Each Had Their Own Calculations

"Master! The Earth Prison is no ordinary place. I can only bring you in for a visit and cannot stay long. I hope you'll forgive me."

Fang Mu, who had opened the mountain wall of the Earth Prison, apologized to Huihai beside him.

"Amitabha! This humble monk is merely curious. I won't make things difficult for Envoy Fang."

Huihai recited a Buddhist invocation and entered the Earth Prison with his clone, Yuan Fan.

After walking for some time, the three of them passed through one fine-iron gate after another and finally arrived at the Earth Prison.

Fang Mu was extremely cautious, afraid that Huihai might suddenly make a move.

He had originally not wanted to let his clone come in with him, but Huihai had insisted on bringing the clone along, saying he wanted to teach by word and example. Fang Mu could only helplessly agree.

As he led Huihai past one dungeon cell after another, he was curious, but he showed no abnormality whatsoever.

"Envoy Fang, you said earlier that the Chief Envoy was cultivating in seclusion here. Now that this humble monk has arrived at the Earth Prison, why can't I sense the slightest trace of his aura?"

"Perhaps the Chief Envoy has left. The Chief Envoy's strength is unfathomable. If he deliberately conceals his aura, it's normal that you wouldn't notice him, Master."

Fang Mu gave an ambiguous answer, deliberately making Huihai harbor a trace of wariness.

"What Envoy Fang said is reasonable. The Chief Envoy's cultivation is profound indeed. This humble monk is also inferior to him."

"I wonder if Envoy Fang could take me into the special-grade dungeon. I wish to pay a visit to that unorthodox old senior and see if I can persuade him to mend his ways before his death."

"You flatter me, Master. Just follow me."

Fang Mu had long guessed the purpose of Huihai's visit to the Earth Prison, so he did not refuse. Carrying his Buddhist staff, he led the way ahead.

Huihai curiously sized up the Buddhist staff wrapped in long strips of cloth and carried over Fang Mu's shoulder.

Fang Mu naturally sensed Huihai's gaze, but he could do nothing about it.

The Buddhist staff was too extraordinary. It was difficult to put it into a storage bag or a demon-catching pouch.

Fang Mu was even less at ease putting it into the Demon Refining Mirror. He was also afraid that the Demon Refining Mirror might suddenly get a whim and refine the Buddhist staff.

If the little monk came to ask for it later, Fang Mu couldn't possibly hand him a basin of melted golden liquid and tell him that it was the Buddhist staff!

Leaving the Buddhist staff at home could easily invite trouble, while hiding it carried the risk of theft. Thus, Fang Mu could only carry it on his shoulder.

Soon, Fang Mu brought Huihai to the special-grade dungeon.

As a muffled rumble echoed from the mountain wall, the prison gate slowly opened.

Fang Mu stepped into the dungeon first and opened one cell door after another with practiced ease.

After entering the inner prison, Fang Mu walked to the side and watched Huihai warily.

"Amitabha! Senior, this humble monk Huihai pays his respects! May I ask if the Chief Envoy is here?"

Huihai suddenly walked toward the old monk and asked.

"Ye Tian has no time to bother with the Earth Prison. Shen Shi, quickly help me capture the two of them. I've already separated a soul seed. As long as I possess them, I can escape."

Hearing the old monk's words, Fang Mu inwardly cried out that something was wrong. He was just about to flee with his clone when Huihai began chanting a spell.

Fang Mu saw his clone suddenly enveloped in a beam of light, fixed in place and unable to move.

Before Fang Mu could react, a streak of white light shot out from the old monk's brow and flew toward the clone.

With no time to think, Fang Mu flashed in front of the clone.

That swift white light plunged directly into his brow.

Huihai frowned. Fang Mu was still useful to him, which was why he had brought Yuan Fan in with him.

If he possessed Fang Mu, the dungeon token might shatter. By then, they would be trapped in the Earth Prison.

But it was clearly too late to stop it now, so Huihai could only watch and wait.

The clone suddenly drew his sword and slashed at Huihai. His cultivation at the Third Rank Martial Artist level was exposed without the slightest concealment as he unleashed his full strength.

"Hmph!" Huihai snorted coldly and flashed aside, avoiding the clone's strike.

