69: Chapter 69 Meeting Li Dongjun Again, One Punch Suppresses the Proud Pride

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed since he obtained the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Bamboo.

Traveling via the teleportation array and flying boat, Bai Yunzhou had already arrived in the vicinity of Panlong Ridge.

At this moment, the flying boat was hovering slowly above the clouds on the periphery of Panlong Ridge.

Bai Yunzhou stood at the front of the deck, his cyan Dao robe flapping loudly in the fierce gale.

His gaze swept toward the rolling crimson mountain range below. The terrain was steep, the Peaks looked as if they had been carved by knives and axes, and the air was filled with a faint scent of Earth Fire and sulfur.

"Young Master, this is Panlong Ridge."

Ye Jinglan stood half a step behind him, his gray robe fluttering as he said in a calm voice, "This place is the border between Qingxuan Sect and Taixuan Holy Land. Stretching for eight hundred miles, it is penetrated by underground Earth Fire Spiritual Veins, making it rich in fire-attribute spiritual materials. However, because of this, the terrain is complex and plagued by bandit Cultivators."

Bai Yunzhou nodded slightly, his Divine Sense quietly spreading out like an invisible tide.

He remembered that the Opportunity on Li Dongjun's panel was that half a year later, he would obtain the earth heart gold fruit here and Breakthrough to Core Formation.

Although he had long since reached the Core Formation Middle Stage, this treasure was useless to him now.

However, he had the Opportunity Critical Strike, so he might be able to obtain other useful items.

Even if it was useless to him, selling it would still be a handsome income.

Anyway, it was just a matter of convenience.

As his Divine Sense expanded, every detail within five hundred miles of Panlong Ridge was clearly reflected in his Sea of Consciousness.

The fissures spewing earth fire, low-grade Yao Beasts hiding in the caves, and the figures of a few Cultivators hurrying past...

Suddenly, his gaze narrowed slightly.

"In the northeast direction, three hundred and twenty miles away, deep inside the valley..."

"The earth heart gold fruit is gone?"

But at this moment, his Divine Sense swept toward another valley.

"Hm? Lightning Tribulation fluctuations?"

About fifty miles away from the valley where the earth heart gold fruit tree was located, in another even more concealed valley, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was violently turbulent.

Dark clouds gathered, lightning flickered faintly, and three bolts of lightning had just struck down, leaving a scorching aura lingering in the air.

Bai Yunzhou's Divine Sense easily penetrated the concealment Formation at the valley entrance.

Inside the valley, a familiar figure was standing with difficulty—Li Dongjun!

At this moment, Li Dongjun no longer possessed the suave composure he had during the Inner Sect Grand Competition.

His cyan robe was tattered, revealing strips of charred wounds, his long hair was disheveled, and his face was as pale as paper.

The long cyan sword that had accompanied him for many years was stuck in the ground, barely supporting his swaying body.

"The eighth Lightning Tribulation has passed, leaving only the last one..."

Bai Yunzhou could clearly perceive that the spiritual power within Li Dongjun's body was on the verge of exhaustion, and the embryonic form of the Golden Core flickered vaguely in his Dantian, yet it still lacked a fraction of the refinement to complete its condensation.

At this moment, his Divine Sense captured four hidden auras further away.

"Interesting."

A trace of coldness flashed in Bai Yunzhou's eyes.

Three hundred zhang away on the periphery of the valley, four black-robed Cultivators were perfectly hidden with the help of the Formation and terrain.

Three were at Peak Foundation Establishment, and one was at Core Formation Middle Stage.

That Core Formation Middle Stage Cultivator was tall and had a stern expression, carrying a pitch-black heavy sword on his back with faint nether light flowing across the blade.

"Young Master, the Cultivation Technique aura of that Core Formation Middle Stage Cultivator..."

Ye Jinglan suddenly spoke up, "It seems to be the 《Netherworld Sword Technique》 from Youquan Valley. The Sword Intent is chilly and the Evil Qi is restrained. There is no mistake."

"Youquan Valley?"

Bai Yunzhou remembered this name—one of the mortal enemy Sects of Qingxuan Sect.

