Having cultivated myself into an immortal, all I want to do is raise female disciples.

However, the fear that comes from the depths of one's soul is far more deadly than physical pain.

We can't win.

No, I couldn't even generate the thought of "winning"; my mind was completely blank.

Zhang Ruoxue was like this, Xu Yanliu was like this, and even Zhang Xiaohan, who was once an ancient demon, was like this.

Perhaps in his prime he could have fought an epic battle against the old man at this moment, but now he has neither the qualifications nor the ability.

Amitabha Buddha.

The moment the old man clasped his hands together, ripples spread throughout the surrounding space, and wave after wave of golden waves rapidly spread outwards.

He slowly raised his heavy eyelids, standing before the Buddha Tongtian. His body radiated golden light, transforming into countless incantations and golden lotuses. With each step and breath, there was a howling wind and churning spiritual energy.

The old man's gaze fell on Zhang Ruoxue and Xu Yanliu, and a trace of compassion and pity flashed in his aged eyes.

"Two female benefactors—"

The sound of the Buddha's voice was vast and resonant.

A series of powerful sounds rose and fell, surging wildly like waves.

"Considering that you two are inexperienced in the ways of the world, have bright futures ahead of you, and have nothing to do with the demon race, this old monk will not lay a hand on you two benefactors. Now that things have come to this, this old monk does not wish to take your lives here."

"If a prodigal son turns back, there is still hope. When the Abyss of Demons descends one day, he will surely become a figure of great stature, with a promising future. There is no need to ruin his future here."

The old man's words were quite clear.

Leave this place now and stop protecting that demon behind you, and you will survive.

The old man's words reached their ears, as if shaking their souls and penetrating their spirits.

Xu Yanliu's expression underwent a subtle change in that instant. Naturally, she did not want to die like this, or rather, no one would want to face their death at such a time.

If I were to actually fight the old man in front of me now, the outcome would be self-evident.

—They will die.

Without a doubt, they were not even a match for the old man and would be annihilated in an instant.

If they abandon Zhang Xiaohan and leave this place, not only will she survive, but Zhang Ruoxue will also survive.

"Sacrificing one... can save two lives...?"

Xu Yanliu understood what the old man meant.

Indeed, that seemed to be the best option.

but……

It was the same last time...

She had already escaped once, and she no longer had the strength to bear the guilt a second time...

If we run away at a time like this—

"Sister Xu, you should go first."

Just as Xu Yanliu hesitated, Zhang Ruoxue suddenly placed her hand on her shoulder.

The black-haired girl was looking down, her pretty face still filled with fear.

She was afraid—with her weak cultivation level, it was absolutely impossible for her not to be afraid in front of a saint.

Although her hand gripping Xu Yanliu's shoulder was still trembling instinctively, she still said, "Staying here will only cost you your life, so you should go first..."

Xu Yanliu took a deep breath and stared intently at Zhang Ruoxue: "I'm leaving. What about you?"

“I have an obligation to stay, but you, Sister Xu, don’t…”

"I……"

Zhang Xiaohan twitched the corner of his mouth, his gaze toward Xu Yanliu still devoid of any warmth: "Although I don't really want to admit it, this idiot is right. Whether it's you and me or her, we're just strangers who met by chance. There's absolutely no need to drag yourself into this mess."

We met by chance... huh?

Thinking about it carefully, that's indeed the case.

She hadn't known Zhang Ruoxue for very long, nor had she spent much time with Zhang Xiaohan, this strange demon. There was absolutely no need for her to die with them.

Seeing Xu Yanliu biting her lower lip with a resentful expression, Zhang Ruoxue smiled and patted her shoulder, saying, "Uncle might still be waiting for you at the shop. You probably don't want to see him looking so sad, do you?"

"That old geezer..."

The image of her father's irritating face automatically flashed before her eyes, and Xu Yanliu's expression stirred twice more.

There are still things she hasn't done, filial duties she hasn't fulfilled, and revenge she hasn't taken.

It would be truly unfortunate to die here like this.

Xu Yanliu gasped, looking at Zhang Ruoxue and Zhang Xiaohan with a heavy heart: "Then you..."

"Don't worry about us." Zhang Ruoxue showed unusual confidence at this moment: "Someone will come to rescue us~ You can rest assured about that."

"Is that so..."

These words sounded more like lies fabricated to put her mind at ease to Xu Yanliu.

