“…”

Although Xie Lian had basically lived his life as an impotent man, there was still a fundamental difference between "pretending that you didn't have that thing" and "really losing that thing forever." He was so frightened that he broke out in a thin layer of cold sweat and shouted, "Get out of the way!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the sword suddenly withdrew, and Xie Lian seized the opportunity to move forward. In a moment, he pulled Shi Qingxuan again: "Be careful!"

Another sword fell in front of Shi Qingxuan, almost stabbing at his head. If Xie Lian hadn't pulled him, he would have been nailed there. He was shocked and said, "It was a close call. How did you know where he was going to strike???"

Xie Lian said, “I don’t know, I guessed!” That was intuition. He had trained himself to the point where he could react to murderous intent without even thinking. Then, the second, third, and fourth swords were thrust down, and sharp sword lights blocked the three people’s way out and retreat. Then, there was a loud “bang” and a violent vibration came from above, with dust and gravel falling. Xie Lian said, “There’s an explosion up there!”

The rumbles were getting louder and louder, and the vibrations were getting bigger and bigger, and it was obvious that they were getting closer and closer. The front and back were blocked by sharp swords, all of which were young and sharp top-grade swords. Fang Xin was too old to know if she could fight head-on. Ming Yi took out a crescent shovel from somewhere and started to dig a hole in the narrow space to the other side with difficulty. Shi Qingxuan was almost vomiting smoke: "Brother Ming, can you do it? Brother Ming, please hurry up, it's all your fault that you haven't used this magic weapon for so long. You should use it more often. Look at how unfamiliar you are!!!"

Actually, being unfamiliar is forgivable. There is no other way. After all, in the entire Upper Heaven, only Xie Lian can walk in and out with a shovel on his back without changing his expression. There is really no other priest who can do such a thing. Ming Yi's forehead veins bulged, and he said, "Shut up!!!"

Xie Lian hurriedly said, “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry, it’s all connected!”

Sure enough, Mingyi exerted force with his hands, and the cave opened. He picked up a shovel and frantically cleared the way in front, Shi Qingxuan frantically encouraged in the middle, and Xie Lian, as the only one who had not gone crazy, was responsible for covering the rear. The geomancer's precious shovel was indeed magical. With just a few strokes, he had dug out a new tunnel of more than ten feet. After a while, he looked back and saw that the entrance of the cave was gradually closing, and a glimmer of light leaked from above the place where they were originally trapped.

Xie Lian immediately said, “He’s almost got through!”

Ming Yi dug even more frantically, then suddenly stopped and looked up. Xie Lian had the same reaction as him, because they both felt that there was silence and no movement above this place, so it should be an empty palace.

Since the tunnel has been discovered, we should get out first. Mingyi turned to dig upwards. Shi Qingxuan asked, "Are you sure there is no one here after we dig it out???"

Mingyi said: "I didn't hear any sound. Unless he was sleeping!"

Of course, ordinary priests don't need to sleep, let alone sleep in their own temples in broad daylight, so this possibility should not exist. Who knows, Mingyi shoveled up, and three people broke out of the ground. As soon as the three heads came out, they took a breath of fresh air, but before they exhaled, they saw a couch opposite them, and on the couch lay a young man with his limbs spread out, sleeping.

Xie Lian: “???”

Is there really a priest sleeping in his own temple in broad daylight? ? ?

Hearing the noise, the young man turned over and sat up, his curly hair was messy, his brows were furrowed, he scratched his hair, and looked at the three heads opposite the bed with sleepy eyes, as if he didn't understand why such things appeared in his hall. The three of them pretended that nothing happened and quickly climbed out of the cave. Unexpectedly, when Shi Qingxuan was about to climb up, he suddenly shouted. Xie Lian looked back and saw a hand grabbing his ankle.

The owner of the hand was Pei Ming. Even in the tunnel, he was very graceful and said, "I was wondering where the little rat came from and dug a hole under my palace. Qingxuan, why did you run out? Where are you going? You know how angry your brother gets. Go back quickly before he notices."