Two hundred years ago, they had broken out into a massive war with Qingxuan Sect over the contention for a medium-sized Spiritual Vein, resulting in hundreds of casualties on both sides, a hatred that continued to this day.

"It seems Junior Brother Li has run into trouble."

Bai Yunzhou said.

Lightning Tribulation Valley.

The ninth bolt of lightning was crazily brewing within the dark clouds, with electric serpents slithering about. The might of heaven and earth caused all the Yao Beasts within a radius of ten miles to grovel on the ground, not daring to Move a single fraction.

Li Dongjun knelt on one knee, gasping heavily. Every breath pulled at the wound on his chest torn open by the Lightning Tribulation, and the excruciating pain caused fine cold sweat to seep from his forehead.

He trembling took out the last bottle of spirit-returning pills from his storage ring, poured out three of them, and shoved them into his mouth.

The Medicinal Pill melted, and his spiritual power barely recovered a sliver.

"Just one more... Only the last one left!"

He clenched his teeth tightly, a look of resolute determination flashing in his eyes.

Entering the Dao thirty years ago, reaching Qi Refining Perfection twenty years ago, establishing foundation twelve years ago, today he had finally touched the threshold of Core Formation.

For this day, he had prepared for a full five years, collecting Medicinal Pills for Undergoing Tribulation, refining protective Formation Plates, tempering his natal Flying Sword... He must not fail at the very last hurdle here!

"Crack——!"

The dark clouds burst apart, and the ninth bolt of lightning finally descended!

This bolt of lightning was as thick as a water bucket, entirely purplish-red. Wherever it passed, the air distorted and exploded, and its might far exceeded the sum of the previous eight bolts.

Li Dongjun let out a frantic roar, pulling up the long sword from the ground, pouring all the remaining spiritual power in his body into the blade without reservation.

The sword hummed like a dragon, and cyan light surged brilliantly as a ten-zhang-long cyan sword qi soared into the sky, fiercely slashing toward the purplish-red lightning!

"Rumble——!!!"

The instant the sword qi collided with the lightning, dazzling light illuminated the entire valley.

The shockwave spread like a tsunami, shattering the rocks in the valley inch by inch, and the concealment Formation set up by Li Dongjun shattered in response.

Three breaths later, the light gradually dissipated.

Li Dongjun's figure staggered back more than ten steps, and the long sword in his hand dropped to the ground with a clang.

His chest heaved violently, blood oozed from all seven of his facial orifices, his entire body was charred to the bone, and his aura was withered to the extreme.

But, after all, he had carried through it.

The dark clouds began to disperse, and a wisp of golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining down on Li Dongjun.

Within his body, a pigeon-egg-sized, light-cyan Golden Core finally slowly took shape in his Dantian, emitting the majestic spiritual power fluctuations belonging to the Core Formation Stage.

It succeeded!

Just as a trace of surviving a catastrophe appeared on Li Dongjun's face—

"Do it!"

A cold shout came from the periphery of the valley.

Four dark figures appeared like ghosts, instantly forming an encirclement.

The leader was precisely the black-robed brawny man at Core Formation Middle Stage. With one step forward, the black sword on his back was already in his hand, its blade pointing directly at Li Dongjun's Dantian.

"Li Dongjun of Qingxuan Sect? I've waited for you for a long time."

Li Dongjun's pupils shrank drastically.

He recognized this sword—Youquan Valley's famous sword "Black Fiend", which had successively slain three Peak Foundation Establishment Elders of Qingxuan Sect in a Sect war many years ago!

"Qin Zhan... You are Qin Zhan of Youquan Valley!" Li Dongjun's voice was hoarse.

Qin Zhan nodded indifferently, "Since you know my name, you should understand that you cannot escape death today. Hand over the earth heart gold fruit, and I will leave your corpse intact."

Before his voice faded, a thin man in black beside him chuckled sinisterly.

"Why waste words with him, Senior Brother Qin? Once I take his head, the spirit fruit will naturally be ours."

This person was precisely Bai Jing, a Genius of Fenji Sect from the previous generation who had entered the Holy Land.

Three poison-quenched black needles in his sleeve had quietly slid to his fingertips, their tips shimmering with a dark blue luster, obviously coated in deadly poison.

