The Dantai clan, one by one, their carriages rolled out, bearing the Dantai family’s treasured Longevity Stele, heading towards the Western Regions.

Twelve carriages, illusory and substantial, thirty-six stone steles indistinguishable between true and false, and within the first eleven carriages, each was guarded by a Dantai clan expert, deploying nearly half of their peak combat power to escort the Longevity Stele.

In the last carriage, Li Qingshan was in charge of guarding, his gaze fixed on the three stone steles before him, unable to discern their authenticity even after a long look.

“What’s the use of this damned stele?”

After a long while, Li Qingshan lifted one of the stone steles, shook it vigorously, and couldn’t fathom what it could possibly do.

The heavy responsibility given to him by the Confucian Scholar was indeed a great pressure!

If the mission failed, he wouldn’t have the face to return to the Imperial Academy.

Those colleagues, especially that scoundrel Li Ziye, wouldn’t they laugh him to death?

“Master, is that old glass reliable?”

Sure enough, not long after Li Qingshan left, within the Dantai clan, Li Ziye, supported by Little Red Riding Hood, emerged from the tent, watching the departing caravan from afar with a skeptical expression.

“Qingshan Instructor is meticulous and strong, the most suitable person for this mission,” the Confucian Scholar stated calmly.

“I don’t see it.”

Li Ziye curled his lip, muttering softly, feeling that the old glass was quite unreliable.

“Don’t worry, Li Qingshan won’t let everyone down.”

Beside him, Chen Qiao’er spoke, then turned to the youth beside her, saying, “Little guy, didn’t you want to learn palm techniques? How about I teach you now?”

“Um… can you directly transfer your skills to me, like the legendary stories that circulate in the martial world, where you pass on a hundred years of your power to me, and I instantly become an unparalleled expert?” Li Ziye said with a hopeful face.

“What do you think? Daydreaming in broad daylight!”

Chen Qiao’er scoffed, “Do I look a hundred years old to you? A hundred years of power, who else but the Confucian Scholar dares claim to have a century’s worth of power? Are you learning or not? If not, I’m going back.”

“I’ll learn!”

Li Ziye responded decisively.

“Kid, don’t you have the Flying Immortal Technique? Why still practice the martial arts of the Confucian School?” the Confucian Scholar asked, puzzled upon hearing their conversation.

He wasn’t worried about the martial arts of the Confucian School being leaked; although the boy wasn’t exactly from the Confucian School, he was close enough. He wouldn’t stop him from learning whatever he wanted, but the Flying Immortal Technique was known as the number one technique in the world, so there was really no need for the boy to learn any other martial arts.

“The Flying Immortal Technique is too hard to practice.”

Li Ziye said gloomily, “Before mastering the Flying Immortal Technique, I need to learn something else for self-protection, otherwise, if someone tries to harm me again, wouldn’t I be doomed?”

“That’s true.”

The Confucian Scholar nodded thoughtfully, agreeing, “You are indeed too weak.”

“…”

Li Ziye suddenly found the old man really annoying!

“How’s your practice of the Hao Ran Chapter’s mental technique that I asked you to learn from Little Wangyu?” Chen Qiao’er asked.

“I’ve memorized it all and have been practicing diligently.”

Li Ziye replied, then looked at Little Red Riding Hood beside him, signaling for a quick corroboration.

“Instructor Chen, rest assured, Brother Li has indeed not been slacking off and has been very diligent,” Bai Wangyu, catching the former’s glance, understood and testified.

Li Ziye quietly gave a thumbs up to Little Red Riding Hood, a sign of approval.

Effective!

In fact, he hadn’t been slacking off and had been practicing earnestly.

The practice time for the Flying Immortal Technique was during the transition of dawn and dusk, while the Hao Ran Chapter had no such restriction, so practicing the two martial arts mental techniques didn’t conflict in terms of time.

“Then that’s good, come with me.”

After hearing the two’s words, Chen Qiao’er nodded and then walked towards the distance.

Bai Wangyu, seeing this, supported the youth beside him and followed.

The three left the Dantai clan, walking to a flat wilderness before stopping.

Chen Qiao’er turned around, looked at the two behind her, and said calmly, “Next, I’ll teach you both the Hao Ran Chapter’s palm techniques. Wangyu, you watch too, perhaps you’ll gain something new.”

