Even without his spiritual power, Shu Han's physical body was on par with cultivators. In such close proximity, his finger moved at a speed that was too fast to react to.

Covered in dark patterns, his index finger, powerful enough to break through heavenly fire, penetrated Elder Lu's forehead as easily as piercing through tofu.

With a flick of Shu Han's finger, a tremendous force exploded inside Elder Lu's head, causing his already shriveled brain to burst.

Was it over just like that?

Watching the headless corpse, Shu Han's heart raced. However, a lingering sense of danger prevented him from reflecting further. He stood up and fled. But behind him, the headless corpse suddenly stood upright.

"Run? Where do you think you're going, young one?"

From the abdomen of the corpse, an old-looking Golden Core emerged. Surrounded by a golden light, Elder Lu's withered form appeared once more. His skeletal hand stretched out, and in an instant, three golden ropes shot out, binding Shu Han tightly. The ropes continued to constrict.

"You undying old man..."

Suddenly, golden lightning surged from the ropes, causing Shu Han to convulse. Ultimately, he couldn't withstand the Core Formation cultivator's magic treasure attack and fell unconscious.

With a wave of Elder Lu's sleeve, Shu Han was swept into it.

Looking back at his own corpse, Elder Lu felt a chill, "Impressive lad, even without spiritual power, he achieved so much. Reminds me of Zhu Tianyu from the past. Luckily, I often use a stand-in to interact with others; otherwise, I might have been in real danger."

...

Bai Xingyan walked down the mountain path. Given his status, he wasn't permitted to fly in the Foundation Establishment cultivator's area. He couldn't help but look back towards Shu Han's cave dwelling, his feelings in turmoil.

"Why does my master possess my Bai family's inherited Heavenly Quadrant Sword Formation? My talents are limited, yet Master took me as a disciple. Could it be because of this Heavenly Quadrant Sword Formation?"

He took out four heavenly swords, carefully examining them. They indeed matched the ancestral teachings. Suddenly, the jade pendant from which the command token for the Heavenly Quadrant Sword Formation hung, started to glow, and a line of small text appeared before Bai Xingyan.

"I'm in danger. Elder Lu intends to harm me. Quickly, find Song Changyi, the top of the Heavenly Fire Leaderboard, and ask him to come to my rescue!"

Clang!

Bai Xingyan's mind buzzed. Gasping for breath, he finally understood why his master had sent him away earlier. If he hadn't left, he too might have faced disaster.

Where is Senior Song Changyi!? Bai Xingyan was completely bewildered at that moment. Suddenly, he slapped himself hard, murmuring, "Stay calm! Calm down!" He saw Foundation Establishment cultivators darting about in the sky, took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and flew up with his Heavenly Quadrant Sword Formation to ask each one.

"Senior! Do you know which cave mansion Senior Song Changyi resides in?"

"I don't! Go away!"

"Senior! Do you know..."

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...

Shu Han awakened from unconsciousness to find himself in a pitch-black, confined space. He tried to activate his spiritual power, but it was even more tightly sealed than before. It wasn't the effect of losing his cultivation, but rather as if a formation had been inscribed into his dantian.

"Damn! Where is this?"

Shu Han pounded on the walls around him. Suddenly, intricate formation patterns lit up where his fists struck.

Using the faint light from the formations, Shu Han realized he was naked inside an alchemy furnace, his body covered in dense red patterns.

Fear truly gripped Shu Han. This old fiend was really going to use him for alchemy!

He had avoided the grasp of Master Mystical Dragon in the past, only to fall into the hands of this old fiend today?

"Old dog! Release me! I'm the Sect Leader's appointed talent. Lay a hand on me, and he will ensure you die a horrific death!"

He pounded against the furnace wall, but the formation kept the furnace solid. Regardless of Shu Han's attacks, it remained unyielding.

At that moment, Elder Lu's voice echoed from outside the furnace, laughing smugly, "Young man, don't waste your energy. This alchemy furnace of mine is renowned throughout the entire Northern Great Cloud. Even if you weren't sealed, your power wouldn't budge this precious furnace an inch. Resign yourself to being the primary ingredient for my Heaven-Stealing Pill."

"You damned old fiend! Dare lay a hand on me? Do you know who stands behind me?"

Elder Lyu responded, "Isn't it just the Sect Leader? I know him well. He might value you outwardly, but he would never truly stick his neck out for a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"You're mistaken!" Shu Han retorted coldly, "Song Jinglun? What's he compared to the real backers I have? Behind me stand the Green Thunder Sect and the Great Fortune Sect! If you dare harm me, these two Nascent Soul sects will leave you with no escape, whether in the skies or on the ground!"

Green Thunder Sect! Great Fortune Sect!

Elder Lu burst into laughter. "The Green Thunder Sect is one thing, but you dare to bring up the distant Great Fortune Sect? What can a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like you count for? How could you possibly have ties with these two major sects? Young man, don't try to intimidate me. I've lived for over two thousand years; what haven't I seen?"

Shu Han feigned a cold laugh, retorting, "Don't believe me? Don't you have my storage bag? Open it and see for yourself."

Outside the furnace, Elder Lu's brows furrowed as he picked up Shu Han's storage bag and peered inside. Instantly, he exclaimed in derision, "Youngster, are you some kind of junk collector? What a bunch of odds and ends!"

Suddenly, his entire body shuddered. From the storage bag, he pulled out a stack of Thunder Tribulation talismans and three Thunder Summoning banners.

"How do you possess so many Thunder Tribulation talismans and banners made of heavenly thunderstone?"

Inside the furnace, Shu Han sneered, "What do you think? My standing in the Green Thunder Sect is beyond your imagination. But don't be too hasty; keep looking."

With a furrowed brow, Elder Lu continued to search the bag, ultimately drawing out the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword. As he gazed upon this exquisite, radiant divine sword, his eyes reflected a myriad of emotions.

From inside the furnace, Shu Han heard Elder Lyu's silence and chuckled, "You see it, don't you? This is the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, the pinnacle treasure for Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Great Fortune Sect. Only true-disciple inheritors can possess it. If you dare kill me, the Great Fortune Sect will not let you go. Don't think you can act without the heavens seeing; the Sect Master's Nascent Soul can divine the workings of the universe, and you won't escape!"

Clang!

The Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword slipped from Elder Lu's grasp, a sound that Shu Han heard. His heart raced, wondering if he'd truly managed to intimidate the old fiend.

Elder Lu's murky eyes darted back and forth. Eventually, with a hardened resolve, he slapped the ground, and the cauldron immediately rose, letting light shine into Shu Han's confined space.

Shu Han initially thought Elder Lu had become fearful and would release him. Instead, a myriad of rare spiritual herbs began to flood in.

"Damn it! After all that, you still dare to move against me? Do you have a death wish? You're audaciously brazen!"

Elder Lu coldly snorted, "Boy, whether what you've said is true or false, you won't escape today's calamity! My lifespan is nearing its end. It's not every day I encounter a human-shaped great elixir like you. No matter what, I won't let you escape!"

Whoosh!

Elder Lu unleashed his Golden Core, which spewed forth torrents of earthen dragon flames. The temperature of these flames was incomparably hotter than those of Song Changyi and Wei Haolong. The inside of the cauldron glowed crimson, and the temperature soared dramatically.

In desperation, Shu Han yelled, "You damned old cur! Wait until you're skinned, your bones crushed, and your soul refined!"

Elder Lu retorted, "Only after I've refined you into the Heaven-Stealing Pill!"