After Xia Li walked out of the dining establishment.

  Even without turning around, he could feel the icy chill coming from behind—likely Zhao Yunji and Lin Yu still watching him.

  After walking a bit farther, Xia Li finally took out his transmission jade slip and contacted the Third Elder, reporting this matter.

  "Alright, I understand. Be careful yourself."

  The Third Elder's reply was rather indifferent, seemingly unsurprised that things would develop this way.

  "By the way, young friend Xia, may I ask a favor of you?"

  "Please speak."

  "If one day I'm no longer around, please take care of Xiao Ge. Considering half her bloodline is the same as yours..."

  The Third Elder was arranging a fallback for Lin Ge, which also meant he might fight Heaven Alliance to the death.

  Lin Ge's parents were the Third Elder's son and daughter-in-law, both killed by Heaven Alliance—how could the Third Elder possibly swallow this grudge?

  "I'll do my best..."

  "This old man thanks you."

  The Third Elder cut the transmission, probably going to make preparations. Hearing all this, Xia Li felt quite helpless.

  If the Third Elder was gone, he probably couldn't stay in Lingxu Cave Heaven anymore.

  What a pity—he hadn't even had a chance to really experience sect life yet.

  His lakeside villa that he'd just bought!

  Walking all the way up Lingxu Peak, Xia Li had a premonition that leaving this time, he might not be able to return.

  As the world spun before his eyes and transformed, Xia Li discovered a disciple had already been waiting outside. That cold expression was clearly hostile—obviously someone sent by Zhao Yunji.

  Should he ask the Third Elder to come protect him?

  This thought had barely risen before Xia Li dismissed it. If they really wanted to kill him, would they wait in such an obvious place?

  It was probably meant to lure the snake from its hole.

  If the Third Elder left Lingxu Cave Heaven, Lin Ge would only be in more danger—especially since Lin Ye was also planning to go out recently.

  And if the Third Elder took Lin Ge with him when leaving, it would likely push Heaven Alliance into desperation, and who knew what would happen then.

  If a situation arose where immortals fought and mortals suffered, that would be troublesome.

  After realizing all this, Xia Li understood that his struggle with Heaven Alliance had ended its halftime break and was once again out in the open.

  [Heaven Chip, analyze the target's blood qi strength]

  [Analyzing... Target's blood qi strength is Jade Marrow. Spiritual cultivation suspected to be Nascent Soul stage.]

  After the Heaven Chip analyzed the opponent's martial cultivation, Xia Li couldn't help but frown. Martial Dao Jade Marrow, Mysterious Dao Nascent Soul!

  Such a powerful expert would probably be ranked among the True Transmission disciples!

  Sending such a strong opponent just to eliminate him?

  Heaven Alliance really was using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. They clearly understood that those with fortuitous encounters weren't so easy to kill—but he wasn't a prodigy.

  After detecting the opponent's basic information, Xia Li continued forward without showing any change in expression.

  From the moment that previous conversation had broken down, it seemed Heaven Alliance had immediately begun taking action, and moving against him was the first step.

  Then...

  He would cut down this first step!

  After leaving Lingxu Cave Heaven and traveling a certain distance, Xia Li stopped and turned around, cupping his fists toward the person behind him.

  The other party had been following him but hadn't made a move—clearly they had some calculation in mind.

  "May I ask what guidance Senior Brother has to offer?"

  "You're quite clever, knowing I'm giving you a chance. I thought you'd try to run or attack me."

  "I wouldn't dare. This humble one is merely at Foundation Establishment—how would I dare to attack a Nascent Soul True Lord?"

  Xia Li put himself in an extremely low position.

  "Good that you know your place. I won't say much more—obediently let me plant a gu worm in you, and you can live."

  "Senior Brother, you should also be a True Transmission disciple, right? Being a True Transmission of a Cave Heaven, why must you do this?"

