True immortal combat? I specialize in curing all kinds of defiance!

The red-faced Daoist's voice boomed like thunder, causing the pool water to churn incessantly. Waves of heat washed over, carrying a fierce and overbearing malevolence that seemed intent on crushing Dao Xuan.

Dao Xuan felt his Blood Essence fluctuate from the sound waves imbued with magical power, his movements faltering. Anger flared in his heart.

He stabilized his form, his golden eyes opening and closing. His divine sense, like lightning, instantly swept over the imposing red-faced Daoist on the opposite cliff face.

Late True Immortal!

His magical power surged, his fiery aura soared, and his cultivation realm was indeed a step above his own Early True Immortal stage.

But!

Dao Xuan sneered inwardly, all fear vanishing.

"Heh!"

The corners of his mouth curved into an undisguised mockery. His voice was clear and resonant, yet carried a metallic clang that pierced through the other's violent sonic waves.

"Guarded for ten thousand years? What a boast!"

Dao Xuan raised his hand, pointing remotely at the Nine-Orifice Transparent Jade Heart Tree, its divine radiance flowing, then pointed at the deep pool beneath his feet, and finally pointed at himself, declaring loudly:

"When I took form on this island, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, tempering my sinews and blood, you, a rogue cultivator who crawled out from who-knows-where, probably couldn't even sense the East Sea's wind!

And yet you dare to spout such nonsense here, presumptuously calling yourself an ancestor?"

He paused, his gaze like a knife, raking across the red-faced Daoist's distorted crimson face, and scoffed:

"A mere Late True Immortal, who hasn't even touched the threshold of a Golden Immortal, dares to act like a big shot in front of me?

The Great Desolation is vast, truly any Tom, Dick, or Harry can jump out and claim to be a venerated ancestor!

Seeing your fiery temper, it seems to have scorched your brain, making it unclear. Perhaps calling you 'Crimson Flame Old Ghost' would be more fitting!"

"You—!" The red-faced Daoist, no, Crimson Flame Ancestor, had never been so openly ridiculed!

Especially when the other party was merely a "junior" Early True Immortal!

He was so enraged that his three souls leaped and his seven orifices smoked. His crimson face seemed about to bleed, and the flames around him surged several feet with a boom, illuminating half the cliff face crimson!

"Junior, you court death!" Crimson Flame Ancestor roared in fury, his voice transforming into tangible sonic fire rings that exploded outwards!

"Today, this ancestor will show you that the difference in realms is a chasm!

I will incinerate your Primordial Spirit, refine your true spirit, and all these spiritual roots and treasures will be mine!"

Before his words even fell, he made a fierce grab with his palm!

"Whoosh--!"

The void seemed to ignite as a colossal palm, entirely condensed from crimson flames, appeared out of thin air!

This palm was as large as a house, its five fingers splayed wide, blazing with intense flames. It contained terrifying heat capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, and was imbued with a magical power that could seal the void, descending upon Dao Xuan with a fierce grasp!

Before the giant flame palm even arrived, the scorching heat waves had already turned the reef beneath Dao Xuan's feet red and hot. The pool water hissed, steaming into large clouds of white mist!

"A chasm?" Facing this ferocious grasp, Dao Xuan's eyes not only held no fear but instead ignited with burning fighting spirit!

"Today, I'll open the eyes of you frog in a well and show you what it means to say, 'With a Spiritual Treasure in hand, the world is mine'!"

His thoughts raced, and he instantly understood that the other party's killing intent was burning, leaving no room for negotiation.

Retreat?

That would only embolden the other party to press his advantage and seize his treasures!

Only by fighting!

"Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd, come!" Dao Xuan let out a clear shout, his right hand forming a grasping gesture.

"Buzz--!"

The Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd, which had been hovering beside him, emanating a dark gold sharp edge, let out a joyful yet sharp hum!

The foot-long halberd instantly transformed into a dark gold streak of light that tore through the sky, landing in Dao Xuan's palm!

