Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

"Alas, if only my Hidden Dragon Temple was more prosperous..." With a soft sigh, Yi Chen slowly closed the window, a tinge of regret visible in his eyes.

The room was instantly engulfed in darkness.

Three days swiftly passed by.

Throughout these three days, Yi Chen diligently studied the changes in his Cultivation Body after the breakthrough, reaping considerable benefits. His grasp of the intricate subtleties had become increasingly refined.

"Junior brother, you must teach the disciples well in their cultivation, especially Qing Feng and Ming Yue."

"Senior brother, I'm going up to the Flamepillar Peak once more. I'll be back soon."

Yi Chen spoke to Qing Yunzi, his tone calm, no longer filled with the murderous intent of his first ascent to Flamepillar Peak.

Ever since his True Technique had broken through to the twelfth level, Yi Chen's mentality had no longer been as impatient as before.

Strength is a man's courage.

By his estimation, his current strength had already surpassed Feng Linsu. Even facing an average cultivator at the ninth level of True Person Realm would require a fight to know the outcome.

Only he knew how powerful the blessing of Myriad Transformations' True Intent was to his True Technique.

This True Intent was an extraordinarily perfect fit for his True Technique.

It was truly worthy of being the original scripture practiced by the Longevity God before the division into five equal parts—extremely domineering and difficult to contend with, which significantly improved his purity.

Unless someone was much stronger than Yi Chen, if they were to engage in a fierce battle with him, his bizarre and powerful devouring ability, along with his unusual damage reduction, would allow Yi Chen to drag them to exhaustion or even death.

This was the quality of having both durable flesh and high damage - if he still had any shortcomings, it would be his speed.

"Senior brother, understood," Qing Yunzi nodded, his gaze slanted as he performed a bow. Next to him stood two exquisite little Daoist acolytes, Qing Feng and Ming Yue.

With the help of the Moon Concealing Pill yesterday, Yi Chen's two foolish little junior brothers finally awakened their spiritual intelligence and could begin cultivation.

"Senior brother, come back early," Ming Yue pumped her little fist in encouragement.

"Senior brother, now that I can cultivate, don't underestimate me. I am already nine years old, and I will surely surpass you in the future," Qing Feng said with his hands on his hips, puffing himself up confidently, amusing Yi Chen.

That was indeed Qing Feng, always so bold.

Of course, he wouldn't dare to leap into the Falling Dragon Pool if he wasn't this bold...

After waving his hand, Yi Chen soared into the sky, transforming into a streak of white light and flying towards the ruins of the Pyro-Taoist Sect at Flamepillar Peak.

Along the way, he took in the blue sky, white clouds, and the bright sunshine over the green mountains.

After a little more than an hour, Yi Chen had already landed at the foot of Flamepillar Peak.

At this time, the base of Flamepillar Peak was surrounded by quite a few people—mostly meddlers, spies from other forces, and cultivators who had come after hearing the tales.

It was already fantastic enough that a strong contender from the Dragon and Tiger List had emerged from the small Fengyun County, having forcefully slain the tyrannical blade master.

Now, after returning, he destroyed the Pyro-Taoist Sect again and cut down the Great Elder Lie Yanzi of the Inferno Sect. Today, he was even more overt in challenging the Sect Hierarch of the Inferno Sect, Yin Tianyin, on Flamepillar Peak. The intention to provoke was self-evident.

The moment Yi Chen made an appearance, the crowd started exclaiming in surprise.

By now, his reputation had spread far and wide, with his deeds being talked about even in many places outside the Jiangbei Circuit of Da Yue.

Many were already discussing who was stronger or weaker between him and Zhang Daoyi, who was regarded as the number one youth of the Dao Sect.

"Taoist Yi Chen, the Sect Hierarch has been waiting for you as promised for quite some time. Do you dare to ascend the mountain?" A red-robed elder approached Yi Chen and spoke coldly, his beard flecked with gray.

From his bearing, he seemed to be at the third level of the True Person Realm. Yi Chen guessed that this man must be an elder from the Flame Hall of the Inferno Sect, for there was a light of deep hatred in his eyes, looking as though he wanted nothing more than to tear Yi Chen apart on the spot.

Yi Chen, however, relished the sight of his foe's frenzied hatred paired with an inability to do anything about him.

"Yi Chengzi, I am..."

"Scram! I have no interest in your name!" Yi Chen's gaze suddenly darkened, sharp as an eagle's as he glanced at the red-robed elder, who, in full view of the public, staggered under Yi Chen's intimidating look.

Dismissing the elder as if he were mere trash, Yi Chen didn't even give the man another glance and boldly stepped into the mist-shrouded ascent of Flamepillar Peak.

At this moment, the abnormal mist on Flamepillar Peak was clearly caused by a Formation.

The Inferno Sect had indeed come as promised, but they had clearly set a test for Yi Chen.

We are here, do you dare to come up?

If it had been the former Yi Chen, he might have pondered a bit, but now, with his increased cultivation, naturally, he was unafraid.

An eagle dares to stand on the protruding branch on the edge of a cliff not because the branch is sturdy but because its own wings are strong.

