All I wanted was to forage the shore, fish, and cultivate-why force my hand?

Just then, a female cultivator at the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement appeared outside the trapping formation, hovering in the void.

She had delicate features, wore a gray-blue robe, and her aura was only at the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement, making her completely unremarkable.

Wang Mengde's gaze fell on her face. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and she slowly licked her lips with the tip of her tongue, like a hungry wolf eyeing its prey.

A crimson light flashed in those eyes that were looking at him, eerie and unsettling.

Warning bells rang in Wang Mengde's mind, but he remained outwardly calm.

Through the pale golden light barrier, he cupped his hands towards the woman and said loudly, "Fellow Daoist, I was just passing through this place and did not know that this was your Daoist temple. I mistakenly entered the trap formation. It was truly an unintentional mistake."

Please forgive me, fellow Daoist, and allow me to leave by opening the formation.

His voice was sincere and earnest, and his posture was extremely humble.

Upon hearing this, the woman's smile widened even further.

She gently shook her head, her voice clear and melodious. "You didn't wander in by mistake; I used that Little Silver Dragon Fish to lure you here."

Wang Mengde's expression remained calm.

He knew it was a trap, but hearing the other party admit it completely shattered any remaining hope he had.

After the female cultivator finished speaking, her aura suddenly surged.

From the Seventh-Level Qi Refinement to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement, from the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, and from the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement to the Peak Qi Refinement.

In the blink of an eye, he steadily stopped at the Peak Qi Refinement.

The sheer force of the pressure caused the sea surface to dip slightly, creating layers of waves.

She reached out and patted her Storage Bag, and in a flash of inspiration, a long cyan whip appeared in her hand.

The whip was about ten feet long, entirely green, and covered with fine spiritual patterns. It faintly shimmered with spiritual light and exuded a sharp aura.

This is a mid-grade magic Law Artifact, of quite good quality.

With a flick of her wrist, the female cultivator unleashed a cyan whip that flew from her hand like a serpent emerging from its hole. An opening appeared in the barrier of light, and the serpent pierced through it, shooting towards Wang Mengde with lightning speed.

The long whip drew a strange arc in the air, its body emitting a sharp whistling sound, like a venomous snake opening its blood-red mouth to pounce on Wang Mengde.

Wang Mengde's eyes narrowed, and he unleashed his Peak Mastery Sword-Controlling Technique.

The Flying Sword beneath his feet suddenly shot out.

The Flying Sword transformed into a pale blue streak of light, its speed terrifyingly fast, more than twice as fast as the blue whip.

Like a bolt of lightning, it drew a graceful arc in the air and precisely met the blue whip.

Ding ding ding ding...

A series of dense clanging sounds echoed across the sea, like a series of thunderclaps exploding in one's ears.

The Flying Sword struck the body and tip of the cyan whip repeatedly at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

Each strike was incredibly precise, with just the right amount of force, wasting not a single bit of spiritual energy while completely thwarting the whip's attack momentum.

The cyan whip trembled violently under the bombardment of the Flying Sword, and the spiritual light on the whip flickered, like a lamp about to go out.

Each time it was struck, the long whip would tremble violently and bounce backward, unable to get within three zhang of Wang Mengde.

The Flying Sword was too fast and too agile, like a butterfly flitting among flowers, dancing and circling around the long whip, each strike hitting the whip's weakest point.

The female cultivator's face gradually turned pale.

The long whip was a magical Law Artifact she had refined, and it was connected to her mind and spirit.

Each time the Flying Sword struck the whip, a shockwave traveled along the whip to her body, like an invisible hammer pounding into her mind.

Her sea of consciousness trembled slightly, and the flow of spiritual energy began to stagnate.

Her expression changed slightly, and she was secretly surprised.

Sword-Controlling Technique, at its Peak Mastery.

This Wang Mengde has actually cultivated the Sword-Controlling Technique to its Peak Mastery!

This level of Sword-Controlling Technique is unmatched in the entire outer sect of the Evergreen Sect, and even some Foundation Establishment cultivators in the inner sect might not be able to achieve it.

That kid really kept a low profile.

If she hadn't trapped her opponent in the formation, and the opponent hadn't used their Sword-Controlling Technique —with its terrifying speed at its Peak Mastery —she wouldn't have been able to catch up at all.

The female cultivator took a deep breath, suppressing her shock, and her gaze returned to its calm and greedy state.

But that's okay.

The opponent is trapped, like a fish on a chopping board; no matter how skilled he is, he cannot escape.

