The void trembled!

The waves of qi surged to the sky!

Black and white lights flashed violently, as if to shatter everything in all directions!

"Eh?"

Uttering a soft sound of surprise, Nie Biao looked astonished. This youngster can actually withstand my palm!

Facing the palm of the Golden Armored Corpse Demon squarely, Qi Xiu remained calm, colors swirling in his eyes, his strong spiritual will oppressively bearing down on Nie Biao as if it were tangible.

"Interesting!" His expression growing more excited, Nie Biao licked his dark lips. His arm swelled as he was about to unleash fierce Vigor, hoping to break Qi Xiu's arm.

But suddenly, he felt an overwhelming, ferocious, and endlessly terrifying suction force burst forth from the palm of this young Daoist.

Star Absorption Skill!

With his fingers slightly bent, Qi Xiu's palm suddenly erupted with a misty radiance. The immense suction force was like a deep abyss, attempting to swallow everything in the world.

"Devouring Heaven Demon Skill?!" With a sharp, piercing scream, countless bone spurs suddenly grew from Nie Biao's fleshy wings, shooting towards Qi Xiu and forcing him to withdraw his palm.

The Sword Wielding Sect helped Qi Xiu block these bone spurs. Noticing Nie Biao's expression, Cheng Junie laughed loudly, "Hahaha, good lad, don't hold back! Suck this Corpse Demon dry!"

"Hmph!" His face turning cold, Nie Biao snorted lightly. He raised his hand and abruptly tore off his own right wrist, breaking free from the entanglement of Qi Xiu's Star Absorption Skill.

Dark, viscous blood dripped onto the ground. Taking a deep breath, Nie Biao's severed right hand grew back in an instant.

"You actually received the inheritance of the Food Demon Sect!" His eyes blazed with greed, a Divine Light erupting in them.

Food Demon Sect!

That was the Demonic Path inheritance that all Demonic Evil Cultivators coveted their entire lives. Their obsession with it even surpassed their desire for the inheritance of the Sky Demon Sect, the foremost among the Ten Demon Sects.

It was just that the Food Demon Sect had disappeared too suddenly back then, leaving behind a very scarce inheritance.

And the techniques this seemingly ordinary young Daoist had just displayed were extremely similar to the Devouring Heaven Demon Skill from the Food Demon Sect's core scripture!

If I could possess that scripture, achieving the Dao Body… no, the Primordial Spirit Realm, would be within reach! For a moment, Nie Biao's gaze on Qi Xiu was so intense it seemed to become viscous, almost physically adhesive.

"Do you really know the Devouring Heaven Demon Skill?" Cheng Junie also looked at Qi Xiu, somewhat incredulous.

But recalling the terrifying suction force from Qi Xiu's palm during their previous exchange, it indeed resembled the legendary Devouring Heaven Demon Skill, capable of swallowing the heavens and devouring the earth, stealing all things to nourish oneself.

"What do you think?" Rolling his eyes at Cheng Junie, Qi Xiu took a step forward, slowly radiating a majestic presence that seemed to command the Ten Thousand Laws, dominate the Great Dao, and was supremely sacred.

As this noble aura spread, the surging and tumultuous Corpse Qi and baleful qi within the Dragon Pond Forbidden Area began to disperse incessantly. No matter how Nie Biao tried to activate them, he couldn't stop their retreat.

It was as if... he had lost control over this Corpse Qi! What's going on? Unable to activate his own Dharma Gates, Nie Biao looked bewildered.

Having cultivated for hundreds of years, he had never encountered such a bizarre situation. Is this Daoist behind it? His gaze fixed on Qi Xiu, Nie Biao's expression was a mixture of alarm and suspicion.

Do the Food Demon Sect's Dharma Gates also have the power to usurp control of another's Dharma Gates?

Having nullified Nie Biao's home-field advantage, Qi Xiu slowly rolled up his sleeves. Commanding the Ten Thousand Laws! This was one of the innate abilities of the Innate Mixed Yuan Holy Body.

The power of this ability lay not only in mastering one's own Dharma Gates. It also allowed one to command the Dharma Gates of others!

However, commanding another person's Dharma Gates consumed an enormous amount of mental energy and True Gang, and his Innate Mixed Yuan Holy Body had only just been formed. The ability to command the Ten Thousand Laws was still nascent.

