When time passes, the âGolden Ice Crystal Beastâ can harness more of its internal energy to resist the âChaos Sword Intentâ, allowing the âGolden Ice Crystal Beastâ to survive the threat posed by the âChaos Sword Intentâ.
Li Yuanbaâs Fourth-Grade Sword Foundation executed its final strike.
With the breach created by his previous four attacks on the crystal substance, Li Yuanba unleashed a sword light through his Fourth-Grade Sword Foundation, piercing into the body of the âGolden Ice Crystal Beastâ.
This time, the âChaos Sword Intentâ penetrated deep into the âGolden Ice Crystal Beastâsâ abdomen, causing comprehensive destruction to its flesh and soul.
Having slain two âGolden Ice Crystal Beastsâ, Li Yuanba was about to kill the third when he noticed that the remaining four âGolden Ice Crystal Beastsâ had gathered together.
Abandoning the idea of attacking, his current mission was to ensure the Phoenix Palace Master successfully obtained the treasure.
Since the four âGolden Ice Crystal Beastsâ were targeting him, the Phoenix Palace Master was naturally under less pressure.
He didnât act rashly, choosing instead to maneuver and skirmish with the four âGolden Ice Crystal Beastsâ, seeking a better opportunity through the battle.
He didnât want to reveal too many of his tactics in front of the Phoenix Palace Master and Master Ren Mu unless absolutely necessary.
The Phoenix Palace Master approached the crater, sensing the high temperature near its edge.
However, in her merged state with the Red Gold Phoenix, this level of heat couldnât affect her.
She moved closer to the location of the Heavenly Mechanism Treasure, using her Divine Sense to seize it.
On the verge of obtaining the Heavenly Mechanism Treasure, her heart was filled with excitement.
She had her own ambitions; being a Half-step Great Power did not satisfy her.
She had come across an ancient cultivatorâs text, which mentioned constructing a Grotto Heaven using an unused Heavenly Mechanism Treasure, thereby increasing the chances of successfully ascending to Great Power.
In various super forces, Heavenly Mechanism Treasures can be reused.
After a Half-step Great Power fails to ascend, before their life span runs out, an Inheritor Great Ability will enter the Grotto Heaven and retrieve the Heavenly Mechanism Treasure.
However, the used Heavenly Mechanism Treasure contains some remnants of failed Half-step Great Power imprints.
Moreover, as the Heavenly Mechanism Treasure is used and retrieved multiple times, the residual imprints accumulate.
These residual imprints seem insignificant but can have many effects during the ascension process to Great Power, making the already slim chances even more difficult.
Upon learning of this, the Phoenix Palace Master sought to find a never-used Heavenly Mechanism Treasure.
But itâs not easy, as Heavenly Mechanism Treasures in the Cultivation World are very rare, found within ancient ruins by various super forces.
As the development of the Cultivation World increases, ancient ruins are becoming increasingly hard to discover.
Importantly, not all Heavenly Mechanism Treasures found in ancient ruins are new.
While searching, the Phoenix Palace Master inadvertently discovered information about a Heavenly Mechanism Treasure here.
The Jade Scroll containing this information was overlooked in Luanyang Palace, as who would pay attention to the relics of a fallen Great Cultivator, especially those documenting travel experiences rather than cultivation insights and techniques.
Such Jade Scrolls, numbering in the thousands in Luanyang Palace, could stay buried for years if not for the Phoenix Palace Masterâs relentless pursuit of her goal.
The Phoenix Palace Masterâs Divine Sense seized the Heavenly Mechanism Treasure, which was a Fire Crystal Stone.
As the Fire Crystal Stone was extracted, the crater suddenly contracted, sealing off the entrance.
While still retrieving the fire-type Heavenly Mechanism Treasure, she realized she was trapped.
She unleashed a flame to try to burn through the entrance.
Despite being a flame beyond the power of a normal Peak Great Cultivator, released by the Peak Great Cultivator in conjunction with the Red Gold Phoenix, it couldnât damage the craterâs entrance.