Once his spiritual power is exhausted, he can be captured.

She retracted her cyan whip, reached out and patted her Storage Bag, revealing a stack of Talisman in her hand.

The Talisman was about the size of a palm, completely black, and covered with dense silver runes. Faint arcs of electricity crackled between the runes, producing a soft popping sound.

This is a Tier 3 Intermediate Attack Talisman, the Yin Thunder Talisman.

The female cultivator poured spiritual power into the Talisman, and the silver runes on the Talisman suddenly lit up, with arcs of electricity flashing wildly, like silver snakes swimming across the surface of the talisman, emitting a piercing sizzling sound.

With a wave of her hand, the Talisman flew out from her hand, passing through the gap that quietly appeared in the barrier of the trapping formation, and flew towards Wang Mengde.

Boom...

The Talisman exploded in mid-air, and a white-purple arc of electricity shot out from it, as thick as an adult's arm, carrying the power to destroy everything, and struck towards Wang Mengde.

The electric arc was incredibly fast, covering a distance of over a hundred feet almost instantly upon exploding, appearing right in front of Wang Mengde.

That's too fast.

Wang Mengde was too fast to dodge.

At the critical moment, Wang Mengde's mid-grade magic robe and mid-grade Law Artifact inner armor lit up simultaneously.

The protective runes on his robes activated instantly, and a deep blue spiritual energy Light Barrier rose from his body, enveloping him within it.

The scale-like array patterns on the inner armor also lit up at the same time, and a dark black spiritual energy Light Barrier appeared against his body, overlapping with the outer cyan Light Barrier to form two layers of protection.

White-purple electric arcs blasted against the Light Barrier.

Boom...

With a deafening roar, the electric arc exploded, transforming into countless tiny electric snakes that swam wildly across the surface of the Light Barrier, crackling and popping.

The two layers of Light Barrier trembled violently, and the spiritual light flickered, like two solitary lamps in a storm.

The cyan Light Barrier held for a moment before shattering, and the dark black Light Barrier held for another moment before also shattering.

The remaining electric arcs struck Wang Mengde, white arcs flashing across Wang Mengde body.

If it were an ordinary Peak Qi Refinement cultivator, the last remaining lightning power alone would severely injure them.

However, Wang Mengde's physical strength was terrifying, and coupled with the fact that he had been bombarded by Palm Thunder Technique for many years, he was immune to this level of lightning.

However, the terrifying force of the Yin Thunder slammed him into the deep sea.

The waves splashed up several meters high.

Wang Mengde dived into the deep sea and instantly regained his footing.

He felt a chill run down his spine.

He never expected that the person on the other side would possess the legendary Yin Thunder Talisman.

When Alchemist Xuan Yun saw that Wang Mengde was unharmed, he was surprised.

With a flick of her sleeve, a dark red Flying Sword shot out from her sleeve.

The Flying Sword was about three feet long, with a dark red blade like blood, covered with fine runes. The runes on the hilt flickered, radiating a rich spiritual energy.

This is a superior-grade Flying Sword, far superior to Wang Mengde's mid-grade Flying Sword.

The dark red Flying Sword, like a streak of blood-red lightning, pierced through the barrier of light and shot towards Wang Mengde.

The blood-red light on the sword was so intense it was almost tangible, radiating a terrifying killing intent. Wherever it passed, the air was torn apart, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

In the deep sea, Wang Mengde used his Spirit Eye Technique to scan the area.

Through the seawater, I saw the dark red Flying Sword.

The Flying Sword was incredibly fast, tearing through the seawater as it hurtled towards him.

Wang Mengde's pupils suddenly contracted.

He recognized the Flying Sword.

That was Master Qingyue's Flying Sword, the same one belonging to Alchemist Xuan Yun.

He had personally witnessed Alchemist Xuan Yun flying on his sword; that dark red, high-grade Flying Sword was unique and there was no mistake about it.

He leaped out of the sea, hovering in mid-air, gazing at the beautiful young woman outside the trapping formation. His voice boomed, echoing across the sea. "Alchemist Xuan Yun, we have no enmity whatsoever, why do you want to kill me!"

He didn't want to reveal his Transcendent Mastery Sword-Controlling Technique and Palm Thunder Technique unless absolutely necessary.

This is his biggest secret.

The highest level of Sword-Controlling Technique is the Peak Mastery. He has cultivated it to Transcendent Mastery. If word gets out that he will never have a peaceful life again.

