As the treasure was about to be obtained, unexpected complications arose at this critical moment, leaving Bai Li Chen both shocked and furious.
He glared at Li Fan and couldn't help but shout angrily, "Where did this fraud come from? The disciples of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace have long perished..."
Halfway through his words, Bai Li Chen realized the inappropriateness of his statement and forcibly stopped himself.
"By the clarity of the Ancestor Taiyi, this person absolutely cannot be a direct disciple!" he gritted his teeth and said to the turtle-snake creature.
The turtle-snake creature, however, paid no heed to his words and instead carefully discerned the aura of the cultivation technique circulating within Li Fan.
"Hmm... Cloud Water Dream Illusion Technique, huh. I didn't expect that young Qin has successors."
"Good, very good."
Seemingly extremely excited, the massive body of the turtle-snake creature trembled slightly, and its ferocious face relaxed a bit.
"Indeed, my cultivation technique was personally passed down by Senior Brother Qin Tang. Naturally, I can be considered a disciple of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace," Li Fan nodded, maintaining his composure.
Bai Li Chen's face darkened instantly, not expecting Li Fan's words to be true.
He and Sikong Yi both stared intently at Li Fan, their eyes brimming with killing intent.
Sensing the rapidly swelling murderous intent from them, Li Fan merely responded with a slight smile.
"Hmm, you are a direct disciple, and this young one is also a direct disciple. Both of you want this Cloud Water Scroll..."
"This is truly a headache..."
The turtle-snake creature seemed puzzled, its gaze shifting back and forth between Li Fan and Bai Li Chen.
After a while, its slow-thinking mind finally came up with a solution.
"In that case, according to the sect's rules, you two should have a sparring match."
"Whoever wins, I'll give the Cloud Water Scroll to them."
The turtle-snake creature seemed quite satisfied with its own solution.
It shook its body, loosening its stiff limbs.
Several rusted swords fell from its body, drifting down in an unusual trajectory to the edge of the sword forest below.
Expanding the size of the sword forest.
"Disciples of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace respect and love each other. When you spar, make sure to stop at the right point."
The turtle-snake creature advised in its ancient voice.
Subsequently, countless rusted swords flew from its body.
They embedded themselves in the ground around Li Fan and Sikong Yi, leaving only a blank area in the center, forming a natural arena.
"Alright. You may begin!"
The turtle-snake creature rumbled.
Li Fan chuckled lightly, "Rest assured, Ancestor, I will definitely spare Junior Brother Bai Li's life."
Bai Li Chen did not respond, but the killing intent in his eyes had already reached its peak.
Above his head, twenty-one rotating blue water swords suddenly appeared.
Forming a sword formation, they whistled towards Li Fan in an instant.
Li Fan merely extended his right hand and gently grasped towards Bai Li Chen.
The dust settled.
Even with a thousand techniques, none could be used at this moment.
Like being trapped in an invisible giant net, Bai Li Chen was instantly bound in mid-air, unable to move.
The twenty-four water swords also dissipated mid-flight.
The long-slumbering Taiyi was now enthusiastically providing commentary.
Though his rusted-like thoughts always made his commentary a beat slow.
Bai Li Chen had already been subdued by Li Fan when his voice slowly came through.
"Hmm, not bad. It's the Ocean-Calming Sword Technique! Already mastered twenty-one swords, close to perfection..."
"Huh, is this the self-binding technique of that little insect? Unexpectedly, it was passed on to an outsider..."
Amidst the commentary of the turtle-snake creature, Bai Li Chen and Sikong Yi both displayed expressions of extreme shock.
They naturally understood what technique had so effortlessly subdued Bai Li Chen.
It was clearly identical to the method used by the mysterious Daoist in the Demon Refining Tower!
Escaping from that mysterious Daoist was one thing, but to learn his divine ability?
How was it possible?
Could it be, this person truly is a disciple of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace?
Otherwise, this simply couldn't be explained!
Yet, the disciples of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace had clearly perished in the great catastrophe thousands of years ago!
Who exactly was he?
Endless doubt and fear surged in the hearts of Bai Li Chen and Sikong Yi.
No, this person is too mysterious. If we fall into his hands...
Looking at Li Fan's "kind" face, the two couldn't help but shiver.
Escape!
Thus, under the watchful eyes of the turtle-snake creature and Li Fan, a bizarre scene unfolded.
Bound by the Insect Binding Divine Ability, Bai Li Chen's form shifted, and in the blink of an eye, he became Sikong Yi.
Meanwhile, the observing Sikong Yi now appeared as Bai Li Chen!
Not only did their appearances exchange, but their aura, cultivation, and even Li Fan's formless killing intent lock also swapped in an instant.
Li Fan's expression changed, but he heard Bai Li Chen shout, "Inferior in skill, I concede! I admit defeat! I yield the Cloud Water Scroll to Senior Brother! I request Ancestor Taiyi to send me away from this Cloud Water Heavenly Palace!"
"Huh... this is..."
The turtle-snake creature was also curious about the scene before it, intending to ponder, but was interrupted by Bai Li Chen's shout.
"You want to leave here, huh?"
"Yes, leaving is good. Leaving is good..."
In the turtle-snake creature's sigh, a layer of blue light enveloped Bai Li Chen.
His form twisted, and he glared at Li Fan with hatred before vanishing without a trace.
Meanwhile, the Sikong Yi bound by Li Fan lost all vitality in an instant.
Under Li Fan's gaze, he slowly turned to dust.
Just as it had happened not long ago in the Demon Refining Tower.
In Li Fan's perception, outside the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, Sikong Yi reappeared beside Bai Li Chen.
The two were desperately fleeing from this place.
"Hmph, trying to escape? It's not that easy!"
Under the formless killing intent lock, as long as the distance wasn't too great, they could never escape from Li Fan's grasp.
Not in a hurry to pursue, Li Fan instead inquired of the turtle-snake creature before him.
"Ancestor Taiyi, may I know what cultivation technique Junior Brother Bai Li Chen practiced? Transforming into another person? It's truly wondrous."
"Hmm... looks familiar, seems like I've heard of it somewhere."
After a while, it still regretfully said, "Getting old, my memory isn't what it used to be. Can't recall."
"Alright, while I still remember, I'll hand over the Cloud Water Scroll to you."
The black snake coiled around Taiyi's head opened its mouth.
A small Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, emitting multicolored light, slowly floated before Li Fan.
Li Fan took it in his hand, sensing the information emerging in his mind, and couldn't help but be a bit stunned.
Is this it?
Is this really worth a hundred thousand contribution points?
As it turned out, the Cloud Water Scroll was just as it appeared, merely a miniature model of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
Meticulously detailed, it replicated every building and scene within the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
Moreover, it contained a trace of divine sense left by the disciples of Cloud Water Heavenly Palace from long ago.
Fixed and preserved in a special way, they became tiny figures, moving within this miniature Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
(End of Chapter)