Feng Yuan’s decisive victory over Yu Changqing was a result that was both unexpected, yet also fit the initial predictions.

Pitting Fire Virtue against Wood Virtue, and armed with a Magical Treasure like the Burning Wood Magic Saber, Feng Yuan held an enormous advantage.

To the onlookers, his victory over Yu Changqing should have been a foregone conclusion.

But no one had anticipated that the True Disciple from the Taifu Sect not only possessed exquisite Merit, but had also quietly used an Earth Virtue Spiritual Object to harmonize with his Wood Virtue, cultivating a profound mystery known as "Earthly Nourishment and Harmony."

His Jia Wood physique was powerful, nourished by Water Qi and fortified by Earth Qi, allowing it to naturally soar over gorges and into the heavens, standing tall and unshakeable.

Even a raging fire could not extinguish the life force of the Jia Wood.

Thus, when the True Disciples of the Innate Sect saw Yu Changqing transform into a sky-piercing tree, they all believed Feng Yuan’s defeat was certain.

No matter how profound his fire techniques were, if he couldn’t fell Yu Changqing’s towering transformed body, it would all be wasted effort, a pointless drain on his strength.

Who would have thought that Feng Yuan seemed to have anticipated this. He used the principle of "fire creating earth" from the Five Elements transformations, and by leveraging the power of the Burning Wood Magic Saber, he damaged Yu Changqing’s foundation and turned defeat into victory!

Qi Cultivation Cultivators couldn’t even begin to comprehend the strategic contest at play. Among the spectators on the giant island, only a handful of True Disciples understood the key move that decided victory and defeat.

"How did Feng Yuan know Senior Brother Yu had cultivated ’Earthly Nourishment and Harmony’? If he hadn’t been prepared, he never would have thought of using ’fire creates earth, scorched earth burns wood’ to break Senior Brother Yu’s ’Sky-Piercing Jia Wood, Radiant and Flourishing’!"

Yue Ziqi, having slightly refined the "Riverflow Jug," stared with a sharp gaze at Feng Yuan as he flew out of the "Thought-Form Heaven." He stated with absolute certainty:

"He must have received guidance from a master!"

Fu Lizi sighed softly.

"Feng Yuan claims the credit belongs to that Daoist Jiang. But he’s merely in Qi Cultivation, how could he perceive the changes in Junior Brother Yu’s Dao Foundation? Only a True Monarch should possess such exquisite insight!"

Xu Wan released a wisp of ethereal mist, which formed a cloud to support Yu Changqing’s staggering body.

Senior Brother Yu’s injuries were even more severe than Yue Ziqi’s. His Dao Foundation was damaged; a light outcome would be the loss of a significant portion of his Merit, while a severe one could cause his Realm to drop, leaving his Life Essence flawed and making it difficult to ever achieve Perfection again.

"Thank you, Junior Sister Xu."

Yu Changqing’s face was ashen, covered in a waxy, sallow sheen. Wisps of qi streamed from his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears, as if he could no longer maintain his physical form.

"I was incompetent and failed to seize the Talisman Decree."

Fu Lizi waved his hand and took a crystalline, emerald-green branch shaped like a qiu-dragon from his sleeve.

"Junior Brother Yu, you’ve already done your best. This loss is not your fault. We can only say that Daoist Jiang has exceptional insight... This is a ’Sweet Dew Branch.’ It has the power to prolong one’s life.

Junior Brother Yu, use it to protect your Dao Foundation. Once we return to the Sect, we can ask a True Monarch to mend the damage."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Fu! I am ashamed to accept this!"

Yu Changqing was immensely grateful. The Sweet Dew Branch was a Foundation Establishment-grade Spiritual Object, created from a blend of Water and Wood Virtues, making it exceedingly rare.

Only someone as prodigiously wealthy as Fu Lizi could produce such an item so casually.

