Ma Tianzheng’s mind hadn’t yet processed what was happening when Li Daoxuan picked up another figurine—a Supreme Treasure edition Sun Wukong—reached into the box, and swiftly swiped it across.

Ma Tianzheng: “!”

Li Daoxuan then grabbed a plastic dinosaur, inserted it into the box, and swiped it with a whoosh.

Ma Tianzheng: “!!”

Li Daoxuan lifted a lobster man figurine from Ultraman, reached into the box, and swept it across in a flash.

At this, Ma Tianzheng felt completely overwhelmed.

What was occurring in the sky?

What…

was happening?

All sorts of deities and bizarre monsters were darting chaotically through the air.

Ma Tianzheng panicked instantly. “When deities battle, mortals suffer! They might descend while fighting, leaving this village and its surroundings utterly devastated!”

Ma Tianzheng bellowed at the top of his lungs. “Everyone, run! Deities and monsters are fighting in the sky! Run, now!”

The villagers of Gaojia Village were diligently working. They were all busy; none had time to stare at the sky like Ma Tianzheng. When the chaotic equipment had flown overhead earlier, they were bent over their tasks, and Li Daoxuan’s swipe had been too fast. Thus, no villagers had witnessed those strange apparitions.

Hearing Ma Tianzheng’s shouts, everyone turned to glance at him with odd expressions, then looked away, ignoring him. The Deity was right in the sky! Hovering at a height of dozens of zhang was that distinctive low cloud symbolizing the Deity. What battle between deities and monsters? Pure nonsense!

Ma Tianzheng: “Why is no one afraid? Are you not scared of death?”

Still, no one paid him any heed.

Li Daoxuan was thoroughly amused. Seeing Ma Tianzheng utterly distraught delighted him. While the villagers looked down, he picked up a one-centimeter-tall Dao Xuan Deity Statue crafted for him by the sculptors, inserted it into the box, and swiftly swept it toward the small valley outside the village.

His statue was exceptionally crafted—enhancing his handsomeness by 32% and his majesty by 3200%. Robed like an immortal, radiating celestial grace, it soared across the sky… though it was rather small. At dozens of zhang high, Ma Tianzheng couldn’t see it clearly…

Ma Tianzheng gasped in shock. “An immortal just flew past!”

He immediately sprinted toward the direction the immortal had gone…

Soon, he dashed out of the village and arrived in a desolate small mountain valley.

Suddenly, the roar of wind and thunder echoed from the sky, as if something was descending. Then came a thunderous boom—a gigantic lobster man landed right in front of him, snapping its massive claws with terrifying menace.

Ma Tianzheng recoiled in three tremendous leaps, wanting to flee. But the colossal lobster man flew toward him with blistering speed—far too fast for his legs to outrun.

Its head swaying, the lobster man advanced closer, its mouth opening and closing, its claws snapping together, its eyes flashing red.

Terrified out of his wits, Ma Tianzheng suddenly remembered he was a Taoist priest. In one fluid motion, he drew the three-foot green blade from his back. After forty years as a priest, reflexes took over; he instinctively invoked a demon-subduing Taoist art. Grasping the sword formula, he shouted, “By the decree of the Most High Lord Lao, swiftly as ordered—”

Clang!

The lobster monster’s claw slammed against his blade. Crushing force surged through the impact, sending Ma Tianzheng’s sword flying from his hand. His Taoist art proved utterly useless—

Aaaaaah! This poor Taoist is doomed!

Ma Tianzheng shrieked, certain of his death.

Li Daoxuan, seeing how ashen his face had become, decided he’d played enough. That moment when the lobster man’s claw struck away the tiny man’s sword had been dangerously close—almost crushing him. Another such stunt might not be so carefully executed, so it was time to stop.

He picked up one of the glass cups and lowered it over Ma Tianzheng.

Ma Tianzheng braced for the lobster man’s crushing claws, only to feel something descending around him on all sides—a boom—though nothing seemed visible.

He stared intently and finally saw: he was surrounded by a circle of transparent walls…

What is this?

Has it encased me protectively?

The lobster man circled the transparent barrier twice, seeming unable to find a way in. It rammed its enormous head against the invisible walls twice, producing loud, jarring thumps. Ma Tianzheng covered his ears, enduring the assault.

Fortunately, the lobster man ultimately failed to breach the glass wall. It reared back, then soared upward, vanishing into the clouds in an instant.

Finally exhaling in relief, Ma Tianzheng understood: that invisible wall had been a magical artifact lowered by a celestial being to save his life.

Which deity had saved him? He’d just seen the Dragon King, Prince Nezha (the Third Lotus Prince), the Victorious Fighting Buddha Sun Wukong, and an unidentified deity. Could it be one of them?

Gingerly, Ma Tianzheng touched one wall, then another—all cold, hard, and transparent. Impossible to break through.

He wanted out, but couldn’t escape!

Disaster! Trapped within this strange magical artifact, in a secluded little valley… and no one even knew he was here. No one could rescue him.

Just then, he saw a young maiden flying toward him—really flying! Gliding smoothly through the air, she floated down from the direction of the village.

Arriving outside the invisible barrier, she slowed, descending until, near the ground, she gave a little hop as if stepping down from an unseen perch before landing steadily on her feet.

She stood outside the transparent wall, facing Ma Tianzheng through its barrier.

The maiden’s attire wasn’t lavish, yet it was neat and tidy, conveying an aura of dignity.

Then, she reached out and lightly knocked on the transparent surface—like knocking on a door. Instantly, the glass barrier ascended into the clouds and vanished.

The maiden then spoke. “The Dao Xuan Deity saved your life, Taoist priest. Yet you stand there dumbfounded? Shouldn’t you bow and thank His Divinity?”

Ma Tianzheng’s mind raced, recalling what the two drivers had said earlier. The woman’s identity became immediately clear. “Saint Lady?”

Gao Yiye maintained her poised expression. “Hmm!”

Had Ma Tianzheng encountered anyone claiming to be a Saint Lady before, he would’ve dismissed them as a White Lotus pretender. But after that relentless stream of bewildering events, in a state of overwhelming awe, he prostrated himself before Gao Yiye in a full bow. “Benefactor Saint Lady! Enlighten this humble Taoist! What exactly happened earlier? My Taoist heart has become chaotic unto shattering.”

Gao Yiye had moments before received the Deity’s command: Maintain dignity for now. So she strove for composure, her expression lightly impassive. “What happened was beyond mortal comprehension, yes. But as a Taoist priest, even you fail to grasp its meaning? What Tao have you been cultivating, truly?”