My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

Watching Ye Qingfeng's retreating figure, Lü Yang couldn't help but step forward and ask:

"Immortal Master, that painted-skin demon... has it been completely eradicated?"

That was a careful question, but it hit the nail on the head.

Ye Qingfeng paused slightly, but did not answer immediately.

He turned to look at Lü Yang, then glanced at the ruins of Lan Yue Fang in the distance, and at the direction of the county government office, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

He suddenly realized that if the Paper Goddess had the ability to substitute, why couldn't the Painted Skin Goddess?

He didn't want to leave himself any trouble or annoyance later.

Seeing his expression, Lü Yang's heart skipped a beat: "Could it be... that it's not over yet?"

Ye Qingfeng pondered for a moment before slowly speaking: "The Paper Goddess has the art of substitution, which allows her to revive a wisp of soul after her main body is killed, using a pre-prepared paper doll as a vessel. The Painted Skin Goddess comes from the same school as her and serves the same master, so there's no reason why she wouldn't have a similar backup plan."

Upon hearing this, Lü Yang's expression changed.

Not only him, but also Lin Zhenyuan, Zhao Damang, Sun Debiao and several yamen runners showed surprise.

"This...how is this possible?" Lu Yang exclaimed anxiously, "Didn't the Immortal Master just kill her?"

"What was destroyed was her true form." Ye Qingfeng shook his head. "But these kinds of evil spirits are the most cunning, and they often prepare more than one backup plan."

The Paper Goddess's double was hidden in a secret room in the county government office because she frequented the Moon-Viewing Boat, making the county government office relatively safe. But the Painted Skin Goddess…”

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding night:

"She infiltrated the county government for three years, using her identity as the county magistrate's concubine as cover, and became very familiar with the terrain inside and outside Wen'an County."

If I were her, I would hide the most important substitute in a secluded place outside the county town, far from any trouble.

Lu Yang was alarmed: "Then...then she's already escaped?"

"Most likely so." Ye Qingfeng nodded. "From the time I destroyed her original body until now, nearly half a cup of tea has passed. If there was a substitute outside, her remnant soul should have already moved there and is probably on its way to escape by now."

"What do we do then?" Lü Yang asked anxiously. "Wen'an County is so big, with mountains and villages all around. If she's determined to escape, where are we supposed to find her?"

That's a very good question.

Lin Zhenyuan and Zhao Damang also looked troubled—they were bodyguards, experienced in tracking people, but that was dealing with living people.

These evil spirits that escape are completely untraceable.

Sun Debiao and the yamen runners were at a loss; they couldn't even understand such a mysterious matter.

All eyes were on Ye Qingfeng.

Ye Qingfeng, however, remained calm, as if he had already planned it all out.

He slowly raised his right hand, his thumb gently brushing across the knuckles of his index, middle, and ring fingers, his movements unhurried, as if a true master were deducing the secrets of heaven.

"It's alright," he said calmly. "Let me calculate her location."

These words, though spoken lightly, invigorated everyone present.

Calculation and deduction! This is a legendary method of immortals!

Lu Yang's eyes lit up even more—the immortal master was indeed incredibly powerful, even knowing such profound techniques!

Ye Qingfeng knew perfectly well what was going on.

He can't do divination.

At least not now.

His three key elements of ability are: identity anchoring, cognitive implantation, and group credibility.

His identity is still anchored—he is still a "virtuous person" at this moment, wearing a gray Taoist robe, and his words and deeds are in line with the demeanor of a master, in addition to having just displayed supernatural powers.

Cognitive implantation—he needs to propose rules, and the art of divination and deduction does exist in the Taoist system. There are also folk tales of "divine calculation" and "fortune telling," which makes sense.

The greatest source of credibility is the trust and expectations that the people present have of him.

Especially Lü Yang, the reincarnation of the Pure Yang Sword Immortal, now firmly believes in his ability to perform divination.

That faith power, originating from the very essence of the Pure Yang True Immortal, was purer and more immense than all the others combined.

Ye Qingfeng closed his eyes.

He could sense that his supernatural powers had been achieved!

Ye Qingfeng began to press on each knuckle with his thumb.

The movements were not fast, but each one was steady and powerful, with the knuckles striking each other with a slight "tap-tap" sound.

His brows were slightly furrowed, and his eyes were tightly closed, as if he were sensing some mysterious connection between heaven and earth.

Lu Yang and the others held their breath, not daring to make a sound and disturb them.

In the darkness, only the sound of the night wind and the rhythmic clicking of fingers could be heard.

About three breaths later.

Ye Qingfeng's thumb suddenly stopped at the base of his ring finger, and his eyes snapped open!

