Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

The evening breeze from the Crimson Fire Reef Islands carried a heavy smell of sulfur, while in the distance, the waves roared and crashed against the dark, steep cliffs. Lin Yan and his group stumbled and staggered out of the entrance to the secret realm, their steps scorching hot rocks and debris, all looking exhausted and battered from a fierce battle.

"Everyone, gather around here."

After everyone gathered around him, Lin Yan lightly tapped his fingertip on his storage ring. The inkstone and the Dingyuan Pearl flew out and hovered quietly in mid-air in front of him. He immediately activated the "Cangyuan Sea Emperor Technique," and in an instant, a layer of refreshing and soothing water mist protective shield spread out, steadily enveloping everyone within it.

The Sea Spirit Crystal Marrow beside them trembled slightly, spreading out circles of pure and clear water-attribute spiritual energy. In just a few breaths, everyone absorbed the spiritual energy into their bodies, and their original tired and disheveled expressions vanished, leaving them all refreshed and radiant.

Before long, hundreds of figures emerged from the entrance of the secret realm. The cultivators from several forces, including Wumen, Liaobei, Beiman, Heluo, Jindi, and Jinmen, were all dressed in tattered clothes and their spiritual energy was scattered. In short, they were in a sorry state.

"Kid, you haven't gone far yet."

Clad in a black robe and with eerie ghost patterns covering his face, the Northern Mang Deacon slowly stepped out. His eyes were as sinister as a venomous snake, and a greedy smile was curled at the corner of his mouth. He locked his gaze on the aura of the Sea Spirit Core emanating from Lin Yan's body, and his cold and murderous aura was already surging out.

"Fellow Daoist Lin."

Dan Wan gently waved her water-patterned folding fan and slowly walked to Lin Yan's side. She glanced at the Liaobei Xuanjia Sect members who were huddled behind the rocks in the distance, not daring to even breathe loudly. Her tone was calm but firm: "Bei Mang has always been vengeful. They will never let this grudge from today's treasure-stealing incident in the secret realm go unpunished."

Before he could finish speaking, the deacon from Beimang roared, "Further words are useless! You stole my sect's opportunity and injured my disciples; today, you will pay with your life!"

Immediately, the Beimang Deacon activated his evil technique, his body surging with deathly energy that coalesced into a ten-foot-long, pitch-black ghost blade, carrying a chilling, malevolent aura, which slashed directly at Lin Yan. Behind him, several Beimang cultivators simultaneously unleashed their Ghostly Cry Banners and Soul-Devouring Nails. The banners wailed and shrill, the nails casting menacing shadows, instantly weaving a deadly net that completely surrounded Lin Yan and his group.

"Dare to touch my friend from the Wu School? First, get past the alchemical fire in my hand!"

Dan Wan frowned slightly, let out a low shout, abruptly closed her folding fan, and flicked her fingertips. Three Blazing Pills, burning with pale blue flames, shot out and precisely struck the incoming ghost blade. With a loud "bang," the yin and yang forces collided violently, and the chilling aura and warm pill flames scattered in all directions, actually forcibly repelling the attack of the Bei Mang group.

"Friends of Wumen?"

Lin Yan paused slightly, knowing this was not the time for debate. He immediately activated the *Cangyuan Sea Emperor Technique* with all his might. Seawater spiritual light surged and swirled around him, while the inkstone and the Dingyuan Pearl hovered above his head, casting layers of thick water shields to firmly protect Yun Xi, Yi Azhu, Ye Qing, and their companions behind him. "The cultivators of Beimang, you have provoked us without cause, bullying the weak. If you want the treasure, come and take it with your true abilities!"

With a sudden flick of his wrist, the spiritual light of the Sea Spirit Crystal at his fingertips surged forth, unleashing a vast, invisible wave of water-attribute spiritual energy that directly suppressed the chilling aura surging around the Beimang cultivator, causing his movements to falter and slow down by half a beat. Yun Xi, wielding the Water Cloud Sword, leaped forward, her sword shadow fluttering like frost and snow. Pure water-elemental spiritual energy condensed into countless cold, sharp blades of energy, each move cunning and ruthless, specifically targeting the weaknesses in the Beimang cultivator's spiritual energy for a fierce attack. Chen Dagang roared, gripping his fishing axe tightly and swinging it with all his might. The axe's movements were wide and sweeping, the force of the wind howling and tearing through the air. Relying on his savage and powerful physical strength, coupled with surging spiritual energy, he forcefully cleaved a bloody path through the enemy ranks, his imposing aura pressing directly towards the leading Beimang deacon.

A fierce battle for treasure erupted instantly on Crimson Fire Reef.

Ye Qing, Qing Yao, Shen Qinghan, and the disciples of Shuiyue Pavilion and Qingshan Sect all jumped into the fray and formed a battle formation. Each of them used their own supernatural abilities and weapons to engage in a fierce battle with the cultivators of Beimang. Their coordination was excellent and they did not make any mistakes.

Seeing the situation was dire and his own cultivators suffering successive defeats, the Beimang steward roared in fury, his deathly aura surging like a demon, attempting to forcefully unleash a forbidden technique to counterattack. A cold glint flashed in Lin Yan's eyes, and the spiritual light of the seawater instantly condensed into resilient chains, directly binding the steward's wrists. He shouted sharply, "Surrender, and I'll spare your life!"

In the midst of several fierce exchanges, the Beiman cultivator was firmly restrained by Wu Men's Dan Huo and suppressed by Lin Yan's water-based spiritual power, leaving him with numerous openings. Taking advantage of his unpreparedness, Yun Xi leaped to the steward's side and pierced his protective armor with her sword; Chen Dagang followed closely behind, cleaving with his axe and knocking away the ghost blade in his hand; Lin Yan then raised his hand and firmly struck the steward's chest with his palm.

