Though a touch of confusion lingered in Li Yundong's mind—if his Fox Zen Sect brethren could enter without issue, why couldn't he? Yet, despite this thought, he believed caution was the better part of valor.

Li Yundong made no move to stop Ziyuan. He watched as she drew a folded yellow paper talisman from her sleeve.

As she carefully unfolded it, Li Yundong clearly recognized it as a small, yellow paper figure. Ziyuan lightly bit her fingertip and swiftly inscribed a blood sigil onto the paper figure.

Without seeking Li Yundong's consent, she reached out and plucked a hair from his head. Li Yundong let out a soft "Ay!" and stared, asking, "Why are you pulling my hair?" Ziyuan paid him no mind, blew a soft breath onto the figure, and before long, the paper figure began to emit a faint yellow glow and floated into the air.

Soon enough, it transformed into the spitting image of Li Yundong himself. Li Yundong was dumbfounded: "What kind of spell is this?" Su Chan lightly clapped her hands in admiration, exclaiming, "Is that the Six Jia Yang Spirit Talisman from the Six Jia Heavenly Scripture?" Ziyuan shot Su Chan a look of genuine surprise: "You know about this?" Su Chan chuckled, "My master knows thirty-six minor divine abilities, and this spell is among them.

I know a little too, though I use the Six Ding Yin Spirit Talisman, not yours—yours is far more lifelike. Heh, I used the Six Ding Yin Spirit Talisman when I sparred wits with my master, and escaped from Elder Martial Brother Mo Ashi—ah, no, I mean from Yan Fang." Ziyuan smiled faintly, "For your level of cultivation, knowing the Six Ding Yin Spirit Talisman is already quite remarkable." Su Chan giggled, "I just thought this spell was fun, so I focused on learning it.

The other spells aren't as entertaining, so I don't use them well." Li Yundong smiled and gently tapped Su Chan’s nose: "And you have the nerve to say that?" Then, turning back to Ziyuan, he asked, "Why didn't you use your own hair? Why mine?" Ziyuan stated calmly, "You are more obnoxious..." Li Yundong choked on the words, feeling deeply frustrated.

He turned to Su Chan and whispered under his breath, "Am I really that annoying?" Su Chan burst into laughter, made a silly face at Li Yundong, and nodded vigorously: "Annoying! Simply too annoying!" Li Yundong was furious.

He glared at Su Chan: "Fine, I'll deal with you when we get back! Little girl, do you need a beating every three days to keep you in line?" The girl's eyes darted around, then she cheerfully looped her arm through Li Yundong's, pouting sweetly, "Master, you wouldn't dare, right?

Your little girl is the most obedient!" Seeing the two acting so intimately, completely disregarding time and place, Ziyuan sighed softly, "Hey, do you two think you're at home?" Li Yundong and Su Chan snapped back to reality, exchanged a look, and smiled simultaneously. Li Yundong, bold as brass, plastered a cheeky smile on his face and said to Ziyuan, "Venerable Ziyuan, please lead the way!" Ziyuan had never encountered anyone with skin as thick as Li Yundong's.

She rolled her eyes at him, then directed the Six Jia Yang Spirit Talisman toward the Taoist temple and walked, keeping about ten meters behind the decoy figure. The night was deep and terrifyingly silent, broken only by the chirping of insects.

Even the rustling sound of the paper figure walking was clearly audible. Li Yundong, Ziyuan, and Su Chan followed the decoy inside.

They hugged the base of the walls, concealed in the shadows, moving slowly with concentrated stillness, while the decoy walked openly down the main path. As they passed the Tai Chi Wall and the main hall and were approaching the side temple, they suddenly heard faint voices carried on the night breeze.

Although the voices were faint, Li Yundong vaguely recognized one as that of an ancient elder, and the other as a deep, middle-aged voice. That aged voice sounded particularly familiar to Li Yundong, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

The old voice spoke slowly and hoarsely: "How is the refining of your Earth Origin Elixir coming along?" A middle-aged man replied, "We are still missing one catalyst!" "Aren't those two great golden snakes enough?" "Not enough!" "What else is needed?" "We still need..." Before the voice could finish, Li Yundong, Ziyuan, and Su Chan, who were listening intently, simultaneously saw a flash of white light right in front of them. The leading Six Jia Yang Spirit Talisman decoy suddenly emitted a thwack as a sharp object sliced through its neck.

Immediately, the fake Li Yundong's head fell to the ground with a plop, and shortly after, the decoy figure transformed from the talisman burst into flames with a whoosh. The sound, though slight, resonated like a clap of thunder in the darkness.

The two conversing voices instantly ceased! Li Yundong was stunned speechless, feeling a chilling draft rush up his neck!

A wave of lingering fear washed over him. He instinctively touched his neck, then glanced admiringly at Ziyuan, thinking: She truly is from a noble lineage, so experienced.

If not for her caution, my head might have been gone! I wonder what kind of potent artifact that was—so vicious, domineering, sudden, and sharp!

Ziyuan opened her mouth, about to speak, but her expression shifted. She swiftly pulled out another talisman, infused it with her true essence, and traced a motion in front of the three of them.

Li Yundong instantly saw what looked like a flowing, transparent screen of light enveloping them. Su Chan whispered in surprise, "That Extended Heaven Maiden Seal!" Li Yundong glanced at her, suppressing his voice, "What seal?" Su Chan leaned close to Li Yundong's ear and whispered, "It’s an invisibility talisman.

