Beyond the sea of clouds, the sky was a canvas of harsh winds, each gust a blade.

A tattered, yellow-faced old monk flew with haste, unburdened by shield or ward. The violent gales crashed against him, only to dissipate into nothingness before they could touch his skin.

To any who drew near, his incessant muttering could be heard:

“Damn heavens, what ill-fate is this old monk saddled with?”

“Am I truly destined to lose every one I take in?”

“I even chose ones with strong fates…”

“I’m to be the next Abbot of Sky Hanging Temple, a future Buddha of the Pure Land! Buddha, won’t you lend a hand?”

“Jing Shen, you must endure! Don’t follow in Jing E’s footsteps!”

He sped through the lofty firmament.

Below, upon the land, mighty divine senses occasionally soared skyward.

Each time, a small bell at the old monk’s waist would gently chime –

“Special errand of Sky Hanging Temple, may benefactors grant passage!”

Those who barred his path would recognize the Buddhist Eastern Sacred Ground’s envoy, traveling for a sacred cause, seeking only passage, with no desire to intrude.

Those who favored Sky Hanging Temple readily gave way. Those who harbored discontent thought twice about the temple’s strength and fell silent. Only in matters of mortal enmity would anyone dare obstruct him.

Of course, even a special envoy of Sky Hanging Temple could not brazenly fly over powerful nations like Jing. His westward journey was circuitous, detouring to avoid certain forbidden territories.

***

In the depths of an underwater demon cavern, lay a peerless demoness, still and silent within a crystal coffin. A young man, sword in hand, stood vigil, his face serene, his eyes resolute.

The conversation within the Towering Heaven Palace continued.

“Your use of the Chancellor’s Seal to obstruct the Divine Sky Hall only confirms my suspicions,” Jiang Wang pressed on.

“Oh?”

“The Chancellor’s Seal worn by Dong A is a treasure of Zhuang, a testament to its stability, governing its affairs. Blocking an attack, or even destroying it, would be one thing. But to silently absorb its power for your own use… mere strength cannot explain this. Your deeper understanding of the Zhuang Chancellor’s Seal must be a key factor.”

“Well said, Jiang Wang. My admiration for you grows,” Jiang Yan’s voice was deep and resonant.

“Being admired by you is hardly a stroke of luck. I must know… why me?” Jiang Wang asked.

“Indeed, why you?” Jiang Yan chuckled.

A chilling sensation followed that laugh.

The candle of Netherflame drew closer to Jiang Wang’s soul essence.

The hand of emerald smoke above the candle reached out, an oppressive force in its wake.

It crossed the line!

Without hesitation, Jiang Wang moved to control his body, his sword poised to pierce Song Wanxi’s crown.

This was the line he had drawn, the boundary he would uphold under any circumstance. Only then would his threat hold weight.

But the sword tip only trembled slightly, freezing in place before Song Wanxi’s head.

His sword hand was no longer under his control!

Jiang Yan had engaged Jiang Wang in conversation precisely to seize that sword hand, neutralizing the threat at its source, eliminating future worries.

Jiang Wang had no idea how Jiang Yan had circumvented his control while the struggle within the Towering Heaven Palace remained unresolved. Such a feat must have required immense expenditure, or Jiang Yan would not have waited until now. The effect was undeniably potent. He had never witnessed such a technique, and thus, he fell victim to its ploy.

“Now, nothing can prevent our union,” Jiang Yan said ominously.

The Netherflame candle sped closer. The emerald hand that had extinguished the black-robed inner demon spread wide, exuding an aura of absolute control, its power astounding.

Amidst this sudden upheaval, Jiang Wang advanced instead of retreating, his sword a streak of lightning in defiance.

“My apologies, but I have little interest in merging with you!”

At that moment, the enfeebled Star-Coiling Serpent abruptly opened its serpentine eyes. It leaped up, jaws agape, and lunged to swallow the Netherflame from behind!

The blackness in its eyes had faded. The black markings upon its scales had vanished, replaced by twinkling starlight, lending it an air of immense, majestic, divine power!

This assault was sudden, a carefully orchestrated ploy by Jiang Wang, long in preparation.

Jiang Yan was intentionally stalling for time, but was not Jiang Wang doing the same?

As Jiang Yan subtly seized the sword hand during their conversation, Jiang Wang used that time to reawaken the Star-Coiling Serpent, to grasp his own Dao Meridian True Spirit, and reclaim his home ground advantage.

Both sides were restless, both intentionally prolonging the exchange, neither truly communicating with the other!

There could be no reconciliation. Once the facade was shattered, there could be no co-existence.

Caught off guard, Jiang Yan found himself in a pincer attack.

The scene from before, when the black-robed inner demon was on the verge of sentience, seemed to replay itself. Jiang Wang was once again reversing the situation.

But above the Netherflame candle, wisps of emerald smoke began to rise.

Beside the existing emerald hand, another emerald hand materialized.

The two hands swiftly reached out, one above, one below, firmly bracing the Star-Coiling Serpent’s massive jaws.

The Star-Coiling Serpent thrashed and bit, unleashing its full power, but its jaws would not close!

Meanwhile, the emerald smoke continued to condense.

A body, a head, limbs, even hair, clothing…

A tall, powerfully built man with ancient features appeared in mid-air.

He effortlessly held open the Star-Coiling Serpent’s jaws, pulling outward, as if intending to tear the serpent apart. But, perhaps considering the value of a Dao Meridian True Spirit, he retracted his hands and instead, amid the serpent’s anguished cries, unleashed a devastating punch!

This punch sent the Towering Heaven Palace-enhanced Star-Coiling Serpent crashing into the palace dome.

With a thunderous roar, the Star-Coiling Serpent fell, powerless, to the palace floor. It lay limp, like a lifeless snake, devoid of its former might.

Only then did the man of emerald smoke turn his head, his gaze falling upon Jiang Wang, and his sword.

His identity was now undeniable. He was none other than Zhuang Chengqian, the founding ancestor of Zhuang, who had established its centuries-long foundation!

He was the border-expanding general under Yong Ming Emperor Han Zhou, who declared himself king and seized land during the reign of Yong Emperor Han Yin.

He was the Daoist’s proxy in the Western Regions, the sworn brother of the Lord of Clear River, Song Hengjiang.

He had heralded the end of Yong’s dominance, personally obliterating the White Bone Dao hundreds of years ago.

He was the husband of the previous White Bone Saintess, Gu Yi, and shared a deep connection with Song Wanxi, the Dragon Princess of the Clear River.

That was why he was so knowledgeable about the Clear River Water Manor.

He was once a True Person of this era, now a lingering spirit dwelling within the Netherflame candle.

That was why he was able to guide Jiang Wang’s repeated escapes under the noses of Zhuang Gaoxian, Du Ruhui, and Song Hengjiang.

The death of Zhuang’s founding ancestor nearly two hundred years ago was a colossal event, and a far-reaching scheme.

Zhuang Chengqian had never truly died. He now sought to be reborn using Jiang Wang’s body!

Putting Zhuang Chengqian and Jiang Wang’s names together, the outcome was almost inevitable.

One was the founding ancestor of Zhuang. The other was a boy from a small town in Zhuang.

One was once a True Person of this era. The other was now an Inner Palace cultivator.

They coexisted, but were now enemies.

At this moment, facing Jiang Wang’s lightning-fast strike,

Zhuang Chengqian did not hesitate. He slapped at him with his palm!