The four cautiously fiddled with the fire, and Xiao Qingying sighed, getting up to retrieve the dry rations for roasting and eating.

Despite the lack of seasonings, they had prepared wild rabbits and chickens to eat quite well.

Just as she was getting up, she suddenly heard a slight sound.

"How could it be you guys!?"

A familiar yet unfamiliar male voice came from behind her.

Xiao Qingying turned sharply. She just caught sight of a burly figure, who had somehow already positioned himself at the door of Nanbo Temple.

The figure was half-shrouded in shadow, half-exposed in the light from the bonfire.

"Zhang Rongfang!" A huge weight in Xiao Qingying's heart suddenly fell, landing heavily on the ground.

She felt a sense of relief. Now that the Righteous Alliance had been scattered and was temporarily unable to contact, their only hope was Zhang Rongfang.

Yet...spiritually, they didn't want to burden Zhang Rongfang like this, but there was no choice.

Zhang Xuan stood up, looking at the newcomer with a complicated expression.

"Rongfang, this time, I'm afraid we'll be troubling you again."

He had imagined many times under what circumstances he would see Zhang Rongfang again.

No matter the simulation, at this moment, he couldn't hide the complex emotions in his heart.

As his former master, he actually didn't want to come asking for help.

But his son was also there, also poisoned.

A mysterious person had left a message saying Zhang Rongfang was now highly positioned, and a senior in the Great Dao Teaching, a sect known for its powerful medicinal skills.

If he intervened, it would surely be foolproof.

Therefore...

He didn't want to take back the sad news of his son to his daughter-in-law and grandson.

He had promised them he would definitely bring Zhang Xintai back safely and unharmed.

"Master..." Zhang Rongfang's gaze also fell on Zhang Xuan.

Regarding the matter of identity last time, he did not blame him.

Back when they were at Qinghe Palace, he still remembered that if it weren't for Zhang Xuan, he might have been driven out of the Dao Palace, left to fend for himself.

Perhaps with his innate abilities, he would eventually rise.

But it would definitely involve much suffering, waste a lot of time, and take many detours.

So, even though Zhang Xuan unintentionally exposed his affair last time, he did not blame him.

"Haven't seen you in years, you look thinner..." Zhang Rongfang said in a deep voice.

Zhang Xuan's lips trembled, he wanted to speak but didn't know what to say.

He just looked steadily at Zhang Rongfang.

After a moment, he slowly sighed.

"Sorry for causing you trouble...."

"Not at all, I'm more than happy that you came to see me." Zhang Rongfang replied, finally turning his gaze toward senior brother Zhang Xintai.

"Senior brother, long time no see."

"Enough talk, we've been poisoned and need to find you to detoxify. Quickly check us, if it's not possible we'll leave right away. Having too much contact with us isn't good for you."

Zhang Xintai said bluntly.

He's always been straightforward.

"We're traitors now! Your status and future are different."

"Poisoned?" Zhang Rongfang furrowed his brows, stepped forward to Zhang Xintai, placing one hand on his pulse gate.

The pulse was sometimes strong, sometimes weak, its rhythm intermittently fast and slow, inconsistently solid or void, profoundly shallow.

"What kind of poison is this?" Zhang Rongfang, being fairly familiar with medical texts from the Great Dao Teaching, though not expert, could recognize manifestations of dozens of different toxins.

And now this....

"Even you can't?" Zhang Xintai's expression dimmed.

"I'm not proficient in medicine, indeed it's hard for me, but I have capable people under me." Zhang Rongfang confidently smiled.

"Rest assured, now that you're in my place, I'll ensure your safety."

"Well said, kid, I was waiting for those words!" Flying Bear King suddenly inserted loudly.

"Who are you?" Zhang Rongfang's gaze finally landed on the man.

His stature was two and a half meters, as burly as a tower, comparable to Flying Bear King.

Flying Bear King was also around two and a half meters tall, towering and robust.

"Me? I'm with them, saved them quite a few times along the way! Zhang the kid, you wouldn't let us die, right?" Flying Bear King chuckled.

Zhang Rongfang did not respond to the man. Instead, he carefully scrutinized him.

Suddenly, he turned to look at Master Zhang Xuan.

"Master, is what he says true?"

"This....." Zhang Xuan was at a loss for words.

Actually, they hadn't encountered any significant danger along the way...

With or without the Flying Bear King, it didn't really affect them.

On the contrary, Flying Bear King would occasionally make some threats, warning them he'd kill them if they couldn't find an antidote.

"Seems false." Zhang Rongfang smiled, "If he's irrelevant, then just kill him."

"!!!??"

The few were suddenly startled, wondering if they heard wrong.

In the midst of confusion.

Zhang Rongfang's silhouette flickered, seemingly leaving a streak in the fire-lit Nanbo Temple, abruptly appearing before Flying Bear King.

One palm.

Bang!!!

Flying Bear King hastily raised his hand to block. He wasn't slow, his reaction was swift, and his strength fully exerted.

In the urgency of reflex, without flinching, his counterattack employed the Limit-Breaking Skill.

The martial art he practiced was a uniquely named Golden Transformation Skill.

Cultivated to success, it was said to harden the body indistinguishably, like metal, immune to time's decay.

Though it wouldn't decrease lifespan nor extend it, one could maintain peak condition even in old age.

Such martial art was naturally exceptional, ranked as superior.

Although its power is not as formidable as those ultimate skills, it is still quite extraordinary.

Relying on this skill, the Flying Bear King has now reached the limit of the Super Grade Three Emptiness, just one step away from entering the Grandmaster realm.

If it weren't for the sneak attack by those deity-worshipping monsters, he wouldn't have been forced to flee injured by a few internal law deity-worshippers.

