Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi

"Your second flaw is even more obvious..."

As he spoke, a mocking smile appeared on his face:

"During the first test, your performance was only secondary to mine and Three Evils Daoist. Considering that you've only ascended to the Golden Core stage for a few decades, this is clearly abnormal."

"At that time, you explained that the 'Nine Seas and Myriad Rivers Scripture' you cultivated included a unique divine technique to enhance the divine soul and strengthen divine thought, which you used as your excuse."

"But you probably don't know, when I joined the Haihe Association years ago, lacking subsequent cultivation techniques and fearing the exposure of the origin of my inheritance, I exchanged five top-level techniques with Lord Haihe, including Fuhai Sect's 'Nine Seas and Myriad Rivers Scripture' under the guise of self-creation."

"In the 'Nine Seas and Myriad Rivers Scripture', all Golden Core stage Dao techniques have corresponding simplified Foundation Establishment Dao techniques, which I have personally studied and understand thoroughly!"

"With such a clumsy and ridiculous excuse, you think you could fool me — Wanchuan old man?!"

The one impersonating Lord Haihe must be the long-dead Wanchuan Ancestor!

When Zhang Yao confirmed the identity of the fake Haihe Ancestor, he had already thought of this answer.

In this world, who could impersonate Lord Haihe without memory while having the same cultivation realm and divine techniques and remain undetected for years, except this Golden Core Ancestor of the Fuhai Sect?

In fact, when deducing this truth, Zhang Yao also considered many previous doubts.

Back then, the change of the Azure Jade in the Fuhai Sect led to Lord Haihe being expelled from the sect.

But from a common sense perspective, if Wanchuan Ancestor truly regarded Lord Haihe as his own and saw him as the hope and future successor of the sect, how could he let him wander outside for a hundred years?

Although limited by sect rules and face, he couldn't directly intervene, but for a Golden Core Ancestor to secretly assist without anyone noticing, there are many ways.

But Wanchuan Ancestor did nothing, letting the Celestial Spirit Root gifted Lord Haihe suffer outside for a hundred years; upon returning to the mountain gate, he immediately ordered him to retreat for a long period to quickly break through to Foundation Establishment Perfection due to his delay on the Golden Core path.

Zhang Yao was puzzled by Wanchuan Ancestor's actions at the time but didn't think much of it until today when he realized that he had long been preparing to seize his disciple's identity.

Long-term absence means one wouldn't be familiar with the upper echelons and fellow disciples; personality changes over a century are not uncommon.

Later, as the Da Li Cultivation Realm underwent a series of upheavals, the Fuhai Sect suffered heavy blows, but Lord Haihe ultimately could not escape Wanchuan Ancestor's clutches.

Now, Wanchuan Ancestor has even set his sights on Zhang Yao.

"Wanchuan, when you sent that letter and Fengxi Mountain Copper to lure me to Dayu, you were already setting a trap for me."

"Through these actions, you deliberately guided my thinking, making me mistakenly believe that having not seen Lord Haihe for years, combined with old grudges, his nature, and his attitude toward me would have changed somewhat."

"As long as you successfully implanted such an impression in my mind, I would naturally fall into a mental trap, and even if there were slight differences in your words and actions from my memory of Lord Haihe, I wouldn't suspect your true identity…"

Zhang Yao continued to speak confidently, his gaze sweeping over the dense white mist around him:

"But you've miscalculated; you didn't expect Man Tian Sheng's unexpected appearance."

"And you couldn't guess that I am very familiar with Lord Haihe. Any minor flaw you show could be a fatal crack!"

"Last time we entered the Jade Divine Palace, you and Fairy Xia Guang probably weren't aware of each other's identities and only truly allied afterward, right?"

"This time, you three great demon cultivators joined forces, confident enough to capture me and Three Evils Daoist, and only when your deception failed and was exposed did you forcefully drag us into this confrontational stage."

Zhang Yao's words were like sharp arrows, repeatedly piercing Wanchuan Ancestor's pride and exposing his disgrace.

A voice in the white mist was silent for a moment before it sounded again:

"What a pity… I was severely injured and dying back then, and could only start hastily, so I didn't complete it."

"Otherwise, if I had devoured my disciple's divine soul and fully refined it afterward, I would not have any flaws..."

Saying this, Wanchuan Ancestor paused and then mocking spoke:

"As for you, Qingxu, you've been talking to me for so long, aren't you just delaying time, trying to find any flaw in our hiding method?"

"Then let me tell you, you're wasting your efforts!"

"The array in the Jade Divine Palace's ten heavenly checkpoints are all fifth grade arrays. It's impossible for you to see any flaw!"

Zhang Yao was silent for a moment before speaking slowly:

"I just want to ask you one thing... Is Lord Haihe still alive?"

"Of course, he is dead."

Wanchuan Ancestor's tone was calm, without a trace of emotion:

"Without his sacrifice, I wouldn't have recovered so quickly from my injuries back then. It was thanks to my good disciple's identity that I got a second chance in life."

"Good, very good!"

Zhang Yao took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and slowly opened them again.

The last hope in his heart was shattered, leaving only a cold, iron-hard gaze:

"Wanchuan, I will definitely kill you!!"

