The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (6200)

The stain was as black as ink, and accompanied by an aura of utter evil, symbolizing the power to corrupt everything.

The discoloration spread rapidly and flowed downwards, like a bucket of thick ink being poured over Li Miaozhen's head.

Sensing this extremely evil and corrupt aura, the members of the Heaven and Earth Society present all experienced mild post-traumatic stress disorder to varying degrees, and thought of the Black Lotus Daoist leader.

The viscous "ink" flowed down, covering Li Miaozhen's chest, abdomen, and legs, until only the golden light at the very bottom was struggling to support her.

Sun Xuanji and Yang Qianhuan simultaneously stepped forward, and the two circular formations combined to form a sealing formation, sealing the Eight Trigrams Platform.

This was both to prevent Li Miaozhen from escaping after becoming possessed by a demon, and also for the sake of the fellow disciples inside the building.

If an ordinary cultivator is corrupted by the aura of depravity, they will immediately lose their senses, and the evil thoughts within their humanity will expand infinitely, causing injury or death.

"This karma is quite deep," Xu Qi'an muttered to himself. He turned to look at the Golden Lotus Daoist and saw that the Orange Cat Daoist had a solemn expression but did not make a move, so he had no choice but to endure it for the time being.

Master Jinlian whispered:

"Her acts of kindness were too impulsive; the karmic entanglements she faces are far more severe than I imagined."

"The cultivation methods of the three major sects of Daoist School are all strange and bizarre, and they die quite quickly." Yang Qianhuan shook his head, his tone revealing the pride of Warlock.

"That's why I only learn the Human Sect's sword techniques, not its mental cultivation methods." Chu Yuanzhen played the straight man for a moment.

"Ha, you Warlock aren't much better. Have you forgotten the Curse of killing your master?" Li Lingsu muttered to herself.

But he didn't say it aloud because Yang Qianhuan was his "ally," and he couldn't undermine his ally.

At this moment, Protector Yuan's azure eyes gazed at the Holy Son from afar, and he uncontrollably began to read minds:

"Your heart tells me: Ha, you Warlock aren't much better, have you forgotten the Curse of killing your master?"

The room fell silent abruptly. Li Lingsu looked embarrassed and forced a dry laugh.

"Why isn't this monkey dead yet?!" the Holy Son cursed inwardly.

Yang Qianhuan had his back to everyone, so his expression couldn't be seen, but those present could understand his anger and embarrassment, since it was his good brother Li Lingsu who had spoken his mind.

"They really aren't afraid of death. Hmm, I remember Protector Yuan seems unable to control his innate supernatural Divine Ability," Miao Youfang thought gloatingly.

After his telepathic abilities and innate supernatural Divine Ability merged, he found it difficult to control? Asura scrutinized Protector Yuan and guessed the truth.

Normally, after the wedding night pranks that happened more than a month ago, offending so many people, any ordinary person with a survival instinct would be Jinyan and actions and would certainly not be so "arrogant and domineering".

At this moment, Protector Yuan had a "I'm doomed" expression on his face, which clearly showed that he had a will to survive, meaning that his Divine Ability had gone out of control.

This monkey doesn't seem to value its own life at all. Master Jinlian shook her head slightly.

Why did Sun Xuanji bring him along? Although there was a reason for him to convey his thoughts, Sun Xuanji didn't need to speak in this situation. Was it a deliberate act to bring Protector Yuan along? Have some decency! Spending too much time with Xu Ningyan has corrupted your mind. Chu Yuanzhen pondered secretly, trying to fathom Sun's sinister intentions.

He suddenly felt a chill and looked at Protector Yuan, only to find that the latter's azure eyes were also looking at him.

Protector Yuan uncontrollably began reading Chu Yuanzhen's thoughts:

"Tell me with your heart."

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Qi'an slapped Yuan Hufa across the distance, knocking him to the ground and interrupting his mind-reading.

Chu Yuanzhen breathed a sigh of relief and sheathed the divine weapon that had been drawn three inches from its sheath.

