Pu Shi stood at a distance, watching Yan Shouyi from afar.
While Yan Shouyi was studying him, he was also studying Yan Shouyi.
In fact, Pu Shi had been hidden within the Emei Sect, acting as a final failsafe for the plan under Li Genmiao's orders.
The death of Qi Dongqiang was not important.
The deaths of Si Zi and Wei Zi were also not important.
However, if Abbess Miaohui and Yan Shouyi were to reconcile and dismantle the Lotus Grand Array, Li Genmiao would not permit it.
Therefore, Pu Shi had held back until now. The moment he acted, he had incited Abbess Miaohui's heart, amplified the inner demons within her, and caused her to be instantly transformed into an Asura.
Over the past few days observing Yan Shouyi, Pu Shi had discovered that Yan Shouyi was a young man of extraordinary talent and unparalleled intelligence. He was not only brave and resourceful but also deeply loyal and righteous.
Frankly speaking, if Pu Shi did not agree more with Li Genmiao's "lofty ambitions," he might have been tempted to join Yan Shouyi's ranks.
Even though they were now on opposing sides, Pu Shi held great admiration for Yan Shouyi.
"Yan Shouyi, the actor does not intend to let you leave the Emei Sect. You might as well stay put; you'll be able to leave in two months," Pu Shi said calmly.
Yan Shouyi's eyes turned cold. "Why doesn't he just send someone to kill me? If I'm dead, there's no longer any threat, is there?"
Pu Shi replied in his usual unhurried tone, "The actor's depths of cunning are so profound that even I cannot fathom them. But he must have his reasons for not killing you. It is all for his ideals."
Ideals?
Yan Shouyi suddenly realized that from the Twenty-Eight Mansions to the Four Spirits and Five Ghosts, it seemed Li Genmiao had given each of them a different belief.
When Li Genmiao incited the Twenty-Eight Mansions, he told them that killing their fellow disciples was the only way to survive.
When he incited the Twelve Yuan Chen, he seemed to be deliberately instigating conflict between the sects.
Now, with the Four Spirits and Five Ghosts, what were these "ideals"? What were his ideals?
Was it that heroes emerge from chaotic times?
Did he wish to reorder the structure of the Xuanmen and claim the position of Celestial Master for himself?
Yan Shouyi increasingly found Li Genmiao terrifying. This man was truly a madman. He had been confronting him for so long, yet he still didn't know what he wanted to achieve!
But one thing was certain: Pu Shi was here to block his path.
Those who block the path must naturally be eliminated!
Yan Shouyi took a step forward and said, "I am determined to leave Mount Emei."
Pu Shi set down his wooden fish, clasped his hands together, and said, "You will pay a terrible price."
"As will you!"
Yan Shouyi's figure vanished from his original spot in an instant.
The next moment, a golden light flashed, and Yan Shouyi appeared behind Pu Shi.
He brought his sword down, and with a clang, Pu Shi raised the long dao he had at his waist, blocking the Zanpakuto.
The Zanpakuto was no longer what it used to be. A cold light from its blue patterns flashed across the dark blade, and a chill began to erode the scabbard.
Pu Shi's expression changed, and he retreated. However, the scabbard had already been infiltrated by the chill and had become extremely fragile.
He flicked his long dao, and the scabbard instantly shattered into pieces, falling away. Fortunately, the long dao itself remained unaffected.
"Brother Yan (Chairman), we're here to help you!!"
Long Feicheng and the others stepped forward, intending to lend Yan Shouyi a hand.
However, Pu Shi had no intention of getting entangled with them. After breaking free from Yan Shouyi, he picked up the wooden fish on the ground and struck it with his palm!
*Pa!*
A visible sound wave spread outwards, and everyone, including Yan Shouyi, felt their minds momentarily stunned.
The effect of the wooden fish was similar to the Buddhist Lion's Roar.
Yan Shouyi was the first to react. His body was instantly enveloped by Buddhist golden light, and a layer of fine scale armor covered his skin.
After a brief moment of disorientation, he expected Pu Shi to launch a sneak attack. However, Pu Shi did not do so.
He used the opportunity to create distance from everyone, then continuously struck the wooden fish, emitting wave after wave of sound.
Yan Shouyi felt inexplicably agitated, and malevolent energy from the Zanpakuto could not be contained.
