At the center of the battlefield in Hidden Moon Lake Creek Valley, the three Profound Origin Sect Disciples finally completed their formation.

"Qian position!"

"Kun position!"

"Xun position!"

"Spirit Condensing Shape Locking Formation! Rise!"

As the formation Disciples chanted in unison, three golden spiritual lights condensed into threads, forming a triangle above the lake water, and a faint barrier instantly formed.

Perhaps feeling its active space shrinking, the fish Demon Beast struggled even more fiercely, its massive Demon Beast body constantly crashing into the barrier.

But no matter how it collided with the barrier, the three golden rainbow lights remained motionless.

"Lock shape!"

The three Cultivators of Profound Origin Sect shouted in unison.

Buzz—

The confining formation, made of golden rainbow lights, suddenly vibrated at one instant, emitting a hum, and then, the three rainbow lights each split into three smaller golden threads, gradually contracting and rotating towards the center.

"Bang—"

The fish Demon Beast let out a mournful cry, struggling even more violently, splashing waves in the cold lake.

The Spirit Condensing Shape Locking Formation was not over; golden triangular spiritual threads continuously contracted, one after another, until they pressed against the fish Demon Beast’s Demon Beast body.

In a short moment, the head, body, and tail of the crucian carp Demon Beast were each locked by a golden spiritual ring.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, if you don’t act now, I’m afraid you’ll have wasted the hard work of your three Profound Origin Sect juniors..."

Chai Yanghui pointed with a spiritual finger; the azure jade Talisman transformed into a stream of light, returning to his pouch, and he looked coldly at Wang Xi.

He and Lu Ziye were not fools to be easily deceived; they both knew exactly how much effort Wang Xi had put in during this intense battle.

Chai Yanghui originally didn’t want to expose him, as it’s better to avoid trouble, and Profound Origin Sect was not a Sect their Spirit Talisman Sect could afford to provoke. But now, the battle had dragged on for too long, and some Disciples from the three Sects had already sustained injuries.

Such a simple investigation mission was fine for giving these new Disciples some practice, but if it resulted in fatalities, it would be completely worthless.

"Hahahahaha, no need for Senior Brother Chai to remind me, my Earth Collapse Mountain Shocking Spell is just in time!"

Wang Xi’s palm glowed with earthy yellow spiritual light, and then he made a grasping motion.

Boom!!!

Pure spiritual power condensed into an earthy yellow sphere, and a powerful suction drew rocks and earth from around Hidden Moon Lake Creek Valley.

Wang Xi’s fingertips blazed with spiritual light, transforming several more spiritual powers into gravel and earth.

In just a few breaths, a small inverted mountain condensed above the fish Demon Beast, its peak pointing downwards, directly at the fish Demon Beast’s head.

"Gah—"

The fish Demon Beast seemed to sense danger and struggled even more fiercely.

"Fall!"

Driven by spiritual power, the small mountain crashed down, smashing the fish Demon Beast from above Hidden Moon Lake and sinking it into the lake water, splashing a burst of water... Before long, the surface of the lake began to turn red, as the Demon Beast’s blood stained Hidden Moon Lake.

Chai Yanghui’s brow finally relaxed. After a Spirit Listening Spell investigation, the Demon Beast was lifeless. He didn’t hesitate and quickly flew down to check on the injuries of the Spirit Talisman Sect Disciples.

...

Wang Xi gave Chai Yanghui a deep look, then said in a clear voice.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoists, for your assistance. Now that the Demon Beast has been slain, please rest nearby for a while. In a moment, you can return to the Valley with me to report."

Everyone in the Valley obeyed, dispersing to meditate and heal their wounds.

Wang Xi’s Cultivation Realm was not actually the highest here. Not to mention Lu Ziye, Chai Yanghui had already been in Level 9 Qi Refining Realm for several years and should be about to reach Qi Refining Perfection Realm.

However, Profound Origin Sect was the overlord of the Cultivation World in Chu State, and moreover, Jiran Valley was first discovered and spearheaded by Profound Origin Sect. Therefore, tasks related to Jiran Valley were naturally led by Profound Origin Sect Disciples.

Wang Xi waved his sleeve, and the three Profound Origin Sect Disciples who had set up the formation earlier went to meditate on their own.

Shen Huai gave a meaningful look, and she and Wang Xi walked into the deep forest.

Among the meditating Disciples of Spirit Talisman Sect, Wan Songran, who had been paying attention to the Profound Origin Sect Disciples, narrowed his eyes. Not injured at all, he also found a spot and slowly closed his eyes... The soundproofing formation activated.

Shen Huai said coldly, "Killing a fish Demon Beast doesn’t require such a large formation... Senior Brother Wang."

"Since when have you dared to dictate to me..."

Wang Xi’s expression was indifferent: "Just do your own thing..."

