Generally speaking, Sect Cultivators are stronger than Clan Cultivators, who in turn are stronger than Loose Cultivators.

With comprehensive legacies, more suitable Spiritual Artifacts, and generations of secret Divine Techniques, they naturally have a head start.

Moreover, with the Qingfeng Sect’s Foundation Establishment Elders holding a two-to-one advantage, they quickly overwhelmed the two Mo Clan Elders, putting them in constant peril.

’What an impressive technique. That pair of Silver Claws is incredibly unpredictable!’

Bai Zichen stood on the deck, watching the life-and-death struggle between the Foundation Establishment Cultivators up close to gain experience.

The Spiritual Artifact Elder Zhang used was a pair of Silver Claws. In his hands, they moved like phantoms, phasing in and out of sight.

The Mo Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator was caught off guard for a moment. The Silver Claws broke through his Protective Spiritual Artifact and brutally tore off one of his arms.

The Mo Family Cultivator grunted in pain as blood gushed from his severed arm.

A look of despair crossed his face. Spitting out a mouthful of Essence Blood, he roared, "If I’m not going to make it, you’re all dying with me!"

A pillar of flame shot into the sky, accompanied by a clear phoenix cry.

The nearest Wind Shuttle was thrown back by a ring of fire. A curtain of water fell from the vessel to meet the flames, instantly creating a massive cloud of steam.

Elder Zhang emerged looking disheveled, supporting another Elder from the Qingfeng Sect.

The other Elder’s face was deathly pale and his expression was listless. He had clearly been severely wounded by the final strike of the Mo Clan Elder, who had burned all his Essence Blood to awaken his bloodline’s power before dying.

"Thank you for your help, Senior Brother Zhang..."

By burning his Essence Blood before death, the Mo Clan Elder had temporarily raised his cultivation by a level, unleashing a furious strike equivalent to that of a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

If Elder Zhang hadn’t blocked the blow with a Green Leaf Defense Spiritual Artifact, he might very well have died.

"It was my duty. There’s no need for thanks."

After a moment to regulate his breath, Elder Zhang threw himself back into the other battle.

"You Sects are all jackals from the same pack! The Qingfeng Sect blocks my path to Core Formation, and the Ghost Spirit Sect deceived my reinforcements on the road. So be it! Let the slaughter begin! I will carve out a future for the Mo Family with my own hands!"

As he watched his clansmen fall one by one, Mo Qianyuan’s eerie red eyes looked as if they might drip blood. He roared like a man possessed.

’The drop of Clear Spirit Jade Marrow that the Ghost Spirit Sect sent as a deposit has already been safely entrusted to someone else. I might as well have a good, bloody fight and carve out a path to survival for the Mo Family.’

With Mo Qianyuan at the center, Fire Element Spiritual Power began to frantically converge around him. He became like a furnace, threatening to set the very air ablaze.

"Fire Phoenix True Feather!"

Liang Yu’s expression turned grave, as if facing a formidable foe. He stared at the foot-long red feather Mo Qianyuan had just summoned, which emanated a pressure that made his heart pound.

It felt as if he were facing a Core Formation True Man!

Liang Yu summoned a Turtle-Shaped Jade Seal. A massive phantom of a Divine Turtle appeared behind him. Its four legs slammed into the ground, and as if taking root, it swelled to several times its original size.

Pei Dongyong, who had been standing by to provide support, also took two steps forward. He clutched a scroll, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

It had long been rumored that the Mo Family possessed a Fire Phoenix True Feather—a feather shed from a Tier Four Fire Phoenix and stained with a trace of its True Blood.

If used in Artifact Refining, it would be a suitable primary material for a Top-Grade Magical Treasure.

However, it had never been seen by outsiders, so most had come to dismiss it as mere rumor.

At this moment of his clan’s life or death, Mo Qianyuan had played his final trump card. Combined with a Secret Technique, the Fire Phoenix True Feather seemed capable of unleashing an incredible Great Divine Technique.

"You have always mocked my Mo Family’s bloodline! You say all we know is how to breed, that we possess no Fire Element Divine Power and are unworthy of the Fire Phoenix name! You even claim it drives us to madness and rage... Today, I will show you Black Mountain Cultivators what the Fire Phoenix Bloodline truly means!"

Mo Qianyuan formed his right hand into a claw, tore open the flesh of his own chest, and violently shoved the Fire Phoenix True Feather inside.

Blood soaked the red feather, giving it an eerie sheen. His cultivation, originally at the Late-Stage of Foundation Establishment, began to climb steadily.

"This is bad! He’s using the Fire Phoenix True Feather to boost his cultivation..."

Liang Yu hesitated no longer. He took out a Golden Talisman inscribed with the image of a great bronze cauldron, which burst forth with a brilliant Spirit Light.

