At the same time, the young woman in Daoist robes saw a tall and imposing figure rushing from the direction of the great hall and charging straight toward the group of humanoid monsters. These humanoid monsters were bizarre and terrifying, tireless in their movements, and attacked with strange, demonic techniques. Even a light strike from them could shatter the protective jade amulet. To the young Daoist woman, they were like a horror she had never encountered before. Yet in front of Li Yanchu, these demons were like paper. His powerful saber qi swept through, like a hurricane ripping across the land. The monsters were slain one after another, shattering completely before turning into black smoke, then being forcibly dispersed by the heavens themselves. “Daoist Master, you’re so incredible, help me too!!” From afar came a rough, panicked voice. The fat man was being chased by more than a dozen of the same monstrous creatures. Li Yanchu grabbed the young woman in one hand and threw her into the great hall behind him. The woman felt an overwhelming force at her waist, and before she could react, she was launched like a projectile. She was alarmed; at that speed, if she hit a pillar or the floor, she might have broken bones on the spot. That thought flashed through her mind as wind whistled past her ears. Yet despite being thrown over tens of zhang, she landed precisely inside the hall. And just when she was about to hit the ground, a gentle force slowed her descent. Though she didn’t have time to react, she still landed softly and unharmed. His precision... his control of strength... It was almost unbelievable. Li Yanchu, not one to play favorites, rushed toward the fat man as well! “Sir, watch out!” Li Yanchu shouted and summoned the Heaven-Illuminating Seal. A small, ancient, and noble-looking seal flew into the sky, immediately enlarging to the size of a boulder. It radiated like a blazing sun! A wave of pure yang divine fire surged out from the seal, sweeping toward the horde of humanoid monsters behind the fat man. In an instant, the divine flames consumed them, burning them to ash! “Holy shit!” the fat man screamed in terror, completely shaken. Oddly enough, his speed shot up, and he bolted toward the hall like a wild beast. The ground trembled with every step, so much so that it was hard to believe this was a human running. He was like a stampeding wild boar. A protective Daoist talisman still clung to his neck, emitting a divine glow. He cried out while charging into the great hall, while Li Yanchu followed closely behind. The fat man was still visibly shaken. “That was close! Way too close!” It wasn’t clear whether he was more frightened by the demons, or by Li Yanchu’s seal. Meanwhile, the young Daoist woman bowed to Li Yanchu respectfully. “Thank you, Daoist Master, for saving my life!” Li Yanchu nodded slightly, accepting it calmly. “Daoist Master, we meet again. I didn’t expect to be saved by you twice in one day, truly, I don’t even know how to thank you.” The woman in the Daoist robe was none other than Ding Rou, the one whom Li Yanchu had saved earlier. You really are quite unlucky... Li Yanchu smiled and said, “It was just a small effort, don’t mention it.” “Haha, such a beautiful woman. What a pity she became a Daoist priestess,” a boisterous voice rang out. Li Yanchu looked over and saw an extremely fat man clasping his fists in salute toward him. “Thank you for saving my life, Daoist Master! If not for you, I fear I would’ve died right here. I will definitely repay this kindness in the future!” Li Yanchu replied, “No need to be so polite, sir. Reaching your level of cultivation is no easy feat.” The fat man was momentarily stunned, then burst into hearty laughter. “I’m Zhu Fugui. May I ask for your name?” Ding Rou also turned her beautiful eyes toward him. Li Yanchu didn’t hide it; he had already used his real name earlier at the Gongshu residence. Zhu Fugui immediately started praising Li Yanchu effusively, showering him with compliments. Li Yanchu merely responded with a slight smile. Then, Zhu Fugui began chatting enthusiastically with Ding Rou, full of concern and warmth. His overly eager manner made Ding Rou frown slightly. But this frosty demeanor of hers only made Zhu Fugui’s gaze burn hotter with desire. Watching from the side, Li Yanchu couldn’t help but find it amusing. Escaping death had clearly made Zhu Fugui bold in his affections; he was quite the character. With a physique like that, it was no wonder he had a big heart to match. Zhu Fugui studied Ding Rou closely. The more he looked, the more he liked what he saw. With her delicate skin, sparkling eyes, and blushing cheeks, she was indeed a stunning beauty. And dressed in a Daoist robe, she had a certain ethereal charm. Ding Rou’s frown deepened. Li Yanchu asked, “What was with those strange monster-like beings just now?” Ding Rou took the opportunity to free herself from Zhu Fugui’s pestering and replied, “I was passing through a ruined area when those evil creatures suddenly surged out from all sides. Even the Daoist temple hall’s magical artifacts couldn’t protect me.” Ruins... Li Yanchu’s brows furrowed. Could it be that these creatures were buried under the ruins all along? Zhu Fugui, hearing his benefactor’s question, still couldn’t tear his eyes away from Ding Rou. “Miss Ding encountered trouble in the ruins, but I was simply on my way when several of those monsters suddenly crawled out of the ground and got incredibly excited when they saw me! They destroyed two of my magical artifacts and chased me all the way here. If not for your intervention, those ugly beasts would’ve probably eaten me alive!” Upon hearing Zhu Fugui’s account, both Li Yanchu and Ding Rou fell silent. There were no fixed trigger conditions? Could this all just be random? A contemplative look appeared in Li Yanchu’s eyes. If that was the case, then why, during the mission with the Gongshu family to seize the jujube tree, were there no such monsters? There were far more people then; if these evil creatures were truly drawn to human flesh, wouldn't they have been a prime target? Li Yanchu glanced at the two without betraying his thoughts, then turned his gaze toward the grand hall’s entrance. This Blissful Land of Mount Jinting is becoming more and more dangerous, he thought to himself. Either there was some kind of unpredictable change causing the evil creatures in the ruins to randomly attack people... Or it was because they were too close to Mount Jinting, and the monsters were becoming more active. Whichever the reason, it meant that their situation was now even more perilous. Some assumptions that had once been taken for granted were now very likely to be overturned, like the assumption that staying inside a Daoist temple hall meant safety. Almost as if to confirm Li Yanchu's suspicions, a surge of intense demonic qi suddenly erupted outside the grand hall. Zhu Fugui and Ding Rou sensed it too, and their muscles tensed as they turned warily toward the hall’s entrance. This feeling... Zhu Fugui frowned deeply. It’s the demons! One by one, shadowy figures abruptly appeared, like vengeful ghosts and malevolent spirits rising from the depths of the Nine Hells. They were twisted, grotesque humanoid monsters, breaking through the earth and crawling out. Then they simply stood there in silence, arms hanging at their sides, which looked eerie and foreboding. The evil qi surged sky-high at this time. A heavy, indescribable oppression instantly filled the air, sending a shiver down one’s spine. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel·fire.net