After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Upon hearing this, Xie Dai showed no surprise, as if he had already expected it and it was only a matter of time.

He simply grunted an "Mmm" and waved his hand: "Understood. Mobilize all available manpower, at any cost, to set up ambushes and delay them as much as possible at the most dangerous points on the mountain path. I'll be there shortly."

"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and quickly disappeared into the passage behind the hidden door.

After the guards left.

Xie Dai took one last look at Xie Jinchen. "Chen'er, think it over carefully. Keeping her by my side, in this quiet place where no one knows her, is better than... letting her stay with that person, never to find peace again."

The "that person" he was referring to was self-evident.

After saying that, he didn't linger. He turned around and strode towards the hidden door, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows behind it.

Xie Jinchen stared intently at the empty, dark entrance, as if he wanted to burn it through with his gaze.

"Xie Jinchen," Jiang Dusheng's voice rang in his ears, her gaze fixed on the ice coffin, "It's alright. No matter how strange the formation is, there's always a way. At least we now know the key, it's not a dead end."

Her words were like a clear spring, slightly extinguishing the boiling killing intent in Xie Jinchen's eyes.

He abruptly closed his eyes, took a deep breath of the icy air, and when he opened them again, the chaos in his eyes had been forcibly suppressed.

"That's right." He slowly sheathed his sword, his voice hoarse. "At least now I know where my mother is. I know the key to this formation. As long as I know it, there will always be a way."

He took one last deep look at the peaceful face in the ice coffin, as if he wanted to etch this scene into the depths of his soul.

Then, he decisively turned his head to look at Jiang Dusheng, and then glanced in the direction Xie Dai had left:

"Shi Qinglian arrived too quickly; we shouldn't stay here any longer. If they discover this ice coffin, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Jiang Dusheng nodded.

The two had just left the secluded mountain valley where the stone chamber was located and were walking through the fog-shrouded forest when they faintly heard the sounds of clashing weapons coming from a bend in the mountain path ahead.

Clearly, the secret guards left behind by Xie Dai had already engaged in combat with Shi Qinglian and her group who had rushed over.

Wang Dazhuang volunteered, his spirit floating upwards, attempting to reach the treetops and observe the battle through the mist.

However, just as he reached the treetop and before he could see what was below, a sharp golden Buddhist light, as if it had eyes, struck his soul precisely from somewhere below.

"Ouch!"

Wang Dazhuang screamed in agony as his soul was instantly grazed by the golden light. It felt as if he had been branded with a hot iron, and a wisp of blue smoke rose from the edge, turning a small patch of it charred black.

The entire soul body trembled violently, and its light dimmed somewhat.

Startled, he darted back behind Jiang Dusheng, clinging tightly to her clothes, his voice trembling:

"Master! An old bald monk attacked me! He was shining with golden light, and he was incredibly powerful!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the figure of an old monk dressed in a gray robe and holding prayer beads floated down from the mist and stood right in the middle of the mountain path in front of Xie Jinchen and Jiang Dusheng.

The old monk had a thin, seemingly kind face, yet a profound Buddhist power emanated from him, pushing away some of the surrounding mist.

He held one palm up in front of his chest and chanted a Buddhist prayer:

"Amitabha. Thank you, Your Highness. This humble monk has come on His Majesty's orders to invite you back to Changling."

As he spoke, he took out a string of dark brown Buddhist prayer beads from his sleeve; they were neither gold nor wood, and faintly shimmered with light.

"Please, Your Highness, wear this Soul-Stabilizing Bead and accompany me on this journey. This bead can help you calm your mind and soothe your spirit."

The prayer beads looked ordinary, but Jiang Dusheng could sense that they contained a powerful binding force. Once worn, one's martial and spiritual power would likely be controlled by others.

The old monk's gaze then turned to Jiang Dusheng, his eyes calm yet containing a hidden pressure:

"As for this Benefactor Jiang, if he is willing to obediently accompany the young master, this humble monk will refrain from violence. The Buddha is merciful and does not wish to create more bloodshed."

The words may seem polite, but they brook no refusal.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Dusheng blinked, her face showing no fear but instead revealing a pure and innocent smile, as if she were just an innocent young girl.

She imitated the old monk, putting her hands together in prayer and chanting "Amitabha" in a very serious manner.

His posture even carried a hint of respect.

Just when the old monk thought she was about to comply, he saw her flip her wrist and take out a string of Buddhist prayer beads.

Jiang Dusheng smiled and looked at the old monk opposite him, who was clearly stunned for a moment. His voice was clear and crisp:

"Master, your way of inviting people is quite unique. But..."

Her tone abruptly changed, her smile vanished, and her eyes sharpened. "Where did this wild monk come from, daring to impersonate a high-ranking monk from Huguo Temple?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly separated her clasped hands, her right hand holding the prayer beads, and her left hand quickly forming a mudra. As the spiritual light flowed between her fingertips, it vaguely carried the shadow of the Demon-Subduing Mudra.

A pale golden light suddenly shone from Jiang Dusheng's palm, with faint Sanskrit characters flickering within it, accompanied by a clear shout:

"go!"

With a single palm strike, the pale golden light suddenly expanded, transforming into a semi-transparent palm print phantom that headed towards the old monk.

The old monk opposite him clearly did not expect Jiang Dusheng to act completely unpredictably. One second he was smiling and chanting Buddhist mantras, and the next second he attacked.

A glint of cunning flashed in his eyes, all traces of kindness vanished, and he hissed, "Insolence, junior!"

He lightly touched the ground with his toes, his gray robe billowing as he retreated rapidly. At the same time, he rolled up his left sleeve, creating a gentle gust of wind in an attempt to dispel the approaching palm print.

The halo collided with the gale and both were annihilated, but the old monk's retreat was somewhat hasty.

The commotion here has clearly alerted everyone nearby.

Figures flashed through the mist, and seven other young monks, also dressed in gray robes, quickly gathered around, forming a swarm that blocked Xie Jinchen and Jiang Dusheng's path.

Seeing this, Jiang Dusheng put Wang Dazhuang and Ruan Guyan into the bone flute.

At that moment, a person slowly walked out from behind the monks.

He was dressed in a loose, plain robe, with an otherworldly air about him. If it weren't for the Buddhist prayer beads in his hand, one would almost mistake him for a young nobleman who had wandered into the mountains.

Shi Qinglian's gaze pierced through the dissipating mist and landed on Xie Jinchen, who was standing beside Jiang Dusheng.

Almost simultaneously, the sound of clothes rustling through the air came from the forest on the other side.

Several bodyguards dressed in black also arrived at the scene. They quickly gathered around Xie Jinchen and Jiang Dusheng, drew their swords, and looked at Shi Qinglian and her group with wary expressions.

For a moment, the narrow mountain path was shrouded in mist, and danger lurked in the shadows.

Shi Qinglian's gaze was fixed on Xie Jinchen's face, seemingly oblivious to the tense guards, her voice carrying a subtle hint of sarcasm:

"Young Master Xie, it seems the Duke of Zhenguo truly cherishes you."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the black-clad guards, his tone subtle, "I just wonder, will this protection be enough to keep you safe today?"

Then, Shi Qinglian took out a gold medal and said, "His Majesty has decreed that the Crown Prince should return to Changling to recuperate in peace, so as to soothe His Majesty's mind."

"Will the young master come with me, or... should we resort to force again?"