The First Venerable of All Paths

"Tantai Caiyun? Interesting."

As he watched the teleportation channel slowly close, a strange smile appeared on Fang Xuan's lips.

"They've all left, why are you still looking?"

Seeing Fang Xuan staring blankly in the direction Tantai Caiyun had left, Xiao Jinyu's tone was slightly sour.

"You've taken a liking to her? But that girl is quite pretty, gentle and sweet like the girl next door, it's normal for you to like her."

Hearing this, Fang Xuan said helplessly, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Xiao Jinyu pursed her lips, but did not continue to tease Fang Xuan.

"Here, take this."

Fang Xuan tossed the Cloud and Mist Pill left by Tantai Caiyun to Xiao Jinyu, saying, "I've checked it; there's no problem."

"This is a unique elixir from Sunset Valley; not many people can refine it, and you're just giving it to me like this?"

Xiao Jinyu was taken aback when she caught the pill, seemingly somewhat surprised.

"This was originally intended as an apology to you, and it will be very helpful for your injuries."

"At least you still have some conscience."

Xiao Jinyu gave a soft snort, took out a pill, and swallowed it.

As the elixir was refined within his body, a radiant glow emanated from Xiao Jinyu's body.

In an instant, Xiao Jinyu's aura gradually became stronger.

It seems that this Cloud and Mist Pill has an excellent restorative effect on Xiao Jinyu's injuries.

Seeing that Xiao Jinyu's injuries were healing, Fang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

He looked at the two fragmented paintings in front of him and reached out to touch them.

"Buzz!"

With a whoosh, the two fragments of the map disappeared into the four fragments behind them.

In an instant, light burst forth.

The six fragments merged together, and a dazzling light spread outwards, causing ripples to appear on the lake's surface.

Immediately afterwards, lotus flowers emerged from the lake water and bloomed in full glory.

A stream of blue light emanated from the flower's stamen and converged towards Fang Xuan.

"Boom!"

This rich energy surged wildly within his body, causing Fang Xuan's body to tremble and his aura to begin to rise steadily.

In the blink of an eye, he surged from the eighth level of the Qi Gathering Realm to the peak of the eighth level.

Moreover, it's still rising.

"Another breakthrough?"

Sang Mo's expression changed, and she shouted sharply, "Stop him!"

After witnessing Fang Xuan's terrifying combat power, Sang Mo no longer dared to regard Fang Xuan as an ordinary Qi Gathering Realm martial artist.

Moreover, Fang Xuan also possessed six fragments of the map.

As they were speaking, Sang Mo moved.

He stepped on lotus leaves, his movements fluid and powerful, like a hawk swooping down on Fang Xuan, his five fingers aimed directly at Fang Xuan's head.

But someone was faster than him.

It's Qi Changfeng!

He came here specifically for Fang Xuan.

As long as Fang Xuan is captured, he will surely receive a large reward upon returning to the sect and befriend the Holy Son Zhao Qingcang.

If the six fragments of the map on Fang Xuan's body are added, Qi Changfeng's chances of becoming the master of the secret realm will be even greater.

This will allow him to become a core disciple of the sect, taking him a step further.

At the same time, Zou Mi also made his move.

His goal was similar to Sang Mo's; both wanted the fragmented map on Fang Xuan's body.

The three attacked simultaneously, their Yuan energy surging, their figures moving as fast as arrows, heading straight for Fang Xuan.

Let alone Fang Xuan, who is only at the Qi Gathering Realm, even a half-step Divine Intent Realm expert would surely die if faced with the combined attack of the three.

"Don't hurt him!"

Xiao Jinyu's pretty face changed. Ignoring her injuries that had not yet fully recovered, she quickly stood in front of Fang Xuan and rapidly formed hand seals.

Her eyes were black in the left eye and white in the right.

Behind him, black and white koi fish appeared, transforming into a yin-yang pattern.

"Yin Yang Seal Technique, Starfall!"

The yin-yang pattern spun wildly, and black and white meteorites shot out from it, hurtling towards the three of them.

Like stars falling, with a magnificent and awe-inspiring presence.

"break!"

Qi Changfeng let out a low shout and threw a punch.

The black meteorite that was thrown at him was actually smashed to pieces by Qi Changfeng with a single punch.

"A trivial skill!"

Sang Mo used his Yuan Power to envelop his five fingers, grabbed a white meteorite, and crushed it.

"Trying to teach a fish to swim!"

Zou Mi tapped his fingers repeatedly, shattering the two meteorites.

Pebbles crashed into the lake, creating towering waves.

The sky was filled with mist, and the air was shrouded in a hazy rain.

Raindrops fell on the lotus leaves, making a continuous pattering sound.

Although Sang Mo and the other two's attack was blocked, Xiao Jinyu's delicate body trembled, and blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.

The injuries that had been so painstakingly suppressed erupted again, even more severely than before.

"I heard that Manager Xiao is now on Tianbao Tower's wanted list, so killing you won't incur any responsibility."

Sang Mo steadied himself, grinned at Xiao Jinyu, and made a grasping motion with his five fingers.

"Sizzle!"

Five ice spikes, formed from condensed Yuan energy, hurtled directly toward Xiao Jinyu.

Qi Changfeng and Zou Mi also made their moves at the same time.

The offensive was swift and the killing intent was astonishing.

Facing the three at their peak, Xiao Jinyu, who was in poor condition, was no match at all.

During this process, only the seemingly insignificant Nascent Soul Realm martial artist, watching the lake rippling with raindrops, revealed a strange smile on his lips.

Just as the three attacks were about to land on Xiao Jinyu, the lake began to bubble up like boiling water.

"Boom!"

The next moment, the lake reversed direction.

