Xu Xian sneered, "Monk, you've ruined my plan. You'll have a miserable death!"

I asked, "When did you become like this?"

Xu Xian said, "After consuming the 'Mother's' bestowed elixir, I gained the power She granted. That creature was merely meant to deceive you."

"Monk, do you know my real name is Xu Xuan, not Xu Xian?"

"To become immortal, I changed my name to Xu Xian. I planned for many years to make her fall in love with me, to make her unable to live without me."

"I intentionally encountered you, using your potent xionghuang powder to expose her true form and scatter her soul. She loved me deeply and would go to 'Mother' to beg for the elixir on my behalf."

Xu Xian's expression gradually became manic. "That was 'Mother'! I pursued the supreme existence for two lifetimes, and She was supposed to grant me the immortal opportunity, but she was stolen by this White Snake."

"She can go meet 'Mother' now, but I can only be a peddler in the mortal realm!"

I understood the cause and effect. I asked him, "So the plague was the sign you received after swallowing rotten flesh, indicating that you would sacrifice the entire town of Zhenjiang to the so-called 'Mother'?"

"Of course! As long as I sacrifice these ordinary mortals, I can welcome the arrival of the supreme 'Mother.' How can I refuse?"

His bloated and obese body rolled, his expression twisted, seeming to be both joyful and painful.

He suddenly burst into tears, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, wife..."

After that, everything became clear.

Xu Xian intentionally became my disciple, attracting Bai Suzhen to shed blood on Jinshan Mountain. He used the conflict between Bai Suzhen and me to his advantage, and in the end, he struck me down, devouring the White Snake he had longed for, gaining that tremendous power.

Now, Xu Xian's power surged within him, but I remained calm and took out the Purple Eye Alms Bowl.

"Amitabha, Xu benefactor, you have fallen into demonic ways. This humble monk shall free you from them."

Xu Xian laughed, saying, "Fallen into demonic ways? Look at yourself, dare you accuse me? Do you still think of yourself as the Dharma Master Fahai, the demon-slaying monk? You're nothing more than a pawn!"

I remained silent, activating the Purple Eye Alms Bowl. The purple vertical eye at the bottom of the bowl rotated, shining upon Xu Xian.

Xu Xian also laughed and rushed towards me. Thousands of tentacles covered in suckers were about to tear me apart.