C5 Saintess Zi Shan.

"I... I did it..." It took a moment, but Loong Jiaoyang's elation finally burst forth!

Pill Devil remained silent, fully aware that it wasn't Loong Jiaoyang who had moved the Vast Qi Heavenly Monument.

"So, you too are restless, eager to emerge into the world? Too bad you're a step behind. I got there first, and now you'll never be able to turn him into a true heir of the Vast Qi," Pill Devil whispered within the confines of the Heavenly Monument.

"Pill Devil Senior... I've succeeded... I'm about to depart. Is there anything you need my assistance with?" Loong Jiaoyang, regaining some strength, asked earnestly.

"Better to ponder how you'll survive once you're out. Expelled from the Righteous Qi Sect, no faction claiming righteousness will take you in. Reveal yourself, and the Righteous Qi Sect along with the righteous may well band together to hunt you down." Pill Devil paused, then added with a sneer, "Kid, if by some fluke you survive, and you cross paths with those of the Evil Pill Sect bearing the Wu surname, do me a favor. Now off with you, don't die too soon, or botch your pill refining and tarnish my good name!"

"Pill Devil Senior, I won't die. I'll return to see you..." With that, Loong Jiaoyang weakly activated the Teleportation Array, transforming into a streak of white light that vanished into the Valley of Despair.

"Kid, if you do make it back, you'll surely be renowned far and wide. I look forward to that day. Then we'll see whether your heart aligns with the righteous or the wicked," Pill Devil murmured to himself.

In Heavenly Mansion City, along a mountain path of Profound Girl Mountain, a majestic carriage about four meters in length, adorned with the red lanterns of Profound Girl, raced forward, drawn by four black steeds. Flanking the carriage, a squadron of women clad in black armor, long blades at their waists and blood-red cloaks billowing, rode with fierce grace.

Suddenly, a middle-aged woman leading the charge called out, "Halt the carriage and stand guard—there's an unusual surge of Spirit Power nearby!"

"Hu!" The female charioteer yanked on the reins with one hand, causing the four spirited horses to backpedal sharply. A vast eight trigram aura swirled around her, and with absolute spirit power, she brought the carriage to an abrupt halt.

The ten female knights surrounding the carriage drew their long swords, their gazes steely as they surveyed the area.

A hum resonated through the void as the ripple pattern of a teleportation array materialized. A figure plummeted from the sky, landing on the carriage roof before rolling to the ground.

Clang!

The long sword sang as it sliced through the air, a pitch-black blade aimed coldly and mercilessly at Loong Jiaoyang, who had fallen from above.

Loong Jiaoyang, who had not eaten for two and a half days and had depleted all his energy in cultivation, had just mustered his last ounce of strength to push open the Vast Qi Heavenly Monument. The fall from the sky was excruciating, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. Though aware of the danger, he was utterly drained and unable to evade.

"What's going on?" A voice as clear as a songbird's rang out, prompting the executioner's blade, a mere inch from Loong Jiaoyang, to be swiftly withdrawn.

"Saintess Zi Shan, a man has fallen from the sky and struck our carriage. I was about to dispatch him with a single stroke," reported the female knight, who had initially intended to slay Loong Jiaoyang, as she sheathed her sword and respectfully bowed with her fists clasped.

"Is this person male or female?"

"Reporting to Saintess Zi Shan, it is an injured man," the knight responded.

"An injured man? How old would you say he is?" inquired Saintess Zi Shan.

The female knight glanced at Loong Jiaoyang, sprawled on the ground, and estimated, "He appears to be about 19 or 20 years old."

"Bring him onto the carriage!" Saintess Zi Shan's command was startling, leaving the female knights visibly shaken.

"But Saintess Zi Shan, we are tasked with escorting you back to the sect. How can we allow this stranger onto your carriage?" protested the middle-aged female knight, her brow furrowed in concern.

"Hmph, I said bring him onto the carriage. Did you not hear me?" Saintess Zi Shan's tone was icy.

