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In the sky above the Red Maple Forest of the Southwest Suburbs of Jiangnan, Miao Guanyin descended with Zhou Manman. With a swirl of her right hand, red maple leaves danced and scattered in all directions.
Miao Guanyin observed the traces where the red maple leaves were obstructed in the distance and led Zhou Manman toward it. It was an illusion that appeared to be a mountain range. As they stepped into the illusion, a beautiful countryside unfolded before them.
Zhou Manman remarked, "This place is truly peculiar. Outside, it is the harsh winter with heavy snow, yet here it feels like autumn with red maples, warm as spring inside."
Miao Guanyin replied, "It is a simple matter for those of the Daoist Sect to set up formations that alter the seasons within a certain range."
As they spoke, Yang Sanqian and Jiyao flew in from a nearby farmhouse. Upon seeing Miao Guanyin, they approached and bowed, saying, "We greet you, Senior Miao Guanyin."
"There is no need for such formalities," Miao Guanyin said. "Jiyao, where is your son Yang Hao?"
Jiyao responded, "He sensed that Douding was in trouble and went to rescue him in Dunhuang. It is six thousand miles to Dunhuang; we cannot rush there, so we are waiting here for his return."
"Douding?" Miao Guanyin was unfamiliar with who Douding was.
Jiyao explained, "He is the Living Buddha of this generation from the Buddhist Sect, known by the Dharma name Shanxin."
Miao Guanyin remarked, "Even the Living Buddha has manifested in this world. It seems that this time, the Daoist Catastrophe will not spare even the Buddhist Sect."
Zhou Manman looked at Jiyao and said, "Manman pays her respects to the Holy Maiden."
Miao Guanyin asked, "How did you come to be with Senior Miao Guanyin?"
Zhou Manman replied, "After Supreme returned that day, Yang Hao and I entered the Kunlun Secret Realm. We encountered a Beast Tide and were separated. I thought everyone had gone deeper into Kunlun, so I set out alone to find Yang Hao. I didn't expect to wander further away until I lost track of where I was."
Miao Guanyin said, "On that day when the Kunlun Secret Realm was destroyed, I sensed a strange power emerging and went to investigate. In the depths west of the secret realm, I found Manman. Seeing her practicing Renewal of Withered Trees, I guessed she must be a descendant of Yaochi and rescued her."
Jiyao took Zhou Manman's hand and said, "You have suffered, Manman."
Zhou Manman shook her head and replied, "With Senior Miao Guanyin taking care of me along the way, it is actually the Holy Maiden who has returned safely. The Saint Sovereign will surely be comforted knowing this."
Jiyao added, "Manman, you can call me auntie from now on. Although we are fellow disciples, Yaochi no longer exists. Besides, you are going to be Hao's future bride; you will eventually call me mother."
"What about Yunxi?" Yang Sanqian suddenly interjected, his expression serious.
"Do you think you'll die if you say a few less words?" Jiyao shot a glance at Yang Sanqian.
Yang Sanqian's face turned awkward, but he quickly understood Jiyao's meaning.
Zhou Manman said, "Auntie, the last time we met, Yang Hao was only in the Divine Transformation Realm. How could he suddenly suffer from an Injury of the Dao?"
Jiyao replied, "Now he is in the Dao Fruit Realm. A lot has happened during your absence. After he left Kunlun, he was deceived by Li Chang'an and taken to the Yang Family, where his cultivation was wasted and his Golden Core stolen. Later, at Mount Hua Summit, various sects forced him to hand over the Book of Life and Death and the Martial Dao Classic. In the end, it was then that a desperate Hao attempted to comprehend the Way of Power in hopes of changing his fate. He managed to survive, but who would have thought he would face punishment?"
Seeing Jiyao's sadness, Zhou Manman comforted her, "He has encountered countless dangers along the way and has always turned misfortune into fortune. This time, he will surely be fine."
Yang Sanqian asked, "By the way, senior, what brings you here this time?"
Miao Guanyin replied, "Firstly, I came to visit Manman and Yang Hao. Since Yang Hao is not here, there is another matter I need to investigate regarding the death of Supreme Nangong Yun."
"Senior is looking for the Sun Refining Cauldron, right?" Guo Daozhen approached from behind. "The South Sea Supreme graces us with your presence; Daozhen has failed to welcome you properly and hopes for your understanding."
Miao Guanyin said, "A remarkable person like Guo Daozhen has inherited the Old Scholar's Divination Technique; indeed, your reputation is well-deserved. Do you know where the Sun Refining Cauldron is?"
