Three dayster, night.


    Mei Yi, dressed in an apricot-colored long dress, leaned against the corridor, gazing up at the flickering celestial stone, motionless.


    The stone''s glow waxed and waned, casting soft light on her delicate face, alternating between illumination and shadow.


    From one end of the winding corridor, Tao Hong hurried over, stopping three paces away from Mei Yi. She curtsied slightly and called softly, "Madam, Master Shen and Miss Jian have already set off."


    Mei Yi snapped out of her reverie, murmuring, "They''ve left, huh..."


    She straightened up and extended her hand to Tao Hong, who helped Mei Yi back to her room.


    On the way, Tao Hong stole a nce at her mistress. Usually, Mei Yi treated her servants with great kindness, and Tao Hong was never afraid of her, often chatting andughing freely in Mei Yi''s presence. But for some reason, Tao Hong felt a strange unease this time.


    Summoning her courage, she asked, "Madam, you said Master Shen and the others would help us escape from this dark pce. Liu Lu and the others have been so happytely, but you don’t seem as joyful. Why is that?"


    Mei Yi was momentarily stunned, then smiled. She raised her hand to gently touch the begonia flower in her hair. "It’s nothing. I’m just a little worried."


    The two chatted for a while longer before reaching the room, where Mei Yi dismissed the maids and servants.


    The moment the door closed, Mei Yi, standing by the window, seemed to lose her strength. Her slender frame trembled uncontrobly, her teeth chattering.


    She resembled a fragile willow tree, bent and broken by a fierce gale.


    Mei Yi’s body gradually sank, and she knelt on the floor.


    Clutching the cor of her apricot dress embroidered with magnolias, her lips parted slightly as tears the size of beans fell silently.


    The room was utterly quiet. The candle had been extinguished by Tao Hong before she left, leaving only the faint scent of burnt wick lingering in the air.


    After a while, Mei Yi tilted her head slightly, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. Her face was as calm and serene as a corpse, exuding a chilling and icy coldness that sent shivers down the spine.


    Jian Huan and herpanions did not follow Mei Yi’s suggestion to seek out the Ghost Fish King first.


    Neither she nor Shen Jizhi trusted Mei Yi, and it seemed Mei Yi herself was only partially informed.


    This dark pce was mostly built beneath the river, using special methods to keep the water at bay.


    The Ghost Fish King’sir was at the very bottom. If Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi had followed Mei Yi’s advice and shed with the Ghost Fish King, damaging the water-sealing array, the river would have flooded the pce in an instant.


    While cultivators might survive, the maids and servants in Mei Yi’s courtyard would have had no chance of escaping alive.


    Among the arrays Jian Huan had studied, one was the art of formations.


    Though she hadn’t attended many sses at the Jade rity Sect, she had read all the books on talismans and arrays at least three times and frequently revisited them to reinforce her knowledge.


    For a dark pce built underwater, the exit was almost always located at the top.


    Liu Hu had disguised himself as a ck-d guard a few days prior and patrolled the pce, gaining a clear understanding of the patrol patterns.


    The trio avoided the guards and followed the winding upward passage, reaching the highest point in the shortest time possible.


    At the summit was an open space, in front of which stood a massive, lifelike stone dragon sculpture. The majestic dragon coiled its body, exhaling a breath of fire.


    The previous patrol had just left, and there was a fifteen-minute gap before the next one arrived. Time was short, so Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi began searching the area frantically.


    Array formations were not Shen Jizhi’s forte, so he didn’t touch anything randomly. With his hands sped behind his back, he paced calmly, his serene ss-like eyes scanning the area until theynded on the only valuable thing in sight—the dragon’s eyes.


    The dragon’s eyes were embedded with two round, emerald-green orbs that emitted a faint glow.


    With one nce, Shen Jizhi recognized them as high-quality agate stones.


    Liu Hu followed Shen Jizhi closely.


    Of course, this wasn’t by Liu Hu’s choice.


    A ck shackle was mped around Liu Hu’s right wrist, its counterpart locked onto Shen Jizhi’s left hand.


    Liu Hu held a small wine sk in his left hand, taking a precious sip before grumbling softly, "Disciple, I told you I wouldn’t run away. I’ll stick with you. Do you really have to shackle me like this?"


    Liu Hu still hadn’t regained his memories of ‘Gu Shan,’ as the seal on his consciousness remained intact.


    Jian Huan had told him about the Jade rity Sect, hoping it might jog his memory, but it hadn’t worked.


    Liu Hu continued toin, "Aren’t I your master? I’m telling you, this is a betrayal of your master!"


    Shen Jizhi let the words go in one ear and out the other, his expression unreadable as he ignored theints entirely.


