Strange Changes at the River Bottom

The sandy bottom of the Clear Water River was rough and overgrown with lush aquatic plants, where various fish swam leisurely.

Occasionally, remnants of shipwrecks and old bones could be seen scattered on the riverbed.

Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing moved like two water columns, zipping rapidly along the river bottom. A chilling cold, as if it could freeze the soul, constantly lingered in their hearts.

The two knew that Evil was chasing them, and it was getting closer and closer.

If nothing unexpected happened, they were doomed tonight.

Ye Xiaofan turned to look at Tie Wuqing, his eyes filled with apology. He had brought this misfortune upon Tie Wuqing.

Seeing Ye Xiaofan's pale face, Tie Wuqing shook her head.

She understood Ye Xiaofan's meaning.

But she had no regrets. She had made a promise, and she would see it through, even at the cost of her life.

This was her principle as a person.

If she were captured by Evil, she would choose suicide. She didn't want to become a demonic creature.

It was just a pity that her mother's revenge remained unfulfilled, and she was very unwilling.

The fish seemed to sense their despair, scattering in panic. Some even dove headfirst into the mud and sand.

"Found you, hahaha!"

An excited, booming laugh suddenly exploded in their ears.

On the surface of the river, Evil strode across the waves, looking down at the two figures swimming in the water. His gray, pupil-less eyes shot out two beams of excited light.

"Not good, Evil caught up."

Ye Xiaofan's heart trembled, and despair flickered in his eyes for the first time.

Faced with such an absolute gap in power, he felt so powerless.

Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing exchanged a look, seeing the despair and unwillingness in each other's eyes.

However, they did not give up. A terrifying madness erupted in their eyes.

They simultaneously burned their Qi and Blood, unleashing a secret technique, and swam frantically in the water.

As for leaving the river, they hadn't even considered it; that would mean a quicker death.

"A pathetic struggle."

Evil's voice echoed from above. Immediately, an incomparably powerful gray palm, about ten feet in size, broke through the river water and slammed towards Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing.

"Damn it, let's go all out! Let me see how strong an Evil at the Qi Condensation stage really is."

Ye Xiaofan roared inwardly.

"Clang!"

Sword Drawing Technique!

Gathering all his spirit, energy, and essence, this was the peak of his swordplay since he began cultivating.

A blood-red sword light shook the river water and pierced towards the gray giant palm.

On the other side, Tie Wuqing's Qi and Blood also surged. Three blood-red palm prints, about three feet in size, struck the gray giant palm.

The immense shockwave blasted the surrounding river water away, creating a dry space several yards in radius.

The terrifying aftershock sent Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing hurtling towards the mud and sand at the river bottom.

In an instant, countless sand and mud flew, blasting out a huge pit.

A coppery, sweet sensation surged up Ye Xiaofan's throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Tie Wuqing was no better off, a trace of tragic beauty at the corner of her lips, her mask, which was chipped at the edge, revealing half of her pale, stunning face.

"So strong!"

Ye Xiaofan felt indignant but helpless.

Evil had merely made a casual attack, and even their combined full-power efforts couldn't block it.

Ye Xiaofan stared at Evil, who walked slowly with his hands behind his back like a god. His powerful magic isolated the river water outside.

"Heh heh, not bad. I didn't expect such a barren place like Qingyang County to hide a genius no worse than Xiao Qiaofeng. This must be the Mother Goddess blessing me!"

Seeing Tie Wuqing beside Ye Xiaofan, a flush spread across Evil's demonic face.

He could enhance his own origin by devouring Ye Xiaofan.

At the same time, he would gain two subordinates with considerable potential in Xiao Qiaofeng and Tie Wuqing.

Ye Xiaofan wanted to resist; he refused to accept such a humiliating defeat.

Tie Wuqing wanted to commit suicide; she knew the fate that awaited her if she fell into Evil's hands.

Unfortunately, the oppressive aura emanating from Evil prevented them from even blinking.

This was a suppression at the level of life itself.

Upon breaking through to the Qi Condensation stage, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth poured into the physical body, causing a fundamental transformation in the living being and embarking on the immortal path in pursuit of eternal life.

"The farce is over, come back with me."

Evil said as he reached out to grab the two.

Just then, Unnoticed by the three.

The blood Ye Xiaofan spat out dripped into the deep pit he had smashed, revealing a smooth stone tablet.

The stone tablet was inscribed with the four golden characters 'Five Elements Daoist' in a flowing, dragon-like script.

