Wait a minute, where is my master?

In the northwest of Shangjing City lies Longevity Mountain.

The place is densely forested with pleasing scenery.

There is a wide lake in the front and various precipitous peaks soaring behind. Such terrain is truly a rare and treasured feng shui site.

However, at this moment, this treasured land bore traces of battle and was host to a group of uninvited guests clad in armor, their faces fierce and menacing.

It was that group of fake city guards who had deceived Yu Yaoer and Little White in the Yanyu Building.

"Master Li, why have you brought them here directly? Didn't we agree on the plan? Moreover, the Prince had said to lure them to the heavenly prison," one of them questioned angrily.

Following the voice, by the side of the group of soldiers stood an old man in civilian clothes—it was Manager Shi from the auction house.

They had agreed that today Master Li would lead the test, and deceive the two women into the heavenly prison.

But the old man surnamed Shi had waited at the agreed location for a long time without seeing the other party returning with the captives. After asking the accompanying cultivators, he learned that Master Li had not followed the plan and instead had brought the captives to Longevity Mountain.

Therefore, Manager Shi rapidly flew over on the Spirit Boat to see what was happening.

"Old Man Shi, don't you press me with the Prince's orders. Ever heard of adapting to changes?

When I said I would take those two to the heavenly prison, they looked utterly unafraid. I fear that as soon as they step in, they would be fished out.

It's better to bind them directly, threaten that little Taoist to come over, and then capture him. Whether we choose to interrogate or trade with the sect behind him afterward, that's still up to us to decide.

After all, isn't it the same if we end up taking the spring capable of producing the Bone Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid back to the Prince's residence?"

Master Li, his face full of flesh, showed no courtesy to the old surnamed Shi, and kicked a broken iron rod into the lake, speaking out brashly.

Being a Divinity Transformation Realm power, he was irked by the fact that a mere Void Refinement Realm cultivator had taken the lead in directing the operation, and now he seized the opportunity to vent.

Manager Shi, hearing the counterargument, almost burst out in anger. At first glance, the counterargument seemed reasonable, but what if that little Taoist doesn't show up?

If you take the captives to the heavenly prison, whether the other party attempts a rescue or not, they have a plan for what comes next.

But now, by directly binding the captives, where's the exit plan?

Do these followers secretly raised by the master even have brains?

The old man named Shi, infuriated, scoffed sarcastically, "Master Li, you truly are good at adapting, but you..."

He didn't finish his sentence before he got interrupted by the armored Master Li with a flesh-filled face.

"Need you say it? When I reigned mightily over Changshan, Ling City, and parts of Central State, you were still wearing a fox tail and greeting guests at the auction house!"

"Pfft!"

"Kuku, kuku!"

"Pfft!"

Upon this remark, the fake city guards at the side couldn't suppress their laughter.

They didn't want to laugh, but it was hard not to since they hadn't received any professional training.

Of course, Master Li's words were nonsense; he was simply insulting Old Man Shi.

After all, as a Void Refinement Realm powerhouse, even if tasked with gatekeeping, the old man wouldn't have stooped to the level of wearing a fox tail to greet guests.

His sharp words and rudeness towards the man in front of him were not just because he resented the fact that his actions were being directed by the other, but also because once at the auction house, he had been banned from entering due to some issues by this Manager Shi surnamed old man.

So today, seizing the opportunity, he took great pleasure in humiliating him.

As soon as Manager Shi heard these words, his face turned crimson with rage. He knew he had offended Master Li but had never expected that the other party would take advantage of acting on behalf of the master to make such a careless move.

Pointing his finger at Master Li's nose, he was at a loss for words. Eventually, he turned around, boarded the Spirit Boat, and fled.

What else could he do, unable to fight back? He had to hurry back and report to the Prince. Just in case the plan failed, it was important to let the master know it wasn't his fault.

"Hahaha! Ah, hahaha!"

Seeing Old Man Shi driven away in anger, Master Li burst into loud laughter. The fake city guards at his side also joined in the uproarious laughter.

He also knew that bringing the captives here had certainly closed off their exit route.

But he didn't care—provided the little Taoist had not left the city, how could he, a high-level Divinity Transformation Realm cultivator, not handle him?

Judging from the two Nascent Soul Realm demon pets that the little Taoist carried with him, the sect behind him must certainly not be weak, but to call it strong would also not be accurate.

In the Nine Provinces Immortal World, the unwritten rule is that the Protectors of first-rate powers are from the Void Refinement Realm.

You bring two Nascent Soul Realm demon servants with you when you go out, it's nothing!

And so, Master Li was fearless and confident.

...

Aboard the Spirit Boat, the elder surnamed Shi was furious, pushing his Flying Artifact with all his might.

He wanted to go back and report what had happened!

Bringing personal grudges into the tasks entrusted by the Prince, this Master Li was done for!

Just then, a silhouette flashed past the side of the Spirit Boat, and the strong gust it created pushed Manager Shi's Flying Artifact dozens of feet away.

"???"

What was that, just whizzing by?

Old Man Shi on the Spirit Boat released his Spiritual Sense to probe, but he could no longer see the silhouette.

...

At the bottom of Longevity Mountain lake.

Yu Yaoer and Little White, who had transformed into ordinary fish, were idly swimming with the school of fish.

Now to the east, then to the west, aimlessly wandering.

"Little Yu, how much longer do we have to stay at the bottom of this lake? I feel like I can't control myself from changing back."

Shiqi transmitted her message to Yu Yaoer.

"If you can't hold on, just let me know, I still have a Transformation Pill. Hang in there a bit longer, the young master will definitely come to rescue us!"

The Little Fish Demon responded telepathically.

The Transformation Pill was a trinket Yu Yaoer had developed on a whim.

After consumption, the user could change into any animal they wished, but they couldn't actively attack others during the process, or the Pill would lose its effect. The duration lasted from three to five hours at most.

The side effect was that after returning to human form, one couldn't move for twelve hours, completely at other's mercy.

"Okay, Little Yu. When the temple master comes, I'm going to hang that Cultivator up and beat him!"

Shiqi clearly had suffered a big loss and had grievances in her heart.

...

On the lakeshore.

A Cultivator with a Fire Spirit Root softly volunteered, "Lord Li, do we really need not to evaporate this lake water to force those two demon pets out?"

"Heh, there's no need to exert that effort. Even if those two turn into fish, they're still locked by my Spiritual Sense. After the time of Xu, if that little Taoist still doesn't show up, we'll simply kill the two of them. Then we'll go straight to Shangjing City to block that little Taoist."

Master Li spoke confidently, with a premeditated plan.

Clearly, Yu Yaoer and Little White had taken the Transformation Pill, but were still within the control of their adversary.

"Lord, your wisdom is unparalleled! With your leadership, that little Taoist is as good as dead!"

The Cultivator, not discouraged after his offer had been declined, promptly flattered again.

Upon hearing this, Master Li snorted disdainfully through his nose, indicating his acknowledgment.

After all, as a Great Master of the Divinity Transformation Realm, he had seen plenty of sycophantic Cultivators; this one was just mediocre at it.

The Fire Spirit Root Cultivator gave a sheepish smile, and as he retreated, his peripheral vision caught a figure standing at the edge of the sky.

By the time he looked up to observe, the figure had already crashed to the ground.

"Boom!"

A deep pit had formed on the ground.

After a moment, a little Taoist clad in dark cyan robes and wearing a faceless mask leaped out of the pit.

It turned out to be Jin Xu.