The setting sun, hanging low in the sky, casts its remaining warmth over the vast expanse of the southern border. The hazy light falls on the silent earth, a desolate and barren landscape stretches out before one's eyes.

  Gui Li and Jin Ping'er, who had left the Valley of Incense, stood on the desolate plain in front of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. Facing the seemingly endless high mountains and vast land, they seemed to be just two insignificant small creatures, looking up at the gigantic existence between heaven and earth. They watched as the sun's rays slowly fell behind the boundless mountains, the sky gradually darkening.

  In the blink of an eye, amidst the flow of stars, who can surpass time?

  Leaving the Incense Valley was a proposal by Gui Li, but it was only when he overheard the conversation between Yun Yi Lan and three others that day that he knew the Incense Valley might still have some other method to awaken the "Eight Fiends' Mysterious Fire Formation". It was a great opportunity, and with Gui Li and Jin Ping Er's original purpose, they should continue to hide and observe carefully.

  However, unexpectedly, Gui Li's face was calm and collected as he suggested leaving Fengxiang Valley. Jin Ping'er, who was usually very astute, seemed to have not thought of this possibility and readily agreed.

  After leaving the Incense Valley, they came all the way down. Gui Li and Jin Ping'er rarely spoke to each other and didn't discuss how to investigate further, but the two seemed to have some tacit understanding, unintentionally heading south together until today when they arrived at the front of the legendary "Ten Thousand Great Mountains", under the setting sun and black mountains, in the desolate wilderness, the two silently gazed at that mountain range.

  The wind blows across the wilderness, without a hint of floral fragrance, only the faint stench and howls from unknown distant places. Even the breeze beside me seems ferocious in this place.

  Jin Ping'er's hair fluttered gently in the wind, her head slightly tilted back, revealing her smooth and slender chin, as well as a stretch of pale neck, gazing out at the distant mountains. The black mountain peaks were shrouded in a thick, dark mist that churned and rolled ceaselessly, hiding unknown worlds behind these mountain ranges.

  Others might be guessing, but in Jin Bao'er's dim and complex eyes, something seemed to be shining brightly.

  Unlike the silent and charming woman beside him, although Gui Li also didn't say much, but along the way, what he thought in his heart was like a stormy sea, with huge waves rising and falling.

  First and foremost was the matter of the blood sacrifice, which had a profound impact on his mind. Although he himself had killed many people over the years, even earning the nickname "Blood Young Master" in the demonic sect, he subconsciously felt a sense of rejection and disgust towards what he had heard a few days ago in Fengxiang Valley, as if it was something that had been deeply rooted in his heart since childhood. And then, he suddenly realized from Jinping'er's seemingly casual remark that he had been ignoring something all along: even in the demonic sect, even the Ghost King might be doing something similar to what Fengxiang Valley was about to do...

  Take the blood of countless living people and offer sacrifices to gods. These gods are naturally evil spirits and malevolent deities.

  The blood sacrifice itself is a heinous and inhumane act that has happened right beside them.

  What kind of world is this?

  Isn't everyone in this world crazy?

  It was that eccentric and strange boy who once said: Humans are ultimately just a kind of beast, no different from others.

  Gui Lie took a deep breath, gazing silently at the distant mountains. After hearing Gui Xiong's orders from Mr. Gui, Gui Lie had already guessed that the strange boy he had encountered twice was actually the Beast God who brought unprecedented disaster to all living things in the world, from the evil beast "Tàotè" mentioned in the order.

  However, the beast god wanted to kill all the people in the world, but why did he let him off twice, and it was just a parting of ways with a smile, which was unknown to Gui Li.

  In his chest, there was a faint warmth that had been with him for many years. This faint warmth seemed to have become a part of his body, and for most of the time, Gui Ye had already ignored this warmth.

  It was just that the trip to Fengxiang Valley a few days ago had touched a certain place in his heart, and the jade pendant quietly lying on his chest might be the key to this trip to Nanjiang.

  From Yun Yi Lan and Shang Guan Ce's conversation, it is clear that Huo Xiang Gu was unable to activate the Ba Xiong Xuan Huo Fa Zhen because it had lost the Wan Huo Zhī Jīng. Now that they have obtained this Xuan Huo Jian, will they be able to uncover the secrets of that mysterious array?

  The demon stood silently, gazing at the distant sunset, the last remaining light finally disappearing quietly.

