Chen Ming saw what was happening and knew he'd met a tough opponent.
He changed the magic art in his hand, and several strands of Azure Wood Life and Death Gas burrowed out of the Golden Light Divine Flame. They formed into swords and attacked.
"Eh? You can change your tricks, too!"
The strange Taoist hadn't expected another transformation, and let the Azure Wood Life and Death Gas close in.
But sandalwood fragrance wafted from his body, blocking the Azure Wood Life and Death Gas once more.
"Scatter!"
Chen Ming shouted. The Azure Wood Life and Death Gas abruptly dispersed, turning into poisonous smoke that billowed everywhere, pitch-black and obscuring all sight.
"Go!"
At the same time, Chen Ming secretly brought out the Blood Bead and, following his intuition, sent it flying at the strange Taoist.
With a dull thud, the Blood Bead struck the strange Taoist squarely.
In an instant, the Blood Bead split apart, transforming into densely packed insects that tore into him.
The attack unfolded in a dizzying flurry, yet every move was lightning-fast.
Situ Yuelan watched in astonishment. She hadn't expected Chen Ming's methods to be so bizarre and changeable.
The pitch-black poisonous smoke shrank away, and the Hundred Thousand Eight Thousand Insects reassembled into a Blood Bead, hovering above Chen Ming's head.
The strange Taoist was wrapped in a layer of bright yellow light. He hadn't suffered much damage, though he looked rather disheveled.
Chen Ming's expression darkened. If that had been a Contemplation Realm cultivator, his whole repertoire would have left them nothing but bones.
That the strange Taoist was still alive was truly unbelievable.
Either he had a supreme protective treasure on him, or his strength far exceeded the Contemplation Realm.
But while Chen Ming was attacking, Qing Ling and Hong Ling, the two child attendants, had been quick-witted enough to seize the chance and escape while the strange Taoist was unprepared. Chen Ming had already taken them into the Grotto-Heaven Dojo.
Situ Yuelan had also noticed something was wrong. "There's something strange about him. Fellow Daoist Xuan Mingzi, be careful. I think he's been hiding his strength!"
"I'll test him!"
With that, Situ Yuelan's aura surged, unleashing the pressure of the Spirit Condensation Realm. In her hand, the Bronze Mirror gathered a ray of Profound Yin Cold Sky Light, poised to strike.
Frost spread from beneath her feet, freezing toward the Taoist.
Sensing Situ Yuelan's move, the Taoist's body crackled.
"It's you, Profound Yin Cold Maiden, Situ Yuelan! You're not dead after all!"
"You haven't even fully obtained the Profound Yin Cold Stone. Don't put on a show in front of me!"
His words made Situ Yuelan's heart sink. She barked, "Who are you? How do you know me?"
Situ Yuelan searched her memories, but she had no impression of him at all.
"Hahaha! Benefactor, you've forgotten me so quickly?"
The strange Taoist raised a hand and grabbed the top of his own head. He peeled away a human skin mask, revealing his true appearance.
He wasn't a Taoist at all, but a monk.
"Wearing that skin was so uncomfortable!"
"I even had to twist myself into knots to use Buddhist Supernatural Abilities. No wonder you didn't recognize me!"
The monk pressed his palms together and spoke with a bright smile.
There was nothing solemn or dignified about him. Instead, he seemed somewhat uncanny, without the air of restraint typical of the Buddhist faith.
"It's you, Blue Lotus Monk!"
Situ Yuelan recognized him, her expression turning grave.
Blue Lotus Monk was a Spirit Condensation Realm cultivator. Now he had disguised himself, suppressed his aura, and quietly come to the Vast Mountain Range. What was he after?
Moreover, the Buddhist cultivators who had fought Situ Yuelan to the death earlier belonged to the same sect as Blue Lotus Monk.
"You dare come to the Vast Mountain Range. Are you here to avenge Old Monk Jieding?"
