The Taiyue Sect master looked at the two corpses sprawled on the ground, their bodies still warm, and a bleak smile appeared on his face. He did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Lords... I shall take my leave first. There are many matters to handle regarding the abdication. I must return and make preparations," said the Nine Generation King with utmost respect.

Fang Chen nodded. "Go."

The Nine Generation King immediately turned and left with Madam Lan.

The Nascent Soul Realm cultivators who had followed earlier did not hesitate and quickly withdrew from the teahouse as well.

After a moment's hesitation, the Taiyue Sect master gathered his courage and collected the bodies of the beautiful woman and Li Zhi. Seeing that Fang Chen said nothing, he bowed respectfully and hurried out.

As for Daoist Longshe, he had been kneeling on the ground since the Nine Generation King had arrived.

Fang Chen glanced at him. "I ate your Dao companion. My apologies."

Daoist Longshe turned pale with fright. Shuffling forward on his knees, he forced a flattering smile. "I would not dare! I would not dare! That exotic serpent was not my Dao companion at all! You've completely misunderstood me, Lord Fang! If you still wish to eat, I can fry, stir-fry, roast, or braise the remaining meat in various styles for your enjoyment!"

"Get lost."

"Y-Yes!"

Daoist Longshe immediately rolled out of the teahouse, literally rolling on the ground. Only after exiting did he realize he was drenched in cold sweat. Feeling the sunlight fall upon him, he silently rejoiced at being alive.

***

The cultivators of Taiyue City were utterly confused. First, the Nine Generation King departed abruptly with his Immortal Soldiers. Then the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators scattered in all directions. Next, the Taiyue Sect master emerged carrying two corpses. And after that, Daoist Longshe rolled out of the teahouse.

What exactly had happened inside?

Though the two corpses' faces were not clearly visible, their garments showed they were female, which meant they were not the two powerful outsiders. Then why were women the ones who had died?

***

In the teahouse, the souls of Li Zhi and her mother stood blankly in place. Not only could they see Abbess Qing He now, but they also realized that the teahouse was far more crowded than it had appeared before. Even when they could not see them earlier, the room had already been filled with figures wearing identical armors. The killing intent emanating from them surpassed even the Immortal Soldiers brought by the Nine Generation King.

Fang Chen smiled at Xia Ji and said, "Old Xia, take these two back first."

Xia Ji nodded with a grin. He signaled with his eyes, and several figures stepped forward, seized Li Zhi and her mother, and escorted them out.

Upon leaving the teahouse, the two women were even more horrified. Every street and intersection in Taiyue City was guarded by Yin Soldiers!

Li Zhi clutched at her mother's shoulders in terror. "Mother... I'm scared..."

The beautiful woman did not know how to comfort her.

In the blink of an eye, shackles were placed upon them, and they were escorted directly into the Yellow Springs Road.

***

Meanwhile, a group of young cultivators gathered the courage to enter the teahouse. A young female cultivator led them. After glancing around and seeing the scene on the second floor, she braced herself and walked up. Her companions tried to stop her, but it was too late now. They gritted their teeth and followed. The closer they approached, the more alarmed they became.

At the table sat one person. And upon it lay a corpse. It was Abbess Qing He. Her body was lifeless. The other outsider had vanished at some unknown time.

But as long as the man before them still lived, then the two corpses earlier must very likely have been Li Zhi and her mother.

The young female cultivator stopped before Fang Chen, then glanced at Qing He's body. She looked like she wanted to speak but was hesitant.

Fang Chen glanced at her and smiled. "You knew her?"

The young woman lowered her head. "Senior Qing He was a very good person... I never expected..."

Qing He's soul smiled faintly and said to Fang Chen, "Young Lord Fang, this little girl is also kind. I met her a few times before. Let her handle my funeral affairs. Whatever belongings I have can go to her."

"Are you willing to take care of Abbess Qing He's funeral? Her belongings may be given to you." Fang Chen asked.

The young woman froze briefly, then hurriedly replied, "I'm willing to help arrange Senior Qing He's funeral... but her belongings—"

Suddenly, Qing He's expression shifted, and she waved her sleeve. An inexplicable force swept across Taiyue City, erasing all traces left behind by outsiders. She quickly grabbed Fang Chen's arm, and the two vanished from the spot.

The young woman stared at the empty air, stunned.

***

At that very moment, in the distant starry void, a colossal eye, vast as a star, suddenly appeared. Its gaze fell upon Tuxiong Star, watching silently for a time. A flicker of confusion passed through it, then it slowly faded away.

***

In the Floating Pagoda Realm. Fang Chen and Qing He stood suspended in the void.

"Qing He, what just happened?" Fang Chen asked, confused.

"Young Lord Fang, I felt a wave of malice just now. I was afraid something would happen," revealed Qing He. "So I erased our traces in Taiyue City and came here."

She looked around, seeming relieved. "It should be safe here."

"A wave of malice..."

Fang Chen fell into thought. If Qing He had advanced to the ninth transformation, it was indeed possible her aura had drawn the attention of certain powerful beings. But how coincidental was it that that existence happened to be passing through the Ancient Desolate Realm and near Tuxiong Star at that exact moment?

"Qing He, if that malicious presence had appeared, do you think you could have defeated it?"

Qing He considered seriously for a while before shaking her head. "I probably couldn't. When I sensed that malice, I felt a little afraid."

Fang Chen's expression grew solemn. "To frighten even a ninth-transformation immortal... that leaves only an expert at the Half Step Heavenly Dao."

The only Half Step Heavenly Dao he currently knew of was the peerless Motian Dizang

Fang Chen pondered silently. Could it be that because Qing He herself is special and is closely aligned with the Ghost Immortal Path, her advancement to the ninth transformation attracted Motian Dizang, who also attained Dao through the Ghost Immortal Path?

Curiosity shone in Qing He's eyes as she looked around. "Young Lord Fang, this is the legendary Floating Pagoda Realm, isn't it?"

"When I used to travel to the Underworld, I heard about the Floating Pagoda Realm there. It seemed only those whose cultivation reached a certain level could come here."

"Not exactly. Cross a bridge, and you'll arrive," Fang Chen explained. "But if you travel from the Underworld, immortals cannot reach the Lesser Underworld. They will only arrive at the Floating Pagoda Realm."

After a pause, he added, "I'll take you somewhere to settle down. Your cultivation has skyrocketed, but your experience hasn't caught up. Don't wander around carelessly. I'm afraid you'll get lost again. This place isn't like Tuxiong Star. If you lose your way here, I may not be able to find you next time."

Qing He smiled sheepishly.

Fang Chen brought her to Jiangguang City. He then introduced her to Empress Ci and the others.

A few days later, Fang Chen prepared to leave to retrieve the Golden Soul Flower. However, before he did, he made a suggestion to Qing He. Smiling, he said, "Qing He, how about you stay stationed here and guard this place? With a ninth transformation expert here, I'll feel much more at ease."

Qing He nodded immediately. "Sure. I'll stay here when I have nothing to do. And if I go out, I'll bring Empress Ci with me. She's familiar with this place. With her around, I won't get lost."

Fang Chen let out a quiet breath of relief.

Somehow, inexplicably, he had gained a powerful ally at the ninth transformation. Just thinking about it was rather thrilling.