On the way back, he had to pass through that invisible barrier.

Outside the barrier was clear lake water.

After Shen Bai passed through the barrier, the two sheets of Talisman Paper ignited on their own without any wind.

The lake water began to flood back in. He turned to look at the inrushing water and thought, ’Just as I expected.’

If he had actually listened to the old Daoist back then, he would have likely fallen for the man’s scheme by now.

Fortunately, he had been wary, so this whole affair could be considered a perfect success.

Shen Bai hesitated no longer. He used the Water Control Technique and swam toward the lake’s surface.

「On the surface of the lake.」

Daoist Chongling and his eight junior brothers were waiting anxiously.

Shen Bai had been down there for a while, but there was still no word from him.

Amber wasn’t showing any signs of distress, so Daoist Chongling knew Shen Bai was safe for the time being.

But the longer he waited, the more anxious he became.

Shen Bai was here to help the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple, and he didn’t want the slightest mishap to befall him.

Chang Mei Daoist stood nearby and said worriedly, "Senior Brother, why don’t I go into the water and check on Lord Shen?"

They had also been waiting for a long time. Everyone knew Shen Bai’s status in the Observatory.

If something happened to Shen Bai, it wasn’t just Liu Wufeng who would be enraged; several other factions on good terms with Shen Bai would be as well.

Of course, that wasn’t the main concern.

The main thing was, this matter involved them.

If something happened to Shen Bai, they would feel guilty for the rest of their lives.

After a moment of thought, Daoist Chongling shook his head. "Lord Shen is not in mortal danger at the moment. We cannot act rashly. What if our recklessness makes things worse? We’d be shooting ourselves in the foot."

As the eldest senior brother, Daoist Chongling was the most level-headed among them.

He knew the Temple Master’s ways. If there were real danger here, he wouldn’t have simply left his last words.

Hearing Daoist Chongling’s words, the others suppressed their own thoughts and said no more for the time being.

While the group managed to calm their nerves, Amber stared at the placid surface of the lake, tilting its head. Its small eyes held great confusion.

It didn’t sense that its master was in any danger. In fact, it sensed a particularly alluring aura flowing within the lake water.

It was like a glutton that had just spotted a mouth-watering feast.

Amber even felt an irresistible urge to dive into the lake.

But it kept telling itself that it had to listen to its master, and that was how it managed to keep its own impulse in check.

The group waited a while longer, and just then, something strange suddenly happened.

The previously calm lake water began to tremble violently in an instant, as if flames were burning beneath it, causing the water to boil.

Immediately after, a massive vortex appeared on the surface of the lake.

The lake’s water level began to drop rapidly. In the space of just a few breaths, it had fallen by half a meter.

This scene made everyone’s eyes widen in disbelief.

Everything happening before them was beyond their comprehension.

Daoist Chongling was the quickest to react. He tightened his grip on his Floating Dust whisk and said, "The water level is dropping so suddenly. Does this mean there’s a special Space at the bottom of the lake?"

Now that he mentioned it, the others thought of it too and nodded in agreement.

"And this sudden anomaly must be something Lord Shen did. Perhaps the seal on our Celestial Purity Daoist Temple has already been broken by Lord Shen."

Daoist Chongling didn’t reply. He watched the lake surface gradually return to calm and thought, ’Perhaps.’

He was waiting for Shen Bai to emerge. Once he was out, they would have their answer.

After about half an incense stick’s time, a figure leaped out of the water.

A current of water from the lakebed carried the figure soaring into the air.

Shen Bai, dressed in his Observatory official robes with Cold Moon at his waist, held a Treasure Pearl in his left hand. He glided steadily over the lake’s surface to the shore.

The lake water seemed to have a Spirituality of its own, supporting Shen Bai’s legs and making him look like the master of the water.

The moment Shen Bai landed on the shore, Amber let out a MEOW and leaped into his arms.

Daoist Chongling and the others also gathered around, asking with concern about Shen Bai’s condition.

Shen Bai smiled and said, "It was nothing major. The problem has been solved."

Then, he explained in detail what he had encountered at the bottom of the lake.

When he mentioned the old Daoist, Daoist Chongling’s expression became extremely complicated, and he sighed.

"Back then, the Temple Master said that our Martial Uncle perished because of his Cultivation, but I never expected this to be the reason."

The other Daoists also wore looks of sorrow and dejection.

In the Temple Master’s generation, there were only the two of them: the Temple Master and the old Daoist. Daoist Chongling and his brothers had been watched over by both as they grew up.

So they all had an emotional attachment to the old Daoist.

Fortunately, they were all people of character and understood that the old Daoist had done something he shouldn’t have.

Daoist Chongling performed a cupped-fist salute and said, "Thank you, Lord Shen, for taking action and resolving this great threat to Fenglin State. If you are not in a hurry to leave, Lord Shen, please rest for a while at the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple. We will host a banquet for you, and then I will personally escort you back to Fenglin State."

Daoist Chongling was also aware that Shen Bai had offended the Wild Taoist Sect and the Wild Buddha Sect.

As the current Temple Master, Daoist Chongling knew that ensuring Shen Bai’s safety on this trip was the top priority, which was why he would escort him personally.

Shen Bai shook his head. "I have business to attend to back at the Observatory, so I can’t stay long. However, there is one more thing I’d like to ask you, Daoist Master."

Daoist Chongling nodded. "Please speak freely, Lord Shen. I will answer what I know and hold nothing back."

Shen Bai raised his left hand and asked, "What is this? I heard it’s related to a Deceitful Beast."

On his left hand, the Treasure Pearl was still emitting a shimmering light, making for a beautiful sight.

Amber, still in his arms, stared at the Treasure Pearl, its eyes wide and fixed on it.

If Shen Bai hadn’t been right there, it probably would have already pounced on it.

Hearing this, Daoist Chongling took the Treasure Pearl from Shen Bai’s hand and began to examine it carefully.

Gradually, Daoist Chongling’s expression went through a series of changes.

First confusion, then disbelief, which then turned into shock.

Daoist Chongling looked up, pointed at the Treasure Pearl, and said in astonishment, "Lord Shen, this is a Deceit Transformation Pearl!"