Infuriated, Yang Lian formed a hand seal. A vermillion smoke shot up from the crown of his head like a signal flare, rising ceaselessly. Its presence was worlds apart from when he had cast the spell moments before. As the roiling smoke descended into the sea of fire, it was like pouring oil on a raging blaze, and the flames swelled with incredible ferocity.

’Not good!’ The moment Xuzhuang saw Yang Lian channel his technique, he realized something was wrong. He recognized the vermillion smoke—it was Pill Fiend, also known as "Pill Power." As the name suggested, this was the foundational power of a cultivator’s Golden Core.

Although this Pill Power was infinitely mighty and versatile, even using it lightly would expend a portion of it, which then had to be painstakingly cultivated back. Using it heavily could damage the very foundation of one’s Golden Core and harm future cultivation. For this reason, unless their Golden Core had reached a certain level of mastery, Golden Core Cultivators would not rashly draw upon their Pill Power.

Supported by the Boundless Pill Power, the Five-Clawed Flame Dragon immediately began to expand as if without limit. Its boundless fiery might radiated a blinding light. Within its burning head, two eyes became faintly discernible, as if it were about to gain sentience.

The same Spell could have vastly different power when cast by cultivators of different realms. Even among those of the same realm, or when cast by the same cultivator under different circumstances, the results were often starkly different. Now empowered by Pill Power, the Five-Clawed Flame Dragon’s might surged with every movement. It showed no signs of injury when struck by Xuzhuang’s sword light. Coiling its long body, it circled to shield Yang Lian within its coils, then swiped a claw toward Xuzhuang.

Xuzhuang had anticipated that Yang Lian would brazenly use his Pill Power. He quickly swerved, riding his escape light in an arc to dodge the Five-Clawed Flame Dragon’s attack. Though his dodge was timely, the dragon’s claw merely brushed past him, yet the resulting gale was like a heavy hammer, causing his protective spiritual light to flicker. The surging fiery power left Xuzhuang with a searing sensation, both inside and out.

’What a powerful Divine Technique. I underestimated this Five-Clawed Flame Dragon.’ Alarm bells rang in Xuzhuang’s mind. An opponent with a Top-grade Golden Core was indeed nothing like the enemies he had faced before. ’I was too arrogant.’

But Xuzhuang was not the type to dwell on regret. As he dodged another of the Five-Clawed Flame Dragon’s attacks, his mind raced, and he cast his emotions aside to think calmly.

’I’ve only just formed my Golden Core. My reserves are insufficient, and I haven’t mastered many of my techniques. Yang Lian, on the other hand, achieved his Golden Core long ago. I don’t know if his cultivation has reached the point of perfection where he can use his Pill Power freely, but I definitely can’t win a battle of attrition against him. Who knows what other techniques or Magical Artifacts he has yet to reveal? I can’t drag this out any longer. I must go all out and try to end this in one fell swoop. That’s my only path to victory.’

Having made his decision, Xuzhuang hesitated no longer. He silently activated his Golden Core, channeled his Pill Fiend, and for the first time, unleashed the foundational power that Golden Core masters relied upon to dominate the world.

"Hah!" A stream of mist suddenly rose from the crown of Xuzhuang’s head. In an instant, it stretched for hundreds of feet and coiled toward the Five-Clawed Flame Dragon.

ROAR! With a world-shaking cry of fury, the impossibly arrogant Five-Clawed Flame Dragon was ensnared by the mist. No matter how it struggled, its flames billowed violently, but its body could not move an inch.

Only then did it become clear. The thing that had ensnared the flame dragon was no mist at all—it was a massive hand! Corporeal yet colorless, its lines and texture were distinct. Its five fingers clamped down, seizing the furiously thrashing dragon as easily as if it were pinching an earthworm.

"Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture!"

Tai Su: the beginning of substance, before form is achieved.

The name "Tai Su" refers to one of the "Five Greats of the Primordial Era" in Daoist cosmology—the five stages before the creation of heaven and earth. It represents the state of the primal universe as tangible, substantive matter that had not yet coalesced into distinct bodies. This concept was both the origin of the Tai Su Orthodox Sect’s lineage and the foundation of its three great true transmissions.

The Tai Su Orthodox Sect had passed down its teachings for millennia, and its three true transmissions were renowned throughout the world. Even the most obscure, unorthodox Loose Cultivators knew of their formidable reputation!

These three true transmissions were, respectively:

The *Tai Su Qi Scripture*, which emphasized substance over form. Its practitioners wielded boundless Magical Power, capable of shaking mountains, grasping the moon, and manipulating the heavens and earth.

The *Tai Su True Form Scripture*, which emphasized form over substance. Its practitioners’ Magical Power was nimble and ever-changing, capable of endless transformations.

