Zhang Xiaofan looked at the middle-aged scholar in front of him, who was also the current Zheng Daos most trusted confidant and greatest threat, "Gui Wang". His mind was a mess. In recent days, he had been having small doubts about his past beliefs deep down, which actually all stemmed from a conversation at a tea stall under the empty mulberry tree on that day.

  Now, seeing an old friend again, his emotions were truly complicated, almost making him forget the situation he was in at that moment.

  But even if he forgot, the people next to him wont forget.

  Xiao Zhou wiped the blood from his mouth, struggled to stand up, and whispered to Zhang Xiaofan and Tian Linger: "This persons skills are too high, we cant defeat him. Ill hold him back, you two leave quickly!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, he stretched out his hand and beckoned, the "Seven Stars Sword" that had been inserted upside down into the rock wall until now, still slightly vibrating, seemed to have received his summons, and with a "ting" sound, it broke through the wall and flew back into his hand.

  The Demon King looked at Little Zhou, nodded his head, and still had a hint of a smile on his face. He said, "With your moral character, it seems that among the younger generation of disciples in Qingyun Gate, you are the one to look up to. I didnt expect that apart from Zhang Xiaofan, Qingyun Gate actually has another talent like you. Not bad, not bad!"

  Zhang Xiaofan was startled, but felt that his senior sister Tian Linger and the young Zhous gaze had both shifted over, for a moment his face felt hot, but he didnt know what to say.

  Xiao Zhou took a deep breath, stepped forward, and the Seven-Star Sword in his hand lit up. The Ghost King didnt move, just stood there smiling at him. Xiao Zhou knew that this person was the strongest enemy he had ever met, but behind him were his fellow disciples, brothers and sisters, and no matter what, he couldnt abandon the fight and flee, only hoping to hold him off long enough for the two of them to escape first.

  Just as he was about to operate the sword with his energy, suddenly his heart and lungs churned violently, and he couldnt hold back anymore, letting out a loud "whoa" as he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

  Zhang Xiaofan and Tian Linger were shocked, rushed forward to support him. Xiao Zhous face was pale, knowing that he had been struck by the ghost king, his internal organs were shaken, his meridians were injured, and he had no strength to cast spells. He was shocked in his heart, half of which knew that he was in a desperate situation, and the other half was amazed at the high level of the ghost kings Tao, which was terrifying to hear, and the harm it would bring to the righteous path in the future was difficult to estimate.

  The Demon King looked at him and suddenly said: "Youre trying hard to fight, but you want to hold me back for a while, so that your two fellow disciples can escape?"

  Xiao Zhou grunted, but didnt respond. Tian Linger stood up and blocked his way, angrily saying: "You demonic evil Daoist, dont think youre superior just because your skills are a bit higher, Im not afraid of you!"

  Zhang Xiaofan was shocked, earlier the Ghost King had injured Xiao Zhou with one blow, anyone could see that his skills were extremely high, and even if the three of them joined forces they might not be a match for him. Seeing Tian Lingers fearless attitude, he felt some worry in his heart, so he went forward and pulled her back, signaling to Tian Linger not to be too impulsive.

  Tian Linger had not yet reacted, but this move had already fallen into the eyes of Gui Wang and Bi Yao. Bi Yaos face was gloomy, and she coldly snorted, looking at Tian Linger and then at Zhang Xiao Fan, suddenly opening her mouth to say: "Zhang Xiao Fan, is this the Shifu sister Tian Linger youve always been talking about?"

  Tian Linger and Xiao Zhou were both startled. Xiao Zhou furrowed his brow and said, "Zhang Shidi, do you know the father and daughter?"

  Zhang Xiaofan fell silent for a moment, then said in a low voice: "Yes."

  At this time, Tian Linger suddenly cried out and said: "Ah! I recognize you now. You are the demonic woman of the Devils Sect who secretly ran over that night, and was later chased by us to a small island outside, saying that she wanted to find Xiao Fan..."

  She had spoken halfway through when she suddenly stopped, her eyes fixed on Zhang Xiaofan.

  Zhang Xiaofans mind was in a mess. In fact, he had always been most afraid of such a scene appearing, and now that it had indeed appeared, he still didnt know how to get through it.

