A torrential force boomed out, instantly pulverizing the Demons.

But the hundreds of Demons dissolved into wisps of illusory mist, which fell back into the surging black water, rolled once, and reformed, charging at Gu Changling again.

This was the terror of the "Life-Stealing Calamity Water of All-Encompassing Flow."

At the entry-level, it didn’t show much power. But once one’s Magical Power was profound and their Dao Foundation abstruse, cultivating this technique to Great Success would form a surging black river spanning eight hundred miles.

Within it, nine thousand savage Demons could be raised. Not only could they cultivate on their own by devouring Essence Qi, but they could also shift between solid and illusory states, seeming both real and unreal, passing through anything without hindrance.

Even if one encountered a top-tier True Inheritance disciple from an Ancestral Sect who used fire or Thunder Techniques to counter them, as long as the surging black water wasn’t destroyed, the host of Demons could reform at any moment, making them nearly immortal and indestructible.

Gu Changling’s brow furrowed slightly. His most powerful technique, the "Xuanhuang One Qi Grand Capture," could completely annihilate the surging black water, but Yue Ziqi was no fool and wouldn’t just stand there and take it.

The thoughts of this True Inheritance of Gen Feng shifted, and he seemed to have devised a countermeasure.

The three celebratory clouds above his head suddenly trembled, unleashing a torrential surge of Magical Power. A wisp of turbid yellow smoke shot out, instantly transforming into a massive, sky-blotting hand!

"The Xuanhuang One Qi Grand Capture..."

Atop the giant island, Feng Yuan’s face showed admiration. Such an overwhelmingly powerful and indomitable Daoist Technique could only be executed by someone with immense Magical Power.

"Water is formless and ever-changing. If Gu Changling is truly injured, forcefully using the ’Xuanhuang One Qi Grand Capture’ will only hasten his defeat."

True Master Xuanmiao’s amber eyes widened in apparent confusion.

"Yue Ziqi will surely dodge and avoid the brunt of the attack. If Gu Changling wastes his Magical Power for nothing, he’s likely to be defeated."

But Jiang Yi shook his head.

"Gu Changling is making a last stand. If he keeps trying to maneuver, victory will be difficult. Once his injuries become apparent, he’ll have even less of a chance."

"He’s not using the Xuanhuang One Qi Grand Capture to crush the calamity water..."

Although Jiang Yi’s Realm, status, and Cultivation were inferior, his Divine Sense—attuned to the nature of metal—could perceive the subtlest details. His grasp of the battle far surpassed that of True Master Xuanmiao, and even the other True Inheritance disciples.

BOOM!

A thunderous roar erupted from the Xiangyun Sky. The turbid yellow hand stretched out wantonly, accompanied by a rumbling sound, and enveloped a thousand-mile area!

Yue Ziqi felt the sky above him darken as the pressure suddenly intensified. It was as if there was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide; he could only await his doom.

This turbid yellow hand spanning a thousand miles across the sky was simply inconceivable!

’Just what level of immense Magical Power is needed to unleash such a Daoist Technique?’

Yue Ziqi’s Divine Sense was like a blade, cutting away the fear and hesitation in his heart. He sneered.

"Trying to overwhelm me with raw Magical Power? Gu Changling must be underestimating a True Inheritance disciple of the Taifu Sect!"

He threw himself into the surging black water. The sound of the tide rose to a crescendo as murky waves churned, like mountains crashing and seas rising, his power soaring!

The inky black water spread over an eight-hundred-mile radius. It rolled over mountains, rivers, and vegetation, yet it did not corrode them, remaining in an illusory state as if it did not exist in this world.

"Just as I thought! Junior Brother Yue tricked Gu Changling into using the Xuanhuang One Qi Grand Capture just to make him waste his Magical Power and seize the advantage!"

Sitting on a peak below, Yu Changqing clapped his hands and laughed, thinking that Gu Changling of the Innate Sect was too reckless and his reputation unearned.

"Not necessarily, Junior Brother Yu..."

A hint of worry was visible in Fu Lizi’s eyes. Unlike his other junior brothers and sisters, he had witnessed Gu Changling’s Magical Combat methods before and knew he was no rash or careless fool.

"Fellow Daoist Yue, this match between us will be decided in a single move."

Gu Changling’s face was slightly pale; he could no longer suppress the injuries within his body.

The turbid yellow hand suddenly descended. It didn’t crash down, but instead, its five fingers, each as thick as a mountain peak, abruptly closed!

The atmosphere for a thousand miles around surged violently and Spiritual Energy boiled. The entire world seemed to be compressed into a solid iron plate!

SPLASH! The rushing black water seemed to freeze like a river, no longer able to shift between its real and illusory states.

’This is bad!’

Alarms blared in Yue Ziqi’s mind. He realized Gu Changling wasn’t trying to overwhelm him with Magical Power, but to capture him.

He hastily waved his large sleeves. His dark cloud-patterned robe with a roiling Mang billowed out. The embroidered Mang came to life and flew right off the garment.

This massive Mang inhaled the surging black water, growing ever more savage and vicious, before devouring three thousand Demons raw.

But after it had eaten its fill, it didn’t move to block the turbid yellow hand. Instead, it coiled around Yue Ziqi.

