Moreover, the Fiery Sun Sect publicly claimed that Wu Weixiong and Gao Yang colluded with a group of thief cultivators to maliciously harm Fu Xiaochen and several sect disciples.

The Fiery Sun Sect’s Ninth Grade Magical Treasure, the Wind-Fire Fan, was stolen by the thieves.

Except for Wu Weixiong and Gao Yang, no other individuals were mentioned, and now a region-wide pursuit order has been issued, with substantial rewards offered for any clues about the whereabouts of the two or their close associates.

Such fanfare has significantly increased the credibility of the matter, leaving all cultivators astounded.

Within the domain, except for those who fell in the war against the Boundless Domain’s demon cultivators, it’s been many years since a True Pill Master has fallen.

What’s more, this was a seasoned True Pill Elder from the Upper Sect, and the adversary was merely an ordinary loose cultivator whom the Upper Sect would usually dismiss as insignificant.

Li Ji’an could discern from the conversations of subsequent waves of treasure-hunting loose cultivators that this matter had significantly boosted the morale of the domain’s loose cultivators. Some had even crowned Wu Weixiong as the leader of the Celestial Cyan Domain’s loose cultivators!

"Fu Yuanjiang truly hasn’t succeeded in sending his message!" After waiting for another month, Li Ji’an’s internal injuries had healed, and he had reached a definite conclusion.

As the truth of the True Pill Elder’s death within the sect was confirmed, the Fiery Sun Sect suddenly became the focus of attention for cultivators throughout the domain.

Subsequently, with the encouragement of certain individuals, numerous rumors emerged about the region sealed within the Black Water Swamp by the Fiery Sun Sect.

"How could Wu Weixiong possibly be a match for True Man Fu? Surely he faced some calamity in a high-tier ruin or tomb."

"There must be an enormous opportunity within the region sealed by the Fiery Sun Sect!"

"For a True Pill Elder to fall therein, could it be the tomb of an Ancient True Monarch?"

...

As the news brewed over this month, many loose cultivators had heard and come, hoping to claim a share of the spoils.

The nearest Qingmen Sect even showed strong opposition to the Fiery Sun Sect, with signs of escalating conflicts.

Only at this point did Li Ji’an let out a long breath.

This Ancient Tomb was enough to draw all the Fiery Sun Sect’s attention.

Subsequently, no longer concerned about the matter, he instructed Gugu to search for the Illusory Moon Glaze Snake and Pure Lotus Seedpod within the Black Water Swamp.

In the swamp, Gugu was like a fish in water, far more at ease and dominant than it had been in the Fallen Dragon Ridge mountains.

Moreover, the swamp contained plenty of spiritual insects that were a delicious delicacy for it.

Li Ji’an, in the Realm within its mouth, had sufficient pill medicine and spirit stones to replenish himself, thus remaining unaffected. He even had time to study Wu Weixiong’s ancient body forging technique.

"Divine Treasure Body Refining Technique" is an unrefined body refining method not simplified through the Post-Ancient Era, allowing one to cultivate effortlessly to Tier Four.

Its body refining approach differs from the mainstream method of transforming one’s physique through Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects. It uses the Five Divine Treasures of the human body as the foundation for the flesh, refining the Divine Treasures to subsequently nurture the flesh and physique, taking an inside-out path.

Liu Jiuqian had not lied all those years ago.

When Li Ji’an covetously examined Wu Weixiong’s body refining technique, he indirectly questioned Liu Jiuqian, since the body refining technique used by Wu Weixiong when he was serving as a slave in the Liu Family was casually provided by them.

However, it was merely a standard, simplified technique from the Post-Ancient Era, at best reaching Tier One Perfection.

Wu Weixiong’s later breakthrough to Second Tier Body Cultivator evidently wasn’t achieved through the technique given by the Liu Family.

"Is he another Child of Destiny?" Li Ji’an smiled faintly.

This ability to cultivate a body refining method to Tier Four was on par with Celestial Level techniques from the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, yet Wu Weixiong obtained it, his fortune was indeed enviable.

As for whether he could escape this time remains unknown.

The cross-domain journey from the Celestial Cyan Domain wasn’t easy, with tens of thousands of miles of Spirit Starved Land in between, barren and deserted, with unknown demon beasts lurking. Even a Fake Pill cultivator trying to fly on their own couldn’t guarantee safety.

Cross-domain activity within the Celestial Cyan Domain was basically beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators, let alone loose cultivators.

One could either hitch a ride on a spiritual ship crossing domains associated with Ten Thousand Laws Palace through the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain’s Commerce Association, or risk their life in a gamble.

Comparatively, the success rate of traveling from the Celestial Cyan Domain to the Boundless Domain was slightly higher.

For the ensuing two years, besides occasionally stepping out for air, Li Ji’an spent most of his time within the Realm studying the "Taigu Demon-Suppressing Fist."

