Jin Ren stood speechless, observing the unexpected scene unfold before him. Elder Dao's sudden appearance had disrupted their entire plan. Though surprised, Jin Ren couldn't deny he had half-expected Dao Qiongcang to make a move—he was always one step ahead, predicting possible outcomes with unnerving precision.
It was Dao Qiongcang's audacity that caught Jin Ren off guard. The man wasted no time, always striking at the heart of the enemy's path, leaving little room for maneuver. Now, faced with this flamboyant elder's cryptic words, Jin Ren couldn't help but ask, "What are you after?"
Calmly, Dao Qiongcang replied, "I'm after you."
Jin Ren controlled the Divine Puppet, attempting to keep his composure despite the startling admission. "Then your need is very small," he replied, suggesting that capturing Aunt Xiang for Xu Xiaoshou hardly seemed worthwhile.
But Dao Qiongcang shook his head. "No. You're not small. The world may look down on you, but I do not."
Jin Ren couldn't help but ponder the double-edged nature of those words. Should he feel honored? He chose not to respond, instead focusing on his next move. Without warning, he unleashed spirit threads from his palms, trapping Zhu Yike within his puppet's body. At the same time, the Four Pillars of Destiny Token shot from Zhu's ring, filling the air with a resonant hum.
Spirit threads suddenly bloomed beneath the feet of both the Divine Puppet and Aunt Xiang. With a quick flash, they disappeared, reappearing at the entrance of Cao's Blacksmith Shop.
Dao Qiongcang's face flickered with amusement. "Greater Teleportation Technique?" he muttered. "When did Xu Xiaoshou learn that?"
Before Jin Ren could process Dao's remark, a bone-chilling howl ripped through the skies. Nine massive ghostly doors materialized, and from them poured dismembered spirits—heads, torsos, and limbs. They flew together, assembling into a terrifying figure over ten feet tall, with a ghastly green face and razor-sharp fangs.
The ghost's Holy Power exploded, making the entire ghost tide tremble in fear. It knelt before the apparition—a demi-saint ghost spirit known as Hell's Lord White Sin.
Xi stood atop the ghost spirit's head, descending like lightning toward Changde Town. His eyes gleamed with fury as he took in the scene—a confrontation between Dao Qiongcang and the Divine Puppet. Despite his anger, Xi hesitated, sensing the threat posed by Dao.
"Hallmaster Dao!" Xi called out, bowing slightly as he approached. Though high in status, he couldn't help but feel wary of the powerful elder before him. The situation was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
Dao Qiongcang's expression remained indifferent as he glanced at the demi-saint ghost spirit burning with white flames. "Calm down," he said coolly, his attention already shifting.
Xi, suppressing his anger, asked, "Where's Xu Xiaoshou?"
Dao pointed lazily in the opposite direction. "Over there."
Seeing the opportunity to act, Xi sought Dao's approval. "Should we… take action?"
"Calm down," Dao repeated, his confidence radiating as he pulled out his divine Sinan. He smiled knowingly. "Cao Yihan won't help him."
Aunt Xiang, standing nearby, glanced back at the street, where dense white flames blocked their retreat. Why was Dao so willing to let her and Xu Xiaoshou approach Cao's Blacksmith Shop? Was he truly so confident, or was there something deeper at play?
Her thoughts drifted back to Zhu Yike, who had fainted the moment he tried to enter the blacksmith shop. Could it really be that Cao Yihan wouldn't even bother meeting her and Xu Xiaoshou?
As if to test her theory, Aunt Xiang watched as the Divine Puppet knocked on the wooden door of the blacksmith shop.
"Junior Xu Xiaoshou greets Senior Cao!" the puppet called out, its voice full of respect.
Aunt Xiang's heart skipped a beat. After Zhu Yike's earlier failure, Xu Xiaoshou still dared to try?
From within the blacksmith shop, a voice full of irritation responded, "Do I have to repeat myself? Get lost!"
If it had been anyone else, they might have turned away, defeated. But Jin Ren wasn't like the others. He sensed something hidden in Cao Yihan's words—an undertone of recognition. The fact that he hadn't been immediately attacked like Zhu Yike was telling.
Jin Ren knew then that Cao Yihan recognized him, or at least the name of Saint Servant Xu Xiaoshou. The blacksmith had given him just enough acknowledgment to keep the door slightly ajar.
Jin Ren mused that even someone living in isolation in the mortal Land Realm couldn't completely sever ties with the outside world. Figures like Cao Yihan, despite their attempts to remain hidden, were still watched by powers like the Holy Divine Palace. After all, someone as dangerous as Kui Leihan would never truly escape their attention.
Jin Ren felt a wave of frustration building as he stood before Cao's Blacksmith Shop, locked in an inescapable cycle. The situation had reached a point where neither surrender nor escape seemed possible. Kui Leihan, who remained isolated inside the shop, was likely bound by forces far greater than anyone could imagine. The idea that a figure like Kui Leihan would willingly choose seclusion was absurd. No, this man was not meant for obscurity—he was watching and waiting, biding his time to reenter the world of Spiritual Cultivation.
