Yuan Ming stood in place for a moment, gazing toward a nearby grove and said, "Brother Wu Lu, since you're here, why bother hiding?"

The grove remained still for a moment, then Wu Lu emerged, his eyes unmistakably flashing with surprise.

"Heh, it's been a while since we've met, Brother Yuan, and your strength has become even more alarming. My method of concealment is quite unique, so much so that even ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators may not notice it. Yet, you saw through it at a glance—impressive."

"Just a little trick in sensing, nothing worth mentioning," Yuan Ming said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Wu Lu couldn't help but be speechless. To think that an ability to detect what even Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't was considered a small trick?

"Why is Brother Wu Lu not at the canyon below refining the Earth Core Fire Lotus? What brings you here?" Yuan Ming inquired.

"Just passing by," Wu Lu said with a somewhat embarrassed look, forcing a smile.

"I see. My business here is finished; I'll be leaving now. Brother Wu Lu, please feel free to do as you wish," Yuan Ming said without exposing Wu Lu's lie, turned around, and his figure soared up, flying away.

Just at that moment, a blue and a white tunneling light shot from afar, rapidly approaching.

Wu Lu's expression subtly changed, and a ripple-like blue light flashed across his body, making him disappear into thin air.

Yuan Ming raised an eyebrow. He had already detected Wu Lu's invisibility, but it was the first time he witnessed the process of Wu Lu's disappearing act.

Whether it was a spell or a magic treasure, the technique was exceedingly mystical. It not only rendered his form into nothingness but also completely concealed his aura. Even with Yuan Ming's current level of divine sense, bolstered by the Stealing Heaven Tripod, he could barely sense Wu Lu's presence.

His own Void Transformation Technique could achieve a similar effect, but it paled in comparison to Wu Lu's invisibility.

As he pondered this, the blue and white lights reached the valley's airspace in a blink of an eye, revealing Xue Jiao and Hou Santong's figures, who looked down.

Seeing Yuan Ming, a look of surprise appeared on both their faces.

Yuan Ming ignored them, proceeding to leave directly.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, please wait a moment. Have you seen Qing Tong?" Hou Santong blocked Yuan Ming's path and asked with a bow.

His manner seemed polite, but his tone was very forceful, brimming with the stance that he was ready to capture someone if they disagreed.

The three major clans of the Eastern Sea possess incredibly strong innate talents, far surpassing those of the Human Clan, only restricting themselves due to their small numbers.

The clans fundamentally scorned the cultivators of the Human Clan, considering them worthless except in numbers. They feigned cooperation with the Eastern Sea Islands on the surface, but behind the scenes, they ceaselessly schemed to strengthen themselves, aspiring to expel or even eradicate the Human Clan's cultivators from the East Sea.

Having just performed a Soul Search on Qing Tong, Yuan Ming was well aware of the clans' situation and disgusted in his heart. He used the Ghost Shadow Escape Technique, swiftly bypassing the other to continue flying toward the distance.

"Are you deaf? I'm talking to you," Hou Santong bellowed, pivoting to punch.

A house-sized blue fist shadow shot forth, carrying endless might. Wherever it passed, the void was slashed with white lines, thundering toward Yuan Ming's back.

Yuan Ming's figure flickered again, appearing several dozen feet away, evading the strike of the blue fist shadow.

"Is this how the Water Ape Clan converses? Resorting to killing without agreeing?" he said, turning to look at Hou Santong with an indifferent expression.

"Where is Qing Tong? Did you kill him?" Hou Santong's eyes harbored a cold gleam, while Xue Jiao also bore a fierce look.

Not long ago, they had received a message from Qing Tong to meet here to discuss an action for revenge against Yuan Ming and Long Chong.

Following the events before, although Hou Santong and Xue Jiao disdained Qing Tong's character, the three, being from alien clans, would unite against the external enemy—the Human Clan's cultivators.

As for Daoist Qian Bao's prior statement prohibiting Qing Tong from teaming up with others, neither Hou Santong, Xue Jiao, nor Qing Tong took it seriously.

The valley below clearly showed signs of a battle; now, with no sign of Qing Tong and Yuan Ming standing unharmed, Hou and Xue couldn't help but suspect that Qing Tong might no longer be alive.

Yuan Ming sneered and turned to walk away.

Seeing Yuan Ming's even more defiant attitude, Hou Santong's fierce nature surged, his momentum suddenly increasing, and his body size quickly swelling. He burst out a powerful Qi Force, tearing his clothes to shreds, transforming into a massive white-haired giant ape three meters tall.

Xue Jiao emanated ripples of light, the moisture in the nearby void becoming exceptionally dense, condensing into wave-like blue shadows, while the ground and rocks were dotted with fine water droplets.

Yuan Ming halted, turning to face Hou Santong and Xue Jiao, his eyes sharpening, as a great battle readied to unfold.

"Stop!" A green tunneling light flew from the distance, arriving nearby in the blink of an eye, revealing Qing Tong's figure.

"Qing Tong, are you alright?" Hou Santong and Xue Jiao hurried over to him.

"Of course, I'm fine. Why are you confronting this person?" Qing Tong glanced at Yuan Ming and said.

"Didn't you send a message asking us to seek revenge against Yuan Ming and Long Chong? We came here, but couldn't see you and saw signs of a battle on the ground. We thought you had perished at this person's hands," Xue Jiao communicated telepathically.

"It wasn't my idea to seek revenge against Long Chong and this person; it was Huan Ling Zi who proposed it. The traces here were also caused by Huan Ling Zi and Yuan Ming fighting fiercely. Their clashes among the Human Clan's cultivators have nothing to do with us. This Yuan Ming is very strong. Even Huan Ling Zi, Yun Jiuxiao, and Bing Xin, three against one, still suffered a huge defeat. We have no need to make an enemy of him; it's better to focus on treasure hunting," Qing Tong moved his lips slightly, transmitting this message telepathically.

