The Broken Jade Hook was an ancient divine weapon, not something that could be wielded immediately upon acquisition. Jiang Shu used the Qingcheng Sect Immortal Law to sacrificially refine it whole-heartedly for an entire month before he could operate it at will.

The power of this hook was truly formidable; once unleashed, it radiated beams of cold light, turning the entire valley into a non-stop display of flashing brilliance. Jiang Shu was immensely pleased with it.

After he had refined the hook, Shi Feiyang took him westward to find the elusive Chuandeng Monk.

The headquarters of the Western Demon Cult was in the Himalayas. If measured by length, the Himalayas were longer and more significant than Huaxia's ancestral Kunlun Mountain, with numerous peaks rising into the sky, accumulating an even more majestic air. However, this dragon vein was severed in the middle by the Yarlung Zangbo River, breaking its spine. Coupled with other factors, one dragon fell, and myriad beings thrived. Despite the loss of grandeur, this engendered many smaller, strange patterns.

These patterns were lucky and unlucky, interwoven and affecting each other; Orthodox Immortal Path practitioners did not favor this place, while members of the Demon Cult enjoyed congregating here.

There were numerous factions within the Western Demon Cult, with masters abundant. Currently, the nominal Sect Leader, Poison Dragon Venerable, was merely one faction. His master, Chi Li Lao Fu, commanded respect from all factions because of his profound mana. He was revered as the leader, but after his cremation, upon passing his mantle to Poison Dragon Venerable, the other factions did not acknowledge his authority.

One Light Master was a notable figure besides Poison Dragon Venerable, typically reclusive and not wandering outside, except for his chief disciple, Chuandeng Monk, who would leave with his followers to spread their teachings.

Each had their courts in the mountains and temples outside, like the Poison Dragon Venerable who cultivated in the Red Ghost Valley of the Himalayas and had the Poison Dragon Temple in Dianxi to recruit followers and spread teachings.

Shi Feiyang initially pinpointed the rough location and flew directly to Western Sichuan, crossing the Yangtze River through the Three Gorges and quickly entering the Shu basin.

The original title known as "Legend of Swordsman in Shu Mountain" indicates that Shu produced many talented individuals; masters of both Buddhism and Daoism were everywhere. Especially near the Sichuan border, the old nun Fen Tuo cultivated in the Dragon Elephant Temple at Yitian Cliff, there was Great Wisdom Monk in Great Snow Mountain, God Nun Ren Master at Small Cold Mountain, and near Western Dianxi, there were the Five Eccentrics and Three Demons of the Southwest, Daoist Jile Perfected, and so on.

The last time Shi Feiyang came to retrieve the Nanming Leaving Fire Sword from Great Snow Mountain, he was very composed, but always cautious. Now returning, Shi Feiyang had vastly changed, his state of mind profoundly unusual.

They found Chuandeng Monk's temple, Haideng Temple, in Western Sichuan. After asking around, they quickly located it.

Upon arriving at the temple gate, they saw two lamp trees cast in brass, over ten meters tall, with many branches, each holding a bowl-shaped tray filled with lamp oil and a lampwick as thick as a pinkie. There were over a hundred lamps on each side, resembling giant torches, making this place brighter and more dazzling than elsewhere.

Shi Feiyang saw many devotees entering the temple to offer incense and purify their souls, some even starting their prostrations from the base of the mountain, bowing step by step until they reached inside the temple.

He prepared to cast a spell to move the devotees aside, then directly break through the temple door, especially since the two lamp trees were the opponent's magic artifacts, which needed to be destroyed first.

Just as he was about to make a move, a middle-aged monk came out. Upon seeing them, his expression changed immediately. He hastily waved his hands signaling them to leave quickly while continuously making gestures, standing inside the temple door. He moved his lips slightly and directly transmitted his voice, "Why have you come at this time?"

Shi Feiyang hesitated and then also transmitted his voice, "Why can't we come at this time?"

He was here to fight, to fight you. Was he supposed to pick a specific day or something?

The middle-aged monk stood inside the threshold, using the temple door and the pilgrims as cover to hide from the light of the lamp trees. He gestured again, "Not now! The master is inside the back hall, imparting teachings and receiving offerings from devotees. Acting now would not only harm the innocents but also, the master's Great Sun Golden Lamp Formation is at its most powerful. You must wait until tonight!"

Shi Feiyang realized that he was most likely mistaken for someone else, said nothing, and silently calculated.

The monk added, "Don't worry. Xiong Man is in the Underground Lamp Hall. Although she's trapped by the formation, she is protected by a supreme treasure safeguarding her Primordial Spirit, and the master didn't succeed. He wants Xiong Man to submit, to become his Demon Consort and join him in studying the Demon Path Great Technique. Tonight at midnight is the final deadline. I'll extinguish three lamps at the southeast corner where the wind enters, and weaken the power of the Great Sun Golden Lamp Formation, then you can come in to rescue!"

Shi Feiyang nodded and transmitted back, "Alright, we'll come tonight at midnight."

After he finished speaking, he took Jiang Shu and turned around to leave.

Jiang Shu, confused, asked what was going on.

Shi Feiyang replied, "I have a disciple named Xiong Man, who has been captured by that Chuandeng Monk and is held in the temple."

"What?" Jiang Shu almost exclaimed, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's rush in and rescue her!"

He was about to turn around and head back to the Dianxi Sea Lamp Temple, when Shi Feiyang stopped him, "Many matters are involved here, we can't just barge in."

