As soon as the young Taoist finished his words, the Dharma Bead in his hand spun once, spewing out a hazy gray light, misty like clouds, rising unceasingly.

The two of them had not yet made any moves, but the gray mist was already drifting around, enveloping above and below, cutting off the Great Void, preventing others from spying with Divine Skills.

"Oh?"

Jiang Boqing’s gaze lingered on the gray light around him for an instant, and he spoke softly:

"I know nothing of ’Answers to the Beggar Under the Mulberry’... in Green Pond Sect, I’m only acquainted with Buzi... As for Xiao Chuting, he’s just a cunning junior, whom I’ve never met—so how should I know?!"

"You at Changhuai Shan... scheming for the Immortal Book, seeing me now fallen, think I am easy to bully...?"

Jiang Boqing glared, blood-red eyes twisted and fierce, his voice cold:

"Even a rotten ship has three pounds of iron left! When I, Jiang Boqing, roamed wild, you were nothing but a petty Taoist in Wu Capital Office. Are you not afraid I’ll bite back? At the very least, I’d cripple your path!"

"Senior, you jest."

Qing Jifang smiled lightly; with this Magic Artifact to shield him, he feared not being noticed by the Zifu Monks of Yue Country. At once, he said leisurely:

"Senior claims not to know Xiao Chuting, but as for Lixia Tu County, that was orchestrated by you and Green Pond Sect together. If you say you have nothing to do with Xiao Chuting, I cannot believe it!"

At these words, Jiang Boqing’s face changed dramatically. Beside him, Jiang Yan stared, shocked, unable to believe it, lifting his head. Jiang Boqing bore Jiang Yan’s piercing gaze, steadied himself and replied:

"That was a plot of Xiao Chuting and Green Pond Sect. I merely rode the tide..."

Qing Jifang, who had achieved Zifu, was sharply observant. At once, he noted Jiang Boqing’s emotional shift, realization dawning. He looked to Jiang Yan behind, and spoke softly:

"Young man, this person used Divine Skills to lure your father, brought disaster to kill your mother, forged Talismans from you—yet you still call him Master? Outrageous!"

Seeing him playing at pity, Jiang Boqing instead calmed, intoning deeply:

"Taoist Fellow, what do you mean!"

When Jiang Yan kept his silence, Qing Jifang turned his gaze back to Jiang Boqing, softly continuing:

"I won’t bicker with you, Senior. ’Answers to the Mulberry Boy’s Questions’ is the Immortal Book; south of the river, aside from Duanmu Kui, you know it best. Now Witch Mountain has fallen, all eyes are upon you."

"Never mind just my Wu Country—even among the three Perfected Lords of Yue Country, two have their eyes on you. Do you really think you can escape?"

Qing Jifang’s voice echoed in the air. Jiang Boqing’s face, streaked with blood, was silent. Qing Jifang’s words shattered his self-deceiving dream, contorting his expression more and more.

The Zifu Cultivator now turned his gaze upon Jiang Yan, saying with gravity:

"The father lives as yang, the Three-Nine True Talisman; the mother dies as yin, a Witchcraft Blood Talisman—truly a superb body. If you, Senior, are willing to come with me to Wu Country, I can spare his life, and leave you a chance."

"We only wish to ask after the situation of Yue’s people, seeking the fragments in your memory regarding ’Answers to the Beggar Under the Mulberry.’ Once done, you may reincarnate."

Qing Jifang smiled gently, speaking warmly:

"By then, Wu Country gains a clue, you lose your memories and value, no longer hounded by the Perfected Lords, and with such a fine body, you may cultivate anew, unrestrained in the world—would that not be wonderful?"

Jiang Boqing stared coldly at him, answering:

"I have already attained a thread of Metal Nature—you cannot sway me with Divine Skills."

Qing Jifang’s expression remained unchanged, and he smiled:

"It’s only the junior making a fool of myself before an expert. Still, my offer is earnest—it stands."

"Very well."

Jiang Boqing hesitated a moment, but finally answered, his voice low:

"First, send my good vessel away."

Qing Jifang immediately brightened, replying:

"Senior, what spirit—it is promised, and I, Jifang, will not break my word!"

With that, he hooked out a ray of colored light, which shot gently toward Jiang Yan. Only with Jiang Boqing’s aid could Jiang Yan stand against Foundation Establishment; how could he resist the power of Zifu? Instantly, he was taken up.

"Wait. Let me handle it myself!"

Jiang Boqing cut in sharply. Qing Jifang immediately understood, feeling further assured of Jiang Boqing’s sincerity, and nodded:

"Indeed, indeed; the junior will step back."

At that, the gray mist parted a slit, letting Jiang Boqing send Jiang Yan away. A Zifu Cultivator’s spirit could roam the Great Void—maybe not thousands, but hundreds of miles in a flash. With Metal Nature in hand, Jiang Boqing could send Jiang Yan thousands of miles away, erasing his tracks.

Jiang Boqing caught up that colored light, activated his Metal Nature, and unceremoniously snatched the control from Qing Jifang, making the Zifu Taoist’s eyelid twitch.

Jiang Yan could not speak, but stared at him silently. Jiang Boqing stretched out a hand, tore open a black beam, and sent Jiang Yan away. Only then did he turn and beam at Qing Jifang.

"Senior?"

Qing Jifang watched warily. Jiang Boqing looked at him and spoke softly:

"Changhuai Shan holds the Witchcraft Toaist Lineage. If it gained ’Answers to the Beggar Under the Mulberry,’ its Perfected Lord would surely ascend one more step."

"And so what?"

Qing Jifang faintly sensed something amiss, the Dharma Bead floating in his hand up and down. Then Jiang Boqing smiled and said:

"Guess—would Lu Shui rather see the Immortal Book lost forever in Yue, or see its clues fall under your country’s control, and be at your mercy step by step?"

"No! You madman, what are you doing?!"

Watching Jiang Boqing’s body suddenly shatter, flesh and blood filling the air, Qing Jifang was shocked, instantly recalling the Dharma Bead, and prepared to escape into the Great Void, fleeing far away.

"Clang—"

Yet from within that shattered body emerged a streak of golden light, like an eye hurtling toward the Zifu Cultivator. In an instant, light flooded forth, thousands of frogs croaked at the mountain’s foot, and the river waters surged.