Just as Evil's hand was about to touch Ye Xiaofan, the drop of blood completely merged into the stone tablet.

Instantly, The four golden characters 'Five Elements Daoist' shone like the sun, and Evil's oppressive aura melted away like ice and snow encountering a scorching sun.

Ye Xiaofan instinctively closed his eyes, but it was still impossible to block out the dazzling golden light.

"Ah~"

Evil let out a shrill, inhuman scream, his eyes, entirely filled with gray irises, were filled with terror.

Burning his magic power madly, Evil rushed out of the golden light at near sonic speed.

At the same time, Ye Xiaofan felt a wave of dizziness, his body felt like it was being torn apart by countless hands, and then he lost consciousness.

The golden light lasted only three breaths.

At this moment, Evil's face was contorted, his refined demeanor gone, and his entire body emitted wisps of smoke as if scorched by a fierce fire.

Standing on the river, he looked at the riverbed with terror mixed with a hint of relief.

He had almost returned to Mother Goddess's embrace just now.

"Hiss~"

"It hurts so much!"

Ye Xiaofan felt as if his whole body was falling apart, and a small mountain seemed to be pressing on his back, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Ye Xiaofan reached back to feel.

Why was it so soft!

Ye Xiaofan couldn't help but pinch it.

"Mmm~"

A soft hum came from his back, followed by the sensation of the "small mountain" on his back moving.

Tie Wuqing, who had already woken up, felt the strangeness from his body, and a blush instantly rose to his handsome face.

"You scoundrel!"

Seeing the person pressed beneath him, he didn't dare to move, afraid that Ye Xiaofan would discover his reaction.

At this moment, Ye Xiaofan's head was still a bit dizzy, and he hadn't realized what was pressing on his back.

"Tsk tsk, my eyes, my eyes!"

Just as Tie Wuqing didn't know what to do, a childish and playful voice suddenly rang out.

Feeling Ye Xiaofan retract his hand, he let out a long sigh of relief.

However, he continued to pretend to be unconscious.

Hearing the voice, Ye Xiaofan's mind immediately cleared. He remembered being enveloped by a dazzling golden light before passing out.

He looked up ahead but saw nothing.

He immediately became alert.

He pushed himself up with his hands, trying to push off the "small mountain" on his back.

"Holy crap!"

Seeing the flowing hair, Ye Xiaofan only then belatedly realized that the person he was pressing on his back was Tie Wuqing.

Ye Xiaofan carefully placed Tie Wuqing on the ground and, seeing that Tie Wuqing was only breathing a little rapidly, felt relieved.

"I hope Gang Leader Tie isn't awake."

Hearing Ye Xiaofan's muttering, the blush that had finally subsided on Tie Wuqing's face spread again.

Ye Xiaofan scanned his surroundings.

He found himself in a stone chamber hall. The stone walls were embedded with countless fist-sized luminous pearls, emitting a soft, gentle glow that illuminated the entire hall.

A stone gate stood directly ahead, flanked by two stone pillars, each requiring two people to encircle.

Divine beasts were carved onto the stone pillars.

"Kid, what are you looking at?"

A teasing voice sounded again.

Ye Xiaofan's hair stood on end, his body tensed. He turned his head to look at the left stone pillar.

He was certain the voice came from the left stone pillar.

"Who?"

Ye Xiaofan's Adam's apple bobbed. His Qi and Blood erupted, forming his Qi and Blood Armor. He subconsciously reached for his sword hilt, only to grasp empty air.

His sword had vanished at some point.

"Kid, are you blind? I'm right here."

"Divine Dragon!"

Ye Xiaofan's eyes widened as he exclaimed, finding it hard to believe his own eyes.

On the left stone pillar, a five-clawed Divine Dragon carving had a miniature dragon, as thick as ten fingers and entirely purple-gold, coiled around its horn. The mini dragon was looking at him askance, head held high.

"Indeed, I am the Divine Dragon. Mortals, why do you not kneel and pay respects to this deity?"

The miniature dragon adjusted its posture, as if looking down on Ye Xiaofan, and spoke with authority.

Ye Xiaofan frowned. This world had demonic creatures, so the appearance of a dragon from Blue Star mythology wasn't entirely incomprehensible.

His earlier reaction was simply due to seeing the totem that resided in every Chinese person's heart.

Now that he had calmed down, he carefully examined the miniature dragon.

After a glance, he realized he probably couldn't defeat this little dragon.

The occasional ripple of Qi and Blood emanating from it was more terrifying than Xiao Qiaofeng's.