Chapter 155: Falling into the Water

Wangjiang Pavilion had been built with grandeur and style. Standing within it, one could see the vast, surging river crashing against the banks. Right by the riverside stood the Baxia stone statue.

At this time, the river wind howled sharply. When Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu arrived at the riverside, they once again laid eyes on the statue, which was steeped in the weight of history.

Its surface was covered with scars, such as cuts from sabers and axes, as well as burns from fire, as though it had endured an incredibly brutal battle.

Li Yanchu sat atop Blackie, and his Daoist robe snapped in the river breeze as he activated his Qi Sight. A clear radiance immediately flickered in his eyes, and the world before him shifted.

Roar!

A thunderous roar echoed deep in Li Yanchu’s heart. Within his vision, the Baxia statue radiated a peculiar aura; there was a spiritual entity residing inside the stone.

“So the rumors were true. This Baxia statue really is alive.” Li Yanchu was taken aback.

Now that his Daoist cultivation had stepped into the rudimentary second realm, coupled with the many powerful treasures in his possession, the perception power of his Qi Sight had grown tremendously.

Bai Hongtu chuckled. “Interesting... A living Baxia statue passed down from this rumored Blissful Land in Wei City? That’s definitely something.”

It was thought-provoking.

Just then, Li Yanchu’s gaze swept across the crowd by the riverbank and paused slightly. Among the gathered noble sons and daughters, wealthy merchants, and common townsfolk, there were several cultivators.

“Hongtu,” Li Yanchu said, “looks like word of the living Baxia statue has drawn quite a few cultivators.”

He pointed toward a young woman standing inside Wangjiang Pavilion, and Bai Hongtu frowned. “That delicate young lady is a cultivator?”

Li Yanchu responded calmly, “Not only is she a cultivator, the evil qi on her is intense. She’s probably not someone of good character.”

The young woman in question was dressed in red and was stunning in appearance, with a shapely figure that drew attention. Around her were three or four young nobles in lavish attire, chatting her up with eager enthusiasm.

“Let’s go take a closer look,” Li Yanchu said.

Bai Hongtu gave a quick nod and urged his horse to follow.

They were, indeed, quite different. Bai Hongtu simply enjoyed the excitement and joined the crowd for the fun of it. But Li Yanchu was the kind of person who couldn’t help but meddle in other people’s business.

That young woman in red cast a glance, intentional or otherwise, toward the two of them, and a glint of admiration sparkled in her beautiful eyes. After all, both Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu were handsome and striking young men.

Their looks were definitely above average. Li Yanchu had more sharp, rugged features, giving him an air of bold masculinity. Bai Hongtu, on the other hand, had the appearance of a refined and elegant gentleman, the kind who’d shine even in chaotic times.

Now that Li Yanchu had cultivated the Sun Veil, all of his aura was completely concealed, and he looked just like an ordinary man. Which meant, he no longer had that aura-enhancing “buff” effect.

The young woman's gaze danced playfully but settled more frequently on Bai Hongtu. The few richly dressed noble sons around her instantly looked displeased at the two newcomers.

Meanwhile, Li Yanchu's eyes had already landed on a middle-aged man standing within the Wangjiang Pavilion. The man wore a simple blue robe, with a calm and composed demeanor. At his waist hung an elegant and antiquated long sword, which was clearly not the kind of weapon used by ordinary martial artists.

It resembled swords from the Great Xia dynasty. It was three fingers wide, and two chi eight cun long. Standing by the riverbank, the man gave off the impression of a sheathed saber, sharp and radiating a restrained edge.

Splash!

A sudden loud noise interrupted everything.

“Something’s wrong! Someone just jumped into the river! Help! Somebody save them!”

The river’s current was fast and fierce. From afar, they could barely make out a figure bobbing up and down in the water before disappearing entirely beneath the surface. Nearby, several young nobles and ladies out for a leisure stroll panicked in alarm.

Hearing this, Li Yanchu turned his head to glance at the scene. But by the time he looked back, the middle-aged swordsman had vanished from the Wangjiang Pavilion, and so had the beautiful young woman. They were gone in the blink of an eye.