Ruo Xie flew out and repelled his hand. Pei Ming jumped out and said, "Your Highness, Master Earth Master, do you two have nothing to do? It's not right to instigate Master Feng to leave home for no reason."

Xie Lian said, “Although Master Wind Master is Master Water Master’s younger brother, he is still a priest after all, and he is also several hundred years old. General Pei, please don’t make him sound like a three-year-old child. Even if we are to be reasonable, Master Water Master should be more unreasonable in imprisoning the immortal officials of the Heavenly Court for no reason.”

If his guess is correct, then the Wind Master really can't stay in the Upper Heavenly Palace. Quan Yizhen was staring at this side with a dull look on the couch, and he seemed to be confused about the situation. Pei Ming raised his sword and concentrated, "Qiying, don't look at it, come over and help first, and take it down first."

After thinking for a moment, Quan Yizhen came to help.

He jumped off the couch, picked up the couch he was lying on and smashed it towards Pei Ming. It really helped, but it was just a help to Xie Lian and the others. Pei Ming was hit by the couch unexpectedly, and was completely stunned. He said: "Qi Ying!!! Why are you hitting me???"

Quan Yizhen waved his hand at Xie Lian, probably signaling them to hurry up. Xie Lian and the others were stunned for a moment, then hurried away. Shi Qingxuan's face turned blue after running a few steps, perhaps because of his injury and lack of blood. Xie Lian helped him up, while Ming Yi grabbed him and carried him on his back. Xie Lian put his hand on the door, took out two dice, turned around and said to the young man, "Thank you very much!"

Quan Yizhen was still hitting Pei Ming frantically, his attacks were ferocious and without any rules. If Pei Ming wasn't so skilled, someone else would have been covered in blood by his random beating. Pei Ming's veins stood up from the beating, and he shouted, "Guards! Stop him!!!"

Before he called for help, Xie Lian rolled the dice, opened the door, rushed out, and closed the door again, thus escaping from the Upper Heaven Palace. However, what he never expected was that after closing the door, he turned around and saw Hua Cheng standing on a new merit box, shirtless, wiping his sweat.

“…”

“…”

“…”

A shabby little Puqi temple was no place for so many great gods. Xie Lian felt like he was suffocating. And outside the house, there was a ghost who was howling without noticing, making noise: "Guzi~ come here and give Dad a leg massage~"

After a while, Hua Cheng threw away E Ming who was cutting wood and raised one eyebrow slightly: "......?"

His half naked body, with its beautiful skin color and lines, was so dazzling that Xie Lian’s eyes were almost dazzled. He clearly couldn’t see anything clearly, but the blood was boiling up in his eyes and he couldn’t stop it. Xie Lian rolled and crawled to stand in front of him, and opened his arms to block Ming Yi and Shi Qingxuan’s sight: “Close your eyes, close your eyes! Close your eyes quickly!”

The two men's faces froze, and they looked at them strangely. Hua Cheng put his hand on Xie Lian's shoulder and said jokingly, "...Brother, why are you so nervous?"

Xie Lian finally realized what was going on. Yes, why was he so nervous? Hua Cheng wasn’t a grown-up girl. What was wrong with working topless?

But he still didn't put his arms down, trying his best to cover Hua Cheng tightly, and said: "Anyway... put on your clothes first."

Hua Cheng shrugged and said, "Okay, I'll listen to my brother." After that, he calmly took a piece of clothing and put it on slowly.

Seeing how calm and composed he was, Shi Qingxuan said awkwardly, "Well, sorry to bother you. I didn't expect you guys... Hahaha, that's pretty good, hahaha. Anyway, it's, hahaha."

“…” Xie Lian said, “Sir, just say what you want to say. I can explain any misunderstandings so that I can explain them clearly. Please don’t use “hahahaha” instead, okay…”

Time was running out. Pei Ming was afraid that he would come to investigate soon, so he would not stay in Puqi Temple for long. Mingyi put down Shi Qingxuan and drew a map on the ground. Just as Xie Lian was about to ask where they were going, he suddenly heard Huacheng sigh behind him.