Outside, Li Yuanba continued maneuvering with the four âGolden Ice Crystal Beastsâ, while Master Ren Mu was reactivating Secret Techniques to summon water dragons for battle.
Suddenly, Li Yuanba perceived changes around him; countless mystical patterns rose in the sea, and he felt the Spiritual Power Pattern inside him largely restricted.
"My cultivation is suppressed!" Master Ren Muâs face changed drastically, he exclaimed.
He was not Li Yuanba; Li Yuanba possessed the âChaos Sword Intentâ, which exceeded Peak Great Cultivatorâs Sword Intent, helping him to some extent to resist the restrictions here.
Li Yuanba knew something was wrong; he realized the four âGolden Ice Crystal Beastsâ were unaffected.
He immediately stopped skirmishing with the four âGolden Ice Crystal Beastsâ and used âSpace Movementâ to appear beside Master Ren Mu, sending a Divine Sense to seize Master Ren Mu.
At this point, he discovered the Phoenix Palace Master was also in trouble, trapped inside the crater.
Li Yuanba shook his head helplessly; he had felt strained when he performed âSpace Movementâ, even though the distance to Master Ren Mu was short, allowing him to help Master Ren Mu in time.
"Seems like I must reveal some of my power!" he thought internally.
Whether to save himself or these two friends, he had to use his strongest means.
With a swift thought, the Duke of Thunder appeared beside him.
"Take me to rescue Feng Xianzi!" Li Yuanba gave the command.
The Duke of Thunder didnât hesitate, grabbing Li Yuanba, and Li Yuanba reached out to grab Master Ren Mu as well.
He let the Duke of Thunder take them to rescue Feng Xianzi because it was unsafe here, as the four âGolden Ice Crystal Beastsâ could come at any time.
With limited power, he couldnât defeat the four âGolden Ice Crystal Beastsâ.
The Duke of Thunder took Li Yuanba and Master Ren Mu from their original location, using Space Movement to enter the crater.
The Duke of Thunder located the exact position from the information shared by Li Yuanba.
The Phoenix Palace Master had tried several methods, even using the life-saving artifact given to her by a Great Power, but still couldnât escape the crater.
At the same time, she felt her power being suppressed; only in her merged state with the Red Gold Phoenix did she avoid complete suppression and retain some strength to struggle.
After sensing her restricted Spiritual Power Pattern, she realized she triggered the restriction toggle, likely the fire-type Heavenly Mechanism Treasure being the toggle.
"Itâs my fault for putting Mr. Li and Mr. Ren in danger!" she thought about Li Yuanba and Master Ren Mu, imagining the dire consequences of their suppressed powers while battling âGolden Ice Crystal Beastsâ.
Just as she pondered, she felt the terrifying aura appearing beside her.
The hairs on her body stood up; being the Palace Master of the super force Luanyang Palace, she had many chances to meet Great Powers.
Linking the terrifying aura to Great Powers, possibly not on par with real Great Powers but definitely not inferior to powerful Half-step Great Powers.
"Relax, itâs us!" Li Yuanbaâs voice sounded, calming the Phoenix Palace Master who was ready to fight desperately.
She saw Li Yuanba, and Master Ren Mu held by Li Yuanba.
Master Ren Muâs Spiritual Power Pattern was completely confined at this moment; he retained only the physique of a Peak Great Cultivator, with no combat ability. Without Li Yuanbaâs help, surviving underwater would be impossible.
The Phoenix Palace Master then saw the Duke of Thunder, mistaking the Dukeâs peculiar appearance for a spirit beast.
Clearly, it was a spiritual beast summoned by Li Yuanba, even Li Yuanbaâs Spiritual Pet.
"No wonder Li Yuanba can kill over thirty Great Cultivators and Half-step Great Powers, he actually has a Spiritual Pet of Half-step Great Power Level!" The Phoenix Palace Master finally understood Li Yuanbaâs trump card.
Li Yuanba exposing his trump card to save her deeply moved her.
Li Yuanba grabbed the Phoenix Palace Masterâs hand, expanding the Vortex Shield of the âEye of the Stormâ, enveloping both the Phoenix Palace Master and Master Ren Mu.