Rubbing his buttocks, William Brooks didn’t stand on ceremony either. With his right hand’s index and middle fingers pressed together, a streak of green light shot out, sending his flying sword forward, its cold gleam menacing, aiming to break through the barrier.

This time, things were far from calm. Suddenly, golden clouds surged, auspicious energy billowed, flashed, and vanished. William Brooks’s green sword light was swept away without a trace.

Before William Brooks could react from his shock, I grabbed him and, channeling my demonic power, charged forward just as forcefully. Watching William Brooks recklessly try to break through at first had amused me—did he really think it was unguarded!? This underground palace is protected by the Two Elements Microdust Array, one of the most profound seven formations of the Daoist Immortals. Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal or a Supreme Heavenly Demon would have to stop here, let alone William Brooks with his meager cultivation and swordplay.

Fiery Eyes of Departure, Roc’s Soaring Technique—these are my trump cards for forcing my way through the Two Elements Microdust Array. The Fiery Eyes of Departure can pierce through nine layers, see into the deepest underworld, allowing me to anticipate the formation’s changes. With the Roc’s Soaring Technique, the fastest movement art in the world, I can slip through the tiniest gap in a flash.

My true form is the fastest-flying Golden-Winged Roc. After nearly eight thousand years of cultivation, my proudest achievement is the Roc’s Soaring Technique—not only the culmination of my life’s martial arts, but also the world’s supreme movement art. When it comes to flying through the sky or burrowing through the earth, no one can match me.

The Two Elements Microdust Array is said to transform a speck of dust into a primordial universe. Once trapped inside, no matter how great your power, you’ll be imprisoned until you die.

I don’t have the ability to break the Two Elements Microdust Array, but with the aid of the Fiery Eyes of Departure, I can see through its changes before it fully activates, avoid danger, and pass through as if walking on level ground.

William Brooks only felt clouds and mist flickering around him, wind and thunder roaring, utterly bewildered, not knowing where he was. Though it lasted only a moment, it felt to him like thousands of years.

“We’re here.”

I finally broke through the Two Elements Microdust Array, landed, and stood beneath the jade palace archway—this was the first gateway of the underground palace.

He landed on his own, apparently not used to being carried.

“It’s only a few dozen meters, and you took so long to fly here.” William Brooks began to boast.

“Where’s my Azure Rainbow Sword?”

“It’s in the Two Elements Microdust Array. If you want it, go get it yourself.”

I ignored him. What I was looking for was right in front of me, but I wouldn’t be at ease until it was in my hands. I needed to search quickly.

Leaving William Brooks behind, I rose from the ground, floating in the air. My first task was to break the core formation of this underground palace.

Though I’d never been here before, I had a general understanding. This palace stretches a hundred miles deep, divided into sixty-three levels, filled with pearl palaces and shell towers, golden halls and jade stairs, forests of jade trees, exotic grasses and rare flowers. Not only is the scenery magnificent, but the layout is meticulous, with countless mechanisms.

But the two most important places in this palace are the Yellow Essence Hall and the Golden Pillar Supporting the Sea. My first choice was to check out the Golden Pillar Supporting the Sea. It’s the central hub that suppresses the entire palace and must contain the most precious treasures, divine artifacts, or even secret cultivation techniques of the immortals.

I was sure I was right.

With the formation barrier gone, it took only a blink to reach my destination.

The Golden Pillar Supporting the Sea was the most conspicuous thing here—so thick that ten people couldn’t encircle it, reaching up to the dome and down to the depths below. There was no need to search; it was obvious at a glance.

A few breaths later, the massive, incredible Golden Pillar Supporting the Sea was right before me, within arm’s reach.

Of course, getting what I wanted would still take some effort.

The spells sealing this Golden Pillar Supporting the Sea were likely even more formidable than the Two Elements Microdust Array. Even with ten thousand more years of cultivation, I couldn’t break them. But I had cultivated an ability that could nullify any sealing spell—Passing Like Flowing Water!

Passing Like Flowing Water allows me to accelerate time within my sphere of influence. Every sealing spell has a duration; once it expires, the spell gradually loses its effect. With this, I could force the Golden Pillar Supporting the Sea to open for me.

Soon, under the influence of Passing Like Flowing Water, the Golden Pillar Supporting the Sea began to emit colorful clouds, a mist of light as brilliant as brocade, illuminating the entire hall.

Before long, new changes appeared. As Passing Like Flowing Water accelerated, flames burst from the pillar, countless sparks spraying out like fireworks during the New Year.

I knew the time had come.

Sure enough.

With the last shower of light, like a myriad of stars falling, and a faint rumble of thunder, the Golden Pillar Supporting the Sea split open from top to bottom.

Using the Roc’s Soaring Technique, I flashed inside, glancing around as I descended.

After the pillar split, there were five compartments inside, each containing rare treasures, most of which I didn’t even recognize.

The top compartment held three items: a coral jade ruler, a black jade gourd, and a violet jade box.

The next compartment contained five strange fruits, emitting a wonderful fragrance, shaped like olives and colored like celadon. Clearly, these were no ordinary items—likely possessing powers to astound gods and spirits, with miraculous effects wrought by heaven and earth. But for now, I didn’t need to dwell on them.

The middle compartment seemed quite ordinary, holding only an iron token, its use unknown.

The fourth compartment, at a glance, shocked me.

No wonder I lost my composure—inside were demonic relics, and there were actually three of them.