  To become a True Transmission disciple required talent, opportunity, and connections—all indispensable. There was absolutely no need to eagerly be Heaven Alliance's dog.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "Lingxu Cave Heaven has been unfair to me. I consider my contributions to the sect significant, yet the sect wants to promote some so-called 'destined one' to replace me. If it were you, could you accept it?"

  "And Heaven Alliance will help me eliminate that laughable destined one."

  This True Transmission disciple had tried to make moves against that destined one himself, but unfortunately the other's luck was truly great, having already escaped from certain death several times.

  "Senior Brother, you were probably born a scion of a great clan—isn't that also a form of destiny? In my view, you're also a destined one."

  "I don't want to waste words with you!"

  "My apologies. I'll come over now and let you plant the gu."

  Xia Li walked toward him. That True Transmission disciple naturally didn't believe Xia Li would be so obedient, and was secretly preparing as well.

  Twenty meters...

  Ten meters...

  As the distance between them shrank, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

  "Junior Brother Xia, I notice your expression seems somewhat off."

  "Throughout history, there have been many prodigies, but those who could jump two major realms—either the opponent was trash, or that prodigy possessed world-shaking talent."

  "My name is Wang Zhang, the Eighteenth True Transmission. I once killed a Nascent Soul while at Golden Core—counting up, I'm also a genius. You couldn't possibly think... you have world-shaking talent, could you?"

  Wang Zhang warned Xia Li to think clearly. Once he made a move, tearing away the last pretense, Xia Li would suffer badly.

  He didn't underestimate Xia Li—after all, Zhao Yunji sending him to deal with a Foundation Establishment cultivator only meant this Foundation Establishment cultivator was extremely powerful. Besides, he knew some information about Xia Li.

  Xia Li killed Golden Cores like slaughtering dogs!

  He was indeed a prodigy.

  If they really fought, he would inevitably be injured. This wasn't what he wanted—he wanted no injuries, preferably winning without fighting.

  "Senior Brother Wang, you are indeed very powerful. But you really shouldn't have... come alone."

  Xia Li suddenly smiled. The distance between them was now only three meters.

  "To kill you, I alone am enough. Since you seek death, then don't blame me..."

  Before Wang Zhang could finish speaking, he suddenly felt himself bound by some force. Not spiritual energy, nor a soul attack.

  Rather, an invisible force squeezed toward him, locking down the entire space around his body.

  "You... Divine Dao..."

  A look of horror appeared on Wang Zhang's face, his previous confidence swept away, replaced by fear.

  Though the Divine Dao had been lost.

  But the Divine Dao's mighty reputation still echoed to this day—it was a tradition that could defy heaven and slay immortals!

  Xia Li didn't respond. The opponent cultivated two Daos simultaneously—there was absolutely no way he could crush him to death. He couldn't even restrain him for long.

  Xia Li immediately pulled out the Sirius Revolver and loaded an antimatter bullet directly.

  This was Xia Li's respect for the strong.

  Now was no time to be stingy. Normal bullets—even with the sixth one enhanced—might not be able to harm Wang Zhang. He had to deliver a decisive blow!

  Raising the gun, cocking the hammer, aiming at Wang Zhang's dantian.

  "You... can't kill me. Even if I can't move, so what..."

  "A mere Foundation Establishment..."

  Wang Zhang had martial cultivation—his body could withstand attacks from supreme-grade spiritual artifacts.

  "See you in the next life, Senior Brother Wang."

  Xia Li pulled the trigger!

  Then immediately jumped away with all his strength.

  After the bullet hit Wang Zhang's dantian, a thumb-sized black dot instantly formed at his dantian.

  The black dot was the terminus of all material phenomena.

  Absorption, tearing, compression, vaporization, reduction!

  Wang Zhang's body stretched like noodles, drawn out in an extremely brief instant as everything around him was sucked into the black dot.

  And then...

  The black dot vanished, a violent wind erupted, and all that remained was an arc-shaped crater. A powerful surge of spiritual energy scattered in all directions.

  Wang Zhang had been reduced to fundamental spiritual energy, nourishing this mountain forest.