The halberd felt cool in his hand. Twenty-seven Innate Restrictions flowed with light, and an unparalleled sharpness that could sever everything and shatter all laws surged towards the heavens.

It instantly tore open a gap in the scorching pressure brought by Crimson Flame Ancestor's giant flame palm!

"Break!"

Dao Xuan's magical power surged. Without any fancy moves, he thrust the halberd forward fiercely!

There was no earth-shattering spectacle, only a dark gold thread condensed to the extreme, faster than lightning!

Ching--!

Like a hot knife through butter!

The seemingly invincible giant flame palm, capable of burning everything, was pierced through the middle by this dark gold thread!

Wherever the dark gold thread passed, the violent fire element power that constituted the giant palm met its nemesis, instantly disintegrating and scattering!

The magical power that sealed the void was even more like fragile glass, easily pierced and torn apart!

"What?!"

Crimson Flame Ancestor's pupils contracted sharply, his fierce expression instantly replaced by shock!

His "Sky-Burning Blazing Hand" divine ability, which even ordinary Late True Immortals wouldn't dare to face head-on, was so casually broken by the opponent's Spiritual Treasure?!

The dark gold thread continued its momentum, piercing straight towards Crimson Flame Ancestor's face!

Crimson Flame Ancestor let out a strange cry. The bright red Eight Trigrams Blazing Robe on his body suddenly lit up with a blinding red light. The flame patterns on the robe surged wildly, instantly forming layers upon layers of flame barriers in front of him!

Puff puff puff puff!

The dark gold thread broke through seven layers of flame barriers. In the end, due to Dao Xuan's limited cultivation realm, its power waned, and it dissipated before the eighth barrier.

Even so, the sharp aura that could shatter all laws caused a cold sweat to break out on Crimson Flame Ancestor's forehead.

"Good treasure! What a good treasure!"

After the shock, Crimson Flame Ancestor's eyes erupted with a fervent light ten, a hundred times more intense than before. He stared fixedly at the Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd in Dao Xuan's hand, his mouth practically watering.

"Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure! Unparalleled offense! Divine power to break laws! This treasure rightfully belongs to me!

Youngster, your cultivation realm is low, and you are unworthy of wielding such a heavy treasure!

Hand it over quickly, and this ancestor can take you as a servant and spare your life!"

He roared, bringing his hands together fiercely!

"Blazing flames burn the sky, divine fire shields the body! Condense!"

Rumble!

The fire elemental energy in heaven and earth converged madly. Crimson Flame Ancestor's surrounding flames surged, instantly transforming into a massive flame shield tens of feet in diameter.

It completely enveloped himself and the cliff he stood on!

On the shield's surface, the crimson flames condensed into a tangible form, with countless tiny flame runes flowing and leaping, exuding a terrifying aura that could incinerate all things and isolate the inside from the outside!

"Let's see how you break my 'Crimson Flame Divine Fire Cover'!" Crimson Flame Ancestor stood at the center of the fire shield, grinning sinisterly. He formed hand seals and pushed outward forcefully!

"Fire Crows Burn the World! Go!"

Caw! Caw! Caw!

Sharp, piercing cries echoed through the sky!

From the massive flame shield, hundreds, even thousands, of crimson fire crows, condensed entirely from pure blazing flames, shot out!

These fire crows were lifelike, with wings spanning several feet. They spewed flames from their mouths and had ferocious eyes. Carrying the high temperature that could melt metal and the impact force that could pierce stone, They shot towards Dao Xuan like a sky-raining meteor shower!

Each fire crow contained a terrifying power sufficient to heavily injure an early-stage True Immortal!

"All flash and no substance!" Facing the sky full of fire crows, Dao Xuan snorted coldly and advanced instead of retreating!

He moved with profound footwork, his figure weaving through the rain of fire like a phantom. The Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd in his hand transformed into a dark gold curtain of light!

"Break! Break! Break!"