Outside the trap, upon hearing the words "Alchemist Xuan Yun," a sinister glint flashed in the woman's eyes.

Immediately, an even stronger killing intent appeared in her eyes.

A bloodthirsty glint flashed in her eyes, a cruel smile curving her lips, her voice icy and casual. "I just don't like the look of you."

She certainly wouldn't tell the truth.

The Extreme Yin Secret Art of draining men's Essence Blood must never be passed on.

Before she finished speaking, she moved her mind, and the dark red, high-grade Flying Sword accelerated again, shooting towards Wang Mengde at top speed.

The sword's edge pierced the air, its killing intent palpable.

Wang Mengde hovered in mid-air, gazing at the high-grade Flying Sword that shot towards him, a chilling glint appearing in his eyes.

All I want to do is go beachcombing, fishing, and cultivate myself. Why are you forcing me?

Since a peaceful resolution is impossible, then retaliation is the only option.

Take a deep breath and focus your mind.

He mobilized his spiritual power and unleashed his Transcendent Mastery Sword-Controlling Technique.

The mid-grade Flying Sword emitted a clear and melodious sword cry, and the spiritual light on its body suddenly surged, like a small sun blooming on the sea.

The speed of the Flying Sword increased tenfold in that instant.

Ten times.

He only used less than 10% of his strength when dealing with the cyan whip.

Now, 100%.

The mid-grade Flying Sword transformed into a pale blue streak of light, moving so fast that it was impossible for the naked eye to catch it; only a blurry light and shadow could be seen flashing by in the air.

It was like a real lightning bolt, faster, more agile, and more lethal than Alchemist Xuan Yun's dark red high-grade Flying Sword.

Bite..

The Flying Sword struck the hilt of the dark red Flying Sword with pinpoint accuracy.

With a crisp clang of metal against metal, the dark red Flying Sword trembled violently, and the blood-red light on its blade dimmed slightly.

The Flying Sword was too fast; it was so fast that the dark red Flying Sword didn't even have time to react before striking the hilt once again.

Ding ding ding ding...

A series of rapid crashes echoed across the sea, like a series of thunderclaps exploding in one's ears.

The mid-grade Flying Sword struck the hilt of the dark red Flying Sword again and again at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, at the same position and angle, with terrifying precision.

Once.

Twice.

Ten times.

Thirty times.

The dark red Flying Sword trembled violently under the continuous bombardment from the mid-grade Flying Sword. The blood-red light on the sword grew dimmer and dimmer, and the runes extinguished one after another.

The Flying Sword's trajectory began to become erratic, like a bird with broken wings, teetering precariously in the air.

In a matter of moments, the dark red Flying Sword was shot down.

It fell from the sky and landed in the sea with a splash, creating a small spray of water.

The spiritual light on the sword was completely extinguished, and it sank into the deep sea like a piece of scrap metal.

Alchemist Xuan Yun's expression changed drastically.

A trickle of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth. Her mind was connected to the Flying Sword was severely damaged, and her sea of consciousness was also violently shaken.

She looked up at Wang Mengde, her eyes filled with disbelief.

How could there be such terrifying Sword-Controlling Technique?

A useless person with Five-Element Spirit Root and only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement has actually cultivated Sword-Controlling Technique to this level.

She had never seen such a level of Sword-Controlling Technique in her more than a hundred years of life.

Let alone the Qi Refinement Realm, even among the Foundation Establishment Realm stage cultivators, no one can reach this level.

But then, an intense, overwhelming greed surged in his eyes.

Ordinary cultivators could never cultivate Sword-Controlling Technique to such a terrifying level; Wang Mengde must possess a secret manual for rapidly improving Law Technique.

Wang Mengde ignored her shock and greed.

With a thought, he sent his mid-grade Flying Sword soaring into the sky, transforming into a streak of light that slammed into the Light Barrier of the formation.

"Boom...

""

Amidst the deafening roar, the runes on the Light Barrier flickered wildly, and the spiritual light vibrated violently, rippling outwards.

But the Light Barrier shield remained completely still, steadily withstanding the attack.

Wang Mengde frowned deeply.

The sturdiness of the trapping formation far exceeded his expectations.

Alchemist Xuan Yun watched Wang Mengde attack the trap formation, a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.

"Don't waste your energy." Her voice was cold and smug. "This is a fourth-tier trapping formation given to me by my father. It can withstand a full-force attack from Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator, or dozens of attacks from a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator. Let alone a mere Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement cultivator like you, even a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator wouldn't be able to break it in less than an hour or two."