and serve as witnesses for our sects.” Zhou Chong had just experienced the strength of True Person Diancang firsthand, especially the marvelous Sleeve Universe technique, which he felt he could hardly withstand. Even if he and his Senior Brother joined forces, a moment of carelessness could result in both of them being captured. Seeing that Ning Ruxue had shattered this move without moving her feet or raising her hands, he knew the gap between them and her was too vast; she clearly did not need their help.

Looking back at True Person Diancang, although his spell was broken, he hadn't sustained any injury. He stood at a distance, scrutinizing Ning Ruxue up and down, before finally chuckling, “Girl, don't refuse a toast only to drink the bad wine. Come along quietly with this True Person, and you’ll suffer less. Otherwise…”

He paused, his eyes darting rapidly, and then spoke to Liu Zhu, “The matter between you and me today is not irreconcilable. I’ll give you this Diancang Mountain. However, this girl must come with me!”

At these words, everyone’s complexion shifted. Most people looked toward Liu Zhu. The Sect Master of the Diancang Sect’s face cycled through dark and pale, finally erupting in a roar, “I originally respected you as a senior of the Righteous Path, but now I see I was mistaken! I won’t argue with you about seizing my Diancang Sect’s mountain gate today; we settle this with our hands! But to openly abduct someone’s wife—isn't that no different from the Demonic Path?!”

“Hahahaha!” True Person Diancang burst into wild laughter. “I do as I please. Is it your place to quibble?” Then, he actually turned to look at Ye Wen and chuckled sinisterly, “This girl is your wife? Little fellow, you are quite blessed; I suppose you’ve enjoyed many favors!”

Ye Wen was momentarily confused, not grasping the situation, but the old ghost’s words were too offensive, and his tone was utterly arrogant. Ye Wen couldn't be bothered to engage, only giving him a cold look before stating, “Is that your last testament?”

True Person Diancang was momentarily stunned, surprised that Ye Wen was even more audacious than him. He took a moment to regain his composure, then, half in anger and half in amusement, sneered, “Good! Very good! I’d like to see what kind of skill you, little brat, possess…”

As he spoke, he flipped his palm, condensing a ball of Innate Wood Divine Thunder in his hand!

This Innate Wood Divine Thunder was not some supremely esoteric or profound technique; nearly all cultivators understood some form of lightning magic, and most initially practiced Wood Divine Thunder. At higher levels came the Innate Wood Divine Thunder. However, to unleash this technique as effortlessly as True Person Diancang did—without changing expression or panting—was beyond the capability of an ordinary person. When he revealed this, everyone was startled. They felt that although the old ghost was incredibly arrogant and his methods rather unorthodox, his cultivation was undeniably high.

Moreover, as True Person Diancang began to act, the surrounding spiritual energy stirred slightly. Everyone present was a cultivator and highly sensitive to spiritual energy fluctuations. Thus, as True Person Diancang exerted his full power, everyone perceived that his cultivation was based on orthodox Daoist Profound Arts, entirely untainted by any demonic essence.

Just then, Liu Zhu also spoke, “This True Person Diancang’s learning is entirely from the Profound Gate orthodoxy. It is precisely because of this that this humble one initially considered this person a senior of the Righteous Path. I never expected him to be a member of the Evil Way!” What Righteous Path cultivator would abduct wives and daughters? Anyone who committed such acts would surely be cast out into the Evil Way, regardless of the techniques they cultivated or their origins. After all, abducting wives and daughters has historically been considered an extremely heinous act, and there is no room for debate on this point.

Hearing Liu Zhu’s words, True Person Diancang merely chuckled, looking exceedingly pleased with himself.

He had cultivated for several centuries, originally starting as an ordinary wandering scholar. By chance, he found a cave dwelling where he learned orthodox Profound Gate Daoist techniques. Aided by spiritual fruits, he achieved success without a teacher. However, because he was already deeply cultivated upon emerging from seclusion, he acted without restraint, becoming immensely arrogant. Later, after being taught a lesson, he realized his cultivation was still insufficient, so he entered deep seclusion for several centuries, aiming to advance his learning and even attempt to break through to the realm of Ascension to Immortality.

Alas, the outside environment changed drastically. The pure spiritual energy between heaven and earth grew increasingly scarce. Even the cave dwelling he had found gradually lost its original mystique, becoming no different from an ordinary cave in recent centuries. After clinging on stubbornly for a few more decades and finding his cultivation not only failing to advance but showing signs of decline, True Person Diancang knew he could not remain idle any longer and emerged from seclusion, searching everywhere for a suitable place to cultivate.

Upon seeing the Diancang Sect, he realized he could establish his own school and accept disciples. This would grant him more time to cultivate. Furthermore, after coming out, he encountered Liu Zhu and learned about the current state of the Cultivation World. Thus, he harbored a desire similar to Ye Wen’s: to establish a faction, become a local hegemon, and secure a foothold in the Cultivation World.