"Indeed, let us depart," Xue Jiao had no intention to fight with Yuan Ming. A blue light enveloped the three of them, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the distance.

A slight smile appeared on Yuan Ming's lips as he looked around. The Divine Sense of his first soul descended from the Stealing Heaven Tripod, detecting no trace of Wu Lu nearby; he must have already left.

Yuan Ming did not linger, fleeing into the distance.

"Yuan Ming, I thought you would directly kill Huan Ling Zi, Qing Tong, and the others. I never expected you would think to use the Empty Gloves to modify their memories, making them devout believers of the Moon Sect, and then implant Soul Descent runes within their Divine Souls. I must say, that move was incredibly slick," Xi Ying's voice echoed in his Sea of Consciousness.

"Why kill them? I'm not a bloodthirsty maniac. Even if I wanted to vent, controlling them in this way relieves more frustration than killing them, and I also gain a significant amount of Desire Power. Moreover, Huan Ling Zi, Qing Tong, and the others are prominent young figures from the Eastern Sea. Killing them rashly would certainly stir up a great upheaval, which would not be beneficial for the Moon Sect or Hundred Pills Square. Handling it this way is more appropriate," Yuan Ming articulated.

"Tsk tsk, it seems your methods of handling affairs are becoming more and more sophisticated—you truly are a capable sect leader," Xi Ying commented with a laugh.

"I have no interest in being a sect leader," Yuan Ming retorted, shaking his head. All of this was just to accelerate his training as a Soul Cultivator and enhance his strength.

"What do you plan to do about that Wu Lu? His Invisibility Divine Ability is quite exceptional, and he seems interested in your affairs. Should we expel him from the team to avoid trouble? With his skills, he can survive on his own in the Secret Realm," Xi Ying suggested.

"We'll discuss this matter later," Yuan Ming said, pausing briefly.

He had not yet decided how to deal with Wu Lu.

The man had mysteriously appeared on Fusang Island, unexpectedly representing Blood Bird's Nest Island at the Immortal Fruit Conference, and even entered the Secret Realm in disguise. All his actions were enshrouded in mystery.

Nevertheless, the two of them had been friends since they met in the Southern Border. As long as Wu Lu did not interfere with him, Yuan Ming had no intention of taking action against him. They should proceed with their own affairs without interfering with each other.

At that moment, the sky rumbled loudly, and the stars suddenly shone brilliantly, illuminating the ground.

"Another Star Rain?" Yuan Ming halted his escape, excitement flickering through his mind as he conjured the Purple Star Nine Dragon Spear.

At that very moment, thousands of meteors fell from the sky, transforming into thousands of blue giant beasts shaped like lions, and heavily landed on the ground.

In the past, Yuan Ming had encountered a Starry Sky Beast within the Highly Poisonous Swamp; however, the swamp's sky was covered in toxic clouds, and he hadn't seen the beginning and end of the Starry Sky Beast's appearance—he now realized these beasts came down from the sky.

And the Starry Sky Beast seemed to have no fixed form; it could be a giant bull or a lion.

As soon as the Starry Lion Beast landed, it immediately spotted Yuan Ming nearby. Thirty to forty Starry Lion Beasts charged at him, while others ran in different directions.

Knowing the ferocity of these Starry Sky Beasts, Yuan Ming immediately summoned Lei Yu and attempted to escape.

Roar roar...

The Starry Sky Beasts, being murderous by nature, relentlessly pursued him.

These Starry Lion Beasts, with strong limbs that ran as if flying, were much faster than the previous Starry Bulls and could keep up with Lei Yu.

The lead Starry Lion Beast opened its huge mouth and bit fiercely.

Yuan Ming patted Lei Yu's back, causing its body to dip sharply, narrowly avoiding the Starry Lion Beast's bite.

The Starry Lion Beast roared angrily, its mouth agape again as blue light surged around its lips, emitting a blue light orb the size of a millstone towards Yuan Ming's back.

Yuan Ming was slightly startled; the Starry Lion Beast could actually launch an attack similar to a spell.

He maneuvered Lei Yu to dodge again, sweeping the Purple Star Nine Dragon Spear backwards.

A dazzling purple light flashed, slicing the blue light orb in half, which then integrated into the Purple Star Nine Dragon Spear.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming paused. It seemed that the blue light orb was also formed from Star Power, which the Purple Star Nine Dragon Spear could absorb.

If that was the case...

Yuan Ming immediately communicated with Lei Yu through his thoughts, transforming into a bolt of lightning and charging at a nearby Starry Lion Beast.

He conjured the Thunder God Hammer and unleashed a thick bolt of thunder, striking hard on the chest of the Starry Lion Beast. The electric arcs on Lei Yu's wings intensified, and dozens of thick Silver Thunders struck the Starry Lion Beast.

The huge body of the Starry Lion Beast couldn't dodge in time, and its body was immediately hit with numerous holes, stumbling back several steps.

A purple spear shadow arrived like lightning, piercing into the head of the Starry Lion Beast and penetrating deeply.

The body of the Starry Lion Beast stiffened, a look of horror on its face, bright starlight emanating from all over its body, converging towards the head like a long whale sucking water, seemingly being sucked away.

The massive body of the Starry Lion Beast rapidly shrank, and in a few breaths, it completely vanished, leaving only the Purple Star Nine Dragon Spear floating there, its body emanating bright purple light.

A surge of Star Power came from afar, significantly more abundant than the starlight transmitted by the Star Rain, merging into Yuan Ming's bones.

His bones tingled and their strength noticeably increased by several notches.

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