The instant the claw strike from Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord met Ye Wen’s punch, he sensed something was amiss, his expression shifting instantly as he snatched his hand back. Fortunately, he hadn't exerted his full strength in that initial palm strike, allowing him the flexibility to change tactics now; in a way, he should be thankful he hadn't taken Ye Wen seriously from the start.

At the very moment his right hand retreated, Ye Wen’s seven streams of punch energy acted as if commanded, suddenly transforming into seven distinct, razor-sharp sword auras that coiled and slashed outward, instantly tearing the claw energy projected by Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord into shreds, scattering it to the winds.

Had Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord not reacted so swiftly, his hand might have been injured by that single maneuver!

Seeing the surprising versatility and sheer ferocity Ye Wen packed into that single punch, Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord’s own wild nature was ignited. Coupled with the private anger of nearly falling for the trick of the Shushan Sect Master, he roared, flicking out his left hand to casually launch a Fire Missile spell!

A Fire Missile spell was naturally different from a Fireball spell; the most obvious distinction was that the Fire Missile spell... exploded!

A crimson fire missile shot forth, streaking toward the seven interlacing sword auras. However, before the missile could draw near, Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord caught a flash of purple light in his eyes. His casually thrown missile instantly vanished into smoke, and from the dissipating flames, a dazzling ray of purple brilliance shot out.

He didn't recognize it, but this was Ye Wen’s Zixiao Sword. Ye Wen, realizing the gravity of this battle as he threw the punch, knew that since Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord was a disciple of Taishang Laojun—and his true form was some unknown ferocious beast—his power was naturally extraordinary, making him perhaps the strongest opponent Ye Wen had faced in a long time.

The only one who could compare was perhaps the Sun God Apollo himself. Although Ye Wen had triumphed and slain Apollo, it wasn't because his own strength far surpassed Apollo’s; rather, he benefited from superior positioning, allowing him to utilize his strength to its fullest, while the Sun God could likely not muster even thirty percent of his power, leading to Ye Wen dispatching him swiftly.

This time was different—both were within the Immortal Realm, meaning the environment placed no constraints on either. Although they were currently on Mount Shushan, which was protected by the Mountain Guarding Formation woven by the Nine Provinces Tripods, that array was designed to counter outsiders. The Nine Provinces Grand Formation had not yet developed means to attack internally, which remained a current shortcoming.

Therefore, neither side could gain an environmental advantage; it was set to be a completely fair slaughter!

Under these circumstances, Ye Wen naturally gave his utmost attention, pouring everything into every move to secure victory, meaning that seemingly ordinary punch actually incorporated many of Ye Wen’s hidden techniques.

The seven layers of force generated by the Hun Tian Bao Jian were merely the surface manifestation; the true killer blow was the instant transformation of that force into boundless sword energy upon contact. Of all the skills Ye Wen had mastered, sword energy remained his most proficient—now that the Hun Tian Bao Jian had achieved mastery, a mere wave of his hand could generate self-sustaining sword energy of comparable power.

Yet, Ye Wen didn't believe this alone would suffice to injure Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord in one move. Thus, a trump card was held back within that punch. Though it appeared as a single outward punch, the true internal force driving it was not mere fist energy but his most skilled technique: the Zixiao Sword. He was merely waiting for the precise opportunity to launch the Zixiao Sword directly toward the enemy's vital points!

What Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord faced now was the Zixiao Sword Ye Wen had been charging for a long time. As soon as the sword emerged, it erupted with blinding radiance. From a distance, it appeared as a swirling miasma, a purple silk banner tearing across the sky. The divine sword itself shone so brilliantly it was painful to look at directly, hurtling straight toward Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord’s face.

Upon seeing the sword’s terrifying might, Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord was instantly alarmed. He hastily activated a Dharma formula and retreated dozens of meters, then flickered and darted aside, narrowly avoiding the astonishingly powerful purple divine sword. Even a mere graze from its radiance caused a burning, stinging pain across his body.

"What flying sword is this? It carries such might—how have I never heard of it?"

