"Junior Brother, don't worry about me; there's more than one True Fire Palace cultivator!"

"You must leave! They laid a net of heaven and earth especially for you! You cannot die here..."

Zuo Siyan quickly urged Jia Ren to leave.

Her junior brother, the Sect Leader, possessed astonishing talent and was the hope of the Xuan Shui Sect. As long as he was alive, the Xuan Shui Sect wouldn't truly perish.

"Thinking of leaving? It's too late!"

As soon as the voice fell, two figures emerged from behind, blocking Jia Ren's escape route.

One was the Evil-Suppressing Envoy, Fire Cloud True Person. The other was a middle-aged man in a purple Taoist robe—Ji Ziyang, the Purple Sun Sect Leader! Both were Golden Core Mid-Stage Cultivators.

"Senior Brother, this man excels in Sword Qi Thunder Sound and has an astonishing Escape Speed; he must not be allowed to get away," Fire Cloud True Person said with a smile, reminding his companion.

Senior Brother Qing Yang had failed to detain this man, so they couldn't guarantee absolute security.

The Profound Realm Key is of great importance; nothing can go wrong.

Formations had been laid out in Xingluo Market long ago; it was impossible to escape once ensnared.

"Activate the Fire Prohibition Formation!"

Fire Cloud True Person, Ji Ziyang, and Lu Wushuang each held a Formation Flag, activating the Fire Prohibition Formation.

Once the formation was active, all means of escape were nullified. Without breaking the formation, there was no escape.

This was an excellent formation to counter cultivators adept at escaping.

They had painstakingly laid out a net of heaven and earth, unwilling to let the cooked duck fly away.

Jia Ren's phantasmal figure gradually solidified, his complexion turning extremely unsightly.

Before he entered Xingluo Market, he had already cleared a path through an underground river. With a single thought, he could transform into Profound Water and escape. This was his backup plan.

But he still miscalculated.

He still underestimated the enemy...

Jia Ren carefully sensed his Insect External Incarnation. The swap secret technique could still be used, and he felt greatly relieved.

"Who would have thought that the Ziyang Sect would turn out to be lackeys of the True Fire Palace, hiding the news so deeply!"

The Ziyang Sect was also a Sect that came to 'snatch food' in the Tianxing Sect's territory, but it had already taken refuge with the True Fire Palace.

The Upper Nine Sects seemed to have not entered the fray personally, but that didn't mean they hadn't made a move.

Otherwise, with the True Fire Palace being far from the Tianxing Sect, it would have been hard enough to dispatch two Golden Core Cultivators. How could there be a large number of cultivators masquerading as Xuan Shui Sect disciples?

He had thought they were True Fire Palace cultivators, but it turned out that everything was the Ziyang Sect's doing.

"Hehe, it doesn't hurt to tell you. I am originally a cultivator from True Fire Palace, ordered to leave the Sect and establish the Ziyang Sect," Ji Ziyang revealed, already seeing Jia Ren as a dead man.

Two Golden Core Mid-Stage Cultivators and one Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator—this man had no chance of fleeing.

"Senior Brother Qing Yang asked me to pass a message to you: you run too fast!"

"Senior Brother's speed is slower. He'll arrive at this place in another day."

Fire Cloud True Person looked at Jia Ren, a smile on his face, but his eyes held no mirth.

In another day, another Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator would join.

The True Fire Palace had reacted so quickly. If not for the trouble brought by the four Golden Core Formation Pills, why would a top Sect with a Nascent Soul Late-stage Cultivator go mad over just four pills? What they sought was the Profound Realm Key.

"You don't know what the Profound Realm Key is? I need to know what kind of treasure it is before I can give it to you."

The Profound Realm Key was incredibly extraordinary, coveted by both the Heavenly Feather Gate and the True Fire Palace.

The fact that True Fire Palace hadn't found the Profound Realm Key at Heavenly Feather Gate lent an unusual flavor to those words.

The downfall of Heavenly Feather Gate wasn't just a problem of Bizarre Demons; behind it, there had to be the shadow of True Fire Palace.

According to the information Jia Ren knew, the fall of Heavenly Feather Gate also involved a backup plan by the Bizarre Alliance. Did this mean there was collusion between True Fire Palace and the Bizarre Alliance?