The other two Peak Foundation Establishment bandit Cultivators stood on the left and right, each sacrificing a Formation Flag. With spiritual power poured into them, a light gray light net rapidly opened up, blocking all of Li Dongjun's retreat paths.

"Spirit-Locking Net... You planned this long ago!" Li Dongjun's face was as pale as paper.

This Spirit-Locking Net was a secret enemy-trapping Formation of Youquan Valley, specifically designed to restrain the operation of spiritual power. Once trapped, even a Core Formation Late Stage Cultivator would find it difficult to break free in a short time.

With his current state, he was completely powerless to break the net.

Qin Zhan said no more, stabbing out fiercely with the Black Fiend Sword!

The sword light was like ink, and the Sword Intent was chillingly cold to the bone. Wherever it passed, the air condensed into frost.

This sword directly targeted Li Dongjun's Dantian, obviously intending to shatter his Golden Core in a single strike just as his Golden Core had formed and was at its most vulnerable!

At the same time, the three poisonous needles in Bai Jing's sleeve shot out silently, targeting three vital spots: the space between the eyebrows, the throat, and the heart. The angles were tricky, sealing off all possibilities of evasion for Li Dongjun.

The Formation Flags of the two Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators were also completely activated, and the Spirit-Locking Net shrouded down from above.

A desperate situation!

Li Dongjun barely raised his hand to recall the long sword on the ground, only to find that less than ten percent of the spiritual power remained in his body, making him unable to even escape via sword flight.

He watched helplessly as the Black Fiend Sword drew closer and closer, the poisonous needles reached his face, and the Spirit-Locking Net was about to fall upon him...

"My Life is over!"

Despair welled up in his heart.

Just at the moment when the Black Fiend Sword was only three feet away from Li Dongjun's Dantian and the poisonous needles were about to pierce his skin—

"Hum!"

A white figure fell like a shooting star, landing precisely in front of Li Dongjun.

Before the newcomer's figure had completely materialized, his right hand casually waved.

"Puff, puff, puff!"

Three soft sounds echoed as the three poison-quenched black needles seemed to crash into an invisible wall, instantly shattering into powder. Before the venom could splash out, it was evaporated by a wave of scorching hot blood qi.

At the same time, his left hand pressed forward into empty space.

"Crack——!"

The descending Spirit-Locking Net suffered a heavy blow, the Formation Flags wailed, and the light net broke inch by inch, dissipating into specks of spiritual light.

Everything happened in the flash of lightning and spark of flint.

Qin Zhan's sword momentum could no longer be retracted, and the Black Fiend Sword, carrying a piercing chill, thrust straight at the newcomer's chest!

The newcomer finally completely revealed his figure—a cyan robe, a calm expression, exactly Bai Yunzhou.

He didn't even look at the incoming Black Fiend Sword, simply throwing out a single punch.

There were no fancy Moves, no complex changes.

It was simply the most ordinary straight punch.

But the moment this punch was thrown, the temperature of the entire valley suddenly soared!

Crimson blood qi erupted from his fist tip, condensing into a tangible fist seal about a zhang in size.

On the surface of the fist seal, light golden Dao patterns circulated, and a tragic, domineering, and utterly tyrannical Battle Intent soared into the sky!

Blood Battle Eight Desolations Fist intent—Major Achievement Realm!

"What?!" Qin Zhan's expression changed wildly.

He felt the terrifying power contained in this punch; it was definitely not a might that could be possessed by the Early Stage of Core Formation, nor even an ordinary Middle Stage of Core Formation!

He wanted to withdraw his sword and retreat, but the sword momentum was already spent, and it was simply too late.

He could only take it head-on!

"Netherworld Body Protection!" Qin Zhan roared frantically, pouring his netherworld spiritual power madly into the Black Fiend Sword. The nether light on the blade surged brilliantly, transforming into a black barrier blocking in front of him.

The fist seal collided with the Black Fiend Sword.

"Clang——!!!"

A piercing clashing sound of metal exploded.

The wailing sound of the Black Fiend Sword followed—dense cracks spread across the blade like a spiderweb.

Qin Zhan's pupils shrank drastically.

