Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

After resting for a short while longer, Yi Chen and his company slowly left the Eight Immortals Inn.

As they left, the atmosphere inside the entire inn relaxed, and a group of demonic cultivators and ghosts began to whisper among themselves again. The seductive Green Lady leaned against the door curtain watching Yi Chen's figure, licking her crimson lips, lost in thought.

Yi Chen walked side by side with Qian Yueru at the front, speaking in hushed tones, and all along the way, Qian Yueru's laughter was like flowers trembling in the breeze.

Cui Yu, following behind, couldn't help feeling upset.

"Taoist, why stir up unnecessary trouble?" Once they reached a secluded area, Cui Yu could no longer hold back and publicly questioned Yi Chen.

Shen Hui's gaze lingered on Cui Yu's face for a while but he said nothing, assuming the stance of an onlooker.

"Are you instructing me on how to do things?" Yi Chen, who never favored the demeanor of the aristocratic families, also frowned when faced with Cui Yu's condescending interrogation.

"Now we are deeply trapped in a den of ghosts, surrounded by dangers. Taoist, you took such risks for mere trifles, it's like throwing away your life for a small gain. Just be mindful not to cherish your life too dearly when we are in the middle of major business!"

"Taoist, if you are lacking silver to spend unwisely, just say so. I, Cui Yu, will gift you twenty thousand taels, is that enough? You don't need to pay it back; I only hope you don't gamble with the lives and fortunes of everyone here."

"Yueru, the world is a dangerous place. Don't ever get deceived by sweet talk," Cui Yu said mockingly.

"Your mother's Yueru! Who do you think you are calling me Yueru like we're close? Cui Yu, if you're scared, just get lost on your own. I've put up with you for a long time. Do you want to teach me what to do as well?"

"You're in your fifties or sixties and only have this little cultivation? Did you cultivate for a dog? And you also want to preach to me?"

Before Yi Chen could speak, Qian Yueru had already exploded in anger.

Throughout their journey together, Cui Yu had been trying to get close to her every day. She was already fed up with him and had held back only out of courtesy. She never expected him to turn his attention to her, and now her anger was flaring up.

The more Qian Yueru thought about it, the angrier she got. She had consumed the Evil Dragon Yuan not long ago and hadn't completely digested its power. Influenced by the dragon's essence, her aura surged as if an evil dragon was trying to break free, and her shadow on the ground, bathed in sunlight, twisted and changed shapes.

Her pupils suddenly turned gold, and an air of ferocity enveloped her. She seemed ready to attack Cui Yu.

Such a sudden transformation caught Yi Chen completely off guard.

Although Qian Yueru had defended him in a way that pleased him, he still had to quickly stop her.

If she were to break the masking effect of the Seven-Day Sky Change Pill, that would turn into a huge blunder. The Lord Commander had prepared for a long time and expended great effort; his plans couldn't be foiled so foolishly.

"Friend Qian, calm down, it's not worth it, not worth it."

"If we're going to fight, now's not the time," a large hand laid on Qian Yueru's fragrant shoulder as Yi Chen hurriedly tried to console her.

Shen Hui's expression also changed for a moment. He thought, could the daughter of the True Monarch of Spirit Water be so fiery?

He flashed forward in an instant, placing himself between Qian Yueru and Cui Yu, shielding Cui Yu's figure.

Thankfully, Yi Chen's timely consolation and Shen Hui's proper handling calmed Qian Yueru down after a few seconds, and her pupils returned to their normal color.

So close, if Qian Yueru had almost broken the masking effect of the Seven-Day Sky Change Pill, everyone finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Cui Yu, do you really think I covet such petty wealth?" After stabilizing Qian Yueru, Yi Chen turned coldly toward Cui Yu.

"Forgive my frankness, but based on your performance just now, it was extremely poor."

"Master Shen Hui, as a Buddha's disciple, you hold a revered position, ethereal and detached, unconcerned with wine, women, and wealth. Are you a demonic cultivator?"

"Brothers of the Red Flame Army, why are you standing so stiffly? Be mindful of some habits common in the military ranks."

"Friend Qian, uh, just be yourself."

"Cui Yu, drop that noble young master attitude. If you can't pull it off, then pinch up the orchid fingers for me, more feminine, more bizarre."

"Everyone, a demonic cultivator should look the part. The Seven Fiends of Yin Mountain are naturally cruel and prone to pillage. If none of you harbor greed or evil thoughts, do you think you can avoid the combined encirclement and suppression of the Lord Commander and the Peacekeeping Office that the Ghost King from the heavens escaped from?"

"Ghosts are cunning, and the Seven-Day Sky Change Pill's masking effect isn't flawless. Everyone is too prideful. Everything I'm doing is for the safety of us all. You don't think those in the Eight Immortals Inn aren't the Ghost King's spies, do you?"

"My robbery is well-intentioned; would I really set people up and rob them? I am a respected Taoist, enduring this indignity for everyone's safety, so you should all reflect on yourselves."

Yi Chen's words left everyone speechless. After several seconds, Shen Hui stepped forward and bowed deeply to Yi Chen: "What the Taoist said is very true, the monk has understood."

"After this matter is resolved, I shall follow the Taoist's instructions to debate the Dharma, and travel ten thousand li to see the world and all sentient beings."

Shen Hui was shocked when he heard Yi Chen's words, as if a layer of fog had lifted before his eyes.

He started from a high position, with excellent talent, and unknowingly, he had lost the heart of equality, being filled with pride.

It was not that he couldn't pretend to be a demonic cultivator; he simply didn't want to consider it or do it.

This is the separation of the high and low.