For a moment, myriad thoughts swirled in his head.

The Profound Realm Key, which led to the downfall of the Xuan Shui Sect and Heavenly Feather Gate, would likely attract Nascent Soul Cultivators as well—he couldn't stay here long.

At this thought, Jia Ren couldn't help but heighten his vigilance, ready at any moment to swap places with his Insect External Incarnation.

"You don't know the Profound Realm Key?"

"Is your legacy severed? Or are you pretending to be confused?"

The flames in Lu Wushuang's palm pulsed as he withdrew them from Zuo Siyan's face. A Jade Slip then projected a phantom into the sky, outlining a golden glow.

It was a golden key, unlike a Magical Treasure. It had no Inscriptions and was a single, seamless piece.

This unintentionally reminded him of the Brass Whistle he had obtained not long ago. However, the two were different in appearance—one was a whistle, and the other a key.

"I've never seen this before!"

Jia Ren wasn't truly from the Xuan Yin lineage, and this was the first time he had heard of the Profound Realm Key.

"Whether you know or not, once I capture you and undertake Soul Drawing and Soul Refining, the answer will be known."

"Before that, I'm eager to witness the Eight Origin Heavy Water that will become your swan song."

Lu Wushuang extended his right hand, and an ancient sword wreathed in three-colored flames slowly emerged from his palm.

Only a Life-bound Magic Treasure could be stored within a cultivator's body. This was Lu Wushuang's Life-bound Magic Treasure, modeled after the ancient Samadhi True Fire Sword.

The Samadhi True Fire itself is the trinity of Essence, Energy, and Spirit fire. The replicated sword, far from the original, was forged from three Strange Fires and possessed extraordinary power.

Face three against one?

He would not show reckless courage.

"Break open the formation for me!"

As Jia Ren lifted his palm, a drop of dark black water began to condense.

"Transform into the sea!"

He pointed the Eight Origin Heavy Water upwards. It suddenly exploded, instantly unleashing a massive volume of seawater that erupted into towering waves.

How could the underground space withstand the impact of so much heavy water? It immediately burst open from below, and numerous corpses and cultivators were sent flying by the water.

The seawater surged turbulently, instantly submerging Xingluo Market.

In just a short time, Xingluo Market was wiped off the map, and in its place was a lake tens of miles wide.

Above the lake, thousands of cultivators surfaced, their faces filled with shock.

They could never have imagined how Xingluo Market had turned into a lake.

It was too shocking to comprehend!

"What a masterful move! Fellow Daoist, you are truly a peerless genius for elevating the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water Technique by two whole levels! An Alchemy Grandmaster, no less!"

"Your talents are far too astonishing. How could True Fire Palace rest easy with you around!"

With a mere gesture, he had changed the terrain, turning land into a lake.

This kind of ability was breathtaking.

Lu Wushuang had to admit Jia Ren's methods were exceptional.

Finding the Profound Realm Key wasn't guaranteed, but this unrivaled genius of the Xuan Shui Sect had to be killed, roots and all.

Jia Ren vanished without a trace, as if he had merged into the seawater, leaving no clue to his whereabouts.

Immense flames burst forth, and vast amounts of steam rose into the air. Three figures wreathed in crimson fire searched continuously but were unable to find Jia Ren.

"It's a pity, but you still can't break the formation!"

"The three of us are the core of the Fire Prohibition Formation!"

If it were an ordinary formation, such methods might indeed forcefully break it, but the Fire Prohibition Formation was extraordinary.

"Hehe, you won't escape this time!"

Fire Cloud True Person, Lu Wushuang, and Ji Ziyang stood back-to-back, forming a triangular stance, each serving as a pivotal corner.

The Xuan Shui Escape technique was unusable. Any attempt at flying was thwarted by an invisible barrier that bounced him back.

Escape was impossible.

Jia Ren stood atop the vast lake, holding Zuo Siyan in one hand, his face extremely grim.

He took out a Third Turn Resurrection Pill and gave it to Zuo Siyan to swallow, then looked towards the trio and said, "If I were to kill all three of you, I should be able to leave without obstruction, right?"

At this point, only strength could carve out a path to survival.