  The Demon King stood there and saw Zhang Xiaofans complex expression, but he still smiled and said: "Zhang Xiao brother, since we parted ways under the Kong Sang Mountain that day, have you been well these days?"

  Zhang Xiaofan was annoyed and didnt bother to explain. Xiao Zhou furrowed his brow, feeling genuinely puzzled by the ambiguous expressions of Gui Wang and his daughter towards Zhang Shidi. The relationship between them seemed far from ordinary. However, the rules of Qingyun Gate were strict, and interacting with people from the demonic path was strictly forbidden. It was just that no one knew what kind of relationship this Zhang Shidi had with the two of them, and they couldnt afford to violate the gates rules, or it would be disastrous.

  But this was not the time to ask questions, and the three of them were still in a desperate situation. Xiao Zhou barely gathered his wits, turned around to face Gui Wang, and just as he was about to speak, Gui Wang looked at him with a glance and suddenly preempted: "You infused your true yuan into the Seven Star Sword, intending to use its remaining power to hold me back, so that these two fellow disciples of yours could have a chance to escape?"

  Xiao Zhous body shook, his face ashen. He had not expected the Ghost Kings thoughts to be so meticulous. With his cultivation and prior precautions, Xiao Zhou feared that they would have no chance of escape.

  The Demon King smiled slightly and said, "You dont have to be disappointed, I didnt intend to make things difficult for you."

  "What?" Little Zhou and Tian Linger exclaimed in unison, Zhang Xiaofan also looked at him with a surprised face.

  The Demon King looked at Bi Yao, then turned his head to look at Zhang Xiao Fan, smiling: "Zhang Xiao brother, that day in Kong Sang Mountains Dead Spirit Abyss, you and Yao Er also went through thick and thin together, sharing life and death..."

  He had only spoken half of his words, when Zhang Xiaofans face changed color, and he felt that both Xiao Zhou and Tian Linger beside him were already looking at him with strange eyes. His heart was anxious, and he was about to open his mouth to say: "You, youre talking nonsense..."

  Just then, Zhang Xiaofan saw Bi Yaos gaze coming towards him, but saw that in her bright eyes, there was a hint of sadness and resentment. Suddenly, he thought back to that stormy night, when the world was desolate and cruel, yet she alone accompanied him through his suffering. Deep down, his heart softened inexplicably, and this feeling could no longer be expressed in words.

  The Demon King continued, "Moreover, back then you also helped to resolve the misunderstanding between my daughter and me, dissolving a knot in our hearts that had been there for over a decade. You could say that you have done me a great favor." He smiled and said, "Today, I will spare your lives because of you. However, if you return to Qingyun in the future, you will inevitably be blamed by those foolish old men. Why not join my Holy Sect instead? I will definitely treat you with kindness, and you can also be together with Yuer..."

  "Shut up!" A loud shout, but Zhang Xiaofan could no longer hold back, pointing at the Ghost King and shouting: "Come and kill me! Even if I die, I will never join your demonic sect!"

  Tian Linger finally breathed a sigh of relief and clapped her hands, saying: "Well said, Xiao Fan."

  But beside him, Little Zhou glanced at Zhang Xiaofan with a faint gaze, his eyebrows still furrowed.

  The Demon King smiled and shook his head, saying: "Forget it, thats up to you. Anyway, the future is long, take your time to think about it!"

  After finishing speaking, he pulled Bi Yao and didnt stay any longer, the two flew out of the cave.

  Bi Yao suddenly turned her head in mid-air, gazing at Zhang Xiao Fan. As Zhang Xiao Fan met her gaze, his originally furious heart was once again filled with a sense of bewilderment.

  Xiao Zhou stood on one side, his eyes fixed intently on him, but his eyebrows furrowed even tighter.

  The Demon King and his daughter quickly disappeared into the darkness, and a moment later, the noise outside suddenly grew louder, as if the righteous people had been ambushed.

  Before long, a whistling sound pierced through the air, and it seemed as if many people were flying up into the sky together.

  Only the sound of Cang Song Dao Rens majestic voice came, shaking the four fields, saying: "Who is your honorable self, with such a high and profound Tao, why not dare to come down and have a discussion with me?"

  These words were obviously spoken to the King of Ghosts, but only the sound of the wind whistling was heard, with no one responding. It seemed that the King of Ghosts and Bi Yao had gone far away.

