Fa Zhen arrived swiftly and departed just as quickly, as if he had never been there at all. Neither Ye Chen nor Su Yuxuan seemed to notice his presence.

"Senior Brother, all the good things along the way, you picked up first. This spiritual fire, it should be mine, right?" Su Yuxuan said, smiling sweetly as she approached Ye Chen.

Ye Chen shook his head, speaking earnestly, "I can give it to you, and then you can take it. If I don't give it to you, you can't just take it!"

Ye Chen hadn't yet decided who to give the spiritual fire to. Even if he were to give it to Su Yuxuan, he would need to possess it first.

A dangerous gleam flickered in Su Yuxuan's eyes.

"Giggle, Senior Brother, you really are domineering. It's truly a pity you're not with our Misty Sect. But, with your strength, aren't you pretending a bit too much?"

After playing these many days, Su Yuxuan's smile faded, and she grew tired of the game. Auras burst forth behind her instantaneously. Streams of blood-red light shot from the auras like a torrential downpour, aiming directly at Ye Chen.

Su Yuxuan was confident. In just three years, she had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining and swept through her sect. There was hardly anyone in her level who could match her. She had even killed a certain Foundation Establishment elder's beloved grandson, and when the elder attacked in a rage, he couldn't defeat her. Though she was gravely injured, the elder also sustained minor injuries.

Su Yuxuan was even confident that, at the cost of her own life, she could severely injure or even kill that Foundation Establishment elder. Being able to trade one for one with a Foundation Establishment cultivator during the Qi Refining phase, she was undoubtedly unrivaled among her peers.

Thus, even though she knew that Ye Chen was the top disciple and the premier successor of Green Cloud Sect, Su Yuxuan was confident she could kill him with a flick of her wrist. To her, Ye Chen was just a slightly interesting person she had met in this dull secret realm. She had been pretending all along, and Ye Chen had actually believed her.

How laughable!

…

Ye Chen immediately executed the Heaven-Destroying Hand. A massive purple-golden palm shot forward, meeting the blood rain Su Yuxuan had unleashed.

To his surprise, however, the Heaven-Destroying Hand, which had never failed him before, disintegrated on contact with the blood rain! The moment the golden palm touched the blood, it was riddled with countless tiny holes, then dissipated entirely.

Ye Chen frowned. This demonic sect's techniques were indeed strange; her blood rain carried a bizarre corrosive power. Under normal circumstances, Ye Chen's Heaven-Destroying Hand could hold its own even against the fiercest sword cultivators—he had once bested Li Xiaoyao with it.

Ye Chen activated the Majestic Heavenly Dragon Shield, summoning a golden barrier. Although Su Yuxuan's techniques were peculiar, Ye Chen observed that her blood rain had already halved in quantity after corroding the Heaven-Destroying Hand. Confident, he believed the Majestic Heavenly Dragon Shield would surely withstand the attack.

Yet once again, Ye Chen was taken aback. As soon as the blood rain struck the shield, it vanished without a trace, as though sinking into the sea, leaving no corrosive mark behind.

Su Yuxuan's expression changed slightly, though she still smiled. "I didn't expect my dear senior brother to know the bald donkey's techniques. Are you planning to become a monk?"

Ye Chen pondered for a moment. "Majestic Heavenly Dragon, strike!"

Raising his hand toward Su Yuxuan, Ye Chen transformed the golden barrier around him into a golden dragon that charged at her. Su Yuxuan's expression shifted. She quickly transformed into a streak of blood and darted aside, narrowly evading the attack. The golden dragon, finding its target out of reach, roared angrily as it circled the sky, unwilling to give up.

Seeing this, Su Yuxuan laughed. This Buddhist technique had a clear flaw. Ye Chen sighed. The Majestic Heavenly Dragon Shield was primarily a defensive technique. While it did have some offensive capabilities, the dragon could not stray far from its caster.

Even so, Ye Chen remained undeterred. Over the past two years, he had never casually given out the spells he bestowed upon female cultivators. Each one was carefully chosen to complement his own abilities, cover his weaknesses, and adapt to various opponents. In addition to the Majestic Heavenly Dragon Shield, he had other Buddhist techniques.

Su Yuxuan's eyes glinted. It didn't matter if Ye Chen knew a Buddhist spell. If she could exhaust his spiritual energy, she would have him at her mercy. "Senior brother, let me try another move on you."

As she spoke, blood pooled at her feet, gradually covering the entire area until it formed a vast blood pool. The pool emitted eerie howls, as though vengeful spirits were ready to burst forth at any moment.

Ye Chen watched the bloody water and smiled faintly. "Such obstinance. Have you not heard the phrase: 'The sea of suffering is boundless, turn back and find the shore'?"

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A golden wheel of light appeared behind him, radiating an infinite glow. The Buddha's light illuminated everything. The moment it touched the blood pool, the blood evaporated like snow under the spring sun. The wailing of the ghosts turned into shrieks before fading entirely.

Furious, Su Yuxuan stomped her foot. Why did Ye Chen know so many Buddhist techniques? She hadn't heard of any Buddhist sects in the Eastern Domain.

"Senior brother, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now," Su Yuxuan announced, knowing she was no match for him. Confident in her speed, she turned into a streak of blood and darted into the distance.

Coincidentally, Ye Chen also had faith in his speed. Seeing her flee, he transformed into a streak of azure light and gave chase. Watching Ye Chen close in from behind, Su Yuxuan hastily threw out two talismans, hoping to buy herself some time. The talismans turned into two blood spirits, clawing their way toward Ye Chen.

