Seeing Zhang Xian safe and sound, Liu Qingxuan was so moved that tears fell, while a faint, almost imperceptible curve lifted the corner of Li Fuxi’s mouth.

Lu Qing was furious. “You’re still not dead?”

Zhang Xian grinned. “Sect Leader Lu, I helped you sever your worldly ties just now. You really should thank me.”

As he spoke, he flipped his palm to retrieve the core of the shattered puppet. He continued, “The Muling Sect should only have its reserve positions left now. I may have accidentally harmed some innocent disciples; I hope you can find it in your hearts to be magnanimous.”

“Your puppet techniques have truly broadened this humble monk’s horizons.” Jian Chen raised an eyebrow. He had never expected this seemingly ordinary disciple to possess such bizarre methods and decisive killing intent, wiping out the Muling Sect’s foundation with a single blast.

“You seek death!” The Golden Core elder and the others were enraged to the point of madness. Seeing their sect’s legacy destroyed in an instant, they charged directly at Zhang Xian.

Zhang Xian pinched several spirit talismans between his fingertips. With a flick of his wrist, heavenly thunder descended.

“Boom!”

The Golden Core elder hastily summoned his protective spiritual light. However, three magic swords hidden behind Zhang Xian had already flown to his side, exploding in rapid succession.

“Ah!”

Amidst the screams, the Golden Core elder was severely injured and forced back. Seizing the opportunity, Li Fuxi separated one of her swords. In a flash of golden light, it pierced the elder’s dantian, shattering his Golden Core. The golden light didn’t slow down, reaping the lives of the remaining Foundation Establishment elders in a single sweep.

“Sect Leader Lu, now your Muling Sect is down to just you!” Zhang Xian stood beside Liu Qingxuan and spoke calmly.

Lu Qing stared at him fixedly. In this dire moment, he became eerily calm. His fingers formed seals, and countless Green Wood Thorns materialized around him. “The Swastika Grand Array is not yet broken; the final victor is still unknown.”

On the other side, Jian Chen’s earth-yellow monk robes surged like waves, his aura climbing to the seventh level of the Golden Core. Zhang Xian glanced at Li Fuxi. Her eyes were clear and focused, showing no sign of disorder.

A few strands of her black hair stirred in the sword energy, brushing against her porcelain-white cheek, but she didn’t even flutter an eyelash. It was as if the world had frozen, leaving only the flow of her sword intent.

However, Zhang Xian knew his master had only recovered to the third stage. Forcing a confrontation with a level-six enemy meant she was using a secret technique with a devastatingly high cost.

The battle resumed. Zhang Xian and Liu Qingxuan joined forces against Lu Qing. Unfortunately, though both Liu Qingxuan and Lu Qing were at the sixth tier, Liu Qingxuan had spent her life on Green Wood Peak. She had the cultivation, but she lacked combat experience.

Zhang Xian held spirit talismans and top-grade artifacts, but against a cultivator with one foot in the late Golden Core stage, the gap was too wide. Several self-destructed artifacts failed to inflict real damage on Lu Qing.

Even worse, Lu Qing and Jian Chen grew steadier as they fought, their spiritual energy appearing endless. Zhang Xian and Liu Qingxuan were in constant peril, barely holding on with their remaining defensive artifacts.

Meanwhile, in the sky above, the Buddha light of the swastika grew increasingly radiant. Unnoticed at first, faint traces of pink began to permeate the air.

Something’s wrong! Zhang Xian’s heart sank.

Lu Qing unleashed a barrage of green thorns, forcing them back. Liu Qingxuan grunted softly, her body failing to react. Zhang Xian quickly embraced her and ignited a wind talisman, moving them several zhang away just in time to avoid the strike.

“Pfft!”

Liu Qingxuan suddenly spat out a mouthful of pink mist. Her legs went weak as she collapsed into Zhang Xian’s arms. “So hot…”

Her gaze was unfocused. One hand unconsciously tugged at her clothes while the other reached toward Zhang Xian.

Lu Qing gave a cold smile. His Green Wood Sword Qi transformed into venomous pythons. Holding Liu Qingxuan close, Zhang Xian retreated hastily. Several crisp ding sounds rang out—Li Fuxi had repelled the attack with one of her swords. She appeared beside them, her face flushed and her Taoist robe soaked with sweat.

Her twin swords remained steady, though her voice trembled. “Don’t lose focus!” Several faint blue lights shimmered around her, enveloping the three of them.

“Too late! The Joy Formation is complete; where the Buddha’s light shines becomes a sea of Desire.” Jian Chen laughed heartily. “Fellow Daoist Fuxi, become this poor monk’s cauldron. Ascend to bliss with me.”

Only then did Zhang Xian realize the Swastika Grand Array not only blocked their exit but also acted as a potent aphrodisiac. Both women had been poisoned.