He poured his profound Magical Power, befitting his Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, into the Golden Talisman.

With the ancient chime of striking bronze, the great cauldron materialized. Radiating the powerful aura of a Magical Treasure, it shot directly toward Mo Qianyuan to suppress him.

This was the Celestial Spirit Treasure Cauldron Talisman, a Talisman Treasure left behind four hundred years ago by a Core Formation Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall.

Mo Qianyuan no longer looked human. Red feathers sprouted from his body, bursting from bloody holes that were instantly healed by the powerful Spiritual Power of the Fire Phoenix True Feather.

Facing the Celestial Spirit Treasure Cauldron Talisman, Mo Qianyuan made no move to dodge. With a long cry, a Fire Phoenix erupted from him and soared into the sky, crashing into the great bronze cauldron.

BOOM!

A violent shockwave blasted outward. Liang Yu’s face paled. He maneuvered the Celestial Spirit Treasure Cauldron Talisman, causing massive Runes to fly from the cauldron’s body. They formed a web of light that sealed off the surrounding area.

Otherwise, the Fire Element Spiritual Power would continue to converge on Mo Qianyuan endlessly, like a hundred birds paying homage to a phoenix.

Mo Qianyuan was fighting with the resolve to die. Having merged with the Fire Phoenix True Feather, his cultivation had surged to the Foundation Establishment Perfection Realm. He put his full power into every clash, knowing the True Feather within him provided an inexhaustible supply of Fire Element Spiritual Power.

This crude method of absorption had already devastated Mo Qianyuan’s body from the inside, but in this life-or-death struggle, his ability to rapidly replenish his Magical Power allowed him to fight Liang Yu on even ground.

You have to understand, Liang Yu had been in charge of the Law Enforcement Hall for many years; his strength ranked among the top three Foundation Establishment Cultivators in all of Black Mountain.

Furthermore, the Celestial Spirit Treasure Cauldron had been refined using Spiritual Materials from Ancient Times, reaching the rank of a Top-Grade Magical Treasure. Among all the Talisman Treasures passed down through the Qingfeng Sect, its power was second to none.

"Zhi’er, now... Go!"

A sliver of clarity suddenly returned to Mo Qianyuan’s eyes. He spread his arms, and with a powerful flap of its wings, the Fire Phoenix locked the Celestial Spirit Treasure Cauldron Talisman in place.

Just then, from the giant Flying Ship within Double Ring Mountain, a Scarlet Streak shot out. It vanished in a flash, reappearing over a thousand feet away.

Judging by the power of the Scarlet Streak, it was clearly a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Mo Changzhi... so you never suffered from Qigong Deviation! You’ve already reached Foundation Establishment!"

Realization dawned on Pei Dongyong. A massive, crystalline hand reached out to grab the Scarlet Streak.

Mo Changzhi was Mo Qianyuan’s direct grandson and, before Mo Changkong, the acknowledged successor of the Fire Phoenix Mo Family. However, twenty years ago, it was said that he had suffered from Qigong Deviation while breaking through to Qi Refining Perfection, damaging his cultivation foundation.

Who would have thought that he had secretly succeeded in reaching Foundation Establishment.

The Fire Phoenix Mo Family didn’t have five Foundation Establishment cultivators, but six!

The Scarlet Streak that was Mo Changzhi was incredibly agile. With a single expansion and contraction, it evaded Pei Dongyong’s Innate Five Elements Capture.

It circled once in the air, let out a sorrowful cry, and then charged toward the nearest Wind Shuttle.

"Junior Brother Pei, he’s wearing the Mo Family’s ancestral Rainbow Feather Robe! He’s immune to Magic... Use a Spiritual Artifact on him!"

Liang Yu was pinned down by the furiously flapping wings of the Fire Phoenix. The Celestial Spirit Treasure Cauldron Talisman shook violently, and he couldn’t spare a hand to help.

Pei Dongyong threw his long scroll. It expanded to a hundred feet in length as it pursued from behind, coming within a hair’s breadth of snaring Mo Changzhi.

’Where did this Foundation Establishment Cultivator come from? The Mo Family had five Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Two defected, two were killed, and isn’t the last one being held off by Master Liang...’

Bai Zichen was still appreciating the combat between the High-Tier Cultivators, trying to learn about the differences in Foundation Establishment Stage combat, when in a flash, the Scarlet Streak came hurtling toward his Wind Shuttle.

At the Scarlet Streak’s speed, there was no way to dodge on the narrow deck. Behind him were a group of exhausted, collapsed disciples from the Talisman Hall and an unconscious Elder.

Bai Zichen gritted his teeth. He raised his Red Cover Treasure Pearl Umbrella as his Dual Swords fell into his hands. Beneath his Daoist Robe, his skin began to shimmer with a five-colored crystalline light.