The Three Poisons of Greed, Anger, and Ignorance Invade, Love, Hate, Desire, and Malice Are Hard to Erase (Part 1)

"Besides the Xuanwei Sect's methods, how many Nascent Soul Cultivation Methods do you know, senior?"

"I've lived for nearly nine hundred years. Outside of my sect's teachings, I've collected fifty-five Nascent Soul Cultivation Methods. It all depends on how many you can learn. Besides Cultivation Methods, I can also teach you Mystical Incantations."

Zhou Xiao had already resigned himself to death and didn't have many thoughts of preserving his life.

He was just worried about that Devilish Creature and his junior disciple's safety.

Looking at the confident young man before him now, he was momentarily reminded of himself eight hundred years ago.

A Technique Evolution Master, well-read, deducing Cultivation Methods.

A Technique Evolution Master who had just begun his path believed he knew everything from books, that he was omniscient.

Arrogant, confident, full of youthful spirit...

But reality was never something that could be solved by knowledge from books alone.

Therefore, he felt a fondness for talent and decided to teach him as much as he could.

"A child like this just lacks the tempering of reality. He needs to be honed to understand that knowledge from books is merely theoretical. Since I only have a few days left anyway, I might as well enlighten him on this principle. If possible..."

Back then, Fu Henghua didn't want to join the Xuanwei Sect, but taking his brother into the Xuanwei Sect wasn't much different.

However, why was the Fu Family cultivating two Technique Evolution Masters this generation? Were these two boys messing around themselves? Or was this boy more inclined towards divination and deduction, or perhaps a predetermined disciple of the Tianyi Sect?

After Heng Hua and Zhou Xiao settled on the initial terms, he added, "Senior is a Golden Core Cultivator. If you have any ill intentions towards us, the four of us together wouldn't be able to defeat you."

Four?

Zhou Xiao's eyes held a subtle expression as he subconsciously glanced at the adjacent cabin.

Heng Hua's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a composed facade.

"I will help you heal, senior. To prevent you from having ill intentions, I can only ask you to take an oath first, that no matter what, you will not harm our party."

Zhou Xiao gave a wry smile and shook his head. "In my current state, how could I possibly have the means to target you?"

Of course, he did!

If he were in Heng Hua's shoes in this situation, he would have at least three evil arts and two Demonic Arts to escape.

Heng Hua didn't believe that a sect's elder who taught disciples, having read so many books in the scripture repository, would have no way to escape.

If nothing else, he could definitely survive by performing Body Seizure on Fu Xuanxing, his fellow disciple.

Zhou Xiao noticed the subtle glance Fu Henghua cast towards Fu Xuanxing and immediately understood.

He laboriously raised his hand and took the Dao oath.

"I, Zhou Xiao, hereby swear that if I harbor any ill intentions towards anyone on this ship, I shall be struck by Heavenly Thunder and my soul scattered."

As soon as he finished speaking, a Golden Ranking appeared in the sky, recording the Dao oath.

The East Lai Golden Ranking!

Heng Hua's expression turned solemn as he gazed at the foremost divine artifact of the Ten Thousand Islands of East Lai.

The Golden Ranking's divine power could cover the waters of the Ten Thousand Islands and gather all spiritual energy. Let alone Golden Core grand cultivators, even Nascent Soul or Tribulation Immortals could not escape its lock. As long as an oath was sensed by it, attempting to break it would immediately result in the Golden Ranking descending and Heavenly Punishment befalling.

Currently, the rankings of various powers in the East Lai region were also based on the Golden Ranking's special effects.

Seeing the elder speak thus, Heng Hua believed him somewhat.

His words included Fu Xuanxing.

"While the young friend from the Fu family is treating my injuries, I will impart Daoist arts and Cultivation Methods to him daily. If I violate this..."

"That's not necessary. The first oath is sufficient. As for the rest, I trust your character, senior."

Afterward, Heng Hua was about to take an oath as well, but was stopped by Zhou Xiao.

