Yuan Kong quickly lifted his gaze at An Xiaolin, then lowered his head again, devoutly bowing to the Buddha statue.
An Xiaolin scanned Mu Jialing and the others, then smiled at Mu Xin.
"So you meant they were also startled by me? But my obedient disciple is no ordinary person. She is a Saint… very likely!"
Mu Xin took a deep breath.
"Could you speak without such heavy breathing? You scared me into thinking she really was a Saint!"
An Xiaolin lifted the corners of his lips in a light smile, his gaze falling above the four great ferocious beasts.
"Look at the petals of the lotus floating everywhere. Even if she is not a Saint, how far could she be from one? Among all the people we know, she is the first cultivator capable of dispelling the heavenly punishment miasma!"
Mu Xin's eyes widened in astonishment.
The lotuses floated without wind, petals drifting down. The notorious four great ferocious beasts obediently raised their massive heads. Petals rained down, their fragrance intoxicating, and transformed into tiny points of light that merged into their bodies.
The four beasts tilted their heads back, letting out long, contented howls.
Amid the falling petals, a single Azure Lotus bloomed proudly, revealing a slender, graceful figure at its center. The delicate form moved with elegance, like a fairy's colorful ribbon ready to ride the wind at any moment.
Mu Xin and An Xiaolin were stunned.
Yuan Kong and Mu Jialing also opened their eyes, though they didn't know when.
All of them fixed their gaze on the graceful figure within the Azure Lotus, sensing that if they blinked, this vision might vanish forever.
"Disciple, I can understand your feelings now. One smile in the mortal world, and the city is drunk. Encountering such a Fairy must indeed be your tribulation!"
Yuan Kong shook his head, slowly folding his hands and murmuring a purification mantra. Had he delayed even slightly, the novices of Guan Fan Temple would have been subjected to the trials of mortal desires.
Mu Jialing silently reflected on Yuan Kong's words, withdrawing his gaze. He glanced at his entranced fellow disciples, sadness flashing in his eyes, and pressed his forehead heavily to the Buddha statue.
Thud!
The crisp sound of bones striking the blue bricks echoed through the serene temple.
Yao Ranran quickly scanned Mu Jialing, then looked at the kneeling disciples of Guan Fan Temple. She lightly tapped her toes on the Azure Lotus and leaped atop a ferocious beast's head.
"Go. Take this rain to every place covered in miasma!"
The four great ferocious beasts obeyed like well-trained kittens. Though fearsome in appearance and exuding deadly aura, under Yao Ranran's command, they showed no resistance.
Mu Xin and An Xiaolin watched Yao Ranran depart with the beasts, stunned into silence.
"Did you see that? Not only could she become a Saint, she is unbelievably beautiful, and most importantly, she is my own disciple! Hahaha, hahaha!"
An Xiaolin laughed uncontrollably.
Anyone with such a disciple would be overwhelmed with pride and joy.
Mu Xin pressed his lips together, looking at him with mixed feelings.
"You've been the Palace Master of Shuixi Palace your whole life. This is the one thing you did perfectly right."
"Hahaha, hahaha, you are correct!"
Hearing this, An Xiaolin laughed even more heartily, anger nowhere in sight.
As Yao Ranran rode one of the ferocious beasts out of Guan Fan Temple, the miasma within hundreds of miles dissolved under the beasts' power.
She received a transmission talisman from the Eastern Wilderness. While assisting Wuxiang Sect, Qin Lüsha's allies in the Central Domain had immediately sent word to her.
Through the talisman, Qin Lüsha detailed the situation in the Central Domain. If Yao Ranran wished to fully drive out the spirit realm cultivators, she would first need to strike down the remnants of the Xing family in Ban Qingcheng.
The Xing family, a major Central Domain clan, had numerous cultivators ascending to the spirit realm. They operated collectively, contributing significantly to plans to occupy the lower realm, and shared leadership with the Wu family.
After hearing the report, Yao Ranran halted the beasts, fixing her gaze toward Ban Qingcheng.
"No wonder Wuxiang Sect could be abandoned. The mastermind of this war is the Xing family!"
On the surface, the Xing family aligned with Wuxiang Sect, but secretly, they aimed to replace it and become the sole dominant clan in the Central Domain.
"The Xing family's persistence is insidious. This time, even if not for the Central Domain's treasures, I will eliminate every one of you pests!"
Lotus blossoms sprouted beneath her feet. Her figure moved like the wind, rushing past several cities. In an instant, she and a ferocious beast stood atop Ban Qingcheng's massive city walls.
Through the drifting gray mist, she saw the Yu family kneeling in submission.
Xing Rui stood above them, a ten-thousand-year Xuan Ice jade bed placed between them. On the bed was only a ceramic jar.
She held the jar in sorrow, glancing back with hatred at Yu Weifeng's face.
"You do not deserve to be her father. Our Xing family does not need a useless person like you!"
She scolded Yu Weifeng harshly.
Yu Weifeng's lips trembled as he timidly climbed a step.
"Rui Rui, it is my fault. I failed to protect Zhen Yan. I wanted Yao Ranran to return to the Yu family to torment her, to avenge Zhen Yan!"
Xing Rui coldly scanned his face.
"Would you really do that?"
"Yes, I will avenge our daughter! Rui Rui, you must believe me!"
Yu Weifeng nervously glanced at the elders seated inside the mansion, humbly pleading to Xing Rui.
Xing Rui's lips curved into a cold smile. She slowly approached Yu Weifeng. Just as he was about to smile, she suddenly kicked him to the ground, sending him crashing against the city wall.
"You no longer have the qualification! I will avenge Zhen Yan. Killing that bitch's mother back then, I knew leaving her alive would bring disaster. My momentary softness ruined my daughter. Now, with the Xing family elders descending to the lower realm, she will pay a heavy price. She will know the strength of my Xing family and her own uselessness!"
"Hahaha, yes! True words from a Xing family child!"
No sooner had Xing Rui spoken than a loud laugh rang out from the city lord's mansion.
With the growing laughter, a figure appeared above the ten-thousand-year Xuan Ice jade bed, hands clasped behind his back.
Xing Rui immediately bowed to him.
Yu Weifeng coughed up blood, clutching his chest as he struggled to raise his eyes.
Xing Xiangwei glanced at Yu Weifeng with contempt, then lifted his eyelids to look at the dense mist atop the city wall.
"Since Master has arrived, why not show yourself?"
Yao Ranran looked down at the ferocious beast beneath her and around her, then hesitantly pushed it out.
"I am not Master. Could the Master he mentioned be it?"
The ferocious beast Taowu stepped out of the mist, confused.
Xing Rui looked at Xing Xiangwei in surprise.
"Old Ancestor, did the old bald monk from Guan Fan Temple barge into Ban Qingcheng?"
Xing Xiangwei smiled faintly.
"No, who else could it be?"