Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

"Don't even think about hurting Brother Lin Zhu!" "You ant dare to block me?" Jia Ye sneered, his palm strike increasing rather than decreasing.

With a deafening roar, the two forces collided, sending up towering waves that rose thousands of feet high.

Xiao Qiong groaned, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. Her petite body retreated dozens of steps in mid-air, but she still stood firmly in front of Lin Zhu.

"Xiao Qiong! Step back!" Lin Zhu opened his eyes amidst the lightning tribulation, his voice filled with unprecedented anxiety.

"No!" Xiao Qiong wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her eyes filled with stubbornness.

I said I would protect you!

Venerable Kasyapa's golden body swelled again, and three halos of Buddha light appeared behind his head, but upon closer inspection, cracks could be seen at the edges of those halos.

"A mere Taiyi Golden Immortal dares to contend with me with just a spiritual treasure? Today I will show you what it means to be an inviolable Great Luo Immortal!" He formed hand seals, and thousands of golden Buddhist swords condensed in the air, each exuding an aura of destruction.

"Great Brahma Sword Formation!"

Sword rain poured down, and Xiao Qiong bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the Seven Treasures Tree.

"Seven treasures protect the body, impervious to all magic!" A seven-colored light screen unfolded, protecting her and Lin Zhu within it.

The Buddha sword struck the light screen, producing a deafening explosion.

With each impact, Xiao Qiong's face grew paler.

"puff"

After the third wave of sword rain, Xiao Qiong finally couldn't hold on any longer and spat out a mouthful of blood, staining her chest red.

"Xiao Qiong!" Lin Zhu's eyes were bloodshot, and the lightning ring around his body vibrated violently, revealing the raging fire in his heart.

Upon seeing this, Venerable Kasyapa laughed heartily, "What a pair of lovesick fools! I will grant your wish today, so you can keep each other company on the road to the underworld!"

He clasped his hands together, and a phantom image of a thousand-armed Buddha appeared behind him, each hand holding a Buddhist treasure.

"Thousand Hands Subdue Demons!"

A thousand golden beams of light crashed down simultaneously, and Xiao Qiong's eyes were filled with determination.

She tossed the Seven Treasures Tree into the air, her hands quickly forming hand seals. "With my essence and blood, I refine the Seven Treasures!" The Seven Treasures Tree suddenly enlarged, transforming into a towering giant tree that forcefully withstood this earth-shattering blow.

"Crack." A crisp cracking sound rang out as one of the branches of the Seven Treasures Tree broke, its spiritual light dimming.

As if struck by lightning, Xiao Qiong plummeted like a kite with a broken string, but managed to twist her body in mid-air and once again stand in front of Lin Zhu.

"Why?" Lin Zhu's voice trembled, her eyes flashing with a mixture of lightning and tears.

Xiao Qiong forced a smile, "Because...you are the most important person to me."

Venerable Kasyapa snorted coldly, "A dying struggle!" He raised his hand and a golden flying sword flew out from his sleeve, heading straight for Xiao Qiong's heart.

"No!" Lin Zhu roared, which attracted a bolt of lightning that shattered one of the lightning rings around him.

Xiao Qiong barely managed to raise the Seven Treasures Tree to block, but it was already at its limit.

With a clang, the Seven Treasures Tree flew out of her hand, and the golden flying sword pierced through her shoulder, spraying out a burst of blood.

"It's over." Venerable Kasyapa announced expressionlessly, his flying sword turning back and piercing straight for Xiao Qiong's brow.

At the critical moment, Xiao Qiong suddenly smiled.

She turned to look at Lin Zhu, her eyes filled with longing, "Brother Lin Zhu, you must live."

"Boom!" The moment the flying sword pierced through, a dazzling light erupted from Xiao Qiong's body. He actually managed to block this fatal blow at the cost of destroying his primordial spirit.

After the light faded, she fell into the surging waves like a butterfly with broken wings and disappeared.

