The golden spiritual wisp hummed violently in Lin Mo’s palm, its pure energy surging through his meridians like a raging river, clashing with the overwhelming, suffocating aura of Foundation Establishment realm that rolled off Elder Wang in towering waves. Every muscle in Lin Mo’s body tensed, his bones aching under the pressure—this was the gap between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, a chasm few outer sect disciples could ever hope to cross. The faction disciples scattered like startled birds, scrambling to the edges of the plateau, their faces pale with terror; none dared to intervene in a battle between an elder and a disciple, not when that elder’s rage was palpable enough to make the mist curl and burn.

Elder Wang stopped a dozen paces from the black jade altar, his cold, narrow eyes locking onto Lin Mo, then flicking to the golden wisp in his hand, then to the pouch at his waist where the Foundation Establishment Elixir and forbidden scroll lay hidden. A snarl twisted his wrinkled face, his voice dripping with venom that cut through the quiet plateau like a sharp blade. “Insolent brat,” he growled, his spiritual energy pressing down harder, making Lin Mo’s knees buckle slightly. “You dare steal the sect’s hidden treasure, defy my orders, and kill my inner sect disciples? You think that cheap concealment art and that trivial spiritual wisp can save you from death?”

Lin Mo gritted his teeth, forcing his knees straight, the Six Paths Immortal Root in his dantian thrumming in defiance, counteracting the elder’s oppressive aura just enough for him to stand. He did not speak—words were useless against a man who had already resolved to kill him. His fingers tightened around the golden wisp, channeling its endless energy into his meridians, repairing the strain from the elder’s pressure and pushing his mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation closer to late-stage with every passing second. The Spirit Vein Concealment Art still clung to him, but he knew it would not hold against a Foundation Establishment elder’s spiritual perception for long; it was only a matter of time before his true, far stronger latent aura was exposed.

Behind Elder Wang, the two shadow assassins stumbled to their feet, the injured one clutching a broken rib, both bowing low in shame. “Elder, we failed—” one began, but Elder Wang waved a hand dismissively, cutting him off.

“Useless fools,” he spat. “Deal with the beast and the meddling faction disciples. I will handle this brat myself.”

The assassins nodded, turning to face the Spirit-Eating Beast, which had recovered from its momentary shock at the elder’s aura and was now pacing at the edge of the plateau, six tails lashing furiously, its gaze fixed on Lin Mo. The scar-faced Li faction disciple, still hiding behind a rock, swallowed hard, motioning for his comrades to stay back; they would wait for the elder to kill Lin Mo before daring to move for the treasure.

Without another word, Elder Wang raised a hand, a wisp of dark blue spiritual energy coiling around his fingers, sharp and deadly. This was no ordinary attack—it carried the power of Foundation Establishment, enough to crush a late-stage Qi Refining disciple into paste with a single strike. Lin Mo’s eyes widened, and he activated Body Lightening Step to its limit, darting to the side just as the energy blast slammed into the black jade altar, shattering a chunk of the ancient stone and sending shards flying.

The altar’s runes flickered, dimmed, then blazed brighter, as if angered by the desecration. The Six Paths Immortal Root in Lin Mo’s dantian roared to life, a force far more ancient and powerful than Elder Wang’s Foundation Establishment energy bursting forth, shattering the last of the Spirit Vein Concealment Art. His true cultivation aura exploded outward—late-stage Qi Refining, but with a latent power that made Elder Wang’s eyes widen in shock.

“Impossible,” Elder Wang muttered, taken aback for the first time. “A mere outer sect disciple with a top-grade immortal root? No wonder you’ve been so difficult to kill.” He recovered quickly, his rage flaring hotter. “Even an immortal root can’t save you! I’ll tear it from your dantian and take it for myself!”

He lunged forward, faster than Lin Mo’s eyes could follow, his hand reaching for Lin Mo’s throat. Lin Mo crossed his arms, channeling all the altar’s spiritual energy and the power of the Six Paths Immortal Root into a defensive barrier of golden light. The elder’s hand slammed into the barrier, and a deafening boom echoed across the plateau, the shockwave blowing the faction disciples off their feet and sending the Spirit-Eating Beast and assassins tumbling backward.

Lin Mo was thrown back, slamming into the altar, blood spurting from his lips. His arms ached as if they had been broken, and the defensive barrier cracked, but it had held. He stared at Elder Wang in shock—he had actually blocked a F