A golden-red halo flashed in his eyes.

He turned his head, looking northwest, his voice clear:

"At the foot of West Mountain, ten miles away, there is an abandoned earth god temple."

He paused, then added:

"Under the offering table in the temple, there is a hidden compartment containing the vessel for the Painted Skin Goddess. At this moment, her remnant soul is possessing the body, attempting to rebuild it."

This statement was extremely specific, even detailing the hiding place and other specifics!

Lu Yang was both astonished and impressed: "A divine divination master!"

Lin Zhenyuan and Zhao Damang were also filled with awe—such methods were beyond their comprehension.

Sun Debiao and the yamen runners were dumbfounded, looking at Ye Qingfeng as if he were a god.

"Then we'll go to the Western Hills first and wipe out the evil spirit, lest it escape and cause endless trouble," said Sun Bantou, bowing.

Ye Qingfeng smiled.

"No."

He raised his right hand and threw the Autumn Water Sword into the air.

"Clang!"

The Autumn Water Sword hovered in front of Ye Qingfeng, its blade shimmering with azure light and emitting a clear, melodious sword cry.

"Immortal Master, are you going to travel there on your sword?" Lü Yang's eyes lit up.

"No need," Ye Qingfeng shook his head. "There's no need for me to personally deal with a wisp of remnant soul."

He made a sword gesture with his left hand, and pointed his right index finger towards the northwest:

"Go, sword."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Autumn Water Sword trembled and transformed into a streak of azure light, piercing through the air!

It moved so fast that it left only a faint streak of light in the night sky before disappearing into the northwest horizon in the blink of an eye.

Soaring ten miles on a sword, vanquishing evil in an instant!

This move is even more stunning than shrinking the earth to an inch!

Lu Yang trembled with excitement—this was the true skill of a sword immortal!

Taking a person's head from a thousand miles away, though not quite a thousand miles, flying a sword over ten miles is already quite awe-inspiring!

Lin Zhenyuan and Zhao Damang were also stunned. They had been traveling the world for many years and had never seen such a sight before.

Sun Debiao and his constables knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly towards the northwest, muttering incantations. It was unclear whether they were praying for divine protection or fearing divine punishment.

Ye Qingfeng stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

He is waiting.

Waiting for the sword to return.

Ten miles away, at the foot of the Western Hills.

In the abandoned earth temple, the remnant soul of the Painted Skin Goddess is struggling to possess a body.

The thin, cicada-wing-like human skin mask was now covered with a layer of gray-black mist, within which the faint glow of souls could be seen flowing.

The features on the mask began to twitch slightly, as if it were about to come to life.

"Almost there...almost there..."

The remnant soul murmured weakly to itself.

As long as she fully possesses the body, she can use this substitute to prolong her life.

Although it will take several years to recover one's cultivation, it is still better than having one's soul scattered.

As for revenge...

"...You stinking old man..." A surge of resentment welled up in the remnant soul, "Once I recover... I will definitely..."

Before the words were even finished!

"Buzz—!!!"

A sword cry rang out, approaching from afar and arriving in an instant!

A beam of azure light, like a falling meteor, pierced straight into the hole in the roof of the dilapidated temple!

The Autumn Water Sword hovered in mid-air, its tip pointing directly at the hidden compartment under the offering table. Golden-red flames danced on the sword's edge, illuminating the entire dilapidated temple.

"No...impossible!" the remnant soul screamed. "How could he have found this place from ten miles away?!"

The sword trembled slightly, and Ye Qingfeng's voice came through the void, calm and undisturbed:

"Painted Skin Lady, do you think you can escape even if you run ten miles away? I'm sure you won't get away with this!"

The words were spoken, and the sword moved!

Instead of a straight thrust, the sword spun, transforming into a flaming sword wheel that enveloped the entire dilapidated temple!

The golden-red Samadhi Fire spread along the walls, the ground, and the beams, forming an impenetrable fire net.

This fire is especially effective against evil spirits; any remnant soul that touches it will ignite!

"Aaaaaah—!!!"

The remnant soul struggled left and right in the net of fire, but had nowhere to escape.

Each time the gray-black mist touched the flames, it dimmed a little, and the soul light evaporated and dissipated like boiling water.

The human skin mask under the offering table also caught fire under the flames and turned to ashes in an instant.

The final scream came to an abrupt end.

The soul completely disintegrated and was annihilated in the flames.

The dilapidated temple returned to silence.

The Autumn Water Sword hovered for a moment, confirming that there was no more evil aura, before turning its tip around and "whoosh"ing back through the air.