Several hundred miles away from Mingyang Island.

In an underwater cave.

After Shen Xuan cleared the scene and looted the corpses, he ground the Zheng family cultivators into pieces and scattered them into the East Sea.

At this moment, he was hiding in a deep-sea cave, deploying the Water Repelling Technique, and began to count the spoils of this ambush.

"Foundation Establishment cultivators from a cultivation clan are vastly inferior to those from a sect!"

Shen Xuan recalled the previous battle.

He felt a bit wistful.

Zheng Jinyi, a Foundation Establishment, couldn't withstand even a single full strike from him.

The reason it took such a long time was that he was constantly holding back, monitoring the surroundings.

At the same time, he wanted to see exactly how capable the clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators were.

To prepare for the next confrontation with the Zheng family patriarch and the head of the Zheng family.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Jinyi was far less than he had imagined.

"Therefore, the Zheng clan patriarch and head are not worth worrying about!"

Shen Xuan wiped the divine thought off Zheng Jinyi's top-grade flying sword and disdainfully tossed it into his storage pouch.

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator doesn't even possess a magical treasure!"

The shield used to block his attacks was merely an upper-grade magical artifact.

This greatly disappointed him.

Fortunately, the quantity was sufficient.

The seven Zheng family cultivators had more than ten magical artifacts.

They could be sold for some spirit stones.

The rest of the assorted cultivation miscellaneous items were all worthless trash.

Only one Jade Scroll containing a technique piqued Shen Xuan's interest.

Illusion-Breaking Spirit Eye Technique.

The introduction stated this technique could enhance the perception of subtle spiritual power fluctuations, dispel illusions, see through falsehood, and glimpse the essence.

"Not bad! This is the pupil technique that Zheng Xiwen cultivated!"

Shen Xuan happily secured it.

Once he reached the Foundation Establishment, he would start cultivating this pupil technique.

With various magical artifacts, spirit stones, pill talismans, Shen Xuan estimated their value at over ten thousand spirit stones.

"A bunch of paupers!"

Seeking revenge was one thing.

Collecting some loot was also an important reason.

Before the fight, Shen Xuan had given Zheng Jinyi and the others a chance.

If they had treated him politely and spoken kindly.

Shen Xuan would have spared their lives.

However, Shen Xuan knew well.

That was impossible.

With Zheng Jinyi and the Zheng family's style, encountering a lone Shen Xuan, how could they ever let him go!

"Fortunately, I obtained this warship."

This is a Tier Two magical treasure.

More expensive than a flying ship.

Not only is it faster, but it also has a larger carrying capacity.

The warship is also equipped with a small spiritual energy cannon.

It's deadly against Qi Cultivation cultivators.

It can also pose a threat to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

As for the Zheng clan patriarch and the head of the Zheng family.

The cost of hiring someone for alchemy has now been secured.

There's no need to take risks now.

Once he has established his Foundation, dealing with these two will be no small feat.

Shen Xuan quickly made a decision.

...

He stepped out of the cave.

Traveling westward along the East Sea.

Over ten days later, Shen Xuan appeared at the river mouth of Longze River.

It was a time of heavy rain.

The river roared, waves splashed, sweeping grandly.

However, at the distinct confluence of river and sea, there was a solitary boat, bobbing with the wind and waves.

On the lonely boat, an old man in a raincoat and hat was fishing alone.

The wind was strong, and the waves were fierce.

The solitary boat seemed as if it might be drowned by the waves at any moment, yet it remained steadfast.

Shen Xuan emerged from the water, stepping onto spiritual waves, gracefully landing thirty feet in front of the solitary boat, silently.

This place was already sparsely populated.

In the midst of a heavy rainstorm.

Water demons had considerably increased in power.

Even water technique demon hunters would not recklessly hunt here at this time.

Underneath the waters of the East Sea and Longze River lived countless water demons.

Each had innate divine powers.

There were even Tier Three water demons present.

Ordinary water cultivators, even Foundation Establishment great cultivators, wouldn't dare to fish alone on such a solitary boat.

Unless they had certain confidence, skill emboldening courage.

Shen Xuan stared at the old man opposite him, silent for a long while.

Finally, he sighed softly.

"Daoist Qing Yuan, why do you torment yourself like this!"

...

