Xuanjian: Jade True Sword Immortal, my Dao Wisdom keeps increasing.

A deserted island in a salt lake.

Three figures floated in mid-air. Kong Tingyun took out a jade-green array plate from her storage bag and transmitted her voice with her magic power:

"Fellow Daoists, please remain hidden here. Tingyun will first set up the great formation to prevent this demon from escaping."

Jiang Heqian and the other man nodded in agreement.

The three of them made hand seals and cast spells. A cloud of white smoke rose around Jiang Heqian, and in the blink of an eye, his figure changed and blended into the environment.

Li Yuanjiao then descended to the bottom of the lake, concealing his aura, and fully activated his Immortal Foundation [Vast Sea], merging it into the salt lake.

Kong Tingyun's entire body emitted an earthy yellow magical light, and in a few flashes, she disappeared into the earth veins of the desolate mountain below.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the earth's veins roared, and a pale yellow semi-circular magic circle appeared out of thin air, trapping the hooked serpent within.

The hooked serpent, which had been sleeping at the bottom of the lake, suddenly opened its snake eyes. Startled by the sudden commotion, its scales burst open, and it twisted its huge body, crashing into the formation like a cannonball.

The foundation-building formation remained unmoved.

The trapping formation that Kong Tingyun had specially prepared for this serpent could not be easily broken.

Li Yuanjiao, lurking at the bottom of the lake, looked at the formation that trapped the demonic serpent and felt a pang of envy, sighing inwardly:

"The Purple Mansion Immortal Sect's foundation is truly extraordinary; they unleash such a Foundation Establishment Formation right off the bat."

Floating in mid-air, Jiang Heqian slowly revealed himself, watching the hooked snake struggle in the formation with an expressionless face.

The hooked snake, its body as large as a water vat, seeing that it could not escape, cried out in a human voice:

"Imperial beings, I beg you, spare my life! I have never harmed a single person in all my years of cultivation, only devoured a few spirit beasts before I gained sentience and established my immortal foundation [Chao Hanyu]. I implore you immortal beings to consider the hardships I have endured in my cultivation and spare my life."

As soon as she finished speaking, Kong Tingyun's figure shot out from the earth's veins, floating within the formation, and said arrogantly:

"Leave your two tail hooks behind and leave this place, and I will spare your life."

Upon hearing this, the hooked snake in the formation narrowed its eyes and glared at Kong Tingyun, cursing:

"Those twin hooks are related to the path of a lesser demon; how can they be given to others?"

Jiang Heqian, standing outside the formation, could no longer contain himself and said in an icy tone:

"Since Fellow Daoist Kong desires this snake demon's tail hook, I will retrieve it for you. There's no need to waste words with this fellow."

After saying that, he flew forward and entered the formation in the blink of an eye.

Upon seeing this, the hooked snake opened its mouth wide, about to make a sound.

Jiang Heqian drew his sword with lightning speed and slashed.

A pure, milky-white sword intent slashed fiercely towards the hooked snake's tail.

In the blink of an eye, before the hooked snake could even react, its tail hooks were severed by the sword intent.

Then, the hooked snake within the formation let out a heart-wrenching roar of pain, its body thrashing about at the bottom of the lake, trying to alleviate the excruciating pain.

Jiang Heqian drew his sword and severed the hooked snake's tail in just a few breaths.

Li Yuanjiao, standing on the lake, and Kong Tingyun, floating in mid-air, both looked utterly astonished.

Kong Tingyun, in particular, had a flurry of facial expressions before finally speaking:

"I never expected Fellow Daoist Jiang to possess sword intent; Tingyun is truly ignorant."

A thousand thoughts raced through her mind: Jiang Heqian possessed sword intent, yet her ancestor, Master Changxi, hadn't revealed a single word about such an important matter to her.

What does this mean? Kong Tingyun was puzzled.

Li Yuanjiao rode the wind into the formation and respectfully said:

"Yuanjiao had long heard from my grandfather that Senior Jiang's swordsmanship was profound and that sword intent accompanied him. Today, having witnessed it with my own eyes, I am filled with admiration."

Jiang Heqian remained unmoved; it was merely sword intent, not the [Chang Geng] Gold rank in swordsmanship.

These lower-level cultivators are short-sighted and unaware of how astonishing the attainment of swordsmanship truly is.

