Head-Severing Heart-Capturing by Unorthodox Means, a Perilous Night Flight Through Erlong Ravine

Heart-Burning Tribulation Method, a secret cultivation art of the Xiao Family. It burned the heart's flame and breathed in and out Samadhi True Fire. Any direct descendant of the Xiao Family could rely on the Heart-Burning Tribulation Method to enter the True Fire Realm and awaken the Xiao Family's innate flame talent.

Yet its drawback was equally obvious. Because the heart's flame was restless, Xiao Family members were more likely than others to suffer qi deviation.

The Eighteen-Story Pavilion Method cultivated by Xiao Zhenghe was even more extreme.

The eighteen stories corresponded to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and the Nine-Layer Foundation Establishment. True qi coursed through the body and often erupted into violent turmoil. It had to be suppressed with stronger, purer mana.

While suppressing the upheaval, one would naturally ascend to a higher level as though building a tower. At the same time, the true qi within the body would erupt again and be suppressed anew with the power of an even higher level.

The eighteen stories rose one upon another. In the end, one formed a core through the purest strand of core essence.

However, the Eighteen-Story Pavilion Method went only as far as the Golden Core Realm.

Xiao Zhenghe could no longer condense core essence of a higher level. He could only linger at the first layer of the Golden Core Realm, trapped in the awkward predicament of having his core essence riot all year round.

Heng Hua had long made plans against the Wei Family. Aside from the four Eastern Region families hemming in the Wei Family, he had also been plotting around the movements of the three Northern Domain families.

The Lin Clan was on good terms with the Wei Family, while the Fu Family was on good terms with the Yang Family. To keep the three Northern Domain families neutral, the Xiao Family's stance was the crucial matter.

Heng Hua had specifically studied the flaws in the two Black Grade cultivation arts, the Heart-Burning Tribulation Method and the Eighteen-Story Pavilion Method.

The Heart-Calming Formula he had created was meant precisely for this.

A Xiao Family disciple began circulating his cultivation in public.

Scorching fire qi surged through his body, and Fu Xuanxing sensed a force of True Fire no weaker than his own.

But then the True Fire began to rage, and the man gradually failed to suppress it. Only after he used the Heart-Calming Formula did the flames slowly settle and flow back into his dantian.

"Third Uncle, its effect is better than our Spirit-Heart Seal and Great Ice-Heart Incantation."

Naturally, the Xiao Family had methods specially designed to address the flaws in their cultivation art, but their effects were somewhat inferior to the Heart-Calming Formula.

"This formula seems flawed. It is incomplete."

Xiao Zhenghe looked toward Fu Henghua.

"Where is the latter portion of the art?"

"Grandfather mentioned it in passing. I only remembered the first half."

Xiao Zhenghe stared at Fu Henghua, silently pondering.

Their family wanted the Heavenly Demon Six-Desires Pearl because they had intended to use that Heavenly Demon treasure to complete their family's cultivation art. Golden Fang's immortal path ran deep; they surely had methods to eliminate the flaw of their frequent qi deviations.

But if this opportunity was already before them...

At that moment, Xiao Zhenghe's expression shifted as he gazed into the distance at the Colorful-Luan Spirit Ship.

His face gradually darkened. "Your ship is rather cramped, isn't it?"

"A mountain need not be high; with an immortal upon it, it becomes numinous. Just like your little Yuming Mountain. It appears to be nothing more than a hill covered in camellias, yet with you here, it is the Yuming Mountain Crossing renowned across all these waters."

Joy stirred in Heng Hua's heart. Xiaoyu really is capable. Half the matter is already done!

Sensing that faint aura of the Golden Core Realm from the Colorful-Luan Spirit Ship, Xiao Zhenghe fell silent.

Only when someone beside him spoke to remind him did he wave a hand. "Enough. I will give the old master some face. Someone will naturally go to the Fu Family later to discuss this formula of yours. Whatever you want, our two families can negotiate it slowly then."

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Zhenghe surveyed the people around him.

"There are too few women in my family. If there is to be a marriage alliance, we can only seek brides from your family. What do you think of these nephews of mine? Are they worthy of your family's young ladies?"

He had brought a group of juniors to train in the Flame Waters. These young Xiao Family disciples could be said to be the backbone of the family for the coming centuries.

