"What a powerful aura! Foundation Establishment Late Stage? A False Pill Cultivator?"

The unknown force is not weak, not something I can afford to provoke. I have to act as if nothing has happened and avoid exposing myself.

Jia Ren observed from afar through a Spirit Insect. To prevent it from being discovered, he decisively dispersed it.

"That idiot surnamed Liu, he can't even handle a small matter!"

The Sound Transmission Talisman shot towards the distance, while the newcomer stood still, his gaze dark and unsettled.

「Two hours later.」

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Liu hurriedly arrived on a Flying Artifact, his face unsightly.

"Shen Lingshi, I truly didn't know about this. I set up the Flowing Clouds Illusionary Water Array and the Flesh Devil Bizarre Formation in this area. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would find it difficult to leave alive..."

Could it be that someone within the alliance is against me and secretly took the item?

It was not surprising that Liu suspected as much. The Flesh Devil Bizarre Formation was a unique Bizarre Formation created by the alliance, using the flesh of a Flesh Devil Bizarre as its cornerstone.

Once trapped within the Bizarre Formation, there was no escape. Facing the relentless assault of the indestructible Flesh Devil Bizarre, without a way to break the Bizarre Formation, even late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not escape. This was why he had dared to hide the object here and leave without worry.

"Nonsense! Only you and I know about this matter in the alliance. Are you accusing me of deliberately framing you?!"

"And what status do you possess that would make me bother to do such a thing?!"

Shen Lingshi delivered a fierce slap to the face of the Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Liu, with such force that the man was sent flying. His left cheek swelled visibly, and blood streamed from the corner of his mouth.

"Idiot! Do you understand how important this Bizarre Demon is to the alliance?"

"The alliance searched the Four Extremes and Barren Domains and finally found one of the most suitable Bizarre Demons for research! If the Bizarre Person Project is successful, the alliance will gain an undying existence."

"No matter what, you must find it for me!"

"If the plan fails, then prepare to have your Soul Lamp lit!"

Shen Lingshi scoffed, his icy gaze fixed on the Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Liu.

The Soul Lamp?

This was a method the alliance used only on traitors and cultivators who had made grave mistakes. Their body fat would be extracted to light a Soul Lamp, burning their soul for decades, even a century. Such pain was something no one wished to endure.

"Shen Lingshi, I beg for your mercy! To acquire this Evil-Sealing Artifact, I infiltrated the Yuding Sect and remained undercover for a hundred years. Even if I have no great merits, I've certainly endured hardship..."

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Liu knelt on the ground, eyes filled with pleading.

He was not the only such cultivator; the alliance sent children they had trained into any sect over a thousand years old. The Five Elements Sect, Yuding Sect, Heavenly Sword Sect… In every corner of the Barren Extreme Land, including the Western Wasteland Domain, the alliance had shadows lurking.

Normally, these embedded agents were indistinguishable from ordinary sect disciples. The alliance would provide them with resources to help them stand out. They gradually grew in strength, continuing to train the next generation, waiting for the day they would be called upon. Only when it was confirmed that a sect possessed the sealing artifact for a Bizarre Demon the alliance desired would they activate their agent to steal it at any cost.

"Begging me is pointless. The alliance raised you to acquire the sealing artifact of the Bizarre Demon. If it cannot be found, no one can save you, and I too will be implicated."

"Find it, at all costs."

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Liu stood up, his gaze growing colder. He looked toward the town, his eyes seeming to flicker with killing intent.

Although he didn't think the Qi Refinement Cultivators in the town could break the Formation and steal the Evil-Sealing Artifact, since the artifact for sealing the Bizarre Demon was stolen from this place, someone had to pay the price, regardless of whether they were responsible.

Shen Lingshi flew on his Magic Artifact, looking down from high above with an indifferent expression.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Liu searched frantically, like a madman, for anyone suspicious. Anyone he suspected was immediately subjected to soul-extracting techniques to force information out of them. This behavior was no different from that of a madman.

Jia Ren, hidden within his Water Mansion, naturally witnessed the Foundation Establishment Cultivator's frenzy.

A wave of sorrow washed over him.

He glanced at Shen Lingshi in the sky but ultimately did not make a move.

I don't have the confidence to kill him. Even if I succeeded, it would attract the attention of the powerful forces behind him. That would spell my doom. The road ahead is still long. There's no need to put myself in danger over a moment of anger.

The tree desires quiet, yet the wind never ceases.

Shen Lingshi looked into the distance. His gaze finally settled on the Surging River, the dark qi in his eyes allowing him to faintly detect a demonic aura.

A Second-Order Monster in the Surging River?

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Liu ceased his soul-extracting and hurriedly responded, "Indeed, there is a Second-Order High-Grade Monster Beast. This demon was the spirit pet of a False Pill Cultivator. He had a good relationship with an ancestor of the Yuding Sect. As the demon hasn't harmed anyone, the Yuding Sect allows the Fish Demon to live in the Surging River."

"It's extremely powerful and, by leveraging the Surging River's power, cannot be captured by anyone below the Golden Core Stage. The sect's ancestors won't intervene."

"After that ancestor's death, many people considered harvesting its Demon Core for Alchemy to help the sect quickly produce a Golden Core Cultivator. However, the plan was shelved when the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre tide broke out."

Can't be captured by anyone below Golden Core?

"Don't measure me by your standards. How can I be compared to Foundation Establishment Cultivators from insignificant sects like yours?"

