Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

"Chuff, Xiongzi, this honey is pretty tasty."

"Sweet."

A sound of shattering echoed as an empty jar hit the ground, and a tall 'scholar' hurried along the mountain path. Perched on the shoulder of the scholar was a peculiar black cat that looked around with a captivating grace.

As Yi Chen sang his playful song, suddenly Miao Zi's voice rose in his mind.

"Dad, mom told me something in private before we left. She said to tell you when the time was right, and I almost forgot."

"She said that according to the laws of Da Yue, at most one may have one principal wife and two secondary wives."

"Dad, what does mom mean by this~"

Miao Zi's words brought Yi Chen's steps to a halt.

"Your mom means that I should find an opportunity to castrate you and let you walk on your own," Yi Chen said irritably as he grabbed Miao Zi by the scruff of the neck and set him down. An image of a beautiful woman flashed in his mind.

His hatred for Jue Xin and the Yan Family deepened yet again.

But he wasn't worried. He'd already asked Yuan Jun to use her connections to send a message to Ming Yue's place on his behalf. In this time of peril, his priority was still to increase his combat power.

It wasn't safe for his master to wander destitute with him.

"Miao Zi, sniff out where there are spirit herbs. We're down to our last twenty thousand taels of gold. If this keeps up, you'll be eating dirt," Yi Chen said.

"It's time you started earning your own Spirit Gathering Pills."

"Keep it up!"

It was the old 'raise a cat frugally but indulge oneself' philosophy. Yi Chen encouraged the oversized kitty.

The reason he hadn't chosen to flee on wings along the way was to allow Miao Zi to fully utilize his special talents and scour the deep forests for celestial materials and earthly treasures.

Another reason was to see if any blind spirits dared to prowl these ancient woods.

The fifteenth level of the True Technique required forty thousand Deep Red Points, which felt akin to blood being sucked by a water pump. Without figuring out a way to gather more Deep Red Points, how could he exercise his astonishing intellect?

As for the two hundred thousand taels of gold that had vanished from Yi Chen's pocket, naturally, he had exchanged them for pure gold essence through Doumu Origin Lord.

As for banknotes, it goes without saying that Da Yue's bills probably wouldn't be accepted in Great Qin....

"Dad, I smell the fragrance of Evening Primrose."

"What are we waiting for then? Lead the way at once."

The man and his cat began to move deeper into the dense forest.

...

...

As the sun set in the west, the light grew increasingly dim.

Outside the ancient deep mountain temple, Zhiyang Temple, a graceful and elegant young girl stepped out, followed by a monk clad in a fiery red robe.

"Master Baishi, I thank your temple for the Golden Crow Pill this time. Otherwise, my father's injuries would have been uncontrollable."

"Miss Shanglin Shuixin, you are too courteous. The Shanglin family has had close ties with our Zhiyang Temple for hundreds of years. A mere Golden Crow Pill is nothing; moreover, you have brought a generous gift."

"It's getting late today and the night road is difficult to travel. Why doesn't Miss Shuixin stay in our temple's guest room for the night and leave tomorrow?" The monk suggested with palms pressed together, a dignified aura radiating from him.

"I thank you for your kind offer, Master. However, my father's condition cannot suffer delay, so it's better that I return promptly," Shanglin Shuixin responded.

"Do not worry, Master. Mere robbers and thieves pose no threat against my Spirit Sword," she said confidently, her Qi Refinement Realm peak aura spreading around.

Her broad chest swelled with pride, causing the heart of the young novice monk behind the great monk to skip a beat. He quickly lowered his head, but after a moment he couldn't resist sneaking a peek, only to see his master's expressionless face as the lovely figure retreated into the distance.

"Ye Jue, copy the 'Heart Sutra of Perfection of Wisdom' a hundred times for me," the master ordered.

"Master, please no."

"So stubborn in ignorance. Then make it two hundred times," the master decreed.

"Yes, Master," the young novice monk agreed, drooping his head.

The two turned and went back to the temple, unaware that that night their master would end up copying the scriptures more times than his disciple.

As the twilight faded, Shanglin Shuixin, anxious about her father's condition, hurried through the forest in her haste to return to her family. Along her rushed path, an unexpected change suddenly arose.

A shrill whistling sound exploded through the air.

Clang, clang, clang, clang.

A row of chilling steel spikes shot out and landed neatly across her path, effectively blocking her way.

"Who dares to impede me? Do you think Shuixin's sword isn't sharp enough?" In her urgency, Shanglin Shuixin could not help but draw her brows tightly as she drew her Spirit Sword, scolding the surrounding area sharply.

Soon, with three figures emerging from the thick forest, Shanglin Shuixin's complexion turned pale.

One had a scarred face.

One had a sharp chin and monkey cheeks.

One had half his face covered in a black tattoo, resembling a malevolent ghost.

"Black Mountain Trio? How come you're in Zhiyang Prefecture? Weren't you operating around Zhenlin Prefecture?" Shanglin Shuixin couldn't help but tremble.

The Black Mountain Trio, famous figures in Zhenlin Prefecture's underworld, were all experts in the True Person Realm, with the leader being a mid-stage True Person.

The trio was notorious for their countless murders and vile reputation...

Whack!

A powerful mana blast was released from the scarred face, hitting Shanglin Shuixin and sending her flying back against the trunk of a large tree, then bouncing to the ground.

Shanglin Shuixin immediately spat out a mouthful of blood as a chilling mana invaded her body, leaving her unable to muster any of her own mana.

Swish!

