Biyun watched as Li Jing returned to his residence, knowing full well that Nezha was about to make an appearance. Just then, the mission prompt chimed in again.
[Ding, congratulations, host! Your reward of three hundred years of basic cultivation has been credited. Please check it promptly!]
Biyun felt a wave of relief wash over him as he absorbed the three hundred years of cultivation in an instant. This time, he didn't break through directly; clearly, three hundred years of cultivation weren't enough to reach the Earth Immortal's Great Perfection level.
"Master, Li Jing's power is insufficient. It seems someone else is responsible for killing Junior Brother Lanyun!" Biyun said, trying to sound helpful.
His words were like stating the obvious, and Stone Ridge Fairy merely nodded slightly, unimpressed.
Seeing this, Biyun continued, "I've heard that Li Jing has three sons, all of whom are quite skilled."
"The eldest, Jincha, is cultivating under the Great Sage Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun at Yunxiao Cave on Wulong Mountain. The second, Mocha, is resting under the Great Sage Puxian Zhenren at Baihe Cave on Jiugong Mountain. And the youngest, Nezha, is training under Great Sage Taiyi at Jinguang Cave on Qianyuan Mountain," Biyun elaborated.
Stone Ridge Fairy's eyes sharpened. "You're suggesting that one of Li Jing's sons is behind this?"
She wasn't dumb, and she had heard of the three disciples of the Chan Sect before.
Biyun said, "I'm just speculating, but whoever it is, their masters are known for protecting their disciples no matter what. If it was one of them, Master, you mustn't go easy on them. We can't let them escape!"
Everyone knew that the Chan Sect protected their own, and Stone Ridge Fairy had always looked down on the second-generation disciples of the Chan Sect. Now, reminded by her disciple, her eyes glinted with even more killing intent.
"Whoever killed my disciple today will pay. No one will escape my Taiyi Sword!" she vowed, her anger boiling over. Unbeknownst to her, she was already being influenced by the aura of disaster, so subtly that she didn't even notice.
Even Biyun, had it not been for his golden finger (special ability), would have been eroded by the disaster aura and lost himself long ago.
Back at Chentang Pass, Li Jing returned home with his head hanging low and recounted the incident to his wife, Lady Yin. Nezha, standing nearby, scoffed and said, "Dad, that Heaven-Shaking Arrow? I was just cooling off on the city tower and shot it southwest. How was I supposed to know it would kill Stone Ridge Fairy's disciple?"
Li Jing and his wife were stunned into silence.
"You good-for-nothing! You've caused a catastrophe, and you still have the nerve to stand there? Come with me now and apologize to Senior Aunt!" Li Jing shouted, dragging Nezha out to face Stone Ridge Fairy.
But Nezha, being the brat that he was, didn't wait for Li Jing to apologize. As soon as he saw the Stone Ridge Fairy, he swung his Universe Ring straight at Biyun.
"Boom!"
The Universe Ring was a treasure from Great Sage Taiyi, specifically given to Nezha for protection. Biyun had no chance of blocking it.
Fortunately, Stone Ridge Fairy was ready. With a flick of her hand, she sent out a beam of golden light that trapped the Universe Ring and pulled it into her sleeve.
Seeing this, Li Jing scolded, "You ungrateful brat! You killed Senior Aunt's disciple, and now you dare to attack again? Get down on your knees and apologize!"
But Nezha just cursed back, "You old hag, don't know your place. It's your fault for having this disaster. Her disciple was meant to die!"
With that, he activated his Cosmic Silk, turning it into a fiery dragon that lunged at Stone Ridge Fairy.
Nezha had some decent magical treasures, but his power was far below Stone Ridge Fairy's. He was merely a Mystic Immortal, while she was a Great Perfection Golden Immortal. With a wave of her hand, she grabbed the Cosmic Silk and held it tight.
Realizing he was outmatched, Nezha tried to flee back to Jinguang Cave on Qianyuan Mountain to get reinforcements.
But Stone Ridge Fairy, following Biyun's advice, had already prepared a spell. A flash of red light later, and Nezha was captured.