“Holy Monk, release my master,” Zhang Xian suddenly interjected. “How about I become your cauldron instead?”

Everyone froze.

“You?” Jian Chen’s eyelids twitched wildly.

“I can be both giver or receiver,” Zhang Xian said. “Or perhaps you could be my cauldron too.”

These words shocked Jian Chen so much he involuntarily took a step back.

“Don’t waste words with him!” Lu Qing shouted, noticing Zhang Xian’s hands making small movements.

Suddenly, a shuttle artifact appeared in Liu Qingxuan’s delirious hand. Her figure vanished instantly.

“A teleportation artifact?!” Jian Chen and Lu Qing were stunned. Such items were astronomically valuable.

Having sent Liu Qingxuan to safety, Zhang Xian’s aura plummeted; he had expended his vital essence to activate the device. He kept moving, however, layering several earth spirit shields around himself and Li Fuxi.

“Careful!” Jian Chen’s pupils contracted.

“Boom!”

A massive spiritual light erupted above their heads, engulfing everyone.

“Ah!”

Lu Qing’s scream was drowned by the roar. When the dust settled, half of Lu Qing’s body was charred black. Jian Chen wasn’t much better; his robes were tattered and his aura severely weakened.

As Zhang Xian’s shields shattered, Li Fuxi’s magic swords—one gold, one blue—shot out toward Lu Qing.

The severely wounded Lu Qing roared, summoning his sword to block the golden blade, but the blue sword followed instantly, piercing his chest. With a flash of sword light, his scream ceased. Li Fuxi had severed his head.

Zhang Xian, his aura nearly gone, threw out two final thunder talismans. One was blocked by Jian Chen, but the other blasted Lu Qing’s remains into dust.

Body and spirit annihilated.

“Now only you remain,” Zhang Xian said calmly, supporting an exhausted Li Fuxi.

Li Fuxi collapsed against Zhang Xian, her eyes dazed with intoxication. Yet, even in her state, her swords continued to circle them protectively. She was fighting to stay conscious.

Jian Chen took a deep breath. Using an unknown secret technique, his injuries began healing at a visible rate. He snarled, “Let’s see what other tricks you have left!”

“Bald donkey, look up.” Zhang Xian pointed skyward.

Jian Chen looked up to see an enormous flying ship directly above the swastika. The array had faded significantly after the second blast. Now, atop the ship, a massive cannon barrel was frantically focusing spirit stone energy.

“How dare you!”

Jian Chen formed a magic seal to slash at the ship, but it didn’t leave a scratch. He decisively turned back to attack Zhang Xian and Li Fuxi.

Both were at their absolute limit. Li Fuxi adopted a purely defensive stance. When she was unable to hold on, Zhang Xian used spirit talismans to flash away, buying precious seconds of respite.

“Boom!”

The ship finished charging. A spiritual cannon fired, striking the eye of the swastika array. The golden barrier shook violently and then shattered. The backlash made Jian Chen spit out golden blood.

Jian Chen roared, leaping toward the flying ship like an arrow. He chanted an incantation, palms pressed together, as a hundred-zhang-tall blood Buddha phantom manifested behind him. The phantom chopped down with a giant palm.

“Hummm—”

The ship emitted an intense hum, generating a transparent barrier. The giant palm struggled against it but failed to break through.

Jing Chen glared furiously. His full-power strike couldn’t even breach the shield?

Through the barrier, he finally saw a figure approaching the edge of the deck—another Zhang Xian.

“Impressive!” the man praised. “Bald friend, care to come aboard? We could study some cauldron techniques together.”

Jian Chen spat another mouthful of golden blood.

This Zhang Xian’s aura was weak—only early Foundation Establishment—and he looked pale, but his face was full of mockery.

This was the true body. He had been on board the entire time. No wonder the Joy Formation hadn’t affected him; the one below was just a puppet.

“You have truly broadened this poor monk’s horizons,” Jian Chen laughed, his eyes turning crimson with rage.

Behind Zhang Xian, Captain Yunshang stared expressionlessly at the monk. She gestured slightly, and the bow cannon slowly swiveled to aim at him.

Jian Chen froze.

“Someday, I will slaughter your entire sect!” Without hesitation, he transformed into golden light and fled, leaving only a venomous curse behind.

“Save it,” Zhang Xian coughed, turning away. “Leaving harsh words just makes you look like you have no style.”

Meanwhile, the puppet-Zhang supported Li Fuxi as they flew toward the gangplank. She was now completely delirious. Her burning cheek rubbed against the puppet’s neck. Her usually cool voice was now soaked in a honeyed tone.

“You feel so cool…”

“Master, stop rubbing,” Zhang Xian sighed. “This puppet has no temperature.”