Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

A small boat was moored at the end of the secret passage. Qingyao clenched her jade-like hands slightly, her expression growing increasingly uneasy. She whispered urgently, "The aura is off. There are patrols on the island. We must get ashore quickly and remain silent."

Without hesitation, the three of them lightly touched the ground with their toes and quietly stepped onto the Medicine Island of Spirit Continent.

The island is filled with spiritual energy, with immortal herbs everywhere breathing in spiritual energy, and spiritual springs flowing gently. The mist is swirling around, creating a seemingly peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. However, in reality, every plant and tree hides a deadly threat. Every inch of land is covered with invisible warning and restrictions. If you take the slightest wrong step, you will trigger an alarm and attract the entire island to hunt you down.

Qingyao led the way, her figure light and nimble, taking only secluded paths hidden by grass and trees. She kept her steps extremely low, without splashing a drop of water, avoiding the sight of the island's patrolling water guards and the barriers along the way, holding her breath and moving quickly, not daring to delay for even a moment.

Before long, a clear and cool spiritual pool appeared before them.

The pool water was crystal clear, with spiritual light shimmering in its center. In the middle of the pool stood a graceful blue lotus, its petals as translucent as glass, its heart emanating a faint white spiritual aura and a pure, mellow medicinal fragrance. It was the Soul-Purifying Water Lotus, capable of dispelling the poison of the Bone Demon and the Corrupting Bone Evil.

Lin Yan's gaze sharpened, his heart tightened, and he stepped forward to pick the herbs. Suddenly, the water mist around the medicine island churned violently, and a gale arose! A cold, sharp whistle shattered the mist and water, causing ripples to spread wildly across the lake, and the branches and leaves of the immortal herbs trembled violently!

"I'd like to see who dares to trespass into the forbidden area of ​​Medicine Island and tamper with the Guardian Spirit Lotus!"

Elder Shui Xuan's cold, hoarse voice suddenly resounded throughout the entire Spirit Continent, sending chills down one's spine.

Trouble has finally arrived.

Elder Shui Xuan's cold, sharp roar pierced the air, causing ripples to explode in the spirit pool. The originally peaceful and gentle spiritual energy of the entire Medicine Continent was instantly crushed by a domineering and icy water aura, leaving only a chilling and murderous atmosphere.

The mist split apart from all directions, and dozens of elite water guards from the Water Moon Pavilion strode in, water blades in hand, and malevolent energy surrounding them. Their steps were firm and powerful, and they instantly surrounded the spirit spring pool, forming a water formation that left no way to advance or retreat.

An elderly man in purple robes walked slowly across the water, his feet leaving no ripples. His brows and eyes were sinister, his face cold, and his water elemental energy was thick and heavy, like a prison, with a heavy sense of oppression pressing down on him. It was none other than Tie Gan, Shui Ning Shuang's trusted confidant, Elder Shui Xuan, who was in charge of guarding Medicine Island and administering punishments within the pavilion.

Her gaze swept across the area, first landing on Shuiyue Qingyao. Her face immediately darkened, her tone turning icy: "Qingyao, as the head disciple of the sect leader, bearing the heavy expectations of the sect's successor, you dared to bring outsiders to trespass into the forbidden area of ​​Medicine Island and spy on the sect's guardian spirit lotus. Do you know the strict rules of the sect? What is your punishment?"

Qingyao's heart tightened, her face turned pale, and she quickly stepped forward, pleading in a low voice, "Elder Shuixuan, this was truly a desperate situation. The disciples of Laoshan did not intend to cause trouble; they only wanted to save a life. They left immediately after picking the lotus and would not cause any trouble. Please, Elder, show leniency this time..."

"Make an exception?"

Elder Shui Xuan sneered, interrupting her sharply, his eyes filled with contempt and malice: "The laws of the sect are as solid as mountains, and the rules of the clan are ironclad. How can personal favors be tolerated? You colluded with an outside sect and trespassed into the forbidden area through a secret passage, violating the most serious precept. Today, forget about picking lotus flowers and obtaining medicine; none of the three of you will leave Medicine Island alive!"

Her gaze suddenly sharpened, locking onto Lin Yan with undisguised murderous intent: "Young man from Laoshan, the situation is already tense with the three sects about to seize power. How dare you sneak into my Shuiyue Pavilion's territory, plotting to steal our most treasured artifact! Clearly, Laoshan is deliberately coveting our water vein spiritual root and intentionally provoking trouble! Today, I will cleanse Shuiyue Pavilion of its own filth and, on behalf of Qingyun Sect, teach you, this Laoshan disciple guarding the vein, a lesson!"

She was completely unreasonable, disregarding cause and effect, and only wanted to use Lin Yan to establish her authority and gain influence, to curry favor with Shui Ning Shuang and the Qingyun Sect, to suppress the faction of Pavilion Master Su Wan Li through this matter, and to consolidate her own power and position.

