Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Don't be afraid," Master Li lied casually, "just now that little Taoist used a talisman technique, which is why he killed Zhang San in one blow. He definitely doesn't have many such precious talismans on him, so if we all attack together, we will prevail."

Master Li was inciting his subordinates to step forward.

Sun Tzu said, "Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster."

He hadn't understood the little Taoist's technique at all, so now he was ordering the cultivators to take action once again.

However, his subordinates were neither fools nor willing to die for nothing.

We didn't see clearly how Zhang San died, but we did see that when the blue and red flames and the Qingyun Shuttle hit the little Taoist, he remained unscathed!

Among the cultivators present, Zhang San's strength might not have been top-notch, but it certainly ranked in the middle.

His best magical weapon failed to pierce that golden film on the little Taoist's body, so who can be sure they will definitely succeed where he didn't?

So, while everyone verbally agreed, no one made a move.

Seeing that none of his followers dared to approach, all eyeing the golden film on the little Taoist, Master Li realized where the problem lay and changed his strategy again.

"Think about the cultivation resources the Lord Mansion provides you daily. All the days of training are for moments like this. Today, whoever breaks through the little Taoist's defense first, I will give him half of this operation's cultivation resources!"

Master Li's method of persuasion was not very clever, using threats followed by inducements, a very old trick.

But it did stir some cultivators.

The group surrounding Jin Xu consisted of cultivators with varying distances due to the different fighting styles of magic cultivators and body cultivators.

And the one who moved was a body cultivator who was the closest to the little Taoist!

His figure was already stocky, and now dressed in the city guard's armor, he looked like a humanoid beast.

The cultivator held a weapon not commonly seen among cultivators—a giant axe—and charged at Jin Xu!

But just like what happened halfway through the charge...

He let out a scream like Zhang San, took a few more steps out of inertia, fell to the ground, and died.

This inexplicable manner of death added a somewhat eerie atmosphere to the scene.

A shadow fell over the hearts of the cultivators.

Except for Jin Xu, who found that this "Spiritual Sense Stick" seemed to be quite handy~

Poke one, down goes one, without even shedding blood.

By now, Master Li was certain that there was indeed a subtle fluctuation of Spiritual Sense when the body cultivator named Li Si fell.

The little Taoist was using the Spiritual Recognition Skill to kill the cultivators.

"Damn it, I've traveled the Nine Provinces for many years and have never seen such a strange attack method."

Spiritual Sense attacks are common, and subtle fluctuations of Spiritual Sense are also common.

But these two things combined just don't add up.

If a cultivator wishes to kill with the Spiritual Sense Skill, he must harness a powerful Spiritual Power.

Yet once that mighty force is utilized, everyone, not just cultivators, can sense that something is off due to its inherent pressure.

That's why it was so surprising for Master Li that such a minute fluctuation of Spiritual Sense could kill a cultivator.

However... now that he knew his opponent's method of attack, it was just a matter of preparing a defense.

Master Li took out several Spirit Talismans meant for protecting the Sea of Consciousness from his storage item and slapped them onto himself.

Then, he produced a small tripod and energized it before it disappeared into his brow.

In the blink of an eye, he finished all these preparations.

He then ordered his subordinates to retreat. Now that the means of attack were apparent, there was no need for more senseless sacrifice.

After all, having too many real casualties would be hard to explain to the Lord Mansion upon returning.

Master Li prepared to take action himself, intending to take down the little Taoist and force out the whereabouts of the Spiritual Spring.

Jin Xu watched the opponent's flashy preparations, slapping on talismans and wielding magical treasures.

He was not flustered.

Divinity Transformation Realm, huh? He had fought them before in Gusu City after all.

The little Taoist was considering whether to use his fists as he had in Gusu City, to use the Hand Palm Thunder, or to try this newly discovered "Spiritual Sense Stick."

"Tch, is this the trouble with learning too many skills?"

Jin Xu lamented inwardly as he saw the opponent draw another blood-red saber.

"emmmm... I can't just stand by and watch. First, I need to handle this leader, then capture a cultivator and interrogate them to find out who's really behind all this."

The little Taoist's Spiritual Sense twitched between his brows, rolling down the half a piece of iron stick that was thrust into the stone wall on one side.

The Golden spiritual power was carefully infused, afraid of making it burst from the strain.

On the other side, Master Li, fully prepared and wielding his renowned treasure, the Blood Flame Saber, was taken aback.

This little Taoist actually planned to fight with the stick he broke?

"Heh, clueless about life and death."

Master Li sneered, ready to make his move.

To his surprise, the little Taoist opposite acted first.

Jin Xu rocketed into the sky like a springing onion and held out his right hand high. Filled with his Golden spiritual power, he hurled the broken stick toward the ground below.

On the bank, Master Li, holding the Blood Flame Saber, watched the short stick grow larger and larger in his pupil.

He couldn't move at all.

The pressure from the stick had immobilized him!

"For heaven's sake, if you had this power, why didn't you say so earlier? I would have even helped you kill the prince!"

Those were the last thoughts Master Li had in the Nine Provinces.

That day, just outside Shangjing City, Longevity Mountain gained a new fountain.

...

Yanyu Building, top floor.

Yu Yaoer and Little White lay rigidly on the bed, clearly suffering from the side effects of the Transformation Pill.

And by the bed, the little Taoist was standing, raising his left hand, and softly said, "Are you two ready?"

The two women couldn't utter a sound, only their eyeballs rolling wildly. Seeing this, Jin Xu sighed and without asking further, calmly said,

"Well, you two will have to endure this."

Then, a white light shot out from his hand—The Body Purification Skill was activated!

"Ying~"

That was Yu Yaoer, as the side effects were purified.

"Aoow! Refreshing!"

That was the Husky, regaining the ability to move.

"..."

Seeing that his two demon pets could move again, the little Taoist returned to the table. Thankfully, the Body Purification Skill worked on the side effects of the pill. Heaven knows how many strange looks he got when he carried the two girls back to Shangjing City.

If he hadn't moved fast enough, he might have already been caught for being a pervert.

By the table, Jin Xu was toying with a jade token.

"Temple master, what are you doing?"

Having regained mobility, the Husky was the first to approach the table.

"I am sending a message to Miss Yunzhao, inquiring about the matter at the Lord Mansion," the little Taoist replied without lifting his head.

Meanwhile, the Little Fish Demon, still flush from the effects on the bed, cooed,

"Master, you said those people were sent by the prince to steal our Bone Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid. We flaunted our wealth at the auction, and the admission token was provided by Yanyu Building. Do you think the inn we're staying in now might also be problematic?"

Hearing this, Jin Xu thoughtfully nodded his head.

Yu Yaoer's point made sense.

Yanyu Building was indeed suspicious.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Just then, a knocking sound suddenly came from outside the door.