Wait a minute, where is my master?

The golden light ball, with its claws and teeth flashing, burst out from the crack and headed straight for the sea surface.

Everywhere it went, all the filthy substances retreated in dread.

Due to the presence of numerous mutated Shui Clan cultivators outside the protective cover, Jin Xu had reduced the spiritual power used when activating the Dry Land Onion Escape Skill.

Despite that, the sudden strong water pressure still caught the female cultivators guarding the crack by surprise and tossed them about haphazardly.

Leading the charge were Senior Sister Mi, who had initiated the confrontation, and the female cultivator who had doubted their own ancestor.

As the golden spiritual power orb passed over again, the bottom of the Deep Sea Abyss was enveloped in rising mud and sand, pushing the guarding female cultivators into nearby rock walls or sand pits in various poses.

Some were left with only their heads sticking out, while others had half their bodies smashed in, and there were even those whose mouths were the only part visible.

Time passed for a while.

The mud and sand in the sea water settled back down, and the filthy substances, frightened by the golden light, scattered, making the bottom of the abyss appear much clearer than before.

The female cultivators realized the danger had passed and began to extricate themselves from the rocks and sand, with those less injured thoughtfully helping those more severely hurt.

Like the one with only her mouth left outside.

Because she hadn't mastered the body of heavy water, during severe impact, only her mouth managed to maintain a flow state and she ended up being dug out by a group...

Once the digging was complete, the cultivators stood firm, preparing to report the situation to the ancestor and sect master.

Suddenly, a lightly injured female cultivator looked around curiously and then communicated telepathically to everyone.

"Strange, why are Senior Sister Mi and Junior Sister Zhou missing?"

——————

Entrance to the Deep Sea Abyss.

Above the boundless ocean.

The Taoist and others were standing on a piece of floating ice formed by Little White.

In front of them, the two tamers dressed in blue robes, bound into an X-shape by the golden spiritual power, were none other than Senior Sister Mi and Junior Sister Zhou who had disappeared from the abyss.

Their appearance here was naturally the result of Jin Xu's deliberate actions.

The conversation the two disciples from White Emperor Pavilion had while transmitting their spiritual messages, was overheard by the Taoist preserving Spiritual Sense, without missing a word. Initially, when he heard the female cultivator mention an ancestor trying to break open the Nine Provinces Sea Eye for a man, the first image that popped into his mind was that of the love-struck old lady from the White Emperor Pavilion.

Later, when Jin Xu heard about the Yin Yang Union Soup, Jiang Xiulan, the Benevolent Heart Fruit, he thought to himself,

"That's right, it's her. No wonder Little Yu's grandmother asked someone to tell my master it was a debt of love. Turns out this love-struck old lady has gone from melancholy to madness.

No, based on the conversation between the two women, this person must have devised numerous ways to win over my master, and breaking open the Nine Provinces Sea Eye was one of them.

So... was she crazy from the start!?"

Jin Xu's mind raced for a moment, and as the golden orb passed through the abyss floor, he casually captured these two, aiming to further investigate and see if they knew anything more.

However, the two women evidently disappointed the Taoist.

Having been captured for a while now, the little content they knew was still just what had been communicated from the seabed.

"So, is this all you know?"

Atop the floating ice, Jin Xu frowned slightly, his eyes shimmering with silver light as he intently regarded the two suspended by the spiritual power tendrils, speaking in a deep voice.

Facing the inquiry from the young Taoist, Senior Sister Mi, as usual, snorted coldly and turned her head away.

In her heart, however, she was secretly pondering. Their bodies of heavy water were supposed to be immune to physical attacks, yet why had they been captured directly by the golden spiritual power, unable to break free?

Junior Sister Zhou hesitated for a moment before dispersing her body of heavy water, revealing a delicate and gentle face, then said to Jin Xu with misty eyes.

"Taoist, although we followed the Ancestor here, due to our lowly status, this is all the little girl knows about the matter you asked about. If you want to know more, I am afraid you will have to ask the Master or the Ancestor themselves."

She paused, bit her lip, then, as if summoning great courage, said to the young Taoist,

"Taoist, I was frail when the Master took me back to the White Emperor Pavilion, and I was still naive. When I finally understood the truth, the cultivation technique I was practicing had been tampered with, and to protect my life, I had no choice but to temporarily hide and yield without sincerity.

"Now that heaven has opened its eyes, I finally met you. So... I boldly ask you, Taoist, to help me escape this demonic den of the White Emperor!"

After Junior Sister Zhou had spoken, she lowered her head, her gaze filled with a trace of fear as she looked at Senior Sister Mi, who was bound beside her.

Then, like a stray kitten, she cast a hopeful and pitiful gaze at the young Taoist in front of her.

"Junior Sister, Master and Ancestor have treated you well!"

Before Jin Xu could react, Senior Sister Mi, who was deep in thought about the golden spiritual power tentacles, immediately turned her head, her voice unkind and her facial water slightly quivering as she reminded,

"Senior Sister..."

As if startled by the other's warning, Junior Sister Zhou, though bound, still managed to turn her head to the other side, speaking in a weak and feeble voice,

"Senior Sister, they took us back to the Pavilion, taught us cultivation, and fed us, indeed saving our lives back then.

"But their actions, weren't they just because they valued our Spirit Roots, hoping that we would be successful in cultivation and help them do their bidding in the future?

"Senior Sister, look at the Ancestor now, ready to disregard the lives of the Nine Provinces creatures for a man, breaking open this sealed Sea Eye filled with endless filth. Should we continue to repeat their mistakes!?"

As Junior Sister Zhou spoke, her voice grew louder and her emotions more intense.

In the end, the fear on her face disappeared, and her expression even carried a hint of righteous fervor.

After replying to the unkindly spoken Senior Sister Mi, Junior Sister Zhou took a couple of deep breaths, seemingly calming the emotions she had just suppressed.

After this gesture,

She continued, her gaze earnest and hopeful, addressing Jin Xu who had yet to speak.

"Taoist, although I have been trapped in this demonic den of the White Emperor for many years, due to my late entry and deliberate avoidance, I have not yet aided these demonic people in harming the creatures of the Nine Provinces.

"Today, following them to break open the Nine Provinces Sea Eye, I also did not directly partake in harming the Shui Clan cultivators.

"So, Taoist..."

Before she could finish, Senior Sister Mi suddenly interjected with a scolding tone, "Nonsense! You have been in the White Emperor Pavilion for so many years, how could you possibly not have helped the Master with anything? Junior Sister Zhou, now you slander the Master and the Ancestor out of fear of death, simply seeking a slim chance of survival in front of this young Taoist. But the more you do so, the less I will let you get what you want today!"

Junior Sister Zhou suddenly glanced at her ominously, then the corners of her mouth subtly lifted slightly as she continued in a weak and feeble voice,

"Senior Sister Mi, you frame me out of desperation now that you find yourself at the mercy of this apparent exiled immortal-like young Taoist, and I can understand that.

"But you can't falsely malign me.

"Since you claim I have aided the Master, the Ancestor, and our sect in wrongdoing, please detail exactly what evils I have committed!

"If you can prove one, I, Zhou Shuling, won't need the Taoist to act, and I will end my life right here today!"