He looked down on those in the inn, with their lopsided fruits and cracks. His heart resisted, forgetting that even demonic cultivators were human and sentient beings. If he resisted even pretending to be one, how could he talk about liberating and transcending others?

Not everyone has his spiritual wisdom and karmic methods, nor does everyone have an equal environment.

As Shen Hui's thoughts expanded, he delved deeper. If he was unwilling to understand deeply, how could he empathize and know the suffering of others? Without knowing the suffering of others, how could he save them?

At this realization, Shen Hui was certain of the Buddhist path he should take. He must come from among the living beings, understand their suffering, and only then can he transcend it.

He couldn't help but recall what the Buddha had said to him before he descended the mountain, "What should a bhikkhu do when he kills someone?"

At that time, his answer did not satisfy the Buddha, but now he had an answer in his heart.

"If I understand the suffering of the world as if it were my own, naturally I will know whether this person should be killed or not!"

"When a bhikkhu kills, why bother to explain? My heart is clear, free from attachments."

For a moment, Shen Hui's brilliance receded, and the look of someone beyond worldly concerns was hardly visible in his eyes. He felt that this enlightenment would be the foundation of his Buddhist path.

Once again, he bowed deeply, "Thank you, Taoist, for your guidance. This monk has realized."

Yi Chen, looking as if he had seen a ghost, stared at Shen Hui, whose temperament had abruptly changed, shocked in his heart, "Damn, what else have you realized?"

…

…

As everyone was skilled, once Yi Chen revealed everyone's weaknesses, they naturally began to contemplate their roles and polish their acting skills.

The three brothers from the Red Flame Army, being straightforward, apologized for misunderstanding Yi Chen's actions earlier. Only Qian Yueru, with the instinct of a woman, suspected that Yi Chen must have made up that speech on the spot.

Two hours later, the group's disguises were reasonably convincing. Each person either looked ferocious or had a cold gaze, all emitting an aura of 'keep out.'

Under Yi Chen's lead, the group stepped into the lair of the Sky Evil Ghosts.

This place was the stronghold of the Sky Evil Ghost King, located within a massive mountain deep in the Cangwu Mountains, where the longevity feast was to begin.

The lair inside was vast to the extreme, nearly hollowing out half the mountain, with numerous hollow tunnels leading to unknown destinations. Occasionally, mountain winds blew, making sounds like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves.

Embedded in the mountain walls were nether fire orbs, casting eerie green lights, and eight giant bronze ghost face cauldrons burned with raging ghost flames. On both sides were many tables and seats, and many guests had already taken their places.

The public identities of the Seven Fiends of Yin Mountain, apart from Yi Chen, the leader at the middle stage of the Qi Refinement Realm, show that the other six are at the early stage of the Qi Refinement Realm. Their strength was already quite impressive among the assembly of evil cultivators, prompting their early seating arrangement.

The Wooden Corpse Daoist, who had previously crossed paths with Yi Chen, sat diagonally opposite him.

At this time, within the lair, aside from evil cultivators, there were also ghost creatures. The Sky Evil Ghost King had not yet appeared, so Yi Chen's group exchanged glances, all on alert.

"Some fellow Daoists look unfamiliar," suddenly spoke a demon with a pig's head, addressing Yi Chen. While speaking, he was enjoying fruit from the table, and judging by his aura and seating, should possess the cultivation around the early stage of the Qi Refinement Realm.

"We come from Yin Mountain, known as the Seven Fiends of Yin Mountain. It is normal for fellow Daoists to find us unfamiliar," Yi Chen said as planned, his voice steady.

The pig-headed demon didn't say anything more, focusing on his fruit.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Just then, a demon with a yellowed skin for a head, sitting below the pig-headed one, suddenly spoke up.

"You say you come from Yin Mountain? I had dealings with the Seven Fiends of Yin Mountain the year before last. How come you seem off?"

"Tell me, how many Yin wells are there in Yin Mountain? How many dark springs? How deep is the deepest dark spring? That dark spring is right near your caves; you must be able to answer this."

Shen Hui and the others immediately tensed up, their muscles subtly tightening under their clothes, unsure of how to respond.

The group silently cursed their luck for not anticipating an encounter with a demon that had close dealings with the original Seven Fiends of Yin Mountain. They all turned their gazes towards Yi Chen, wondering how he would respond.

"Of course, it is a massive two thousand five hundred and eight meters deep," Yi Chen replied, calm as an old dog, his figures precise and without hesitation.

Nevermind right or wrong, you just say whether that was fast or not.

"That's not right, the number doesn't match. You wouldn't be impostors, would you?" The yellowed-skin demon's face showed suspicion, a look suggesting he had seen through them, ready to stand up.

Suddenly, Yi Chen flashed a grin at the yellow-skinned demon, then in a blur appeared behind him. With a ferocious smash of his hand to the demon's head, the principle of righteousness reemerged. The yellow-skinned demon's head was crushed into his chest cavity, and with a kick of his legs, he was no longer breathing.

"Can't you shut up?"

"Tui! Was it just because I killed a few of your offspring and roasted them for a meal?"

"Dare to slander me, you mangy cur, who do you think you're familiar with?" Yi Chen dusted off his hands, spat towards the corpse of the yellow-skinned demon with a fierce expression, then turned back with a pleasant smile, "Brother Pig, he was slandering me; you can testify, right?"

The pig-headed demon, feeling Yi Chen's piercing gaze, shivered with cold and quickly retracted, "Yes, yes, yes, I can testify."

Shen Hui and the others could not help but widen their eyes, deeply shocked, "Can you really play it like that?"

Just then, a shrill voice rose.

"Lord Ghost King has arrived!"