"You alone are no match for the three Spirit Condensation Realm cultivators of the Myriad Laws Sect. Besides, this is the Vast Mountain Range. If the Myriad Laws Sect's Spirit Condensation Realm cultivators discover you, you won't escape with your life!" Situ Yuelan said.
Blue Lotus Monk smiled nonchalantly. "Buddhists believe in cause and effect. Brother Jieding's death was the result of his own karma. What does that have to do with me? Why would I avenge him?"
"You took Brother Jieding's treasure, hoping to refine a second Supernatural Ability of the Spirit Condensation Realm. That's your business, not mine!"
"The disguise I wore was only so no one would see me coming to the Vast Mountain Range. It wasn't to hide from the Myriad Laws Sect or keep them from discovering me."
Blue Lotus Monk shed his disguise and stopped suppressing his cultivation and aura. Buddha Light shone from his body, revealing the full might of his Spirit Condensation Realm cultivation.
The ice spreading toward him shattered and vanished in the Buddha Light.
"Young friend, your methods are quite impressive. Those two demon attendants you refined are exceptionally skillful!"
"Would you let them join my following? I promise you won't lose out!" Blue Lotus Monk turned to Chen Ming.
Chen Ming secretly circulated his magic power to withstand Blue Lotus Monk's Buddha Light. He gently waved the branch in his hand as the Blood Bead floated behind him, displaying the Hundred Thousand Eight Thousand Insects cycling through birth and destruction within it.
Bracing himself against the pressure of the Spirit Condensation Realm, Chen Ming kept a relaxed expression. "Although I refined those two attendants into demons, they have minds of their own."
"Master, as a Buddhist expert, surely you wouldn't force the issue?"
Unlike ordinary monks, Blue Lotus Monk merely smiled. "Think it over. Follow you, and they're part of the demonic path. Follow me, and they'll be walking the righteous way!"
Chen Ming's face darkened at that. He was thoroughly displeased.
But he was weaker than his opponent. Gritting his teeth, he said coldly, "Demons have their own path. You needn't trouble yourself, Master!"
Seeing that things were taking a turn, Situ Yuelan spoke up. "Blue Lotus Monk, don't do this. The Vast Mountain Range is vast, and we have no quarrel. You walk your road, and we'll cross our bridge. We have nothing to do with each other. Let's part ways here!"
Situ Yuelan recited an incantation, drew the Profound Yin Cold Stone out from beneath the ruins, and pulled Chen Ming away with her.
But three streaks of bright light came rushing toward them, each carrying the aura of the Spirit Condensation Realm.
If Situ Yuelan and Chen Ming fled now, they would run straight into those three streaks of light.
The two had no choice but to stop where they were.
"Those should be the three Spirit Condensation Realm cultivators of the Myriad Laws Sect!"
"I wonder what Blue Lotus Monk is up to," Situ Yuelan transmitted to Chen Ming.
"Let's wait and see. If anything seems wrong, we'll flee."
Chen Ming silently recited an incantation and secretly activated the Blood Bead. He prepared his Divine Soul as well, ready to borrow the power of the Creation Lotus Platform and escape with a Secret Method at any moment.
The three streaks of bright light descended, revealing three female cultivators.
"So it's the three fairies guarding the Vast Mountain Range. This humble monk pays his respects!" Blue Lotus Monk straightened his expression upon seeing the three female cultivators from the Myriad Laws Sect.
The three female cultivators of the Myriad Laws Sect looked very much alike.
One was dignified and composed, one cool as autumn, and one had a more lively gaze.
The Myriad Laws Sect had always sent three Spirit Condensation Realm cultivators to guard the Vast Mountain Range beyond the Sea Domain, replacing them once every three hundred years.
Before the Myriad Laws Sect withdrew into the Sea Domain, these three had crossed swords with disciples of Biyun Heavenly Palace and made names for themselves in countless battles.
Blue Lotus Monk had still been in the Contemplation Realm then and hadn't yet reached the Spirit Condensation Realm, but he had heard of the Three Sisters and their exploits.
He had come to the Vast Mountain Range after receiving word, never expecting these three to be the ones guarding it.
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