129: Li Yi's unexpected encounter while mediating a fight and seizing treasure.

Just as Jiang Yan and Heartless arrived at the Honey Shrub Forest area, a major battle between the Dao Yun Sect and the Qing Tian Sect was on the verge of breaking out.

Seeing the two Sects fighting tooth and nail over two supreme treasures, Jiang Yan and Heartless quickly hid to the side, fearing they might get splashed with blood.

“Tsk tsk tsk... This Dao Yun Sect truly lives up to its reputation as one of the three major Sects. This Aura, these methods—they really aren't something these small Sects can compare to,” Jiang Yan commented while munching on melon seeds.

Heartless nodded in deep agreement, casually taking out a gourd and sipping some pre-filled tea.

“Looking at the situation, the Qing Tian Sect is going to lose. Are we still participating in this wave?”

Jiang Yan narrowed his eyes, observing the battlefield closely: “No rush, let them fight a bit longer...”

Before he could finish his sentence, the situation on the battlefield changed abruptly!

The Qing Tian Sect Elder suddenly sacrificed an ancient token, and the two golden words 'Qing Tian' on the token shone brilliantly.

“Not good! It's the Qing Tian Command!”

The people from the Dao Yun Sect's expressions changed drastically as they hastily retreated. The token swelled against the wind, transforming into a hundred-zhang giant seal that crashed down with a roar!

“Boom!”

As the earth shook and the mountains trembled, the Dao Yun Sect's defensive array shattered instantly, and over a dozen Disciples were sent flying while spitting blood.

The many Sects watching this great battle were shocked. No one expected that the Qing Tian Sect would actually be driven to such fury that they would bring out their Sect's supreme treasure to smash people!

Seeing this, Heartless's tea gourd fell to the ground with a 'clatter': “This... is this going to be a turnaround?”

Jiang Yan was also shocked, but in the next moment, he revealed a devious smile: “Isn't this just perfect!”

He quickly pulled out a stack of Talismans from his robe and stuffed half of them into Heartless's hands: “Monk, in a moment you go save the Dao Yun Sect people, and I'll go ‘help’ the Qing Tian Sect...”

Heartless understood. With hands pressed together, he silently chanted a Buddhist name, and the two of them flew toward their respective sides simultaneously.

“Fellow Daoists of the Qing Tian Sect, do not panic! The Qingyun Sect is here to assist!”

“Seniors of the Dao Yun Sect, be careful! The Dragon Elephant Temple has come specifically to act as Protector!”

The Cultivators from various Sects hiding in the shadows were dumbfounded: “You can even operate like this?!”

But seeing only one person appear from the Qingyun Sect and one from the Dragon Elephant Temple, the Disciples of both Sects were completely bewildered.

“This Fellow Daoist is...?”

A Dao Yun Sect Disciple looked at the suddenly appearing Heartless with a face full of confusion.

Heartless pressed his hands together with a solemn and dignified expression: “Amitabha. This humble monk is Heartless, the Buddha-Son of the Dragon Elephant Temple, here specifically to lend the Dao Yun Sect a helping hand.”

After saying that, he waved his large sleeve, and over a dozen Golden Light Talismans flew out, forming a protective barrier around the Dao Yun Sect members.

On the other side, Jiang Yan had already flashed into the Qing Tian Sect camp and said with righteous indignation: “Jiang Yan of the Qingyun Sect, here specifically to help the Qing Tian Sect eliminate demons and defend the Dao!”

The light of a sword flashed in his hand as his Spirit Treasure longsword erupted with startling Sword Qi, pointing directly toward the Dao Yun Sect.

“Boom!”

The Sword Qi crisscrossed, but it skillfully avoided all the Dao Yun Sect Disciples, only carving a deep trench into the ground to separate the two factions.

The people from both Sects were stunned, momentarily unable to tell if these two who had suddenly popped up were friends or foes.

“Fellow Daoists,” Jiang Yan suddenly raised his voice, his face full of righteousness, “We are all Cultivators of the Righteous Path, why kill each other over mere treasures? Why not listen to a word from me...”

He shot a look at Heartless.

Heartless immediately understood and pulled out two 'reconciliation agreements' from his sleeve, smiling: “Why not leave these items to a third party for temporary safekeeping, and wait until we exit the Secret Realm to distribute them? What do you think?”

The Disciples of the Dao Yun Sect and Qing Tian Sect looked at each other. They felt something was off, but both sides were indeed heavily exhausted, and this was indeed a solution.

“Good! On behalf of the Qing Tian Sect, I agree.” Without waiting for the Qing Tian Sect Elder to nod, Jiang Yan immediately agreed on his behalf.

“Amitabha, Benefactor is most kind.” Heartless pressed his hands together and quickly added the finishing blow, “Since that is the case, let both sides sign the agreement.”

The two Sect Elders were dizzily pressed into leaving their handprints by the duo. Heartless and Jiang Yan glanced at each other and immediately stepped forward; one took the 'Nine Treasure Ring Blade' from the Dao Yun Sect, and the other collected the 'Xuantian Seal' from the Qing Tian Sect.

Then... the two of them said in unison to everyone: “Thank you for your trust, Fellow Daoists!”