  On the black mountain peak, with the disappearance of the last ray of sunlight, the once dense black fog seemed to suddenly receive some stimulation and began to rapidly disperse and thin out.

  Jin Bier stood aside and smiled slightly, turning her head and saying, "Alright, let's go."

  Gui Li looked at her and said: "The changes in the poisonous fog of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains have never been passed down by anyone before, how did you discover it?"

  Jin Bier smiled charmingly, her eyes full of infinite charm, as if teasing and slyly asking: "This... I just won't tell you, what can you do about it?"

  The demon was taken aback, and under the gradually darkening sky, in the depths of the mountains, the woman in front of him suddenly emitted a dazzlingly beautiful glow, as if she were radiating an otherworldly light that was both captivating and warm.

  At least, in the darkness far away, you don't have to walk alone.

  The ghost's mouth twitched slightly, but he turned his head and said lightly, "Let's go."

  After finishing speaking, he went ahead first. Jin pinger looked at his back, smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling, and followed him quietly.

  One in front, one behind, two figures, and the monkey on his shoulder, occasionally transmitted "squeak" calls, slowly dissolved into the darkness, disappeared.

  ※※※

  Qingyun Mountain, Tongtian Peak, Yuqing Palace.

  Far away from the southern border of a thousand miles, this sacred place of immortals who had just saved the world from calamity, the chaos brought by the beast demon disaster was quickly and neatly handled, just like after the war between good and evil ten years ago. Most places on Tongtian Peak have restored their original quiet and serene scenery, except for a few large buildings that were damaged and need to be slowly repaired, but no one doubts that they will all quickly return to their original state.

  Among all the grand buildings on Tongtian Peak, the most important and largest one is naturally the Main Hall "Yuqing Palace".

  It's all because of that. Compared to other buildings, the damage to the Jade Clear Palace in that disaster can almost be ignored. It seems that the ancestors of the Qingyunmen sect are indeed protecting it.

  At this moment, when Gui Li and Jin Ping Er were about to enter the mysterious and eerie Ten Thousand Great Mountain to pursue the defeated and fleeing Beast God, a not-so-big-but-not-so-small dispute suddenly broke out in the sacred Jade Clear Temple on the Tongtian Peak of Qingyun Mountain.

  The six main seats of the Qingyun Gate, except for the Changmen Tongtian Peak, rarely gathered again in the Yuqing Hall after the beast disaster. However, what's most important is that they didn't come this time because they were summoned by the sect leader, Daoxuan, but rather because they came on their own initiative. In the grand hall, it was not Daoxuan who welcomed the various seats, but rather Xiao Yicai with a slightly awkward expression.

  Among the six veins, Longshou Peak's Qi Huan and Chaoyang Peak's Chu Yuhong, both second-generation disciples, were of the same generation as Xiao Yicai. They didn't speak directly like the other four masters. Most of the time, they remained silent. However, the leaders of the other four veins: Dazhu Peak, Xiaozhu Peak, Fenghui Peak, and Luoxia Peak, spoke in a less courteous manner.

  Dà Zhú Fēng, the first seat, had a loud voice among the four seats. He sat upright on his purple sandalwood chair and coldly said to Xiao Yi Cai: "Xiao Shī Zhí, today we six people came here, it's already been two hours now, why hasn't the gate master come out to see us? Does he think that in his eyes, we old guys have fallen to this point?"

  Xiao Yizai's face was extremely awkward, with a bitter smile all over his face. He accompanied the smile and said: "What are you talking about, Master Tian? You have always been respected in our Qingyun Gate, and Master has always valued you... this is something everyone knows..."

  Tian Bu Yi didn't wait for him to finish speaking, and snorted in disdain, coldly saying: "So the Master actually values me so much, leaving me here for two hours without even checking on me?"

  Xiao Yicai hesitated for a moment, and bitterly smiled: "Tian Shifu, I've already told you just now, Master indeed entered the Huan Yue Dong Fu to cultivate in seclusion ten days ago, and has not come out since. For now, the matters on Tong Tian Peak are temporarily being managed by me."

  The four elder seats at the bottom of the table hummed in unison, clearly not believing Xiao Yi's words. The small bamboo peak water moon master sitting next to him said coldly: "Xiao Shixiong, during these ten days, although I was on a small bamboo peak, but several times I heard that the gatekeeper brother was acting strangely on Tongtian Peak, and even more so, a few days ago on a certain night, someone spread rumors that the gatekeeper brother was like a madman, standing on the top of the Yuqing Temple, shouting at the sky. Is this true?

