This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Thunder rolls from the sky.

Zhong Bai hovered in the sky, watching bolts of lightning begin to gather, his heart remaining relatively calm.

The terror of the first level of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts continues, and his physical body and true essence are undergoing a transformation.

boom!
A bolt of lightning struck down, landing directly on Zhong Bai. The lightning enveloped Zhong Bai, and its power even illuminated the entire city of Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Countless people looked up at the void...

"Strange, the sky was clear just a moment ago, and now it's about to rain."

"Hahaha, Madam Li, let's ignore the changing weather and hurry up and pack our clothes!"

The people of Suzhou and Hangzhou are mostly like this, busy tidying up the clothes that have been drying in the sun.

Meanwhile, Xu Xian, who was working as an apprentice at the clinic, returned to his brother-in-law and sister's home.

dong dong dong...

As the knocking sounded, Xu Jiaorong opened the door and saw her younger brother. She felt both sorry for him and amused, especially since Xu Xian's clothes were soaked.

"It's raining so hard, why did you come back? You could have just stayed at the clinic to avoid the rain."

Xu Xian just chuckled.

After entering the house, she wiped the raindrops from her forehead with her sleeve and said, "Sister, it rained when I was delivering medicine to someone. Going back to the clinic is not as convenient as going home."

As Xu Jiaorong listened, she brought her younger brother a cup of hot water.

"You're quite clever."

Little brother, you're not young anymore. When our parents passed away, they told me, as your older sister, to start thinking about your marriage as soon as possible.

Now that you're about to graduate from your apprenticeship at the clinic, your brother-in-law and I will invest some money so you can open your own clinic. It's also time to find someone who cares about you and understands your needs.

When Xu Xian heard his sister say this, he felt a little guilty. From childhood to adulthood, his sister and brother-in-law had raised him like their own son, and had even been thinking about his marriage.

Seemingly noticing that Xu Xian was somewhat downcast, Xu Jiaorong then added, "Our parents passed away early, and everyone says that an elder sister is like a mother. There's no room for discussion on this matter!"

Xu Xian nodded repeatedly.

"No, no, I'm not refusing. It's an arranged marriage, and my elder sister wouldn't harm me. I'll listen to her!"

As Xu Xian spoke these words, two streaks of light disappeared from the room.

White House.

Bai Suzhen was originally worried that someone undergoing the tribulation to become an immortal would be targeting her and Xu Xian.

Therefore, he transformed into a streak of light and arrived at Xu Xian's house, where he overheard the conversation between the siblings.

Xiaoqing was also with them, and the two sisters became somewhat silent at this moment.

"Sister, this Xu Xian is not right for you!"

Xiaoqing spoke first. She had overheard Xu Xian's conversation with the second person. In general, Xu Xian was a well-behaved man. This kind of personality wasn't necessarily bad, but for Bai Suzhen, if she really wanted to be with him, it would be absolutely impossible without using some means.

Deceive me or leave...

This is the choice that Bai Suzhen is faced with.

She understood this principle.

Taking a deep breath, Bai Suzhen couldn't help but sigh.

"Xiaoqing, let me think about this some more. Give me some time."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoqing stopped and began to change the subject.

"By the way, sister, I wonder who it was that transcended tribulation to become an immortal, appearing right above Suzhou and Hangzhou. I just wonder if they succeeded..."

Even now, neither the Green Snake nor the White Snake believe that Zhong Bai is undergoing the tribulation. After all, they had just met recently, so how could he be facing the tribulation of becoming an immortal so soon?
In the sky, Zhong Bai was unaware of all this; at the moment, he was focused on preparing for his tribulation!

As the lightning enveloped him, countless life forces were born within his body. His flesh and bones were constantly transforming, his heart was pounding faster and faster, his blood changed from bright red to a slight golden hue, and his bones became crystal clear, faintly radiating light.

His aura continued to rise until countless true essences within his dantian and primordial spirit converged into a single stream of energy—this was immortal energy!
As this wisp of immortal energy was born, a second and a third appeared one after another, with more and more immortal energy flowing through Zhong Bai's body. At this moment, Zhong Bai didn't even care about the thunder in the sky, and was only focused on his own transformation.

The improvement encompasses bones and muscles, blood vessels and tendons, and is comprehensive, while Zhong Bai's spiritual consciousness also continues to expand.

An aura unique to immortals spread out. Even though the heavenly lightning still did not stop, the power of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts was somewhat unexpected. After breaking through the realm, the falling lightning was no longer a threat.

"Disperse!"

As if already knowing that they couldn't do anything to Zhong Bai, the dark clouds in the sky immediately dissipated as soon as Zhong Bai finished speaking, and then the sun shone brightly on the earth, as if everything that had just happened had never occurred.

......................................................

In Jinshan Temple, Zen Master Fahai sat upright in his meditation room.