Sword Ancestor Qin Geng, born in Qingxuan, was a formidable figure who neither borrowed nor concealed his skills, and who attained the [Chang Geng] level of swordsmanship through sheer willpower.

A unique existence in the Xuanjian world, its offensive power rivals that of the Three Xuan Masters.

In the first great war between immortals and demons, the Sword Ancestor casually killed two Wood Virtue True Monarchs with his sword before gracefully departing from this world.

Ji Mu Yi Dao, who was killed by the Sword Ancestor, has not recovered to this day. When Ji Mu Shen Tong senses the sword intent, he is as terrified as a little bird trembling on a tree branch.

To some extent, the members of the Jimu Fruit position were all terrified of being slashed by the swordsmanship of Chang Geng.

Jiang Heqian was filled with anticipation, wondering if he would ever have the chance to ascend to the Golden Rank in Kendo.

Even if it were possible, one would first need to cultivate into a Dao Embryo Immortal before using the [Miraculous Method of the Golden Elixir of Unity] to preserve the fruit and remainder, and retain the position and obtain the leap year.

The Golden Rank in Sword Dao is beyond my current comprehension, and even beyond the comprehension of a Golden Core True Monarch.

That [First Jade True One] also holds the [Chang Geng] position in the sword path. He must have acquired this position after becoming a Dao Embryo Immortal and practicing the [Miraculous Method of the Golden Elixir of Hunyi].

If I can obtain the remaining position of Yu Zhen, it is not impossible for me to seek the Golden Position in Sword Dao after sitting at the card table.

After all, he possesses the Dao artifact [Yan Dao Jade], and as long as he has enough time, he will eventually attain higher levels of Dao cultivation.

After a moment of deep thought, Jiang Heqian came to his senses and said in a gentle tone:

"Yuanjiao, I have known your elders for a long time, so there is no need for you to speak to me so politely."

"I see you, Yuanjiao, also have swordsmanship skills. If there's anything you don't understand about swordsmanship, you can come to Yucheng Peak in Milin County to find me. Oh, that's the highest mountain in the former Yu Family Market. I'm currently cultivating there."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanjiao was startled and replied respectfully:

"Yuanjiao understands."

The hooked snake in the formation thrashed about for a long time, finally resigned itself to its fate and weakly uttered:

"There's only one portion of [Childhood Essence True Water] underground. How do you three plan to divide it?"

Seeing that it could not break free, the demon spoke words of discord.

Upon hearing this, Kong Tingyun's face darkened, and she made a hand seal, instantly causing a huge golden mountain magic weapon to rise out of thin air and smash into the lake's demon snake in the blink of an eye.

The serpent let out a miserable scream and spat out a mouthful of foul-smelling blood.

She said in a threatening tone:

"You wicked serpent, stop trying to sow discord."

He then quickly turned around and explained to Jiang Heqian and the other man:

"Fellow Daoists, there is indeed a newly formed [Primordial True Water] underground here. Tingyun only discovered it when she infiltrated the earth veins to set up the array. It was not intentional to hide it from you."

Jiang Heqian already knew there was spiritual water here. He waved his hand and said expressionlessly:

"If Fellow Daoist Kong wants spiritual water, feel free to take it. I promised to help you with a favor, and I certainly won't forcibly take what you want."

It's just a Foundation Establishment level spiritual water; I can't do anything with it anyway.

Standing to the side, Li Yuanjiao echoed:

"Yuanjiao didn't exert much effort this time, Fellow Daoist Kong, just take the spiritual water."

Seeing that neither of them had any objections, Kong Tingyun breathed a sigh of relief and said happily:

"Thank you both, fellow Daoists. I am deeply grateful."

She then looked at the hooked snake at the bottom of the lake and said with ill intent:

"Kill this hooked snake; keeping it alive is just asking for trouble."

Upon hearing this, the hooked snake was so frightened that its scales bristled, and it kowtowed violently at the bottom of the lake, begging for mercy.

Jiang Heqian drew his Mingyu sword, pretending to strike.

Li Yuanjiao shouted loudly:

"Senior Jiang, please hold your hand. Let me handle this hooked snake."

Jiang Heqian, who had been pretending to be about to attack, smoothly withdrew his sword and said calmly:

"Yuanjiao, since you want this hooked serpent, then take it."

If Li Yuanjiao hadn't asked for it, Jiang Heqian would have killed the hook snake with a single sword strike, and the Li family would have lost the spirit beast Li Wushao.