This fist technique bore some resemblance to the Martial Dao of the Immortal Dynasty, with the difference being that Martial Dao fist techniques focus on unleashing qi and blood power to confront adversaries.

This fist technique, however, utilizes physical strength to steer the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, when cultivated to perfection, it can manifest Dao Charm, borrowing from the might of Heaven and Earth!

Based on Li Ji’an’s two years of cultivation, Wu Weixiong had only just started practicing the Second Layer.

With his Second Tier Peak physique in body cultivation, combined with this set of fist techniques, he could actually contend with True Pills, demonstrating the power of this fist technique.

This fist technique consumes qi and blood profusely; practicing it three times daily nearly drained Li Ji’an dry.

It took two years to barely master the first layer, and to reach Wu Weixiong’s level of progress would probably take ten years.

This is also related to the inferior Body Refining Technique he practiced, as the Qi and Blood refined by superior techniques cannot be compared.

"Gugu~" On this day, while Li Ji’an was sitting cross-legged, recovering his Qi and Blood, Gugu detected something unusual again.

Through Gugu’s vision, Li Ji’an saw a barrel-thick sliding trail in the black swamp mud pool.

"It’s undoubtedly a snake-type demon beast, and it’s a Second Tier, but it’s unclear if it is the Illusory Moon Glaze Snake." Li Ji’an spoke into the spatial pouch and carefully examined the aura.

"Gugu~" Gugu’s spirit was invigorated.

A year ago, Gugu had already discovered a Pure Lotus Seedpod in a shadowy pond, and now their only goal was to find the Illusory Moon Glaze Snake for refining a Sacred Beast Pill for Gugu.

Besides that Pure Lotus Seedpod, they also found nine Tier Two Spirit Medicines and three Tier Three Spirit Medicines over the past two years, but none were materials for the Crystal Condensing Pill.

Among the loose cultivators who frequently ventured into the Black Water Swamp for opportunities, this was already considered a great harvest.

"Let’s split up, don’t act recklessly!" After following the sliding trail for several yards, they arrived at a low-lying water pond where the trail disappeared.

The restriction on the Divine Souls here was severe, limiting the exploration range for individuals, so Li Ji’an decided to search separately.

Watching Gugu dive into the black water, Li Ji’an activated the magical shield around him and summoned a glass lantern to clear the way ahead.

Without Gugu’s concealment ability, Li Ji’an could only move through the air, making him a living target.

For the past two years, he had always remembered the warning about the Black Water Swamp—never cross the Withered Wood Beach to the west, because beyond is a desolate land—the Illusory Phantom Forest.

However, even though they were still at least a thousand miles from the Withered Wood Beach, they encountered many threatening demon beasts along the way.

Most of the demon beasts here were poisonous creatures. The Second Tier Late Period Poisonous Lizard they encountered six months ago had already put Gugu at a considerable disadvantage.

After traveling for three days, Li Ji’an still hadn’t found any trace of the Snake Demon.

"Gugu~" Just as he was about to change direction, a distress signal from Gugu abruptly arrived in his Sea of Consciousness.

"Hmm?" Sensing the direction, Li Ji’an frowned slightly; Gugu was actually several hundred miles to the west.

Three days ago when they split up, he had explicitly told Gugu to head north while he went south.

However, through the Spirit Pet Contract link, his vision was nothing but darkness.

As Gugu’s cries for help became increasingly urgent, Li Ji’an had no time to ponder and immediately flew swiftly towards it.

Two hours later, Li Ji’an neared the area where Gugu cried for help.

By now, Gugu was already extremely weak, according to his senses.

Suppressing his anxiousness, Li Ji’an forced himself to slow down, restrain his aura, and carefully sense the situation ahead.

"What is that..." Suddenly, a golden light flashed ahead, and Li Ji’an’s expression changed instantly.

Amid the dark swamp, a humanoid figure emanating a gilded glow stood, and beneath it, Gugu was looking at him, dying...

"Golden Body Corpse Puppet!"

"Has the Golden Puppet Holy Monarch come?" Li Ji’an’s first reaction was to turn and flee, yet his legs felt entangled as if by countless branches, unable to move even an inch, so much so that he lost his balance.

He fell into the dark black water mud pool completely.

Without the body-protecting Dharma shield to keep the black water at bay, his magical power was endlessly being eroded by the black water...

"No! This is wrong! Impossible!" His mind was in chaos.

"Ah!" Suddenly, a burning sensation arose from his Sea of Consciousness.

The familiar burning sensation sent shivers through his heart, and the chaotic Sea of Consciousness instantly calmed.

Upon reopening his eyes, where was the Golden Body Corpse Puppet?

Neither was there any sign of Gugu.

Only the Little Fire Spirit was anxiously hopping in front of him...

The searching ground was exactly where they had just been tracking the Illusory Moon Glaze Snake.

Yet, he was truly submerged in the black water, with his magical power continuously being drained.

"Snake Demon!" Li Ji’an immediately flew up, shaking off the black water, his eyes becoming exceedingly sharp.