Chapter 87 – The Treasure Finally Obtained

Chapter 87 – The Treasure Finally Obtained

Just as the treasure was about to fall into his hands, an unexpected twist emerged at the most critical moment. Baili Chen couldn’t help but feel both alarmed and furious.

He looked at Li Fan and couldn’t help but shout angrily, “Where did this fraud come from! The disciples of the Cloud-Water Celestial Palace all died long ag—”

Halfway through his sentence, Baili Chen realized the blunder in his words and forcibly cut himself off.

“Ancestor Taiyi, please see through this clearly — this person cannot possibly be a direct disciple!” he said through gritted teeth to the turtle-snake monster.

But the turtle-snake monster paid no attention to his words, instead carefully discerning the aura of the cultivation technique circulating within Li Fan.

“Hmm… the Cloud-Water Phantasm Technique. Who would have thought — that boy Qin actually found a successor after all.”

“Good, how wonderful.”

As if deeply moved, the turtle-snake monster’s massive body trembled slightly, and its fearsome visage softened somewhat.

“Indeed, the technique I practice was personally passed down by Senior Brother Qin Tang. Naturally, I can be considered a disciple of the Cloud-Water Celestial Palace,” Li Fan said with a nod, his expression unchanged.

Never having imagined that Li Fan’s words could actually be true, Baili Chen’s face instantly darkened.

He and Si Kongyi both fixed their gazes on Li Fan, killing intent surging in their eyes.

Sensing the rapidly swelling murderous intent emanating from them, Li Fan merely responded with a faint smile.

“Hmm, you’re a direct disciple, and this young fellow is also a direct disciple. You both want this 《The Cloud-Water Chart》…”

“What a headache…”

The turtle-snake monster seemed somewhat bewildered, its gaze shifting back and forth between Li Fan and Baili Chen.

After a while, its sluggish mind finally came up with a solution.

“Since that’s the case, then according to our sect’s rules, the two of you shall have a sparring match.”

“Whoever wins, I’ll give 《The Cloud-Water Chart》 to them.”

The turtle-snake monster seemed quite pleased with its own idea.

It shook its body, loosening its stiff frame.

Broken swords fell from its body one by one, drifting down in highly unusual trajectories to land at the edges of the sword forest below.

Expanding the sword forest’s range.

“Disciples of the Cloud-Water Celestial Palace should respect and cherish one another. When you two spar, be sure to stop at the point of contact — no serious harm.”

The turtle-snake monster instructed in its ancient voice.

Then, countless broken swords flew from its body.

They embedded themselves in the ground surrounding Li Fan and Si Kongyi, leaving only a blank area in the middle, forming a natural arena.

“Right then. You may begin!”

The turtle-snake monster rumbled.

Li Fan chuckled softly. “Rest assured, Ancestor. I will certainly spare Junior Brother Baili’s life.”

Baili Chen said nothing in reply, but the killing intent in his eyes had already reached its peak.

Above his head, twenty-one constantly rotating blue water swords materialized with a sharp flash.

Forming a sword formation, they whistled toward Li Fan in an instant.

But Li Fan merely extended his right hand and made a gentle grasping motion toward Baili Chen.

The dust settled.

No matter how many techniques he still had up his sleeve, none could be unleashed now.

As though trapped beneath an invisible, enormous net, Baili Chen was instantly bound in midair, completely immobilized.

Those twenty-four water swords also dissipated mid-flight.

Taiyi, who had been slumbering for millennia, was now enthusiastically providing commentary.

Though his seemingly rusted thought process always left his commentary a beat behind.

Baili Chen had already been subdued by Li Fan, yet Taiyi’s voice only now slowly drifted over.

“Hmm, not bad. That’s the Sea-Calming Sword Art! Already formed twenty-one swords — still some way from mastery…”

“Oh? That’s the little insect’s self-binding technique? I didn’t expect it would be passed on to an outsider…”

As the turtle-snake monster’s commentary rang out, expressions of utter shock appeared simultaneously on the faces of Baili Chen and Si Kongyi.

