Chapter 48

As Wu Mian was still speaking, Tuan Ao's fur suddenly stood on end all over its body. Then, with a powerful push from its hind legs, it charged at Wu Mian like an arrow released from a bow. The moment Tuan Ao left the ground, electric arcs appeared around Wu Mian and converged towards Tuan Ao, a massive arc instantly striking the charging beast.

Tuan Ao showed no intention of dodging and took the hit squarely. Although the electric arc struck Tuan Ao, it had no effect. The beast didn't even pause, and in the blink of an eye, it was in front of Wu Mian, its mouth full of sharp teeth already open, aiming for Wu Mian's throat.

Seeing that the electric arc was ineffective, Wu Mian quickly retreated. Unfortunately, no matter how fast he moved, he couldn't outpace Tuan Ao. Just as the sharp teeth were about to bite into his throat, Tuan Ao's body suddenly stopped in mid-air. Before Wu Mian could understand what was happening, Tuan Ao's body was already rolling back.

Gui Bu Gui appeared behind where Tuan Ao had been, looking at it with a helpless expression. The old man said, "I finally saved up a bit of divine energy, planning to keep it for ten or eight years. I didn't expect to have to use it so soon."

As Gui Bu Gui finished speaking, a gray shadow appeared behind him. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Gui Bu Gui vanished the moment Tuan Ao lunged at him. Tuan Ao, ignoring the search for Gui Bu Gui, charged directly at Wu Mian again. Suddenly, its body lifted off the ground and flew straight to the ceiling, then fell like a meteor to the ground.

Tuan Ao's body was already engulfed in flames in mid-air, its fur standing on end like a large fireball, crashing into the ground with a thick smoke.

With a loud "Boom," Tuan Ao landed precisely on the stone house. The stone house, which had been intact, was instantly destroyed, leaving a deep pit where it once stood. Wu Mian thought Tuan Ao would surely be dead from such a blow. Just as he was about to go over to check, a black, smoking creature leaped out of the pit. If it hadn't howled like a wolf, Wu Mian wouldn't have recognized it as Tuan Ao.

"Such a beating and still not dead, Tuan Ao is truly Tuan Ao," the old man sighed, appearing beside Wu Mian. Tuan Ao, seeing him, roared and pounced at Gui Bu Gui. Just as Tuan Ao leaped, its body disappeared into thin air, just like before.

Gui Bu Gui, with a pained expression, looked around and said to Wu Mian, "I thought meeting Guang Rui would save me some effort. But not only did I not save any, I wasted a lot of saliva."

As he spoke, a charred, massive wolf head suddenly appeared in front of the old man. Gui Bu Gui's body tilted to the side, seemingly unable to avoid it. Tuan Ao had already opened its mouth and was about to bite down on Gui Bu Gui's neck.

Even Wu Mian thought the old man was in grave danger. But unexpectedly, as Tuan Ao bit down, it passed through Gui Bu Gui's body and fell to the ground behind him. Gui Bu Gui's body then swayed and disappeared into the air.

Tuan Ao adjusted its body in mid-air but, before it could land, felt its fur tighten. Its four legs left the ground again. This time, Tuan Ao was truly panicked. The previous fall had already injured its vital energy, and another one would be unbearable.

Tuan Ao frantically writhed, trying to break free. But instead of being lifted high, it was thrown back into the deep pit. Gui Bu Gui appeared beside the pit.

Gui Bu Gui's actions left Wu Mian speechless. Was this the same disrespectful, cunning old man? At that moment, Gui Bu Gui turned to Wu Mian and said, "Come and take a look. I know why we couldn't find the immortal's body in the Immortal Tomb. It was hidden here. Below the Immortal Tomb is the true Immortal Tomb."

As Gui Bu Gui spoke, Wu Mian was already beside him. Looking down, he saw another space below. It was empty except for a stone platform. On the platform lay a naked man, lifeless but without the strong yin energy of a dead person.

Tuan Ao was circling below, clearly now afraid of Gui Bu Gui. It didn't dare jump up when it saw the old man standing at the pit's edge.

Gui Bu Gui, no longer focused on Tuan Ao, squinted at the man on the stone platform. Suddenly, he turned to Wu Mian and said, "I know where the Great Alchemist left you something."

Wu Mian was stunned. He looked down again, seeing nothing unusual, and said, "There's nothing here except this body. You can't mean this body, right?"

"Even if you say so, it's not wrong," Gui Bu Gui smiled at the man on the platform. "Look at his hands, don't you think they're placed strangely?" The man's hands were crossed and overlapped on his chest. With this reminder, Wu Mian noticed that the man's hands were arched, as if hiding something underneath.

Just as Wu Mian noticed the man's hands, Tuan Ao suddenly howled. It seemed to have seen something terrifying, and Gui Bu Gui's eyes widened as if he had just remembered something important. "Bad! Tuan Ao can't go down there!"

It was too late. After howling, Tuan Ao lunged at the man on the platform. At the same moment, Gui Bu Gui, without hesitation, jumped down after it. As Wu Mian was about to follow, the entire peach grove and the corridor outside began to shake violently.

A massive crack extended from where the stone house had been, splitting the peach grove in two in the blink of an eye.

Just as Wu Mian was about to jump down, a pale, almost transparent hand emerged from the pit. It didn't look like Gui Bu Gui's. Wu Mian's electric arcs appeared again, and without thinking, he struck the hand.

The electric arc traveled down the white hand. It began to tremble, and just as Wu Mian was considering another strike, a familiar voice said, "Aim carefully before you strike. You almost made me fall again."

As he spoke, Gui Bu Gui, carrying the man and holding Tuan Ao by the scruff of its neck, climbed out of the pit, step by step. Wu Mian then saw that the man's face was rosy, his chest rising and falling slightly, looking like a sleeping person.

After coming out, Gui Bu Gui didn't let go of the man or Tuan Ao but told Wu Mian to carry the half-conscious Yin Bai as well. They then quickly ran out of the corridor.

When Wu Mian and Gui Bu Gui returned to the incense room, they found several more people in the room. Leading them was Guang Ren, Xu Fu's eldest disciple...