Upon seeing Shuro's astonishment, a gleam flashed in Marco's eyes. His sword sliced through the air, leaving trails of remnants behind. The air ignited, emitting black clouds of smoke. The sword weaved through the clouds like a stealthy black dragon, roaring as it rose. The entire training ground trembled, with bricks and stones flying, shattered into pieces, converging beneath Marco's sword.

The ancient sword, akin to a black dragon, grated against the air, producing a sound reminiscent of metal clashing, yet also resembling a war song of slaughter, chilling the hearts of those who heard it.

Such a strike, with its formidable momentum, ferocious power, swift speed, and cunning angles, vaguely carried the essence of Daoism, surpassing the realm controlled by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, nearing that of a Core Formation expert!

The onlookers' faces changed. If they didn't know the relationship between the two, they would have thought Marco intended to kill Shuro.

Shuro stepped forward, winds swirling around him, gathering into "eggshell"-like vortexes, enveloping him. Amidst Marco's swift sword strikes and chaotic stone manipulation, Shuro remained unscathed, serene and composed.

"With this sword of yours, I could conquer a city," Shuro smirked faintly, seemingly without any movement. Yet, with his right hand clenched into a fist, he unleashed a punch.

The Mystical Demon Fist - City Shattering!

At first glance, Shuro's punch seemed unremarkable. However, whether it was Marco, Faithe, Blanche, Lee, or Lewis, they all felt an illusion: when this fist landed, not only Marco, nor just the unnamed mansion, but the entire Caelius Capital would be destroyed! At that moment, devastation would be wrought upon the populace, with the city laid to waste!

This punch, unquestionably deserving of its title as the Mystical Demon Fist - City Shattering.

As Shuro danced under Marco's domineering sword, leaving no trace, and as Marco drifted amidst Shuro's tyrannical punches, surrounded by swirling black energy, the scene resembled a confrontation between two titans.

"Boom!" Thunderous roars echoed as the two clashed, spreading throughout Caelius Capital, mistaken by many as summer thunder.

After ten exchanges, Lee observed with concentrated gaze. Marco's cherished sword was now bent like a bow, emitting wisps of white vapor. Meanwhile, Shuro's fist had turned slightly red, blood rushing to its surface. Each movement shattered the air within ten steps, revealing the immense power contained within his fist.

In a flash, Lee saw the two separate, and in the next moment, they charged at each other once more. Like two mountains colliding, it seemed as though they would both perish together, even from a distance, Lee felt a tinge of pain.

As fists and swords collided, a fan-shaped wave of majestic Qi burst forth from them, dispersing in all directions.

Around the training ground, formations that could withstand a strike from a True Dan realm cultivator trembled under the force of the Qi wave. With a "crack," a fine crack appeared, spreading downward.

The atmosphere within the formation turned ominous.

Clang!

Finally, Marco's sword broke, falling to pieces. Simultaneously, Shuro slowly withdrew his fist.

"Using this broken sword to spar with me all day long, isn't it anticlimactic? We haven't determined a winner yet," Shuro clapped his hands, chuckling.

"This sword was used by me in the great battle against Master Hua in the capital years ago. You broke my sword, you owe me. Let's settle it this way - invite me for a drink tonight, and we'll call it even," Marco said lightly, though the hand behind his back trembled slightly.

Monster! Even more monstrous than I thought! Marco cursed inwardly.

For more than five months, the two had sparred almost daily, often risking their lives. With a good opponent like Shuro and guidance from seniors like Sun Zhongyuan, their strength had rapidly improved. Over a month ago, when Shuro's True Qi had not yet condensed, he was still in the second stage of Foundation Establishment, lagging behind Marco by two small realms. At that time, although Shuro could barely hold his ground, he was always at a disadvantage.

As Shuro's True Qi condensed and he entered the third stage of Foundation Establishment, Marco, despite being a realm higher, could no longer suppress him. In their recent battle, Marco had almost used all his strength, yet it still ended in a draw, and Marco wasn't sure if Shuro had used his full power.

What kind of strange cultivation technique has this guy practiced? It feels like he's an endless sea. Whenever it seems like I'm about to reach the bottom, his limit seems nowhere in sight.

Marco felt a slight excitement. To have such a friend and opponent in his life was truly fortunate!

"Invite me for a drink, huh..." Shuro's eyes lit up with longing. During these days, Marco had shared many interesting stories with him besides fighting.