The halberd's shadow danced. With every swing, it precisely struck the core rune of a fire crow!

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

Wherever the dark gold edge passed, the ferocious and violent fire crows, like popped balloons, instantly dispersed into the most basic fire elemental energy, not even having time to explode!

The law-breaking divine might of the Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd specialized in countering these "techniques" condensed from magical power and divine abilities!

Dao Xuan moved with his halberd, flowing against the current in the rain of fire. He actually carved a path through the bombardment of fire crows and charged straight towards the massive Crimson Flame Divine Fire Cover!

"Impossible!"

Crimson Flame Ancestor's eyes widened in disbelief. The law-breaking ability of that Spiritual Treasure was simply inconceivable!

He hurriedly urged his magical power. The flame runes on the fire shield's surface flashed wildly. The shield instantly thickened several times, and the flames surged.

The temperature soared again, attempting to block Dao Xuan or even incinerate him directly!

"Open for me—!"

Dao Xuan had already reached the fire shield. Feeling the terrifying high temperature that could burn everything, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

He poured all his magical power into the Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd without reservation!

Buzz!

The Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd let out an unprecedented, impassioned hum!

The twenty-seven Innate Restrictions shone brightly. The entire short halberd seemed to come alive, transforming into a dark gold lightning bolt that tore through the heavens!

"Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking, all laws are void! Slash!"

Dao Xuan held the halberd with both hands, becoming one with the weapon, and fiercely swung it down at the incredibly thick Crimson Flame Divine Fire Cover!

There was no earth-shattering explosion.

Only a grating, ear-piercing sound, like tearing silk!

Screeeech—!

The Crimson Flame Divine Fire Cover, capable of withstanding the full-power strike of an early-stage Golden Immortal, in the face of this strike from the Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd, which condensed Dao Xuan's entire magical power and was pushed to its limit.

It was like paper, torn open by a massive gap!

The violent fire elemental energy found an outlet, gushing madly from the opening!

"Pfft!"

With his divine ability forcibly broken, Crimson Flame Ancestor felt as if struck by a heavy hammer. He spurted out a large mouthful of blood essence, as red as fire, his aura instantly weakening. His eyes were filled with disbelief and terror.

"No!!!"

How could Dao Xuan give him a chance to breathe? The moment he broke through the Divine Fire Cover, his body moved like lightning, piercing through the opening!

Dark gold sharpness, aimed directly at Crimson Flame Ancestor's brow!

Fast! Extremely fast!

Crimson Flame Ancestor felt a chill of death, piercing his Primordial Spirit, instantly engulfing him. His soul was terrified, and he desperately tried to activate his protective magical treasures, to use an evasion technique, but it was all too late!

"Die!"

A cold, daoist voice echoed in his ears.

Squelch!

A soft sound, like a ripe fruit being pierced.

The indestructible tip of the Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd, without any obstruction, pierced through Crimson Flame Ancestor's protective fiery spiritual light and accurately stabbed into his brow's ancestral acupoint!

The dark gold law-breaking power instantly erupted, like billions of fine needles, surging in madly, crushing Crimson Flame Ancestor's Primordial Spirit and true soul like a broken, decaying force!

The terror, greed, and unwillingness on Crimson Flame Ancestor's face instantly froze. His eyes rapidly dimmed, and the violent flames around his body, as if losing their source, suddenly extinguished.

Boom!

His burly body swayed and fell straight backward, crashing heavily onto the scorched cliff, stirring up a cloud of dust.

A speck of dark gold on his brow, and he was no more.

Late True Immortal, Crimson Flame Ancestor, dead and his dao vanished!

Dao Xuan stood holding his halberd, breathing slightly, fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

That final, full-power strike to break the Divine Fire Cover had nearly depleted half of his magical power.

His cold gaze swept over Crimson Flame Ancestor's corpse.

"Hmph, roared fiercely, died quickly."

He walked forward and unceremoniously began to loot the body.