Ye Chen smiled faintly, his speed increasing. A golden cord began to form at his fingertips, quickly extending toward Su Yuxuan. The Blood Souls stood no chance against the Golden Light Rope; they evaporated upon contact.

As the Golden Light Rope approached her, Su Yuxuan frantically cast spell after spell, but each was effortlessly deflected by its radiant light. Finally, the rope caught her by the ankle, binding her tightly in an instant.

Looking at the subdued Su Yuxuan, Ye Chen nodded in satisfaction. Moreover, he specifically chose the Tortoise Shell Binding. He used this method with Buddhist techniques, would the Buddha be upset with him? But the Buddha probably wouldn't mind such small matters, would he?

...

Too restraining. Truly, far too restraining. Since entering the world of cultivation, Su Yuxuan had never fought such a stifling battle. She felt as though she was not facing a disciple of the Green Cloud Sect. But rather a damn Buddhist monk.

The variety of spells Ye Chen commanded was truly vast. Most importantly, he seemed to have mastered each technique to perfection. What kind of monster was this?

During the Qi Refining phase, everyone else was busy cultivating; who had the time to master so many techniques so thoroughly? How extraordinary must Ye Chen's comprehension be to achieve this?

As the battle continued, Su Yuxuan's confidence was thoroughly shattered. She had once believed herself unbeatable below the Foundation Establishment stage. Now, she felt she had been rather arrogant before.

Su Yuxuan lay on the ground, somewhat incredulous that she had been reduced to a prisoner so swiftly.

"How is your Buddhist magic so powerful? We don't have any Buddhist forces in the Eastern Domain, do we?"

Despite being captured, Su Yuxuan was calm enough to inquire.

Ye Chen admired his handiwork for a moment before retrieving a specially prepared jade box, designed to contain the spiritual fire. Such boxes were expensive; one cost fifty medium-grade spirit stones. He casually responded, "Taught by Buddha himself!"

Refining spiritual fire was risky, but merely containing it was straightforward.

Efficiently, Ye Chen secured the spiritual fire within the box. Turning back, he saw Su Yuxuan rolling her eyes, clearly finding his answer absurd.

But Ye Chen was not lying; indeed, several apparitions of Buddha had appeared to teach him these techniques during his training. Otherwise, with his own comprehension skills, how could he possibly have mastered so many spells?

Su Yuxuan was about to say something more when both simultaneously turned their heads towards the cave entrance. A head slowly peered in. But as the newcomer saw the situation inside the cavern, his eyes widened in shock.

Ye Chen stood there holding the special jade box, while the demoness Su Yuxuan was bound on the ground by golden ropes. The manner in which the ropes were tied seemed particularly odd.

Fa Zhen hadn't gone far initially. Hearing the commotion of their battle, he had stopped, hoping perhaps both would end up weakening each other. Now seeing the outcome, he was astonished that Ye Chen had managed to defeat Su Yuxuan.

Su Yuxuan was a dominant figure within the demonic sects, definitely not weak. If Ye Chen had beaten her, could he possibly be at his last gasp of strength? This thought made Fa Zhen itch to make a move.

Ye Chen, spotting him, couldn't help but laugh. He reopened the jade box to show the leaping spiritual fire inside and deliberately coughed a couple of times. If Fa Zhen really entertained the idea of stealing it, it would be a perfect opportunity to give him another thrashing.

The Magic Peak lineage had marked false information on the map, wasting much of Ye Chen's time. They deserved a beating! Moreover, his master had always disliked the Magic Peak lineage. Recording another beatdown with the Water Mirror Technique would surely please his master.

Unfortunately for Fa Zhen, while not the strongest, his perception was quite sharp.

"I just heard the sound of the fight and thought to come over to help direct disciple Ye. Since you have already handled it, I'll be leaving first!"

As his words fell, Fa Zhen, sensing that Ye Chen was fishing for an opportunity, took off running again.

Ye Chen merely raised an eyebrow. He could run now, but not forever.

At this year's sect competition, I'll have another chance to deal with him. Once I break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, I'll take on his master as well.

Turning back, Ye Chen noticed Su Yuxuan watching him.

"Senior Brother, the way I'm tied up is uncomfortable; my thighs hurt... Let me go, I can do whatever you want."

Her words, paired with her innocent yet seductive expression and the restless shaking of her feet, were indeed veins throbbing.

However, Ye Chen didn't react at all. After all, how could a woman like Su Yuxuan simply admit defeat? One lapse in vigilance and the tables could turn.

Ye Chen wasn't about to let his guard down and give her a chance. Moreover, Ye Chen still had an important decision to make! And that was: who should receive the spiritual fire?

"Su Yuxuan, do you know how to refine pills or craft weapons?"

Su Yuxuan looked puzzled but shook her head without hesitation. She had only been cultivating for three years; where would she find the time to learn these arts?

Ye Chen nodded and continued: "What were you planning to do with the spiritual fire you tried to take from me?"

Su Yuxuan responded straightforwardly: "I was going to sell it to those elders, of course. The Green Stone Fire conflicts with my Blood Spiritual Root; unless I can find a rare flame like the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, it's useless to me. But spiritual fire is rare, and even a third-grade one could definitely be exchanged for a Thousand Souls Human Emperor Banner with a mid-stage Foundation Establishment main soul!

"You know, Senior Brother, I've only been cultivating for three years, and I don't have time to refine these magic tools, so I momentarily grew greedy. Senior Brother, I realize my mistake now; I was too vain! From now on, I'll only take what Senior Brother gives me. I absolutely won't dare to take what you don't give. Senior Brother, please let me go..."

Su Yuxuan's plea was pitiful. But Ye Chen remained unmoved. After hearing Su Yuxuan's words, he made up his mind…

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