The middle-aged knight's frown deepened, her lips quivered as if to speak further, but she ultimately held her tongue. She turned to the knight nearest to Loong Jiaoyang and ordered in a stern voice, "Take him to the carriage."

The female knight acknowledged her orders, gracefully dismounted, and lifted Loong Jiaoyang into the carriage.

Loong Jiaoyang was in a state of delirium, overwhelmed by hunger and thirst.

"Water... I need water..." he murmured weakly.

"Xiaohong, give him some water," commanded a voice from within the spacious and lavishly decorated carriage, complete with a plush golden fox fur carpet, a bed, a tea table, and a zither stand.

A striking woman with an oval face and slightly squinted, bright eyes, dressed in a blue and gold-threaded moonlight gown and draped in a green-patterned gossamer veil, tied her glossy black hair and blinked curiously at the disoriented Loong Jiaoyang, her gaze flickering with an enigmatic light.

"Miss, he's bleeding all over the golden fox carpet, a birthday present from Holy Son Gao Bing. When we return to the sect, Holy Son Gao Bing will surely be upset if he sees the stain," Xiaohong, the pretty maid, remarked with a frown.

"Hmph, why should I care about Gao Bing's temper? I asked you to give him water, so just do it. Enough with the chatter!" Zi Shan retorted with a slight furrow of her brow, commanding respect without showing anger.

...

The Nine Profound Great World, also known as the Nine Profound Continent, is one of the Three Thousand Great Worlds, comprising four major domains: the Divine Monarch Domain, the Heavenly Profound Domain, the Kunlun Domain, and the Nether Domain to the north. The Divine Monarch Domain boasts the Great Tang Dynasty, while the Heavenly Profound Domain is home to the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Nether Domain in the north is where the non-human WanShou Kingdom was established. The Kunlun Domain is unique, lacking a dynasty and instead forming an alliance of numerous sects, with the Kunlun Sect being the most formidable.

The Nine Profound Continent is divided into four regions: east, west, south, and north. The Divine Monarch Domain spans the east, with the Imperial Capital of the Great Tang Dynasty situated in the bountiful Divine Monarch City. Heavenly Mansion City lies ten thousand miles from Divine Monarch City, amidst towering mountains where the paths of righteousness and the Devil Dao sects coexist.

Heavenly Mansion City was sprawling, its landscape dotted with numerous mountain ranges. The Righteous Qi Sect made its home on Nine Dragon Mountain, nestled in the city's western region, while the Profound Girl Sect resided on the eastern side, atop the enchanting Profound Girl Peak.

Profound Girl Peak resembled a celestial maiden descending to earth, its silhouette even more captivating when viewed from the side.

Loong Jiaoyang had no interest in the passing vistas; he was too busy devouring his meal with ravenous gusto. Nor did he spare a glance for the striking pair of master and servant nearby—his hunger was simply too overpowering.

Having polished off five plates of Spirit Flower Cakes, Loong Jiaoyang felt a modest replenishment of his spirit power thanks to the cakes' subtle essence. But their diminutive size—merely four to a plate—did little to sate the gnawing hunger that had plagued him for nearly three days.

When Loong Jiaoyang looked up once more at the maidservant Xiaohong, she met his gaze with a dismissive sneer. "Don't bother looking; there's nothing left to eat."

He licked his lips, gathering the last traces of cake crumbs, before turning his attention to the striking Zi Shan, with her delicate nose and crimson lips. "Thank you, miss, for your life-saving grace. This kindness, Loong Jiaoyang will remember for a lifetime."

"You're called Loong Jiaoyang?" Zi Shan's eyebrows knit together in inquiry.

"Yes."

Zi Shan pressed on, "Are you the Loong Jiaoyang from the Righteous Qi Sect?"

"Nope." Loong Jiaoyang nearly affirmed with a nod, but caught himself just in time, shaking his head to refute the claim.