In the Immortal Realm, the names of any powerful magic treasures or flying swords were certainly common knowledge. As a direct disciple of Taishang Laojun, Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord knew the names of many treasures unknown to common folk. Yet, after racking his brain, he couldn't recall any formidable flying sword matching the shape and characteristics of the one he had just seen.

Furthermore, such potent sword energy clearly could not be emitted by an ordinary flying sword. Even if it was somewhat related to the wielder, if the sword itself was inferior, the wielder's strength would be meaningless.

He didn't know that the Zixiao Sword was not a physical object but a crystallization of Ye Wen’s entire cultivation base. Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord shouldn't have failed to see this, but the Zixiao Sword moved too quickly, leaving him no time to examine it closely, hence his erroneous judgment!

After evading Ye Wen’s strike, Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord looked up, searching for the flying sword. He saw a purple ribbon loop once in the air before flying back to Ye Wen’s side. The light then dissipated, revealing a long sword bathed in a continuous purple halo.

This long sword looked unremarkable, its design rather common—at most, the blade and hilt were colored purple. After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't place it among any known flying swords, so Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord dismissed the thought, though the current situation had become rather unexpected.

He glanced at Ye Wen, who stood suspended nearby. His long robe, white with purple trim, fluttered in the wind. He wore a purple-gold circlet binding his hair, and his black locks streamed in the mountain breeze. A purple flying sword constantly circled him, his hands hung naturally at his sides, and his eyes flowed with a seven-colored light. Viewed thus, the Shushan Sect Master's presence was truly impressive, rarely seen even in the myriad sects of the Immortal Realm.

More importantly, Ye Wen had just displayed his strength, meaning Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord would no longer regard the Shushan Sect Master with his initial condescension.

However, for Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord, Ye Wen's formidable power only earned him a second, serious glance. His primary goal remained the woman cultivating the Phoenix Divine Fire; if he could take her back and cultivate the Great Dao with her, achieving his own true ascension to the Golden Immortal Dao might not be impossible.

"Since you insist on opposing this Lord..."

Midway through his sentence, Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord launched himself forward, sweeping both hands to fling several clusters of flames. These flames looked ordinary, only differing in color, and a common person would struggle to discern anything special about them.

Fortunately, Ye Wen possessed the Glazed Pupils capable of seeing through all things. With a mere glance, he instantly discerned that these differently colored flames each served a different purpose. First, the light blue flame, though shaped like fire, was actually a highly condensed mass of frigid energy; being grazed or even slightly touched by this blue flame would likely freeze one solid instantly.

The green flame was an incredibly potent poison Ye Wen had never encountered. Although he had mastered the Hun Tian Bao Jian and was protected by what he suspected was either a genuine or knock-off Primordial Violet Qi, he dared not test the poison directly.

There was also the earthy-yellow flame. Though its current ability was unclear, its heavy, dense quality felt like the earth itself—being struck by it would surely be unpleasant.

Beyond those were ordinary flames and some lightning fires. Ye Wen employed the Cloud Treading Vertical Movement, darting and weaving to avoid the flames one by one, all while closely observing Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord's movements.

Upon observing, he was astonished to find that Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord was weaving complex Dharma formulas, employing an immortal technique learned from Taishang Laojun: the Taishang Doushuai Fire!

Ye Wen had never witnessed the Taishang Doushuai Fire, but Cui Jun had specifically told him about it! It was one of Taishang Laojun’s signature techniques, though its most famous use was its miraculous efficacy in alchemy—why were Laojun’s immortal pills unrivaled in the Immortal Realm? Because he possessed the Taishang Doushuai Fire.

But Cui Jun had warned him that the Taishang Doushuai Fire wasn't just for alchemy; when necessary, it could be used to refine men as well. A mere touch meant instant death and soul dissipation, leaving no chance for reincarnation.

Now that Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord was using Laojun’s signature skill, Ye Wen naturally could not be careless. Thankfully, he was not without his own divine protective skill—if Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord had the Taishang Doushuai Fire, Ye Wen possessed the World-Purifying Glazed Fire!