What's the trick behind the "Eighteen Touches of Dragon and Tiger Clouds and Rain"? What level of cultivation is required? How much strength is needed?

"Well..." Marco chuckled, about to answer when a cough interrupted him. He looked up to see Faithe staring at him disapprovingly.

"Hehe, when you break through to the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment and comprehend the essence, then you can use it... I'll tell you then," Marco said solemnly. Given Shuro's cultivation progress, he would likely break through to the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment before he turned twenty, and by then, he should understand matters between men and women as well.

It's a pity his starting point was so high, he might not be able to enjoy himself in the future.

Glancing at the gorgeously beautiful Blanche, Marco thought as he sheathed his broken sword and said lightly, "I'll go prepare first. See you at the usual place tonight."

With that, Marco drifted away.

"Marco, I never imagined he'd turn out like this. If I hadn't kept an eye on him day and night, our little Shuro would have been led astray by him long ago. Marco's entry into the immortal realm is also a miracle," Faithe said displeasedly from the pavilion.

Blanche lowered her head, smiling silently, not saying a word. She hadn't missed a single word of Shuro and Marco's conversation.

Finally, this day has come.

Blanche's emotions were complex.

For these five months, although she had been living with Shuro in the mansion, their relationship hadn't changed much. Whenever they met, Shuro would greet her with a smile, as if completely forgetting what happened in the small pavilion that night. Every time Blanche saw Shuro like this, she felt an inexplicable irritation, but Shuro seemed completely oblivious, so she had to pretend that nothing had happened.

The two of them maintained this lukewarm relationship. Fortunately, there was Faithe, which spared Blanche from too much embarrassment.

"As Shuro embarks on the path to immortality, you're not falling behind either. Even if Shuro enters the immortal sect, there will be a day when you meet again," Faithe said meaningfully.

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"He enters his immortal sect, I study my alchemy. Who cares if I see him again?" Blanche said, but the inexplicable feeling in her heart was stirred up by Faithe, hotter than the summer sun.

She glanced strangely at Faithe and Blanche, and Shuro and the two women exchanged greetings before leaving the mansion, turning into watery shadows and diving into the River God's Mansion. Five months ago, when Shuro chose the reservoir as the site for his mansion, he had considered the River God's Mansion.

The age of the River God's Mansion was even more distant than that of the Nine-Dragon Sovereign and Bruno, and the traces of time within the mansion were particularly profound.

Approaching the two gigantic stone gates comparable to a palace tower, Shuro infused his True Qi and drew a talisman on the lintel, imprinting it with his seal.

The gates slowly opened, revealing a three-person-high black tortoise dragon standing guard, eyes vigilant. Seeing Shuro, the dragon turtle's eyes showed deference, its front limbs pressed against its chest, making a human-like salute.

Shuro waved his hand, and the gates closed, leaving the dragon turtle standing motionless. Its back shell gradually turned into stone armor and then back into the stone carving Shuro had seen on his first visit.

This dragon turtle stone carving, Shuro didn't know who had crafted it, but it was used to guard the River God's Mansion.

In the cultivation world, such stone carvings had a common name - Demon Sealing. Demon Sealing involved extracting the souls of powerful creatures and sealing them into statues. Normally used for decoration, they could be activated in the event of an invasion, and besides combat, they were also used for cultivation.

In recent centuries, Demon Sealing had surpassed celestial pets in popularity. Firstly, Demon Sealing was more convenient, safe, and practical than celestial pets. In sects, Demon Seals looked much more elegant than some smelly and chaotic exotic beasts and were easy to carry. Secondly, Demon Seals required no maintenance; as long as they were supplied with spiritual energy from time to time, they could be sustained. This had reduced resource consumption.

As one of the top ten celestial professions in the cultivation world, the profession of Demon Sealing was becoming the new favorite of the cultivation world. Of course, this was limited to the Tianchen continent and several large-scale domain worlds.

Entering the mansion, between twelve jade stone pillars, there were ten round tables. Some tables were filled with various weapons such as knives, spears, and halberds, while others displayed various elixirs and alchemy furnaces for refining pills. On one table, there was a mountain of talisman papers.

For more than five months, every night, Shuro had studied various celestial professions here. With the ready-made memories from the Nine-Dragon Sovereign, Shuro only needed to do three things: imitate, comprehend, and practice. After five months, Shuro had mastered all ten celestial professions.

