Chapter 164: Water Avoidance Technique

The *Taixu Pill Scripture* is the most renowned and widely recognized authoritative classic in the immortal cultivation world.

At its very beginning, the *Taixu Pill Scripture* explicitly states the supreme method of alchemy: "Use the Great Void as the cauldron, the Grand Ultimate as the furnace, purity as the pill's foundation, non-action as the dantian, essence of life as lead and mercury, and the five organs as fire."

This is the origin of the Samadhi True Flame, which is why alchemists often revere it as the ultimate treasure for pill refinement. The Samadhi True Flame can refine rare heavenly and earthly treasures. In a sense, cultivators also fall into this category, so if the Samadhi True Flame were to encounter a cultivator, the consequences would be dire.

Lu Yang's Three Flavors True Flame, though born from the Samadhi True Flame and slightly less powerful, is equally not to be underestimated.

On the training grounds, Lu Yang's Three Flavors True Flame surged forward, transforming into a fiery dragon that clawed at the Golden Crow, brutally tearing apart the Golden Crow Flame. Bai Ming couldn't believe his eyes. How could someone at the Foundation Establishment stage learn a True Flame, especially the renowned Samadhi True Flame? This was hard for him to accept, having been praised and admired since childhood.

In the stands, Qiu Jin'an had been excitedly slapping his thigh, delighted to see his promising disciple Bai Ming brilliantly unleash the Golden Crow Flame. But then he saw Lu Yang unleash a True Flame, and his smile quickly faded.

"Is that the Samadhi True Flame? No, it's very similar to the Samadhi True Flame!" Qiu Jin'an searched through all the True Flames he knew, but none matched this one. A terrifying thought emerged in his mind: could this be a flame beyond the known 108 types of True Flames? Was it previously unrecorded and undiscovered, or had someone just created it?

"Sect Master Lu, what kind of True Flame is that?"

Immortal Fairy lightly replied, "Oh, nothing much. Just a flame for grilling skewers. Sect Master Qiu, no need to make a fuss."

The Immortal Fairy's dismissive attitude only solidified Qiu Jin'an's suspicion, causing him to inwardly gasp. How could Sect Master Lu be so powerful? Not only was he proficient in three types of spells—wood, earth, and fire—like Bai Ming, but he could also create new spells on top of that! Creating ordinary spells was one thing, but creating a True Flame?

Bai Ming was burned by the Three Flavors True Flame, then struck in the chest by Lu Yang, who pressed his advantage. He flew backward, emitting sweet, salty, and spicy smells, his breath weak and barely clinging to life. As he flew backward, he realized the battle was lost and there was no turning back. Should he gracefully admit defeat? Or stubbornly wait for the match results to be announced?

Scenes flashed through Bai Ming's mind— As a child, his master brought him up the mountain, where he grew up under the care of his senior brothers and sisters. He diligently read books and trained hard. During cultivation, his master would become strict, scolding him to correct his attitude and posture. After training, his master would even apply medicine for him and encourage him to persevere in his cultivation. He cultivated until he was drenched in sweat, never slacking off, comprehending spells, enduring the harshness of seasons and solitude. He accumulated experience and burst forth with rapid growth, progressing from the Qi Condensation stage to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage without a single defeat.

Bai Ming closed his eyes, contemplating the various aspects of his fight with Lu Yang. It was as if something was sprouting within his heart. He landed steadily, clasped his hands together, stood on one leg, and his aura grew stronger. Bai Ming opened his eyes, radiating power that surpassed his previous limits.

"He broke through to the late Foundation Establishment stage?" Qiu Jin'an was overjoyed to see his young disciple's breakthrough. Bai Ming had been in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage for several months and was indeed due for a breakthrough, but Qiu Jin'an hadn't expected it to happen now.

Below the stage, the disciples of the Five Elements Sect whispered among themselves, "What a turn of events!"

Lu Yang didn't know what to say. He was on the verge of victory, and then a breakthrough during battle?! Shouldn't that kind of thing happen to me?