Protector Yuan looked terrified, as if he had just escaped a disaster.

Li Miaozhen was completely oblivious to the interactions between her companions; she was immersed in her own world.

A world where light and darkness intertwine.

Holy and pure golden light and utterly evil black light each occupied half of the sky. Where they met, gold and black mingled and twisted into a chaotic color.

Li Miaozhen frowned, standing at the intersection of the two colors. After looking around for a while, she saw a figure twisting and coalescing in the corrupt and evil black light.

He was a young swordsman, holding a blood-dripping sword, staring at Li Miaozhen with a gloomy expression.

Li Miaozhen remembered him; he was a chivalrous man she had rescued from a group of bandits not long after she went down the mountain to travel.

"Why are you here?" Li Miaozhen asked, stunned.

The young swordsman licked his sword and grinned maliciously:

"Many thanks to the heroine Feiyan for saving my life. Without your life-saving grace, how could I have become a mountain king in this chaotic world, burning, killing, and plundering?"

Li Miaozhen's face was slightly dazed, and a trace of sorrow flashed in her eyes.

A second distorted figure then solidified, a middle-aged official with a round face and a plump body.

The official said with a smile:

"Female Knight Flying Swallow, I have figured it out. Water that is too clear has no fish. If you want a smooth official career, you must blend in with the crowd. I used to be too arrogant and proud, which is why I kept hitting walls and was unable to realize my ambitions."

"Having survived a near-death experience, I finally gained a profound understanding. Many thanks to Heroine Feiyan for saving my life."

He was originally an honest official, but because he was indignant at his superiors' exploitation of the people, he wanted to go to the capital to appeal to the emperor. On the way, he was chased by experts secretly sent by his superiors, but was saved by Li Miaozhen at the critical moment.

Li Miaozhen remained silent, her sorrow deepening.

Next, figures twisted and took shape. They were men and women, with different identities and professions. They were all people who had been saved by Li Miaozhen but later went astray.

As Li Miaozhen listened to the tales that were sometimes mocking, sometimes arrogant, and sometimes sarcastic, the sorrow in her eyes grew deeper and deeper, until the whites of her eyes and pupils were gradually replaced by thick ink.

At that moment, another figure twisted and took shape—it was Yang Chuannan!

Yang Chuannan, former commander of Yunzhou.

He was dressed in military uniform, one hand on the hilt of his sword, and looked at Li Miaozhen, saying calmly:

"I owe my ability to eradicate the influence of the Witch God Cult, to win over the officials of Yunzhou, and to weather the danger of the governor's investigation largely to the guarantee and protection of Lady Feiyan."

Li Miaozhen's mind went blank for a moment, and the thick ink in her eyes, like a burst dam, quickly covered the whites of her eyes and pupils, turning her eyes into pure black.

Her mindset became increasingly distorted, and malicious thoughts began to surface. She realized how ridiculous her past self had been.

Murderous intent, jealousy, anger, lust, arrogance—a torrent of negative emotions surged within him.

Just then, a loud chanting sound suddenly reached my ears:

"Young and chivalrous, he befriended heroes from five capitals, their hearts were as one, their hair stood on end, in conversation they were bound together by life and death, and their promises were worth a thousand pieces of gold."

Li Miaozhen stiffly turned her head, and a golden light pierced her dark eye sockets, dispelling the sticky ink.

She saw a young man standing with a sword in his hand, covered in blood.

When Yunzhou was in peril, she appeared in time and saved Xu Ningyan's physical body.

"Damn it, don't die."

A second voice came, and she saw herself holding Xu Qi'an's "corpse," desperately trying to piece together his scattered Primordial Spirit.

That was the scene of Xu Ningyan suffering the backlash of Confucian School Law Technique after forcibly disrupting the struggle between Celestial Person and man.

This was the second time she had saved Xu Qi'an's life.

"Xu Qi'an, the warrior of the Great Feng Dynasty, has come to break through the enemy lines!"