Jin Ren quickly pieced together the puzzle: Dao Qiongcang had allowed him to proceed unchallenged. That could only mean one thing—Dao Qiongcang was confident that Kui Leihan would never help him. It was a well-calculated move to ensure Jin Ren would appear the fool, stuck in a confrontation with a door that could alter the fate of the cultivation world.
With the wooden door of the blacksmith shop looming ahead, the Divine Puppet hesitated as if it faced an impenetrable barrier. It wasn't just wood; it was a shield against all the complexities of the world outside.
There was no way out!
Jin Ren knew the Divine Puppet, which he controlled through a mere strand of spiritual sense, could either break through or crumble in failure. But if he gave up now, it would symbolize something far worse: submission. That was a fate he could not accept.
With resolve hardening like the finest steel, Jin Ren decided to gamble everything on one last attempt. Failure only meant the loss of spiritual senses, a minor sacrifice in the grand scheme of things. Besides, he had already transformed his mindset back in the Qilin World, where Xu Xiaoshou chose to confront the Holy Emperor Bei Huai.
Today, Jin Ren was no longer willing to be passive.
"Du!"
The Divine Puppet knocked on the door of Cao's Blacksmith Shop once again. This time, it held the Four Pillars of Destiny Token, a powerful relic bestowed by Bazhun'an. Jin Ren's voice reverberated not only through the blacksmith shop but across the entire street, ensuring everyone could hear.
"I've heard that Senior Cao is a heaven-sent genius in Spiritual Cultivation!"
Jin Ren started laying it on thick, weaving an elaborate tale of flattery.
"In the War of the Ten High Nobles, he received Enlightenment within mere breaths, gaining insight into the Penetrating Divine Senses!"
"Senior Cao then graciously imparted this technique to Bazhun'an, which allowed him to comprehend sword cognition and create the legendary Witness Sword Technique, earning him the title of the 'Eighth Sword Deity.'"
Across the street, Dao Qiongcang's expression shifted. He had not anticipated Xu Xiaoshou's Plan No. 9: flattery so exaggerated that it bordered on myth.
But Jin Ren wasn't done yet!
"… And who is Eighth Brother, really? Just a common swordsman, yet his Penetrating Divine Senses surpassed the power of even the ancestral source! A true miracle of the heavens!"
As the compliments poured in, Dao Qiongcang couldn't help but smile slightly.
Meanwhile, Aunt Xiang stood there, dumbstruck. Was Jin Ren cultivating a new technique—perhaps the legendary Lip Spear, Tongue Sword?
And to add fuel to the fire, Jin Ren even dragged Dao Qiongcang into his performance.
"However, as I made my way here to repay this great kindness, Elder Dao the Flamboyant shamelessly blocked my path. His ghosts are obstructing the way! His behavior is, frankly, obnoxious!"
Aunt Xiang glanced nervously behind her. Standing there, Xi's face twitched in disbelief. If it had been anyone else spouting such outrageous claims, they would've been reduced to dust by now. But here was Jin Ren, not only getting away with it but pushing boundaries.
Xi resisted the urge to attack. Hallmaster Dao, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself. His broad smile hinted that he might have actually appreciated the over-the-top flattery, or maybe he was amused by the absurdity of it all.
Yet, within Cao's Blacksmith Shop, there was still silence. Jin Ren hoped that by pulling out the Four Pillars of Destiny Token, Kui Leihan would at least respond. However, nothing came.
Aunt Xiang's patience snapped.
"Cao Yihan! Are you deaf, or have you suddenly gone mute? Can't you hear this nonsense?" she shouted, her frustration echoing down the street.
Jin Ren silently gave her a thumbs-up in his heart. Someone had to add the necessary spice to the situation.
Then, finally, from within the blacksmith shop, a voice rumbled like distant thunder. Kui Leihan spoke, his words calm and composed, yet carrying the weight of the heavens.
"How do you plan to repay the kindness?"
Jin Ren's internal monologue paused. Yo! He still wants repayment? Back then, didn't Bazhun'an figure out Penetrating Divine Senses on his own, after merely discussing theories with Senior Cao?
Jin Ren quickly composed himself, adopting a more serious tone.
"Old Eighth said that if Senior Cao agrees to meet with me today, he is willing to offer the secondary plane door of Abyss Island as a token of gratitude. From that moment on, Senior Cao would become the master of Abyss Island."
Not just that! Jin Ren continued with more audacity.
"He is also willing to grant you one favor… But there's one condition—he won't deal with the Moon Clan right now."
Aunt Xiang's eyes nearly popped out of her head. She turned to the Divine Puppet with a look of utter disbelief, unable to fathom the sheer brazenness of the claim.
Jin Ren stood firm, the absurdity of his words hanging in the air, as if daring the entire world to challenge him.