Xie Lian remembered his warning to him not to get close to Feng Shi and the others, and he couldn’t help but turn around and said, “San Lang, I’m sorry.”

Hua Cheng had already put on his clothes and said, "I knew you wouldn't just stand by and watch."

After a pause, he smiled again and said, "But why did you apologize to me, brother? You only remember one sentence I said a few days ago. Have you forgotten that I said another sentence to you?"

Xie Lian was slightly startled, thinking, “Which sentence?”

Suddenly, he remembered.

It was the night in the Green Ghost's lair that Hua Cheng said, "Just do it."

After remembering this, Xie Lian blinked. He didn't know what to say, but he suddenly wanted to do something for Hua Cheng. But for a while, he couldn't find anything he could do. After holding it in for a long time, he suddenly caught a glimpse of the collar of Hua Cheng's red dress and said, "Wait!"

After saying that, he rushed over to help Hua Cheng straighten his collar. It turned out that Hua Cheng had just put on his clothes without turning up his collar properly. After finishing, Xie Lian looked at it for a moment and smiled, "It's done."

Hua Cheng also smiled and said, "Thank you."

Xie Lian whispered in his heart, “I am.”

The two people over there seemed to be unable to look at this side, and even the circle under Mingyi's hands was not so round. When he finished drawing the array and opened the door, Xie Lian thought he would see some gloomy cave or towering palace, but who knew that outside the door was a large field of farmland. In the distance were the faint green mountains and green bamboos, a group of farmers working in the fields, and a sleek and strong black cow plowing the fields.

Seeing this, he almost thought he was still in Puqi Village. He was stunned for a moment, but Mingyi had already walked out with Shi Qingxuan on his back. Before he took a step, Huacheng also walked out before him.

The four of them walked two by two on the ridge of the field. They didn't know if it was an illusion, but the black cow seemed to be staring at them. After walking for a while, they found a small hut. The four of them went in and sat down. Shi Qingxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Lian asked, “Don’t we need to run anymore? What if General Pei gets here?”

Hua Cheng looked outside for a while, especially at the black bull, then closed the door and said lightly, "Don't worry. He doesn't dare to offend the owner of this place, and nothing good will come of it if he comes. Shui Hengtian won't act rashly either."

Xie Lian thought about it, and said, “Sanlang, this matter is very confusing. I’m afraid it will involve a lot of people in the Upper Heaven Court. You’d better not come with me.”

Hua Cheng smiled and said, "What happens in heaven is none of my business. I'm just following you around to take a look."

Suddenly, Shi Qingxuan said, "Don't follow me."

The other three people in the room all looked at him, and Shi Qingxuan said, "Your Highness is right, this matter is a mess, and there are many people involved. I will stay here and not go out. Friends, you don't need to help anymore, let's stop here."

Xie Lian said slowly, “Master Wind Master, whether we should stop here or not is not up to you. Master Water Master and Immortal Baihua have the final say.”

Upon hearing this, Shi Qingxuan's face froze.

Xie Lian added, “Master Fengshi, please don’t be offended if I ask you a question.”

"what is the problem?"

Xie Lian asked, “Did the Immortal Baihua catch any evidence against you and the Water Master?”

Shi Qingxuan's face turned slightly pale.

Originally, on the night of the drinking party, Xie Lian had already set up a very solid defense array. As long as Shi Qingxuan didn't open the door and leave, he wouldn't be harmed. However, why did he take the initiative to open the door?

Unless, when someone is channeling spiritual knowledge to him, they directly throw out the handle in the first sentence, leaving him no room to resist and making him dare not speak out, and he has to do as the other person instructs.

Xie Lian sat down at the table and said, “I’m more inclined to believe that it was Master Shuishi’s handle. Because, I believe that no matter what happened originally, you were not aware of it.”