The two fires flew out, one after the other, colliding precisely between the two combatants. Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord wove his formulas, pointing forward with his right index and middle fingers extended. The flame spitting from his fingertips wasn't particularly large—just a tiny spot—but it exuded supreme majesty. The moment it appeared, Ye Wen felt immense pressure.

Even with the Glazed Fire intercepting it, Ye Wen could sense the sheer power of the Taishang Doushuai Fire. Though standing far away, he was scorched by the heat until sweat poured from him. He was already beyond mortal flesh; ordinary flames barely registered on him, yet this distant fire made him drenched in sweat, a testament to its terror.

But in reality, his opponent was faring no better. Ye Wen was sweating profusely, and Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord was also dripping. Especially as one who claimed the title Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord and specialized in various flame techniques, he felt an innate aversion when facing Ye Wen's World-Purifying Glazed Fire. "How can the Shushan Sect Master wield the sacred fire of Buddhism?"

Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord considered himself highly skilled in flame-based immortal arts; the very fact that he was taught the Taishang Doushuai Fire after joining Laojun’s sect spoke to his innate talent in this area.

However, there was one type of flame in existence that he could never cultivate: the Buddhist World-Purifying Glazed Fire! Laojun had once told him: "Unless you cultivate to the Golden Immortal stage and shed your mortal form, you will never come near the Glazed Fire in this life!"

Laojun had specifically said near, meaning he couldn't even approach it, let alone cultivate it! Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord held this fact firmly in his heart, as one of his lesser-known secrets.

Before today, he hadn't worried much about it. Even though the World-Purifying Glazed Fire severely countered him, very few in the Immortal Realm could wield it skillfully. Even the ranks of Arhats and Bodhisattvas in the Buddhist realm couldn't summon it, let alone control it. Only a select few Buddhas could use such divine fire. Thus, Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord hadn't been concerned, only to find today on Mount Shushan, in the far western lands, someone who could command the Glazed Fire with such fluidity!

At this moment, his thoughts shifted away from stealing the woman. Instead, he plotted internally: "This person absolutely cannot be allowed to live! Otherwise, won't I be controlled by him in the future?"

His decision made, his hands increased their effort. The Taishang Doushuai Fire spitting from his fingertips didn't increase in volume, but its majesty sharpened, nearly suppressing the Glazed Fire. Fortunately, Ye Wen reacted quickly, channeling all his vital energy into his divine pupils. The seven-colored flames instantly flared fiercely, allowing him to hold his ground.

For a moment, the scene seemed locked in a stalemate, but both Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord and Ye Wen were contemplating their next move!

Ye Wen’s hands remained still, but as his thought arose, the Zixiao Sword hovering beside him trembled violently, its sword light erupting as it prepared to strike directly at Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord.

But before he could move, Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord revealed his own technique.

He continued to channel the Doushuai Fire with his right hand while rapidly weaving hand seals with his left, muttering incantations. After a moment, he shouted, "Transform!"

As the word left his mouth, Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord’s figure began to tremble, seemingly becoming illusory for a moment. But just as quickly, he returned to normal, as if Ye Wen’s eyes had played a trick on him.

Yet, Ye Wen’s expression changed drastically, for the Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord before him had split into three beings!

These three were not identical copies. The one facing him retained the original appearance, but the two beside him shared striking similarities with subtle differences.

From Ye Wen's perspective, the figure on the left wore a Daoist robe, brimming with immense immortal power, holding a Daoist seal, his eyes slightly closed, his long hair bound by a Daoist crown—possessing the dignified bearing of an enlightened immortal. Upon appearing, he took control of the Doushuai Fire and spoke softly, "This humble Daoist is Heavenly Fire Immortal Lord!"

The figure on the right was vastly different. He wore light armor, and though his face was expressionless, it radiated fierce killing intent. When Ye Wen looked closer, he realized that the many scales covering him were not all armor; some were part of his actual body. Initially, Ye Wen thought the man wore a full suit of armor, but now he saw this figure only had armor plating on his knees, skirt, chest, and wrists; the rest of his body was covered in black-green scales.

