Those crane feathers came so suddenly and so fast!
“Uncle Crane! Stop!!”
Shen Luohe’s expression changed drastically as he shouted, but the white crane ignored him. It let out a sharp cry, and the feathers beneath its wings stood on end. Gale force winds erupted, transforming into thousands of tiny blades that slashed through the air with the weight of a mountain, heading straight for Nan Zhi!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Clang! Clang!
Nan Zhi did not retreat a single step. She held the Fish-Dragon Guillotine before her. For a moment, gales howled and crisp metallic clangs rang out. Sharp feather arrows whistled past her ears, cutting only a few strands of her hair.
The invisible gales condensed into tangible force, trapping her within. The bamboo gazebo collapsed, and tiny bamboo shards transformed into thousands of sharp needles aimed at Nan Zhi’s throat. Lethal intent surrounded her from every direction!
So strong!
This white crane was at least at the late stage of Foundation Establishment!
It was far more powerful than that Flying Golden-Winged Centipede!
Nan Zhi was extremely surprised, but despite the killing intent, she didn't have the slightest desire to retreat or beg for mercy. Instead, a surge of intense battle intent rose within her—
【Hiding Art】!
【Five Elements Techniques】!
【Lightning Curse】!
A spark of light ignited beneath her feet. In the next instant, Nan Zhi’s figure vanished. Thousands of vines erupted from the ground, weaving into a massive wall of wood and vine that firmly blocked the crane feathers for half a breath!
Half a breath was enough.
“Gaa! Gaa!!”
The faint sound of muffled thunder rumbled in the sky. The white crane’s feathers puffed up as it stretched its neck and let out a long cry, its long, sharp beak pecking down with immense force!
Nan Zhi did not retreat; she lunged forward. She leapt into the air, her body twisting as lightning flickered in her hands. The Fish-Dragon Guillotine swung down with a fierce blow—
Clang!!
“Gaa!”
“Fellow Daoist Nan!”
Shen Luohe’s face turned pale. His paper fan flew out, and he was about to sacrifice his life-bound artifact to save his friend at any cost!
One must know that this white crane had been raised by Daoist Qinglong since it was a chick. Fed daily with heavenly treasures and immortal pills, its cultivation had been forced up to the seventh level of Foundation Establishment.
Its body was as heavy as a mountain, and its beak was as sharp as steel. It could bite a chunk out of an ordinary artifact, let alone a mortal body!
But in the next second, he froze in place.
He saw the crane’s beak peck down, only to be momentarily hindered by the oddly shaped blade before landing squarely on Nan Zhi’s forearm.
However, there was no spray of blood, nor was there a severed limb. There was only a faint, shallow white mark.
It was as if she had been pecked by a newborn chick.
In contrast, the white crane had suffered a major loss. A powerful Lightning Curse had crashed down upon it. Its sharp beak was charred black, and even the white feathers around its head were scorched into messy, dark clumps—
Its eyes went dull, and it stumbled forward a few steps.
It seemed unable to believe the reality before it.
For a moment, Shen Luohe didn't know whether to marvel at his friend’s extraordinary constitution or gloat over the white crane’s misfortune.
This white crane usually relied on its sharp beak to bully countless people.
Now, it had finally met its match and suffered a setback.
But...
“You reached Foundation Establishment?”
Shen Luohe’s eyes flickered with a hint of complexity. After a moment, his gaze returned to calm, filled only with sincere well wishes:
“Congratulations. Xijian and I will also catch up as soon as possible and reach Foundation Establishment soon.”
There were countless cultivators in the world. Some were naturally gifted and could enter Foundation Establishment in just a few months. Some were uniquely blessed, receiving an immortal’s empowerment and attaining enlightenment on the spot.
The path he had to walk was his own.
Walking his own path well was enough.
In the end, all paths led to the same destination.
Nan Zhi nodded to him. She ignored the troublemaking white crane and turned to bow to the disheveled Taoist holding the wine jar:
“Nan Zhi, a fourth-class arrest officer under the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery, greets the Monastery Head.”