The *Scripture of Tai Su’s Formless and Substantial Sword Qi*, a unique path. When cultivated to a profound level, one could freely shift their Sword Qi between form and formlessness, substance and substancelessness. When its form and substance were concealed, it became shadowless, shapeless, and untraceable. When its substance was pushed to the extreme, it could sever space, dam rivers, level mountains, and cleave seas.

The Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture was the signature Divine Technique of the *Tai Su Qi Scripture*. Once one mastered this Supreme Divine Technique, they could pluck stars from the sky, move mountains and shift seas, capture dragons and tame tigers—all of it would be a simple matter!

The moment Xuzhuang struck, Yang Lian cursed inwardly. Xuzhuang’s earlier attacks had been a display of Unparalleled Swordsmanship, with Sword Qi that boomed like thunder and split into countless rays of light. Because of this, Yang Lian had assumed Xuzhuang was a Sword Dao Cultivator just like Yue Junlan, one who cultivated the *Scripture of Tai Su’s Formless and Substantial Sword Qi*. Caught completely off guard, he could only watch as his Five-Clawed Flame Dragon was seized!

Xuzhuang knew full well that since he had only just formed his Golden Core, he didn’t dare mobilize a large amount of Pill Power. He had only managed to capture the dragon—which Yang Lian had infused with vast Pill Power—by catching his opponent off guard. It would break free in a few breaths at most. Therefore, he had to use this brief window of opportunity to secure his victory.

Yang Lian was no fool; he understood this after a moment’s shock. Both men knew the critical moment that would decide the victor had arrived. Xuzhuang had already seized the initiative. Freed from the Five-Clawed Flame Dragon’s entanglement, six streaks of sword light traced perfect, intersecting arcs through the air. The Sword Qi was chilling, radiating palpable killing intent.

Although Yang Lian reacted a split-second late, he knew that he only needed to defend against this sudden assault. In a few breaths, his Five-Clawed Flame Dragon would break free, and he could instantly reverse the situation and turn defeat into victory. Thus, Yang Lian did not panic. With no grand gestures, several Magical Artifacts shot out from within his billowing, crimson Daoist Robe to intercept Xuzhuang’s sword light.

He did not make the foolish choice of using a defensive Magical Artifact or Magical Robe for comprehensive protection. Although Xuzhuang wasn’t a dedicated Sword Cultivator, he possessed a sword pellet and his Swordsmanship was superb. Such a cultivator’s offensive power was their greatest strength; they specialized in using a single point of attack to shatter a wide defense. Unless one possessed a top-tier magic treasure, it would be nearly impossible to block them directly!

’But by using my own Magical Artifacts,’ he thought, ’I don’t need to completely block his assault. I just need to entangle him for a moment.’ Believing victory was in his grasp, Yang Lian couldn’t help but let a small smile form on his lips.

This was a straightforward plot, and of course, Xuzhuang was not ignorant of Yang Lian’s intentions. The corners of his own lips curled up slightly.

The six streaks of sword light tore through the sky toward Yang Lian. Several different Magical Artifacts shot up, positioning themselves for a precise interception. But then, the six sword streaks suddenly flickered and vanished into nothingness, disappearing from Yang Lian’s sight. The space above, below, and all around was utterly empty. Only Yang Lian’s Magical Artifacts were left hovering in mid-air, seemingly lost and confused.

Shadowless, shapeless, traceless, markless... Formless Sword Qi!

’The *Scripture of Tai Su’s Formless and Substantial Sword Qi*!’ As the name flashed through his mind, Yang Lian felt his very soul try to flee his body in terror. In the next instant, the six streaks of Sword Qi materialized all around him.

’Xuzhuang! He’s clearly a practitioner of the *Tai Su Qi Scripture*—the Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture is undeniable proof! So how can he also use Formless Sword Qi? It should be impossible to cultivate two fundamental scriptures at the same time!’

With no time to think, Yang Lian let out a furious roar. A brilliant point of spiritual light rose from the crown of his head. Perfectly round and blazing with radiant light, it was none other than his natal Golden Core!

A Heaven-Filling Pill Fiend billowed forth, enveloping his entire body. The next moment, the six streaks of sword light slashed down upon it!

CRACK!

A cracking sound that didn’t truly exist seemed to echo through the void. Blood poured from all seven of Yang Lian’s orifices at once. The light of his Golden Core instantly dimmed, revealing several terrifying cracks on its surface. His Perfect Golden Core was now damaged.

At this critical moment, Yang Lian instead became completely calm, displaying the mental fortitude befitting a true disciple. The instant his Golden Core blocked the fatal blow, he suppressed the soul-tearing agony that was ripping through his body and spirit. His dim, lightless Golden Core struggled to rotate once more, and his entire body transformed into a streak of flame that shot toward the sky. He had fled without a single glance back.

’A clever trick! But it’s too late to run now.’ Xuzhuang hadn’t expected that even such a devastating blow wouldn’t finish the job, allowing Yang Lian to narrowly escape death. However, he was not in the habit of letting his enemies get away. He immediately mounted his sword light and gave chase.