"What about you? Why did you join them?"

"I... I have forgotten..." Tong Zhang suddenly blanked out at the question.

"So, that's not your great vow, but someone else's," Zhang Rongfang replied.

He stood up.

"The Eastern Sect is now a thing of the past. What you owed them has been repaid. Why not come with me in the future?" He extended a hand to her.

"Come with you?" Tong Zhang was slightly taken aback.

"Yes. I want to build a place devoid of disputes and malice, where everyone can live happily and peacefully. For that, I need many things, many people, much power," Zhang Rongfang nodded.

"You... you really seem to be a kind person." Tong Zhang revealed a slight smile.

"I really want to agree with you, but... I have something else I want to do in my heart..."

She stood up as well.

"And... their power is strong; it would bring harm to you."

"Right. Since they and you say I was once your master and once guided you.

How is your martial arts now? I should have taught you the Golden Roc Secret Record, right? How is it now? How are you practicing it?" She shifted the topic with slight interest.

"Uh....." Golden Roc Secret Record?

What is that?

Zhang Rongfang's heart skipped a beat.

How should he answer this?

*

*

*

Outside Qingchuan Prefecture, on the edge of the Bright Phoenix Garden.

The night was dim.

A black metallic sedan chair, carried by two men, suddenly appeared on the road near the urban area like a shadowy illusion.

The two bearers, dressed in black, had wooden expressions, kept their heads lowered, and proceeded silently.

The sedan stopped at a distance away from the bustling lights of the city.

The sedan door opened.

A round figure slowly walked down.

"Finally here. Mingyuan, do you know the place?"

Behind the sedan, a tall figure in a deep blue robe quickly approached from the shadows, bowed politely and said,

"The Daoist is usually stationed at the yamen; we can go there first. Even if he's not there, we can find someone to inquire."

"Very well. Let's go." The round figure stepped forward under the light, revealing a large, serene smile on Yue Dewen's face.

"Sect Leader, what do you plan to do...?" Mingyuan couldn't help but ask.

"Before coming, I also heard rumors... This kid seems to be focusing on martial cultivation instead of literature... even now, he's not repenting..." Yue Dewen's eyes flickered with a shimmering light.

"So I came to see for myself. Don't worry, after all, he's the successor I've pinned my great hope on. There's no way I would do anything to him."

"At most, at most I would cripple his martial arts and have him obediently come back with me to cultivate literature."

"....." Mingyuan was speechless. This was considered nothing happening?

"Besides, I've heard he's now entangled with the rebel army, although it's because of past connections, but if it continues, it doesn't bode well."

Yue Dewen clearly knew about Zhang Rongfang's situation with Zhang Xuan.

"It's not that I wasn't aware of many things; it's just that I couldn't spare the time. Now that I've finally made the time, this trip will resolve everything for him before leaving."

"I originally thought he was entirely focused on the cultivation of literature, but unexpectedly, later I heard from others that his martial skills improved even faster. Should be internal cultivation by now?

This brat, no wonder he doesn't carry the token. If he put the effort into martial arts entirely into literature, wouldn't he have refined the God by now!"

In just a few years? You dare to think big.

Mingyuan was speechless but didn't dare to say a word.

"Let's go, see for yourself." Yue Dewen walked toward Qingchuan City without even glancing at the sedan behind.

Mingyuan followed, keeping quiet.

The two walked along the bright, deserted official road.

At night, there were few travelers on the road.

Like phantoms, their figures vanished at the end of the official road, entering the city.

*

*

*

Leaving the Star Nesting Pavilion.

Zhang Rongfang sighed inwardly.

The Celestial Maiden still refused his invitation and decided to stay with the Righteous Alliance's Reversal Society.

'Indeed, there is no simple power in this world. The Righteous Alliance, which has existed for so many years in Great Spirit's harsh environment, is certainly not as weak as it appears on the surface.'

For some reason, as he walked out of the pavilion, he inexplicably turned back and looked toward the sixth floor.

There, the Celestial Maiden was standing by the window, looking down at him as well.

"Take care." Her lips moved slightly, silently saying two words.

Take care?

Why?

Zhang Rongfang felt a tinge of confusion.

This meeting, from beginning to end, was quite ordinary, calm, and gentle.

But why in the end...

For some reason, he was suddenly reminded of what Zhang Qingzhi said before, about Yue Shi mysteriously starting to paint a portrait of the mysterious mistress in the Great Capital.

And here.... the long-lost Celestial Maiden suddenly reappeared.

Is there a possibility....

At that time, did Yue Shi also... see her, just like he did...

"Where is your token?"

Suddenly, a fat hand landed on his shoulder from behind.

"!!???" Zhang Rongfang was startled, nearly jumping up.

At such close range, he wasn't able to detect anything!?

His whole body was tingling with fear as he abruptly turned his head to look back.

What he saw coming toward him.

Was Yue Dewen's round, chubby face.

Smiling.

Yue Dewen was smiling.

Under the light, the smile on his face carried a certain coldness and unfamiliarity.

"I had someone send you the token. Why didn't you wear it?"

"....." Zhang Rongfang's skin broke out in goosebumps.

How long has it been??

How long has it been since he encountered such a feeling as he did now.

Ever since he broke through to Grandmaster strength, he had never encountered a situation where someone could silently get so close to him.