Yunxi stepped forward, her spiritual power gathering silently. Her expression was cold and stern as she spoke in a deep voice, "Elder, please understand. We only wanted to gather herbs to save lives. We had no other intentions and had no intention of offending Shuiyue Pavilion in the slightest. Why must you be so ruthless and force us to our deaths?"

"No offense intended?" Elder Shui Xuan's eyes flashed with a fierce light, his murderous aura surging. "Stepping into the forbidden area of ​​Medicine Island is a capital offense! Attack!"

At his command, the surrounding water guards simultaneously formed hand seals and cast spells.

In the blink of an eye, the raging lake water surged up from afar, transforming into countless sharp water blades of cold light, densely slashing wildly towards the three of them. The water mist was wrapped with bone-chilling killing intent, and the water blades concealed bone-corroding evil energy, sealing off all directions of evasion, leaving them nowhere to hide.

Qingyao was shocked and dared not disobey the elder's order, but she did not want to see the two of them get hurt. She hurriedly used her own water spiritual power to create a thin water curtain barrier, which barely blocked the first round of attacks for the three of them.

However, her cultivation was limited, her status was a constraint, and she dared not openly confront the elders of the pavilion. The barrier was already weak, and it was instantly cracked by countless water blades, teetering on the verge of collapse.

Seeing the water blade about to break through the formation and strike, threatening his physical body and life, Lin Yan took a light step forward and silently stood still. The Xuancang Golden Pattern on his shoulder, resembling a spirit tortoise, suddenly lit up, and a heavy, steady defensive aura spread out. With a wave of his hand, the inkstone shone with spiritual light, and the Dingyuan Pearl's cold energy rose and fell, unleashing his full mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation. The three spiritual energies of alchemy, swordsmanship, and technique intertwined and circulated, forming a perfect unity of offense and defense.

"I had no intention of fighting; I only wanted to obtain medicine to save lives and did not want to cause conflict between the two pavilions."

Lin Yan's eyes were cold, and his voice was steady and firm: "But if you insist on blocking our way and driving us to our deaths, then don't blame me for being impolite."

As soon as he finished speaking, he unleashed a palm strike, causing the surrounding water veins' spiritual energy to flow in reverse!

The water blades that were originally attacking him were actually reversed by him, causing them to surge back and crash back into the water guard formation!

Bang!Bang!Bang!

Several water guards were caught off guard and were blasted into the water by the backlash of their own magic, spitting out blood. Their formation was thrown into chaos, and they dared not advance rashly again.

Seeing this, Elder Shui Xuan's face grew even more gloomy and ugly. She angrily rebuked, "A mere mid-Foundation Establishment junior dares to be so insolent in front of this old woman! You're courting death!"

Cold water rapidly condensed in her palm, forming a giant python from a jet-black, bone-chilling aura. A foul wind swept over her, and the malevolent energy corroded her bones. The python's head roared ferociously, lunging straight at Lin Yan's vital heart. Every move was ruthless and vicious, a deadly attack.

Lin Yan neither dodged nor avoided, the Azure Wave Sword Technique circulated around his body, and the inkstone sword light flashed with a cold and sharp light. The sword wind directly cleaved through the water mist and clashed head-on with the water demon python!

"Bang!"

A deafening roar shook the heart of the lake, sending waves crashing and mist billowing everywhere. The spirit pool churned violently, the immortal herbs swayed incessantly, and on the medicine island, the balance of power shifted instantly.

Qingyao stood to the side, caught in a dilemma. On one side were the elders of the sect and the rules of the clan; on the other was her savior and their past relationship. Her palms were sweating and her heart was in turmoil, yet she dared not openly offer help. She could only anxiously cry out from the sidelines, "Have mercy! Don't ruin our harmony!"

But at this moment, they are at loggerheads and facing each other with swords drawn; there is no room for harmony whatsoever.

While steadily controlling the battle and fighting Elder Shui Xuan, Lin Yan kept his eyes fixed on the Pure Soul Water Lotus in the center of the pool. He was torn between winning the battle, obtaining the medicine, and escaping safely.

Lin Yan, at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, fully unleashed his power. The Azure Wave Sword Technique flowed through his body, and the inkstone sword light rose and fell like the wind. Each strike shattered the water's energy, causing the waves to surge endlessly. Elder Shui Xuan, with his profound cultivation and years of experience in mastering the secret water techniques of the Water Moon Pavilion, unleashed countless black water pythons from his palm, each move ruthless and deadly. Yet, he could not suppress Lin Yan's steady momentum, which was balanced between offense and defense, and characterized by measured advances and retreats.