Everyone looked closely and saw a brocade scarf with the Bagua symbols, containing the Yin-Yang and Five Elements, tightly binding Nezha. His magical powers were sealed, and he couldn't move an inch.
This was Stone Ridge Fairy's innate treasure, the Bagua Cloud-Glowing Scarf, a top-tier primordial spiritual treasure.
"You old witch! If you hurt me, my master will turn you to dust!" Nezha cursed, even though he was captured.
Biyun stepped forward and slapped Nezha a few times, leaving him with a bruised nose and swollen face. He could only whimper and couldn't curse anymore.
Stone Ridge Fairy turned to Li Jing and said, "Li Jing, your son killed my disciple and now dares to insult me. How should we handle this?"
Li Jing was filled with regret and bowed deeply. "I failed as a father. I don't dare to ask for mercy. Do whatever you see fit, Senior Aunt."
Hearing this, Nezha started making urgent noises at Li Jing, whether cursing him or begging for mercy, it was hard to tell.
Stone Ridge Fairy nodded and said, "Today's incident is indeed not your fault, Li Jing. I wronged you earlier. But even if I kill Nezha now, you can't say anything."
After saying this, she didn't seem to have any intention of killing Nezha.
In the original plot, Stone Ridge Fairy would have let Nezha escape, chased him to Jinguang Cave on Qianyuan Mountain, and ultimately been killed by Great Sage Taiyi.
Seeing this, Biyun steeled himself, stepped forward, and stabbed Nezha's crown with a knife, killing him instantly.
"For my junior brother!" he shouted, taking a huge risk.
He twisted the blade fiercely, trying to scatter Nezha's three souls and seven spirits to eliminate any future trouble. Nezha, in Biyun's grasp and stripped of his powers by Stone Ridge Fairy, had no chance to struggle.
By the time Stone Ridge Fairy realized what was happening, it was too late. But she didn't blame Biyun. An eye for an eye, a life for a life—that was the price Nezha had to pay.
The Jie Sect disciples, though not all innately divine, knew right from wrong.
Nezha's body was mutilated beyond recognition. Stone Ridge Fairy thought Biyun was just filled with hatred for Nezha, but she didn't know it was all part of his plan.
At the same time, in Jinguang Cave on Qianyuan Mountain, where Nezha was supposed to be, Great Sage Taiyi suddenly felt a jolt of unease.
He quickly calculated with his fingers and shouted, "No! Stone Ridge Fairy dared to hurt my disciple!"
Enraged, Great Sage Taiyi rode an auspicious cloud and flew out of Jinguang Cave.
The heavens above began to shift subtly. Although Nezha was destined to die, it wasn't supposed to be at the hands of Biyun.
Previously, Nezha had killed the Dragon Prince, and soon the Four Sea Dragon Kings would flood Chentang Pass. Nezha was supposed to carve his flesh and bones to return to his parents—that was how he was supposed to die.
But now that Nezha had been killed by Biyun, the entire deification disaster would be drastically affected.
What lay ahead for Stone Ridge Fairy and Biyun was not a chance for a new beginning but an even more perilous situation!
A Chan Sect Golden Immortal was personally descending the mountain, and the mysterious force behind the deification was also preparing to correct this mistake.
It was at this critical moment that Biyun received another mission prompt.
[The Demise of the Stone Ridge Lineage]
[Option One: Follow Stone Ridge Fairy back to the White Bone Cave on Skull Mountain and wait for the enemies to come and fight. Reward: A mid-tier primordial spiritual treasure, the Ruyi Bagua Mirror.]
[Option Two: Persuade Stone Ridge Fairy to leave with you and return to Golden Turtle Island to report to the Holy One, informing the sage of today's events. Reward: A low-tier primordial spiritual treasure, a single Dinghai Pearl.]
[Option Three: Flee Skull Mountain and persuade Stone Ridge Fairy to join the Western Sect with you. Reward: A top-tier primordial spiritual root, the Three-Leaf Bodhi Tree.]
This time, there were no basic rewards—everything was pretty powerful stuff. Biyun was unsure which to choose. The level of danger had just gone up a notch.