Fang Yun smiled when he heard the voice that echoed clearly in his ears. The same reaction rippled through the crowd gathered there. They had unmistakably heard the voice of Zeng Mo, the head of the Sea Eagle Sect, reverberating throughout the place.Moments later, a middle-aged man in light blue attire lightly leapt onto the stage. Upon seeing his father arrive, Zeng Kun immediately stood up and moved to his side.“I received word from a student saying you were humiliated here. Tell me what happened,” said Zeng Mo. His eyes scanned the stage and locked onto two men. One, clad in red, looked at him in fear. The other, a young man wearing clothes so tattered they were neither black nor white, stared at him with piercing eyes—as if ready to skin him alive.Zeng Kun recounted the events, twisting the facts. He portrayed himself as the victim, disgraced before the public.“That young man did it, Father!” Zeng Kun pointed at Fang Yun with a f

The forest that Fang Yun and Zhen Ni had just entered was split by a path leading to Mount Tianmen. On both sides of the road, thick and tangled undergrowth grew wildly. Fang Yun found himself puzzled by the surroundings. He thought, if this road were truly used often, it wouldn’t look like an untouched, virgin path.He cast his gaze around the forest. The warning Zhao Jian had sent him in a dream made him keep his guard up. Whatever was about to appear—human or demon—Fang Yun would face it and try to complete his first mission.Fifteen minutes into the forest, the atmosphere grew dim and moist. Bright green moss flourished on the rocks and on the trunks of the sturdy trees, a sign of persistent, high humidity in the area.Fang Yun looked up, but he couldn't see even a sliver of sunlight piercing through the dense canopy. Now and then, he saw monkeys or similar creatures jumping from one tall tree to another. It felt as though he had stepped into another world—strange and utterly myst

Fang Yun was completely stunned. After spending weeks together, he finally heard Zhen Ni’s voice. Without thinking, he immediately hugged the little girl tightly.“Grandmaster, I thought Zhen Ni couldn’t speak?” Fang Yun asked, turning to the old man.Zhao Jian smiled gently. “Actually, ever since you both drank the water from the peak of Mount Zhenjie, she has been able to speak. But because she was so used to staying silent, she chose not to talk.”“Is it because of this water?” Fang Yun asked, lifting his water pouch.“Yes, Fang Yun. That water is called the Water of Life. Only those with a pure heart can stand at the summit of Mount Zhenjie and drink from it.”“Does it have any other purpose, Grandmaster?”Zhao Jian nodded. “If you—or anyone—suffers internal injuries, the water can heal them. Though, of course, it doesn’t work instantly.”“In that case, may I have some, Lord? Your punch earlier gave me internal injuries. Ugh... ugh...” Manarah interrupted, coughing dramatically.F

Zhao Jian actually wanted to laugh at the sight of Manarah’s tense face and hollow stare, but he chose not to add to the burden the demon beast was already carrying.“The path has been laid out for you to follow, Fang Yun, Manarah! He’s just teasing you. Deep in his heart, Fang Yun is a good young man,” said Zhao Jian, speaking directly into Manarah’s thoughts. “Not everyone can reach the peak of Zhenjie, and he did. That means he truly is the chosen one.”“Then very well, Master. I will try to understand his nature,” replied Manarah.“Indeed, Manarah, Fang Yun is actually a kind soul. Perhaps he acts like that because he has no one left in this world. Both of his parents were killed. Lord Fei Hung, whom he considered a grandfather, had to leave him as well. And soon, he’ll also have to part with Zhen Ni, whom he sees as his own little sister. His words are mere jokes to cover his sadness—don’t take them to heart!” Qiang Mo interjected suddenly.Manarah paused for a moment in reflecti

That night, four people sat cross-legged in a circle around a thin, circular stone. At the center of the stone, Zhen Ni was undergoing a ritual to neutralize her body. The four individuals quietly chanted mantras, their lips moving in focused devotion. There was no motion in their bodies, only the subtle movement of their lips.Fang Yun watched the ritual from a considerable distance. He and Zhao Jian had deliberately come to ensure the ritual proceeded according to plan, as Zhao Jian had carefully chosen the perfect time to begin."Grandfather, is there a chance this ritual could fail?" Fang Yun asked.Zhao Jian took a deep breath. He briefly turned to Fang Yun, then shifted his gaze back to the elders conducting the ritual. "There is a chance, Fang Yun. And if it does fail..." Zhao Jian didn’t finish his sentence.Fang Yun furrowed his brow, curious. "If it fails, what will happen, Grandfather? Will something bad occur?"Zhao Jian looked at Fang Yun meaningfully. "I can’t talk about