Therefore, the backlash after knowing the news was so intense that they even developed resistance to the Heavenly Palace. They would rather go down to the human world to become immortals and travel around than stay in the Heavenly Palace to be priests.

Mingyi frowned and asked, "What handle?"

Shi Qingxuan was not an innocent victim. If he had been victimized and had lost his powers, his normal reaction would have been to be extremely angry, to find out the truth, and to beat up the real culprit. However, he did not do any of these. He was angry, but not towards Baihua Zhenxian, but towards his brother. He said to others, "That's enough."

This is of course completely abnormal, with one exception -

Shi Qingxuan's ascension was not normal from the beginning!

Changing fate against the will of heaven, elevating a person who was originally unable to ascend to heaven to the altar, this is simply audacious and treasonous. Xie Lian has never heard of such a thing. If it is true, it will surely cause an uproar if it is exposed. Just imagine, if everyone wants to ascend to heaven, and everyone can use this method, wouldn’t the order between heaven and earth be destroyed and become a mess?

Although this guess is incredible, the more I think about it, the more reasonable it becomes. Shi Qingxuan has been entangled by Baihua Zhenxian for many years since he was born. The only way to get rid of it is to ascend, and he happened to ascend. In just a few years, a pair of brothers ascended one after another. This is really a great blessing, but also a great coincidence.

Xie Lian had no intention of questioning the fact that Master Qingxuan had ascended to heaven, but if the Wind Master had ascended to heaven naturally, how could his magical power be drained so easily? If it were so easy for the demons to turn a priest into a mortal, who knows how many priests would have been retaliated against in this way.

Unless, he was originally a mortal. Unless, when the Wind Master ascended, the Water Master did something dirty.

It is not unusual to smash the treasures of heaven and earth to bless the path of cultivation. It is not unusual to ascend to heaven by taking advantage of the change of power in the human world, fighting and killing. After all, the world is like this. Glory must be accompanied by blood. After ascending to heaven, it will be written off. However, some things are unusual. If a mortal, or a certain priest, uses crooked means to make a person ascend, and deliberately kills people with evil methods, then it is very different.

Xie Lian asked in a low voice, “Master Wind Master, was the night you ascended the Cold Dew Eve?”

After a while, Shi Qingxuan took a deep breath and said, "Yes."

After a pause, Shi Qingxuan continued, "I remembered it that day in Bogu Town. The eve of Cold Dew, isn't that the same day I ascended? I wanted to ask you, is this a clue? Is there any connection? Is it a coincidence? But I was always uneasy, so I didn't ask. Now you know whether there is any connection or not."

Yes. Of course it matters a lot.

Why did Baihua Zhenxian choose this day to first teleport Shi Qingxuan to Bogu Town, let him watch the wonderful drama of the Bloody Society Fire, and then take him to Qingjiutai to kill him? It must not be for no reason. Try to connect this time with the two places: many years ago, on the eve of the Cold Dew in Bogu Town, a mortal named He Sheng collapsed, killed countless people, and died himself. And on the eve of the Cold Dew on Qingjiutai, Shi Qingxuan ascended.

In this way, what Baihua Zhenxian wants to express cannot be clearer:

The ascension of your master Qingxuan is closely related to the death of the protagonist of this Blood Society Fire!

Xie Lian's very bad but reasonable guess is this:

After Shi Wudu ascended to heaven, in order to help Shi Qingxuan escape from Baihua Zhenxian, he secretly found a qualified person and used some evil magic to let that person ward off the disaster for Shi Qingxuan. This person was undoubtedly He Sheng, who was poor and extremely intelligent, but suddenly suffered from bad luck and eventually his family was destroyed.

He Sheng replaced Shi Qingxuan's name and deceived Baihua Zhenxian, so his own luck was taken over by Shi Qingxuan. On the eve of Cold Dew, one person experienced the taste of purgatory on earth; the other person, under the strong escort, successfully passed the catastrophe and ascended.

However, the original destinies of these two people were opposite!