"Never!"
From his sleeves, claw-like projections instantly tore through the fabric, revealing Qi Lian Dao's ferocity. He sneered, "Old Taoist, do you think this trick can trap a true dragon? None of these people will escape!"
There was no time!
With a grit of his teeth, the old Taoist flicked his left hand. Instantly, starlight rippled within the Nine Nether Dragon Court. Each ripple was a teleportation technique, the very same one the old Taoist had used to send Lin Zhao away earlier. In an instant, Lin Wanhua, Jing Chu, Ran Qing, Cao Yan, along with Long Zheng, Feng Quan, and other cultivators at the twelfth and thirteenth realms, were first teleported out of this realm.
However, before even seventy percent of the eleventh realm cultivators could be sent away, Qi Lian Dao's true dragon form had completely shredded the old Taoist's sleeve. With a gaping maw, he unleashed another Heavenly Dao suppression. Everywhere, eleventh realm cultivators, unable to dodge, bled from their orifices and died kneeling. The old Taoist, however, frowned and looked at the sword immortal in the blood-stained green dress not far away.
Chen Mengjun. She hadn't left.
The old Taoist frowned and, with a raised hand, a golden leaf enveloped Chen Mengjun's body, shielding her from a calamity and sending her out of the Nine Nether Dragon Court.
...
"Alright then!"
The old Taoist's temper flared. He smiled, "Since you, Qi Lian Dao, are so ruthless and bloodthirsty, I, this old man, have no need to hold back any longer. I will risk my life to send you, this scourge, away from the human world!"
The old Taoist stood tall, and a grey Taoist robe detached from his body, sweeping towards Qi Lian Dao, who had just broken free of the sleeve. The old Taoist then soared into the air, charging out of the Nine Nether Dragon Court and hovering above it. He looked down at the Nine Nether Dragon Court, which was already on the verge of shattering, and sighed, "So be it, old friend, do not blame me for not being able to protect your precious gourd. It is truly unavoidable!"
With that, he abruptly slammed his palm onto the green gourd at his waist. The gourd, which already had a crack, completely fractured. But the fragments were connected by golden veins adhering to the inner wall. The next moment, the old Taoist pointed the fully cracked gourd opening downwards and boomed, "Villain, you have slaughtered so many virtuous cultivators on the mountains and caused such immense sin. Do you not hasten to surrender?"
The gourd's opening unleashed a torrent of suction. In an instant, the three mountains that formed the Nine Nether Dragon Court were uprooted and directly sucked into the green gourd. Accompanied by the roaring of the true dragon, Qi Lian Dao, now fully transformed into a five-clawed golden dragon, tore through the mountains. His body thrashed within the green gourd, struggling to escape, and he cursed, "Wang Laodao, may you die a horrible death..."
The old Taoist looked at the continuously cracking green gourd, a bitter smile on his face. How could he not feel the pain?!
...
"Ah?!"
On a distant mountaintop, Lin Zhao stood up and looked at the scene unfolding in the distance, his heart filled with shock. The entire Nine Nether Dragon Court had been absorbed into a green gourd. The gourd's volume had expanded countless times, yet it remained connected by golden veins, imprisoning the Nine Nether Dragon Court and a reincarnated true dragon within.
However, the true dragon was still struggling.
"Old Taoist."
Qi Lian Dao, filled with shame and rage, said, "You don't actually think I only have one natal inverse scale, do you?"
"..."
Wang Laodao looked down, frowning in silence.
The next moment, Qi Lian Dao let out a dragon's roar. A second natal inverse scale fell from his neck, instantly igniting and activating the second forbidden technique, the True Dragon Killing Array!
"So be it..."
The old Taoist sighed. This time, he knew he couldn't save it. For this single descent into the mortal realm, to dismantle the reincarnation of the true dragon, he had truly emptied his coffers. Upon returning to the upper realm, he would have a good talk with those who orchestrated this and reclaim some things.
With that thought, the old Taoist let out a low cry and raised his sword finger. Instantly, the thirty-six flying swords hidden in his tattered sleeves flew out. In the next second, the old Taoist unleashed all his strength to shatter all thirty-six flying swords into countless sword mud. Under the old Taoist's guiding finger, this sword mud continuously transformed into green vines, coiling around the green gourd like countless tendrils protecting it. Enveloped by these layers of vines, Qi Lian Dao's second True Dragon Killing Array was directly sealed within, with no leakage whatsoever.
To accomplish all this, Wang Laodao even used his own lifeblood to nourish the green gourd and the sword mud. Wisps of blood energy spread, continuing to seal the reincarnated true dragon within.
"It's time to go."
The old Taoist frowned, dragging the heavy Nine Nether Dragon Court, and ascended directly upwards, intending to fly up to the upper realm with the imprisoned true dragon!
...
"Swish swish~~~"
As the old Taoist ascended, two grey afterimages separated from him. One afterimage headed straight for Lin Wanhua on the distant mountain, while the other figure rushed towards Chen Mengjun at the edge of the old Nine Nether Dragon Court site, who was already too weak to escape.
On the peak of a green mountain.
Lin Wanhua took a deep breath and looked at the old Taoist standing before her, who had imprisoned her in his sleeve for a long time. She could no longer feel any resentment. She pursed her red lips and said, "Senior, you have worked hard!"
"You don't blame me, do you?"
"No longer."
"That's good." The old Taoist smiled and explained, "What is the art of strategic maneuvering? Back then, when you drew your sword to pursue Qin Hong in the Underworld, it wasn't a major issue in itself. But for a peak thirteenth realm Grand Sword Immortal like you, Lin Wanhua, to be in the Underworld, that itself was problematic. If the demon races and devil races knew you were in the Underworld, would they still be willing to exert their full strength to break the reincarnation of the true dragon? Probably not. I made Lin Wanhua disappear into thin air to create a situation of depleted strength in the Underworld, forcing the demon and devil races to contribute manpower and resources. If there weren't so many cultivators from the upper five realms, Qi Lian Dao would have already become a god in the human world."
