Desperate Struggle

"Bang! Pfft!"

With a loud bang, Fang Mu was suddenly ambushed by Huihai and sent flying with a Zen Staff strike.

After crashing into the distance, he couldn't help but lick his throat and spit out a mouthful of blood.

"You truly surprise me, with your endless stream of strange methods. I'm becoming more and more interested in you."

"It's perfect timing for me to use my Soul Searching technique to scan your memories and see what secrets you're hiding."

Huihai was covered in wounds, and blood was still gushing from the hole in his chest.

But he seemed to feel no pain, walking towards Fang Mu with a cold smile and murderous intent.

Fang Mu was severely injured by Huihai's surprise Zen Staff strike, his internal organs shaken.

Looking at Huihai slowly approaching, Fang Mu couldn't help but curse inwardly, "This old pervert's heart has been pierced, and he's still not dead."

"If you want to kill me, you'll pay the price. Even if I die, I'll strip a layer of skin off you."

Supported by his clone, Fang Mu's eyes revealed a look of madness.

He knew today couldn't end peacefully, so he could only fight with all his might.

As Fang Mu roared, he stirred up the Blood Essence around his body, and waves of terrifying aura spread outwards.

A pair of black Bat Wings unfolded, ready to flap and launch a surprise attack at any moment.

The Bone Spikes on Fang Mu's left hand rapidly grew, covering his entire arm.

The vines growing from his right hand writhed like spiritual snakes.

Fang Mu pushed his Black Eyes to their limit, and they actually flickered with faint black light.

Huihai, who was walking towards Fang Mu, couldn't help but stop. Looking at Fang Mu, who was like a lone wolf preparing for a desperate struggle, he felt a trace of apprehension.

Huihai waved his hand and slashed out a surge of energy, shooting towards the Zen Staff Fang Mu had dropped on the ground.

As the cloth wrapping it shattered, the gleaming golden Zen Staff was revealed.

Huihai was somewhat taken aback, not expecting the item Fang Mu had wrapped in cloth to be a Zen Staff.

After he clearly saw the true appearance of the Zen Staff, his expression changed drastically, and he looked at Fang Mu with surprise and doubt, questioning, "Where did you get this Zen Staff?"

"Someone gave it to me, I didn't want it, but he insisted on shoving it into my hand!"

Fang Mu replied calmly, his vigilance and readiness for a death blow not slackening in the slightest.

Huihai's gaze remained fixed on Fang Mu, trying to see if he was lying.

But he was disappointed. Fang Mu appeared too calm, showing no signs of guilt.

It seemed as if what he said was true, which was why he could appear so composed and at ease.

Seeing that Fang Mu didn't seem to be lying, Huihai hesitated for a moment.

He was weighing the pros and cons, considering whether to deliver a killing blow, judging the consequences of doing so against the potential gains.

Finally, Huihai retracted his killing intent, revealed a gentle smile, and clasped his hands together, saying, "Amitabha!"

"Envoy Fang, we don't need to fight like this."

"We are both people of status. It was just a misunderstanding before. How about we each stop and reconcile?"

"Uh..." Fang Mu stared intently at Huihai, sensing that he no longer seemed inclined to attack.

Fang Mu also wondered suspiciously, "What status do I have? I don't even know myself!"

It was clear that Huihai had chosen to stop fighting after seeing the Zen Staff.

This made Fang Mu suspect that Huihai had misunderstood something, perhaps mistaking him for the little monk Wuying?

But no matter what it was, Fang Mu felt it was better not to fight if he could avoid it.

He had previously thought that the old schemer Huihai was at most a First Rank Realm expert. While he was wary, he wasn't without a chance to counter-kill.

He hadn't expected the old schemer to have hidden his cultivation and to actually be an Innate Realm expert, which had caught him completely off guard.

"I know your identity, I know you are Shen Shi. You don't mind?"

"I don't mind! As long as Envoy Fang doesn't go out and talk nonsense!"

"I killed two of your subordinates in Qingliu Town. You don't blame me?"

"It's nothing. Two insignificant underlings, their deaths are their deaths."

"I know you came to Qingzhu City to find something. You won't kill me to silence me?"

"..."

Listening to Fang Mu's string of questions, even Huihai, with his composure, almost couldn't help but lash out in anger. It was really, would it ever end?

"Envoy Fang, we didn't know each other before meeting. You are also a smart person."

"Dealing with smart people doesn't require so many detours. How about we each get what we need?"

"Master, what do you mean by getting what we need?"

Fang Mu finally steered the conversation back to the main point. This would determine whether their hostile relationship could be eased.

"I wish for Envoy Fang to do me a favor. After it's done, I will reward you handsomely."

"Envoy Fang, please state any requests you may have. I will not refuse anything within my capabilities."

"What favor do you want me to do?"

Fang Mu asked cautiously, listening to Huihai's words.

"The answer I seek is within the Jade Faced Gentleman's memories, and also within your memories, Envoy. Why do you ask when you already know?"

Huihai stared meaningfully at Fang Mu, hoping to glean the information he needed from him.

Fang Mu was silent for a moment, then looked at Huihai and said, "You may be disappointed. The Jade Faced Gentleman didn't know much either."

As he spoke, Fang Mu transmitted a mental message through Xixi's vines.

Huihai did not dodge. Upon being touched by the vines, he received a message.

"Damn that Jade Faced Gentleman! After searching for so long, all I got was this superficial information."

Huihai, feeling a bit annoyed, couldn't help but curse under his breath. After a moment of silence, he looked at Fang Mu.

"I wish to ask Envoy Fang for help. I need you to go to the Heavenly Prison to find the Black Tree Demon and get the information I desire from it."

"Once I get the information, I will leave immediately and will not cause you any trouble. I will also provide you with appropriate compensation. What do you say?"

"Master should know that with my status, I cannot enter the Heavenly Prison."

"No matter! I believe Envoy Fang will find a way. I will also assist you in secret."

Fang Mu stared at Huihai, knowing he couldn't easily refuse him. After much consideration, he finally agreed.

"Master! May I ask you a question?"

"Envoy, there's no need for formalities. We are now allies and friends. I will not hold back anything I can tell you."

"Master, how did you cultivate your body? You can survive even with your heart pierced? Is this a clone of yours?"

"Oh! It seems Envoy knows quite a bit."

"That's right. This body of mine is indeed just a clone. Therefore, even if Envoy Fang were to kill this clone, it would be of little significance."

Hearing Huihai's words, Fang Mu couldn't help but curl his lips.

This old schemer was truly devious, having created a clone while his true body was hidden away somewhere.

"Forgive my boldness, Master, but why does your clone possess independent thought?"

"That is not something I can conveniently tell Envoy Fang. You only need to know that whatever my clone experiences and sees, the main body can sense it all."

"Your clone is also quite good, just a bit crude. If it were to be possessed by someone, it would become a stepping stone for another."

"Unlike my clone, which not only possesses Innate Realm soul power but also a large number of restrictions."

"Even if it encounters an opponent that is difficult to defeat, it has a way to perish together with them."

Looking at Huihai, who turned and stepped out of the dungeon with a smile, Fang Mu's heart chilled.

Huihai's words carried a double meaning. One was a warning to him not to covet his clone, as he would suffer a terrible fate.

The other was a kind reminder, urging Fang Mu to protect his own clone, lest it be possessed by someone else and become their pawn.