Even so, she could at least sense that Zhang Ruoxue and Zhang Xiaohan didn't want her to get involved.

She knew she had no choice but to leave.

"Take care of yourself."

With a hint of apology and helplessness, Xu Yanliu clenched her fists and glared fiercely at the old man and the young man named Fahai, imprinting their faces completely into her mind.

—Just wait, one day I will avenge you all, including Foxie!

She quietly activated the teleportation array she had prepared beforehand, and under the old man's wary gaze, she was teleported away alone.

—If she tried to take Zhang Ruoxue or Zhang Xiaohan with her along the way, she would probably be intercepted.

Finally, Xu Yanliu's figure disappeared from everyone's sight.

Zhang Ruoxue, as always, stood guard in front of Zhang Xiaohan—her frail body struggling to stand upright under the Buddha's light.

"Hey, silly older sister..."

Zhang Xiaohan clutched her tight chest, staring at Zhang Ruoxue with a strange look in her eyes: "You just said someone would come to rescue us, is that true?"

"That..." Zhang Ruoxue gave a wry smile, "I'm not too sure about that... I just think it's possible."

"I knew it, at this point, who would come to our rescue?"

"I think so too..."

Zhang Ruoxue helplessly revealed a bitter smile. Even though every inch of her skin was trembling with fear, she still tried her best to stand in front of Zhang Xiaohan.

—Even though it was a futile effort.

The old man's gaze finally fell on Zhang Ruoxue. He shook his head helplessly, his tone calm yet sacred.

"Is this female benefactor still unwilling to make any concessions?"

“This is a matter of principle—” Zhang Ruoxue grinned, looking at the old man without any fear: “Just like your veneration of some Buddha or some other Buddha, there are also things we cannot compromise on.”

“Protecting an ancient demon is such a foolish thing, not worth the female benefactor’s obsession.”

Whether it's worth it or not is my decision, it's none of your business!

Zhang Ruoxue's tough stance made the young man beside her even more dissatisfied.

He turned to look at the old man bathed in the aura of Buddhism and Taoism, and said in a deep voice, his anger full of rage: "Master, this person has repeatedly failed to learn from her mistakes and is stubborn and incorrigible. Even though Master has already shown leniency and was willing to spare her life, she still does not know how to repent. There is no need to waste any more words on her."

Upon hearing his disciple Fahai's words, the old man's expression suddenly darkened. In a threatening tone, he asked Zhang Ruoxue, "I'll ask you one last time, do you truly intend to continue protecting that demon?"

"I'll tell you this one last time, you old bald monk—"

Her entire body was enveloped in blue flames, and even though her own flames were insignificant compared to the vast golden light, she still unleashed her full power without reservation.

Even if it's a certain defeat, she has to give it her all.

A girl named Zhang Ruoxue stood in front of Zhang Xiaohan, protecting his petite body like a goddess, just as she had protected him from being bullied when he was a child.

She grinned and said, "He's my brother, and I've got his back!"

"If you want to mess with him, mess with me first!"

……

The old man shook his head, feeling no more pity for Zhang Ruoxue, who was still fixated on her "mistake."

The hand, aged and withered like a dry twig, was slightly raised, and a palm was pushed out into the void ahead.

"In that case, there's nothing more to say."

When the golden Buddha was worshipped, in an instant, it seemed as if layers of golden light were burning within everything.

The colossal Buddha, reaching to the heavens, extended a palm forward, just like the old man.

That was a terrifying palm strike that tore through space and was powerful enough to destroy everything.

No one survived. Buddha possessed both the compassion for all living things and the ruthlessness to destroy them.

Amidst the rising and falling air currents, Zhang Ruoxue's powerful blue flames appeared weak and desolate under the moonlight.

She knew she couldn't stop it.

But sometimes, people just do things they know they can't do.

After all, that's a principle.

Light tore through the flames.

Zhang Ruoxue didn't even have time to scream before she was enveloped in the dazzling golden light.

The flames tore it apart, the skin burned, and the once-trained body could not even maintain its basic form under such a terrifying impact.

Pain, like a tsunami, engulfed her entire consciousness.

But she stood firm from beginning to end, at least until she was submerged in the light, she stood in defense of Zhang Xiaohan.

The brilliance did not last long.

Because it was a terrifying energy capable of destroying everything, the old man had no intention of destroying half of the spirit fields of the Jin Yao Dao Alliance.

Therefore, he deliberately held back some of his strength.