  In the cave, it also quieted down at this moment. Tian Linger looked at Xiao Zhous pale face and said with some concern: "Brother Zhou, is your body okay? Hmm, I dont know which Master you are under?"

  Zhang Xiaofan watched as Xiao Zhou stumbled and quickly ran over to support him. Xiao Zhou glanced at him, making Zhang Xiaofan feel a bit uneasy, so he lowered his head.

  Xiao Zhou let out a soft sigh and revealed a smile, saying to the two of them: "Dont call me Brother Zhou anymore. This is a fake name I used when I infiltrated the demonic sect. My surname isnt Zhou."

  Tian Linger let out a soft "ah" and said: "Then you are..."

  Xiao Zhou smiled slightly, his eyebrows twitching as if something had pained him for a moment, but he quickly recovered and smiled: "I am from Qingyunmen Tongtian Peak, under the guidance of Daoxuan Master, my surname is Xiao, and my name is Yitai."

  "What? Youre Xiao Yizai, Elder Brother Xiao?"

  Xiao Zhou, also known as Xiao Yicai, nodded with a hint of a smile.

  Zhang Xiaofan and Tian Linger stared at each other in shock. This name was truly a legendary figure to them.

  ※※※

  The night is deep, and the night sky on Flowing Wave Mountain twinkles with countless bright stars, shining one by one, illuminating the world.

  In a certain secret place, the King of Ghosts walked out slowly, and saw Bi Yao standing alone on a small hill, staring blankly in the direction of Liusha Mountain to the east.

  That is where people who follow the right path live.

  The Demon King let out a soft sigh and walked behind her, saying in a low voice: "Yaoer, its late at night and the dew is heavy, you must take care of yourself."

  Bi Yaos body moved slightly, she silently turned around, forced a smile and said: "Yes, thank you Father."

  The Demon King looked at her expression and suddenly said: "Youre thinking of that little brat Zhang Xiaofan, arent you?"

  Bi Yaos face turned red, but she didnt say a word.

  The Demon Kings face showed a loving expression, and he patted his daughters shoulder, taking two steps forward. "Today I saw him, and it seems that since he went to the Fire Dragon Cave with you, his Tao has made even more progress."

  Bi Yao was taken aback for a moment, and her face showed some joy, saying: "Really?"

  The Demon King nodded and said, "I deduce that after he read the first volume of Tian Shu, he had some epiphany." He turned his head and smiled, saying: "Speaking of which, the outline of the first volume of Tian Shu you brought out from the Blood Drop Cave for me was very helpful in my cultivation of Taoist magic.

  "Really?" Bi Yao asked with delight.

  The Demon King nodded and said, "Not bad. The Heavenly Book has a total of four volumes. According to legend, there is also a fifth volume, but no one has ever seen it. Since ancient times, our Holy Church has passed down the four volumes, unfortunately, many have been lost and are nowhere to be found. Our Demon King Sects current prosperity is largely due to the fact that three hundred years ago, the previous generation of our Demon King ancestors accidentally obtained the second volume of the Heavenly Book."

  He paused, then continued: "However, in that second volume, although the Taoist principles are profound and mysterious, the key points and crucial techniques are closely linked to the first volume. Therefore, for these hundreds of years, my Ghost King Sect has only been able to share the world with the He Huan Sect, Chang Sheng Tang, and Wan Du Men - the three major sects. But in the future... heh heh..."

  "Bai Yao smiled and said: Then I should congratulate Father."

  The Demon King smiled and nodded, saying: "This time you have really made a great contribution. Originally, I sent you to the Empty Mountain Blood Refining Hall, not only to let you gain some experience, but also to see if the old black-hearted predecessor had left behind any magical treasures or strange devices. Who would have thought that you would bring back the Heavenly Book? This is far better than any magical treasure, by at least ten times."

  Bixiao smiled slightly, but her face suddenly turned somewhat gloomy.

  The Demon King gazed at his daughter for a long time before suddenly losing his smile.

  Bi Yao woke up with a start, her face flushing red, and scolded: "Dad..."

  The Demon King smiled and shook his head, saying: "Why must you worry so much?"