The situation had escalated far beyond what Jin Ren had anticipated. Standing before Cao's Blacksmith Shop, he pondered what could possibly be so important that Kui Leihan, a man of immense power, remained hidden within these simple walls for so long. Not even the offer of ruling Abyss Island could entice him to leave.
The secondary plane door, a powerful and rare treasure, was usually enough to lure any cultivator into action. Yet Kui Leihan wasn't swayed. His ambitions, or perhaps his constraints, were clearly far greater than anyone could comprehend. Jin Ren knew this dilemma wasn't just about winning over a reclusive hero—it was a battle with something far deeper.
Across the street, Xi could hardly contain his shock. Even Hallmaster Dao had paused, his expression darkening at the mention of the secondary plane door. This treasure had the power to shift the balance of the cultivation world, and it was now dangling like bait before Kui Leihan. Xi instinctively turned toward Dao Qiongcang for guidance, but to his confusion, the Hallmaster only waved his hand dismissively.
"What is he waiting for?" Xi thought, anxiety gnawing at him. Xu Xiaoshou was cornered, Kui Leihan was wavering, and now was the perfect moment to strike. Why wasn't Hallmaster Dao seizing the opportunity to finish them all?
Inside the blacksmith shop, Kui Leihan finally broke his silence, his voice carrying a hint of resignation.
"Out of respect for your reverence and the Four Pillars of Destiny Token, I won't harm you," he said, his words heavy with finality. "But I won't intervene in your current predicament either."
Jin Ren felt a pang of frustration. Even offering the secondary plane door hadn't swayed him! What could possibly be keeping Kui Leihan in this forsaken blacksmith shop? It was as though the man had no interest in power or influence—or was there something else keeping him trapped here?
The Divine Puppet let out a deep sigh, its tone shifting from confidence to melancholy. Turning its gaze toward Aunt Xiang, it spoke softly. "It seems I was wrong about someone."
Aunt Xiang blinked in confusion. Wrong about whom? She looked between the puppet and the blacksmith shop, trying to decipher its cryptic words.
"Oh? Wrong about whom?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Xu originally thought Kui Leihan was a hero," the puppet replied with a shrug, its tone laced with regret.
Aunt Xiang's interest piqued. "He thought so?"
"Yes," Jin Ren replied, controlling the puppet's movements with a helpless gesture. "Though I despise Bazhun'an for his schemes and underhanded methods, there's one thing I've come to respect about him…"
A clattering noise echoed from within the blacksmith shop, something knocked over in haste. For the briefest moment, there was a stir within the shop, but then silence returned.
Jin Ren, undeterred, pressed on. "Bazhun'an once said to me: Dao Qiongcang, in my eyes, is nothing but a pile of dog shit!"
"Impudent!"
Xi, standing atop the massive form of Hell's Lord White Sin, couldn't contain his outrage any longer. His shout cut through the air as karmic fire flared around him. Hallmaster Dao remained still, his face unreadable, but Xi wasn't about to let this insult slide.
In an instant, Hell's Lord White Sin sprang into action, leaping from its position and igniting its karmic fire. Its massive form cast a fiery shadow over the street as it aimed to crush Jin Ren and Aunt Xiang beneath its blazing feet.
Aunt Xiang's heart froze. Without her weapon, bound by the prohibition order, she was powerless to defend herself. The Holy Power of White Sin Karmic Fire was descending upon them like a judgment from the heavens. If it struck, she would die without question.
Jin Ren, however, remained calm, almost eerily so.
Boom!
A deafening thunderclap echoed through the town as purple lightning streaked across the sky, splitting the air with raw power. The window of Cao's Blacksmith Shop shattered as the lightning crashed down, directly into Hell's Lord White Sin.
"Take your fight elsewhere!" Kui Leihan's voice boomed. "Don't dirty my shop!"
In a blinding flash, the demi-saint-level Hell's Lord was sent flying, its karmic fire extinguished in an instant. It slammed into the ground with such force that the entire street trembled, its body shattered and ghostly form ruptured.
For a moment, there was silence, and then a second explosion rocked the air. The purple lightning struck again, this time infiltrating Hell's Lord White Sin and blasting its ghostly form apart. The creature's mighty frame was hurled far from the town, leaving only a shattered remnant.
Xi, who had been atop White Sin, was thrown into violent convulsions, frothing at the mouth as he collapsed to the ground.
Jin Ren stood frozen in awe. Was this the power of the God Punishment Tribulation?
He had seen Kui Leihan's power before, but even now, he couldn't fully comprehend it. This single strike of purple lightning had obliterated a demi-saint-level being and its powerful karmic fire in mere moments.
If Kui Leihan had been willing to confront Dao Qiongcang, the so-called Elder Dao the Flamboyant wouldn't stand a chance.
But the true question remained—what was keeping Kui Leihan, such a terrifyingly powerful being, confined to this simple blacksmith shop?
It was as if the world beyond the door meant nothing to him, despite the chaos that raged around it.