"Xiao Qiong!!!" Lin Zhu's roar shook the heavens and earth, and three of the nine lightning rings shattered at the same time, showing his overwhelming anger and grief at this moment.

Venerable Kasyapa was also jolted back several steps by this sudden outburst, his face grim. "Madman! He's even willing to abandon reincarnation for a man!"

He turned to look at Lin Zhu, his eyes filled with even more murderous intent. "Since that's the case, I'll send you to see her!"

After saying that, he took out a long sword that was completely black from his bosom, the blade of which was wrapped in a chilling aura.

Upon seeing this from afar, the Holy Mother of Wudang exclaimed in shock, "The Immortal-Slaying Sword! This is the most precious treasure of my Jie Sect, how could it be in his hands?"

The Three Immortal Maidens' expressions changed drastically. "Oh no! Lin Zhu is in grave danger!"

Venerable Kasyapa raised the Immortal Slaughtering Sword high, laughing triumphantly, "This sword was personally bestowed by the Buddha, and is dedicated to slaying you wicked creatures! To die beneath the Four Swords of Immortal Slaughtering is your honor!"

When the Immortal-Slaying Sword was drawn, the world changed color.

A jet-black sword light ripped through the sky, cracking even the space itself in its wake.

This sword strike contained the supreme power to slay immortals and gods; even a quasi-saint would not dare to take it head-on.

"Lin Zhu!" The Holy Mother of Wudang wanted to help, but was stopped by other experts from the Western Sect. She could only watch helplessly as the sword light of death slashed towards Lin Zhu, who was still undergoing tribulation.

The instant the sword light struck, Lin Zhu suddenly looked up, his eyes devoid of any human emotion, filled only with icy killing intent, "Kasyapa."

His voice seemed to come from the deepest hell, "I will make you pay for your crimes in blood!"

With a deafening roar, the remaining six lightning rings shattered simultaneously, unleashing unprecedented power from Lin Zhu's body.

At the same time, the Holy Spirit Cloak behind him moved without wind, radiating brilliant light and transforming into a shield of light in front of him.

The light from the Immortal Slayer Sword collided with the light shield, unleashing a blinding burst of light.

Shockingly, the Immortal Slaying Sword Light, which was said to be able to cut through anything, was actually blocked!

"What?" Venerable Kasyapa's eyes widened, unable to believe what he was seeing.

What shocked him even more was that an indescribable force of recoil came along with the sword light, sending him flying and crashing heavily onto the sea, creating a thousand-meter-high wave.

There was dead silence on the battlefield.

Everyone stared blankly at the figure still shrouded in lightning tribulation, unable to comprehend how he could withstand the fatal blow of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword while undergoing tribulation.

Lin Zhu slowly stood up, his body enveloped in shattered lightning and new life force.

Blood trickled from Lin Zhu's lips, and fragments of the Holy Spirit Cloak scattered at his feet like withered petals.

Venerable Kasyapa held the Immortal-Slaying Sword, his golden Buddhist light revealing a chilling killing intent as he approached him step by step.

"Benefactor Lin, today is the day you face your tribulation."

Venerable Kasyapa's voice was calm, but his eyes held a cold light.

Lin Zhu struggled to his feet, his spiritual energy nearly depleted.

He glanced at the four women of the Jie Sect who were entangled by three Arhats in the distance. Yunxiao's sword light was sharp but she could not break free, Bixiao's Hunyuan Golden Cauldron was suppressed by the Buddha's light, and Qiongxiao and Fairy Caiyun were also trapped in the formation.

"It seems I'm really going to perish here today," Lin Zhu sighed inwardly, but suddenly felt a strange fluctuation coming from beneath his feet.

Venerable Kasyapa raised the Immortal Slayer Sword high, the sword hummed, and a sword aura powerful enough to tear through space slashed down!

At this critical moment, the ground suddenly cracked open, and the scarlet Styx water shot into the sky like a living thing, forming a water curtain barrier.