Dispelling outwardly projected Dharma Gates like the Corpse Qi was already his limit. Forcibly seizing control of another's Dharma Gates would likely only be possible after his Innate Mixed Yuan Holy Body reached Minor Achievement.

"What are you doing?" Seeing Qi Xiu rolling up his sleeves, Cheng Junie asked dubiously.

"Fighting!"

Before his words fell, Qi Xiu suddenly turned into an afterimage, wrapped in a fierce wind, and swiftly moved to appear right in front of Nie Biao.

So fast! The sheer speed of his physical body startled Nie Biao. This young Daoist's physique is in no way inferior to mine. Could it be… even stronger?!

Black Sand Great Palm Print!

Unleashing a martial art he had learned more than a decade ago, Qi Xiu fiercely struck out with a palm. Vigor pulsed, the void shimmered with vibrant colors, and a sky-covering barrage of palm imprints materialized, crashing down.

*Golden Armored Protection!*

As the inescapable attack descended, Nie Biao crossed his arms. The armor on his body suddenly erupted with bursts of golden light. Ancient, obscure runes and whispered incantations materialized behind him, coalescing into the image of a towering Corpse King wielding a greatsword, staunchly shielding him.

Colors flared in his eyes as Qi Xiu shouted softly, "Disperse!"

The next instant, Qi Xiu shone dazzlingly bright. Infinite colors radiated, light beamed for tens of thousands of feet. Under this intense and majestic aura, Nie Biao's Golden Armor Protective Technique was forcibly dispersed.

The palm imprints slammed down, shattering the air and spreading ripples of power. It was like heavy mountains crashing onto Nie Biao's body.

"What?!" His eyes bulged, and broken teeth flew from his mouth. Qi Xiu's successive Divine Marvels battered Nie Biao until blood streamed from his orifices, and he roared in agony and rage.

The immense force of those punches and kicks even caused faint cracks to appear on his Exotic Treasure armor.

Innate Mixed Yuan Holy Body! *Innate* means all things in the world can be used by me! *Hunyuan* means commanding the Ten Thousand Laws! And this Holy Body is inherently sacred, possessing extreme suppressive power against all evil spirits and Demons!

Completely unaware of what this Innate Mixed Yuan Holy Body was, Nie Biao found himself utterly incapable of dealing with Qi Xiu's seemingly unstoppable methods. For a time, he was chased into a panicked retreat, scurrying in all directions.

"You Daoist..." His expression ferocious, Nie Biao grew frantic from being chased and was just about to turn and fight Qi Xiu to the death.

But he saw the young Daoist's hands beginning to emanate a misty radiance. That terrifying absorptive force, capable of swallowing heavens and devouring earth, was faintly discernible.

Even from over ten meters away, Nie Biao felt his own blood qi and True Yuan stirring restlessly, as if they were about to be siphoned away from a distance! Not good!

Sensing that Qi Xiu was about to unleash a killing blow, Nie Biao's eyes darted. His body suddenly erupted with a dense, viscous blood mist, which enveloped him and instantly carried him far away at high speed.

Witnessing Nie Biao's escape, Qi Xiu showed no hint of joy. Instead, he immediately turned to Cheng Junie, who was watching with keen interest, and urged in a low voice, "Quick, let's go! Once he figures things out, we won't be able to leave."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Junie immediately came to his senses and dared not delay any further. With a leap, he and Qi Xiu transformed into two streaks of Escape Light, rapidly rushing out of the Dragon Pond Forbidden Area and disappearing from view.

Just seconds after the two had left, a bloody mist Escape Light returned, and a torrent of filthy blood instantly inundated the entire Dragon Pond Forbidden Area. The thick, blood-red fog was harder than Divine Iron, subtly forming a corner of an array that firmly locked down the area.

Nie Biao's expression was grim as he slowly surveyed the now deserted Dragon Pond Forbidden Area. He clenched his sharp fangs so hard they creaked, almost striking sparks.

"Excellent, truly excellent! Courageous and astute, indeed! I, Nie Biao, am hundreds of years old, yet I've been duped by a mere brat!"

Seething with an anger that twisted into a laugh, Nie Biao's eyes flickered. He tapped his armor, and the Treasure-Seeking Rat, its eyes wide, immediately scurried out.

"Can you find them?"

Perched on Nie Biao's shoulder, the Treasure-Seeking Rat gestured wildly and chittered strangely, its golden fur emitting a soft radiance. A Divine Marvel Power spread through the void, transforming into a mysterious force that followed unseen tracks, attempting to lock onto Qi Xiu and Cheng Junie's positions.