Initially, up on the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain, Shi Feiyang foresaw that Xiong Man's tribulation was imminent and brought her to Central Earth to face it proactively.

According to the Gua Xiang, the source of Xiong Man's tribulation was Wei Da, the hunter's son from years ago. The tribulation was destined to occur in the southwest Sichuan, involving a deep emotional entanglement of life and death. If Xiong Man could steadfastly maintain her Daoist heart, unwavering, she would safely overcome this pass, not only forever ridding herself of the annoyance of another reincarnation, but also greatly advancing her cultivation in the Immortal Path, progressing by leaps and bounds each day.

If she failed to hold herself back, the best possible outcome would be marrying Wei Da. They would perform dual cultivation, retire together to the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain, but still face many tribulations thereafter.

The worst outcome would be both of them dying, conclusively ending their karmic ties from past lives and reincarnating anew.

However, the Gua Xiang could only reveal limited information, and Shi Feiyang could only broadly predict it without knowing every minute detail. Now that they encountered the middle-aged monk, he deduced many new things.

The middle-aged monk was indeed Wei Da. Previously a mere hunter's son, learning that he was destined to marry a "fairy" filled his heart with joy. After meeting Xiong Man, his admiration was boundless, and he couldn't help but yearn for closeness, even if it meant just being able to observe her from a distance, which would have been sufficient for him.

But Xiong Man kept her distance. Desperate, he risked his life to save her, but Xiong Man left before he regained consciousness. Later, Luo Ziyuan explained the karmic entanglements between them.

Luo Ziyuan, the eldest senior sister, hoped that Xiong Man would follow the arrangement of their past mentor, the Seven-Fingered Dragon Mother, and marry young Wei Da, have children, accumulate karma, then return to the Immortal Path in the next life.

She clearly explained their karmic ties and also revealed Xiong Man's aspiration to climb the Immortal Path and change her fate against the heavens.

Wei Da, upon hearing this, became extremely dejected. With his mortal mindset, he assumed Xiong Man viewed him as unworthy because he was a mere mortal, and thus disdained even thanking him face-to-face. If he had been a Sword Immortal, she would have definitely been willing to perform dual cultivation with him.

After leaving Luo Ziyuan, he started searching everywhere for Immortal Practitioners, immediately rushing to those rumored to possess spellcasting abilities to ask for their guidance.

Over the years, he met some people with mana, both virtuous and wicked, but neither cared much for him. That was until a few years ago when he heard about a divine monk manifesting miracles at the Dianxi Sea Lamp Temple, displaying countless avatars, each bestowing blessings upon a devotee simultaneously. Overcoming numerous obstacles, he made his way there, kneeling and pleading at the temple's entrance for a long time.

Initially, Monk Chuandeng was unwilling to accept him, not just any disciple would do. One disciple suggested to him, "I see that man has good potential and strong will; why not take him into the monastery, extract his soul for cultivation as a protector before Buddha; he'd make good material."

Monk Chuandeng was about to agree when a sudden insight in the silence revealed to him that Wei Da was connected to a female immortal in a righteous sect. If he could take him as a Demon Consort, jointly cultivating the Yin Yang Divine Demons' Joyful Great Technique, they could transcEND their upcoming tribulations. Thus, he changed his mind and accepted the man as his disciple.

Wei Da finally got his wish, becoming a monk at the temple and residing there for several years.

That day, the grandmaster One Light Master sensed the imminence of the end-times tribulation, faintly keen on the signs of Heavenly Punishment within, extremely anxious. He assigned a mission, asking all disciples to search for boys and girls whose Bazi matched to cultivate techniques and refine treasures, in order to fend off the Heavenly Punishment.

Monk Chuandeng also sensed that his "Demon Consort" had arrived in Central Earth, hence called Wei Da to him and pretentiously said, "There is a matrimonial bond in your fate. The lady is a righteous sword immortal. Previously your mortal flesh was unworthy of her. Now you are my disciple, blessed by gods and Buddha, cultivated into the Purple Gold Body, an excellent match for her. Now, as your master, I will arrange for you to marry her."

Touched deeply, Wei Da repeatedly kowtowed, expressing his willingness to follow any arrangement set by his master.

Monk Chuandeng then summoned eight other disciples to accompany Wei Da. They set an ambush near Wushan Mountain, waiting for Xiong Man to pass by, planning to stage a heroic rescue, a dramatic reunion of old friends.

At that time, Xiong Man separately bid farewell to Shi Feiyang at Fujian Taishan and first went to Zhejiang's Bu Xu Mountain, visiting Xiao Shijiemei. After many years apart, Xiao Shijiemei's Dao Level had also significantly increased, having even accepted a disciple of impeccable potential named Lin Su'e, by now well-known as the Plum Blossom Fairy.

Xiao Shijiemei found Xiong Man quite transformed, her mana advanced beyond her own expectations.

In the past, according to the arrangement by Master Yin Kong, Luo Ziyuan received a copy of the Yue Nu Scripture, Xiao Shijiemei got a copy of the Three Elements Secret Manual, both being their respective Daoist books from past lives. Only Xiong Man received nothing, due to her lack of proper cultivation in Immortal Laws in her past life.

Xiao Shijiemei was not particularly optimistic about Xiong Man taking Shi Feiyang as a new mentor and then traveling far abroad. Now that the sisters reunited, ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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