At this time, Li Yanchu’s brow twitched. There was no time to ponder. Immediately, his figure blurred and darted forward like a streak of lightning.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each of his steps landed squarely on the river's surface, like walking on solid ground. In the blink of an eye, he’d already soared dozens of zhang across the water.

He stretched out his hand, splaying his fingers wide. Suddenly, a surge of intense suction burst from his palm.

In the next instant, a figure was pulled straight up from the turbulent river. Just as the person rose halfway, an invisible force abruptly latched onto her legs; it was a water ghost!

Li Yanchu immediately understood what was happening. In great rivers and vast waters, people often drowned accidentally.

Water was a highly yin-aligned, deadly element, and those who died unjustly in it were suppressed by the power of the dark waters, unable to reincarnate and left in torment.

Water ghosts frequently searched for replacements to take their place in death, hoping to escape their fate. Some boat passengers, while traveling at night, had even heard the voices of their long-dead parents calling their names or seen familiar faces waving to them from the depths. It was eerie and chilling.

Li Yanchu narrowed his fingers slightly, and the suction in his palm grew even stronger. Divine Astral Hand, Crane Control Hand and Dragonbind Hand!

With that, the drowning woman was forcefully pulled upward. Then with his other hand, he struck down with an invisible palm, Void-Splitting Palm!

Bang!

A shadowy spirit was instantly annihilated, vanishing in a puff of smoke.

Li Yanchu reached out and grabbed the woman, his figure flashing as he flew back across the water to the riverbank. Though it sounded like a long series of actions, everything had happened in an instant, as fast as lightning.

Back on shore, Li Yanchu gently laid the woman down. She was a woman in her early twenties, with a soft and delicate face. Her skin was deathly pale, her eyes tightly shut, and her whole body soaked.

The river water was freezing, and she must have choked the moment she went under.

Li Yanchu knelt beside her, took her wrist, and channeled a gentle stream of Daoist spirit energy into her body. Daoist spirit energy was known for its life-nurturing and restorative properties.

In just a breath’s time, it revitalized her five viscera, six bowels and eight meridians.

“

Pah

!”

The woman suddenly rolled onto her side and vomited up a large mouthful of river water. After dry heaving a few times, she regained consciousness.

Just then, Bai Hongtu arrived and witnessed the entire scene, and he was unable to help but quietly marvel in admiration. This kind of rescue required exceptional precision and mastery over one’s inner force.

The onlookers, commoners and nobles alike,were absolutely stunned.

“A living immortal!”

“He’s a real-life deity!”

Li Yanchu, dressed in his Daoist robes, had walked across the surface of the water. He reached out with one hand and rescued the drowning woman in an instant.

And with a light touch on her wrist, she had awakened immediately. To the surrounding crowd, this was nothing short of divine intervention!

Cheers and exclamations broke out all around.

To prevent the woman from feeling embarrassed, Li Yanchu quietly activated his Six Yang Force. Within just a few breaths, white steam began to rise from the woman's body, and her clothes and hair dried completely in moments.

Even more, nourished by the innate Daoist spirit energy, her internal organs were strengthened, leaving her with a healthy, rosy glow.

The woman was stunned at first, then gracefully dropped to her knees. “Thank you, Daoist Master, for saving my life!”

Li Yanchu raised his hand in a gentle motion, and a forceless stream of inner force supported her at the knees and lifted her back to her feet.

“No need for such formality. What exactly happened just now?” he asked.

This display of Daoist technique left the onlookers even more awestruck. The crowd grew, people eager to catch a glimpse of the “immortal” in their midst.

Seeing this, Li Yanchu frowned slightly and exchanged a look with Bai Hongtu. Then, the three of them quickly left the riverside to avoid the attention.

However, the young woman in red and the middle-aged swordsman from earlier had vanished without a trace.

As Li Yanchu passed the group of richly dressed young men who had been surrounding the red-clad woman earlier, he suddenly snapped coldly, “Still dazed? Wake up!”