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

There's a saying that goes, "When gods fight, mortals suffer." Wang Zhenhuan's location was quite far from the center of the battle, and he was also protected by the spiritual energy barrier of Daoist Luo Puzi.

Therefore, they did not sense anything unusual. However, the Jin soldiers were different. With a single slash from the huge phantom on the old woman's body, the deep purple fireball was split in two.

After the violent explosion, shattered fireballs, like falling stars, scattered from mid-air towards the ground. The scorching flames, densely scattered, burned the golden statue to the point of screaming in agony.

Some of the golden figures even stood up and fled out of the woods. The scene was utterly chaotic, and no one bowed their heads in prayer anymore. Seeing this, the golden leader hurriedly shouted and led the remaining golden figures out of the woods.

The Golden Princess was among them. She mounted her horse and left with the group. Before leaving, she gave Wang Huanzhen a deep look. Wang Huanzhen, however, was focused on their duel and didn't see it.

Even if he saw it, he probably wouldn't care. As the Taoist priest said before, those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. They were merely strangers who met by chance; the golden princess didn't kill him, and he didn't harm her when he left.

An eye for an eye, and they're even. At least, that's what he thought. As for what the princess thought, what did it matter to him? In this world, as long as one's conscience is clear, one's conduct will naturally be upright.

Meanwhile, in the arena, after the blue giant shattered the fireball, it reverted to its eight-armed form. One of its arms held a scepter-like weapon, which it brandished in various directions as if performing magic.

The trees that had been lying on the ground all flew into the air, transforming into giant wooden arrows that hurtled towards Daoist Luo Puzi. Daoist Luo Puzi, however, remained unmoved.

As the massive logs flew towards them, a talisman suddenly appeared in his hand. He silently recited an incantation, and then it spontaneously combusted and burned to ashes. After the talisman disappeared, Daoist Luo Puzi and the white crane vanished.

Seeing the Taoist priest and the white crane vanish into thin air, Wang Zhenhuan was extremely surprised. He looked around but couldn't find Taoist priest Luo Puzi. The speeding logs naturally landed in empty space.

The old woman was not surprised to see Daoist Luo Puzi disappear. She clasped her hands together and muttered incantations. The illusory figure behind her also made the same gesture.

Soon, a single red eye appeared on the forehead of the phantom's blue-faced, fanged form. After this eye appeared, the four arms of the eight-armed phantom slashed down towards the right front.

Immediately, Wang Zhenhuan saw the figure of Daoist Luo Puzi riding a white crane appear in the direction of the illusory attack. It seemed that the illusory figure's eyes had a similar effect to breaking invisibility.

As soon as Daoist Luo Puzi appeared, the talisman in his hand spontaneously combusted. The white crane flapped its wings and dodged, narrowly avoiding the attack of the illusory figure. Wang Zhenhuan heard Daoist Luo Puzi chant loudly.

"The Great Dao transforms into Yin and Yang, its spiritual talisman ascends to the Nine Heavens. A decree is issued to the Divine Firmament Palace, to descend to the mortal realm and reveal the true nature!"

"We respectfully invoke the Lord God of Thunder, the Heavenly Venerable Who Responds to the Origin of Thunder and Universal Transformation, and the Supreme Dao Lord, may this decree be issued immediately!!"

Wang Zhenhuan knew nothing about Taoism, so naturally he didn't know what kind of deity this Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin of Thunder and Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable was. But he thought that since Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable was a major god of a region, he shouldn't be too bad, right?

As Master Luo Puzi finished speaking, his face paled slightly. After the white crane carried him away from the attack, it flapped its wings and flew into the distance. At that moment, thick white clouds suddenly rose in the sky.

"May the Heavenly Venerable bestow boundless blessings!"

From within the clouds and mist came a chanting voice. The voice was neither joyful nor sorrowful, its tone calm and composed, yet also possessing an air of authority. This feeling was so wondrous that Wang Zhenhuan momentarily forgot to think.

Wang Huanzhen raised his head, gazing intently at the sky. High above, as the clouds dispersed, a striking golden auspicious cloud appeared. Within the auspicious cloud sat a celestial being.

This celestial being appeared to be middle-aged, dressed in a magnificent robe embroidered with gold, purple, blue, and red. He wore a Three Treasures Nine Yang Hibiscus Crown, held a golden court tablet in his left hand, and made a hand gesture with his right.

In Buddhism, there is a saying: "Appearances arise from the mind." This means that what we perceive as real objects and what we experience as events are actually illusory, created by our own minds.

Later, this evolved into the folk saying, "The face reflects the heart." It means that one can discern a person's inner character from their facial features. At this moment, Wang Zhenhuan looked at the immortal, feeling a sense of peace and tranquility.

This immortal had a dignified and upright appearance, dignified and honest yet without any air of arrogance. Wang Huanzhen felt a sense of closeness upon seeing him, but there was also an invisible pressure emanating from him, making Wang Huanzhen want to worship him but dare not be presumptuous.

After the deity appeared, he asked the crowd below, "Where is the head of the Divine Firmament Thunder Academy?"

At this moment, Daoist Luo Puzi, who was on the white crane, stood up, bowed to the immortal and said, "May the Heavenly Venerable grant you boundless blessings. I am Luo Puzi, the contemporary Celestial Master of Gezao Mountain. Greetings, Heavenly Venerable."

This alien god has come to our Chinese lands, slaughtering living beings, massacring cities and burning mountains—his crimes are unforgivable. We earnestly beseech the Heavenly Venerable to send down heavenly thunder to subdue this demon and restore peace to the world!

The Heavenly Venerable Puhua, atop the white clouds, glanced at the eight-armed phantom after hearing Daoist Luo Puzi's words. He then softly replied, "As you command."

Wang Zhenhuan witnessed all of this and was astonished by the profound Taoist cultivation of Master Luo Puzi, who could actually summon deities to subdue demons. At that moment, the idea of ​​cultivating Taoism arose in his mind.

Like a spark that has already ignited a prairie fire, such skill and power make this life truly worthwhile!

The eight-armed phantom and the old woman possessing him seemed frozen in place upon seeing Puhua Tianzun, completely immobile. However, the old woman's face was filled with unconcealable horror.

The Celestial Venerable waved his hand at the old woman and the illusory figure, then disappeared into the clouds. The sky suddenly changed; the white clouds instantly turned into pitch-black clouds, and faint thunder could be heard from within them.

After the Heavenly Venerable disappeared, the old woman and the alien god possessing her regained their mobility. The alien god, without a word, vanished from the old woman's body.

Seeing this, the old woman felt despair. Knowing she was doomed, she knelt before Daoist Luo Puzi and kowtowed repeatedly. But Daoist Luo Puzi remained unmoved, directly riding his white crane and landing in front of Wang Zhenhuan.

Wang Zhenhuan was initially puzzled as to why the immortal had left without making a move. Just as the white crane landed and Daoist Luo Puzi landed mid-air, a bolt of lightning suddenly streaked across the sky.

boom--!!!!

A deafening clap of thunder struck precisely in the direction where the old woman was.

The dazzling electric light behind him illuminated the elegant Daoist Luo Puzi as he landed, making him appear like a celestial being!