"Hahaha..."

Wanchuan Ancestor's wild laughter echoed, full of undisguised sarcasm:

"Qingxu boy, your arrogance has truly reached the extreme!"

"The three of us join forces and are in the fog of the tenth gate of the Divine Palace, occupying the advantageous time and place; do you think you can turn things around in a hopeless situation?"

"Merely relying on a powerful slaughter divine technique cannot save your life!"

"Enough!"

Fairy Xia Guang's voice came, tinged with impatience:

"Cut the chatter, finish him quickly, so we don't complicate things further!"

"It's all your fault, Wan Chuan! In hindsight, I shouldn't have agreed to your plan to bring him over from Da Li."

"As a result, his fame has forced the Three Evils Daoist to find external help, almost leading to the exposure of the Divine Palace's secrets and ruining our favorable situation!"

"What are you afraid of?"

Wanchuan Ancestor dismissed her concerns, saying:

"No matter how many people come, the situation is still under our control; the interior of the Divine Palace is our territory!"

"As for Elder Qingxu, heh heh..."

His voice paused, revealing a clear hint of greed:

"He is the heir of the Five Elements Wanderer and the ultimate winner of the Secret Realm contest; that Grade Four Innate Pure Essence Pill, which the Five Elements Wanderer exchanged his fortune for, must still be on him!"

"Even if he's already ingested and refined it, he hasn't been in the Golden Core Stage for many years. By refining his flesh and blood, we can regain half of the pill's potency – and this Spirit Pill is crucial for our cultivation path, even more precious than Ancient Spiritual Treasures!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao finally understood.

It turns out, Wanchuan Ancestor lured him into this situation with a letter and a gift, with the true target being the 'Innate Pure Essence Pill' that never existed on him.

This thing has deceived True Yang Ancestor and the others for over a hundred years, and Wanchuan Ancestor, unaware of the Secret Realm's details, still believes in its existence.

"There's truly no flaw to be found in this mist here…"

Zhang Yao frowned silently.

Moments ago, he seized the chance during their conversation to delay as much as possible, trying every method to locate their positions, even if it was just a tiny clue.

However, regardless of vision, hearing, divine thought, or tactile senses, none of them were effective, completely obscured by the mist of this tenth checkpoint.

"The enemy is in the dark while I'm exposed; this battle will be tough."

Zhang Yao knew this deeply, but with no control in his hands, he could only stand ready and wait for them to make the first move.

"Qingxu, listen closely..."

Wanchuan Ancestor's voice sounded again, and as Zhang Yao's expression instinctively shifted—

Suddenly, without a sound:

A blue light, a red light, and a faint golden light surged towards his head from three different angles.

They were well aware of Elder Qingxu's impenetrable Horizontal Refining Treasure Body, even stronger than Body Cultivators, essentially a turtle shell; hence, they unanimously activated their Spirit Soul Dao Skills.

"Not good!"

Due to all sensory faculties being obscured in the white mist, even divine thoughts couldn't extend outward, leaving Zhang Yao's hair standing on end and alarm bells ringing, seemingly too late to respond.

It was at this moment that Zhang Yao finally understood why Bai Hong Sword Immortal, with his Sword Heart Clarity and keen spiritual sense, and the mysterious Artifact Cultivator You Quan, both fell to their hands.

This ambush was truly terrifying and almost unavoidable!

Although his defensive capabilities of Physique and Divine Soul were extremely strong, maintaining a defense indefinitely would eventually lead to failure; there's no sense in being forever passive!

"Woosh!"

And just at this very moment, Zhang Yao's body suddenly dispersed, transforming into an intangible breeze sweeping through.

The blue, red, and faint golden lights passed through the azure airflow without causing any disturbance.

"What?"

This scene shocked Wanchuan Ancestor, Fairy Xia Guang, and Fairy Feiyin.

A Daoist Skill that allows direct transformation of one's body is exceedingly rare, yet they were fortunate enough to witness this extraordinary divine technique!

"Damn it! This Qingxu actually knows this move!"

Wanchuan Ancestor was enraged and instantly attempted to retreat and relocate.

But even though his speed was fast, it couldn't match the prepared Zhang Yao, transformed into the breeze.

"Boom!"

Eight violet Thunderballs exploded into action, transforming a large patch of white mist into a Sea of Thunder Marsh, with terrifying lightning rampaging wildly.

The moment they attacked was equivalent to revealing their own positions, and although their assured ambush failed to achieve any effect, it also pushed them into a dangerous situation.

And the fearful power of Annihilation Divine Thunder caused Wanchuan Ancestor and others, who were caught off guard, to suffer greatly:

Flyyin and Dawn Light, with their protective magical treasures, rushed out all disheveled, while Wanchuan Ancestor, a step slower, was struck by lightning, leaving him charred and almost stripped of his skin, a pitiful sight.

"Qingxu, I swear I will annihilate you!!"

Fueled by pain and rage, Wanchuan Ancestor's roar echoed through the white mist space.

"A dog with a broken spine dares to bark?"

Zhang Yao flicked his robe sleeve, his tone cold and sharp:

"Come! Let my humble self see how much skill you have left!"