The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

After a deafening roar, a powerful shockwave spread outwards from the center of the explosion. Wang Zhenhuan was thrown back four or five steps before regaining his balance.

The shockwave shook the surrounding trees, making them appear to tremble. The bamboo fence around the yard was completely flattened on the ground.

Even the snow covering the ground was blown away, revealing the black frozen soil. Wang still looked at the epicenter of the explosion with lingering fear, where a crater more than half a person's height had appeared.

He never expected that the power of the Blazing Sky Soaring Technique would be so great. No wonder it was called the signature spell of the Shangqing lineage; it was simply incomparable to ordinary spells.

The Taoist priest was clearly startled by the immense power. However, he was more puzzled than anything else: how could Wang Zhenhuan, using the edict of Taiqing, unleash Shangqing magic?

Moreover, the Li Fire that Wang Zhenhuan summoned was different from that of the Shangqing lineage. The difference in form could perhaps be explained by different intentions, but what about its distinctly yellowish color?

Meanwhile, Wang Zhenhuan, besides being awestruck by the power of the Heavenly Soaring Blaze, was also puzzled. However, his puzzlement lay with the Taoist priest himself. Why was this Taoist priest not only granted him the ordination, but also knew the Heavenly Soaring Blaze?

Could he really be a high-ranking Daoist of the Shangqing Luo generation? But why does he only have the cultivation level of Danlan Zhixuan now? Or, like me, did he use some forbidden technique that caused his cultivation level to regress?

Neither of them could figure out the other's strengths and weaknesses, and neither dared to make the first move, resulting in an eerie yet harmonious stalemate. The Taoist priest squinted, staring at Wang Zhenhuan in the distance, seemingly deep in thought.

Wang Zhenhuan was the same. He frowned as he looked at the Taoist priest, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Since you have received the divine mandate, why do you commit such a heinous act?"

"What do you, a mere wandering Taoist, know? Cultivation by unorthodox methods is as difficult as snatching chestnuts from a fire. You humans are born with all seven orifices, how could you understand the suffering involved?"

"Know that if you do not take what Heaven has given you, you will suffer the consequences; if you do not act when the time is right, you will suffer the calamity. Since there is a shortcut, who says you cannot take it?" the Taoist said coldly.

"Blessed life is boundless, and shortcuts can be taken naturally, but one must also follow the Great Way of Heaven and Earth. What is a Taoist? A person who walks the Great Way is called a Taoist. One's body and mind are in harmony with reason, one follows only the Way, and one's actions are guided by the Way; therefore, one is called a Taoist!"

As a Taoist priest who has received ordination, you should understand these things better than anyone else! The Heavenly Court ordained you to act on behalf of Heaven, to patrol and supervise the good and evil in the world, not to allow you to act recklessly!

"Know that fortune and misfortune have no fixed gate; they are summoned by oneself. The retribution for good and evil follows like a shadow!" Wang Zhenhuan looked at the Taoist priest and replied in a strong and resounding voice.

"Hmph, what a fine saying, 'Fortune and misfortune have no gate, but are summoned by oneself!' Since you are so reasonable, I want to see how you act as Heaven's representative to inspect good and evil!" The Taoist priest's voice was contemptuous, and he scoffed at Wang Zhenhuan's words.

Seeing that he was unmoved by reason, Wang Zhenhuan's expression turned cold. In his mind, Taoists were all compassionate and benevolent figures. Along his journey south, the Taoists he had met, though each had their own temperament, were all kind-hearted people.

The freak I've encountered now can hardly be called a Taoist. He harms living beings and disregards the laws of Heaven. Knowing it's wrong, he shows no remorse whatsoever. This goes beyond mere evil.

In Wang Zhenhuan's view, this man, from head to toe, inside and out, was a purely evil person in every action and word. He had no remorse whatsoever, and Wang Zhenhuan could even detect a hint of smugness in his words.

His evil had seeped into his very bones; there was no point in arguing with such a person any further. Wang Huanzhen took a deep breath and pulled a yellow talisman from his pocket.

The Taoist priest not far away, seeing Wang Zhenhuan's actions, thought he was about to cast another spell. He then took out a yellow talisman and began to make hand seals, but this time his speed was clearly not as fast as Wang Zhenhuan's.

Wang Zhenhuan didn't even glance at it, and immediately began to form hand seals, chanting softly: "Demons have appeared in the world, wreaking havoc on the mortal realm. Living beings have died unjustly, and the people are terrified. This talisman proclaims to the heavens, and the decree reaches the nine heavens!"

"By imperial decree, the Western constellation divine beast Kui Mulang descends to the mortal realm! By the urgent command of the Supreme Lord Laozi!" After the incantation was chanted, the yellow talisman spontaneously combusted and burned to ashes, and a gust of wind arose from the ground throughout the courtyard.

As the wind and clouds dissipated, a golden-armored deity with a hairy face and a wolf's head appeared in the courtyard. He had an indigo face, white fangs, and dark skin. He held a blue curved sword, wore golden armor, and had a golden rooster feather on his head.

Upon appearing, it bowed respectfully to Wang Zhenhuan and said, "The Western Kui Mulang, by order of the head of the Misty Rain Academy, has descended to the mortal realm. Please issue your decree, Head!"

The Taoist priest had only chanted half of his incantation when a golden-armored deity suddenly appeared in the courtyard. He was immediately terrified, stopped chanting, put away the yellow talisman, and ran away.

This was Wang Zhenhuan's second time summoning a deity to the mortal realm, but unlike the last time, he had used the Yin-Yang borrowing technique, resulting in abundant spiritual energy within his body. This time, however, he only possessed the spiritual energy of his original physical form.

To his surprise, the moment the Kui Mulang appeared, the spiritual energy in his dantian plummeted and was instantly wiped out. Even the spiritual energy flowing through his meridians was completely drained.

He swayed uncontrollably, the lack of spiritual energy bringing intense fatigue, and even his legs began to weaken. Seeing that Wang Zhenhuan remained silent for a long time, Kui Mulang asked again.

"Where is Zhen Huanzi, the steward of the Misty Rain Courtyard? We beg you to issue a decree!"

"May you be blessed with boundless happiness! This evil Taoist has harmed living beings and wreaked havoc on the world. We beseech Lord Kui Mu to subdue this wicked Taoist and restore peace to the world!" Wang Zhenhuan forced himself to cheer up and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Neither heavenly lightning nor celestial beings descending to the mortal realm can harm those who have received ordination. This is a heavenly rule, and I apologize that I am powerless to do so. May I ask, sir, is there anything else? If not, I will return to the celestial realm to report."

Kui Mulang's words sent a chill down Wang Zhenhuan's spine. Even the manifested deities he had summoned were powerless against this Taoist priest. Fortunately, the Taoist priest had already fled in fear.

So, having no other choice, Wang Zhenhuan could only cup his hands and say, "May you be blessed with good fortune. If there is nothing else, Lord Kui Mu, please return."

Although Kui Mulang manifested a clone, he did nothing. Despite his doubts, he still cupped his hands in greeting to Wang Zhenhuan. Then, he transformed into a gentle breeze and disappeared from the courtyard.

Wang Zhenhuan was now completely drained of his spiritual energy, his face pale. After the Kui Mulang disappeared, he collapsed in the courtyard with a thud. Lying on his back, he gasped for breath.

"Young Taoist priest, are you alright? Don't scare this old man!" Old Sun's voice came from inside the house. Wang Zhenhuan was relieved to hear this, closed his eyes, and said weakly.

"Help me back to my room..."