  Xiao Yizai immediately shook his head and said, "Absolutely not, absolutely not. Shuiyue Shibo must have misheard. Our respected master is a high-ranking immortal who has attained the Tao, the leader of the righteous path in the world, with an otherworldly demeanor and a strong sense of justice. How could he possibly do such a reckless and unscrupulous thing?"

  The four elder leaders exchanged a glance, and they all saw that the others were skeptical of Xiao Yi's words. Tian Ri, who was sitting next to Feng Hui Peak's leader and had taken over as the leader of Luo Xia Peak after Tian Yun, looked thin and pale in his Taoist robe, with furrowed brows: "Xiao Shixiong, it's not that we, your elder uncles, are making things difficult for you, but the fact is that our leader is the backbone of Qingyun Gate. If something happens to him, I'm afraid it will shake the foundations of Qingyun. That's why we must come and ask you, don't take it to heart."

  At this moment, the six veins were seated below the main seat, and the middle one originally belonged to Dao Xuan's true person's main seat. Naturally, no one was sitting there. Xiao Yi Cai's identity and generation were both lower than several Shifu, so he could only stand aside. At this moment, he also smiled bitterly and said: "Several Shifu, the disciple dare not remember hatred in his heart, but... but the master has indeed gone into seclusion, and has given strict orders not to disturb him, it's not that Yi Cai intentionally blocked several Shifu from seeing the master."

  Tian didn't get angry, but hummed and said: "You don't have to talk nonsense anymore. These days, the entire Qingyun Gate has been spreading rumors that the master's behavior is extremely strange, sometimes crazy and sometimes confused on Tongtian Peak. If Master Shixiong is unwell, we as his disciples must think of a way to cure him, at least go visit him; if he is fine, why wouldn't he come out to see us?" He suddenly raised his voice here, angrily saying: "Xiao Yicai, tell the truth, what's going on with Master Shixiong?"

  Xiao Yicai's body shook slightly, as if he had been startled by Tian Buyi's loud voice, but his face still wore a faint bitter smile, and he remained silent.

  Feng Hui Feng, who had been sitting silently beside him, occasionally glancing at Xiao Yi Cai with a furrowed brow, pondered for a moment before speaking: "Alright, let's do it this way, Xiao Shifu. We old men also know that you have always respected your master and wouldn't dare disobey. Now, as long as you lead us to where the Master is in seclusion, we'll pay our respects on our own. What do you think?"

  Xiao Yizai was taken aback, not speaking a word, but his face showed a thoughtful expression. Zeng Shu Chang turned his head around and glanced at the people behind him, Tian Buyi, Shui Yue Dashi, and others all nodded slowly. Zeng Shu Chang coughed and stood up slowly, his tone calm and gentle, saying: "Xiao Shixiong, actually we are just concerned about Master Zhangmen. We have always been extremely respectful to Master Zhangmen, this is something that everyone in Qingyun Gate knows. As long as we see Master Zhangmen and know that he is safe and sound, we will naturally be at ease. Ah yes, I heard that Master Zhangmen has recently gone into seclusion, according to the old rules of Qingyun Gate, it can only be one of three places: Yuqing Temple's secluded room, Zushi Temple Hall, or Huan Yue Cave Mansion, but which one...

  Zeng Shu's words slowed down towards the end, his voice gradually becoming softer, but his gaze turned to Xiao Yicai. Xiao Yicai's face changed several times, and after a while, he slightly bowed his head to Zeng Shu and the others, saying: "Master has been blaming himself in recent years due to many changes in Qingyun, so he often goes to the ancestral temple to worship our ancestors."

  Zeng Shu's eyebrows furrowed, and he nodded slightly, saying nothing more. He led the way to the back hall of the Jade Clear Palace, followed by Tian Naiyi, Water Moon Master, and Tian Ri Dao Ren. Qi Huan and Chu Yu slowly stood up, and as they passed by Xiao Yicai's side, Qi Huan also had a faint bitter smile on his face. He reached out to gently pat Xiao Yicai's shoulder, who let out a sigh and shook his head without speaking.

  ※※※

  The ancestral hall of Qingyun Mountain is still hidden in the depths of the forest, only revealing a glimpse of its flying eaves through the gaps between the lush green leaves. Perhaps it's true that the ancestors of Qingyun Gate have been protecting this place, as the two major disasters that Qingyun Gate has experienced over the past decade haven't damaged it at all.