We can see the people outside, but they can't see us. It’s also a talisman from the Six Jia Heavenly Scripture." Then, the little girl proudly boasted, "I can use this spell too!" Li Yundong finally understood, smiling as he tapped Su Chan’s nose: "You know quite a bit, Little Miss.

Good, I’ll commend you!" As they were whispering to each other, Ziyuan suddenly turned around, made a 'shush' gesture, and commanded, "Don't make a sound!" Li Yundong and Su Chan immediately clamped their mouths shut, their eyes wide as they watched a figure emerge from the side chamber. The figure appeared to be a woman, slender and graceful, carrying a lantern.

Her form was shrouded in the dim, yellowish candlelight as she walked closer and closer. Li Yundong saw that the woman's upper body was lost in the shadows, making her features indistinct, but her figure seemed vaguely familiar.

When she reached the spot where the Six Jia Yang Spirit Talisman decoy had been slain, the woman paused, glanced around, bent over, and picked up a talisman—a Six Jia Yang Spirit Talisman that looked partially burned. She raised the lantern, brought her face close, and examined it.

At that moment, Li Yundong and Su Chan, illuminated by the moonlight, clearly saw the person's face. Her features were enchantingly beautiful but carried a distinct air of worldly weariness—it was none other than the supposedly deceased Mei Niang!

Su Chan nearly cried out in shock, but she reacted quickly, pressing both hands tightly over her mouth. Her eyes were wide, seemingly unable to comprehend why Mei Niang, who should have been dead, was appearing alive before them.

Li Yundong was equally dumbfounded, thinking with alarm: Mei Niang? Impossible, wasn't she drained dry and dead?

How can she be alive here? This—this can't also be a fake, can it?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw Mei Niang turn and shout toward the side chamber, "No one here, just a half-burned paper talisman!" Li Yundong's breath caught; her voice was clear and resonant, unmistakably the same Mei Niang he had encountered before! Su Chan leaned in close to him, whispering through gritted teeth, "It's Mei Niang!

I remember that voice, it’s Mei Niang’s voice!" Li Yundong drew a sharp breath, feeling his mind a confusing whirl. Yet, amidst the chaos, a faint spark of clarity emerged, as if he was about to understand something, but the moment he tried to grasp it, the light seemed enveloped in thick fog, impossible to dispel.

Li Yundong was about to speak when Ziyuan turned back, shot him a warning glare, and repeated the 'hush' gesture, then transmitted telepathically: "Are you tired of living? Don't speak!

At a time like this, you could hear a pin drop!" Seeing Ziyuan glare at him, Li Yundong glared back at Su Chan and mouthed silently, "Did you hear that? I'm talking to you!" Su Chan quickly covered her mouth with her hand, looking at Li Yundong with wide, aggrieved eyes.

The little girl thought miserably: Sister Ziyuan was glaring at you, why are you yelling at me? As the girl was musing, a deep, middle-aged voice called out from the side room of the temple: "In the dead of night, which fellow Daoist pays a visit?

Why not reveal yourself for a meeting?" Li Yundong could not transmit his voice, so he wrote on Ziyuan's back with his hand: "Should we show ourselves?" Ziyuan rarely had intimate physical contact with men. She felt an itch on her back and desperately wanted to twist away from Li Yundong’s fingertips to find comfort.

She waited until Li Yundong had written a few times before understanding his query. She then raised her hand and waved him off.

Seeing Ziyuan disagreed, Li Yundong felt puzzled but resolved to remain hidden. All three of them completely suppressed their auras, releasing not the slightest trace.

The middle-aged man asked once, received no reply, and then sneered, "Anyone daring to trespass into my Gezao Sect at night must not be a simple character. Since you are here, why hide your face?

Are you afraid to show yourselves, like turtles?" This man’s goading stirred a deep annoyance in Li Yundong’s heart. He thought: We’ll show ourselves then.

We are only here to find someone, not to cause trouble. What is there to hide?

But the moment that thought flickered, a figure suddenly materialized in the dark, starry sky. This person held a three-foot-long azure-sharp sword; their long hair streamed back as if they were an immortal.

They possessed a refined, ethereal figure, and a face beautiful as jade, yet their eyebrows bore an inherent sharpness, radiating aggressive energy. Li Yundong stared and was instantly shocked: this person was none other than the Nascent Soul manifestation of Yan Fang he had seen on Tianlong Mountain, and the three-foot azure sword in her hand was the Six Harmonies Sword he himself had once wielded!

Su Chan's mouth dropped open in astonishment, her face flushed with intense excitement and anger. She thought: Why is Yan Fang here?

Where is my master? What has she done to my master?

While Li Yundong and Su Chan's faces contorted in shock, Ziyuan’s expression was as placid as still water. She thought: Just as I suspected, Second Martial Aunt is hiding within the Fox Zen Sect.

If my guess is right, what Su Chan saw earlier was Second Martial Aunt's true form. But why would Second Martial Aunt come to the Gezao Sect so late at night?

What is her intention? As the three of them mulled over their own thoughts, upon the main peak of another famous Taoist mountain, Earth Fire True Master Zhang Ling suddenly opened his eyes.

With a stern expression, he declared, "Arrogant rogue, I have finally located your whereabouts!"