As the third voice echoed, a figure in green swallowed the Golden Core and leaped down from the city wall.

More people emerged, also from various social classes and with different identities: commoners, beggars, wandering knights, officials, and so on. They were also people who had been saved by Li Miaozhen.

Densely packed, like a vast army.

These people, including Xu Ningyan, all looked at her, bowed, and clasped their hands in greeting. Their shouts merged into one voice:

"Heroine Feiyan, your merits are immeasurable!"

The viscous ink in Li Miaozhen's eyes completely disappeared, and behind her, in that dark and viscous space, those evil and depraved people melted away in the golden light of merit.

This is a truly meritorious act!

On the Eight Trigrams Platform, Asura looked at Li Miaozhen, who was covered in black ink, and asked:

Can you see what she's thinking right now?

No way, Miao Zhen's inner monologue at this moment must be unbearable to watch. If she said it out loud, she would be so ashamed that she would commit suicide with her sword. Just as this thought flashed through Xu Qi'an's mind, he heard Daoist Jinlian slowly say:

"Judging her current state based on her inner thoughts is indeed more effective than simply observing the power of corruption."

Miao Youfang said in a very serious tone:

"The Daoist priest is an expert; listen to him."

Li Lingsu echoed:

"Those who don't heed the advice of elders will suffer the consequences, so listening to the Daoist master is always the right thing to do."

Chu Yuanzhen analyzed:

"I think what Master Jinlian said makes a lot of sense."

Although Li Miaozhen seemed to be in a bad situation, everyone was relatively relaxed because there were too many extraordinary experts protecting the Dharma, ranging from first-rank to second-rank to third-rank. The worst-case scenario for Li Miaozhen was that she would only fail to accumulate merit.

It is absolutely impossible for it to become a second Black Lotus.

Under the coercion and enticement of a group of people, Protector Yuan's clear blue eyes fixed on Li Miaozhen.

This process lasted ten seconds. His expression grew increasingly horrified, his lips trembled, and he wanted to speak but dared not, his reason and instincts fighting against each other.

"She, her heart, tells me."

Before she could finish speaking, Li Miaozhen's spirit suddenly changed. The viscous ink covering her entire body receded like a tide, replaced by a dazzling and sacred light of merit, radiant with seven colors.

Boom!

As the air trembled slightly, a seven-colored beam of light burst forth from Yang Shen, soaring into the sky and dyeing the clouds in the night sky with a magnificent luster.

It illuminated a large part of the capital city.

In the city, countless masters were awakened from their sleep, some rushing out of their houses, others opening their windows to gaze at the pillar of light in the sky.

The Great Feng has gained another Rank 3 expert.

After lasting for more than ten seconds, the seven-colored beam of light receded, and Li Miaozhen's Yang Spirit returned to her body. Her body radiated a faint but sacred glow, making her skin appear as clear as jade, her features delicate and beautiful, and her spirit full of heroic spirit.

Congratulations, Blue Lotus!

Master Jinlian smiled and bowed.

Congratulations, Lady Flying Swallow!

Congratulations, Miaozhen!

Congratulations, junior sister.

The others bowed and offered their congratulations, as if they were not the ones who had just forced Protector Yuan to read minds.

Li Miaozhen opened her eyes, first glancing at Xu Qi'an, seeing his genuine smile, then glancing sideways at Huaiqing, before looking around at everyone and returning the greeting with a smile.

After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Qi'an quickly raised his hand and said:

"Miaozhen, during the time you were consolidating your cultivation, Asuluo, Chu Yuanzhen, and Miao Youfang all encouraged Protector Yuan to read your mind, including your senior brother and Daoist Jinlian."

Yang Qianhuan, who had remained silent until now, surprisingly echoed the scoundrel, saying:

"Yes, I can testify."

Li Miaozhen's expression changed drastically, and she abruptly turned around:

"You... you can read minds?!"

Her breathing became somewhat disordered for a moment, as if Qi Deviation.