A great demon in the Surging River... solitary Magical Beasts are rare. High-Rank Demon Beasts are usually found in perilous lands like desolate mountains and treacherous waters. Hunting Magical Beasts there means not only dealing with the target but also guarding against other Magical Beasts and Bizarre Demons. The difficulty is incomparable. It's rare to encounter a solitary Magical Beast. Harvesting its Demon Core could help increase my Cultivation Level.

"Come out!"

A golden longsword flew from his hand, growing larger as it traveled. By the time it neared the location of the Magical Beast's aura in the river, it had transformed into a colossal blade of light, tens of zhang long, shining like a blazing sun.

The Fathead Fish Demon sensed the immense threat. The next moment, a huge vortex appeared in the river. It opened its mouth wide, and a blue water column, tens of zhang tall, spouted from the vortex.

The golden light of the longsword was extinguished in an instant, like a candle flame doused by water. The water column surged, like a great river flowing in reverse, straight towards Shen Lingshi in the sky.

What a powerful Magical Beast!

Before he could sneer again, his smile froze. As far as he could see, the entire Surging River seemed to come alive at that moment. Towering waves rose, filling his vision.

Shen Lingshi reacted swiftly, maneuvering his shuttle-type Magic Artifact to dodge the crashing waves.

The sky is different from the river; the Fathead Fish Demon can't exert its full strength here. This Magical Beast's Demon Core shall be mine.

No, the humidity is too high!

Just as Shen Lingshi sensed something was wrong, the fine water vapor filling the sky suddenly swelled, instantly transforming the area around him into a watery domain.

In the river below, the Fathead Fish Demon opened its vast mouth. The water in the sky converged towards its maw at a shocking speed.

A Golden Core Domain? How is that possible! The Golden Core Domain is a special ability possessed only by Golden Core Cultivators or Third-order Monster Beasts comparable to the Golden Core Stage. Legend says that certain Magical Beasts with powerful bloodlines can awaken similar domains prematurely through their lineage. These are abilities usually possessed only by descendants of powerful True Spirits like dragons, phoenixes, or Kunpeng. How could this Fish Demon have it? Impossible! It's clearly just an ordinary Second-Order Monster. Otherwise, the Yuding Sect wouldn't have let it live this long; they would have captured it as a sect-guarding Magical Beast long ago. Something is definitely wrong!

He struggled to break free but found it impossible. The Spiritual Power in his body felt suppressed by an invisible force, allowing him to use only a fraction of it. He couldn't execute powerful Spells or escape techniques. He could only watch helplessly as the current pulled him towards the colossal Fish Demon at the bottom of the river.

No! He had a premonition: if he fell into the Fish Demon's belly, he would surely die.

"Dragon-Controlling Disk!"

A golden Talisman, inscribed with an ancient Dharma plate design, flashed. The next moment, a golden disk emerged from it. A dragon shape appeared on the disk's pointer, then dimmed.

The Fathead Fish Demon's movements froze, as if pinned by an invisible force, unable to move.

"I'll help you!"

Liu, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator, had initially paid no attention, still busy extracting souls from cultivators to gather information. He hadn't expected the battle to erupt so suddenly and fiercely.

Even more astonishing was the Fish Demon! Information about the Fish Demon existed within the Sect. It was thought to be a somewhat rare Black-Headed Green-Backed Fish. Reaching Second-Order Superior Grade was considered lucky, undoubtedly aided by Cang Hai True Man. But its appearance had undergone an astonishing change. Its size had nearly doubled, and more importantly, the oppressive aura it exuded surpassed even that of a False Pill! Although it hadn't reached the Third Rank, it was definitely the most powerful Second-Order Monster he had ever seen. It was too unbelievable! What kind of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures did it consume? To undergo such a heaven-defying transformation?

"Slash!"

His Jade Spirit Law Sword flew out, its sword light flaring, tearing at the water enveloping Shen Lingshi. The seemingly ordinary water, influenced by the River-Swallowing Fish's unique power, possessed a strange property. The sword light tore through the water barrier, penetrating about a zhang, but could advance no further. A powerful suction emanated from the water, tugging at the Jade Spirit Law Sword, trying to pull it in.

This is just a small part of its watery domain, and the pressure is already immense. What would it be like against the entire thing? Why did you have to provoke this demon? Looking for trouble!

Rage burned within him, but he was helpless.

Before he could retract his Magic Sword, he seemed to hear something tearing through the air.

Who dares to ambush me?

Liu, an experienced fighter, dodged decisively to his left as a life-saving Jade Armor Talisman flared to life. The next moment, a small hole appeared in the Jade Armor Talisman. A green flying needle had pierced most of the way through it, but not entirely.

The defensive power of a Second-Order, inferior-grade defensive Talisman is indeed commendable.

Before a smile could form on his face, the sound of wind and thunder boomed from the distance, accompanied by a familiar voice.

"May I borrow your head?"

The voice drew nearer, and by the time the last word fell, it was right beside his ear.

He didn't have time to see his attacker clearly before his body exploded into a shower of blood in mid-air.

Who attacked me?

His soul flew out. He saw an unfamiliar face, unblemished by blood, reaching out to grab his Storage Bag.

"Who are you? Why did you attack me?!"

"It's better for you to die without an answer."

Flashing lightning danced, and in an instant, the soul of the Foundation Establishment Cultivator Liu was annihilated.

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