"Master.... Why did you suddenly come?" Zhang Rongfang remained composed, stabilizing his emotions, and said in a deep voice.

"Why didn't you inform me in advance, so I could arrange manpower to prepare a banquet to welcome you."

"If I didn't come in person, wouldn't I miss seeing you flirt with that little girl? Making eyes at each other? What? Want me to take her down for you and strip her naked to send to your room?" Yue Dewen said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Disciple wouldn't dare."

"What wouldn't you dare? Let's go, fetch the token, I want to see you wear it properly."

Yue Dewen took the lead, walking ahead.

Zhang Rongfang followed behind, his thoughts rapidly changing.

The two of them quickly walked through the nighttime crowds on the street, swiftly approaching the direction of the Agarwood Mansion.

It was only as they were approaching the Agarwood Mansion, less than a hundred meters away.

Yue Dewen suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He looked up at the mansion.

"In your mansion, any kind of cattle, ghosts, snakes, and gods dare to come and be presumptuous now..."

He seemed to have sensed something.

"Master, what do you mean by this?"

"Just the literal meaning. Let's go, first fetch the token, then I want to thoroughly check your current cultivation in literature. As for martial arts....." Yue Dewen didn't continue.

Zhang Rongfang was slightly taken aback, didn't continue, and just followed him into the mansion.

The two didn't enter through the main gate; instead, their figures flashed, and they leaped over the wall, directly arriving at the study where the token was stored.

Bang.

Yue Dewen seemed to know where the token was, walking into the study, and dug into a wall with his bare hand.

His hand, like a sharp weapon, precisely broke open the stone wall, pulling out a secret compartment to retrieve the token inside.

"Here." He handed the token to Zhang Rongfang behind him.

Zhang Rongfang paused, looking at the token being handed over, and didn't move.

"Take it!?" Yue Dewen raised his voice. He turned his head, looking into Zhang Rongfang's eyes, with a faint trace of danger.

"....." Zhang Rongfang took a deep breath, meeting his increasingly dangerous gaze.

He reached out his hand.

He steadily caught the token.

At the same time, at the moment of catching it, the rapidly operating Toad Seal Skill quickly suppressed his literary cultivation to feign a late-stage Nascent Soul level.

"Tell me. Why didn't you wear it? Why were you running all over the place?" After doing all this, Yue Dewen then turned around, coldly staring at him.

"Disciple.... has been wholeheartedly practicing cultivation over the years, without any slackening. As for running around, it has also been for cultivation reasons; many times, going to different places requires visiting friends and relatives or collecting medicinal materials."

Zhang Rongfang's mind raced, thinking about his wording.

"I see all these.... are just excuses!" Yue Dewen squinted, "Forget it, since your mind is not at ease right now, and you can't settle your heart. Let's do this."

He paced back and forth a few steps.

"You will come back to the Great Capital with me, and from now on, devoutly worship the Celestial Venerable daily, focus on your scholarly cultivation. In two or three decades, with your talent, you should be able to achieve completion in Refining God."

Zhang Rongfang was shocked; this meant always following Yue Dewen. There was no way he could hide his literary cultivation. He feared he would soon be pulled into worshiping gods!

Even without worshiping gods, he was already drawing enough attraction from deities. Going to the Great Capital now and worshiping the Celestial Venerable of the Great Dao Teaching daily, wouldn't he soon be targeted by the top deities of the Great Dao Teaching?

Even dealing with a Residual God like the Blood God's Wish Girl was troublesome enough, let alone encountering a fully-formed top deity....

Zhang Rongfang's heart filled with dread, thoughts turning rapidly, thinking of reasons to refuse while considering countermeasures.

'If....' Suddenly, he came up with an idea.

"What? You don't want to go?" Yue Dewen seemed to have noticed something, and his voice slowly turned cold.

"It seems, indeed, that so-called martial arts have clouded your vision and hindered your progress...."

His gaze gradually grew dangerous.

He had already wasted one Daoist, and he absolutely couldn't afford any mishap with this greatest hope before him.

"Rest assured, someday you will understand your master's intentions...." He rolled up his sleeves, his voice lowering.

He had decided to utterly eradicate his disciple's notion of pursuing martial arts.

With this, he should be able to focus on literary cultivation. Given his talent, he would surely achieve great success in the future! Inheriting the glorious legacy of the Great Dao Teaching!

Only by becoming a Spirit General can one achieve immortality!

When the disciple succeeds in worshiping gods at that time, he will understand the master's painstaking intentions.

Thinking of this, Yue Dewen's fingertips faintly emitted silvery strands as a subtle vortex swirled around his hand.

Sizzle!!

In an instant, he lifted his hand and pointed it forward.

Pop!

A hissing sound suddenly spread just at this moment.

A massive surge of heat suddenly emitted from Zhang Rongfang's body, an inexplicable aura naturally emanating from his flesh.

With a swoosh, Yue Dewen's fingertip hovered right at the center of Zhang Rongfang's chest, just a hair's breadth away from touching his torso.

But at that slight distance, he voluntarily stopped.

"This.... this... impossible!!?"

At this moment, Yue Dewen's face drastically changed, his gaze rigid, eyes fixed with a stunned expression on Zhang Rongfang.

Refining God!!?

Just now, he felt from his disciple a unique essence of the spirit that only those who have refined the spirit could possess.