What was she thinking just now? This thought flashed through everyone's minds.

Protector Yuan was so shocked that he took several steps back, shaking his head vigorously. "No, no."

Li Miaozhen finally breathed a sigh of relief, glared at Miao Youfang and the others, and said:

"This promotion was extremely dangerous; I almost fell into the demonic path."

"Fortunately, I got promoted smoothly." Chu Yuanzhen coughed, trying to ease the awkwardness, and said with a sigh:

"Back then, among the members of the Heaven and Earth Society, only the Holy Son and I possessed the combat strength of the fourth rank; your cultivation levels were all somewhat lacking. Almost three years have passed in the blink of an eye, and I am still stuck at the fourth rank, while you have all advanced to the extraordinary level."

The top scholar's sigh was genuine.

When the Heaven and Earth Society was first established, Lina, Li Miaozhen, Hengyuan and others were all below the fourth rank. Strictly speaking, Li Lingsu was promoted to the fourth rank only after traveling down the mountain for a year.

Leaving aside the secluded Golden Lotus No. 8 and No. 9, Chu Yuanzhen is the strongest member in terms of combat power.

But now, Number One and Number Two have successively entered the extraordinary realm, Number Three is even a first-rank martial artist, and Number Six, although also a fourth-rank, possesses a bandit-killing fruit position, which is not a fourth-rank in the ordinary sense.

Numbers eight and nine are of the second rank.

Even though Chu Yuanzhen was easygoing and didn't like to compete for fame and fortune, he couldn't help but feel a strong sense of crisis. If he didn't get promoted soon, he would really be left far behind.

"Look at what you're saying, I'm still a fourth-rank official, aren't I?"

Li Lingsu comforted her, "There's also Lina and Master Hengyuan."

Chu Yuanzhen smiled. "The Holy Son is right."

Protector Yuan stared at the top scholar and suddenly said:

"No, you're lying. Your heart tells me: a dissolute playboy, a foolish girl who only knows how to eat—how can I be the same as you?"

Protector Yuan wore a look of vengeful pleasure.

The air suddenly became still!

Xu Qi'an, Li Miaozhen, Daoist Jinlian, Asuluo, and the others turned their faces away, pursing their lips and suppressing their laughter.

Chu Yuanzhen's face stiffened, and he awkwardly gripped the ground with his feet.

"Quickly send this monkey back to the Southern Frontier, or one day we'll stew him." Li Lingsu didn't know how to respond, so she pretended to look at the scenery around her.

"Cough cough!"

Master Jinlian coughed, breaking the awkward atmosphere, and said:

"It's late. We'll discuss how to attack Aranya tomorrow. Let's go back and rest tonight."

Having said that, he rose with the wind and disappeared into the night.

Everyone took to the air and disappeared in different directions, returning to their dwellings.

Sun Xuanji led Protector Yuan back to the bedroom, where the latter lit an oil lamp, its light spreading throughout the room, and said:

I need to use the outhouse.

After Sun Xuanji nodded, Protector Yuan cautiously took out a teleportation jade talisman from his pocket, held it in his hand, and then left with peace of mind.

As a member of the Demon Race, living alone in the north, one must learn to protect oneself.

A moment later, Protector Yuan returned, washed his hands in the copper basin, and then grabbed a peach from the fruit plate on the table and started eating it.

"Cough cough!"

Sun Xuanji, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, first activated a sealing formation to isolate the aura and sounds in the room, then coughed to signal Protector Yuan to look at him.

Protector Yuan turned and stared at him for a long while before saying:

"I can't speak Li Miaozhen's true feelings. If she knew, she would kill me. You'll protect me? Bullshit! You didn't protect me with any real intention. Those two girls from the Xu Household have been holding me captive for days. I don't accept your explanation. I won't listen! I won't listen! This protector would rather die than betray Daoist Li Miaozhen."

"Knock knock!"