The others covered their ears, their expressions contorted in pain, and they lost the ability to fight.
Suddenly, Yan Nanfei, who was standing beside Long Feicheng, punched Long Feicheng!
Long Feicheng's nose was hit, and blood gushed out. The pain enraged him. "Damn it, Yan, you're the most pretentious among us! I've always been annoyed by you!"
Saying this, Long Feicheng lunged at Yan Nanfei and bit his arm.
Yan Nanfei was also furious and slapped Long Feicheng repeatedly. "Country bumpkin, you little peasant, how dare you think you're worthy of being friends with someone like me from a noble family?!"
What was going on with these two?
Yan Shouyi felt annoyed and didn't want to watch them argue. He even had the urge to cleave them both with a single strike and bring peace to the world.
But he quickly realized that this was all the work of Pu Shi's wooden fish!
This fellow's wooden fish could make people irritable, belligerent, bloodthirsty, and frenzied!
Wait...
Yan Shouyi's expression suddenly changed, and he turned to look at Abbess Miaohui.
He saw his grandmother Wen Yuxian and his maternal grandaunt Shi Guanyun clutching their ears in pain, unable to recite the Great Compassion Mantra.
Without the Great Compassion Mantra's aid, and under the impact of the wooden fish, Abbess Miaohui's rationality was being rapidly devoured by her inner demons, transforming her into an Asura!
So this was the White Lotus Cult's ability!
He couldn't let Pu Shi continue!
Yan Shouyi stomped his foot, and the hundred and eight-layer compass instantly spread out, covering the area where Pu Shi was.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh—*
A fierce wind howled, making it difficult for Pu Shi to stand. Pu Shi put away his wooden fish, intending to escape the compass's range.
But unexpectedly, the compass beneath his feet suddenly turned, and the seemingly solid bluestone slabs quickly transformed into a muddy swamp!
Not only could Pu Shi not escape, but he became stuck, unable to extricate himself!
With Pu Shi restrained, his influence on everyone's minds ceased, and Long Feicheng and the others regained their sanity.
"Damn! That hurt so much!"
Long Feicheng clutched his nose, crying out in pain. "Brother Yan hit me so hard. It seems he's been holding a grudge against me all along!"
Yan Nanfei, meanwhile, was rolling on the ground, clutching his groin, his voice trembling as he said, "I think it's you who hates me to the bone..."
Fortunately, Ye Tianyuan and Zhuge Ji were not inclined to fight, and Tian Jue'er had virtually no negative emotions, so they were not affected by Pu Shi's wooden fish.
Otherwise, the reinforcements Yan Shouyi had brought would have been nearly wiped out by Pu Shi.
"What a masterful use of Qimen Dunjia!"
Trapped in the swamp, Pu Shi couldn't help but praise Yan Shouyi's astonishing talent, but there was no trace of panic on his face.
Seeing Yan Shouyi advancing with his sword drawn, Pu Shi suddenly flicked his cloak. The red cloak transformed into a hemp rope, wrapping around a nearby tree trunk and pulling Pu Shi out of the swamp.
This minor trick, of course, couldn't stop Pu Shi!
Just as Pu Shi was feeling smug, he suddenly saw a figure appear before him – it was Yan Shouyi?
How could he be so fast?!
Pu Shi couldn't believe it. A moment ago, Yan Shouyi was dozens of meters away, and now he was in front of him before Pu Shi himself?
Then Pu Shi noticed that the Yan Shouyi before him had empty hands. He should have been holding the Zanpakuto.
"So it's a clone!"
Pu Shi breathed a sigh of relief. If it was a clone, it should be much easier to deal with.
The Glacial Avatar before him emanated a chilling aura and, gathering all its strength, punched Pu Shi!
Pu Shi clasped his hands together, and a blood-red barrier appeared before him, perfectly blocking the Glacial Avatar's attack and allowing him to land steadily.
At this moment, Yan Shouyi's true body had also reached Pu Shi from behind.
Pu Shi, unhurried, turned and said,
"In a one-on-one fight, I am no match for you. But now, the true hidden danger you need to resolve is not me, but Abbess Miaohui... To be precise, she is no longer Abbess Miaohui, but an Asura."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shouyi immediately turned. He saw that on the three heads of Abbess Miaohui, two pairs of eyes had grown on each face!
Three heads, six arms, eighteen eyes!
This was a true Asura!