Chapter 87: Treasure Finally in Hand

Baili Chen was surprised and enraged to see the treasure almost within his grasp, only for unexpected complications to arise at this crucial moment.

He looked at Li Fan and couldn't help but roar, "Where did this swindler come from! All disciples of the Cloudwater Celestial Palace died long ago..." Halfway through his sentence, Baili Chen realized his words were inappropriate and abruptly stopped.

"Grand Ancestor Taiyi, this person absolutely cannot be a direct disciple!" he said through gritted teeth to the tortoise-snake monster.

The tortoise-snake monster, however, paid no attention to his words. Instead, it carefully distinguished the aura of the cultivation technique Li Fan was performing.

"Hmm... The Cloudwater Dream Illusion Art. I didn't expect that Young Qin also has a successor."

"Good, very good."

As if greatly excited, the tortoise-snake monster's massive body trembled slightly, and its grotesque face relaxed somewhat.

"Indeed, my cultivation technique was personally passed down by Senior Brother Qin Tang. So, naturally, I am also considered a disciple of the Cloudwater Celestial Palace," Li Fan said, nodding with an unchanged expression.

Never having imagined Li Fan's words were true, Baili Chen's face instantly darkened. Both he and Sikong Yi stared intently at Li Fan, their eyes brimming with murderous intent. Sensing their rapidly growing killing intent, Li Fan merely responded with a slight smile.

"Hmm, you are a direct disciple, and this young man is also a direct disciple. Both of you want this 'Cloudwater Scroll'..."

"This is quite a conundrum..."

The tortoise-snake monster looked somewhat bewildered, its gaze shifting back and forth between Li Fan and Baili Chen. After a while, its slow mind finally came up with a solution.

"Since that's the case, according to our sect's rules, you two should spar with each other."

"Whoever wins, I will give them this 'Cloudwater Scroll'."

The tortoise-snake monster seemed quite satisfied with its own idea. It shook its body, loosening its stiff frame. Broken swords fell from its body, drifting in highly unusual trajectories to the edge of the sword forest below, which expanded the size of the sword forest.

"Disciples of the Cloudwater Celestial Palace respect and love each other. When you spar, remember to stop before causing serious harm," the tortoise-snake monster instructed in its ancient voice.

Subsequently, countless broken swords flew from its body. They embedded themselves in the ground around Li Fan and Sikong Yi, leaving only a clear space in the middle, forming a natural arena.

"Alright. You may begin!" the tortoise-snake monster rumbled.

Li Fan chuckled softly, "Grand Ancestor, don't worry, I will certainly spare Junior Brother Baili's life."

Baili Chen said nothing in response, but the murderous intent in his eyes had already reached its peak. Above his head, twenty-one continuously rotating blue water swords suddenly appeared. They formed a sword array and instantly whistled towards Li Fan.

Li Fan, however, merely extended his right hand and gently made a grabbing motion towards Baili Chen.

The dust settled. Even with a thousand other techniques, he could not employ any of them now. As if trapped by an invisible net, Baili Chen was instantly bound in mid-air, unable to move. The twenty-one water swords also dissipated mid-flight.

Taiyi, who had been dormant for thousands of years, was now enthusiastically providing commentary. Although his mind, as if rusty, always made his commentary a beat too slow. Baili Chen had already been subdued by Li Fan when his voice slowly echoed.

"Hmm, not bad. That's the Sea-Stabilizing Sword Art! Twenty-one have been manifested, almost reaching mastery..."

"Oh, is that the self-binding technique of that little bug? I didn't expect it to be passed on to an outsider..."

As the tortoise-snake monster provided commentary, both Baili Chen and Sikong Yi simultaneously showed expressions of extreme horror on their faces. They naturally knew what technique had so easily restrained Baili Chen. It was clearly identical to the method used by the enigmatic Daoist in the Monster Refining Pagoda!

Not only did he escape from that enigmatic Daoist, but he also learned his divine abilities? How was that possible? Could it be that this person really is a disciple of the Cloudwater Celestial Palace? Otherwise, none of this made any sense! But the disciples of the Cloudwater Celestial Palace had clearly all perished in the great catastrophe thousands of years ago! Who exactly was he?

Endless doubt and fear surged within Baili Chen and Sikong Yi. No, this person was too mysterious; if they fell into his hands... Looking at Li Fan's "kind" face, both couldn't help but shiver.

Then, under the gaze of the tortoise-snake monster and Li Fan, a bizarre scene unfolded. Baili Chen, who had been immobilized by the binding worm technique, shifted form and instantly became Sikong Yi. Meanwhile, Sikong Yi, who had been watching from the side, now looked exactly like Baili Chen! It wasn't just their appearances that had swapped. Their aura, cultivation level, and even Li Fan's lock-on via the Formless Killing Intent all exchanged in an instant.

Li Fan's expression changed, but he then heard the person who now looked like Baili Chen shout, "My skill is inferior, I concede defeat! I surrender! I yield the 'Cloudwater Scroll' to Senior Brother! Grand Ancestor Taiyi, please send me out of this Cloudwater Celestial Palace!"

"Hmm... What is this..." The tortoise-snake monster was also curious about the scene unfolding before it and was about to ponder, but was interrupted by Baili Chen's shout.

"You want to leave here?"

"Yes, leaving is good. Leaving is good indeed..."

Amidst the tortoise-snake monster's exclamations, a layer of blue light enveloped Baili Chen. His body distorted for a moment, he cast a resentful glance at Li Fan, then vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, Sikong Yi, who had been bound by Li Fan, lost all vitality in an instant. Under Li Fan's gaze, he slowly turned into dust. Just as had happened not long ago in the Monster Refining Pagoda.

In Li Fan's perception, outside the Cloudwater Celestial Palace, Sikong Yi reappeared beside Baili Chen. Both were trying their utmost to flee from the area rapidly.

"Hmph, trying to escape? Not so easy!" Under the lock of the Formless Killing Intent, as long as they weren't too far away, they would never escape Li Fan's grasp.

Not in a hurry to pursue, Li Fan instead questioned the tortoise-snake monster before him. "Grand Ancestor Taiyi, do you know what cultivation technique Junior Brother Baili practiced? The 'Great Living Transformation'? It's quite miraculous."

"Hmm... It seems familiar. I think I've heard of it somewhere." After a moment, he still said regretfully, "I'm old, and my memory isn't what it used to be. I can't recall."

"Well, while I still remember, I'll hand over the 'Cloudwater Scroll' to you."

The black snake coiled around Taiyi's head opened its mouth. A small, five-colored glowing Cloudwater Celestial Palace slowly flew towards Li Fan. Li Fan took it into his hand, and as he sensed the information appearing in his mind, he couldn't help but be astonished.

Is that all? Is this really worth 100,000 contribution points? It turned out that the 'Cloudwater Scroll' was indeed exactly as it appeared: merely a miniature model of the Cloudwater Celestial Palace. It meticulously recreated every single building and scene within the Cloudwater Celestial Palace, down to the smallest detail. Moreover, it contained a trace of the spiritual consciousness preserved by the Cloudwater Celestial Palace disciples from back then. These were fixed and preserved in a special way, becoming tiny figures that moved about within this miniature Cloudwater Celestial Palace.