His divine sense probed into Crimson Flame Ancestor's storage magical treasure—a crimson beast-skin pouch hanging from his waist.

The space within the pouch was not large, and the contents were even more meager.

A few fire-attribute spiritual materials of acceptable quality, but far from top-tier.

Two bottles of ordinary pills for restoring magical power and healing.

Dozens of low-grade spirit stones containing mixed spiritual energy.

And a small, palm-sized copper shield with some scorched marks on the edges. Its spiritual light was dim; it was merely a low-grade acquired spiritual treasure.

Judging by its damaged state, it probably couldn't even withstand one strike from the Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd.

"Tsk!"

Dao Xuan curled his lips in disdain, pocketing the spirit stones, pills, and the barely usable spiritual materials. He couldn't even be bothered to look at the broken shield again.

"Poor ghost!

With just this little hoard, you dared to try killing someone for treasure?

The 'poor and arrogant' of the Great Desolation must be talking about you!

What a waste of the title 'Ancestor'!"

He spat, the initial excitement of killing a powerful enemy completely gone, replaced by a deep contempt for Crimson Flame Ancestor's "poverty."

However, just as he was putting away the meager spoils of war and preparing to collect the Nine-Orifice Transparent Jade Heart Tree, his heart suddenly leaped!

A strong premonition arose without warning!

His divine sense subconsciously swept across the distant sea in all directions!

Several powerful auras were rapidly approaching this isolated island from different directions!

One of them, with a dense demonic aura, domineering and wild, carried the pressure of a Golden Immortal!

Another, with a clear and cold immortal light, moved extremely fast, at least at the peak of True Immortal!

There were a few weaker ones, but none were to be trifled with!

"Not good! The fight just now was too big and attracted nearby cultivators or demons!"

Dao Xuan's expression changed, and he instantly assessed the situation.

Crimson Flame Ancestor, a Late True Immortal, had already consumed a significant amount of his energy. If more came, especially with a potential Golden Immortal among them, his current cultivation, even with the Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd, would be no match!

The Chaos Bead must absolutely not be exposed!

"This place cannot be lingered in!"

Dao Xuan made a decisive choice, no longer bothering to carefully excavate the spiritual root's system, nor the acquired spiritual materials on the island that hadn't been plundered.

His figure flashed, and he was already beside the Nine-Orifice Transparent Jade Heart Tree, which was bathed in flowing, radiant light.

His mind connected with the depths of his sea of consciousness!

"Chaos Bead, collect!"

Buzz!

A faint, almost imperceptible gray light, yet one containing the highest Daoist rhyme of chaos, shot out from between Dao Xuan's brows, instantly enveloping the spiritual root and the spiritual soil within a radius of about three meters below it!

The light flashed and vanished!

Along with the precious Innate Spiritual Root, only a shallow pit remained at the site.

Dao Xuan did not stop at all, not even daring to use an overly conspicuous escape light.

He stomped his foot fiercely, his body transforming into a faint, almost imperceptible golden stream of light that blended into the background of the sea and sky. He skimmed along the surging sea surface.

Towards the completely opposite direction of the source of those few auras, he shot away at the fastest speed!

The Heavenly Water Evasion Art was pushed to its extreme, borrowing the power of the vast water element of the East Sea, his speed soared!

Within a few breaths, his figure disappeared at the boundary of the vast sea and sky.

All that remained were the lingering ripples of the battle above the isolated island, and the gradually cooling, charred corpse of Crimson Flame Ancestor on the cliff.

Not even half a cup of tea had passed since Dao Xuan's departure.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several escape lights of different colors and distinct auras, almost simultaneously, descended upon this isolated island that had just experienced a brief and fierce battle!

The first to land was a torrent of crimson blood-red light, carrying an overwhelming demonic aura and unparalleled dominance!

As the blood-red light dispersed, a figure appeared, standing twelve feet tall and as imposing as a mountain.