As he absorbed the crystalline, qiu-dragon-like branch into his body, Yu Changqing’s injuries improved in an instant. The agonizing, burning pain in his core subsided greatly.

"For the next match, the Innate Sect will choose their combatant."

Fu Lizi said in a low voice:

"If Yuan Xiao is chosen, Junior Sister Xu, you should just concede. There’s no need to force yourself to fight."

Xu Wan hesitated. "But wouldn’t that mean losing two Talisman Decrees in a row?"

Fu Lizi shook his head.

"Yuan Xiao is formidable in Magical Combat, and he primarily cultivates Metal Virtue. With him, life and death are decided in an instant.

At a Demon Dao Dharma Assembly, there’s no such thing as ’sparing feelings.’ Junior Sister Xu, you have a promising future ahead of you; there’s no need to throw your life away."

Yu Changqing chimed in from the side:

"Among the True Disciples of the Eight Peaks Grotto-Heaven, Yuan Xiao is second only to Gu Changling. Moreover, he has spent years in harsh cultivation of Daoist Techniques at the ’Kangjin Blessed Land.’ Rumor has it he has mastered an ’Instant Kill Grand Technique’ of unrivaled ferocity!

Junior Sister Xu, you’re not skilled in Magical Combat to begin with. It’s better to just forfeit this Talisman Decree."

Fu Lizi nodded.

"The True Monarch sent me to this Hongshui Dharma Assembly with the intention of securing the Talisman Decrees, just in case.

Junior Brother Yue won one, and if I can take another, we can consider our duty fulfilled."

Despite his words, a trace of worry lingered in Fu Lizi’s eyes. He was afraid the Innate Sect’s appetite would prove too large, that they wouldn’t be satisfied so easily.

...

...

「On the giant island, at the Eight Peaks’ garrison.」

Feng Yuan flew out of the "Thought-Form Heaven" and arrived before the Grand Wei Treasure Palace.

"I was fortunate not to fail my mission and did not disappoint you, Daoist."

The many Disciples present were astonished to see Feng Yuan, already a Foundation Establishment True Master, treating a Qi Cultivation Daoist with such reverence.

After all, a True Disciple from an Ancestral Sect was considered a vessel of the Dao, a top figure with the potential to command an entire hall and wield real power.

Furthermore, the Demon Dao Dharma Lineage had always maintained a strict hierarchy; the three great delineations of "ant," "fellow cultivator," and "senior" were stark and clear.

Even though Jiang Yi was to take charge of the Changming Celestial Pond and become the Daoist in name, he had not yet formally ascended to the position, nor had a grand ceremony been held to announce it to the Yanfu world.

Therefore, in the eyes of many, Feng Yuan’s behavior was completely unexpected. ’How could a distinguished True Disciple of Li Peak, the Chief of Punishment of the Central Pivot Hall, so easily bow his head to a Daoist who held the title in name only?’

A smile touched Jiang Yi’s lips as he laughed heartily.

"Brother Feng, you have brought glory to our Sect. Your contribution will be duly noted."

He had learned a great deal from witnessing the Magical Combat between Feng Yuan and Yu Changqing.

In the Foundation Establishment Realm, all Cultivators must comprehend the transformations of the Five Elements and the cyclical generation and suppression among the Five Virtues.

The more deeply one contemplated and comprehended these principles, the more the power of their Daoist Techniques would grow, and the more varied their methods for dealing with enemies would become.

Although Jiang Yi was still at the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer and had yet to begin forging his Dao Foundation, a trace of Shao Yang metal essence, along with his supreme-grade True Qi that contained the profound mysteries of the Five Elements’ transformations, allowed him to see what other Cultivators of his Realm could not. For them, watching Foundation Establishment Magical Combat was like trying to see flowers through a thick fog.

"Without your guidance, Daoist, I’m afraid the one to have their Dao Foundation damaged and suffer a miserable defeat would have been me."

Feng Yuan said as he stepped into the Grand Wei Treasure Palace, cupping his hands in thanks.