On the solitary boat.

The old man put away his fishing rod.

"Talisman Master Shen, pursuing a Foundation Establishment Pill at the age of eighty-four, is truly admirable!"

Daoist Qing Yuan's voice came from amid the storm.

As soon as the words were spoken.

A thin mist arose on the water's surface.

Centered around Daoist Qing Yuan, covering several miles of the water surface.

"With the Water Curtain Streaming Light Array shielding us, the two of us can act without restraint."

Daoist Qing Yuan's face was solemn as he gazed at Shen Xuan.

Eight years ago, upon first meeting Shen Xuan, he had already mastered many water techniques, with the strength to rival Foundation Establishment.

Now, Shen Xuan was openly collecting Foundation Establishment materials, planning for Foundation Establishment, implying his cultivation realm had further advanced.

Daoist Qing Yuan dared not be careless.

Indeed, Shen Xuan showed no sign of panic.

But rather extraordinary calm.

Seeming already prepared.

"To have Daoist Qing Yuan of the Bishui Sect wait here for so long, Shen feels greatly honored!"

Shen Xuan sighed as he spoke.

"I just want to ask, is it really necessary?"

Daoist Qing Yuan also sighed.

"I am two hundred and thirty years old."

"If I cannot break through, I have only twenty years of lifespan left."

"In the Bishui Sect, I've become a marginal figure."

"Anything demanding effort without reward is pushed onto me. Leading the hunt for sea demons, mediating clan disputes, and so forth..."

"Anything with a shred of benefit, harvesting heavenly and earthly treasures, spiritual elixirs, and talismans, never comes my way."

"All the suffering and toil is mine, yet the worst end-of-year assessment is also mine!"

"The reason is straightforward! I lack strength, and my lifespan is nearing its end!"

Qing Yuan's expression changed sharply, his face filled with resentment.

"Shen Xuan, you've never stayed in a sect. You cannot know how quickly those people's attitudes can change!"

"But these are merely trivial matters! I didn't take them to heart."

"I only want to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment!"

"Shen Xuan, you can help me, right."

Daoist Qing Yuan finished speaking in one breath, his gaze intense, fixed firmly on Shen Xuan.

"Sorry, I can't help you."

Shen Xuan said coldly.

Earlier, the Seeking Joy and Avoiding Evil Technique issued a strong warning.

Clueing him in that there was definitely an ambush ahead.

Moreover, there were few who could make him feel this uneasy.

Daoist Qing Yuan was likely the most probable among them.

The first time, eight years ago, when meeting him at the great success of water techniques, Daoist Qing Yuan's invitation for him to join the Bishui Sect was insincere.

The second time, six years ago, during Ruan Siting's Foundation Establishment celebration in the Bishui Sect, someone impersonated Ruan Siting to invite him to attend.

The impersonator was unquestionably Daoist Qing Yuan.

This was the third time, deliberately lying in wait to ambush Shen Xuan.

Avoiding destiny, escaping karma, the myriad chains that bind the true self; embracing destiny, accepting karma, today I finally recognize myself.

This time, Shen Xuan did not wish to avoid.

It's hard to guard against a thief for a thousand days, and a thief's vigilance only lasts a thousand days.

Having been targeted by Daoist Qing Yuan, it's better to fight it out.

"Shen Xuan, if you just offer the secret technique of cultivating water techniques and enhancing spirit root talent, I can spare your life."

"I don't even need your possessions and magical artifacts."

Daoist Qing Yuan advised: "You're merely a Qi Cultivation cultivator, definitely not my match, why rush to meet your doom?"

Shen Xuan smiled.

Gradually, he released the Bishui Sword from the sword box.

Previously, when he engaged Zheng Jinyi in magical combat, he hadn't drawn his sword.

"Stubborn!"

Daoist Qing Yuan shouted.

Unexpectedly, he took the initiative to attack!

The Cyan Nether Sword suddenly appeared, emitting a sharp sword cry, slashing towards Shen Xuan with a flash of cold light.

The speed was incredibly fast, giving ordinary Qi Cultivation cultivators no time to react.

The Cyan Nether Sword was a lower-grade magical treasure, with formidable attack power.

The magical artifacts and protective spirit shield of Qi Cultivation cultivators surely couldn't withstand it!

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