  Bi Yao gritted her teeth and said, "Father, you saw it today too, didnt you? That dead guy Zhang Xiaofans attitude towards his senior sister Tian Linger... Im afraid... Im afraid..."

  "The Demon King said: Whats there to fear? Fear that he has a foolish heart, and no romantic feelings for you?"

  Biyao lowered her head.

  The Demon King said calmly: "I have a different view from you."

  Bi Yao was startled and said: "Father, what did you say?"

  "The Demon King said: From what Ive seen today, Zhang Xiaofan is indeed good to his shifus sister, but when you and that young Zhou were in a critical moment of fighting, he couldnt control himself, shouted out loud and jumped out without regard for his own safety. Just based on this point, plus the fact that you have gone through life and death together, accompanied each other all along, in his heart, perhaps even he himself doesnt understand, but your weight is not necessarily much less than that of his shifus sister."

  Biyaos face turned red again, and under the night sky, it looked even more delicate and charming. However, her eyes soon sparkled with a joy that she couldnt conceal.

  The Demon King gazed at her with a deep expression, walked over and gently stroked her hair, his affectionate look plain to see. He said, "However, you cant be too happy too early. Firstly, the difference in status is an obstacle he cant overcome; secondly, those masters of his in Qingyun Sect wont allow him to have any romantic feelings for you. Thats why I deliberately made your relationship sound ambiguous when I left today. I think that Little Zhou person has a high status in Qingyun Sect, and by having him spread the word, Qingyun Sect will definitely suspect Zhang Xiaofan. This way, the possibility of him joining our Holy Sect increases!"

  After saying that, he seemed very pleased with himself and chuckled twice.

  Bixiao initially laughed out loud, but soon after, she slowly retracted her smile and quietly lowered her head.

  The Demon King furrowed his brow and said, "Whats wrong?"

  Bi Yao hesitated for a moment and said softly: "I... Im worried, if its like this, Little Fan will suffer again!"

  The Demon King snorted, saying: "If there is no tempering, how can one know that the treasure sword is sharp? If he cannot even bear this bit of suffering, let alone giving you to him which I dont trust, even if he were to come under my tutelage, I would still look down on him!"

  Bi Yao nodded slowly, but in her heart, she didnt know why, yet still felt some worry. She couldnt help but look eastward, only to see the vast expanse of mountains and forests stretching out before her, blocking her line of sight, as if there were thousands of miles between them.

  ※※※

  Xiao Yizais sudden appearance caused a stir in the Qingyun Gate, and both Cang Song Dao Ren and Tian Buyi were surprised and delighted. Moreover, from Xiao Yizais mouth, they also learned that the Demon Sect seemed to be searching for the legendary creature "Qiu Niu" that appeared on Liubo Mountain, and unexpectedly found out that even Gui Wang, one of the four masters of the Demon Sect, had arrived at this place.

  At this moment, Xiao Yi was lying on a temporary stone bed due to his physical injury, with his back against the stone wall. Only Cang Song Dao and Tian Bu Yi were around him, while other disciples had been temporarily dismissed.

  Cang Song Dao Ren nodded slowly, his face solemn, and said: "So that person is the new Ghost King of the Demon Sects Zong Xin generation. Indeed, his Tao is profound."

  Tian did not wrinkle his brow and said: "Yi Cai, how did you get mixed into the demonic cult?"

  Xiao Yicai smiled and said, "At that time, I was ordered by my master to sneak into the Kong Sang Mountain to investigate the activities of the Demon Sect. Indeed, there were remnants of the Blood Refining Hall of the Demon Sect active in the area. However, after observing them secretly for a long time, I found that these remnants were not a major threat and were not worth worrying about. But several times, I heard them mention how great the Holy Sect was, as if there was some kind of secret grand movement within the Demon Sect. To investigate further, I disguised myself as Xiao Zhou, and coincidentally, they were recruiting people at that time. With my skills, I managed to join the Demon Sect quite smoothly."

  He said with a hint of apology to Tian Bu Yi, "However, Master Tian, on that day when Zhang Shidi and Xiao Zhuges 6th sister, Xue Qi, fell into the Dead Spirit Abyss, I was assigned to another route to deal with the Fahxiang Shixiong of the Tianyin Temple, so I couldnt rescue them in time. My heart is indeed filled with regret. Fortunately, Zhang Shidi has great fortune and a long life, and hes safe and sound, so Im at ease."