He was draped in a golden-red robe, the gold threads on which shimmered with a mysterious light in the dim candlelight, as if containing boundless Buddhist power.

Zen Master Fahai had a stern face and his eyes were closed, but there was a hint of irritation between his brows.

He was already at the peak of the Primordial Spirit realm, only one step away from becoming an immortal. However, the inner demon that had haunted him for hundreds of years could not be eliminated.

That scene from hundreds of years ago, like an inescapable shadow, has always lingered in his mind.

He went through countless hardships to obtain a few precious elixirs, which were crucial opportunities for him to improve his cultivation level and embark on the path to immortality.

It was accidentally stolen and consumed by the thousand-year-old snake demon Bai Suzhen.

From that time on, this resentment took root in his heart like a seed, growing stronger with the passage of time.

Now, upon learning from Zhong Bai that Bai Suzhen was actually in Suzhou and Hangzhou, the long-suppressed anger in Zen Master Fahai's heart erupted like a volcano, and he could no longer contain it.

He slowly stood up, put his hands together in prayer, and uttered a Buddhist chant: "Amitabha."

The voice was deep and powerful, echoing in the meditation room and causing the surrounding air to tremble slightly.

Master Fahai walked out of his meditation room, through the long corridor, and arrived at the gate of Jinshan Temple.

He gazed in the direction of Suzhou and Hangzhou, his eyes filled with determination.

He knew that he had to settle things with Bai Suzhen today. Only by killing her could he rid himself of his inner demons and truly ascend to the realm of immortality.

In Suzhou and Hangzhou, Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing were discussing the tribulation to become an immortal they had just experienced. Just as they were getting into it, Bai Suzhen, who had been calm, suddenly frowned.

Suddenly, a deep Buddhist chant echoed in the sky: "Amitabha." The sound was like a resounding bell, spreading throughout the entire city of Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Bai Suzhen was startled. Even after hundreds of years, she could still remember that familiar voice.

Bai Suzhen stepped out of her house and flew into the air.

She saw Zen Master Fahai flying towards her, his robes gleaming dazzlingly in the sunlight.

Bai Suzhen knew in her heart that a battle today was inevitable.

Although she didn't want to be enemies with Zen Master Fahai, she had to stay in Suzhou and Hangzhou for her own survival and to repay Xu Xian's kindness...

Zen Master Fahai approached Bai Suzhen and looked at her coldly: "Snake demon, you dare to return after hundreds of years! Today is your death day. The matter of you stealing my elixir hundreds of years ago will be settled today."

Bai Suzhen frowned slightly and said, "Master Fahai, that matter was a misunderstanding, and I have already taken the elixir, so I cannot return it now."

But I, Bai Suzhen, have never done anything immoral or unethical. I beg the Zen Master to spare me.

Zen Master Fahai sneered, "A demon is a demon, and sooner or later it will bring disaster to the world. Today I will not let you go."

Having said that, Zen Master Fahai quickly formed a hand seal. A huge, golden phantom image of a Buddha appeared behind him.

The Buddha statue radiated a powerful light, like a tangible golden flame, illuminating the surrounding sky in a golden glow. The Buddha's eyes slowly opened, their gaze filled with boundless majesty, as if scrutinizing all the evils of the world.

Seeing that Zen Master Fahai had taken the initiative, Bai Suzhen dared not be negligent.

She channeled her demonic power and chanted an incantation. In an instant, the surrounding moisture began to rapidly gather. Suzhou and Hangzhou were located near water, so the moisture was abundant. Countless droplets of moisture converged towards Bai Suzhen, forming a huge water cloud beneath her feet.

Bai Suzhen waved her hands, and the water clouds began to swirl, forming a giant waterspout.

The waterspout roared toward Zen Master Fahai, distorting space wherever it went.

The water vapor in the waterspout cuts through the surrounding air like sharp blades, producing a piercing whistling sound.

Fahai remained unfazed when faced with Bai Suzhen's water tornado.

He chanted Buddhist scriptures, and the phantom of the golden Buddha statue stretched out a giant palm, pressing down on the waterspout.

The Buddha statue's palms emanated powerful Buddhist energy, and wherever they passed, the water vapor in the waterspout was evaporated, producing a hissing sound.

Seeing this, Bai Suzhen increased her demonic power once more. Her body began to shimmer with a faint light, a sign that she was about to transform into her true form.

Her body continued to grow larger, eventually transforming into a demonic form thousands of feet tall.

Her serpentine body coiled and swirled in the sky, her enormous head facing Zen Master Fahai, her eyes gleaming with a cold light.

Bai Suzhen opened her blood-red maw and spewed a powerful burst of demonic energy at Zen Master Fahai.

This demonic power was like a materialized black current, containing her millennia of cultivation.

The black current swept towards Zen Master Fahai at an extremely fast speed, reaching him in the blink of an eye.

Zen Master Fahai waved his staff, and a golden light emanated from it.

The light and the black energy met and remained locked in a stalemate.

