Seeing the treasure within reach but obstructed by unexpected complications infuriated Baili Chen.
He looked at Li Fan and couldn't help but shout angrily, "Where did this imposter come from! The disciples of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace have long been exterminated..."
Mid-sentence, Baili Chen realized the inappropriateness of his words and stopped abruptly.
"Divine Ancestor, this person definitely cannot be an authentic disciple!" he gritted his teeth and said to the turtle-snake creature.
However, the turtle-snake creature paid no attention to his words, carefully discerning the aura operating within Li Fan.
"Hmm... Cloud Water Illusory Dream Art. It's unexpected that Junior Qin also has a successor."
"Good, good."
Seeming highly excited, the massive form of the turtle-snake creature trembled slightly, and its ferocious visage relaxed a bit.
"Indeed, my cultivation technique is the direct transmission from Senior Brother Qin. Naturally, I can be considered a disciple of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace," Li Fan nodded and said with an unchanged expression.
They hadn't expected that what Li Fan said was actually true, causing Baili Chen's expression to darken instantly.
Both he and Sikong Yi stared fixedly at Li Fan, their eyes brimming with murderous intent.
Feeling the rapidly swelling killing intent emanating from them, Li Fan merely smiled slightly in response.
"Hmm, you are both direct disciples, and this young man is also a direct disciple. You both want this 'Cloud Water Map'..."
"It's truly a headache..."
The turtle-snake creature seemed a bit confused, its gaze shifting back and forth between Li Fan and Baili Chen.
After a while, its slow-thinking mind finally came up with a solution.
"Since that's the case, according to the rules of the sect, why don't you two compete against each other?"
"Whoever wins, I will give this 'Cloud Water Map' to them."
The turtle-snake creature seemed quite satisfied with its own solution.
It shook its body and moved its stiff body.
Several broken swords fell from its body, drifting towards the edge of the sword forest below in a very unusual trajectory, increasing the size of the sword forest.
"Cloud Water Heavenly Palace disciples should respect and love each other. The two of you, be careful not to go too far during your sparring."
The turtle-snake creature cautioned in its old, hoarse voice.
Then, numerous broken swords flew out from its body.
They fell into the ground around Li Fan and Sikong Yi, leaving only a blank area in the middle, forming a natural arena.
"Hmm. You may begin!"
The turtle-snake creature said in a muffled voice.
Li Fan chuckled, "Divine Ancestor, rest assured, I will definitely spare Baili Chen's life."
Baili Chen remained silent, his murderous intent reaching its peak.
Above his head, twenty-one constantly rotating blue water swords suddenly appeared.
Forming a sword formation, they whizzed towards Li Fan.
But Li Fan simply extended his right hand and lightly grabbed towards Baili Chen.
Everything became still.
Even if there were a thousand other means, they could no longer be executed at this moment.
As if caught in an invisible giant net, Baili Chen was firmly trapped, suspended in mid-air, unable to move.
The twenty-four water swords also dissipated midway in their flight.
Patriarch Taiyi, who had been asleep for thousands of years, was now enthusiastically commentating.
However, his thought process seemed rusty, making his commentary always a beat slow.
Baili Chen had already been subdued by Li Fan before his voice slowly came out.
"Hmm, not bad. It's the Sea Fixing Sword Technique! It's already practiced twenty one swords, it's close to the grand completion..."
"Surprising... this is the binding technique of that little insect child? I never thought it would be passed on to an outsider..."
Through the commentary of the turtle-snake creature, Baili Chen and Sikong Yi had expressions of unimaginable horror.
They naturally understood what technique had so effortlessly restrained Baili Chen.
It was exactly the same as the method the strange cultivator used in the Demon Refining Tower.
To escape from that peculiar cultivator was one thing, but to learn his supernatural abilities?
How was that achieved?
Could it be that this person was truly a disciple of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace?
Otherwise, none of this could be explained!
However, the disciples of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace had clearly died out in the Great Calamity thousands of years ago!
Who was he, really?
Endless doubts and fears surged within Baili Chen and Sikong Yi.
No, this person was too mysterious. If they fell into his hands...
Looking at Li Fan's "friendly" face, the two couldn't help but shiver.
Escape!
So, under the gaze of the turtle-snake creature and Li Fan, a strange scene unfolded.
Baili Chen, who was bound by the insect, suddenly transformed and in the blink of an eye became Sikong Yi.
Meanwhile, Sikong Yi, who was watching from the side, now appeared as Baili Chen!
It wasn't just an exchange of appearance.
Their auras, cultivation bases, and even the lock-on from Li Fan through the 'Formless Killing Intent' all exchanged in an instant.
Li Fan's expression changed, but he heard Baili Chen shout, "My skills are inferior to you, I admit defeat! I'll let Senior Brother have the 'Cloud Water Map'! Please, Divine Ancestor Taiyi, escort me out of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace!"
"Hmm... what is this..."
The turtle-snake creature was curious about the scene unfolding before its eyes, but was interrupted by Baili Chen's shout.
"You want to leave here?"
"Yes, leaving is good. Leaving is good..."
In the turtle-snake creature's lament, a blue light shrouded Baili Chen.
His figure twisted for a moment, and he glared hatefully at Li Fan, then disappeared without a trace.
As for Sikong Yi, who was bound by Li Fan, he instantly lost vitality.
Under Li Fan's gaze, he slowly turned into ashes.
Just like what happened in the Demon Refining Tower a while ago.
In Li Fan's senses, outside the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, Sikong Yi once again appeared next to Baili Chen.
The two were doing their utmost to escape from this place.
"Humph, you want to escape? Not so easy!"
Under the lock-on of the Formless Killing Intent, unless they were too far away, no matter what they did, they couldn't escape from Li Fan's grasp.
Not in a hurry to chase them, Li Fan instead inquired the turtle-snake creature before him.
"Divine Ancestor Taiyi, I wonder which technique Baili Chen cultivated? To transform between different living beings is indeed quite amazing."
"Hmm... it looks somewhat familiar, seems like I heard of it somewhere."
After a while, he lamented, "I'm getting old, my memory isn't so good. I can't recall."
"Well, while I still remember, I'll give you the 'Cloud Water Map'."
The black snake entwined around Patriarch Taiyi's head opened its mouth.
A miniaturized version of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, emitting colorful light, slowly flew to Li Fan.
Li Fan held it in his hand, sensing the information appearing in his mind, he couldn't help but be somewhat astonished.
Just this?
Is this really worth a hundred thousand contribution points?
This 'Cloud Water Map' was indeed what it seemed like, just a miniature model of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
Every detail was faithfully reproduced, including all the sizes and structures within the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
Moreover, within it preserved a trace of spiritual consciousness left behind by the disciples of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace from that era.
Fixed in a special way, they became miniaturized figures, moving about in this miniature Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.