"If I dared to challenge a Fourth Layer with my Third Layer Foundation Establishment, how could I not have a few tricks up my sleeve?"

The three celebratory clouds above Yue Ziqi’s head vibrated violently, sending down a hundred streams of black light that pierced the Mang like long needles, refining all of its blood and Essence Qi and funneling it into his orifices—his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.

In an instant, his eyes shone with a brilliant light. His body became as translucent as jade and harder than metal or stone. His Cultivation aura climbed steadily, and the three celebratory clouds above his head condensed to their limit, slowly giving rise to a fourth.

He had actually broken through to the Fourth Layer of Foundation Establishment at this very moment!

"This True Inheritance of the Taifu Sect is so proficient in ancient Demon Dao Secret Techniques... No wonder he wanted to go down to the Juku Continent."

This time, without True Master Xuanmiao needing to explain, even Jiang Yi could tell that this was a Blood Qi technique from the ancient Demon Dao.

"Now that they’re both at the Fourth Layer of Foundation Establishment, it’s really hard to say who will win or lose."

True Master Xuanmiao stroked his beard and thought to himself,

’When Xiao Jiang reaches the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm, he’ll definitely be stronger and more impressive than them!

’Supreme-grade True Qi, a Primordial Dao Foundation! Hmph, if Zhang Yuansheng hadn’t reached the Golden Position, he might not be Xiao Jiang’s match at the same Realm!’

Jiang Yi was unaware that True Master Xuanmiao had such confidence in him. His eyes were glued to the Dharma Mirror.

After Yue Ziqi broke through to the Fourth Layer of Foundation Establishment, he unleashed his Magical Power. The surging black water erupted, and vast, murky waves rolled across the sky.

For a moment, the sky turned dim and gloomy, and only his black robe could be seen whipping fiercely in the wind.

Yue Ziqi’s Divine Sense shifted, and the Life-Stealing Calamity Water broke through the layers of locks from the Xuanhuang One Qi Grand Capture, splitting into four "tributaries."

They surged forward with immense power. With every flicker of the water’s light, the turbid yellow hand dimmed a little more.

"Fellow Daoist Yue, you are determined to win the Talisman Decree, but unfortunately, I cannot afford to back down either.

"As I said, this match between us will be decided in one move."

There was a hint of self-mockery in Gu Changling’s tone. He then stopped suppressing his injuries and fully channeled the immense Magical Power of the Fourth Layer of Foundation Establishment. A dense, viscous aura flared up, tightly enveloping his body.

’He’s injured?’

Yue Ziqi finally realized that this True Inheritance of Gen Feng was actually injured.

Before he could think further, Gu Changling had pushed his Magical Power to its absolute limit. The air filled with the deafening roar of crisscrossing lightning.

Then, with a flicker of his body, he brazenly charged straight at Yue Ziqi!

’Has he gone mad?! He’s injured and he still wants to clash with me head-on?!’

Gu Changling arrived in an instant, fast as a gale and shocking as lightning, leaving Yue Ziqi no room to dodge. He could only brace himself and meet the attack head-on!

The world fell utterly silent!

A dead silence descended upon the Xiangyun Sky. Only the turbulent aftershocks, with winds racing and clouds rolling, remained, churning the heavens and the earth!

In their wake, the earth’s qi was pulverized, the calamity water disintegrated, and everything was reduced to an empty void!

Before anyone could react, the two figures had already separated.

Yue Ziqi’s clothes were in tatters. His dark cloud-patterned robe with the roiling Mang was shredded beyond recognition, making him look like a beggar.

His entire body had been battered to a pulp. It took seven or eight breaths before the crimson gore slowly began to gather and reform.

His head, shoulders, chest, and abdomen gradually reappeared. A moment later, he was fully restored, standing proudly in the sky.

But upon closer inspection, one could see that Yue Ziqi’s form was faint and tenuous, like a wisp of green smoke that could dissipate at any moment.

The Flying Foundation Establishment Realm was one of Body Transformation and Essence Refining; one no longer possessed a Mortal Body.

Even if their limbs were severed or they were beheaded, as long as their natal Primordial Qi did not disperse, they could expend Magical Power to regenerate.

Jiang Yi then looked at Gu Changling. This True Inheritance of Gen Feng had a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, and he appeared to be only lightly injured, not seriously wounded.

But of the four celebratory clouds floating above his head, two had vanished!

’His Primordial Essence has been damaged...’

Jiang Yi sighed softly. Although this Magical Combat had resulted in mutual injury...

...when comparing their injuries, Gu Changling’s were more severe, so he was naturally considered the loser.

Sure enough, True Monarch Guangzhao Jinghai, acting as the judge, announced the result:

"First battle of the Hongshui Dharma Assembly: Yue Ziqi of the Taifu Sect is victorious."

A bitter look appeared on Gu Changling’s face. He had foreseen this outcome ever since he refused that Yellow Dragon’s Gall.

The patronage of a True Monarch was like a high-interest loan in the mortal world; the interest would only compound.

Whatever you took, you had to pay back double.

Gu Changling forced himself to cup his hands in a salute to Yue Ziqi, then turned and flew out of the Xiangyun Sky.