"Control!" The azure aura on Xuanbei transformed into a blue serpent, suddenly sweeping forward, tightly enveloping Qing Xuan's entire body, greedily absorbing Qing Xuan's power.

"No, Xuanbei..."

Quiet Mountain Stream—no one knew what was happening here.

"Xuanbei, spare me..."

"Master, I'm forced into this. I didn't want to do it; you forced me into this, forced me…"

The final voice was almost a roar.

A crimson blood energy, like writhing worms, floated across Xuanbei's face, strands of red coursing beneath his skin, horrific and bizarre, exuding a menacing aura.

"I grew up with no father or mother and treated you as a father, but you sought to strip me of everything, take my Treasure Body. Today, all of this is forced by you. You taught me the rule of survival of the fittest…"

Xuanbei roared, his azure aura bursting forth. The skin areas not covered by clothes turned emerald green like jade, his body becoming transparent like crystal, appearing as if sculpted from glass jade.

"Xuanbei..."

Qing Xuan's eyes widened, his face contorted in pain, muscles quivering as the power accumulated over hundreds of years of cultivation was continuously drawn from his body—pain unimaginable to the average person.

As centuries-worth of power was siphoned away, Qing Xuan's once vital muscles and skin began to dry and wither instantaneously, turning from a thriving tree to a dead wood.

The once inky hair from the top of his head gradually transformed inch by inch into silver-white.

"The feeling of power is truly irresistible!" Xuanbei clenched his fists, flashes of sharp light flickered in his eyes, gaze fixated on his own fists. His body seemed to contain endless power; the energy-rich sensation gave him immense satisfaction, turning the menace on his face into a greedy expression of enjoyment.

Finally, the azure serpent wrapping around Qing Xuan slowly faded between heaven and earth. Feeling the binding loosen, Qing Xuan collapsed to his knees, dry palms pressing against the cold stone, his current visage reflected in the water surface.

"No, my power… my cultivation..."

Staring at his reflection in the water, with disheveled hair and skeletal form, resembling an old man in his twilight years, a wave of profound sorrow surged through Qing Xuan's heart.

"My Realm has consecutively advanced by two levels, reaching late-stage Condensation." Xuanbei squeezed his fists, unable to disguise the excitement and thrill on his face, then looked at Qing Xuan, "Thank you, Master." "Late-stage Condensation, coupled with my Green Origin Body, in the Golden Secret Realm Trial, I shall certainly emerge as the genius disciple of Mystic Realm Sect." Xuanbei released his fists, hands clasped behind his back, observing Qing Xuan kneeling before him, a mysterious smile curling on his lips, "Master, did you not say that the cosmos is vast and holds the secrets of immortality? That shall be where I, Xuanbei, shall expand my horizons and fulfill my ambitions."

"However, I won't kill you, no matter what, you are still my Master."

As Xuanbei spoke, he extended his right palm, in its center gathering a cluster of azure light, radiating a life-force-bolstered light, enveloping Qing Xuan. In an instant, Qing Xuan's hair began to revert to black, skin began to fill, muscles, bones, and meridians seemed to regain vitality.

"Master, though you've lost your strength, you can still live for decades more; enjoy the rest of your life. However, from now on, Qingxuan Sect is under my control!"

Under my control...

Under my con...

Xuanbei's laughter echoed in the valley, while his figure became indistinct, as if clouds swept by the wind, vanished from sight.

"Xuanbei, in the Golden Secret Realm, I sincerely hope Lin Mo can kill you!"

Qing Xuan knelt on the ground, pounding the solid stone with a fierce punch, blood running along the stone surface, flowing into the clear, cold pool water.

Qingxuan Sect Grand Hall.

"What's going on?"

"Suddenly calling for a meeting..."

"I don't know either, Master didn't mention this matter."

On the square platform of Qingxuan Sect's residence, numerous disciples gathered, discussing in low voices.

The Qingxuan Sect is segmented into the Sect Master, protectors, core disciples, and disciples, and at this moment, Qingxuan Sect's seven protectors had all assembled in the grand hall.

"Brother Xuanbei, I don't know why the Sect meeting is suddenly convened, is it Master's will?"

In the hall, Xuanbei sat at the head position, below stood seven protectors of Qingxuan Sect, all possessing Innate Stage strength, displaying faces of bewilderment.

"Master is going into seclusion, from today all Qingxuan Sect's affairs will be temporarily under my proxy."

Xuanbei casually stated, his gaze like lightning, sweeping across the faces of the seven protectors, containing a hint of coldness.

"Why hasn't Master informed us about the seclusion?"

"I haven't heard anything about Master going into seclusion either."

"Such an important matter should be announced personally by Master."

All seven fumed, voicing objections, albeit collectively Qing Xuan's disciples, despite lacking the power to rival Xuanbei, they held protector roles within the Sect.

"Oh, you all don't quite trust my words?"

A wicked grin rose on the corner of Xuanbei's lips, his right palm emitting azure radiance, which quickly transformed into a massive azure claw, engulfing the entire body of a man who had spoken up, and slowly lifted off the ground, "Protector Wang, do you disagree with my words?"

"Xuanbei, what exactly are you up to? Don't think that just because your strength is greater than ours, you can—"

"Poof!"

But before he could finish his sentence, the azure claw enveloping him abruptly constricted, bones subjected to immense external pressure, cracking with resounding snaps as his body twisted and deformed—he spat a mouthful of blood, his complexion turning ashen.

"Those who oppose me face a single fate…"

Xuanbei's eyes revealed an intense malice, the green glow suffused across the azure claw erased Protector Wang's soul.

The azure claw faded, Wang's lifeless body slumped to the ground.

The remaining six looked at each other, faces twisted in fear.

"Does anyone else have objections to my words?" Xuanbei retracted the azure claw, stood up, looking down at the six.

Thud...

Heads bowed, the six dropped to one knee, "Senior Brother's command is as Master's command!"

"Haha, those who recognize the situation are outstanding." Xuanbei laughed heartily.

"You six may leave. Without my command, do not disturb my cultivation."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

They bowed and began to retreat, cold sweat already dyeing each person's forehead.

"Defy me and perish, comply and prosper!"

Xuanbei stared at the corpse in the hall, a fireball incinerating it to ashes. "Lin Mo, I'm waiting for you in the Golden Secret Realm, and those geniuses aiming to compete with me for the Mystic Realm Sect disciple slots—I'm looking forward to you as well."

Lan Country.

A seemingly ordinary farmhouse courtyard situated amid mountain wilderness, surrounded by bamboo fences, nestled in serene, picturesque scenery—an ideal place for seclusion.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.