「Within the long and complex corridors of the Crystal Palace.」

Qi Xiu lowered his head to examine a piece of shoulder armor in his hand. On it was a map left by the Dragon Demon before its disappearance. The map's destination was a place called the Myriad Dragon Well, which served as the back exit from this Crystal Palace.

"I saw you consistently suppressing that Corpse Demon. Why did you suddenly seem to falter?" Having witnessed Qi Xiu's transformation into the Innate Mixed Yuan Holy Body, Cheng Junie was very curious about this legendary Divine Marvel physique.

Indeed, after his transformation was complete, Qi Xiu had erupted with nearly invincible combat power. He had relentlessly pursued Nie Biao, beating him so badly that Nie Biao fled with his tail between his legs, not daring to pause. Finally, a decisive blow had frightened him off, buying the two of them an opportunity to escape.

"Do you think someone in the Dao-Entering Realm can defeat someone at the Pinnacle of the Blood-Stained Realm?" Glancing at the curious Cheng Junie, and out of consideration for his role as protector, Qi Xiu explained,

"The Innate Mixed Yuan Holy Body is just a physique, not a direct measure of combat power. I've only just completed the transformation, and the various powers of the Holy Body are not yet mature. I was able to suppress Nie Biao for a time because I sacrificed my remaining Dragon Origin to temporarily awaken a portion of the Innate Mixed Yuan Holy Body's power. Now, the Dragon Origin is completely exhausted. If Nie Biao catches up to us, we will both surely die!"

Just as Qi Xiu was explaining this to Cheng Junie, a premonition suddenly arose within him. A golden halo slowly materialized behind his head. Human Path Merit, protecting his body!

Suddenly, a patch of golden mist appeared before him. Within the mist, a Treasure-Seeking Rat, gesturing animatedly and suffused with golden light, was using its innate Divine Marvel to deduce and lock onto their location.

"A Treasure-Seeking Rat... No wonder that Corpse Demon has had such a string of fortuitous encounters. So, he has this Exotic Beast in his possession." Seeing the Treasure-Seeking Rat, Qi Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp glint within them.

The Treasure-Seeking Rat. A legendary Heaven and Earth Spirit Seed. It is innately endowed with the Divine Marvel of seeking good fortune, avoiding calamity, and locating Treasures. Moreover, it possesses the ability of void-walking, allowing it to pass freely through all kinds of materials. Thanks to these talents, Treasure-Seeking Rats are notoriously difficult to capture and kill. Historically, most have lived out their natural lifespans and died of old age.

"Such a pity, for such a fine pet." Shaking his head with a light chuckle, Qi Xiu's gaze sharpened. He suddenly reached into the mist, his hand extending through the void to seize the Heaven and Earth Spirit Seed.

The backlash from the protective Human Path Merit! This was the one danger that the Treasure-Seeking Rat, despite its ability to seek good fortune and avoid calamity, could not foresee. The supreme priority of Human Path Merit far exceeded its innate Divine Marvel. And so today, this Heaven and Earth Spirit Seed... was facing imminent doom!

「Within the Dragon Pond Forbidden Area.」

The Treasure-Seeking Rat, using its Divine Marvel to deduce Qi Xiu's location, suddenly froze. The faint outline of five fingerprints appeared on its smooth, sleek body, as if an invisible hand gripped it tightly.

"What's wrong?" Seeing the Treasure-Seeking Rat's strange behavior, Nie Biao's expression tensed. A violent eruption of blood qi and Corpse Qi burst from him. Dark, icy figures emerged, forming a circle that solidified into an unyielding defense, isolating him within.

But no matter what Nie Biao tried, the Treasure-Seeking Rat's condition continued to deteriorate; its stubby limbs flailed helplessly, to no avail.

"Who is it?! Who in the blazes is it?!" The Treasure-Seeking Rat was his greatest trump card, Nie Biao's most cherished Treasure. It had played an immeasurable role in his journey to this day. Yet now, he could only watch as it was being annihilated by some bizarre power.

Roaring in a berserk fury, Nie Biao's mind was consumed by killing intent. Corpse Qi surged and thrashed like a tidal wave, ravaging the surroundings.

A few seconds later!

The Treasure-Seeking Rat, suspended in mid-air, let out one final, desperate shriek.

POP!

It was brutally crushed into a mist of blood, which then drifted down, settling all over Nie Biao.

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