“Yes!”

Bai Wangyu bowed respectfully.

“As I’ve said before, the Hao Ran Chapter’s palm techniques, derived from the ancient Daoist Nine Character Mantra by the Confucian Scholar, consist of nine moves, each with different variations and effects. When mastered, they are no less powerful than any martial art in the world.”

As she spoke, Chen Qiao’er’s genuine qi enveloped her, and the four Divine Hidden Techniques slowly awakened.

“In the Confucian School, I’ve already taught you the first move of the Ask Heaven Nine Forms, Overturning Seas and Abyssal Depths. Next, I’ll teach you the remaining eight moves. Little guy, watch carefully.”

After finishing, Chen Qiao’er’s expression turned serious, and the genuine qi within her four Divine Hidden Techniques roared continuously.

“Soldier’s Calamity at the Pass.”

With a light shout, Hao Ran genuine qi surged tumultuously, and with a flip of Chen Qiao’er’s palm, amidst the roaring waves, one palm transformed into myriad forms—sword qi, blade auras, spear lights, countless variations all within a single palm.

With a thunderous sound, the palm force struck out, and the ground ahead as if struck by a great calamity, vast ravines dozens of feet long appeared, crisscrossing endlessly.

Not far away, Li Ziye, witnessing this palm, was so shocked his mouth hung open.

“This move is the most versatile in the Ask Heaven Nine Forms, one becomes myriad, endless.”

Chen Qiao’er explained, her genuine qi rising again, saying, “However, I think the third move will be more useful to you.”

As she spoke, the true essence within Chen Qiao’er’s Divine Hidden Techniques surged rapidly, the four Divine Hidden Techniques complementing and reinforcing each other, concentrating all power in an instant, and then…

A thunderous explosion!

“Supreme Combat Method!”

A world-shocking move, before it was even unleashed, Li Ziye and Bai Wangyu, five yards away, already felt the terrifying power and couldn’t help but change their expressions.

Chen Qiao’er’s genuine qi surged wildly, and at that moment, her power seemed to climb several times over, faintly touching the barrier of the Fifth Realm.

However, it was just a moment later that Chen Qiao’er reined in her aura, not truly utilizing this power that surpassed her limits.

“The Supreme Combat Method, the only move in the Ask Heaven Nine Forms that allows for a brief concentration of power, to burst forth with several times the combat strength in a short time. Of course, this move has side effects, like exhaustion, not being able to use genuine qi for several days are just minor issues. Other side effects, Little Wangyu is very aware, you can ask him. So, this move, unless absolutely necessary, it’s best not to use it.”

Chen Qiao’er cautioned, her genuine qi circulation changing again, ready to demonstrate the fourth move of the Ask Heaven Nine Forms.

However.

Just then, from afar, the sound of bells and the clinking of horse hooves, a series of powerful and holy auras approached rapidly.

Chen Qiao’er sensed it, immediately concealing her aura, her gaze looking into the distance, her expression slightly solemn.

They’ve finally come.

The strong ones from the Divine Oracle Temple!

“Let’s stop here for today.”

After regaining her composure, Chen Qiao’er said calmly, “We have guests.”

Before her words fell, to the south, at the end of the setting sun’s afterglow, bright and holy divine light shone like the proud sun, illuminating the dim evening as if it were broad daylight.

“Quite the grand entrance.”

Li Ziye watched the familiar yet detestable faces approaching from afar, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

Among the Divine Temple’s procession, the Red Cardinal Liu Rongnü, the Divine Child Yan Xiaoyu, the Divine Temple’s Silver Armored Iron Cavalry Commander Mu Shou Zhi, and others were all present, followed by many strong ones from the Divine Temple, their aura overwhelming.

“Amitabha!”

Not long after the Divine Temple’s group appeared, from afar, the Buddhist light suddenly intensified, and a loud Buddhist chant echoed across the wilderness.

On the other side of the grassland, a series of powerful auras appeared, matching the Divine Temple’s strong ones, with a young Buddhist practitioner at the forefront, dressed in blue Buddhist robes, holding the Buddhist Sect’s sacred purple gold bowl, his Buddha-like demeanor solemn, not given to frivolity.

“Fa Hai!”

Li Ziye recognized the newcomer, his expression immediately darkened.

Good, everyone has arrived!