  Tian smiled and said, "It doesnt matter, this cant be blamed on you, dont take it to heart."

  Cang Song Dao Ren listened beside and suddenly hummed a sound.

  Tian did not listen in his ears and did not go to reason with him.

  Cang Song Dao Ren turned his head to Xiao Yi Cai and said, "However, speaking of which, Yi Cai Shixiong, your actions this time are really too reckless. You should know that the demonic sects villains are all sinister and cunning, if things go wrong, you might get hurt, and I wont be able to explain it to our Master."

  Tian Bu Yi also nodded, saying: "Not bad, before this trip down the mountain, the Masters brother had not heard from you for several months and was quite worried in his heart. He especially instructed us to pay attention to your whereabouts!"

  Xiao Yicais face darkened and he shook his head, saying: "Alas! Its all my fault, making Master En worry."

  Cang Song Dao Ren smiled slightly and said, "You dont have to think too much. This time youve made a great contribution. Once weve cleared out the remaining demonic cultists in this area and return to the mountain, Eldest Brother will definitely not blame you. He might even heavily reward you."

  Xiao Yicais face turned red and he said, "Master Cangsong, youre joking."

  Tian Yidao said calmly, "This isnt something to be taken lightly. Your contribution this time is indeed not small. However, Yi Cai, in the future you mustnt do such dangerous things again. The Master of the Sect values you greatly, and after he ascends to immortality, the position of Master will likely be passed down to you. At that time, you will bear a heavy responsibility, dont be reckless and impulsive anymore."

  Xiao Yizai solemnly said: "Yes. Thank you for the teachings of Master Cangsong and Master Tian."

  Cang Song Dao Ren nodded and said, "Alright then! I can see that youre also tired, so get some rest early! Fortunately, your injury today didnt affect the meridians, otherwise it would have been troublesome."

  Xiao Yicai looked at Cang Song Dao Ren and Tian Nanyi, who both stood up, and also wanted to stand up to see them off. Tian Nanyi pressed him down, shaking his head: "Youre injured, just rest well. These mundane rituals, we cant avoid them even if were not in Qingyun Mountain, so lets just skip them!"

  Xiao Yizai didnt want to disobey him, and his body was indeed tired, so he leaned against the stone wall again and said, "Thank you, two masters. I wont see you off then."

  Cang Song Dao Ren waved his hand and walked towards the outside with Tian Bu Yi. Just as they were about to reach the entrance, Xiao Yi suddenly called out from behind: "Tian Shu Shu."

  Tian was taken aback for a moment, turned around and said, "What?"

  Xiao Yicai sat leaning against the stone wall, smiling and said: "Look at my memory, I almost forgot. Last year when I visited Master Shu at Dazhu Peak, Master Su mentioned that he wanted a Dabeizhen Pearl from the southeastern coastal area, and it just so happened that I found one this time when I came to Donghai. Does Master want to see it now?"

  Tian didnt hesitate for a moment, looked at Xiao Yi again, and burst out laughing: "Ha! You didnt say it, I actually forgot too. Luckily you reminded me, otherwise when I return to Dazhu Peak, Im afraid Ill be nagged to death by your Master Su."

  He said with a smile and walked back. Cang Song Dao people stopped for a moment on the spot, naturally would not go to ask about this pearl thing, and then went out.

  In the cave, only Tian Naiyi and Xiao Yicai were left.

  Tian walked over with a smile, but when he sat down in front of Xiao Yi, the smile on his face had disappeared. He glanced back slightly and said calmly: "Your Master Sus temper has always been gentle outside and urgent inside. A hundred years ago, she ran to the East Sea to find that big pearl. Now that no one is around, you can say whatever you want without worrying."

  Xiao Yizai nodded and looked at Tian Buyi, saying: "Master Shu is indeed wise, I kept you here to talk about Zhang Xiaofan, your junior fellow apprentice."

  Tian didnt knit his brow, but was slightly startled in his heart, and said: "Whats wrong with him?"

  Xiao Yicai coughed softly and deliberately lowered his voice. Tian Buyi immediately understood, leaned forward slightly, and listened intently.

  In the cave, a quiet atmosphere prevails, with only faint whispers echoing softly.