However, being familiar with them didn't mean he had mastered them. Shuro found that he didn't have much talent for many celestial professions, so he only focused on studying a few of them in depth.

The moonlight flowed like water, and the stars shimmered brilliantly in the Caelius Capital. Inside the central palace, silence reigned supreme.

At the head of the table sat King Peppe of Tera, while below him were Shuro, Marco, Sun Zhongyuan, and a martial arts expert. As for the Masters from the great Tera nation, they stood at the jade steps, serving as guards.

Peppe's expression was rigid, with moments of excitement and nervousness flickering in his eyes. Sun Zhongyuan and the martial arts expert abandoned their usual nonchalance, sitting upright with solemn expressions.

Only Shuro and Marco were drinking and chatting casually, causing Peppe and the Masters below to furrow their brows continuously. They knew that the dignitaries arriving today were the true rulers of the Southern Domain, transcendent beings. For this day, King Peppe had been so busy and anxious that he often couldn't sleep at night, neglecting even his beloved concubine.

In the Southern Domain, the seven great immortal sects were simultaneously visiting the grand Tera Dynasty, along with representatives from the Xia and Tuesday Dynasties. This was undoubtedly the greatest honor the Tera nation had ever received.

As the wind chimes hanging in the palace tower rang out, everyone looked up, only to see a dark figure drifting down from the moonlight.

The shadow gradually enlarged, revealing a double-headed carriage riding through the clouds, descending from the night sky into the palace, stunning the King and his courtiers.

Shuro looked at the carriage and immediately recognized it as a top-grade magical artifact, equipped with a defensive system but incapable of active attacks. It appeared to only accommodate four people, but its interior contained vast secrets.

Sure enough, when the disciples of the Empty Mountain Sect emerged in succession, Peppe and his courtiers were dumbfounded.

This time, most of the members from the Empty Mountain Sect were familiar faces Shuro had met at the Monument Sea. Qin Jiadian, Damei Shitai, Hongyin Gu, Huaxin, Berta, Luis, Alan... except for two people. One was an elderly white-haired man who smiled approvingly at Shuro, while the other was a slightly older youth than Huaxin. He glanced at Shuro with a hint of arrogance and doubt, remaining silent.

"That's Elder Duan, the head of the Scripture Pavilion. And over there is Huo Jun, currently ranked first among the true disciples of the main peak, considered a leading figure among the disciples of the Empty Mountain Sect," Qin Jiadian transmitted his voice.

Shuro nodded. He saw Damei Shitai looking towards him.

"You probably already know the gist of the matter. Because of your great contributions at the Monument Sea Enlightenment Conference, the Southern Immortal Law Enforcement Alliance will commend you. The seven great sects of the Southern Domain will all attend as a form of encouragement to you," Damei Shitai said expressionlessly. "It's a good opportunity to conduct the disciple-recruitment ceremony, not to inconvenience you."

"Okay," Shuro nodded.

Seeing Shuro's indifferent expression, King Peppe's heart thumped, fearing that Shuro might offend the immortals. He hastily interjected, "Esteemed immortals, please take your seats. I have prepared some fresh vegetables and fruits to welcome your arrival."

"Who says immortals don't eat meat," Shuro muttered to himself.

King Peppe's face stiffened, and seeing the disciples of the Empty Mountain Sect chuckling, he wiped a bead of sweat.

"By the way, is he coming with me?" Shuro pointed to Marco and asked.

"This..." Damei Shitai hesitated, while Hongyin Gu and Elder Duan looked somewhat unnatural.

At that moment, another group of immortals descended from the sky, led by the Kunting Mountain, but this time, it wasn't Andrea leading them. Shortly after, the Flying Snow Sect, Infinite Cavern, and the Grand Zen Sect also arrived, exchanging warm greetings with the Empty Mountain Sect.

King Peppe was overjoyed, warmly welcoming them.

"Southern Phantom Sect has arrived!"

A sharp whistle rang out from the sky, sharp as the friction of gold and iron. Looking up, the King and his courtiers, including Shuro, were pale with shock.

A silver giant eagle covered the sky, blocking out the moonlight and stars. What was even more incredible was that the giant eagle emitted a sharp whistle and spoke human words.

A long-crowned old man descended from the eagle's back, dressed in a strange crimson-purple robe, giving off an extremely elongated feeling, like a shadow. Behind him, several young men and women dressed in similar robes, but in light blue, with a black flame imprinted on their foreheads without exception, like blooming black lilies.

