Opposite Zhang Rongfang, steam was rising from his body, appearing like white mist floating upward.

At this moment, his mind and body were fully concentrated, reaching the peak state, not the peak of the Blood Lotus State, but the peak of his normal state.

With emotions and will coordinating with the enemy’s killing intent, various stimuli pushed him forcibly, driving his body to burst to a greater peak.

"Just a little more... just a little more... I need a stronger opponent... stronger..."

The culmination of the Final Form requires the right time, place, and harmony among people; none can be missing.

At this moment, Yu Wenji’s murderous intent surged, his determination transforming into a tangible sense of oppression, continuously helping Zhang Rongfang push his physical state, climbing toward greater strength!

Crack...

Suddenly, a crack appeared at the center of Zhang Rongfang’s brow.

He hadn’t activated the Blood Lotus!

It was a pure peak change in the Extreme State!

His Final Form... was finally about to begin!!

Hiss.

Suddenly, a cold hand gently pressed against Yu Wenji’s back.

"Enough..."

Whoosh....

A gust of cold wind, carrying snowflakes, swept across the field.

On the snow-covered ground, scarred and full of pits and marks, there was an additional figure cloaked in a wide black robe.

The figure stood behind Yu Wenji, small in stature compared to him.

With one hand extended forward, pressed against Yu Wenji’s back, unmoving like a sculpture.

Yu Wenji shuddered, and even through his armor, his body involuntarily sent out signals of alert and tremors.

From the point of contact with the other person’s hand, goosebumps spread across his body like ripples.

His eyes widened, slowly and stiffly turning his head to look behind him.

Beneath the hood, a familiar face appeared in front of his eyes.

"Sect Leader Yue!"

The other three around the snowy area also had slight changes in their expressions, staring intently at the suddenly appearing stout figure.

It wasn’t just Yu Wenji who was in an intense battle, even the three of them hadn’t noticed anyone approaching.

With their hearts shaken, the three quickly had their own thoughts. Looking at Yue Dewen now, some quickly averted their gazes while others cleared their minds of distractions.

In reality, they all knew that this investigation was not primarily led by the Great Dao Teaching, but by the Snow Rainbow Pavilion.

Although the deputy Pavilion Master and Yue Dewen had a close relationship, the Pavilion Master was different....

Both parties had their own agendas within the collaboration.

For now, everyone was simply waiting.

Waiting for the critical moment to arrive.

"Sect Leader Yue.... why did you come unannounced? We should have prepared to welcome you...." Chen Tao took a step forward, cleared his throat, and said.

Although the earlier battle was intense, the embarrassment was on Yu Wenji, and it had nothing to do with him. He was happy to watch the commotion.

Until Yu Wenji was about to initiate the Final Form... he was about to intervene and catch him.

But then... Yue Dewen appeared.

"What? If you can come, why can’t I?" Yue Dewen lifted the cloak, revealing a plump, old face.

He glanced at Zhang Rongfang standing not far away on the tree branch.

"If I hadn’t come, perhaps I wouldn’t have realized the situation had reached this extent...."

His face no longer held the previous friendly smile but stared directly at Zhang Rongfang, with something indescribable in his eyes.

"Since Sect Leader Yue is here personally, I will leave this matter entirely to you to handle. We shall take our leave first."

Yu Wenji let out an awkward laugh, quickly recovered his composure, and returned to his normal state.

Then, exchanging a glance with Chen Tao, he quickly departed from his spot with a light step.

The four of them, as if avoiding a serpent or scorpion, saluted Yue Dewen and then quickly retreated along their original route.

Though allies on the surface, within the alliance there were both supporting and opposing factions, and they belonged to the opposing faction.

If they didn’t leave quickly and were caught in some trouble, more issues would arise later.

As for the deceased Weaving Elephant Army scout and the Daoist Zhang Ying’s secret.

Since Yue Dewen was personally here, they had no business interfering anymore. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

In no time, the four Grandmasters left without any hesitation.

Their investigation mission could be declared a failure the moment Yue Dewen appeared.

In an instant, only Zhang Rongfang and Yue Dewen were left on the snowy field.

The cold winds howled around them, the blood from the bodies gradually turning into ice crystals, and the smell of blood slowly faded away.

The snowflakes slowly fell, gradually covering up the traces of the recent fierce battle.

Zhang Rongfang had thought that Yue Shi might come, but he hadn’t expected him to arrive so suddenly.

Standing on the branch, he didn’t speak, but bathed in the cold wind, he gazed into Yue Dewen’s eyes.

Though no words were spoken, a sharp alarm inexplicably emanated from his body.

"You... should come back with me and worship deity." Yue Dewen’s expression was calm.

But it was precisely this calmness that made his face seem terrifyingly sullen at this moment.

He had never imagined that his most trusted disciple was hiding the truth from him, deceiving him at the core!

Perhaps he had thought about it but just didn’t want to believe it.

Because he couldn’t find any reason for Zhang Rongfang’s betrayal.

Any reason!

From the moment he started from the bottom, he gave Zhang Rongfang the highest status, ultimate resources, maximum protection, and the top-notch cultivation technique.

Everything possible was given.

Even in his most difficult times, when he lacked experts around him, he still secretly sent experts to protect Zhang Rongfang.

