Chapter 24

Yue Qing released a flying sword and stepped forward: "Luo Ziyun, you are indeed willing to be a lackey for the Emei Sect!"

The old Taoist nun was none other than Jin Nainai Luo Ziyun from the White Crane Cave of Hengshan. The Cloud Lock Cave where Yue Qinbin used to live was also on Hengshan. Speaking of which, the two were neighbors, and he knew her prowess well. He recognized the green light she controlled as her mountain-taming treasure, the Naji Ring, named after the idea of containing a mountain in a mustard seed. When engaging in combat, as long as it was released, it could capture nineteen out of twenty enemy flying swords and magical treasures, and it could also ward off evil and suppress demons, with countless uses.

Wu Li also recognized her, but he had only heard of the power of the Naji Ring in the past. Today, he experienced it firsthand. Fortunately, Yue Qing timely released a divine demon to entangle the Naji Ring, allowing him to take advantage of the opportunity and use his profound magical power to retrieve the painstakingly refined Heavenly Yellow Sand.

Luo Ziyun, who rarely put anyone in her eyes, sneered at Yue Qing: "Seeing how pitifully your master died, and how you have been living with your tail between your legs, I left you alive on Hengshan without taking your life! Now that you have cultivated to the point of being thoroughly evil, practicing demonic arts, and harming two Emei Sect disciples, it would be a travesty of justice not to kill you!" She spat a stream of essence energy onto the Naji Ring, which then buzzed and burst into flames, the green light burning fiercely. It was meant to force back the divine demon, but Yue Qing's six celestial and six terrestrial divine demons were no ordinary demons. They emitted the radiance of the sun and moon in a blood-red glow, various colors merging into one, and the Naji Ring could not disperse them.

Yue Qing shouted loudly: "Daoist Wu, I have entangled the old beggar woman's treasure with the divine demons, let's finish her off together!"

In his urgency, he even used the word "finish off." Although Wu Li had never heard it before, he understood his meaning and immediately released the Huangjing Sword and Heavenly Yellow Sand again, joining Yue Qing's flying sword to sweep towards Luo Ziyun.

Luo Ziyun sternly told the three sisters, Yu Fangheng, who were standing beside her: "Go down and retrieve the treasure! I will hold them off here."

The three women immediately flew down, but two sword lights suddenly flew out to block their path. Mingyi said: "Three fellow Daoists, please wait."

Wanzhen, the most arrogant and reckless of them, saw the treasure within reach and someone blocking their way. Without a word, she took the lead and flew her sword towards Mingyi.

Mingyi hurriedly released his flying sword to block, feeling displeased: "Fellow Daoist, please listen to me!"

Li Wenyuan, seeing that his sword light was righteous and not evil, knew he was not from the evil path, but guessed he was a wandering immortal like Wu Li, trying to snatch the treasure. Therefore, he did not intervene, letting Wanzhen act. Yu Fangheng, however, stopped Wanzhen: "Sister, listen to what he has to say first."

"What else is there to say!" Wanzhen temporarily retracted her sword light and pointed at Yue Qing in the sky, "Are you and the remnant of the Wutai Sect in league?"

Before Mingyi could speak, Liu Quan preempted: "I am from the Wutai Sect!"

Wanzhen glared with her almond eyes: "Did you see that!" She then turned her sword light to slash at Liu Quan.

Liu Quan snorted coldly: "People of the Emei Sect are all like this, truly living up to their reputation in name only!" After dealing with the Emei Sect twice, he was thoroughly disappointed. Although he had killed Wu Wenqi, he still harbored a glimmer of hope that the Emei Sect was as magnanimous and courteous as legend had it, and that if he explained the situation, they might understand. After joining the Wutai Sect, seeing Yue Qing's generosity and the righteousness of his Daoist arts (except for the gourd taken from a traitor), he believed the conflict between the two sects was just a matter of personal grudges and had hoped to mediate and turn enemies into friends. However, he now completely abandoned this idea. He spread his hands and released Wu Yuanzhi's Wind and Fire Double Swords, a green and a red light spiraling towards Wanzhen.

As soon as they saw the Wind and Fire Double Swords, the three women immediately recognized them as their Uncle Wu Yuanzhi's flying swords. They all shouted in unison: "You are indeed a group of demons who harmed Uncle Wu! Today, we will kill you and capture your soul to return to Emei for questioning!" Wanzhen took the lead, merging with her sword and charging over.

Liu Quan's two flying swords flew up and down, using the new Taiyi Sword Technique he had learned from Yue Qing, focusing his mind to fight.