Yet Heng Hua merely swept his gaze over them and tactfully declined Xiao Zhenghe's proposal.

"The grandaunts of my family all have tempers greater than the last. I fear they would make things difficult for these worthy younger brothers."

Heng Hua was not making that up. Other than his elder sister Fu Yaozhen, which one of his younger sisters was easy to handle?

Fu Tongjun had defied their grandfather and run away in a fit of anger. No one even knew where she was now.

Fu Liuhui had only just secretly slipped away a few days ago.

The remaining three little girls were no less troublesome, each more unruly than the last. All day long, they pestered him for methods of rapid cultivation.

Xiao Zhenghe had merely raised the matter casually. He knew that a mere junior of the Fu Family could not make such decisions.

After inviting the three to sit for a while, he rose to see them out.

Before they left, he specifically said to Jin Xian'e, "Fellow Daoist, when you drew your sword and frightened off the Lin Clan before, you offended people of fierce and ruthless temperament. They have already invited a Great Golden Core Adept to seek trouble with you. You must be careful from here on."

Then he said to Fu Henghua, "The Lin Clan is also connected to the Wei Family by marriage. They certainly will not show the Fu Family mercy. Watch yourselves."

"Thank you, Uncle."

Not long afterward, the Yuming Mountain Crossing departed.

"Uncle, didn't you say that item listed in the Bai Cang black market was highly suited to our family? Are we giving it up just like this?"

"The old master of the Fu Family is aboard that ship."

"Fu the Dragon Sword Immortal? Wasn't his lifespan nearly exhausted? Isn't he hiding on Coiling Dragon Island to spend his final years?"

"That man was bold and heroic his entire life. How could he be willing to hide on Coiling Dragon Island and wait for death? Besides, he bears a blood-deep hatred for the Demon Palace. How could he sit by and watch over a vicious thing like the Heavenly Demon Six-Desires Pearl?"

Xiao Zhenghe sighed. "Since Elder Uncle has come in person, what harm is there in giving him some face?"

The main reason was still fear. Xiao Zhenghe knew he could not withstand even one sword strike from Fu Danwei. Since the other party had taken the initiative to show goodwill and made clear he had a cultivation art that could help their family, why should they rush to make enemies and forcibly seize a Heavenly Demon treasure?

When Heng Hua and the other two returned to the Colorful-Luan Spirit Ship, he headed straight into a room and found a white-haired old man standing there.

"Young Master, can I change back now?"

"No, wait for now. Continue pretending to be Grandfather."

Spirit Painting Art.

While conversing with Jin Xian'e, Heng Hua had kept a thought in reserve and painted a portrait of his grandfather.

Using that portrait to impersonate Fu Danwei, he had Xiaoyu activate the second Coiled Dragon Token and reveal a trace of its aura.

With that deterrent in place, Heng Hua then produced the Heart-Calming Formula, forcing the Xiao Family to yield somewhat.

"But the Lin Clan at the end will be troublesome."

Heng Hua pondered for a while and could only choose to bluff his way through.

Not long after Fu Xiangfeng returned, the Yang Family's great ship departed and swiftly caught up to the Yuming Mountain Crossing.

The mountain ferry stopped atop the water, still observing the Colorful-Luan Spirit Ship.

"Elder Uncle, what exactly does your Xiao Family mean by this?"

"We must give the old master of the Fu Family some face. But if the Lin Clan obtains it, we can simply take it from them afterward. What about you?"

"We only seek to preserve the lives of the Fu Family party." The three sisters gazed at the spirit ship, silently praying for Fu Xiangfeng.

At dusk, Heng Hua's party arrived at an Immoveable Reef closest to Erlong Ravine.

Five great ships of the Lin Clan had already been waiting there for a long time.

"Members of the Fu Family, you will not be leaving tonight either. Why not settle victory and defeat through a contest of arts? If you win, I will let you return to the Eastern Region. If you lose, leave behind the Heavenly Demon treasure."

A contest of arts?

Heng Hua's spirits immediately rose. He had Xiaoyu continue playing the role of his grandfather while bringing Fu Xuanxing and Fu Xiangfeng over.

"Fine. It is inconvenient to travel at night. Both sides will rest here, and we shall make a wager and settle victory and defeat through arranged contests."