"You don't need to. If you truly encounter an insurmountable foe, take my junior disciple and flee. As for me, don't worry about it."

"..."

Heng Hua sighed emotionally, "Senior is truly a gentleman. If my brother and I had sufficient strength, we would definitely assist you with all our might. Unfortunately..."

They really couldn't defeat him. They truly couldn't handle the trouble this senior was in.

"Break this mere Mirage Illusion—"

Behind the Spirit Boat, a series of booming explosions erupted, and monstrous waves surged on the water. The illusion Heng Hua had cast was instantly shattered into pieces by the giant waves.

As the waves crashed against the Spirit Boat, Heng Hua quickly cast the Immobilization Technique to steady himself.

"The water waves are mixed with Primordial Copper Qi? Is that a Magic Treasure?"

Heng Hua looked back and saw a black-clothed cultivator standing proudly in the air, holding a bronze pot.

The pot continuously spewed Innate Primordial Copper Qi, bombarding the water surface.

The sound roared in Heng Hua's ears, making his head buzz.

Trouble!

This wasn't a True Fire Realm cultivator, but a Mysterious Embryo level cultivator. No, that's not right, this person is—

Heng Hua stared intently at the black-clothed cultivator with the goatee.

Six or seven more cultivators caught up after the first one appeared. Among them was the cultivator who had used lightning techniques not long ago.

Li Nanxing held up a bronze pot, "Zhou Xiao, today is the day you die!"

Seeing who had arrived, Zhou Xiao sighed, "Nanxing, can't you let go of what happened back then?"

"Hmph, let go? You won the top spot back then, took that opportunity, and successfully cultivated to the Golden Core. But me? Because I lost that opportunity, I'm still stuck at Foundation Establishment."

He was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, on the verge of forging his Golden Core, but he had been stuck at this stage for at least three hundred years.

Heng Hua secretly deduced, looking at his enraged expression, he understood why he couldn't forge his core.

Obsession was hard to dispel, and his Dao enemy was an obstacle. Even with immense Magical Power, he had no chance of achieving Dao.

The only way was--

Heng Hua silently watched Zhou Xiao.

Only by killing Zhou Xiao and resolving the obsession in his heart could Li Nanxing successfully forge his core.

Of the seven groups of people, this group was probably the most difficult to deal with.

As for the group of cultivators beside Li Nanxing, Heng Hua didn't pay much attention. Their clothes were disheveled, and their True Essence was chaotic; they were clearly not disciples of any major sect.

Fu Xiangfeng stepped forward, "I am Fu Xiangfeng. May I ask why Senior is pursuing Senior Zhou Xiao?"

"Nothing else, he is my Dao enemy."

Li Nanxing coldly looked at Fu Xiangfeng, then at Fu Henghua standing beside Zhou Xiao.

"You are not his disciples. If you are just passing by, leave quickly. Otherwise, if a fight breaks out, your lives will be in danger."

"Thank you for your concern, Senior."

Heng Hua gracefully walked over, "We are cultivators from the Yanlong Waters. We happened to rescue Senior Zhou Xiao while traveling. He is an elder of the Xuanwei Sect and holds a respected position. Senior, are you not afraid of retaliation from the Xuanwei Sect if you continue to entangle with him and these fellow Daoists are pursuing him relentlessly?"

"Hahaha..." A hint of a smile appeared on the stern face, and Li Nanxing shouted, "Zhou Xiao, have you not even told these two young friends about what you did?"

Behind Li Nanxing, the cultivator who used lightning techniques shouted, "Friends from the Yanlong Waters, this person is an apostate of the Xuanwei Sect. Do not be deceived."

An apostate?

Fu Xiangfeng's expression changed.

The reason he had tacitly agreed to Heng Hua and Zhou Xiao's deal was because he knew Zhou Xiao had the backing of the Xuanwei Sect. Even if they encountered enemies, they would have to show some consideration for the Xuanwei Sect's golden signboard.

But if he was an apostate, then...