Just then, there was a knock on the door, which opened by itself. Yang Qianhuan stood in the doorway, backing away as he walked in. His voice was low and he spoke slowly:

What was Li Miaozhen thinking when she was condensing her merits?

He asked the question while closing the door.

Protector Yuan shook his head again:

"I cannot say; I am a trustworthy demon. If you want to know, just ask him yourself."

Yang Qianhuan said in a deep voice:

"If Heaven had not given birth to Yang Qianhuan, the Great Feng into eternal darkness. I am a man of my word, so please rest assured."

Knock knock!

The knocking interrupted Yang Qianhuan's words. Because the house was shrouded in a sealing formation, he could not teleport away, nor could he leave through the door.

Senior Brother Yang made a quick decision and hid in the wardrobe by the wall.

Sun Xuanji stretched out his palm and gently pushed, sending out a circular array that adhered to the cabinet door, sealing Yang Qianhuan's aura.

Having done all this, Protector Yuan got up and opened the door.

Outside the door, Miao Youfang and Li Lingsu rubbed their hands together as they entered, and the first thing they asked upon meeting was:

"Brother Yuan, I have something to ask you."

Protector Yuan closed the door and stared at them expressionlessly.

"Li Miaozhen's true feelings?"

Miao Youfang and Li Lingsu looked at each other and nodded together:

"It's so refreshing to talk to Brother Yuan. We're both straightforward people, so we should speak frankly."

Before he could finish speaking, there was another knock on the door.

Miao Youfang and Li Lingsu didn't hesitate at all. Their eyes swept across the room, then they rushed to the wardrobe and opened the door.

They saw the back of a head.

The back of his head said, "What a coincidence."

Miao Youfang and Li Lingsu: "."

The two squeezed inside, the cabinet door closed gently, and their presence vanished completely.

Protector Yuan opened the door with a solemn expression.

With a creaking sound, the swordsman in blue robes appeared in Sun Xuanji and Protector Yuan's line of sight.

Scholar Chu said nonchalantly:

"It is not the behavior of a gentleman to chatter so late at night. I have come mainly to inquire about the recent situation of Protector Yuan."

Protector Yuan interrupted him:

"And perhaps we could try to find out what Li Miaozhen is really thinking?"

Chu Yuanzhen was taken aback, then gave an awkward but polite smile:

"Either is fine, either is fine!"

Protector Yuan returned to the table and sat down, shaking his head as he said:

"I promised Daoist Li Miaozhen that I would never reveal her true feelings. Please, Brother Chu, do not make things difficult for this demon."

Chu Yuanzhen remained unfazed:

"Is telling Senior Brother Sun enough? If you weren't talking about this, why did you cover the room with an array?"

Protector Yuan glanced at Sun Xuanji; this human was very clever and not easily fooled.

Just as I was about to explain, the knocking started again.

Chu Yuanzhen's expression changed slightly. He glanced around, locked onto the cabinet door, stood up, walked over, and said:

"Brother Sun, please help me suppress my breathing."

His actions were meticulous and his consideration thorough, which shows that the first three were indeed not as clever as Chu Zhuangyuan's.

As they were talking, Chu Yuanzhen opened the cabinet door and saw two awkward but polite smiling faces, and the back of a head.

"You."

Chu Yuanzhen froze on the spot, then his face burned with embarrassment.

"Come in quickly, let's see who's next." Miao Youfang acted as if he had nothing to lose.

Chu Yuanzhen had no choice but to squeeze in.

Protector Yuan opened the door and saw Asuluo, who was nine feet tall, standing at the door.

Protector Yuan was still somewhat afraid of him, and quickly took a few steps back.

Asura entered the room, nodded to Sun Xuanji and Protector Yuan, closed the door behind him, and asked:

What was Li Miaozhen thinking just now?

The one who asked the question was Asura. Protector Yuan was unsure whether to answer and looked at Sun Xuanji.

Protector Yuan nodded and said:

"Senior Brother Sun asked you, why does someone of your status like to get involved in this kind of thing?"