However, Ye Wen sought quiet, stable, long-term development, choosing the mundane world, where cultivators rarely paid attention, as his starting point. This self-proclaimed master of high cultivation conceived the idea of forcefully seizing the Diancang Sect’s mountain gate. The Diancang Sect’s location was a nexus where the spiritual energy of the Diancang Mountain’s earth gathered. Although the spiritual energy of this earth was nearly depleted, cultivating there ensured that one’s progress wouldn't halt, at least preventing decline. Moreover, True Person Diancang learned that all the famous mountains and rivers in the world were already occupied by cultivators. Famous peaks like Emei and Qingcheng were long occupied by major sects. Compared to them, the Diancang Sect seemed a smaller, easier target to handle.

Thus, all these events unfolded between True Person Diancang and the Diancang Sect. But upon seeing Ning Ruxue, he suddenly changed his plan, recalling a passage from a scripture he possessed that jogged his memory.

Those whose brows display a lotus-shaped mark are called those with the Innate Lotus Body, most suitable to become Daoist practitioners. If a male cultivates, progress is doubled, and he may ascend to the Great Dao of Immortality in no time! If a cultivator finds such a person as a Dao Companion, they can ascend to the Immortal Realm together through the profound method of dual cultivation.

The Lotus Body refers to the concept of the lotus emerging from the mud unstained. Those bearing the lotus mark are immune to external impurities. As long as these individuals are willing to cultivate the Dao, the filth of heaven and earth cannot harm them. As long as they are willing to cultivate diligently, they will eventually achieve something, requiring far less mental effort than ordinary people. Furthermore, if someone with the Innate Lotus Body serves as a Dao Companion, they can not only temper their own spiritual energy but also purify the spiritual energy of their partner, ensuring the purity of both their auras.

This record was lengthy. True Person Diancang hadn't paid much heed to it initially. If he hadn't spent years confined in his cave practicing, having only those few Daoist texts to peruse during his leisure, he probably wouldn’t have remembered it so clearly. After achieving success in his training, he had considered such an idea, but seeing the book stated such people appeared only once in a millennium, he hadn't held out hope. He never expected to encounter Ning Ruxue today. Wasn't the young cyan lotus on her brow the so-called Innate Lotus Body?

True Person Diancang was unaware that the situation was entirely different. The lotus mark on Ning Ruxue’s brow was an acquired mark that appeared only after she cultivated the Azure Lotus Sword Song and subsequently tempered her spiritual consciousness with Azure Lotus Sword Qi. Those with the Innate Lotus Body bear this mark from birth; the lotus is congenitally formed, with a point of innate energy perpetually condensed on their brow. Besides facilitating exceptionally convenient and rapid cultivation, their spiritual consciousness is also far stronger than ordinary people’s.

Unfortunately, none of those present knew these details. True Person Diancang had only read the written record and had never truly encountered such a person. Therefore, he could not discern the difference. Seeing Ning Ruxue’s cultivation was not weak, her sword qi was quite pure, and she bore a cyan lotus on her brow, he immediately assumed she was the Innate Lotus Body described in the book and instantly formed the intention to seize her.

After leaving seclusion, he learned from Liu Zhu that the Cultivation World was becoming increasingly weak, especially the Righteous Path cultivators. Most accomplished individuals were constrained by the current environment and rarely emerged. Moreover, the environment had worsened over the past few centuries, and many senior masters had turned to dust as they failed to progress, while the new generation had not risen—it was the weakest period for the Cultivation World.

Therefore, he acted with even greater impunity, confident that his centuries of cultivation meant no one could restrain him. As long as he could snatch that girl away and find a secluded place to cultivate diligently, once he reappeared, who in the world could subdue him? Furthermore, perhaps by capturing this girl, he could even directly attain immortality, granting him nearly infinite lifespan, allowing him to ascend to the Immortal Realm for pleasure, leaving him no time to bother with these "mortals."

His thoughts were pleasant, but he didn't know that the "girl" before him was not so easily subdued. Ning Ruxue’s eyes narrowed, and an invisible wave of killing intent radiated from her, causing True Person Diancang to feel a chill down his neck. His gaze at Ning Ruxue froze, filled with great alarm.

“Hmm?”

But before he could speak to question her, he saw the cyan lotus on Ning Ruxue’s brow flash fiercely, and a beam of cyan light shot out with blinding speed, aiming straight for True Person Diancang’s throat. For an ordinary person, this strike would have landed squarely. However, no one present was an "ordinary person," and True Person Diancang’s cultivation had long transcended the category of "normal." Thus, although Ning Ruxue’s attack was fast, urgent, and almost without warning, True Person Diancang managed to narrowly dodge it.

Slightly tilting his body, the cyan light grazed the side of True Person Diancang’s neck. Even so, he felt as if his neck had been nicked by something incredibly sharp. If he hadn't been certain he wasn't bleeding or injured, he would have suspected the girl’s strike had opened a gash in his neck.

Yet, the burning sensation on his neck made True Person Diancang’s old face flush with anger. “Little girl, you don't know what’s good for you!” But before he could finish his curse, he felt a gust of wind behind him. Although True Person Diancang didn't move his feet, his body shifted sideways. Just as he moved away, the cyan light flew back. If he hadn't dodged that second strike, it would have pierced him clean through.

