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

Wang Huanzhen looked up and saw that the spot where the burly man had been was now a pit more than four feet deep. The burly man was lying in the pit, his body charred and motionless.

The tall, thin man and the woman were terrified upon seeing this. They turned and fled into the woods, and the others scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing in disarray. Just as Wang was about to speak, Xuan Yangzi said...

"Let them be. Have you bought everything?"

"Yes, it's just a pity about the carriage," Wang Zhenhuan said with a hint of regret. The horses pulling the carriage were dead, and the carriage itself had fallen apart. Dozens of taels of silver had been wasted just like that.

"It's alright, pack your things and let's go." Daoist Xuan Yangzi shook his head, then grabbed Wang Zhenhuan's hand, preparing to leave. Wang Zhenhuan assumed he was going to lead the way.

After looking around, he led him down a path to the south. Along the way, Wang Huanzhen was deeply troubled. He couldn't understand how those martial artists had known that he and Xuan Yangzi possessed the true scriptures.

If they weren't certain they possessed the true scriptures, they wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to return and search for them. Moreover, considering their incomplete numbers, it doesn't seem like it was intentional.

It seemed more like he had accidentally discovered some flaw, which was why he suddenly decided to return. He thought for a long time but couldn't recall when he had exposed his identity. So he looked up and asked Xuan Yangzi.

"Sir, how did those martial artists know that the true scripture was on us?"

Xuan Yangzi pondered for a moment and replied, "This humble Taoist suspects that you may have accepted the braised beef from that burly man. In addition, your expression was unusual when you heard the true scripture, which aroused Yin Xinghai's suspicion."

"Yin Xinghai?" Wang Zhen asked, puzzled.

"That's the big brother that the burly man was talking about. Yin Xinghai is the master of Qinglong Manor and the leader of the entire Northern martial arts world. His status is equivalent to that of the alliance leader, and he has many disciples."

"Moreover, he enjoyed associating with heroes of the martial arts world in his younger days, and has been retired for over a decade," Xuan Yangzi explained.

"A cycle? That's twelve years? How old is Yin Xinghai?" Wang Zhenhuan asked in surprise, his eyes wide.

"I don't know his exact age. I only know that he was in the Great Yan era before he retired," said Daoist Xuan Yangzi, shaking his head.

"The Great Flourishing Age is around fifty years old, plus one cycle of retirement. That means he should be in his sixties now. Why does he look like a middle-aged man?"

After calculating Yin Xinghai's age, Wang Zhen asked in surprise. In this era, being over sixty years old was considered a long life. Yet Yin Xinghai still looked like a middle-aged man.

"I don't know about that. Perhaps I had some extraordinary encounter in my early years and consumed some rare and precious herbs that prolong life."

Wang Zhenhuan held Xuan Yangzi's hand and felt a chill emanating from his palm. This feeling was familiar to him; it was the same feeling he had that night when Xuan Yangzi had channeled spiritual energy into him.

However, unlike before, this time the spiritual energy was slightly more violent, even causing a slight throbbing pain in his back. Wang Zhen was about to ask a question, but then he thought better of it.

Master Xuan Yangzi's actions were naturally based on his own considerations. Although the two were not officially master and disciple, they were in fact master and disciple. He would certainly not harm him; as for why he didn't speak of it, perhaps it was because the time was not yet right.

Thinking this, Wang Huanzhen asked again, "Sir, since Yin Xinghai has already retired, why has he come to Jizhou again this time? Could it be that he is also after that true scripture?"

"Yes, that should be the case. I heard that Yin Xinghai was already at the Purple Qi Abyss level before he went into seclusion. Although I have never fought with him, I have not detected any signs of a breakthrough in my perception." Xuan Yangzi nodded.

Wang Zhenhuan nodded after hearing Xuan Yangzi's explanation. That must be it. He hadn't broken through for twelve years; now that he had the opportunity to do so, he had to fight for it.

"Sir, I observed that those martial artists also displayed spiritual energy when they fought. Could it be that their cultivation level is the same as ours?"

"No, although their outward appearances are similar, the martial arts themselves are derived from Taoist and Buddhist scriptures. They only grasp the form, not the essence. Although the level of understanding is the same..."

However, without understanding the principles of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, practicing this art not only harms the body and mind, but also only strengthens physical and mental abilities. Unable to cultivate spells and supernatural powers, one naturally falls into a lower level.

Xuan Yangzi didn't think much of martial artists. This was evident in his tone of voice. Although he didn't express disgust, his disdain was hard to conceal.

During his conversation with Xuan Yangzi, Wang Zhenhuan's tension gradually eased. To his surprise, he had expected to encounter obstacles along the way.

However, they walked until sunset without seeing a single martial artist who came to intercept them. It was already late, and they happened to pass through a town. Wang Zhenhuan originally intended to take Xuan Yangzi to the town to stay.

But after thinking it over, he still led Xuan Yangzi into the mountains. Now that they were being watched by these martial arts figures, they should be cautious and avoid crowded places.

Xuan Yangzi did not refuse, and the two followed the mountain path to a mountain hollow. It was not far from the roadside, but it was shaded by trees and located at a high altitude.

They could see the scene on the road, but the road could not see them. Having made up their minds to hide, Wang Zhenhuan naturally did not reignite the fire. He ate a few bites of cold pancakes and then curled up behind a rock.

Xuan Yangzi had cultivation to rely on, but he did not. In less than half an hour, he felt his whole body was ice cold, and the autumn wind rushed in through the cracks in the rocks, making him shiver.

It seemed to be the sound of teeth chattering as he trembled, which Xuan Yangzi heard. Xuan Yangzi, who was meditating nearby, got up, went to Wang Zhenhuan's side, and groped to hold his hand.

Wang Zhenhuan wanted to refuse, but his trembling prevented him from uttering a single word. As Xuan Yangzi's pure spiritual energy flowed from his palm, the warmth gradually dispelled the cold.

His body gradually stopped trembling, and Wang Zhen tightened his clothes. Just as he was about to get up to cut some branches to spread on the ground, he suddenly heard a series of light footsteps coming from the road not far away.

Wang Zhenhuan was terrified and subconsciously turned to look at Daoist Xuanyangzi. But before he could speak, he heard a familiar voice coming from down the mountain.

"Haha, I am Yin Xinghai, and I have long admired your esteemed name. Unfortunately, the temple was too dark last night, and I did not notice you. I regret this, so I have come to pay my respects tonight!"