After saying that, Protector Yuan thought to himself: You're different!

Asuro said frankly:

"Members of the Heaven and Earth Society seem to really enjoy this kind of thing. They're serious when they're doing serious business, but otherwise they're always scheming against each other, wishing they could make the other lose face and be so ashamed they could disappear into the ground."

"I don't like this system, but since I have to deal with them, I have to plan ahead, control their private affairs, and ensure my own safety."

"I think they think so too."

After Sun Xuanji and Protector Yuan expressed their true feelings, Sun Xuanji waved his sleeve, and with a clang, the cabinet door opened.

Asuro saw three awkward but polite smiling faces, and the back of a head.

What a coincidence!

The four greeted him.

"You."

Asuro looked stunned. He quickly examined his words and, after confirming that he hadn't said anything shameful, he regained his composure.

"It seems we're both smart people who know how to plan ahead," Chu Yuanzhen said, trying to save face.

"That's right, that's right," Miao Youfang and Li Lingsu echoed.

The three of them stepped out of the closet, and Yang Qianhuan backed out.

The group sat down at the table, Yang Qianhuan stood in the corner, and Asuluo thought for a moment and said:

"Let's just open the door and see who else comes. If Li Miaozhen comes, we'll call it a day; if not..."

He glanced at Protector Yuan, his meaning clear.

Everyone agreed.

The door was open, and time passed by, minute by minute. Half an hour later, an orange cat with its tail held high walked gracefully past Sun Xuanji's door.

It glanced casually into the house, calmly looked away, and continued walking forward.

"Stop pretending, Daoist Jinlian!"

Chu Yuanzhen shouted.

The orange cat ignored them and continued walking.

"That cat, I'm talking about you!"

Li Lingsu said.

The orange cat hesitated for a moment, then calmly said:

What a coincidence, everyone!

"This humble Daoist priest actually has something to discuss with Protector Yuan."

The crowd said expressionlessly:

"Li Miaozhen's heartfelt words!"

The cat's face was blank.

The orange cat sat on the table, looked around, and said:

"Xu Ningyan didn't come?"

Protector Yuan nodded:

He didn't come, only you.

"I don't believe it!" everyone exclaimed in unison.

The orange cat Daoist priest pondered for a moment and said:

Who arrived first?

Protector Yuan then told the orange cat the order of events.

Xu Ningyan only had two ways to hide: Star Shift and Shadow Concealment. The former could only conceal his aura but not his figure, so only the latter remained. Yang Qianhuan was proficient in teleportation, and Shadow Concealment couldn't keep up with him. The Orange Cat Daoist's heart stirred, and he turned to look at Miao Youfang, exhaling a breath of rosy light.

The glow of the sunset enveloped Miao Youfang, making his body radiate light and dissolving his shadow.

Within Miao Youfang's shadow, another shadow was hidden, which, under the illumination of the light of merit, had nowhere to hide and slowly returned to human form.

Xu Qi'an remained expressionless and smiled:

"What a coincidence, everyone!"

Everyone stared at that scoundrel expressionlessly.

Xu Qi'an pretended not to understand everyone's expressions, then turned to Protector Yuan and said:

"You can speak now?"

Xu Qi'an came with Miao Youfang, originally intending to listen to the news discreetly.

I never imagined that not a single person in the Heaven and Earth Society would be decent. No, Master Hengyuan is the only one with a conscience.

Huaiqing's absence is most likely due to either his pride or lack of interest.

The room full of powerful figures looked at Protector Yuan without saying a word, exerting silent pressure.

Protector Yuan glanced at them, and surprisingly remained calm, replying:

"I don't care, but you have to ask her if she agrees."

As he spoke, he took out a brocade pouch from his bosom and opened it!

In an instant, the power of merit filled the entire room, and Li Miaozhen's spirit floated out of the brocade pouch, hovering in the air, coldly looking down at everyone in the room.

Protector Yuan met Li Miaozhen when he went to the outhouse.

Everyone: "!!!"