Whenever he had a bit more resources, he sent out grandmasters, even persuading Shangguan Feihua, who disliked him, to agree to safeguard him...

And what was the result?

The result was Zhang Rongfang causing bigger troubles, provoking stronger enemies...

Until now... even he had to put down all important matters at hand and rush over to check the situation first.

"Master... I don’t want to go back." Zhang Rongfang took a deep breath, and dispelled the extreme state enveloping him.

"Doesn’t matter if you want to or not, you have to go back!" Yue Dewen’s expression remained unchanged, "You have only two choices now. Go back or I’ll kill you right here!"

"I’ve thought for a long time. Given the unpredictable state of the world, instead of being beaten to death outside, I’d rather fulfill you myself now!!"

He stepped forward, tone calm, but the killing intent in his eyes was unprecedentedly firm.

"I’ve mastered the secret to resist deification, I don’t want to deify or do anything against my will. Master, don’t force me..." Zhang Rongfang said lowly.

"Force you? Haha... you’ve grown up, haven’t you? In just a few years, you dare to bare your fangs and claws in front of me?" Yue Dewen couldn’t help but laugh.

"Do you think you’re very powerful??" His face, full of fat, trembled due to intense emotions.

"Do you know that if I had arrived a little later, those four guys would have crippled you right there!"

"They can’t do it!" Zhang Rongfang’s expression remained unchanged.

"You know nothing!" Yue Dewen shouted harshly.

"The current situation has reached a critical point. Follow me back now; if there’s an issue, we’ll talk about it back at Celestial Sincerity Palace. It’s not safe here!"

"I won’t go back." Zhang Rongfang shook his head.

"You’re forcing me to act?" Yue Dewen stepped forward, eyes icy cold.

Zhang Rongfang was his fallback for all his plans; he could not afford to lose him!

"....." Zhang Rongfang lightly leapt, landed on the snow, raised his hands slightly, and posed the starting position of Great Dao Teaching Martial Arts.

The two of them stopped talking for the moment, leaving only the scattered noise of the wind and snow blowing.

"You....."

Yue Dewen’s right hand dropped, fingers slowly encircled by invisible streams of air.

"Follow me back to deify!"

He suddenly shouted fiercely.

Deify deify deify deify deify!!!

The layered voices shot like countless hidden weapons, overwhelming from all directions.

Sound waves transformed into massive vibrations, like high-pressure water bursts, instantly enveloping Zhang Rongfang at the center.

A huge suffocating feeling surged in his heart.

It seemed as if invisible walls were blocking from all directions, making it impossible to move or escape, only to remain in place.

"Gods are supreme! Without deification, what can you use to resist everything! Resist the world!?" Yue Dewen walked forward step by step, his voice increasingly oppressive.

"I....!!" At this moment, Zhang Rongfang’s face turned purple. He clutched his own throat with one hand, half-kneeling on the ground, trapped in a hallucination.

"I’d rather die!!"

Suddenly, he lowered his right hand, aimed at his own heart, and thrust a knife hand with all his might.

Shh!!

The sound of flesh being pierced resounded. Zhang Rongfang’s knife hand had already penetrated his chest, fingers nearly touching the surface of his heart.

But then, Yue Dewen grabbed it firmly with his other hand.

"You’re mad!!" Yue Dewen’s face twisted, "Did those madmen from the Reversal Society say something to you!? Huh!?"

"I’ll go kill them all now!! A bunch of lunatics, long overdue to die in rubbish past, dare deceive my disciple!!"

He could feel that just now was a genuine suicide attempt.

Had he acted a second later, he might have really lost a disciple!

Splat.

Zhang Rongfang grabbed his wrist. Blood continuously flowed from his chest, staining his clothes red.

"It’s not their fault... I... it’s me... worried... about being controlled!"

"No one will control you! Deification prevents death, drastically increases longevity, strengthens power significantly! With gods as backup, who outside the Reversal Society madmen doesn’t want deification!? What’s bad about deification!? What’s bad!? Huh!? Why so!? Why are you like this!!?"

Yue Dewen was practically going insane. The grand plan was proceeding smoothly, yet the Daoist who was found with great difficulty to inherit the grand legacy now... doesn’t want deification!?

"Unless! You want to walk the Extreme Realm!?" He suddenly paused, shouted sharply.

"I.... don’t want deification, nor do I want to walk the Extreme Realm!" Zhang Rongfang half-kneeled on the ground, panting heavily.

"I just want to protect the people around me, find a place away from worldly affairs, and live well."

"Foolish!" Yue Dewen raised his hand, intending to slap this rebellious disciple to death.

As he lowered his hand halfway, he paused, then reached towards his own lower back.

He gritted his teeth and quickly took out a black patterned golden porcelain bottle, removed the cork, and poured out a pill the size of a black shiny mung bean.

"Eat it!" He shoved it into Zhang Rongfang’s mouth, then rapidly tapped several dozen times like raindrops upon his body.

In an instant, the blood vessels in Zhang Rongfang’s body quickly revived as if coming to life, the blood vessels around the wound automatically closing, while those elsewhere accelerated their flow rapidly.

A layer of coolness began spreading and permeating around the wounded area.

"Thank you, Master!" Zhang Rongfang didn’t resist, knowing it was for treating his injury.

He relaxed, understanding Yue Shi still cared for him, didn’t go through with it, and this time he managed to muddle through.