"Mm."
Lin Wanhua nodded gently, "Thank you, Senior, for looking after this world. And thank you, Senior, for passing on the Thirty-Six Stratagem Sword Manual to Tong Yu. We at Fusui Great Wall can never repay this kindness."
"No repayment is needed."
The old Taoist smiled, "Tong Yu and I have a connection. I truly like that little girl. She's intelligent, kind, and she's also from the Mountain Summit Villa. Therefore, it's best for Tong Yu to inherit the Thirty-Six Stratagems."
"Senior..."
Lin Wanhua frowned, "Actually, I can see that you quite like Lin Zhao. Lin Zhao is also a sword cultivator. Why didn't you directly pass on the Thirty-Six Stratagems to Lin Zhao?"
"There's no need."
The old Taoist chuckled, "Lin Zhao is indeed a sword cultivator, but he is also half a Confucian disciple. His spirit is filled with righteous energy. Moreover, Confucian studies often conflict with the Thirty-Six Stratagems. If I were to truly pass it to him, it might hinder his cultivation. Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I must take Qi Lian Dao to ascend to the upper realm and hand this reincarnated true dragon over to the Ancestral Court of Taoism for processing. I'm too lazy to deal with these petty matters. However, I must trouble you to help me deliver some things to that boy Lin Zhao."
"Oh?"
Lin Wanhua was slightly startled, "What does Senior want me to deliver?"
"Here..."
The old Taoist opened his palm. It was a fragment of a green gourd, along with a seed of a green gourd.
"This is?"
Lin Wanhua was surprised. She knew these two items looked ordinary, but to cultivators in the human world, they were definitely a generous gift, a tremendous opportunity.
The old Taoist smiled sheepishly and said, "I feel a bit embarrassed to say this, but I ate so many delicious meals and drank so much fine wine from Dongting at the Mountain Summit Villa, all for free, thanks to Lin Zhao. When we were breaking the reincarnation of the true dragon, Lin Zhao made a great contribution with his Heavenly Thunder Talisman. The upper realm should also provide some reward. This gourd fragment comes from my green gourd. The fragment contains a wisp of sword intent. If he can comprehend it, it will be an opportunity. As for the gourd seed, it's also from the green gourd. Let him plant it and see if it sprouts and bears fruit, or if it can grow into a new immortal gourd. That will depend on his own destiny."
"Understood."
Lin Wanhua smiled slightly, "Thank you, Senior, for looking out for Lin Zhao!"
"Ah?"
The old Taoist squinted and chuckled, "You're thanking me on Lin Zhao's behalf already? City Lord Lin, do you really consider yourself Lin Zhao's wife?"
Instantly, Lin Wanhua's cheeks flushed, and her hand instinctively went to her sword hilt.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch..."
The old Taoist repeatedly laughed, "With just this little bit of anger, you want to draw your sword and strike? That's not good, you need to change, you need to change..."
"Yes, Senior!"
Lin Wanhua accepted the gourd fragment and the gourd seed, and with a smile, watched the old Taoist disappear into the wind.
...
At the old Nine Nether Dragon Court site, amidst the devastation.
Chen Mengjun, covered in injuries, leaned on her sword for support and slowly stood up. She looked at the old senior who descended in the wind, single-handedly carrying the true dragon to ascend. Such cultivation, such merit, were truly peerless.
"Chen Mengjun greets Senior."
She pursed her red lips and said softly.
"Indeed, a most excellent woman." The old Taoist looked at Chen Mengjun, as if he were seeing his good friend get a wife. He looked at her face, extremely beautiful, very good, very good. Then he looked at her figure, she had all the right curves, she was truly capital, very good, very good. Even her long dress couldn't hide Chen Mengjun's exquisite beauty. For a moment, the old Taoist spouted nonsense, "Good for bearing children, good for bearing children, truly excellent. How is that boy's taste so exceptional? I, this old man, have roamed the martial world for thousands of years and have never met a wonderful person like Miss Chen..."
"Senior..."
Chen Mengjun frowned, finding this old senior too immodest.
The old Taoist seemed to realize his impropriety and, chuckling, said, "Mengjun..."
At that one sentence, Chen Mengjun stood frozen.
The old Taoist continued, "Innumerable eleventh realm cultivators perished in the Nine Nether Dragon Court. Do you know why I, this old man, only used a Middle Refinement Golden Leaf to save you alone?"
"Ah?!"
Chen Mengjun pursed her red lips, "Mengjun is dull-witted. Please, Senior, enlighten me..."
"Actually..."
The old Taoist smiled, "I have an extremely good and close junior friend named Lin Zhao. Once, when he was drunk, he mentioned your name, saying that Chen Mengjun was a woman's name and that he liked her very much..."
"..."
Chen Mengjun was stunned.
"Hahahahaha, let's go, let's go~~~"
The old Taoist looked at Chen Mengjun's dazed expression, laughed, turned around, and disappeared into the wind. Chen Mengjun stood there, dumbfounded, her pretty face flushed, her heart surging, feeling that her life had meaning at this moment.
...
Miles away, amidst the tattered remnants of Qi Lian Dao's clothes, an old man emerged. He was one of the five matchmakers of the Underworld who had been forced to introduce Qi Lian Dao and Tan Xin.
He had heard every word of the conversation between the old Taoist and Chen Mengjun.
"Slap, slap, slap, slap —"
He sat on the ground and began furiously slapping himself. His matchmaking skills were utter garbage compared to that of Wang Laoshenxian!