The sword energy of the Immortal Slayer Sword struck the water curtain, but vanished without a trace, like a mud ox entering the sea.

"Who goes there?" Venerable Kasyapa's expression changed drastically, and he took three steps back.

Two figures, one green and one blue, floated down from the sky, like two lotus flowers of different colors.

The woman in the green dress landed gracefully, her skirt swirling slightly, revealing a section of her fair, jade-like calves.

Her features were exquisitely beautiful, and her lips parted slightly. "Oh dear, isn't this Venerable Kasyapa of the Western Sect? Bullying my husband, how arrogant you are!"

The woman in blue stood silently beside Lin Zhu, her expression cold and aloof, holding a short, transparent sword.

"Princess Liu Man, the Second Princess of the Styx, and Princess Su Lengyu, the Thirteenth Princess?" Venerable Kasyapa's pupils constricted slightly. "Your Styx River is also going to get involved in this matter?"

Seeing this, the four women from the Jie Sect in the distance slowed their attacks.

Yunxiao forced back the Arhat in front of him with a single sword strike, then looked over in surprise and uncertainty.

"When did Junior Brother Lin become entangled with Princess Styx? And...and her husband?"

Lin Zhu himself was also completely bewildered. He did know the two princesses, but their relationship was definitely not that close. In particular, Liu Man's calling him "husband" sent chills down his spine.

"Miss Liu, Miss Su, thank you for saving us."

Lin Zhu cupped her hands in greeting, then lowered her voice, "But what's this 'husband' all about?"

Liu Man turned around and smiled, her eyes revealing a hint of grievance.

"You heartless man, that's not what you said on the banks of the River Styx that day."

Her slender, pale fingers gently touched his chest. "What, trying to renege on your promise now?"

Venerable Kasyapa snorted coldly, "Princess, this boy is someone our Western Sect must kill. Please give us some face."

"face?"

Su Lengyu finally spoke, her voice as cold as her sword, "When the Western Sect attacked my Styx border, they didn't give me any face."

Liu Man completely ignored Jia Ye, turned around and took Lin Zhu's arm, saying sweetly, "Husband, this old bald monk is so annoying, why don't we join forces to teach him a lesson?"

Lin Zhu felt the soft touch on her arm and the delicate fragrance lingering around her nose, and for a moment she was in a daze.

But he quickly came to his senses; saving his life was the priority, and he didn't care about her husband.

"My wife is right."

Lin Zhu suddenly changed his tune, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "I almost lost my life just now, thanks to my wife's timely arrival."

Liu Man was clearly taken aback, not expecting Lin Zhu to cooperate so readily.

A mischievous glint in her eyes, she tiptoed and gave Lin Zhu a light peck on the cheek, "That's a good girl."

Seeing this scene, Bixiao, who was far away, almost crushed the Hunyuan Golden Bucket in her hand.

"This is outrageous!"

Venerable Kasyapa's face darkened. "Is the Styx going to war with my Western Sect?"

"War?"

Liu Man covered her mouth and chuckled, "Your Excellency is too kind. We were just passing by and saw someone bullying my husband, so we helped out."

As she spoke, she flicked her fingers, and a stream of Styx water coiled around the Immortal Slayer Sword like a serpent.

The Immortal Slayer Sword trembled slightly under the influence of the Styx River water, and Venerable Kasyapa hurriedly activated Buddhist teachings to stabilize the sword.

Seeing this, Su Lengyu said coldly, "Sister, stop playing around."

She turned to Lin Zhu, "We don't have much time, so hurry up if you need help."

Lin Zhu understood and immediately said to Liu Man, "Wife, let's deal with this old monk first, then we can catch up?"

Liu Man giggled, "My husband is so good with words."

Her expression suddenly hardened, and the Styx River surged around her. "Kasyapa, I'll give you three breaths to leave, or else..."

Venerable Kasyapa's expression shifted rapidly.

Although he was strong, his chances of winning against the two Styx Princesses and Lin Zhu were slim. Moreover, the four women of the Jie Sect in the distance were gradually gaining the upper hand.