"Hmph..."

Shen Huai snorted coldly, then began to list information about the Disciples of various Sects: "Chai Yanghui, Level 9 Qi Refining, with one foot already in Level 10 Qi Refining."

"Besides that Azure Jade Spiritual Screen Talisman, he should have another special Talisman, but I haven’t been able to discern anything from just one battle."

"He only used some wood-element Spells just now, but his true main Cultivation Technique should be fire-element."

"In addition, he should have an offensive Spiritual Artifact, but its specific type and attribute cannot be detected. No signs of a Spiritual Pet."

"Lu Ziye, Level 9 Qi Refining, just Broke Through no more than three months ago, no signs of a Spiritual Pet, no signs of a powerful Spiritual Artifact... Besides what’s openly displayed, he has nothing; very ordinary."

"Hmph... Poor and stupid, Cave Abyss Sect Disciples are always like this."

Wang Xi sneered.

For those in the know, this joint mission was not just about Profound Origin Sect extorting several Spiritual Veins and several apology treasures from Spirit Talisman Sect and Cave Abyss Sect.

It was also an opportunity to gather information on the Inner Sect Disciples of both Sects.

In three years, it would be the grand event of the Cultivation World in Chu State, the Dragon Pool Mountain Nine Pulses Grand Competition.

Various Sects were very ’concerned’ about the situation of Inner Sect Disciples and direct Disciples of other Sect Leaders.

"I wonder if Elder Shen is ready."

"That Secret Realm was originally going to appear, but Elder Shen used a Spiritual Artifact to barely control it."

"But he can only delay its opening for a few days. When the Secret Realm appears, besides Chai Yanghui and Lu Ziye, it’s impossible to specify who gets pulled in and who stays outside."

"Then let’s just kill them all. Didn’t you also pick a scapegoat from the Spirit Talisman Sect?"

"What was his name again?"

"Wan Songran, from the Wan Family of Danyang Prefecture, Chen Prefecture."

Shen Huai said, "That person should be carrying a secret treasure of the Wan Family. What it is, is still unclear."

"Among the Cave Abyss Sect Disciples, besides Gu Qingqing, Shao Sichao and Tang Lin are both acceptable; it doesn’t necessarily have to be Song Yan."

Wang Xi waved his hand, not wanting to hear her ramble anymore: "Then we’ll say that the Disciples of Cave Abyss Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect, seeing me injured and my spiritual power depleted, intended to kill me and seize my treasures, but I fought back fiercely, and they all perished..."

"My Cultivation Foundation was damaged, and it will take three to five years to recover..."

Shen Huai nodded: "Then you’ll need to have some injuries on you at that time."

Wang Xi frowned: "Is it really necessary? I’ll just return to the Sect for secluded cultivation and not show my face."

He genuinely found it too troublesome.

"If you’re going to put on a show, do it completely. Besides, I’m just relaying Elder Shen’s words; whether you do it or not is up to you."

"The Secret Realm will only exist for half an hour, and the exit is not something Elder Shen can determine, but it won’t exceed the scope of Chu State."

Shen Huai casually removed the soundproofing Talisman, not looking back.

...

Wang Xi snorted coldly, not caring about the dissipation of the soundproofing formation: "If those two can be found immediately, ten breaths of time will be enough."

...Among the Spirit Talisman Sect Disciples, Wan Songran, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, a layer of cold sweat on his forehead.

He stood up, wanting to walk towards Jiran Valley.

"Hmm? Songran, where are you going?"

Chai Yanghui had just finished imparting Cultivation Technique to an injured Spirit Talisman Sect Disciple and was about to ask Wan Songran if he was injured, but saw him looking hurried, wanting to return to the Valley.

"Uh... Senior Brother, I’m not injured, so I’ll head back to the Valley first."

"Junior Brother Zhang Quan is still meditating. Wait a moment, and we’ll return to the Valley together."

...

Wan Songran’s heart sank.

"Yes."

He knew very well what kind of person Chai Yanghui was—chivalrous and helpful—but at this moment, he couldn’t help but curse him for being nosy.

He could, of course, tell him the situation, but explaining where he obtained the information would be too troublesome.

If he lied, it would be full of holes and only arouse suspicion.

If he told the truth, his treasure would be known to others, which was absolutely unacceptable.

Buzz—

As he hesitated, a strange "electric light" suddenly appeared above Hidden Moon Lake, buzzing loudly. All the Cultivators in Hidden Moon Lake Creek Valley heard it clearly.

"So fast?"

Wan Songran secretly thought it was bad.

Boom—

Before the Cultivators could react, the "electric light" suddenly expanded, turning into a crack that spanned the sky.

Space crack?

"What?"

Chai Yanghui and Lu Ziye stood up almost simultaneously.

"All Disciples, listen to my command."

"Return to Jiran Valley immediately."