Chapter 12: The Unscrupulous Taoist

“You’d better stay within the Heavenly Star Sanctuary for the rest of your life and never step outside!” Fang Jin’s face darkened, his gaze merciless.

“To insult my Radiant Light Sanctuary, I will hunt you down through every lifetime!”

Since his debut, he had never suffered such a great humiliation!

Within the Heavenly Star Sanctuary, out of respect between sanctuaries, he dared not act rashly. But once outside...

Fang Jin swore he would never let him leave the Eastern Wilds alive!

“Coincidentally, I was planning to stay in the sanctuary my whole life!” Luo Yan retorted sharply.

“If possible, I hope you live for six thousand years!” Suddenly, Luo Yan uttered a perplexing remark.

At that moment, the Heavenly Star Saintess finally spoke: “Wei Yi’s master is the elder brother of the Holy Lord, making him my junior apprentice brother. Brother Fang, on whose behalf do you intend to discipline my junior?”

Her eyes were piercing, as if they could see into the soul, imbued with the power of the great Dao. Her voice carried an aura of decisive judgment.

No wonder she commanded the loyalty of many renowned figures across the Eastern Wilds. Known as the faultless and pure First Saintess of the Eastern Wilds, just a single sentence from her dulled the expression of the Radiant Light Sanctuary’s candidate saint son, forcing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

“Saintess, forgive me. I was unaware that this youth was your junior apprentice brother!” Fang Jin’s face showed panic. He could wield his Radiant Light Sanctuary status against Luo Yan, but not against her.

This perfect woman was not only the most beautiful in the Eastern Wilds but also a peerless prodigy surpassing all other saint sons and daughters. Rumor had it that the Heavenly Star Saintess had already surpassed the Immortal Stage ten years ago; her current strength might rival the great Holy Lords themselves.

Killing him would be as simple as crushing an ant!

Moreover, the Radiant Light Sanctuary would not only refrain from holding her accountable but would even visit to apologize. This was the crushing pressure the Heavenly Star Saintess exerted over the prodigies of the Eastern Wilds, an insurmountable mountain among her peers.

Wei Yi seized the opportunity to build rapport: “Senior sister, you are mighty!”

“Senior sister, invincible!”

“Senior sister, unparalleled through the ages!”

From saintess to repeated “senior sister” praises.

The Heavenly Star Saintess, stunning beyond compare, turned with a faint smile that enchanted all: “Friend Luo Yan, please come in.”

“This gentleman is someone I specifically invited to help capture the thief. Please don’t misunderstand!” the Saintess explained.

Only then did several saint son-level prodigies turn to look. To earn such respect from the Heavenly Star Saintess was extraordinary! Even they might not receive such regard.

Luo Yan followed the Saintess into her carefully tended herb garden—vibrant and multicolored, flowers competing in bloom. Streams of medicinal aroma washed through the meridians; cultivation here would surely yield double the result with half the effort!

“That’s Dragon Orchid, isn’t it? At least a thousand years old. It’s said to counter most poisons in the world. People outside pay a fortune but can’t get even one plant. And here is an entire patch!”

“If I’m not mistaken, that peach tree is the second-generation offspring of the Immortal Peach Tree from the Jade Pool Sanctuary. This tree has always been a sacred tree of the Jade Pool Sanctuary. I didn’t expect them to part with one!”

“Too bad the peaches haven’t ripened yet.”

Within the Jade Pool Sanctuary stood a divine tree branch taken from a genuine Immortal Peach Tree, cultivated in their celestial pool. The peaches borne there possessed half the potency of a true Immortal Peach, considered a semi-immortality elixir. This second-generation tree came from that branch!

They had long heard the Jade Pool Sanctuary had gifted such a tree, containing part of the immortal lineage. Seeing it today was still shocking.

“That’s a ten-thousand-year-old Medicine King Herb, capable of extending life by eight hundred years! There’s one here too?”

“Not just one—there are several!” The group was astonished. The Heavenly Star Saintess’s herb garden contained so many divine medicines—truly eye-opening! Comparable to the foundation of a top-tier noble family or sect!

The Heavenly Star Saintess, radiantly beautiful, walked gracefully and seemed unfazed. She stopped before Luo Yan and said clearly, “Please help me find the thief’s hiding place. The Ten-Thousand Faces Flower is very important to me.”

Luo Yan replied, “Please wait a moment.”

The Time Mirror appeared in his hand, casting a beam that covered the entire garden.

Everyone was shocked. That shattered mirror still possessed such divine power!

“Haha... this humble Daoist has arrived!” A plump, ruddy-faced Taoist rode a divine rainbow swiftly, his bulky appearance betraying nimble movements.

“Who are you?” Fang Jin brashly demanded, following shamelessly.

Ignoring Fang Jin’s questions, the unscrupulous Taoist strode past him.

An experienced prodigy recognized the technique and explained: “That’s the Retrograde Projection Method, which replays events from a certain time at the same location, making those present feel as if they are truly there. I have seen a senior use it before! The mirror in Brother Luo’s hand must contain fragments of the Time Principle!”

Hearing this, Fang Jin’s face darkened further. It was only a replay, yet he not only failed to notice it but even confronted them. Now he was utterly humiliated.

His eyes filled with venomous hatred; it all stemmed from that fellow!

The others had no time for his mood and all turned their attention to the unscrupulous Taoist.

“Immortal Peach Tree? No, this is the grandson of the Immortal Peach Tree!” The Taoist was not wrong—the second generation was like a grandson.

They saw that the peach tree originally bore more than a dozen peaches, all plucked by the Taoist alone.

“This is the Ten-Thousand Faces Flower? Haha, this is truly my great fortune. The world believes this flower only preserves beauty, but actually, when combined with the Yin-Yang Fruit, it might create a postnatal Spirit God Body!” The Taoist spoke as he gathered the Ten-Thousand Faces Flower.

“Medicine King?” His eyes darted to several Medicine Kings nearby.

Before he could move, a sharp shout rang out: “Who’s there?”

“Bad! We’ve been discovered!”

A slender jade hand came crashing down on the Taoist.

“Slash!” The Taoist was severely wounded, nearly crushed to pulp. Yet his body rapidly regenerated, transforming back into the plump, ruddy-faced figure.

“I’m escaping!” he shouted, instantly vanishing underground.

Luo Yan held the Time Mirror, aiming it at the spot beneath the garden. A vein of energy appeared, leading outside, and a stranger’s silhouette emerged in the mirror.

“Saintess, this man is the plump Taoist, now disguised and hiding within the sanctuary!”

The Heavenly Star Saintess nodded, revealing a breathtaking smile: “Thank you, friend Luo Yan, for your assistance. Please, take whatever you wish from the herb garden as a reward.”

“In that case, I shall not refuse!” Luo Yan selected a millennium-grade herb in front of everyone. Though inferior to the Medicine Kings, it was still within an acceptable value range.

Luo Yan had no intention of joining the pursuit of Duan De afterward.

So, before all eyes, Luo Yan took Wei Yi and left the Heavenly Star Saintess’s palace.