The man with the monkey cheeks and sharp chin revealed a lewd smile, waved his hand, and with a tearing sound, Shanglin Shuixin's garments split, her skirt turning to ribbons that scattered in the air, leaving her alluring body clad only in a pale white undershirt.

Swiftly!

The man with half his face covered in tattoos gave a command, and a streak of cyan brilliance shot from his sleeve, transforming into a rope that wrapped around Shanglin Shuixin's delicate body and then hung her from the slanting branch of a large tree.

They're actually using the tortoise shell binding...

A jade leg was pulled up high by the rope, supported only by a single foot tiptoeing on the ground.

The three men executed a series of smooth, practiced moves, displaying perfect coordination forged through countless rehearsals.

"Old rules, big brother goes first."

"Who'd have thought we three brothers, on our way to Hehuan Mountain, would encounter such a beauty? We, the three fiends of Black Mountain, are truly blessed. Just as our eldest brother advances a step further into the fifth layer of the True Person Realm, we should celebrate for him~"

"Second brother is right!"

The man with the scarred face, seeing his brothers' hearty encouragement, cracked a smile, and then walked toward the little lamb. In the bleak autumn wind, cries of terror mixed with despair echoed, 'don't come over here~' reaching into the distance.

"Young mistress, your sword is sharp, but mine is no less so," the scarred face said as if adjusting his pitch before taking the stage, then step by step, he closed in on Shanglin Shuixin.

It was the beginning of the hour when lanterns were lit, and the moon slowly climbed atop the trees.

Suddenly, a faint singing voice came from afar.

"Bright moon casts its light, ghosts drift in the wind, a woman's ghost searching for her lover~"

...

"Her gaze, her gaze, shines like, shines like the twinkling stars."

The scarred face suppressed his weapon and, with his two brothers, began to gaze toward the distant mountain path.

They saw a tall scholar with a black cat perched on his shoulder, striding forward in the moonlight.

"Daoist friend, save me, I'm from the Shanglin family."
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"Who are you!"

Two voices rang out simultaneously.

The tall scholar passing by was naturally Yi Chen, without a doubt. He had heard singing at night could attract ghosts, so he sang as he walked, but alas, he couldn't hook any adorable creature, much to his disappointment.

"I'm just passing by, go about your business, don't mind me," Yi Chen grinned and continued on his way.

He had been hesitant about intervening, but the woman's cry for help instantly made him lose the urge to assist.

The aura revealed by the scholar he impersonated was merely at the entry level of the True Person Realm. Was that woman trying to drag him down by asking for his help?

If he were not concealing his strength, wouldn't that just be serving himself up on a silver platter?

That woman didn't seem like a good person, better to ignore her.

If the woman had yelled "Daoist friend, be careful" or "Daoist friend, run fast," Yi Chen might have considered saving her, but now, he decided against it.

Yi Chen was not one to do good without cause; he's not like his master Bai Yunzi, who goes wherever his whims take him, and not doing bad deeds was already his version of doing good.

Even his actions in Da Yue couldn't be called morally low, yet he was specifically ambushed by experts from the Great Weide Heavenly Dragon Temple, who claimed themselves to be slayers of evil, pah!

Hmm, a dense forest, three ferocious men, bondage, ropes, a woman, and a bellyband.

It looks like they are playing hide and seek; time to keep moving.

Just as Yi Chen was about to step forward, a piercing shriek suddenly erupted.

Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack.

A row of chilling steel spikes blocked Yi Chen's path.

"Big brother, this kid has a storage ring. It's remote here; let's take him down."

"This guy is such a wimp, I bet even if he has some hidden strength, it's nothing much," the skinny monk couldn't help saying to the scarred face.

The three men exchanged glances and formed a triangular formation around him.

"Young man, you seem skilled enough. Tell us your name, so we can see if you are a descendant of an old acquaintance, to avoid offending the Dragon King in his own temple," said the scarred face, careful and articulated, as he began probing.

He still felt uneasy; this person was far too calm. If he didn't possess astonishing cultivation, then he had a remarkable background.

In the vast Black Mountain, there were more than a handful of gangs stronger than theirs. Why were they, the three fiends of Black Mountain, ever prosperous? They relied on brains.

In Black Mountain, even "Cloud Crane," who was at the seventh layer of the True Person Realm and had committed far fewer evils than they had, was hunted down to death. And why? Because he had messed with someone untouchable.

"I'm Zhang San, just a scholar. What the hell do you want?" Yi Chen's expression turned unfriendly.

"Arrogant!"

The skinny monk was the first to lose his patience and charged towards him with a long knife.

"Interesting, is this some kind of spell to increase speed and strength?"

Yi Chen, unflinching and composed, allowed the blade to land harshly on his shoulder.

With a bang.

A sound of metal clashing rang out.

The skinny monk's face changed drastically as he tried to retreat, only to be pinned in place by a purple-gold palm.

"Do you know about chicklings?" Yi Chen smiled gently at the scarred face, "I gave you a chance. Whether it's one chickling or three, it doesn't make much difference."

Bang!

The skinny monk's head instantly retracted into his torso.

"Weak and feeble, your strength is like a woman's."

...

...

Two and a half seconds later, Yi Chen wiped the blood on his hand onto the corpse of the scarred face and fell into contemplation.

Having just used memory extraction, he unexpectedly stumbled upon something interesting. These so-called three fiends of Black Mountain were actually commissioned by an organization called "Rolling Pearl Curtains" to go near Hehuan Mountain and hunt down members of the Hehuan Sect.

"Interesting, Rolling Pearl Curtains?"