Mingyi was also annoyed with the three women and released his flying sword to fight alongside Liu Quan.

Either of these two was no ordinary opponent, and together, they were more than a match for the three women. Especially Yu Fangheng, whose shoulder had been pierced by Wu Li, although she was immediately treated with Emei Sect's magical medicine, still had limited mobility. Fortunately, Liu Quan and Mingyi both disliked Wanzhen, directing most of their attacks towards her, preventing her from being killed on the spot, but she was forced to retreat continuously.

Liu Quan remembered what Yue Qing had said, fearing that there might be more Emei Sect experts lurking nearby, and wanting to end the fight quickly. He cut off half of Wanzhen's hair, causing countless strands to scatter in the wind. Wanzhen screamed and was slashed across her rib, truly terrified. Just as she was about to flee, Luo Ziyun suddenly swooped in.

Luo Ziyun released her Purple Mist Flying Sword, which was made of twenty-four strands of hazy purple mist, forming a misty cloud in the sky. However, it concealed deadly danger, and anyone caught in the sword qi would be shredded into ashes. Liu Quan and Mingyi's flying swords were immediately slowed down and became unresponsive upon contact.

Luo Ziyun told the three women: "Go quickly, I will hold them off!" The three women flew down the valley.

At this moment, Wu Li and Yue Qing also dived down, joining Liu Quan and Mingyi to attack together. Luo Ziyun was undaunted, spitting a stream of essence energy to create a purple mist that enveloped the four. Yue Qing's celestial and terrestrial divine demons, Wu Li's Heavenly Yellow Sand, Liu Quan's Golden Mandarin Duck Scissors, and Mingyi's Heavenly Ruler were all blocked by the green light of the Naji Ring. If not for the divine transformations of the celestial and terrestrial divine demons, the other three's treasures would have been captured.

Luo Ziyun guarded the valley entrance, and the four could not defeat her for a long time. Wu Li tried several times to rush down to seize the treasure but was blocked each time. He could only helplessly watch as the three women calmly broke the remaining restrictions and retrieved the jade box containing the treasure.

Wanzhen, the most anxious, wanted to see what treasure was so important that her master had sent a flying sword message to invite Jin Nainai to assist. When she hurriedly opened the box, it was empty. Wanzhen felt a wave of dizziness and anger: "Uncle Luo! The treasure has been taken!"

Luo Ziyun was also surprised, but since the treasure was gone, there was no need to continue fighting. Moreover, these four were formidable opponents, all using immortal treasures, especially the celestial and terrestrial divine demons. Any slight mistake on her part could be fatal. Therefore, she stopped her sword light, breaking through the four flying swords, and directed the Naji Ring to open a path, flying over to join the three women.

Wanzhen suspected that the three who appeared later had taken the treasure and wanted Luo Ziyun to help retrieve it. Luo Ziyun, however, had a stern expression: "Forget it, treasures have their own destiny. These demons have shallow blessings; even if they take the treasure, they cannot keep it and will invite disaster, leading to their death and soul destruction. Let's go." She waved her sleeve, and the four of them turned into a purple light and flew away.

Seeing them leave, Wu Li glared at Yue Qing and demanded: "Did you already take the treasure?"

Yue Qing took out the Three Yang Sword and handed it to Wu Li: "I anticipated that the Emei Sect would have help and might have some tricks, so I went to the valley first and retrieved the treasure."

Wu Li took the sword, examined it, and found it to be three feet and three inches long. With a slight movement, it emitted a rainbow light several feet long. Moreover, the three yangs generated each other, and the three swords responded to each other. Swinging one sword caused the other two to follow automatically. Recognizing it as a rare treasure and a divine weapon, he was overjoyed and deeply ashamed, bowing to Yue Qing in apology: "I was judging a gentleman by a small man's standards, suspecting you of having ulterior motives. I apologize for my impertinent words!"

Yue Qing waved his hand: "Everyone has their own private interests. If I were in your position, I would have had the same doubts."

Wu Li sighed: "Your magnanimity is truly admirable! I spent so much effort seeking a good sword to avenge myself against Zhu Duizi. Today, I finally achieved my goal, thanks to your help." He put himself in others' shoes and realized that if he had taken the treasure first, he might not have been willing to hand over such a rare treasure. Therefore, he did not ask about anything else. He only wanted to avenge himself against Zhu Mei, and the Three Yang Sword was enough for him. He was very satisfied: "I will remember your kindness, Daoist Wu. If you need anything in the future, just send a flying sword message to Lao Mountain's Taiqing Palace, and I will do my utmost, no matter the danger!"