A thick column of water emerged from the lake.

Above the water column, a blue lotus flower slowly rotates.

The lotus has only five petals, from which colorful rays of light bloom.

Its fragrance is refreshing and delightful.

Those sitting on the lotus leaves were all invigorated by the fragrance.

The power of the soul also increased slightly.

"This is... a supreme treasure of the divine soul, a fifth-grade Azure Lotus?!"

Looking at the blue lotus flower, Qi Changfeng blurted out, a look of wild joy immediately spreading across his face.

Without the slightest hesitation, he leaped up and charged directly towards the blue lotus.

"You dare to lay a finger on such a divine object!"

Zou Mi let out a cold shout and struck Qi Changfeng with a palm.

The force of the palm swept across the lake surface and struck out fiercely.

Qi Changfeng sneered, lightly tapping his foot on the lake surface to avoid Zou Mi's attack, while continuing to rush towards the blue lotus.

Just as Qi Changfeng's palm was about to touch the blue lotus, a sharp burst of Yuan energy swept over and landed on Qi Changfeng.

"Bang!"

Qi Changfeng was jolted and sent flying backward, landing on a lotus leaf.

He looked at Sang Mo with icy eyes. This old guy, who was only half a step into the Divine Realm, had actually ambushed him.

"I will gladly accept this fifth-grade green lotus."

Sang Mo laughed and reached out to grab Qinglian with his large hand.

But Zou Mi also reached out and grabbed.

"Fellow Daoist Sang Mo, it's not good to eat alone."

Zou Mi sneered, stretched out his arm, and touched Qinglian at the same time as Sang Mo.

"what!"

"What happened?"

However, the next moment, Sang Mo and Zou Mi both screamed in agony.

They saw the power within their bodies continuously overflowing and being completely absorbed by the Azure Lotus.

"Damn it, this lotus is devouring our power!"

Sang Mo's expression changed drastically, and his voice was filled with undisguised terror.

"Fellow Daoist Zou Mi, quickly think of a solution!"

"What can I do?"

Zou Mi roared, "This isn't a divine soul treasure at all! This fifth-grade green lotus is fake!"

He tried to struggle, to loosen his grip.

However, his palms seemed to be welded to the lotus flower, and the power in his body was draining away faster and faster.

In just a few breaths, their cultivation levels plummeted from the half-step Divine Intent Realm to the ninth, eighth, and seventh levels of the Qi Condensation Realm...

"Bang! Bang!"

With two muffled thuds, Sang Mo and Zou Mi's bodies exploded.

The crimson power was completely absorbed by the green lotus.

After absorbing the power of the two, the blue lotus actually turned from blue to red.

In the blink of an eye, the blue lotus turned into a red lotus.

A strange, evil, and terrifying aura suddenly erupted from the red lotus, forming a blood-red pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.

This scene left the remaining people completely stunned.

Two half-step Divine Realm experts died just like that?

What shocked them even more was that the five-petaled green lotus had now turned into a six-petaled red lotus.

"Hehe, it's finally done!"

A soft laugh rang out, and the previously unnoticed Qi Condensation Realm martial artist suddenly appeared next to Honglian.

At this moment, however, his aura was incredibly powerful, causing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to surge.

"Divine intent?"

Qi Changfeng exclaimed in surprise, "How is this possible? Isn't this place forbidden for experts at the Divine Intent Realm? How did you get in?"

Xiao Jinyu's expression was equally grim.

Before she recovered to her peak strength, she was no match for this person, a master of the Divine Intent Realm.

The other party ignored Qi Changfeng and grabbed him with his large hand.

The six-petaled red lotus immediately appeared in his hand, and the fragments of the map left behind by Sang Mo and Zou Mi, as well as the fragment behind him, entered the red lotus one after another.

The lotus flower grew another petal, becoming a seven-petaled red lotus.

The eerie and malevolent aura above the lotus flower grew even stronger.

"It tastes so good, it's been so long since I've had this flavor."

The man took a deep breath, a look of fascination on his face.

He hovered in the void, his body surrounded by a powerful divine aura, and his expression became ferocious and eerie.

"Let me answer your question."

The man chuckled and said, "Of course, experts at the Divine Intent Realm cannot enter here, but for me, who set this rule, I can come and go as I please."

"What?"

Qi Changfeng was shocked and exclaimed, "You are the master of this secret realm?"

If that's the case, then there might be danger today.

Qi Changfeng slowly retreated, circulating his internal energy, his expression solemn.

"Not too stupid."

This person held a red lotus in his hand, looking down at Qi Changfeng like a god, with murderous intent swirling in his eyes.

"Sir, I am a disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect."

Sensing the killing intent emanating from the other party, Qi Changfeng quickly said, "If you kill me, even if you are the master of this secret realm, you cannot withstand the wrath of my Dao Asking Sect."

"A disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect."

The man pondered for a moment, then said, "Since that's the case, I can spare your life for the sake of the Dao Seeking Sect."

As he spoke, the man made a clenched fist with his five fingers.

The fragment of the map behind Qi Changfeng flew into his hand and was absorbed into the red lotus.

"Alright, you can go now."

Thank you.

Qi Changfeng took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "May I ask you for someone?"

"Um?"

Seeing this, Qi Changfeng quickly said, "Fang Xuan killed a disciple of my Dao Seeking Sect. My purpose in coming here is to bring him back to the sect to receive punishment. I hope..."

"roll!"

Before Qi Changfeng could finish speaking, the man waved his hand, and Qi Changfeng was sent flying.

The teleportation channel opened, and Qi Changfeng entered it and disappeared.

Only then did the man slowly turn his gaze to Fang Xuan, a smile playing on his lips.

"Fang Xuan, how about we make a deal?"