Guo Daozhen replied, "The Sun Refining Cauldron has already appeared, but I cannot calculate its exact location."
Miao Guanyin continued, "Although Nangong Yun was injured by an Evil Weapon at Sword Pavilion, how could a Supreme be killed so easily?"
Guo Daozhen explained, "A few days ago, both Yang Hao and Yunxi sensed that the Living Buddha was in trouble and used Time Walk to travel thousands of miles to Dunhuang. Shortly after that, news of Nangong Yun's fall spread. It seems that Nangong Yun was indeed injured by an Evil Weapon; holding the Seven-Colored Relic, he attempted to seize the Living Buddha's Golden Body to restore his power but ended up losing his life instead."
"I see," Miao Guanyin said. "The Sun Refining Cauldron is a Sacred Artifact passed down from the Serpent Cult. With Nangong Yun dead, it will surely change hands. I need to find the Sun Refining Cauldron as soon as possible."
Yang Sanqian asked, "May I ask why senior is so eager to find the Sun Refining Cauldron?"
"Naturally to refine the Book of Life and Death. The Sun Refining Cauldron can refine all things; I believe it can also refine the Book of Life and Death. Furthermore, I have been feeling uneasy lately without knowing why," Miao Guanyin said as she looked at Guo Daozhen. "Could you perhaps divine something for me?"
Guo Daozhen replied humbly, "I am ashamed; although I understand a bit about divination techniques, your power far exceeds mine. Even if I were to cast a divination for you, it would not reveal your future clearly. Forcing such an inquiry would not be good for either of us. As for how to find the Sun Refining Cauldron, I believe you need not worry; it will soon reveal itself."
"That's good." Miao Guanyin looked at Zhou Manman. "Manman, since you are an old acquaintance of Jiyao, you should stay here. I need to meet an old friend and it's not convenient to bring you along."
"I understand, senior," Zhou Manman replied.
Guo Daozhen glanced at Miao Guanyin, taking a sharp breath. "Are you going to see the Supreme?"
"That's right, the Sword Elder of the Sword Pavilion. What else can you deduce?" Miao Guanyin said.
"That's not it; I must have misjudged," Guo Daozhen replied.
After Miao Guanyin left, Huzi came out from the fields. The two had changed significantly since their last parting in Kunlun. Now, Huzi had obtained the Dragon God's Heart and practiced the Dragon Clan's Cultivation Method, reaching the Dao Fruit Realm at Great Perfection, just one step away from entering the Mahayana Realm.
Guo Huaiyi also heard the commotion and came out. Upon seeing Guo Huaiyi, Zhou Manman felt a surge of anger. It was Guo Huaiyi who had taken her soul back at Futu Ridge Mingyue Village, using the Yin Marriage method to resurrect her. Now, as they met again, Guo Huaiyi wore a playful grin while Zhou Manman’s eyes turned red.
"I'll kill you!" Zhou Manman shouted as she struck towards Guo Huaiyi.
Guo Huaiyi was close to the Mahayana Realm and naturally wasn't afraid of Zhou Manman. Huzi paused for a moment; he knew about their past grievances from their time at Futu Ridge and pointed at Guo Huaiyi. "Guo Huaiyi, I warn you, if you dare to touch Manman, don’t blame me for taking action against you!"
While dodging, Guo Huaiyi said, "Zhou Manman, I had no choice back then. Besides, it's been so long since that incident. You not only survived but also had the Yaochi Saintess personally reconstruct your body and learned the Renewal of Withered Trees reverse technique. Yang Hao is also one of the top talents in the Daoist Sect. Please let go of past grievances and turn hostility into friendship."
Zhou Manman snorted and withdrew her hand coldly. "I was driven to desperation because of you; your contributions mean nothing. Sooner or later, I'll make you wish you were dead."
Behind them, Yang Sanqian asked, "Daozhen, did you notice anything unusual about Senior Miao Guanyin?"
Guo Daozhen replied, "I sensed that she might face a calamity on this trip, but it vanished in an instant. Perhaps I just misread it."
Jiyao added, "Aside from Supreme Nangong Yun of the Divine Serpent Sect and Old Scholar Yinshan, the other three Supremes have good relations with her. My master mentioned Miao Guanyin and Sword Elder when he was alive. Miao Guanyin is known for her integrity and possesses one of the highest cultivation methods among them. Sword Elder is also decent; he lacks ambition for power. He didn’t even show up when the Sword Pavilion was destroyed—how could he harm Senior Miao Guanyin?"
"That's why I must have seen it wrong," Guo Daozhen said.