Zen Master Fahai formed a hand seal again, and golden runes flew out from his body.

These runes swirl around the black energy, constantly eroding its power.

Seeing her demonic power being eroded by the runes, Bai Suzhen angrily shook her snake tail.

Wherever the snake's tail swept, black cracks were torn open in the space.

She lashed the snake's tail at Zen Master Fahai, and the enormous tail, like a black mountain range, crashed down on him with tremendous force.

Zen Master Fahai remained calm and collected, gathering all the power of the golden Buddha image's phantom into himself.

He was enveloped in a golden light and then charged towards Bai Suzhen's snake tail.

With a loud "boom!", the snake's tail collided with Zen Master Fahai.

The enormous impact spread outwards, affecting the cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou below. Some houses shook violently, and people ran out of their homes in terror, watching the earth-shattering battle unfold in the sky.

However, soon, an invisible Tai Chi barrier rose above Suzhou and Hangzhou, blocking the impact.

This was naturally Zhong Bai's doing. He didn't care if Bai Suzhen and Fahai fought to the death, as long as he could protect the people of Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Taking advantage of the moment when Zen Master Fahai was struck, Bai Suzhen once again used her water-controlling supernatural powers.

She drew vast amounts of water from a distant lake, creating countless enormous water spheres in the air. These water spheres resembled blue planets, each containing immense power.

Bai Suzhen launched the water ball towards Zen Master Fahai. As the water balls flew, they merged together and eventually formed a super-giant water ball.

The water ball hurtled towards Zen Master Fahai with a force as powerful as the collapse of the heavens and the splitting of the earth.

Zen Master Fahai felt the immense power of the water sphere. He planted his staff in the ground, clasped his hands together, and began to recite an ancient Buddhist scripture.

As he chanted, golden ripples appeared around his staff.

These ripples continued to expand, eventually forming a huge golden shield.

The water ball slammed into the golden shield, splashing up a huge spray of water.

The water cascaded downwards like a waterfall, but was neutralized by the Tai Chi symbol.

Zen Master Fahai looked at Bai Suzhen, secretly astonished.

He hadn't expected the snake demon to be so powerful, but he wouldn't give up easily.

He decided to use his special skill.

Zen Master Fahai pulled his staff from the ground and then raised it high.

He chanted obscure Buddhist scriptures, and the light on his staff grew stronger and stronger.

Finally, a huge golden beam of light shot out from the Zen staff.

The beam of light, like a golden dragon, charged toward Bai Suzhen with bared fangs and claws.

Seeing the power of the golden beam of light, Bai Suzhen dared not underestimate it.

She gathered all her demonic power into her head and then spat out a huge ball of demonic power towards the golden beam of light.

The magical energy ball met the golden beam of light, and the two collided, emitting a dazzling light that illuminated the entire sky, making it impossible to look directly at it.

Under the light, both Zen Master Fahai and Bai Suzhen continuously enhanced their power.

They all knew that this was a life-or-death battle, and no one could back down.

Master Fahai infused his spiritual power into the staff, making its light even more dazzling.

The power of the golden beam of light also increased, gradually suppressing Bai Suzhen's demonic energy ball.

Bai Suzhen felt the pressure from the demonic energy ball, and her body began to tremble.

She knew that if the demonic energy sphere was breached, she would directly face the attack of the golden beam, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

Bai Suzhen gritted her teeth; she decided to take the risk. She diverted a portion of her own power into the demon energy orb.

With the power of its original form, the demonic ball began to counterattack the golden beam.

Just when the two sides were deadlocked, Zen Master Fahai suddenly discovered a flaw in Bai Suzhen's defenses.

While Bai Suzhen was fully focused on maintaining the demonic energy ball, he slightly diverted some of the power from his staff and shot a thin golden ray of light towards Bai Suzhen's true form.

Bai Suzhen was unaware of the attack by the light, and by the time she realized it, it was too late.

The golden light struck her snake body, leaving a deep wound.

Bai Suzhen let out a painful cry, and her demonic energy orb began to waver because of her distraction.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zen Master Fahai increased the power of the golden beam, which broke through the demon energy sphere and shot towards Bai Suzhen.

In her panic, Bai Suzhen used her snake tail to form a barrier in front of her.

The golden beam struck the snake tail barrier. Although the snake tail blocked most of the attack, some of the beam still penetrated the barrier and hit Bai Suzhen's body.

Bai Suzhen was struck by a golden beam of light, and she suffered severe injuries.

Her demonic power began to become disordered, and her thousands of feet tall demonic body began to shrink.

She knew she was no match for Zen Master Fahai, and she had to escape.

Bai Suzhen glanced at Suzhou and Hangzhou, her heart filled with reluctance.

She knew that Xu Xian would face many dangers if she left, but she was in danger herself and could only save her own life first.

Bai Suzhen transformed into a streak of white light and fled into the distance. (End of Chapter)