The young female cultivator was shocked. "What!? How could Senior Qing He have offended someone like that!?"

She found her friend's words hard to believe. Within this region, the status of the Taiyue Sect was unquestionably supreme.

It wasn't because Taiyue Sect possessed some overwhelming foundation, its sect master was merely a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. However, that sect master's Dao companion came from the Nine Generation King Manor in the Western Continent. She had once been the personal maid of one of the Nine Generation King's concubines.

"I don't know the specifics either. But my family told me not to get involved in this matter, especially not to associate with Senior Qing He."

A trace of fear flashed in the informed cultivator's eyes as he urged in a low voice, "Let's go quickly. The sect master's daughter is temperamental, and her mother's background is extraordinary. If we get dragged into this, it could bring catastrophe upon our families."

"It looks like someone's walking toward Senior Qing He..." said one of them suddenly.

They looked up and saw two young men of extraordinary bearing standing before Abbess Qing He, speaking to her in low voices.

The informed cultivator gave a bitter smile. "They're going to get into trouble. The sect master's daughter has always had people watching Senior Qing He, deliberately humiliating her. She wants all the cultivators in Taiyue City to see her fate..."

Only then did everyone understand why he had been so afraid and so eager to leave. So the sect master's daughter had even ordered people to keep watch over Senior Qing He.

Meanwhile, Fang Chen and Xia Ji stood before Abbess Qing He.

Xia Ji glanced at Abbess Qing He and then said to Fang Chen. "I've basically figured out the whole story. She's only at the Nascent Soul Realm, and her lifespan is nearly exhausted. Now she has run into this situation too. I was thinking that if you hadn't returned, I'd handle it on your behalf first."

Fang Chen transmitted his voice directly to Qing He's mind.

."Junior Sister Qing He, do you still recognize my voice?"

Qing He was startled. She tentatively asked, her voice hoarse, "Is that... Young Lord Fang?"

Fang Chen nodded. "It's me. I should have come back sooner."

Abbess Qing He was taken aback for a moment, but then quickly recalled something and urged, "Young Lord Fang, leave the city first and wait for me for a while. Once Taiyue Sect's anger subsides, I'll leave the city to find you."

But the scene had already been observed clearly by a middle-aged cultivator who had been following her from a distance. When he saw someone chatting casually with Abbess Qing He, he slowly approached. He stopped before the three of them and smiled. "Abbess Qing He, I'm afraid it won't be so easy to calm our young lady's anger."

His gaze then swept over Fang Chen and Xia Ji.

"In Taiyue City, everyone knows to avoid her. Yet you two insist on coming close. From your conversation, it seems you're old acquaintances?"

Fang Chen nodded with a smile. "We've known each other for many years. Back then, she was just a Qi Refining Realm junior."

Upon hearing this, the nearby cultivators were shocked. They had known each other that long? Could they be her senior brothers from the same sect? If they were still alive now, wouldn't they at least be Nascent Soul Realm cultivators?

The middle-aged man's expression grew noticeably more solemn, tinged with vigilance. He himself was only at the Golden Core Realm. If these two were Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, then the Taiyue Sect would have to step in personally.

"Young Lord Fang, leave the city," urged Abbess Qing He quickly, her tone grave.

The middle-aged cultivator suddenly laughed and turned to look toward a distant peak. "I'm afraid these two won't be leaving the city."

Spiritual clouds rolled in that direction. In an instant, a group of cultivators arrived riding the clouds.

The middle-aged cultivator bowed respectfully toward the sky. "Young Lady."

Standing atop the spiritual clouds was a haughty-looking young girl. Behind her were several maidservants and an elderly woman with formidable cultivation.

"Brother Fang, that's the Taiyue Sect master's daughter, Li Zhi," Xia Ji shared with a faint smile.

The middle-aged cultivator looked up at them with a chilling gaze. "So you really did come prepared."

The elderly woman beside Li Zhi narrowed her eyes slightly and examined the two of them carefully. "You dare to address our young lady by her given name?"

For some reason, when she looked at Fang Chen, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. But she couldn't recall where she had seen him before.

Li Zhi looked at Fang Chen and Xia Ji with a half-smile, her eyes filled with mockery. "You two know this nun? You seem quite close. Did you rush here when you heard she was in trouble?"

"Were you the one who dug out Abbess Qing He's eyes and cut off her ears? May I ask why?" Fang Chen asked with a chilly smile.

Xia Ji glanced at him. In truth, he had already explained the entire cause on the way here.

"Why?" Li Zhi found it amusing. "You should ask her about that, not me."

Abbess Qing He was about to speak when Xia Ji stopped her. "It's fine, Little Abbess. Let Brother Fang ask."

Those nearby faintly sensed that the two men seemed confident, unafraid of the Taiyue Sect master's daughter. Curiosity about their identities naturally arose.

Fang Chen spoke again. "Young lady, Abbess Qing He has always been kindhearted since childhood. How did she offend you so severely that you had to gouge out her eyes, cut off her ears, and throw her here in Taiyue City to be humiliated?"

Li Zhi was already growing impatient. She turned to the elderly woman beside her and said, "Granny, seize these two. I'll personally gouge out their eyes and cut off their ears. Let the three of them keep each other company in Taiyue City."

The elderly woman smiled and nodded. "Yes."

Just as she was about to make a move, Li Zhi suddenly vanished without a trace. When she reappeared, she was already standing before the two men. Shock was written across her. She didn't understand how she had suddenly appeared here.

The middle-aged cultivator and the others felt chills run down their spines.

Li Zhi's current position was extremely dangerous. Her cultivation wasn't high. If the other party chose to kill her, they wouldn't be able to save her in time.

"Don't act recklessly!" the middle-aged cultivator shouted

His voice was loud, but his confidence was little.

The elderly woman also leapt down immediately, staring intently at Fang Chen and Xia Ji before saying to Li Zhi, "Young Lady, come to my side."

The mockery and composure on Li Zhi's face were gone, replaced by anxiety.

She tried to move but felt as though an invisible giant hand was gripping her. She couldn't move at all, not even lift a finger.

After noticing this, the elderly woman's expression became extremely grave. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes.

"Do not harm our young lady. My lady comes from the Nine Generation King's Manor. If even a single hair on her head is harmed today, you two—as well as the sects and families behind you—will be exterminated down to your nine generations!"

Fang Chen's smile grew. "Rest assured. Your young lady won't be harmed for now."

Noticing a teahouse nearby, he led the group inside and sat down.

The trembling shopkeeper didn't dare approach and sent an equally trembling waiter to bring over a pot of tea.

"Junior sister, tell me about your experiences over the years. How did you end up so far away? I sent people to the Concealed Moon Hermitage but couldn't find you," Fang Chen asked.

It seemed she hadn't sat down in a very long time. Her expression visibly relaxed a little. But Fang Chen could tell that her lifespan had already reached the point of complete exhaustion.

Li Zhi stood beside the table like a stone statue, unable to move, her eyes filled with fury and terror.