This Medium Grade Magic Treasure that had accompanied him for thirty years had slain countless enemies, yet today it couldn't even take a single punch...

"Bang——!!!"

The fist seal crushed the Black Fiend Sword, its remaining momentum unreduced as it heavily imprinted on Qin Zhan's chest.

The netherworld protective spiritual light on Qin Zhan's body surface shattered like paper.

He clearly heard the snapping explosion of his own sternum, and an indescribably violent fist force penetrated his body, instantly shattering his internal organs, Dantian Golden Core, Meridians, and acupoints...

"Puff——!"

Blood spewed wildly from Qin Zhan's mouth, and his body flew backward like a broken sack, tracing an arc of a hundred zhang in the air before heavily slamming into the mountain wall.

"Rumble!"

The mountain wall collapsed, and rubble rolled down.

Qin Zhan was embedded in the rock wall, his chest completely collapsed, his eyes wide open, his pupils scattered, and his aura completely extinguished.

A single punch.

A Core Formation Middle Stage Genius of Youquan Valley from the previous generation who went to the Holy Land to Cultivate had perished.

Time seemed to have frozen.

Bai Jing froze in place, his face still maintaining a sinister smile, but that smile had completely solidified. The two Peak Foundation Establishment bandit Cultivators beside him were even more dumbfounded, their hands holding the Formation Flags trembling slightly.

From Bai Yunzhou's appearance to Qin Zhan's death, the entire process... was less than three breaths.

Li Dongjun blankly looked at the back standing before him, his brain completely blank.

Bai Yunzhou?

The Bai Yunzhou who had dueled with him during the Inner Sect Grand Competition half a year ago and was only at Mid Foundation Establishment at the time?

Obliterating a Core Formation Middle Stage Cultivator with a single punch?!

Bai Yunzhou, however, did not pause.

His gaze turned toward Bai Jing and the other two, his eyes as calm as an ancient well, but beneath that calmness was a suffocating indifference.

"Run!"

Bai Jing finally reacted, letting out a sharp scream as his figure transformed into a trace of black smoke, preparing to execute the secret escape technique of Fenji Sect.

But Bai Yunzhou's Divine Sense pressed down like an invisible tide.

The two Peak Foundation Establishment bandit Cultivators bore the brunt of it.

They only felt a pressure as vast as a mountain descending from the sky, fiercely slamming onto their Divine Souls!

"Argh——!!"

The two screamed simultaneously, blood spurting from their seven orifices, their eyes bulging.

Under the suppression of Divine Sense comparable to the Early Stage Nascent Soul, the Divine Soul of the Foundation Establishment Stage was as fragile as glazed glass.

"Bang, bang."

With two muffled thuds, the two collapsed softly to the ground, completely devoid of aura.

Their Divine Souls were completely destroyed.

Bai Jing's black smoke escape technique had just expanded three zhang when he felt a palm gently press against his back.

That palm was warm, without even using force.

But the next moment, a terrifyingly pure spiritual power penetrated through his body, shattering his heart, Meridians, and Dantian like withered weeds and decaying wood...

Bai Jing's body stiffened, the black smoke dissipated, revealing his true form.

He lowered his head to look at his chest; there were no wounds and no bloodstains, but he could clearly feel his Life rapidly fading away.

"You... You are..."

Bai Jing turned his head with difficulty, wanting to see the face of the person who killed him.

"Bang."

The corpse fell to the ground, endless terror and incomprehension lingering in its eyes.

Bai Yunzhou slowly withdrew his palm, shaking off the non-existent dust on his wrist.

From the attack to the end, all four bandit Cultivators were completely wiped out.

Time elapsed: Three breaths.

In the valley, there was dead silence.

Only the whimpering of the wind blowing across the shattered rocks and Li Dongjun's heavy, trembling breathing remained.

Li Dongjun sat on the ground, leaning his back against a half-section of charred rock.

His gaze stared intently at Bai Yunzhou, then slowly shifted to Qin Zhan's corpse embedded in the cliff a hundred zhang away, and then looked at the corpses of Bai Jing and the two Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the ground.

His mind was in complete chaos.

"Who am I?"