"puff--"

The Beimang steward coughed up a mouthful of black blood, staggered back several steps, and his face turned ashen. Seeing their commander defeated, the remaining Beimang cultivators behind him were thrown into chaos and lost all composure.

"withdraw!"

The steward gritted his teeth and growled, attempting to lead his remaining troops in a hasty retreat. However, Dan Wan unleashed several trapping pills, instantly enveloping him in a pale blue mist, rendering him immobile. Lin Yan pressed his advantage, the seawater's spiritual light transforming into a raging torrent that swept over the remaining Beiman cultivators. Only after they desperately broke free of the mist and fled in disarray into the shadows of the reefs did he slowly cease his attack.

As the smoke of battle gradually dissipated, the cultivators from Jin stepped forward first. The leader, clad in a golden-patterned robe and possessing a composed demeanor, bowed and said, "Young Hero Lin, you possess such combat prowess at such a young age; you are truly a prodigy. We admire you greatly. Our Jinshi Sect has long admired the water-based magic weapon in your possession and is willing to exchange it for five high-grade spirit stones and a mid-grade Earth-level gilded sword. What do you say, young hero?"

The Jinmen cultivators followed closely behind. The leader was slender and agile, and he cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "Young Hero Lin, Jinmen has no grudge against you. We came here only for the secret realm trial. Now that the trial has ended, we are about to return to participate in the speed race in three days. If you have any surplus low-grade spiritual plants or pills, Jinmen is willing to exchange them for an equivalent amount of spirit stones or rare pill formulas. If you ever pass through Jinmen territory in the future, Jinmen will certainly fulfill its duty of protection."

Dan Wan stepped forward and naturally stood beside Lin Yan, gently waving her folding fan and smiling, "Fellow Daoists from Jin and Tianjin, Young Hero Lin and my Wu Clan are fellow Daoists. Today, we fought side by side to repel the enemy, so naturally, my Wu Clan must protect him. These treasures were all obtained by Young Hero Lin at the cost of his life, so I hope you two will not force him."

The Liaobei Xuanjia Sect members remained huddled behind distant rocks, clad in heavy black armor yet daring not to make the slightest move, merely observing coldly from the sidelines, completely adopting a detached, indifferent attitude, not daring to intervene in the battle. The Heluo disciples, on the other hand, stood on the rocks on the other side, their feet firmly planted on the earth's veins, their spiritual light steady, neither participating in the fight nor making friends with either side, remaining completely uninvolved.

Lin Yan cupped his hands slightly, his tone calm yet firm: "Thank you both for your kindness, but these treasures are related to my own cultivation breakthrough, so I will not be trading them for the time being. Please understand."

The Jin cultivator looked regretful but dared not insist. He bowed and returned to his original position. The Tianjin cultivator nodded knowingly and said with a smile, "We'll talk again if we have the chance in the future." He then tended to his injuries with his fellow disciples and said no more.

Dan Wan turned to Lin Yan, lightly tapping her palm with her folding fan, and smiled brightly: "Young Master Lin, in three months, our Wu Clan's Alchemy Grand Ceremony, held once every hundred years in the main city of Wu Clan, will gather alchemy masters from all over the world, and countless rare alchemy formulas and thousand-year-old spiritual herbs will be on display. Now that you have obtained the Sea Spirit Crystal Marrow, this treasure is of great benefit to alchemy, so you might as well go and take a look. Perhaps you can find an alchemy opportunity that suits you. In my capacity as the head of the Wu Clan's Alchemy Clan, I formally invite you to come along."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yan's eyes flashed with interest. He had just broken through to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage and needed to use the spiritual power of alchemy to stabilize his cultivation. Moreover, the Alchemy Ceremony would allow him to meet fellow alchemists from all walks of life, which would greatly benefit his application of the water-based spiritual power in the "Cangyuan Sea Emperor's Manual". He nodded slightly in agreement: "We'll talk about it later."

Dan Wan was overjoyed and immediately took out a communication jade talisman and handed it to him: "Very good. I will leave this communication jade talisman here. I will be waiting for you at the Wu Clan Dan Mansion in three months. Just bring the Sea Spirit Crystal Marrow with you then. Perhaps you can refine a top-grade pill at the grand ceremony."

Seeing that Lin Yan and his group were about to depart, the members of the Liaobei Xuanjia Sect dared to quietly get up, lower their heads and flee far away, fearing that they would be watched. The Heluo disciples also did not say much, turned around and left in another direction, leaving only the residual spiritual energy fluctuations and traces of battle among the reefs, which gradually dissipated in the evening breeze and waves.

Lin Yan gazed at the churning sea in the distance, composed himself, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, rest for a moment. We will return to Laoshan immediately. We must be on high alert along the way and guard against any sneak attacks from the remnants of Beimang."

Yunxi nodded in agreement, gripping the Water Cloud Sword with a wary expression: "I will guard the flanks, keep an eye on the surroundings, and ensure everyone's safety."

Chen Dagang patted the fishing axe in his hand and said in a deep, booming voice, "Don't worry, with me here, anyone who dares to cause trouble will be chopped down with one axe!"

A faint scent of sulfur wafted across the reefs in the evening breeze as Lin Yan and his group, carrying the treasures they had obtained from the secret realm, boarded a boat heading towards Laoshan. Deep within the shadows of the dark reefs, the Beimang Deacon stared menacingly at their retreating figures, his fingers clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his eyes filled with venom: "Lin Yan, the Wu Clan's Alchemy Grand Ceremony… I, the Beimang Sect, will remember this debt."