"Fine, then let's continue the fight," Lu Yang said, raising his Azure Edge Sword. He hadn't even used his true skills yet; neither the "Severing" nor the "Breaking" Art had been unleashed. As for the Pictogram Boxing, he decided against it; that technique was too overpowered, and Lu Yang still had some conscience.

"Lu Yang, Lu Yang, let me take over!" Immortal Fairy called out to Lu Yang. Watching the exciting fight, she felt an itch to join in and have some fun. Immortal Fairy was in her immortal soul state, free from the twenty-meter restriction. As long as Lu Yang agreed, she could project a sliver of her consciousness into Lu Yang's clone at any time.

Lu Yang was a bit skeptical. Could the Immortal Fairy be trusted? Immortal Fairy put her hands on her hips and pointed at Lu Yang. "I'm the Sect Master, you have to listen to me!"

Lu Yang sighed helplessly. *Fine*, he thought. Since she was pulling rank as the acting Sect Master, he'd let her. If it looked like they were losing, he'd just take back control.

Immortal Fairy, having gotten her wish, took control of the bald Lu Yang clone. She raised her right hand, extending a finger, with a somewhat alluring pose. Bai Ming looked at Lu Yang strangely. If Lu Yang had just seemed like a monk, now he seemed like... a nun? Was he schizophrenic?

Bai Ming had heard a saying in the immortal cultivation world: "One cannot achieve greatness without madness." Throughout history, many cultivators had gone insane from their practice, and those who managed to leave their names in history were undoubtedly extraordinarily powerful.

"Could it be that Lu Yang is so powerful because he's schizophrenic?" The more Bai Ming thought about it, the more sense it made.

Immortal Fairy slowly raised her finger, immortal magic swirling around its tip, and softly chanted, "Water Repulsion Art." An invisible barrier expanded, centered on the Immortal Fairy, repelling all moisture within its range. After the clash of the two flames, there was already little moisture left on the field. Now, not a single drop of water remained around the Immortal Fairy!

But that wasn't the most terrifying part. The most terrifying thing was that Bai Ming also had water inside his body, and it was rapidly draining away! Lu Yang also had water in his body, but as the caster, the rate at which water left his body was far slower than Bai Ming's!

Bai Ming watched in horror as his body gradually withered, completely at a loss. He had no way to stop this spell; it was beyond his comprehension. The Water Repulsion Art created no visible phenomena when cast. To an outsider, it seemed as if nothing was happening, but only those experiencing it firsthand truly understood how terrifying the spell was!

"We concede!" Qiu Jin'an personally stepped onto the stage, stopping the outflow of water from Bai Ming and giving him a pill to restore his body. He cast a deep glance at Lu Yang. As expected of someone who could become an acting Sect Master, he was proficient in four of the five elemental spells, including water-attribute spells, and even possessed a forbidden divine ability recorded in ancient texts!

Lu Yang's eyes widened. Was this the Water Repulsion Art that Immortal Fairy had described? Its effect was truly terrifying?

Immortal Fairy chuckled. "It's nothing special, really. It's just that your current cultivation level is too low. And your senior brothers and sisters have perfectly formed Golden Cores, so their moisture is locked within their bodies and won't leak out, making this move ineffective against them. Once you reach the Golden Core stage, I'll use your body to cast it, and none of them will be my match!"

"Can you teach me?" Lu Yang rubbed his hands, eager to learn this move.

Immortal Fairy tilted her head. "You looked down on my heritage, so no!"

"Please, Immortal Fairy sister, teach me."

"No! I said I won't teach you, and I won't!"

When Qiu Jin'an returned to the stands, he found that Sect Master Lu had disappeared, replaced by Yun Zhi sitting next to him. Although he had said he wanted someone else to sit beside him, he certainly hadn't meant Yun Zhi. Qiu Jin'an felt the temperature around him drop several degrees.

"Miss Yun Zhi, where did Sect Master Lu go?" Qiu Jin'an tried to start a conversation, as the atmosphere was too frigid.

"There are some guests outside the mountain gate who are good at barbecue, so he went to bring them in."

"Huh?"