A man stands before the heavens, his sword emerges from the Emei Mountains.

The cliff is shaded by pines and cypresses, and the forest is lush and green.

Extinction and Chen Yu appeared, and Jingxu came forward from the thatched hut to greet them.

"Master, junior brother is back."

"Greetings, Senior Sister."

"During my descent from the mountain, was there any unusual activity around the Self-Sacrifice Cliff?"

Jingxu was puzzled as to why Miejue would ask such a question, but still respectfully replied, "Master, no."

"Master, let me look around."

"Go."

The cliff of self-sacrifice is majestic and precipitous. Both the cliff top and the bottom are forbidden areas of the Emei Sect. Below, the rocks and ravines are intertwined and the shadows of the trees are scattered. With Miejue's permission, Chen Yu went to one side of the cliff and used his hands and feet to climb and flip down to the bottom. He walked around and carefully examined the area. He found no traces of trampled shrubs or moss, nor any pits, before returning to the tomb.

"Master, everything is normal."

Knowing that Chen Yu was meticulous, Miejue was certain that nothing had been overlooked, and only then did she feel completely at ease.

"Let's go."

Jingxu saw them off, and the two headed towards Woyun Nunnery. Miejue said, "I have carefully read the documents I wrote regarding incorporating Yaowang Cave into the inner sect examination and building the nunnery. There is no need to add anything; we will proceed according to this method."

"It just so happens that Uncle Ji went up the mountain, and when he returned, he and his senior sister who was going to Hanyang went together."

"Hmm, how is Jingxu?"

Chen Yu did not say that his master had made such a decision, but said, "Senior Sister Jingxu is steady in her dealings and her cultivation is among the best in the inner sect. I think she is suitable."

Extinction nodded, "Then let Jingxu go to Hanyang, and Jinghui go to Wushan County."

"Wushan County is adjacent to the Yangtze River wharf. When the Wushan Gang was wiped out, we obtained a lot of house deeds and land. We can send our experienced and prudent junior brothers to go there and help manage them."

"Then let Yang An make the trip."

"I'll go find Junior Brother Yang now. By the way, are there any plans to build temples in Dadu or Jiangnan?"

Miejue laughed and said, "Don't beat around the bush."

Chen Yu hurriedly said, "The reason for going to Dadu is to gather information about the Tartar court. Bai Guishou was captured by Granny Jin Hua, and the Eagle Sect will definitely not let it go. If Granny Jin Hua gets the Dragon Slaying Saber or Xie Xun appears, she will definitely show up in Jiangnan first."

"Well said. My disciple says there's a traitor within the Hengshan Sect. How should we handle this?"

"It is inconvenient for me to investigate, not to mention that I have no evidence. If I show myself, I will inevitably alert the enemy. Perhaps I should write a letter and ask Uncle Ji to send a disciple to pay respects to Elder Yuan when he returns to Hanyang."

"Can."

"Disciple, go find Junior Brother Yang first."

"Go."

Yang An was admitted to the inner sect. His residence was several miles away from Chen Yu's courtyard, near the Medicine King Cave. Chen Yu went down to the Elephant Washing Pool and took a detour from Yuxian Temple to the back mountain.

After the rain, the clouds on the mountaintop were damp, and the mist rose, creating a hazy and indistinct scene. As we approached the narrow gorge, a clear sound suddenly drifted over.

"The spirit of grain never dies; this is called the Black Male. Grain represents desire. Essence coalesces into spirit; to ensure the spirit's immortality, one must conserve essence and guard it. The Female represents the earth... What are the six signs...?"

Is it Zhou Zhiruo? Chen Yu slowed his pace and walked slowly forward. After turning around the mountain pass, he saw a figure in green robes under the eaves of the thatched hut where the guards were staying. He was reading "Laozi Xiang'er Commentary" while shaking his head.

Zhou Zhiruo was already tall. In the Emei Sect, she was well-fed and clothed, and had medicinal diets to nourish her blood and qi. Now, she was still growing, and compared to when she first arrived in Emei, she had not only grown taller, but her skin had also become fairer.

From afar, Chen Yu observed that the woman in the blue robe truly possessed an ethereal beauty, "as radiant as the rising sun in the morning glow, as dazzling as a lotus emerging from clear water."

"Senior Sister, what does Liu Hou mean?" Zhou Zhiruo suddenly stopped and looked towards the thatched hut.

"Walking a monkey?" came Li Mingxia's surprised voice from inside the thatched hut.

"These are the six phases."

"Oh, junior sister, why don't you ask about the way to guide qi in swordsmanship, and how to find the feeling of qi?"

"Understood, Senior Sister," Zhou Zhiruo replied softly, but in her heart she thought, "But I know all of this by heart, and I've already cultivated my inner strength. I'll wait for Senior Brother Chen to come back and ask him."

"The Six Periods are actually the Six Times of the Day. In Taoist cultivation, the Ren and Du meridians of the human body are distributed according to the twelve Earthly Branches to temper the meridians. By supplementing this with the six times of the day, the results are twice as good with half the effort. For example, the Gallbladder Meridian is at its peak at midnight, which is suitable for tempering the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. The Lung Meridian is at its peak at 3 AM, which transports the fresh blood stored in the Liver for detoxification to all the meridians. This is also suitable for cultivating the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian."