As their voices fell, they turned into two streaks of light and instantly vanished into the horizon!

The people from both Sects stood frozen on the spot, only reacting after a long while... “Were we... just scammed?!”

“Damn it, catch those two little brats!”

“Chase them! After them!”

The Elders of the Dao Yun Sect and Qing Tian Sect were fuming with rage, leading their Disciples in a frantic pursuit. But after only a few steps, the ground suddenly glowed with white light.

“Boom!”

The ground suddenly exploded as dozens of 'Labyrinth Talismans' detonated simultaneously, and thick smoke instantly obscured the entire battlefield.

When the smoke cleared, where was there any sign of Jiang Yan and Heartless?

“Argh! I'm furious! I will not rest until the Qingyun Sect is destroyed!”

“You bald donkeys of the Dragon Elephant Temple! I swear I will kill you all!”

The two Elders roared at the sky, their voices shaking the surrounding rocks and mountains.

Meanwhile... “Hehe, we're rich!”

Jiang Yan and Heartless were already hiding in a secluded mountain cave, happily counting their spoils.

Heartless held the 'Nine Treasure Ring Blade', unable to put it down: “This blade is sharp; it's perfect for Benefactor Jiang to slice watermelons.”

Jiang Yan fiddled with the 'Xuantian Seal' and grinned: “This seal is nice. In the future when I rob—ahem, when I go for alms, I can use it to stamp things.”

The two looked at each other and smiled, raising their teacups for a toast: “Pleasant cooperation!”

While the two were hiding in the fourth-level island Secret Realm, a world-shaking battle broke out on the third-level island!

Li Yi stood with his hands behind his back. Before him, countless broken swords were thrust into the ground, clearly the aftermath of a recent great battle.

“Li Yi, you still dare to show your face? Are you really not afraid of being crippled again?” mocked the Dao Yun Sect Elder, Mo Xiuran.

“A Foundation can be rebuilt, and cultivation only falls, but my Sword Heart has never been destroyed. Moreover, I have embarked upon a Realm that ordinary people find difficult to comprehend.” Li Yi's expression was indifferent, and his tone was calm. “With just you few defeated opponents, I, Li, truly do not hold you in my eyes.”

Hearing Li Yi's words, the Vice Peak Master of the Chilian Sect, Zhang Shun, snorted coldly: “You are merely a Prodigy from over fifty years ago. Now you are nothing. If you don't want to die, then get lost!”

“Fellow Daoist Zhang, you are too merciful,” laughed Hua Lingfei, an Inner Sect Elder of the Fire Cloud Sect. “Didn't he say it himself? We are his defeated opponents, and he has entered a Realm we find hard to understand. Why not just join forces and kill him?”

“Haha...” Qiu Lingfeng, the Vice Peak Master of the Dao Yun Sect, laughed loudly. “Fine! Then let's send this former Prodigy to the underworld!”

Li Yi sighed helplessly. He had originally intended to kill these people on the first two levels, but the recent battle had actually attracted them here.

“You simply have no idea what kind of person you are making an enemy of.”

In his eyes, the sword was no longer confined to any form.

Mountains, rivers, vegetation, clouds, wind, and silt—all could be swords. Even he himself was the same.

“Enough with this nonsense, go die!” Mo Xiuran roared, the power of this palm strike instantly reaching the Core Formation Great Perfection.

“Boom!”

A massive explosion rang out.

The ground instantly caved in by more than ten zhang. A deep pit shaped like a giant palm print destroyed a hundred broken swords in front of Li Yi in an instant.

Debris flew everywhere, and dust rose.

However, in the next moment, Mo Xiuran's pupils suddenly constricted.

He saw that amidst the dust, a figure in a black and white robe was standing calmly in the Void Realm.

“Eh? Not dead!”

“He seems completely unharmed!”

“How is this possible? His cultivation has at most recovered to the Core Formation Realm.”

In his view, killing the current Li Yi should have been as simple as crushing an ant.

As it turned out, not only did the opponent not die from this full-strength palm strike, but he was also completely unscathed.

Li Yi had at most the second or third stage of Core Formation cultivation, while he was already at the Core Formation Great Perfection.

Having a higher cultivation and even attacking with the advantage of surprise, yet failing to cause even the slightest harm to a crippled waste—this gave Mo Xiuran a very ominous feeling.

“Too weak...” Li Yi's tone was flat, showing no emotion, as if he were looking at an ant.

The people standing in mid-air had various expressions; they also couldn't see through Li Yi's depth.

“You, a crippled waste, should have long ago become a pile of yellow earth!” Mo Xiuran snorted. “Regardless of what methods you just used to dodge, you are destined to die next!”

“You want me to die?” A slight curve appeared at the corner of Li Yi's mouth. “I truly don't know who gave you the courage. Even if I returned to being the former Li Yi, you would still just be a group of ants.”

“A crippled waste dares to speak so arrogantly! Today I will let you see that you are no longer on the same level as us!”

Mo Xiuran's fingers quickly formed hand seals, striking out an extremely profound and mysterious seal technique.

In the next moment, he roared loudly:

“Cloud Heaven Profound Seal!”