Translator: AnubisTL

The Shangqing Sect's group tensed, their hearts pounding with sudden anxiety.

A group of cultivators with hostile expressions had materialized around them, their auras radiating formidable power. It was clear these were not individuals to be trifled with.

Despite the intimidating presence, the Shangqing Sect still had a core formation realm supreme elder among them. They would never stand idly by while outsiders bullied their disciples.

Elder Xuan He snorted coldly.

"Hmph! You must be mistaken. The person we're pursuing isn't this so-called Pure Yang Physique, but someone else entirely!"

However, there was more than one core formation true lord present. Some of the more knowledgeable ones immediately recognized the feather encased in ice crystals.

"Hiss... This golden feather appears to be a Lifebound Spirit Feather from the tail of a golden fire crow. These birds possess a faint trace of golden crow bloodline. It's possible this is indeed something left behind by the Pure Yang Physique."

As he spoke, he prepared to seize the golden fire crow's tail feather.

But upon hearing the spirit feather's true value, the Shangqing Sect elder holding it refused to relinquish it so easily.

He subtly channeled a wisp of mana, preventing the spirit feather from slipping from his grasp.

"Hmm? Seeking death!" The core formation true lord, who had been manipulating the golden fire crow's tail feather, scowled, feeling his dignity had been slighted.

Boom!

A terrifying surge of spiritual energy erupted as a massive finger formed from true essence descended.

"Stop!" True Lord Xuan He, the ancestor of the Shangqing Sect, sensed the danger and immediately intervened to protect his sect's elder.

He unleashed a stone alms bowl magic treasure, effortlessly crushing the true essence finger and neutralizing its attack.

"Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this?" True Lord Xuan He demanded.

The core formation true lord who had attacked earlier replied dismissively, "What's the meaning? This golden fire crow's Lifebound Spirit Feather is likely connected to the Pure Yang Physique. Naturally, I intend to trade it to a demonic path sect for some benefits."

This sentiment was shared by most of the rogue cultivators who had gathered at the scene.

If they could use the feather to track down the Pure Yang Physique, the bounty would be even greater—perhaps even a portion of dragon marrow!

Most of them were solitary rogue cultivators, while the group blocking their path clearly belonged to the same sect.

In truth, even if they couldn't defeat the core formation realm true lord, they could use the lives of the foundation establishment cultivators to pressure him into submission.

Of course, this strategy would only work if the true lord genuinely had no interest in claiming the bounty for the Pure Yang Physique.

True Lord Xuan He's expression darkened slightly as he surveyed the hostile rogue cultivators surrounding him. A flicker of anger stirred within him.

As the ancestor of the Shangqing Sect in the Azure Ridge Domain, he hadn't faced such relentless pressure since achieving core formation.

Yet, remembering the mission that had brought him here, True Lord Xuan He finally spoke in a grim tone: "Leave the ice crystals on the spirit feather, then hand the feather over to them."

Upon hearing these words, the foundation establishment elder of the Shangqing Sect, who had been holding the spirit feather, had no choice but to obediently comply, despite his reluctance.

He shattered the layer of ice crystals encasing the feather, but soon someone exclaimed in surprise and uncertainty:

"There's no trace of pure yang power left in this golden fire crow spirit feather."

"Let me see!"

Chaos erupted as countless cultivators scrambled for the single golden spirit feather, engaging in fierce combat.

Suddenly, a core formation true lord wreathed in pitch-black flames intervened. His attacks were relentless, the dark flames moving with astonishing agility at his command.

Boom!

The sinister black flames coalesced into a colossal Demon Python in mid-air, unleashing indiscriminate attacks on everyone nearby.

"Spirit-Devouring Flame Python!"

The massive python writhed and lashed out, each strike unleashing torrents of searing flames.

Rumble!

Every cultivator below the core formation realm paled in terror, retreating frantically.

The Shangqing Sect's foundation establishment cultivators were inevitably caught in the crossfire. Several foundation establishment elders perished instantly.

"You!" True Lord Xuan He glared at the core formation cultivator burning with black flames, his eyes bloodshot with fury.

The newcomer was none other than Li Qing, who had single-handedly forced back the other cultivators. He smirked coldly at True Lord Xuan He, who had just rebuked him.

"Heh, what's this? Do you have a problem with me?"

True Lord Xuan He glared deeply at Li Qing, whose body was enveloped in black flames. "Hiding your face like a coward," he spat, "I'll remember you!"

"Let's go!"

With that, he turned to lead the Shangqing Sect cultivators away.

But Li Qing wasn't about to let them escape. "Leaving so hastily?" he called out. "Did you find something more here?"

"Everyone," he continued, "should we detain them and see if they're hiding anything?"

At these words, many core formation realm rogue cultivators, intimidated by Li Qing's power, turned their gazes toward the departing Shangqing Sect group.

Soon, someone chimed in with a laugh, "Good point! I'm curious which sect these people belong to."

"I've never seen a core formation realm supreme elder like this in either the righteous or demonic paths."

"Could he be a cultivator from beyond the realm?"

Faced with the menacing glares of the assembled cultivators, True Lord Xuan He couldn't help but feel a flicker of panic.

Yet he betrayed no sign of it, calmly turning to survey the crowd. "Fellow Daoists," he said, his voice steady, "are you not being overly aggressive?"

Li Qing, his heart simmering with murderous intent, remained relentless. His true purpose in coming here was to slaughter these members of the Shangqing Sect.

"Why waste words? Just kill him!"

The black demon flames engulfing Li Qing surged even more violently. This was his first time using the Spirit Devouring Demon Flame in combat, yet he wielded it with remarkable ease.

As soon as the words left his lips, he spread his hands, and pitch-black flame blossoms hurtled toward True Lord Xuan He!

Seeing this, the other rogue cultivators began to stir with anticipation.

Meanwhile, True Lord Xuan He's pupils constricted sharply. He sensed a lethal threat emanating from those dark flame blossoms!

Without hesitation, True Lord Xuan He reached into his robe and retrieved a jade pendant, which he promptly crushed to dust.

Only after this did he hastily prepare to engage the enemy.

"Hundred Cranes Return to Origin!"

One after another, spirit energy cranes materialized around him, circling True Lord Xuan He in a continuous dance.

He then spat out a feather fan, each feather crafted from materials harvested from third-tier Pill Spirit Cranes—his natal magic treasure!

With a sudden, sweeping motion of the crane feather fan, the spirit energy cranes around him, as if receiving a command, surged forward like madmen toward the encroaching black flames.

This was a divine ability perfectly synchronized with his natal magic treasure!

Boom!

Each time a flame flower touched a spirit energy crane, it exploded, engulfing the crane in black demon flame and devouring it completely.

A nearby cultivator trembled as he identified the dark flames:

"That... that's the Spirit Devouring Demon Flame!"

(End of the Chapter)

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