As they stepped into the palace, a strange aura spread like flowing water, instantly filling every corner of the palace.

King Peppe was obviously frightened, his face pale and hesitating to approach.

"This is the Southern Phantom Sect. It's a powerful force in the Southern Domain, ranked second among the seven sects, just below the Tianhua Palace," Qin Jiadian transmitted his voice. "Originally, Marco was the one Empty Mountain Sect had their eye on, but they were forcefully snatched away by them."

Shuro was stunned. He had thought he would cultivate with Marco in the Empty Mountain Sect, but now it seemed impossible.

The elder in the purple robe turned his head, glanced at Qin Jiadian with a hint of regret, then looked at Marco, his eyes sparkling with admiration. "Excellent talent, excellent aptitude! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"

"Southern Phantom, Southern Phantom, ruling the Southern Domain! Southern Phantom, Southern Phantom, renowned throughout the land." The disciples behind them raised their arms and danced, chanting expressionlessly.

Shuro couldn't help but smile wryly. He never expected to be snatched away himself. The thought of joining this strange Southern Phantom Sect and being forced to chant slogans like those disciples made Shuro feel a bit creeped out, with goosebumps rising on his skin.

Thump!

King Peppe fainted to the ground, thinking that the immortals were about to start a massacre.

"Damn it! The Empty Mountain Sect and the Southern Phantom Sect are mortal enemies!" Hongyin Gu glared angrily, her eyes turning red.

Being forcefully snatched away in front of the other four sects was a naked humiliation.

The disciples of the Kunting Mountain and the other four major sects watched with uncertainty, adopting a bystander attitude, appearing to enjoy the show.

Unexpectedly, something unexpected happened.

The old man from the Southern Phantom Sect suddenly withdrew his hand and took three steps back, staring at Shuro with a terrifying and eerie gaze, murmuring to himself, "How is this possible..."

"Elder Duan, hurry up and transmit the fire. Otherwise, Shuro might really be taken away," Qin Jiadian reminded.

"He hasn't reached the perfect Foundation Building yet. Although it's a bit early, we have no choice." Damei Shitai nodded.

Elder Duan, the head of the Scripture Pavilion, nodded without hesitation. With a swift movement, he grabbed the old man from the Southern Phantom Sect and appeared in front of Shuro.

"In the history of cultivation, the transmission of fire is a serious matter. Concentrate your thoughts on your lower abdomen, focus all your attention, and I will transmit you the Dao fire!" Elder Duan pressed his palm down while solemnly instructing.

King Peppe, who had just been awakened by the master from the Hua family, looked up to see Elder Duan's palm about to strike Shuro's head, his eyes rolling back as he fainted once more.

In the puzzled gazes of the disciples of the Empty Mountain Sect, Elder Duan suddenly stood up, stepping back several steps in amazement. "How is this possible!"

A commotion broke out.

The elders and disciples of the six major sects looked at Shuro with astonishment and doubt.

After reaching the perfect Foundation Building stage, one would receive the transmission of fire to establish the Yellow Court. Sometimes, in emergencies, the transmission could be done at the third stage of Foundation Building, and the Yellow Court would be established upon reaching the perfect stage. The difficulty of transmission of fire lay in finding the right person to transmit it; the transmission itself was not difficult.

"It's so noisy. What's going on?"

A woman's voice came from outside the palace.

Even the old man from the Southern Phantom Sect failed to detect how the two women had entered the palace.

It's her!

Shuro saw the slightly lagging behind girl in green, the strange girl who had inexplicably appeared in the River God's Mansion during the day. At this moment, she bowed her head, following behind the woman in white like a maidservant.

And in front of her, the woman in white walked forward with a perfect and elegant posture, captivating everyone's hearts with her slender and graceful figure, igniting endless fantasies.

As she walked through the hall, past the six major sects, past King Peppe and the Masters, she ascended the golden throne in the center of the palace.

Suddenly, the palace became extremely quiet.

"Commoner and warrior, Wu Jurén, pays homage to Her Highness the Princess."

It was Wu Jurén who stepped forward among the crowd, kneeling and bowing to the woman.

Princess? The princess of the Grand Xia Dynasty?

Shuro looked at the woman, only to see the woman in white looking back at him.

"Impossible to transmit fire... Forget it, this child will be left to your Empty Mountain Sect." The old man from the Southern Phantom Sect no longer spared Shuro a glance, turning to leave.