And at this very moment....

A mere Daoist from the Great Dao Teaching, a Daoist from Celestial Treasure Palace who never practices martial arts, dares to take the initiative to attack him.

Utterly reckless....

Wait, why was that force so strong just now!?

In the confusion of his mind, the Flying Bear King didn't dare to slack off one bit.

In an instant, under the flickering firelight, the two of them exchanged fists and palms once more.

With a loud collision, a wave of air exploded.

The Flying Bear King's right arm suddenly swelled, enlarged, and engorged. A massive force, like a ferocious beast, surged into his arm's meridians, recklessly destroying all his force, sending him flying backward.

Boom!!

He suddenly flew up, crashing into the temple wall behind him.

The wall collapsed inward, large fragments falling off, but surprisingly it did not collapse entirely.

Zhang Rongfang let out a slight sound of surprise. He had exerted the strength and speed of a deity-worshipping Three Emptiness Level, just like when he fought Kongxiang back then, expecting to kill this person in one move to cover the tracks of his master and others, preventing the leak of information.

Unexpectedly....

"Interesting. Your physique seems more special than I imagined."

He withdrew his hand and walked leisurely toward the Flying Bear King.

"Wait! Rongfang, wait!" At this moment, Zhang Xintai suddenly awoke and intervened.

"This person is a senior officer and Flying Bear King of our army. Although he didn't help us much along the way, he was actively hunting for firewood. Despite his foul mouth, he's not a bad person!"

"A senior officer? Not a bad person?" Zhang Rongfang frowned.

Inside the temple, the firelight flickered with the gust, casting the shadows of those present on the wall, making them appear like demons baring their fangs and claws.

Zhang Rongfang's shadow was even more massive, nearly occupying half of the temple space.

Only now did Zhang Xuan, Xiao Qingying, and the others seem to wake from a dream.

Before coming, based on Zhang Rongfang's displayed strength when he helped, they speculated about his power.

But no matter how they speculated, they couldn't imagine this.

The present Zhang Rongfang defeated the esteemed Flying Bear King of the Righteous Alliance military's senior ranks in just a few moves.

The Flying Bear King... that is the esteemed Three Emptiness expert of the Righteous Alliance!

To defeat him in one move, could it be....

Zhang Xuan suddenly thought of a possibility, his pupils contracted.

"I haven't worshipped any deity." Zhang Rongfang seemed to notice his concern. "But since you've pleaded, let's drop this...."

He lowered his hand, his expression returning to a slight smile.

He walked up to the Flying Bear King and extended his hand.

"Sorry, I got a bit excited earlier, are you okay?"

The Flying Bear King half-reclined in the corner, his body aching all over.

He was already poisoned, and now his entire body was further wracked by the force of that palm, nearly all his muscles instantly injured.

He could barely muster the strength to get up.

Looking at Zhang Rongfang, who had just been cold and seemingly murderous, now speaking kindly to him as if nothing happened....

The Flying Bear King finally understood why so many people feared the Reversal Society within the Righteous Alliance...

This person before him was much like those in the Reversal Society!

"Damn you... I... I'm fine." The Flying Bear King opened his mouth to curse, but instantly remembered he still needed the other to detoxify him. He could only swallow his frustration and tears, extending his hand to let the other help him stand up.

"Just now, your strength was too great... I've seen many people, but it's the first time I've seen someone with such power without deity worship! This time, I've learned something!" He said seriously, cupping his fists.

"You're too kind, my strength is only slightly larger than the average person." Zhang Rongfang smiled.

"By the way, speaking of which. How did you know I was here? I remember I didn't publicize my departure from Qingchuan Prefecture widely." He asked again.

"Well.... actually, someone left us messages all the way." Zhang Xuan replied at this moment.

"Messages?"

*

*

*

At this time, several hundred meters away from the Nanbo Temple.

Two mysterious figures in night suits and black masks were quickly walking away.

"The fish has taken the bait. Now it's up to him how he chooses. Have the people on the other side arrived?"

"Yes, they've arrived. They're in Wushan Prefecture. According to the plan, that person's identity is one of the most trusted lieutenants beside Yue Dewen, so when he sees, it's equivalent to Yue Dewen seeing.

As long as he witnesses it firsthand, that Zhang Rongfang is Zhang Ying and is secretly colluding with the Righteous Alliance.

By then... the lord's arrangement will be mostly complete."

"The only unexpected thing was what's with Zhang Rongfang's martial arts!? Wasn't it said he was just an External Medicine?"

"Not sure, but there must be a secret here!"

The two exchanged in low voices.

This time, the Great Dao Teaching secured a victory in the Great Capital, establishing a foundation, and occupying the majority of religious affairs, with astonishing dominance, oppressing the Western Sect and Zhenyi.

Especially the now undisguised Yue Dewen, whose strength alone overwhelmed everyone.

Qingyi of the Taiji Palace simply shut the doors, refusing outside visitors.

The prime master of the Western Sect hid in the shadows, unwillingly causing trouble, but each time easily crushed by Celestial Sincerity Palace.

With Jin Yuyan and Yue Dewen partnering in the Great Dao Teaching, it has become a colossal entity, wantonly devouring all religious powers.

Other secondary Sects like the Black Ten Sect, Celestial Lock Teaching, etc., have been pressured, hinting at banding together for self-preservation.

In such circumstances, if any trouble arises with the Great Dao Teaching Daoist.

Once their most gifted Daoist Zhang Ying is proven to be entangled with the Righteous Alliance.

What will happen, given Yue Dewen's nature of constantly protecting the royal family, is unpredictable.

But what can be imagined is that Zhang Rongfang will inevitably face a choice.

And by then....