They naturally knew exactly what this technique was — the one that had subdued Baili Chen with such effortless ease.

It was clearly identical to the method used by the bizarre Daoist in the Demon-Refining Tower!

Escaping from that bizarre Daoist’s grasp was one thing, but to have actually learned his divine abilities?

How was that even possible?

Could this person truly be a disciple of the Cloud-Water Celestial Palace?

Otherwise, none of this could be explained!

But the disciples of the Cloud-Water Celestial Palace had clearly all perished in the Great Calamity thousands of years ago!

Who exactly was he?

Endless doubt and fear surged within the hearts of Baili Chen and Si Kongyi.

No — this person was far too mysterious. If they fell into his hands…

Looking at Li Fan’s “benevolent” face, the two couldn’t help but shudder.

Run!

And so, under the watchful gazes of the turtle-snake monster and Li Fan, a bizarre scene unfolded.

Baili Chen, bound by the Insect Binding, flickered and shifted — and in the blink of an eye, became Si Kongyi.

While Si Kongyi, who had been watching from the side, now wore Baili Chen’s appearance!

It wasn’t just their appearances that had swapped.

Their auras, cultivation levels, and even Li Fan’s lock through Formless Killing Intent — all had been exchanged in an instant.

Li Fan’s expression shifted, and he heard Baili Chen cry out: “My skills are inferior — I concede defeat! I yield! The 《The Cloud-Water Chart》 is yours, Senior Brother! I beg Ancestor Taiyi to send me out of the Cloud-Water Celestial Palace!”

“Oh? This is…”

The turtle-snake monster was also somewhat curious about what had just occurred and was about to ponder it, but Baili Chen’s shout interrupted its thoughts.

“You want to leave this place?”

“Mm, leaving is good. Leaving is for the best…”

As the turtle-snake monster sighed, a layer of blue light enveloped Baili Chen.

His form distorted, and he cast one hateful glance at Li Fan before vanishing without a trace.

Meanwhile, the Si Kongyi that Li Fan had bound instantly lost all signs of life.

Under Li Fan’s gaze, he slowly crumbled into dust.

Just as had happened not long ago in the Demon-Refining Tower.

Through Li Fan’s senses, outside the Cloud-Water Celestial Palace, Si Kongyi had reappeared beside Baili Chen.

The two were fleeing from this place at full speed.

“Hmph, think you can run? It won’t be that easy!”

Under the lock of Formless Killing Intent, as long as they weren’t too far away, there was no way they could escape Li Fan’s grasp.

Rather than rushing to pursue them, Li Fan instead turned to the turtle-snake monster before him with a question.

“Ancestor Taiyi, I wonder what technique Junior Brother Baili was using? Swapping people like a magic trick? Quite remarkable indeed.”

“Hmm… it looks familiar, I feel like I’ve heard of it somewhere.”

After a moment, the creature said with some regret, “I’m getting old, and my memory isn’t what it used to be. I can’t recall.”

“Well, while I still remember, let me hand over 《The Cloud-Water Chart》 to you.”

The black serpent coiled around Taiyi’s skull opened its mouth.

A miniature Cloud-Water Celestial Palace, shimmering with iridescent light, slowly floated toward Li Fan.

Li Fan took it in his hand and, sensing the information that surfaced in his mind, couldn’t help but feel somewhat astonished.

That’s it?

This was worth a hundred thousand contribution points?

As it turned out, 《The Cloud-Water Chart》 was exactly what it appeared to be — simply a miniature model of the Cloud-Water Celestial Palace.

It reproduced every last detail, faithfully recreating every building and scene within the Cloud-Water Celestial Palace, down to the smallest structure.

Moreover, hidden within were wisps of divine sense left behind by the Cloud-Water Celestial Palace’s disciples from ages past.

Preserved through a special method, they had become tiny figurines, moving about within this miniature Cloud-Water Celestial Palace.