He seemed not at all surprised by the clone's strength.

"You concealed yourself very well, but your strength exposed you and made me suspicious."

"But whether or not I was suspicious, this humble monk intended to make you the possession target of the Jade Faced Gentleman."

"I simply didn't expect Fang Mu to take that calamity for you."

"Can you tell me who you really are, and why you have no signs of life?"

The clone gave no answer to Huihai's questions, instead attacking him frantically with his sword.

On the other side, Fang Mu was currently being possessed by a soul-body made of white light.

The soul-body charged into his sea of consciousness without restraint, rampaging toward its depths.

And then there was no "then." Fang Mu heard a terrified shriek as sharp as a drake's, like a male duck letting out a scream.

As a stream of pure soul power surged in and was absorbed by his soul-body, Fang Mu's already solid soul-body became even more solid.

Fragments of memory also flooded into his mind.

After briefly examining the memories, Fang Mu opened his eyes.

"Shen Shi! Leave him to me so I can practice!"

Fang Mu flashed up and swung his Buddhist staff directly at the clone and Huihai.

Huihai had not been using his full strength, and the clone was no match for him. He had no need for the Jade Faced Gentleman's assistance.

But since Fang Mu had spoken, Huihai withdrew his hand and retreated several steps.

"Bang!" With a thunderous crash, Fang Mu swung his Buddhist staff straight at Huihai.

The blow was heavy and forceful. Even though Huihai reacted and raised his hand to block it, the mountain-heavy staff smashed him backward, sending blood spraying from his mouth.

Fang Mu panted heavily. That full-force strike had used every ounce of strength in his body.

Huihai crashed down some distance away and struck the black stone wall with a muffled grunt.

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Huihai was filled with shock and lingering fear.

Fortunately, he was an Innate Realm expert, already surpassing the First Rank. Otherwise, Fang Mu's strike might truly have taken his life.

"I really underestimated you! I never expected the renowned Jade Faced Gentleman to fall into your hands. You've truly surprised this humble monk."

Leaning on his Buddhist staff, Huihai stared coldly at Fang Mu and spoke in a deep voice.

Fang Mu hurriedly swallowed several Essence Blood Pills. Without wasting words on Huihai, he knew Huihai was using the opportunity to heal his injuries in secret.

With a furious shout, Fang Mu and his clone attacked almost simultaneously, darting toward Huihai and joining forces to surround and kill him.

A succession of booming sounds rang out. Fang Mu and his clone attacked Huihai together in a frenzy, yet they could not suppress him.

The clone was injured by the Vital Energy Huihai released and was blasted away, suffering many more wounds.

Fang Mu urged the vines to coil around Huihai, while the Demon Vine also transformed into a long rope and wrapped around him.

But Huihai was too powerful. The Vital Energy he released easily shattered the vines. The Demon Vine could not even get close before being blasted away by his Buddha's light.

"You truly make this humble monk see you in a new light!"

"You're merely a lowly Demon Slayer Envoy, yet you concealed your strength so deeply and possess so many strange methods. You've really broadened this humble monk's horizons."

"Then keep your eyes open and watch closely!"

Fang Mu paid no heed to Huihai's praise. With a furious shout, he took out a jar of wine and hurled it at him.

With a crisp crack, the wine jar was shattered by the Buddha's light surrounding Huihai before it could even reach him.

The spilled wine suddenly transformed into spirit snakes that coiled around Huihai.

At the same time, Fang Mu discarded his Buddhist staff and activated Extreme Wind Speed, flashing before Huihai.

His full-force punch shattered the golden light barrier covering Huihai's body. Countless sharp bone spurs pierced through the golden light and bored into Huihai's body.

At the same time, a Golden Sword tore through the air. The clone hurled it with all his strength, and in the blink of an eye, it pierced through Huihai's chest.

Fang Mu and his clone worked together in a seamless flow, without the slightest pause or wasted motion.

The entire chain of movements was completed in an instant, as though they had rehearsed it countless times.

Huihai stared blankly at his pierced body, his eyes filled with shock.

In this backwater little county town, someone had actually managed to kill an Innate Realm expert. If word got out, probably no one would believe it.