"Where am I?"

"What just happened?"

That person who obliterated a Middle Stage Golden Core with a single punch and instantly destroyed a Peak Foundation Establishment with Divine Sense... was Bai Yunzhou?

Half a year ago during the Inner Sect Grand Competition, although Bai Yunzhou was strong, he was only at the Mid Foundation Establishment, and his strength was far below this level.

How long has it been? Half a year? Cultivating in the Secret Realm for half a year, and coming out as a Peak Middle Stage Golden Core? And strong enough to instantly kill peers?

This cultivation speed... Is he a monster?

No, this can no longer be described as a monster.

Li Dongjun suddenly remembered that Old Ancestor Xing Zhan had once sighed in private: "This child Bai Yunzhou likely possesses the aptitude of ancient prodigies."

At that time, he felt that the Old Ancestor was exaggerating, but now it seemed...

"Junior Brother Li, can you still stand up?"

Bai Yunzhou's voice pulled Li Dongjun back to reality from his daze.

Li Dongjun opened his mouth, his throat dry, and for a moment he couldn't even make a sound.

He struggled to stand up, but his body, having just undergone the Lightning Tribulation, was extremely weak, and his legs softened, almost causing him to fall.

Bai Yunzhou reached out with a gesture of support, a gentle spiritual power holding him up.

"Th-Thank you, Senior Brother Bai, for saving my Life!"

Li Dongjun finally stabilized his figure and bowed without hesitation, bending almost to the ground. His tone was filled with gratitude for surviving a catastrophe and undisguised shock.

Bai Yunzhou waved his hand, took out a bottle of Medicinal Pills from his storage ring, and threw it over: "Heal your injuries first."

Li Dongjun caught the jade bottle and pulled out the stopper. A pure medicinal fragrance rushed into his nose—it was actually a Tier 3 High Grade Rejuvenation Pill, which had a good healing effect even for Golden Core Stage Cultivators. A single pill had a market price of at least five thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

He poured out one and swallowed it. The Medicinal Pill melted upon entering his abdomen, and the warm medicinal power quickly coursed through his limbs and bones, repairing the trauma brought by the Lightning Tribulation and his injuries.

As his injuries eased slightly, Li Dongjun's mood became even more complicated.

He looked at Bai Yunzhou's calm face, recalled the grace of that punch just now, and then thought of how he had bitterly cultivated for thirty years to barely form his Core, while the other party had soared from Mid Foundation Establishment to Peak Middle Stage Golden Core in half a year...

Awe.

Deep awe, even mixed with a trace of... fear that he himself was unwilling to admit.

Is this a true Prodigy?

After a cup of tea, Li Dongjun's injuries stabilized, and his aura gradually leveled out.

He took a deep breath and walked toward Qin Zhan's corpse.

Although the person was dead, the storage ring was still there.

Li Dongjun removed the black ring, probed it with his Divine Sense, rummaged through it slightly, and quickly took out a token.

The token was pitch-black throughout, icy to the touch, with the two characters "Youquan" embossed on the front, their strokes as fierce as a sword.

Flipping to the back, two lines of small characters were engraved:

"Qin Zhan, Holy Land Outer Sect."

Li Dongjun's expression changed drastically.

He quickly walked over to Bai Jing's corpse and indeed found a token as well. It was crimson-red, with "Fenji" on the front and "Bai Jing, Holy Land Outer Sect" on the back.

"Qin Zhan of Youquan Valley... Bai Jing of Fenji Sect..."

Li Dongjun's voice was hoarse, "They are both talented Disciples who entered the Taixuan Holy Land in the previous session!"

Bai Yunzhou raised an eyebrow: "People from the Holy Land?"

"Yes!"

Li Dongjun gripped the token tightly, gritting his teeth.

"Youquan Valley and my Qingxuan Sect are mortal enemies of a century. In that great battle fifty years ago, three Peak Foundation Establishment Elders of my Sect died under Qin Zhan's Black Evil Sword!"

"Fenji Sect is also an enemy Sect. Thirty years ago, they ambushed a mineral vein of my Sect and slaughtered seventy-three Disciples!"

He raised his head abruptly.