Chen Yu's voice came, and Zhou Zhiruo was startled, then cheered, "Senior Brother!"

"Um."

Li Mingxia hurriedly walked out of the thatched hut.

"Junior brother is back?"

"Just got back. Is Senior Sister guarding the mountain?"

"Yes, Senior Sister Ding and I went to the Thunder Gate, but we found nothing there."

"Senior sister, you've worked hard. I already know about this from Master."

Li Mingxia was taken aback. "Master is back too?"

"We met on the way back to Mount Emei. Is the back of the mountain peaceful lately?"

"Peace."

No sooner had Li Mingxia finished speaking than a squeaking sound rang out. Chen Yu looked over and saw the white ape darting and leaping, rapidly approaching from the forest where Solomon's seal grew.

"What a handsome white ape!" Zhou Zhiruo exclaimed in delight.

Chen Yu had not expected the white ape to appear, but there was no need to avoid it. He said, "Do you remember what I told you?"

The white ape's eyes were bright and alert. It squatted on a branch of an old tree and squeaked twice.

Have you ever encountered strangers entering the mountains?

The white ape chirped in response, its gaze fixed on Leiyin Temple.

Lian Zhenjia, the demon monk, Leiyin Temple—could it be that Lian Zhenjia has disciples at Leiyin Temple?

Chen Yu instantly recalled the scene shortly after entering Emei Mountain, when Abbot Faqiu went up the mountain to deliver a message at Yixiantian. His steps were light and his movements were quite impressive.

Fa Qiu, tomb raider… Chen Yu paused for a moment, cursing inwardly, then looked at Li Mingxia, “Senior Sister, do you know Master Fa Qiu of Leiyin Temple?”

Li Mingxia said, "I know a little."

"Please explain in detail, senior sister."

"I have been at Leiyin Temple for a long time. I heard that I came from Jiangnan with official documents, which is why I became the abbot."

"Thank you, Senior Sister. This matter must not be told to anyone."

Chen Yu turned around and headed straight for Woyun Nunnery.

……

As the silk cloth was lifted, a faint blue aura emanated from the scabbard of the sword in Miejue's hand. She gently stroked the two characters "Yitian" inlaid with gold thread and muttered to herself, "Senior brother, that demon Yang Xiao has appeared in Hengyang. If you are watching over me from heaven, may I be able to meet Yang Xiao and slay this demon."

The sound of hurried footsteps came from afar. Miejue put her sword on her knees and looked toward the courtyard gate.

"Master, your disciple requests an audience."

"Come in."

With a creak, Chen Yu pushed open the door and quickly crossed the courtyard into the hall.

"What is it, my disciple?"

"Abbot Faqiu of Leiyin Temple is very likely a member of the Five Poisons Sect."

Extinction was a bit bewildered.

What proof do you have?

"My disciple has a spirit ape raised on the back mountain. When asked if any strangers have come to the mountain, the white ape recognized people and looked straight at Leiyin Temple. My disciple then asked Sister Li about Abbot Faqiu's background, and she said that she came from Jiangnan with official documents."

"That's right, I know about this too."

"Uncle Ji said that Yang Lianzhenjia once had a accomplice named Monk Yunze. Is it possible that Faqiu is that tomb-robbing evil monk? Master, why don't you come with me to Uncle Ji's place and see what the evil monk looks like?"

"No need for such trouble. Go to Leiyin Temple. I will summon Jingxuan, Jingjia, and the others." Miejue's face turned cold as she stood up and drew her sword.

"clear."

Chen Yu turned and walked away quickly.

……

Between the hours of Si and Wu, the wind rustles through the forest.

Extinction came first, followed by Chen Yu and Jing Xuan. Jing Jia and the other eight filed down the mountain from Yixiantianxia and headed straight for Leiyin Temple. On the way, they passed the Shouzhicaohu. Chen Yu arranged for Li Mingxia to find Yang An and have him bring Ji Xiaofu, Bei Jinyi and others to meet up.

……

The bamboo forest temple stands tall and verdant, the distant sound of bells echoing in the evening.

Miejue led Chen Yu and Jingxuan directly into the temple, leaving the remaining disciples to wait outside.

The guest monk led the three to the meditation room, served them fragrant tea, and then hurriedly went to find Abbot Faqiu.

The weather was gloomy, and the air was filled with the scent of sesame oil as the wind swirled under the eaves. The bluestone path in the middle of the temple extended towards the yellow archway.

As Fa Qiu, with his thin face and white eyebrows drooping over his cheeks, walked over, Chen Yu thought to himself, "What an arrogant name! He doesn't take the Emei Sect seriously at all."

Having thought this through, Chen Yu got up and left the meditation room.

"I have met the master."

"Amitabha."

"My master has been waiting for you for a long time, please."

"You're too kind, young hero."

Fa Qiu put his hands together and walked towards the door, where Chen Yu was waiting.

A gray monk's shoe stepped across the threshold, followed by a face with drooping white eyebrows—a face all too familiar. Extinction had reached its peak.

If Chen Yu's words are true, then we cannot be careless in dealing with this wicked monk.