  As in the past, from a distance, the dim temple has a faint glow of incense, giving people an unfathomable feeling.

  A crowd of people quickly walked from the Jade Clear Hall to the back mountain, and came to the three-way intersection in front of the ancestral temple. Suddenly, Qi Huan, who was walking a little later, exclaimed "Ah" with a tone of surprise, and quickly took a few steps forward. The crowd followed his gaze, and saw that in front of the gradually appearing ancestral temple, there was a young man standing quietly, motionless, but his eyes were looking towards the depths of the temple, with his back to Qi Huan and the others.

  Qí Hào furrowed his brow and shouted: "Is it Lin Shidi?"

  The young man's figure shook, and he turned his head back, it was Lin Jingyu.

  Lin Jingyu suddenly saw Qi Huan, and a look of joy also flashed across his face, but soon he saw that Qi Huan was followed by many people, and among them were the leaders of various factions of Qingyunmen. He couldn't help but be stunned, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

  "Brother Qi, how did you come... and all of you, uncles and brothers, why are you all here?"

  Zi Hao walked up to Lin Jing Yu, smiling and said: "Just now all the way here, I was thinking if I could see you here. It's been many days since we brothers saw each other."

  Lin Jingyu obviously saw Qi Huan was also very happy, and smiled: "Yes, I miss Shixiong too."

  "Right," he glanced at the others and asked Qi Huan in a low voice, "Senior brother, you and these few senior uncles and brothers have come here together, what's the matter?"

  Qī Hào glanced at the ancestral hall behind Lín Jīng Yuè, furrowed his brow and said: "Lín Shī Dì, that... uh, Palm Teacher Bó, is he inside this ancestral hall?" For some reason, Qī Hào spoke without intentionally lowering his voice, as if letting everyone behind him hear.

  Lin Jingyu's smile on his face also slowly disappeared, and he obviously found that something was wrong. However, facing the usually virtuous and respected masters, he still said honestly: "The True Man of the Sect is inside the temple."

  A faint rustling sound came from behind Zhi Hao, and soon it calmed down. Then, Zeng Shu Chang's calm and slightly aged voice said: "What is the Master doing inside? Is he in seclusion?"

  Lin Jingyu seemed startled and asked: "Closed door, what closed door?"

  Zi Hao's face changed, and Tian Bu Yi's expression also changed as he took a step forward, but was immediately stopped by Zeng Shu Chang. Zeng Shu Chang gave Tian Bu Yi a look, shook his head, then glanced at Zi Hao, who nodded in understanding. Frowning, he asked Lin Xing Yu: "Lin Shidi, have you been on Tongtian Peak recently?"

  Lin Jingyu nodded and said, "Not bad."

  Zi Hao hesitated for a moment, seemingly weighing his words, before slowly saying: "Have you seen or heard anything unusual on this Tongtian Peak?"

  Lin Jingyu thought for a moment, his eyes scanning the faces of the people present, and his eyes gradually lit up, but his expression didn't change much. He replied honestly: "Reporting to senior brother, although I've been on Tongtian Peak all along, but since these days, I've almost always been in this ancestral hall mourning for my predecessor, so I haven't heard anything about what's going on outside." He paused and looked at Qi Huan, saying: "Senior brother, has something happened?"

  Zi Hao sighed and shook his head, saying: "Nothing happened. By the way, why are you standing here in broad daylight? Aren't you supposed to be guarding the spirit in the ancestral hall?"

  Lin Jingyu glanced at the dark depths of the ancestral hall and said, "It was the True Person of the Sect who told me to stand here. Every time he comes, he makes me stand alone outside, then he enters that hall by himself."

  As soon as this was said, Zeng Shu and others all changed color slightly, Qi Huan also furrowed his brow and asked: "Is the teacher still inside?"

  Lin Jingyu nodded and said, "Yes, he is inside the ancestral hall."

  Zhi Hao nodded and took a few steps back, no longer speaking.

  Zeng Shu Chang, Tian Bu Yi and others exchanged a glance with each other, but for the time being, no one took action. After a moment, Tian Bu Yi hummed and walked out in big strides, coming to the entrance of the ancestral hall, but not stepping onto the steps. He stood below the stone steps and said loudly: "Dao Xuan Shixiong, I am Tian Bu Yi. Others include Shui Yue, Tian Ri, Zeng Shu Chang, as well as the leaders of two other sects' disciples. We have all come to see you. Are you in?"