This second figure glanced at Ye Wen, then roared, "I am Heavenly Fire Feather Lord! Boy, die!"

"This is... One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones?"

Laojun's most famous immortal technique, aside from the Doushuai Fire, was this One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones, and it was far more complex than mere external manifestations.

This distinction was key to why Taishang Laojun was such a formidable presence even among Golden Immortals.

One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones—one energy splits into three—these three are the self, indivisible. Appearing as three, yet fundamentally one; three minds acting as one, cooperating to destroy the enemy!

Simply put, this was a spell that turned a one-on-one duel into a group brawl! The most terrifying aspect was that the user of One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones did not suffer any drop in personal strength when splitting into avatars.

To put it plainly, the moment Taishang Laojun used this move, he instantly became three Golden Immortals. Who in the Immortal Realm could withstand a coordinated assault from three Golden Immortals? Furthermore, these three were perfectly synchronized, making them a terrifying force with no coordination issues.

Thus, one could see the supreme dominance and power of One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones!

When Cui Jun had mentioned this technique back then, the Gourd Immortal had shown considerable apprehension... From his tone, Ye Wen gathered that the Gourd Immortal had likely suffered under this technique before. Upon pressing, he learned that while Gourd Immortal hadn't dueled Laojun himself, he had sparred with Laojun’s eldest disciple, Xuandu Grand Master, in his youth.

Cui Jun was confident his own strength was slightly superior to Xuandu Grand Master's and should have won the fight, but he was utterly thrashed by Xuandu Grand Master using Laojun’s personally transmitted One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones divine method, leaving him unable to tell directions. Since then, he never again entertained the notion of challenging Laojun's disciples.

Seeing this move now, Ye Wen couldn't help but worry about the level to which Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord had cultivated the One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones.

After his defeat, Cui Jun had inquired and learned that although One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones was overwhelmingly powerful, its cultivation was far from simple.

In its initial stages, even after splitting into three, the avatars possessed little power. Only gradually, as the avatars developed, would they gain some combat capability, but not yet to a fearsome degree. Later, as the strength of the three bodies drew closer, the technique gained practical use. Though the three resulting figures were each slightly weaker than the original self, their combined battle power was an overall increase.

That was the extent Xuandu Grand Master had reached. As for Taishang Laojun? Not only could he split into three identical beings, but each possessed unique specialties and cooperated with near-unbeatable synergy.

Cui Jun had been tempted at the time and considered cultivating it, but upon hearing that grasping the initial threshold required three to five centuries for the talented, or being hopeless for the untalented, he immediately abandoned the idea! Moreover, realizing that achieving true destructive power required thousands of years of continuous, arduous training, he didn't fear too many freaks emerging from Laojun’s lineage.

Ye Wen had breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, believing that perhaps only Taishang Laojun and Xuandu Grand Master in the entire Immortal Realm knew this divine art—only to encounter one today!

Now, he could only hope that Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord’s cultivation of One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones was lacking, or today's battle would surely go poorly for him!

While thinking this, his actions remained swift. Seeing Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord free his hands, as he and Heavenly Fire Feather Lord charged toward him, Ye Wen immediately swung both arms. With a sweep of his wide sleeves, countless streams of purple sword energy erupted, densely enveloping the two charging figures.

But that wasn't all. Knowing this move would only delay them briefly, Ye Wen's eyes flared with light. He urged the Glazed Fire to slightly push back the Doushuai Fire, then withdrew the divine fire, swinging both hands sharply to the side. His surrounding force instantly erupted.

"Playing a group fight with me? I fear group fights the least!"

With a fierce shout, countless purple long swords instantly surrounded Ye Wen. In the blink of an eye, this expanse of the sky was filled with an endless sea of purple long swords!

…………………… A bit of mischief, a bit of romance. A bit suggestive, a bit unruly. Transmigrated, became a gang leader? And he got secret manuals from a system? Good fortune! Great fortune! But... Why give me the Evil-Warding Sword Manual? Brother doesn't want to be... a eunuch!

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