In a flash, Yi Chen's figure disappeared into the mist.

At this moment, among the cultivators spectating from a distance at the foot of the mountain, murmurs of awe arose.

"My goodness, I thought the rumors were exaggerated and partly untrue, but now it seems that Taoist Yi Chen's cultivation level is even higher than imagined," one person exclaimed.

"That stare he just gave, he actually repelled that person, who happens to be the Sixth Elder of the Inferno Sect, Lie Wuxia— the real brother of that Lie Yanzi who died at the hands of Taoist Yi Chen."

"How infuriating! The Inferno Sect has laid down a Formation to prevent us from witnessing this encounter," another lamented.

Yi Chen was naturally oblivious to the affairs outside.

The clouds and mist isolated the inside from the outside, sticky and chillingly cold.

As soon as he entered the formation, he felt as if he was being watched.

A faint sense of threat lingered in his mind.

"Interesting, these old sects really have some tricks up their sleeves, to be able to pose a slight threat to someone like me now, indeed intriguing."

A hint of cold smirk appeared on Yi Chen's face, but he was secretly on his guard.

However, contrary to his expectations, nothing unexpected happened on his way to the mountaintop.

Atop the mountain, beneath a large tree, an old man with a chessboard in front of him, dressed in a white robe and exuding the aura of a Taoist immortal, was sitting in deep concentration, clearly having waited for some time.

"Daoist brother truly has outstanding skills and courage. Please, take a seat and we can have a game," the old man said, opening his eyes that shone like lightning.

Yi Chen sized up the elder before him.

The man had a long white beard and a demeanor that was ethereal and dust-free; Yi Chen felt that if they switched clothes, he would look like the Sect Hierarch of the Ming Fire Sect, and the man before him would be the Taoist.

That's just outrageous.

He had thought that the Sect Hierarch of the Ming Fire Sect would be a somber old man; unexpectedly, he had such a presentable appearance.

The elder's aura was deep and unfathomable as the sea, and Yi Chen couldn't discern the depth of the secret techniques he had cultivated in such a short time.

After some thought, Yi Chen reached out his hand and pulled the chessboard towards him.

Yi Chen swept aside his robe and sat down on the ground, gesturing with an open hand, "Playing chess is fine, but let's play over here."

The elder chuckled, a hint of an unknown regret flashing in his eyes, and smilingly approached Yi Chen.

"Should Daoist brother make the first move, or should this old man?"

"I am not one to shy away!" Yi Chen took the initiative and played first with the black pieces.

In negotiations, momentum is key. Since the other party didn't initiate the conversation, he would join in the game.

Yi Chen had dabbled in Go in his past life, his skill comparable to that of two hawks, or a double eagle.

The two of them took turns quickly, without long contemplation between moves.

By the mid-game, Yi Chen thought for thirty seconds and resolutely made an eagle's move.

The elder smiled knowingly, placed another white piece, and Yi Chen's large dragon suddenly appeared perilously close to capture.

The white pieces' momentum was continuous, seizing territories like a besieging army. Unbeknownst to him, Yi Chen's black pieces were now encircled within the white's.

"Daoist brother, you've lost. Your skills in chess still need polishing."

"Young man, still so vigorous, to be easily lured into a trap."

"Alright, let's talk. Daoist brother killed my Sect's Elder, how do you intend to explain this?" the elder asked with a lofty smile, as if he held all the answers.

Yi Chen thought for dozens of seconds, sighed, and stood up tall. Your next journey awaits at empire

The Dragon-Slaying Sword was now in his hand.

"I haven't lost."

"Daoist friend's skills are indeed strong, but what move would you make if I were to draw the Dragon-Slaying Sword?"

The True Yang Spirit revealed itself in a Dragon-Tiger stance, as a four-meter-tall silver-white Daoist figure with an indifferent gaze loomed over the elder.

A fierce momentum soared to the sky.

Yi Chen of course wouldn't lose. If he killed the person he was playing chess with, wouldn't he win by default?

"Great-Uncle Master, come on out."

As soon as the white-robed elder finished speaking, a series of coughing sounds emerged.

An old man, looking like a consumptive ghost in a dark black robe, stepped out from the trunk of the large tree in front of them.

The continuous coughing seemed so severe as if he might cough out his innards, creating the impression of a man on his deathbed. Yet the moment this man appeared, Yi Chen's pupils constricted instantly.

The aura of this black-robed consumptive ghost was hardly different from that of Feng Linsu, a bona fide eighth-tier peak master of the True Person Realm.

Instantly, Yi Chen realized the source of the subtle sense of threat and the feeling of being watched when he entered the mountain.

"Yi Daoist, for killing our Sect's Elder, what kind of explanation can you provide?" the white-robed elder asked with a light chuckle, appearing as though he had the upper hand.

"Dammit, Pure Yang Holy Seal Heavenly Light!"

The Ming Fire Sect really was too sly, hiding another trick up its sleeve by deploying an old coffin nail.

With Yi Chen as the center, a red mist suddenly rose within a twenty-meter radius, and his Dao domain opened!