  His voice was loud and clear, and it immediately spread throughout the forest. Looking vaguely into the distance, it seemed that even the dimly lit area deep within the temple suddenly brightened up a bit, before slowly returning to normal.

  A moment later, a voice came from the darkness, coldly saying: "What is it?"

  The fields are not easy to be with other elders, and the voice is extremely cold, with a hint of murderous intent. Where is the clear and upright atmosphere of Daoxuan Zhenren? But these people have known Daoxuan Zhenren for over a hundred years, and as soon as they heard this voice, they recognized it as his.

  Is it really true that something unexpected has happened to this Taoist immortal who once dominated the world with his righteous path?

  At this thought, Tian Ye and others' faces changed.

  Tian did not easily cough, took a deep breath and loudly said: "Shixiong, we have heard that you have been unwell lately, so we specially came to visit you. Please allow us to enter and pay our respects."

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren's voice fell silent for a moment, and when it reappeared, it was accompanied by a cold laugh, with a chilling tone: "See me? Do you need all six leaders of the Six Veins to come together just to see me? I think you're trying to usurp my position as the leader of the True Person Sect!"

  As soon as these words came out, they were like a sudden clap of thunder in the clear sky, shocking everyone's face. Even Tian Ye, who was not easy to get along with, involuntarily took a few steps back, his face filled with astonishment and surprise. He turned his head to look around, but all he saw was that even people like Shui Yue, who were usually calm and collected, had incredulous expressions on their faces.

  Zeng Shu's eyes were filled with worry, he took a step forward and said in a loud voice: "Master, where did you get this idea from? We disciples have never had such thoughts for hundreds of years, not in the past, not now, and won't have them in the future. Recently we came to see you only because we were worried about your health, there is no second intention, Master mustn't misunderstand."

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren's voice suddenly rose, coldly laughing: "Zeng Shu Chang, among the six meridians' first seats, you have always been known for your deepest mind. On that day, you had already sensed something about Long Shou Feng Cang's scheme, yet you endured in silence, didn't you think I wouldn't know?"

  Zeng Shu's face changed greatly, and Tian Bu Yi, Water Moon Master, and Tian Ri Dao Ren also turned around in shock, looking at Zeng Shu.

  Shuǐ Yuè Dà Shī stared at Zēng Shū Cháng and after a while said: "Is this matter true?"

  Zeng Shu often forced a bitter smile and shook his head, saying: "This...this is where it starts again?"

  Shuǐ Yuè Dà Shī was about to ask further, when suddenly the countless dim lanterns in the ancestral hall lit up by themselves without any wind. It was too dark to see clearly, but somehow it made people feel that there was something unusual lurking deep within the darkness, and it let out a loud roar.

  Almost at the same time, Daoxuan Zhenren's voice came again, but the object he pointed to had shifted from Zeng Shu Chang's body to Master Shuiyue: "Shuiyue, what are you pretending to be again? Do you think that with your high and mighty appearance, you can truly be awe-inspiring?" His voice was strange, with a hint of sadness and hoarseness mixed in, as he said sternly, "In the past, when Wan Jian fell into the ancestral hall, sweeping the floor until old age, and finally died at the hands of evil demons and heretics, it was all because of you, all thanks to your blessings! Hahahaha..."

  In the end, Daoxuan Zhenren's voice suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter, without a hint of his usual dignified demeanor. However, at this moment, no one paid attention to him anymore. Tian Buyi, Zeng Shu Chang and others all lost their composure, staring blankly at Shuiyue's pale face, unable to utter a word for a long time.

  These few words, however, were too shocking and stirring. Qi Huan and the other younger disciples looked on in stunned silence, while Shui Yue Dashi's entire body trembled with fear. But somehow, her eyes emitted an unprecedented, almost fanatical fervor as she took a step forward, seemingly no longer caring about anything else, and loudly shouted towards the ancestral hall: "You... you said what? Could it be that... could it be that Master Wan is still alive?"

  One word awakened everyone, Tian Buyi and others almost simultaneously reacted, each with an excited expression, and followed him to the depths of the ancestral hall.

  The wild and arrogant laughter of Dao Xuan Zhen Ren, however, grew more and more frenzied, echoing in the air above the ancestral hall of Qingyun Mountain, lingering for a long time without dispersing.