"They must have learned that I was Undergoing Tribulation here and specifically ambushed me to kill me! Both to seize the earth heart gold fruit and to strangle the new generation of geniuses of my Qingxuan Sect!"

Bai Yunzhou touched his chin, looking thoughtful.

"In other words, before I even reached the Holy Land, I killed two Disciples of the Holy Land first?"

He turned to look at Ye Jinglan not far away: "Old Ye, what are the rules of the Holy Land?"

Ye Jinglan walked over slowly and said calmly.

"Replying to Young Master, the Taixuan Holy Land indeed has a rule strictly forbidding Disciples under its banner from fighting in private. If there are grudges, they can go to the 'Life and Death Stage' for a duel, or apply to the Law Enforcement Hall for mediation."

Pausing for a moment, he continued.

"However, this rule mainly constrains the area within the Holy Land."

"Today's matter happened in Panlong Ridge, which belongs outside the Holy Land, and since Qin Zhan and the others ambushed and killed first, Young Master's action belongs to self-defense, and is entirely justified."

"However—" Ye Jinglan's tone changed, "Qin Zhan is the clan grandson of Elder Qin of Youquan Valley. That Elder Qin is at the Middle Stage Nascent Soul cultivation, and his status in Youquan Valley is not low."

"Bai Jing is also a Personal Disciple of a certain Nascent Soul Elder of the Fenji Sect. The influences of these two Sects are intricately intertwined in the Holy Land, and they might retaliate in secret."

Li Dongjun felt his heart tighten upon hearing this.

But the next second, he noticed Ye Jinglan's form of address for Bai Yunzhou.

"Old Ye?"

So casual?

Only then did Li Dongjun look carefully at Ye Jinglan—wearing simple grey robes, his aura restrained, looking utterly unremarkable at first glance.

But after all, he was a Golden Core Cultivator. Under careful sensing, he finally detected the unfathomable pressure emanating from the other party.

That was a feeling as deep as an abyss and as boundless as the sea, far beyond what a Golden Core Cultivator could possess.

Nascent Soul...

Middle Stage Nascent Soul?!

Li Dongjun drew a sharp breath.

A Middle Stage Nascent Soul mighty figure actually called Bai Yunzhou "Young Master", with a respectful tone and a humble posture?

His gaze toward Bai Yunzhou changed once again.

Exactly how many secrets did this Senior Brother Bai have that he didn't know about?

Bai Yunzhou seemed not to care, only smiling faintly: "Retaliation? Let them come then. In battles among peers, I have never feared anyone."

Li Dongjun's shock in his heart was even greater.

With a flick of Ye Jinglan's finger, the four corpses burst into cyan flames, turning into flying ash after three breaths, and even the identity tokens inside the storage rings were burned away together.

He then cast a Spell to erase all traces of battle in the valley, even reshaping the cliff wall that Qin Zhan had crashed into back to its original state with his magical power.

After finishing all this, Panlong Ridge seemed as if nothing had ever happened.

"What are Junior Brother Li's plans next?" Bai Yunzhou asked.

Li Dongjun respectfully replied.

"Replying to Senior Brother, I have just broken through, and my Golden Core is unstable. I need to find an Immortal Cave to seclude myself for some days to stabilize my Realm."

"However, my Old Ancestor has already secured a recommendation quota for me, so afterwards I will also head to the Holy Land to Cultivate."

Bai Yunzhou nodded and took out a cyan jade talisman.

"This is a special communication talisman, which can communicate within a hundred thousand li. When we meet again in the Holy Land, we can use this to contact each other."

Li Dongjun hurriedly took out a jade talisman to exchange as well, and said solemnly.

"Senior Brother Bai's saving grace, Dongjun will engrave it in his heart! Within the Holy Land, if Senior Brother has any commands, Dongjun will definitely do his utmost!"

He said these words with utmost sincerity.

If not for Bai Yunzhou today, not only would his Golden Core be hard to form, but his Life would also be lost right here in Panlong Ridge.

This debt of gratitude was simply too great.

Bai Yunzhou smiled and nodded: "Junior Brother exaggerates, be careful on the road."

