283: Three punches

Inside the Octagonal Tower!

The two stood facing each other from a distance, one above and one below.

Li Pingan's body was already enveloped in a brilliant, flowing golden light. As the radiance surged, a simple yet majestic white tiger phantom materialized behind him, its eyes wide open and fangs bared, unleashing an overwhelming pressure that swept through the area.

Right from the start, he unleashed the Heaven-rank Divine Ability—the Four Symbols Rotation Art.

After all, this was the territory of the Chusheng Sect, and it was unwise to linger. Li Pingan intended to end this quickly!

Boom—

Li Pingan stomped heavily on the ground, causing the bluestone tiles to shatter. The golden light around him flowed rapidly as the white tiger phantom shifted, its divine tiger power merging with an unstoppable, fierce fist wind that pressed down fiercely toward Xue Yinming.

Xue Yinming's expression changed drastically, not daring to show the slightest hint of underestimation. His hands rapidly formed seals, and he chanted incantations under his breath:

"Wood Transformation, Ten Thousand Vines Lock the Heavens!"

Instantly, a fierce wind rose within the Pill Refining Tower, and countless dark green vines burst from the ground, coiling toward Li Pingan like venomous snakes.

But the white tiger phantom merely raised its head and roared, shaking the entire tower. Wherever the golden light passed, the vines shattered as if struck by lightning, turning into charred fragments that fell to the ground.

Xue Yinming had no time to cast any other spells before the fist, carrying the force of thunder, slammed into him!

He hastily dodged to the side, but the fist wind grazed his shoulder, blasting a huge hole in the wall behind him. Amid the flying debris, Xue Yinming felt a searing pain in his shoulder, his blood and Qi churning violently.

"You dare seek death!"

Filled with shock and rage, Xue Yinming slammed his hands on the ground and shouted sharply: "Earth Prison Cage, Suppress!"

Thick, earthy-yellow spiritual power erupted from the ground, forming a massive cage dozens of feet high that descended upon Li Pingan.

Li Pingan paid it no heed!

No matter how many complex spells you wield, I will forge ahead with my fists!

Crack—

A crisp sound echoed as the seemingly indestructible cage shattered, then exploded violently, scattering earthy-yellow spiritual fragments everywhere.

Xue Yinming was sent flying by the violent shockwave, crashing heavily into a vermilion pillar. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Before he could steady himself, Li Pingan's figure closed in like a shadow, delivering another punch. The fist wind, wrapped in an unstoppable martial Protective Aura, forced him to raise his arms in a desperate block.

Thud!"

As their fists collided, Xue Yinming felt a terrifying force surge through his arm, his bones emitting a brittle sound of strain.

He was sent flying again, crashing hard onto the ground.

This time, despite his Soul Emergence Stage cultivation base, he couldn't withstand the pain that felt like his body was falling apart, unable to get up for a long while.

The Spider-headed Man who had stayed behind, originally intending to assist, was left dumbfounded!

Three fists... just three fists, and an Inner Sect Elder of the Chusheng Sect was left on the brink of death.

He swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly: "Young... Young Master Li, how long have you been cultivating?"

Li Pingan didn't answer. The fourth fist landed, directly shattering Elder Xue's chest, essentially sending him to reunite with his son.

The white tiger phantom slowly dissipated. After looting the storage ring and other spoils, the determination on Li Pingan's face faded.

He turned to the man and said with a smile, "From the time I became a Disciple until now, it's only been a year."

...Meanwhile!

After Ye Hao led Yun Xuanxuan and the others out of the Pill Refining Tower, they headed straight to Zhao Xu's previous residence to regroup.

"It's you?"

Yun Xuanxuan immediately recognized Zhao Xu as the Chusheng Sect Disciple she had nearly killed near Bishui Village that day.

Ye Hao briefly explained the whole story.

Zhao Xu quickly stepped forward, bowing to the group: "Miss Yun, everyone, I won't make excuses. The villagers of Bishui Village suffered because of me."

"If you wish to kill me to vent your anger, I have no complaints."

Ye Hao said gravely, "Let's settle these grudges after we deal with the current matter. The priority now is to stop the Chusheng Sect Ancestor's plan."

"If I met you under normal circumstances, I wouldn't hesitate."

Yun Xuanxuan's tone was icy, "But since Young Master Ye has spoken, I'll let it go for now."

The other Half-Demons nodded in agreement, all sharing the same intention.

Ye Hao changed the subject, looking at Zhao Xu and asking, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, where do you think the place for refining the demon transformation pills might be hidden?"

Zhao Xu fell silent for a moment, then slowly analyzed, "First of all, it definitely isn't in the Sect's Pill Refining Tower."

"Only a few Disciples in the Chusheng Sect know about this. If it were in the Pill Refining Tower, it could easily be noticed by others."

Ye Hao nodded; he had the same thought.

After pondering for a moment, he looked at Zhao Xu and pressed further, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, think again. Are there any strange places within the Sect, or Forbidden Grounds that ordinary Disciples aren't allowed to enter?"

Hearing this, Zhao Xu furrowed his brow in thought, unconsciously tapping the table with his fingertips.

After a while, he finally spoke, "As for Forbidden Grounds, I know of two."

"One is the top floor of the Library Pavilion, which holds the Sect's secrets through the ages. Only the Sect Master and a few Peak Masters can approach it; others can't even get close. The other is the dungeon of the Discipline Hall, where serious offenders are imprisoned, and the security is extremely tight."

Ye Hao rubbed his chin, exchanged glances with those beside him, and slowly shook his head. "The top floor of the Library Pavilion is too conspicuous. The commotion from refining demon transformation pills would be huge; it's impossible to hide it there."

"As for the Discipline Hall dungeon, that's more plausible. If they refined pills there, it would indeed be hard to detect."

Yun Xuanxuan suddenly interjected, "A crucial place like a dungeon should have many powerful guards, right?"

Zhao Xu nodded in agreement. "The Discipline Hall dungeon is located near the Sect Main Hall. If the refining site were really there, several Inner Sect Elders would definitely be stationed there."

"In that case, the Discipline Hall can be ruled out too."

Ye Hao continued analyzing, "Since the Mount Zhenyue Tower Master of the Demon Suppressing Tower defected to the Yao Race, and the Third Elder also betrayed the Sect, there must be many Cultivators in the Chusheng Sect who hold deep grudges against the Yao Race."

"If demon transformation pills were refined in the Discipline Hall, it could easily trigger internal strife within the Sect if discovered by those Elders."

The others all agreed, feeling neither location was likely.

Zhao Xu pondered carefully again, then suddenly slapped his thigh, a flash of realization in his eyes, and exclaimed loudly:

"I know where it is!"

Yun Xuanxuan and the others all turned to look at him.

"Deep in the Sect's Back Mountain, there's a long-sealed Secret Realm!"

"The Sect's Back Mountain?" Ye Hao raised an eyebrow slightly.

Zhao Xu quickly explained, "That area is perpetually shrouded in mist, rarely visited, and ordinary Disciples seldom set foot there."

"I only heard about it from Senior Brothers in the Sect before; I've never been there myself."

Everyone fell into deep thought.

After a moment, Yun Xuanxuan narrowed her eyes and declared firmly:

"Let's go to the Back Mountain!"

"Huh?" Ye Hao was somewhat surprised.

"Has Miss Yun thought of something?"

Yun Xuanxuan shook her head, her tone certain. "Just a hunch. The place refining the demon transformation pills is probably hidden in the Secret Realm of the Back Mountain."