"Very well! The Western Religion will remember this matter!"

Kasyapa gritted his teeth and transformed into golden light, fleeing into the distance.

Upon seeing this, the three Arhats also hurriedly retreated.

With the crisis averted, Lin Zhu breathed a sigh of relief, only to find that Liu Man was still holding his arm.

He tried to pull away, but the other person only held on tighter.

"Junior Brother Lin!"

Yunxiao and his three companions flew over, their gazes shifting between Lin Zhu and the two princesses with complex emotions.

Lin Zhu smiled awkwardly, "Senior sisters, this is..."

“I’m his wife,” Liu Man said first, deliberately leaning closer to Lin Zhu. “Right, husband?”

Lin Zhu felt four burning gazes and nodded with a forced smile, "Uh, I guess so."

Bixiao stomped her foot in anger, "Lin Zhu! When did you..."

"Alright, Bixiao."

Yunxiao pressed down on his sister's shoulder, looking at the two princesses warily. "Thank you for your help, Your Highnesses. May I ask what brings you here?"

Su Lengyu said indifferently, "Just passing by."

Liu Man smiled and said, "It's only right to save one's own husband." She suddenly leaned close to Lin Zhu's ear and whispered, "Husband, I came here specifically to see you."

My father said, "Since the deed is done, why not choose a date to hold the wedding?"

"what?!"

Even Qiongxiao couldn't help but exclaim in surprise this time.

Lin Zhu was sweating profusely. He finally understood what Liu Man was planning: she wanted to make the charade real!

"Miss Liu, is there some misunderstanding between us?" Lin Zhu asked cautiously.

Liu Man's eyes flashed with a dangerous light. "Misunderstanding? That day by the River Styx, you peeked at me bathing, and..."

"stop!"

Lin Zhu quickly interrupted, he didn't remember such a thing at all, "Let's talk this out!"

Su Lengyu suddenly interrupted, "Sister, stop fooling around."

She looked at Lin Zhu, "We do have something to discuss with you, about what happened to you."

Liu Man coughed suddenly, interrupting her sister.

Su Lengyu understood and immediately changed her words, "About the debt you owe us."

Lin Zhu was completely baffled, but his intuition told him that there must be something fishy going on.

The most important thing right now is to stabilize the situation.

On the shores of the East China Sea, golden light filled the sky.

Venerable Kasyapa narrowly dodged Su Lengyu's Asura Netherworld Scythe, a corner of his robe was cut off, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

He harbored a deep resentment; how could a dignified Western Sect Master be forced into such a predicament by two Asura women?

"Second Princess, are you really going to make an enemy of the Western Sect for this boy?"

Venerable Kasyapa gritted his teeth, and the prayer beads in his hand emitted a faint Buddhist light, but it was clearly no match for the blood-red baleful aura surrounding Su Lengyu.

Su Lengyu sneered, her scythe drawing a bloody arc in the air. "Bald monk, enough nonsense! If you dare touch my people, you'll pay the price!"

Behind her, Liu Man held a blood-red longsword, its tip pointed directly at Venerable Kasyapa's throat, her eyes filled with murderous intent. "Sister, don't waste words with him, just send him to see your Buddha!"

Lin Zhu stood behind the two women, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He was toying with a jade slip in his hand, seemingly relaxed, but in reality, he was secretly observing the changes in the battle situation.

The two princesses of the Styx River were far more powerful than he had expected, no wonder Venerable Kasyapa was in such a sorry state.

"Ladies, be careful he might do something desperate."

Lin Zhu gently reminded him, her tone tinged with a hint of teasing.

Su Lengyu's ears turned slightly red upon hearing this, but her attack with the scythe became even more ferocious.

Although she couldn't address Lin Zhu as "husband" directly like Liu Man did, her feelings were already self-evident.

Venerable Kasyapa was retreating steadily, and it seemed he was about to be defeated. (End of Chapter)