There was no need for idle words; it was either they died, or he would.

Jia Ren consumed a Profound Water Pill with five Elixir Patterns, and the Spiritual Power within his body became lively.

A watery light manifested around him, growing steadily. In no time at all, it had transformed into a Water Emperor Avatar ten zhang in size, identical in appearance to him.

"Divine Skill: Water Emperor Avatar! The Sect Master has mastered this Divine Skill so swiftly; his talent truly is extraordinary."

The effects of the Third Turn Resurrection Pill were astonishing, as Zuo Siyan's wounds healed at an incredible rate. Upon seeing the Water Emperor Avatar appearing behind Jia Ren, her face showed bewilderment.

Divine Skills, unlike secret techniques, are hard to cultivate. Even at the peak of the Xuan Shui Sect, not many cultivators managed to master the Water Emperor Avatar.

She had practiced diligently for a long time yet had never made any progress with the Water Emperor Avatar. Unexpectedly, the Sect Master had managed to recreate this Divine Skill in less than half a year.

Truly the unparalleled genius of the Xuan Shui Sect in the last ten thousand years.

A Divine Skill?! The trio's expressions turned fearful, yet they inwardly celebrated the fact that Jia Ren was only an Early Golden Core Stage cultivator. Had he reached the Middle Stage of the Golden Core, he would be far more difficult to handle.

The disparity in their Cultivation Levels was too wide; it wasn't something that could be reversed with a single Divine Skill.

"For a genius like Sect Leader Jia to die by my Samadhi True Fire Sword would indeed be a fortunate event."

Lu Wushuang bared his teeth in a smile, clearly pleased at the thought of a genius with greater potential than himself perishing at his hands.

"Eight Origin Heavy Water!"

The ten-zhang Water Emperor Avatar held up a water orb the size of a face, and the Eight Origin Heavy Water began to grow rapidly in size, exuding an even more astonishing aura.

The Water Emperor Avatar Divine Skill could amplify the power of Water System Magic. Once the Water Emperor Avatar was employed, any Spell could receive nature's spiritual energy as a blessing, making its power extraordinary.

The Profound Water Pill could also enhance the power of Water System Magic. The combination of the two made its force several times greater than before.

"The Xuan Yuan Heavy Water is the strongest secret technique of the Xuan Shui Sect, considered the best among its peers. Do not try to resist it head-on!" Lu Wushuang's face grew serious.

Cultivators from True Fire Palace who had previously encountered the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water all revered this secret technique, calling it the pinnacle secret technique for the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Now, with its power boosted, the Eight Origin Heavy Water might be too much even for a Golden Core Mid-Stage Cultivator to withstand.

"I shall enjoy a good game with you all!"

The arms of the Water Emperor Avatar multiplied; in just a brief moment, a thousand arms had sprouted, each holding an orb of Eight Origin Heavy Water.

Its majesty was incomparable to before.

"Could it be that Junior Brother Sect Leader has perfected the Divine Skill and cultivated the Water Emperor's second form, the Rage of the Water Emperor?!"

"Junior Brother, your talent is too terrifying!"

"You must survive no matter what!!!"

Zuo Siyan stared at the Water Emperor Avatar holding a thousand orbs of Eight Origin Heavy Water, momentarily spellbound.

The evolution of Xuan Yuan Heavy Water to Eight Origin Heavy Water was proof enough of Jia Ren's talent in secret techniques. What she hadn't expected was that he had also perfected the Rage of the Water Emperor—it was simply inconceivable!

"Impossible!"

"It must be fake!"

"How could a Golden Core Stage cultivator possibly perform such a terrifying Divine Skill?!"

The three True Fire Palace cultivators were dumbstruck as they faced the Thousand Hands Water Emperor Avatar, its thousand hands each holding an orb of Eight Origin Heavy Water.

The Rage of the Water Emperor, albeit a Divine Skill, shouldn't be this exaggerated.

Even the Great Divine Powers of legend... couldn't reach this extent.

How could a Golden Core Stage cultivator perform such an act?! Surely, even a Nascent Soul Cultivator could not do much better...

"Die!"

Without giving the trio time to react, a thousand orbs of Eight Origin Heavy Water crashed down with terrifying speed.

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