As he spoke, Heng Hua drew Fu Xiangfeng's sword and slashed it across his own neck, directly cutting off his head.

Fu Xiangfeng had no time to react. Only after Heng Hua's head fell did he cry out, "Little Six, you—"

It hurts so much.

Enduring the pain, Heng Hua held his head in his hands. "First round. We shall compete in beheading ourselves. Whoever can endure longer while beheaded wins. Friends of the Lin Clan, who would like to compete?"

His severed head could still speak. Fu Xiangfeng and Fu Xuanxing were instantly dumbfounded.

The entire Lin Clan group was stunned as well.

He had cut off the head of the Six Yang Lineage's leader and remained unharmed? Wasn't that the sort of method only a Golden Core Cultivator possessed?

Lin Yuanchang's eyelids twitched. "The Head-Severing Yang-Sealing Art?"

"We will compete in seven rounds. I have set the first round; the second will be left to you. The third, I wish to compete in praying for rain. The fourth will again be yours."

Heng Hua carried his own head, and the head said leisurely, "For the fifth round, we will compete in calculating rice. The sixth is up to you—medicine, divination, astrology, alchemy, artifact forging, talismans, formations, anything will do. As for the seventh... you are the hosts, and I am the guest. I have chosen one extra contest: Yin Spirit Projection. Senior of the Lin Clan's Golden Core Realm, what do you think?"

Aboard the ship, the Lin Clan members remained silent for a long time.

Lin Yuanchang slowly said, "Very well. Tonight, the Lin Clan will accompany you."

Sensing Fu Danwei's imposing presence, this Great Golden Core Adept was unwilling to tear all pretenses apart. But Heng Hua had begun by cutting off his own head...

Seeing Heng Hua still joking and laughing with his companions, he looked toward the Lin Clan members beside him.

Every Foundation Establishment cultivator, without exception, silently took a step back.

They truly could not survive having their heads cut off.

Lin Yuanchang sighed. "This is an unorthodox art. I can use it as well, but as a dignified Golden Core Cultivator, it would be improper for me to bully the young. Fine. Before the sky darkens, I will invite a few people over. You entertain the Fu Family members and do not let them leave."

Having spoken, the cultivator projected his Yin Spirit and returned to the Lin Clan to find people.

The Lin Clan disciples shoved the responsibility back and forth among themselves until someone finally came forward to entertain them.

Heng Hua fitted his head back in place. "You people are far too indecisive. It is nothing more than cutting off a head, yet you need to summon reinforcements?"

The Lin Clan members hurriedly smiled along and invited them onto the Immoveable Reef to rest.

Heng Hua watched the shifts in the vital aura over the Lin Clan. He knew that the Lin Clan's Golden Core senior had sent his Spirit Soul out of his body.

Thus, he secretly transmitted his voice to Hengshou and Fu Heyi.

"When you hear my command later, we will charge directly into Erlong Ravine."

"Young Master wants to travel at night?"

"You intend to leave tonight?"

"Do not worry. I know what I am doing. Father came to Erlong Ravine back then, so I know its secrets. I will guide you through it."

Once they passed through Erlong Ravine tonight, they would reach Turtle-Burial Reef by dawn tomorrow.

Heng Hua pretended to go ashore while secretly raising the Mirage Tower Illusion Art. Cooperating with the mist rising at dusk, he enveloped the entire Immoveable Reef.

"Go!"

Fu Heyi threw out an array flag, and the spirit ship instantly accelerated. Fu Xiangfeng used Snow Blowing to cleave several of the enemy's great ships and obstruct the pursuers.

The water surged violently. Hengshou steered with all his strength as the vessel swayed and leaped through the rapids.

"Turn right!"

Heng Hua operated the Spirit-Sensing Communion Technique and the Heavenly Unity Calculation Art.

"There is a hidden reef below. Go left and avoid it."

"Watch out for the undercurrent."

As he spoke, Heng Hua kept watch behind them.

Jin Xian'e acted personally, directly shaving off the mountain peak at Erlong Ravine and cutting off the path behind them.

"Full speed ahead. We must break through tonight."

Heng Hua knew that the final group of enemies awaited them in Erlong Ravine.

It was said that immortals and demons had battled here eight hundred years ago. According to his father, that demon had belonged to the Heavenly Demon Lineage.