After several fierce clashes, the lake surface was cracked and surging, and the spirit pool was shaken incessantly. The surrounding water guards were already terrified and retreated by the aftershocks of the battle, not daring to approach even an inch.

Elder Shui Xuan grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed, her face turning ashen and filled with disbelief. She never imagined that a young disciple from Laoshan could single-handedly contend with her, a veteran elder, holding her own and displaying composure without revealing any weaknesses.

"Your foundation is quite impressive, young man. I underestimated you!" Elder Shui Xuan roared angrily, her palm forming a seal at an accelerated pace. The water mist around her suddenly closed and contracted, transforming into a sealed water prison that squeezed and compressed from all sides, trying to trap Lin Yan on the spot, crush his spiritual power, and destroy his cultivation.

The water prison completely sealed off the space, the biting cold penetrated to the bone, and spiritual energy imprisoned the body, leaving no way to escape or retreat.

Qingyao was extremely anxious, but due to her status and position, she dared not openly help in the battle. She could only clench her fists, feeling extremely anxious.

Just as the water prison was about to lock completely and the killing intent was about to descend, Lin Yan's eyes narrowed. The three forces within his dantian—the inner alchemy scripture, the sword technique, and the water control secret art—merged into one, achieving perfect harmony. The Xuancang golden pattern on his shoulder, resembling a spiritual tortoise, emitted a soft, holy light, while the Dingyuan Pearl's chilling aura suppressed evil and protected his heart. The Inkstone Sword's light soared into the sky, extremely sharp and fierce!

"Break it!"

With a low shout, the sword light cleaved through the water prison, and the spiritual energy shattered the frost! With a deafening roar, the water prison that had been trapping the prison collapsed and shattered, and the mist of water scattered in all directions.

Taking advantage of the perfect moment when Elder Shui Xuan's spell was broken and his aura was briefly interrupted, Lin Yan moved like lightning, flashing across the water to the center of the spirit pool. With a steady fingertip, he precisely plucked the life-saving Soul-Purifying Water Lotus.

"The medicine has been obtained; I have no heart to continue the fight."

Lin Yan gripped the spirit lotus tightly, turned around, and said to Qing Yao in a deep voice, "Let's go!"

Qingyao knew this was no place to linger; if she didn't leave now, she would never be able to leave again. She immediately nodded and led the way: "Follow me!"

The three turned and quickly retreated towards the hidden passage.

"Dare to steal my Pavilion's Spirit Lotus, don't even think about leaving!" Elder Shui Xuan's eyes widened in fury at the sight. Enraged, he leaped after them, his body condensing watery energy once more, determined to stop them from leaving their way.

Just as they were about to be caught by pursuers and their escape route was about to be cut off, the spiritual veins beneath the entire Misty Water Marsh suddenly trembled slightly. An invisible and intangible yet oppressively powerful aura of the Great Dao enveloped the entire Shuiyue Pavilion.

No one appeared, no earth-shattering phenomenon occurred, only a faint voice transmission silently reached Elder Shui Xuan's ear, causing her spiritual power to suddenly freeze, her feet rooted to the spot, her mind terrified, and she dared not move an inch.

It was Master Guanhai of Laoshan who remotely transmitted his voice through the connected waterways of the two sects to suppress the attack.

A single, intimidating sentence is more powerful than a thousand battles and fights.

Master was far away at the gate of Laoshan Mountain, never leaving his cave, never harboring any murderous intent. He relied solely on his profound Daoist aura to maintain control over the entire situation, covering Lin Yan's retreat and protecting his return journey.

Elder Shui Xuan's expression changed drastically, her heart filled with inexplicable horror. She could clearly sense that this unfathomable cultivation level was far beyond her ability to resist; to pursue it any further would be tantamount to suicide and bring disaster upon herself.

Hesitating between advancing and retreating, Qingyao, Lin Yan, and Yunxi seized the fleeting opportunity and resolutely rushed into the hidden water vein passage.

A small boat was already waiting at the secret passage ferry. The three boarded the boat and rowed away from the medicine island at full speed, taking advantage of the misty water. They avoided the layers of patrol barriers and water guards and traveled swiftly without any further obstacles.

The boat sailed halfway through the misty waters, the storm gradually subsided, and the perilous situation was far away.

Qingyao breathed a sigh of relief, her expression complex as she looked at Lin Yan and whispered, "You've obtained the Spirit Lotus. This is all I can do to help. Elder Shuixuan will surely hold a grudge and harbor deep resentment. In the future, the feud between Shuiyue Pavilion and Laoshan will likely deepen, and there will never be a day of peace again."

Holding the life-saving lotus in his hand, Lin Yan felt at peace and solemnly bowed his hands in thanks: "I will remember your kindness in helping me today. If you ever need anything in the future, Laoshan will repay this kindness. I only wish to save lives and have no intention of making enemies or causing resentment."