Yang Sanqian looked at the quarreling Zhou Manman and Guo Huaiyi and asked, "These two young people have a history?"
Guo Daozhen replied, "Some events occurred at Futu Ridge back then; it was my fault. I feel ashamed."
At this moment, Miao Guanyin, having left on her lotus feet, was flying towards Spirit Mist Mountain, where the Sword Elder resided by the Peach Blossom Stream. Draped in her Daoist robe, a layer of clear energy surrounded her, shielding her from the strong winds at high altitude.
As she passed between the village of the Emei Sect and the Red Maple Forest, Miao Guanyin suddenly felt a wave of palpitations. The previously clear sky was suddenly shrouded in dark clouds, and lightning flickered within them, resembling a thunder dragon that struck fear into the heart.
Suddenly, a brilliant light shone down upon Miao Guanyin. Thunder roared as countless bolts of lightning converged from the clouds, striking towards her.
"How could this happen? I did not provoke the thunder tribulation!" Miao Guanyin exclaimed in shock, her expression changing drastically. "Could it be that my power has reached the limit of the Nine Thunder Tribulation?"
As Miao Guanyin pondered this, she suddenly let out a grunt and clutched her head as she fell from above. Just as she was about to hit the ground, a lotus flower flew up and caught her.
Fuming with anger, Miao Guanyin looked up at the clouds and shouted, "Yang Kaishan, is this your doing?"
The Old Scholar laughed heartily, his voice echoing from the clouds. A massive hand of thunder descended; Miao Guanyin raised her hand to meet it, causing the mountains and rivers to tremble. The thunderous hand struck down with a bang, creating an explosion of light that shook the void, devastating the landscape and sending debris flying.
The Old Scholar's figure appeared on a mountain peak before Miao Guanyin. With a smile on his face and dressed in scholar's robes with a topknot atop his head, he said, "Miao Guanyin, we meet again!"
Miao Guanyin replied, "Yang Kaishan, do you think injuring me with your thunder will give you the upper hand?"
The Old Scholar responded, "Last time at Sword Pavilion there were too many variables for me to take your life. But next time we meet will be your end."
With that, he extended his right hand and stirred the dark clouds above him. The clouds pressed downwards, forming a black tornado that darkened the ground and lifted everything in its path.
Miao Guanyin summoned a blue jade bottle into her hand and chanted an incantation. The swirling black clouds and storm were all absorbed into the bottle.
"I almost forgot that your Guanyin Monastery possesses a Sacred Artifact—the Jade Purity Bottle—that ignores any Daoist Arts," said the Old Scholar.
Miao Guanyin retorted, "I have no interest in wasting time with you here. I will not hand over the Book of Life and Death; you might as well give up on that idea."
The Old Scholar declared, "Do you really think you can escape today?"
Miao Guanyin shot back, "You think you can snatch the Book of Life and Death from me? You overestimate yourself!"
The Old Scholar laughed heartily again as he spread his arms wide. Eight blue Gold Leaf Talismans appeared around him, floating in midair before quickly vanishing from sight.
"What do you want to do?" Miao Guanyin asked, frowning.
The Old Scholar replied, "I have sealed the void. Today, one of us must lie here."
Miao Guanyin said, "Have you gone mad? At our level, it is not easy to kill each other. You are already over a hundred and forty years old; can you not see through the disputes of fame and fortune?"
The Old Scholar responded, "It's not that I can't stand the disputes of fame and fortune; it's that I don't want to die. I possess the Spring and Autumn Reincarnation Pen, which I have painstakingly studied for years to discover the method to reverse one's lifespan. If you now hand me the Book of Life and Death, together we can rewrite our destinies and each live for a thousand years."
Miao Guanyin remarked, "It seems that the Death and Life Register Incident was indeed your doing."
The Old Scholar confirmed, "That's right. With the birth dates of disciples from various sects in my hands, I can kill anyone at will. The one who possesses both the Book of Life and Death and the Spring and Autumn Reincarnation Pen is the god of this incident. Immortality will no longer be a dream; I can make it a reality."
"You truly are obsessed with immortality," Miao Guanyin said.
"The imperial ambitions of emperors will end with dynastic changes. Even powerful beings like Buddha and Dao Sovereign cannot reach the Dao due to their limited lifespans. Exploring whether there are higher realms beyond the Tribulation Realm, as extraordinary beings like us do, what is wrong with seeking immortality?" The Old Scholar shouted, pointing at Miao Guanyin. "I ask you again: will you return the Book of Life and Death or not?"
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