"Uncle-Master is not an apostate!"

Fu Xuanxing stepped forward, "Today, if you dare to treat Uncle-Master like this, my master will personally come to settle the score with you!"

"Fu Xuanxing, you must have forgotten. The pursuit order was personally issued by your Xuanwei Sect. Your Grandmaster, True Person Hengyuan, personally stated 'regardless of life or death.' Even if your master intervenes, what can he do? Does he dare to oppose all of us fellow Daoists in the world?"

Heng Hua fanned himself with a feather fan and looked at Zhou Xiao.

Zhou Xiao's face was filled with pain.

That's right, this was an order personally given by his master. Clearly, because of his actions, his old man was furious and had cast aside eight hundred years of master-disciple affection.

Heng Hua mused: The Xuanwei Sect is a righteous sect, a major sect in the Jinfang Waters. Even if something shameful happened within their sect, they shouldn't make such a grand display. There must be a deeper meaning behind their pursuit of their own elder. Could it be related to that Devilish Creature?

"Two young friends, this person is an apostate of the Xuanwei Sect, and the Xuanwei Sect will certainly not protect him. You should retreat early to avoid bringing trouble to the Fu Family."

Li Nanxing saw the Fu Family's insignia on the Cai Luan Spirit Boat and guessed the origin of the Fu Xiangfeng brothers.

Eastern Yanlong, Fu Family disciples; he was unwilling to offend this local power so casually.

"Little Sixth, I'll create an opportunity. You get Brother Fu and Senior Zhou Xiao to leave in the auxiliary boat."

Fu Xiangfeng sensed Li Nanxing's cultivation and realized they couldn't match him. However, he didn't believe Zhou Xiao had ill intentions and couldn't bear to see him suffer. He could only help as much as possible to get them away.

But when Heng Hua heard about using an auxiliary boat, how could he agree?

Fu Heyi was sleeping on it.

Therefore, Heng Hua gracefully stepped forward, "Senior, are you a cultivator from the Jinfang Waters?"

Li Nanxing: "Indeed. I don't wish to cause trouble for your local cultivation families. Retreat quickly."

"Senior has extensive experience and should be aware of the rules of the Yanlong Waters. Are you intending to fight on the water?"

"..."

"It doesn't matter if Senior Zhou Xiao dies alone. As a Golden Core Cultivator, his flesh and blood will scatter into the water, strengthening the Water Demons and monsters. In the end, it will still be a headache for us in the Yanlong Waters. I hope Senior will reconsider and find another place to fight."

At this moment, Zhou Xiao slowly spoke, "Li Nanxing, if you want to settle old scores with me, why don't we find an island and have a proper duel? But don't make things difficult for the Yanlong Waters, otherwise, the things beneath the water..."

Li Nanxing subconsciously looked at the shimmering water surface.

He knew that the peculiar rules of the Yanlong Waters were not only to guard against Water Demons but also because a "monster" was sealed beneath the water.

The corpse of any Golden Core Cultivator sinking into the water could allow it to recover its strength.

Therefore, when cultivators fight in the Yanlong and Huanglong waters, it is strictly forbidden for corpses to sink into the water.

"I am naturally aware of Yanlong's rules."

Li Nanxing vibrated the bronze pot, and the innate Yuan Bronze essence transformed into a giant Yuan Qi hand, grasping for the Cai Luan Spirit Boat.

Eternal Longevity quickly activated its defensive formation, and golden light rose from the Spirit Boat's surface, forming a cocoon-shaped protective layer.

Yuan Tong grabbed the Cai Luan Spirit Boat and hurled it fiercely at the Immovable Reef fifty miles away.

"This is it. Zhou Xiao, I'll fight you fair and square, to the death."

The Spirit Boat cut through the wind at high speed. Heng Hua looked at Li Nanxing's Magical Power, its face darkening: this wasn't the Magical Power of a ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator at all; this was completely Golden Core, wasn't it?

Alright, with this chapter, my backlog of saved drafts is finally depleted.