    Nearby, Jian Huan held a silver sword, her hand lightly pressing against the bas-relief, testing various spots.


    Suddenly, her hand paused, her gaze fixed on a point in the air as a look of astonishment crossed her face.


    "Shen Jizhi, I’ve got it!"


    Jian Huan leaped to Shen Jizhi’s side.


    Her eyes sparkled as she said, "Remember when I told you the array here felt vaguely familiar?"


    Shen Jizhi replied casually, "Hmm, what about it?"


    Jian Huan’s eyes gleamed as she uttered two words: "Qi Wan."


    "Qi Wan?" Shen Jizhi’s gaze remained fixed on the dragon’s eyes as he tilted his head slightly. "Are you saying the array here was created by Qi Wan?"


    "Exactly. It’s an array within an array, simr to the one in Qi Wan’s bedroom back then. But Qi Wan gave us a backdoorst time. This one’s harder to crack." Jian Huan was eager to exin, but when she noticed Shen Jizhi’s distracted expression, she snapped, "Hey, Shen Jizhi! I’m talking to you!"


    "Oh, my apologies." Shen Jizhi looked away, pointing at the dragon’s eyes. "Are these rted to the array here?"


    Jian Huan was momentarily stunned. While rummaging through her storage pouch for the talismans she needed, she followed his gaze and her dark eyes widened in surprise. She had been so focused on the array that she hadn’t noticed the eyes!


    After a moment of thought, she shook her head. "No, they seem to be just decorations."


    Shen Jizhi: "Got it. One for each of us?"


    Jian Huan: "Deal!"


    Liu Hu: "I want one too!"


    As soon as he spoke, the other two turned to him, their eyes fixed on him unblinkingly.


    Jian Huan smiled sweetly, her voice gentle. "You’ll have to ask your disciple if he’s willing to share. I certainly won’t."


    Liu Hu looked at Shen Jizhi, but before he could say anything, Shen Jizhi nced down at him with a look of disdain, his eyes clearly conveying the word ‘no.’


    Liu Hu was incredulous. "...But aren’t I your master? Is this how you treat your master?"


    Shen Jizhi: "When you remember, then you can say that."


    "..." Liu Hu turned to Jian Huan for help.


    Jian Huan shrugged, indicating there was nothing she could do.


    She took out the talismans she needed, using her spiritual energy to activate them.


    One by one, the yellow talismans floated in the air, arranged ording to the positions of the stars, forming a small, glowing constetion.


    The talismans emitted golden light, illuminating the area faintly, resembling a miniature night sky.


    The light grew brighter and brighter until, with a sh of blinding white light, the trio disappeared from the spot.


    Also gone were the dragon’s eyes, which Shen Jizhi had pried out.


    Back in Yuxian City, Jian Huan remembered that when she and Shen Jizhi had entered the array within Qi Wan’s bedroom, no one had noticed.


    But here in the dark pce of Ningzhang City, the moment they breached the array, a man soaking in a blood pool snapped his eyes open.


    The man was stout, with one eyerger than the other, his pupils pure ck.


    "Yu Jiang!" he growled through clenched teeth, his eyes burning with murderous intent. "Yu! Jiang!"


    He had entrusted the dark pce to Yu Jiang, and yet someone had managed to break in? And they had even entered the inner chamber, disturbing his seclusion!


    What a useless fool! He couldn’t even guard a dark pce properly!


    But seclusion was his priority. The city lord of Ningzhang took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and summoned his contracted beast through their bond, ordering the Ghost Fish King to deal with the intruders.


    He couldn’t act himself, or months of seclusion would be wasted.


    The two Golden Core cultivators guarding the city lord’s seclusion didn’t need to be told. As soon as they sensed Jian Huan and herpanions’ presence, they drew their swords and charged out.


    The trio had barelynded and caught their breath when they were met with a flurry of deadly sword strikes.


    Jian Huan twisted her waist, flipping backward in midair to dodge, her silver sword blocking a strike from the left with a sharp ng, sparks flying as the des collided.


    Facing her was a Golden Core sword cultivator, his voice icy. "Those who trespass into the inner chamber will be shown no mercy."


    Jian Huan secretly formed a sword seal with her left hand, smiling sweetly. "Oh, we didn’t mean to barge in. We just want to leave. How about you let us go, and we’ll stay out of your way, okay?"


    As soon as the talisman sword was unleashed, the opponent reacted swiftly, sensing the danger and dodging in a sh. The talisman sword struck the nearby rock wall, causing the ground to tremble incessantly. Rocks tumbled down, and dust filled the air.


    Jian Huan pressed her advantage, swiftly exchanging several blows with her adversary. The air was filled with the glint of des and the sh of swords.