Upon his head was a ferocious "Blood-Red Qilin Dragon Helmet," with qilin dragons coiled around it, emitting a faint blood-red light.

He wore a suit of "Mysterious Iron Black Gold Chain Armor," its plates thick and heavy, emitting a dark luster and exuding a savage and fierce aura.

Around his waist was a "Beast Head Gold-Swallowing Belt," its buckle a roaring head of an unknown ferocious beast.

On his feet were a pair of "Earth-Splitting Mountain-Treading Boots," with blood patterns faintly visible on the soles.

Looking at his appearance:

His face was like indigo, ferocious and terrifying!

A head of fiery red hair stood on end like burning flames!

His beard and whiskers were splayed like a halberd, as red as blood! Beneath his two broom-like yellow eyebrows, a pair of giant, bell-shaped eyes shot out fierce light, and with every opening and closing, it seemed as if a sea of blood churned!

His wide mouth revealed fangs, and his breath was as heavy as that of a ferocious beast of the Great Desolation!

He was a powerful Demon General at the early Golden Immortal stage!

His gaze was like lightning, instantly sweeping across the devastated island, finally settling on the corpse of Crimson Flame Ancestor on the cliff. His nostrils twitched as he sniffed the residual spiritual power in the air, and he let out a low growl in a muffled voice:

"Hmph! A fire-attribute cultivator? Late True Immortal? Useless!

Couldn't even take down a junior at the early True Immortal stage and lost your life! The aura of that spiritual root... it's gone?

Someone got there first?!"

Immediately after, a cold, moon-white immortal light descended, transforming into a middle-aged Daoist dressed in a "Water-Cloud Patterned Robe," wearing a "Fish Tail Golden Crown," with a face like jade and eyes like cold stars.

His aura was ethereal, already at the peak of True Immortal.

He swept his gaze across the battlefield, his brow furrowed. He counted on his fingers to calculate, and after a moment, he shook his head:

"Such speed, such exquisite evasion technique, the aura was completely masked by the seawater, can't catch up.

That spiritual root... contained pure Daoist rhyme, what a pity."

Afterward, three more escape lights descended: two overseas rogue cultivators at the Mid True Immortal stage, and one Demon Immortal with a mixed aura.

They looked at the corpse of Crimson Flame Ancestor and the remaining battle traces, feeling the sharp edge of the law-breaking technique and the violent fire element that had not completely dissipated, all of them showing expressions of surprise and greed.

"Crimson Flame Old Ghost is actually dead?"

"The one who killed him seemed to have a low realm, but his magical treasures were incredibly powerful!"

"The spiritual root must have been taken by that person!"

"Chase! Maybe we can still catch up!"

The Golden Immortal Demon General snorted coldly, his voice like muffled thunder:

"Chase? Chase where? The sea is vast, the opponent was prepared, and the aura was wiped clean! A bunch of useless people, what a wasted trip!"

He cast a fierce gaze at the people present, finally landing on the corpse of Crimson Flame Ancestor. He grabbed out with his large hand from a distance.

Pfft!

The corpse of Crimson Flame Ancestor, along with that pitiful storage bag, was instantly crushed by an immense force, turning into a puff of flying ash, leaving not even a speck behind.

"Bad luck!"

The Demon General spat, transforming into a crimson blood-red light that shot into the sky, vanishing instantly into the horizon.

The remaining few looked at each other, knowing the spiritual roots were hopeless. They were also wary of the mysterious treasure-seeker's methods and the fearsome might of the Golden Immortal Demon General. With no other choice, they dejectedly summoned their escape lights and quickly departed.

On the solitary island, silence returned.

Only the sea breeze whimpered, blowing across the scorched reefs and broken ancient trees.

It was as if it were recounting the brief yet intense battle for the treasure that had just occurred.

And the perilous scene of how that True Immortal cultivator named Dao Xuan, despite being weaker, had triumphed over the strong, snatched the prize from the tiger's jaws, and then gracefully fled amidst a throng of powerful enemies.