“No need for such formalities. My Crane Servant has already tested you. There is indeed no heavy evil karma on you, little girl. If there were, I would have been the one to strike just now.”
The disheveled Taoist lay amidst the ruins of the bamboo gazebo, not caring at all about the bamboo debris on his face. He casually wiped the seal of the wine jar, tore it open, and took several large gulps.
“The technique you used just now was lightning magic? It doesn't look like you have a formal lineage... How many Foundation Establishment Pills did you use to break through?”
Nan Zhi hadn't expected Daoist Qinglong to be able to see through that. She answered honestly:
“I have no formal lineage. I learned the lightning magic by chance. I used two Foundation Establishment Pills to reach Foundation Establishment.”
“A woman’s body is yin, so there are naturally deficiencies when practicing yang lightning magic. However, your constitution is unique and your heart holds righteousness, making your lightning magic even more powerful.”
Daoist Qinglong lifted his eyelids and said cheerfully:
“Those idiots with pus for brains can’t judge a person’s heart, but can’t they even recognize this lightning magic? They shouldn't even need the Xiezhi Mirror to see the truth.
“When the Yin Yang Road suddenly changed, I heard there was a second-class demon suppressor with you?”
“On that day, it was like this... and like that... The evil monk Huiyuan was treacherous. He took advantage of the Gates of Hell opening to refine the souls of Yin Yang Road, attempting to open the Witch Coffin and bring calamity to the mortal world.
“My colleague, second-class demon suppressor Xu Zi, and I had originally entered by mistake while investigating a human trafficking case, only to be dragged into such a terrifying disaster.
“If my colleague hadn't... fought to the death to cover me, I would have been buried in Yin Yang Road long ago. How could I have turned a misfortune into a blessing and reached Foundation Establishment?”
Nan Zhi told a half-truth about the events of that day, omitting certain details:
“That evil monk saw that I had ruined his grand plan and pursued me repeatedly for days. He even framed me for betraying the Demon Suppression Division. I couldn't bear to strike my former colleagues, so I could only flee in a sorry state. Because I missed my family and wanted to clear my name, I specifically came to see the Monastery Head, seeking justice and clarity.”
“Initially, I didn't quite believe it.”
Daoist Qinglong wiped his face, a drop of wine glistening on his beard.
“I lost my son years ago, and the two personal disciples I have now both speak highly of you. They said you were willing to run around for the vengeful soul of a wine-selling lady you didn't even know. Naturally, you possess a heroic and righteous heart.
“I don't trust others, but I know my disciples’ judgment of character is never wrong.
“Seeing you use lightning magic today, with my Crane Servant acting as a witness, proves that the evil treasure capable of destroying cities is not on you.
“Tomorrow, I will send a message by flying letter to present your case and state the facts to clear your name. As for that second-class demon suppressor...”
He looked over, his weathered eyes seemingly able to see through Nan Zhi’s heart. “Where is she now?”
“She is a demon. She was injured by that evil object that day, reverted to her original form, and remained in Yin Yang Road.”
Nan Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. A sharp sting came from her palm—it was the half-dead wisteria warning her.
She immediately suppressed the information about that segment of vine.
“Is that so?”
Daoist Qinglong let out a yawn and lazily rolled over.
“That truly is a pity.”
He lay on his back in the bamboo debris, and it was unclear how much he had actually processed. A moment later, he began to snore loudly, having fallen asleep on his own.
His laid-back attitude was truly a bit much.
Nan Zhi: “...”
Shen Luohe, standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief and gave her a look. She immediately understood and nodded.
The two were about to leave, one after the other, but the white crane suddenly snapped out of its daze. Its eyes filled with tears as its long beak clamped onto the hem of Nan Zhi’s skirt, refusing to let go.
“Gaa! Gaa! Gaa gaa gaa gaa!”
【Compensation! Compensation! Compensation!】
Rate on N.U.