Li Dongjun bowed once more, then rose on his Flying Sword, transforming into a cyan sword light as he flew toward the direction of the Qingxuan Sect.

His figure appeared slightly disheveled, but the momentum of his sword flight already carried the heaviness and composure of the Golden Core Stage.

Watching the sword light disappear into the horizon, Bai Yunzhou withdrew his gaze.

The flying boat rose into the air once more, smoothly heading toward the direction of the Taixuan Holy Land.

On the deck, Bai Yunzhou sat cross-legged, toying with an earth heart gold fruit in his hand, its pale golden fruit shimmering with a warm luster under the sunlight.

He was reviewing today's events.

"Middle Stage Golden Core... weaker than imagined."

Bai Yunzhou evaluated in his heart.

"That punch only used seventy percent of my strength, yet Qin Zhan couldn't block it."

"If I attack with full force, coordinating with the Blood Battle Eight Desolations Fist Intent and the blessing of Dao as a Seed, I should be able to instantly kill an ordinary Late Stage Golden Core."

"Using Divine Sense to suppress Foundation Establishment Cultivators has excellent effects, but the effect will be discounted when dealing with the Golden Core Stage. After all, a Golden Core Cultivator's Divine Soul has initially condensed and is not so easily shattered."

"The green ruler Spirit Treasure was not used today; it is a trump card and also a good thing. After entering the Holy Land, I need to try my best to hide this treasure so it can achieve victory by surprise at critical moments."

Beside him, Ye Jinglan, controlling the flying boat, suddenly spoke.

"Young Master does not need to worry too much about the retaliation of Youquan Valley and the Fenji Sect. The Taixuan Holy Land has strict rules strictly forbidding high-stage Cultivators from attacking low-stage Disciples. Violators will lightly have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the Holy Land, and heavily be killed on the spot."

"In battles among peers, although the Holy Land does not encourage it, it tacitly permits it. As long as lives are not lost, the Law Enforcement Hall usually turns a blind eye."

Bai Yunzhou nodded: "I understand. We will deal with whatever comes."

What he cared more about was another matter.

Just as Li Dongjun was leaving a moment ago, the interface in front of him updated once more:

[Name]: Li Dongjun

[Realm]: Early Stage Golden Core

[Fate Rank]: Sword Monarch Qinglian (Gold) → Sword Monarch Qinglian (Purple)

[Destiny]: Sword Heart Resonating (Gold), Arrogant (Grey → White), Metal-Leaning Spiritual Root (Cyan), Surviving a Catastrophe (Blue)

[Favorability]: Awe, Gratitude

[Recent Opportunity]: Three months later, while comprehending in the Holy Land's "Sword Monument Forest", he will accidentally trigger the resonance of an ancient sword monument, obtaining a fragment of the "Qinglian Sword Canon" (Earth Rank High Grade).

A new Opportunity!

A fragment of the "Qinglian Sword Canon", an ancient Cultivation Technique!

What Bai Yunzhou cultivated were basically all ancient Cultivation Techniques, and naturally he knew the value of ancient Cultivation Techniques.

This fragment must be obtained.

"Old Ye, is there a place in the Holy Land called the 'Sword Monument Forest'?" Bai Yunzhou asked.

Ye Jinglan nodded: "Yes. The Sword Monument Forest is a public comprehension area in the Holy Land, containing more than three hundred ancient sword monuments passed down from antiquity, engraved with various sword techniques and Sword Intent. Holy Land Disciples only need to pay contribution points to enter and comprehend. It is said that a Genius once had an Epiphany in the monument forest and created an Earth Rank sword technique."

Indeed.

Bai Yunzhou noted down this information.

After entering the Holy Land, the first thing was to figure out the method of obtaining contribution points, and then enter the Sword Monument Forest as soon as possible.

The flying boat cut through the clouds, and the outline of the distant horizon gradually became clear.

That was a mountain range group so majestic it defied description, with its main Peak piercing straight into the clouds, and the Sect-protecting Formation shimmering with golden light faintly visible.

Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, pavilions and tall buildings loomed vaguely, spiritual birds and immortal cranes circled and danced, and the majestic Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi could be clearly perceived even from hundreds of li away.

The Taixuan Holy Land had arrived.