“It’s the flying sword!” This cyan light’s travel—out and back—was so swift that it was nearly impossible to discern what it was. But upon returning, the cyan light slowed as it flew back toward Ning Ruxue. After circling her twice, it floated above her shoulder, pointing faintly at True Person Diancang, trembling slightly. Under this tremor, a melodious song could faintly be heard emanating from the sword—this was one of the distinct characteristics of Ning Ruxue’s Azure Lotus Sword.

True Person Diancang still held the ball of Innate Wood Divine Thunder in his hand, but before he could release it, he had been forced into two desperate dodges by a mere girl. He felt he had lost face today and absolutely could not let these people have an easy time.

With a furious roar, the Innate Wood Divine Thunder in his palm shot out toward Ning Ruxue. He had initially intended to use this divine thunder to deal with the girl’s husband, but now, if he couldn't subdue the girl, his plans would amount to nothing.

He had assumed Ning Ruxue was merely a junior disciple. After learning some details from Liu Zhu, he had spent about half a year outside and noticed her clothing was typical of the current secular world, usually worn by younger disciples, which led him to disregard her initially.

The Innate Wood Divine Thunder flew extremely fast. Ning Ruxue raised her brow, and her flying sword instantly received an order, shooting out sharply to intercept the divine thunder. In her mind, this sword strike was meant to shatter the old ghost’s lightning technique and then proceed directly to end the old man's life. Unexpectedly, just as she made her move, Hermit Beihe and the Diancang Sect Master shouted in unison, “Be careful!”

Looking up, she saw True Person Diancang grinning wickedly as he charged toward her. The old man’s smile grew more triumphant, and he sneered, “You rely on that fierce flying sword. Without it, let’s see how you cope!” True Person Diancang had nearly suffered a loss due to Ning Ruxue’s excellent flying sword, leading him to believe she was only so difficult to handle because of it. If he could just trap the flying sword, he would be fine. Therefore, he had tampered with the Innate Wood Divine Thunder technique. When Ning Ruxue’s flying sword clashed with the divine thunder, the thunder suddenly flashed, transforming into a cage of lightning light that trapped the flying sword within. Simultaneously, relying on his profound power, he rushed right up to Ning Ruxue. He assumed that without the protection of her flying sword, the girl would certainly panic. With his power so vast, capturing a young girl would be effortless, wouldn’t it?

If an ordinary cultivator had been schemed against this way by True Person Diancang, they would likely have been finished on the spot. This was why Hermit Beihe and Liu Zhu’s expressions changed drastically and they cried out a warning. Only Ye Wen, after seeing through the old ghost’s plan, let out a cold chuckle, then remained silent, watching coldly from the side.

Ning Ruxue looked up at True Person Diancang, her gaze filled with contempt and disdain. At the same time, she raised a slender palm and swept it out, unleashing a flurry of palm shadows. True Person Diancang was initially puzzled by the girl’s calm demeanor and the strange implication in her eyes, which differed greatly from his initial expectations. His momentary hesitation caused his move to slow by half a beat. By the time he regained his senses, a sea of palm shadows already engulfed him. What was even more terrifying to True Person Diancang was that these palm shadows gave him the sensation of sharp blades pressing against his skin, as if every palm strike were a razor-sharp sword stabbing him, causing pain throughout his body. In his haste, all he could do was respond with counterattacks. He immediately circulated all his spiritual energy and formed a hand seal, causing a burst of light to envelop and protect him.

The onlookers were slightly surprised that Ning Ruxue suddenly struck out with such swift and fierce palm force. They hadn't expected the woman wielding the cyan flying sword to also possess such fine martial arts skills. Seeing this, the two youngsters from the Emei Sect reacted. Zhou Chong even said, “I heard that in ancient times, Daoist practitioners also practiced martial arts like fist, palm, saber, and sword techniques. I always thought it was just a rumor, but now I see it’s true!” He mistook Ning Ruxue’s palm strike for something ancient cultivators practiced casually during their leisure time.

No one knew that the Heavenly Net, Earthly Web Stance was Ning Ruxue’s former signature skill, one she hadn't used since mastering sword qi, but that didn't mean she couldn't use it. Moreover, the Heavenly Net, Earthly Web Stance wasn't strictly limited to palm techniques; Ning Ruxue could employ the same effect even with her legs. Combined with her pure sword qi, although Ning Ruxue was using palm strikes, the inherent force contained within was vastly different from standard palm arts. True Person Diancang, caught off guard and assuming she was using an ordinary palm technique, not only failed to retreat but actively used a protective spell instead…

“Heh, if you don’t suffer a loss, who will!” The myriad palm shadows filled the sky, obscuring everyone’s view of True Person Diancang’s figure. They felt he had been swallowed by the shadows. However, instead of the crisp smack sound expected from palms hitting solid objects, there was a strange series of muffled poof-chiss noises!