    She alternated between her bright sword and talisman sword, forcing her opponent to retreat repeatedly, gradually losing ground.


    Both were at the Golden Core stage, but he was no match for Jian Huan.


    Jian Huan quickly dispatched her opponent and nced towards Shen Jizhi''s direction.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Shen Jizhi had one hand gripping Liu Hu while wielding his sword with the other, engaging another Golden Core cultivator inbat.


    Liu Hu was terrified, clinging to Shen Jizhi''s arm, his eyes shut tight as he screamed, filling the surroundings with his cries of "Ahhh!"


    To an outsider, it might have sounded like they were ughtering a pig.


    Because of Liu Hu, Shen Jizhi was unable to fully unleash his skills, only managing to maintain a stalemate.


    Jian Huan was somewhat exasperated. From a distance, she coordinated with Shen Jizhi,unching a few talisman sword strikes to dispatch the other Golden Core cultivator.


    But this was only the beginning.


    What Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi feared most were the Nascent Soul stage Ghost Fish King and the city lord.


    A faint, familiar fishy scent wafted through the air. Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi exchanged a nce and moved closer until her shoulder lightly brushed against his solid arm.


    Without hesitation, she leapt onto Shen Jizhi''s back as lightly as a cat.


    He raised his right hand, naturally supporting her leg, allowing her to hook it tightly around his waist.


    Jian Huan sneakily nced at him.


    Men, ah, men. She still remembered how he had stubbornly refused to let her hook her leg around him before.


    Jian Huan let out a soft hum, her tone suggestive. "People, ah, how can they change so much?"


    Shen Jizhi: "..."


    Liu Hu gave them a strange look, thinking to himself, what are these two youngsters doing, being so affectionate at a time like this?


    He stood on the other side of Shen Jizhi, shook his head, patted his frightened heart, and rubbed his throat, which had gone hoarse from screaming. He pulled out a wine pouch he had hidden in his robe and, thinking he might not survive, downed it in one go.


    This is terrifying, absolutely terrifying. This trip is fraught with danger. These two lovebirds clearly have no good intentions, dragging me here to die!


    What nonsense about a master, it was all lies to deceive me!


    Gulp, gulp.


    The light brown liquor poured down his throat.


    Drip, drip.


    Drops of thick, ckish liquid fell to the ground, spreading out. The stench of fish grew stronger, almost nauseating.


    Jian Huan pursed her lips tightly, the corners of her mouth, usually upturned, now straightened. She looked up.


    A massive fish mouth was aimed directly at the three of them, saliva dripping from its sharp teeth.


    Its vertical pupils glowed eerily as it opened its mouth wider. A powerful suction force emanated from the fish''s mouth, sweeping up the three of them and pulling them towards its gaping maw.


    Liu Hu screamed in terror, "Ahhh—!"


    Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi were prepared.


    Between her outer robe and inner garment, Jian Huan had attached a hundred modified thousand-pound talismans.


    At this moment, all the thousand-pound talismans were activated, and Jian Huan instantly became extremely heavy.


    The modified thousand-pound talismans integrated with the user, ensuring they wouldn''t harm her bones or muscles.


    She pressed down on Shen Jizhi.


    Shen Jizhi, a sword cultivator with over a decade of training, had a body strong enough to withstand her weight. His back remained straight, not bending in the slightest.


    The force of the thousand-pound talismans and the suction of the Ghost Fish King counteracted each other, causing the three of them to drop slightly.


    Liu Hu stopped screaming and opened his eyes. "Huh?"


    The Ghost Fish King was furious. It threw its head back, let out a piercing cry, and unleashed an even stronger suction force. The three of them were pulled upwards again, but at a slower pace.


    Liu Hu immediately shut his eyes. "Ahhh—!"


    Shen Jizhi''s eyes flickered as he calmly calcted the distance.


    Just as the three of them were about to be swallowed by the Ghost Fish King, he grabbed the chain of the shackles and swung Liu Hu like a hammer, smashing him directly into the Ghost Fish King''s head.


    With a loud crash, it was like an egg hitting a rock.


    Liu Hu wailed, "Ahhh! Save me! You''re trying to kill me!!! If I die and be a vengeful spirit, I swear I''ll... Huh? My body is this tough?"


    Liu Hu, who had been used as a hammer, touched his head and body, which werepletely unharmed. He then looked at the Ghost Fish King, which had lost a dozen teeth and had a dent in its head, bleeding profusely. He was stunned.


    Jian Huan was also shocked. "Your master is this useful?"


    Shen Jizhi gave a faint nod, pulling his master back. He casually cast a cleansing spell on Liu Hu, washing away the fish juice that had sttered on him. "The body of a Nascent Soul stage sword cultivator is essentially a top-grade spiritual artifact."