"Others may not succeed, but that is the Emperor Ancestor. Whatever he sets his mind on, how could it not succeed," Wang Lian slowly exhaled and said word by word, "The Emperor Ancestor, using countless Secret Techniques as a foundation, spent over thirty years to finally create a Secret Technique known as the 'Efang Sutra.' It does not rely on a Secret Technique Core, does not require entry into the Secret Realm to cultivate and enhance one's level, and it has the ability to restrain all the world's Secret Techniques. Even Unparalleled Secret Techniques are difficult to match it, making it the emperor among Secret Techniques."
Chen Guan frowned slightly, as he had never heard of what Wang Lian described.
Lu Teng said coldly, "I've never heard of this 'Efang Sutra'. If the Emperor Ancestor indeed created such a supreme Secret Technique, it should have spread across the world long ago. How could no one know about it? You're spouting nonsense here, thinking you can stall for time to save your life?"
"You haven't heard of it because you're ignorant. Ask Qin Ziyu if he's ever heard anything related to this Secret Technique," Wang Lian said.
Everyone looked at Qin Ziyu, who pondered and said, "I've indeed heard such rumors. The Emperor Ancestor extensively read all Secret Techniques in the Efang Palace and created a Secret Technique. However, the exact name of the Secret Technique was not thoroughly recorded, and there is no record of the Emperor Ancestor publicly using such a technique. After the Emperor Ancestor ascended, no one had seen that Secret Technique, so whether it truly exists, no one can confirm until now."
"Even if the 'Efang Sutra' exists, what does it have to do with here? You don't mean to say the Emperor Ancestor left the 'Efang Sutra' here, do you?" Gongsun Zhuo said.
"You're right, the 'Efang Sutra' is indeed on this island," Wang Lian disregarded Gongsun Zhuo's mockery and nodded seriously.
"Whether that Secret Technique exists is unknown, and even if it does, why would the Emperor Ancestor not pass it down to his descendants and leave it on this mysterious island?" Qin Ziyu stared at Wang Lian.
"I don't know the exact reason either, but this matter is indeed true. An elder from my clan accidentally entered here in his youth. He discovered the stone tablet left by the Emperor Ancestor on the island, which clearly records that the 'Efang Sutra' is on this island. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do," Wang Lian said.
"According to your account, if your elder discovered this secret and managed to leave the island, he must be a capable person. Surely he would have taken the 'Efang Sutra' back, so why would you need to take this risk?" Gongsun Zhuo picked up on the flaw in Wang Lian's words.
"My elder never obtained the 'Efang Sutra' because the Sutra isn't engraved on the stone tablet. Instead, it's divided into six parts scattered across the island, guarded by six World-Defying Secret Spirits on the island. Although these World-Defying Secret Spirits are only Level 10, only those entering the Secret Realm for the first time and entering the Pingdu Mountain Blessed Land on the night of the fifteenth day of the seventh month can come here. Therefore, obtaining the entire 'Efang Sutra' is practically impossible."
Pausing for a moment, Wang Lian looked at the Seven Treasure Glaze Tree and said, "If you don't believe me, you can go look at the Seven Treasure Glaze Tree. A part of the 'Efang Sutra' is imprinted on it. Once seen, you'll know whether what I say is true."
Initially, Chen Guan and the others did not believe Wang Lian's words, but now what she said could be verified immediately, true or false at a glance, without any chance of fabrication.
Upon hearing this, Lu Teng ran toward the pond, not knowing whether he was eager to verify Wang Lian's claims or had other plans.
Standing by the pond, Lu Teng craned his neck to scrutinize the Seven Treasure Glaze Tree, which resembled a pagoda. It wasn't long before he exclaimed joyfully, "There really are words on the Seven Treasure Glaze Tree, but they're hard to understand. They look like an obsolete small-seal script."
Chen Guan and the others exchanged glances; they hadn't believed a word Wang Lian said and were now wavering slightly.
Ah!
Just as they intended to check the words on the Seven Treasure Glaze Tree, a scream suddenly rang out, and they were alarmed. Looking intently, they saw the Water Burial Buddha, though supposedly killed, had mysteriously come back to life. Its hand pierced through Lu Teng's chest, lifting his body into the air.
Blood gushed from Lu Teng's chest, and blood sprayed from his mouth with his cries. An intense will to survive made him struggle ceaselessly, but he was apparently out of strength and visibly on the verge of dying.
Chen Guan quickly retreated, hiding behind Yanzhi while carefully observing the Water Burial Buddha.
This Water Burial Buddha appeared somewhat different from before, even more terrifying and sinister.
Originally adorned with black scales and golden patterns, the golden lotus patterns on the scales had turned blood-red, and its once-gray eyes were now blood-red, emanating a bloody and evil aura.
Boom!
The Water Burial Buddha flung Lu Teng's body against a nearby cliff, causing his head to shatter on impact, killing him instantly.
In the Water Burial Buddha's hand was a bleeding, bright red heart, which it put into its mouth, chewing and swallowing it in a few bites, then set its blood-red eyes on Chen Guan and company, striding towards them.
Qin Ziyu and Chen Guan exchanged a glance, both understanding the other's intention.
Escape was impossible at this point; Qin Ziyu wielded his sword toward the Water Burial Buddha, while Chen Guan also commanded Yanzhi to surge forward, hoping they could slay the Water Burial Buddha again by combining their forces.
Though Yanzhi was also a World-Defying Secret Spirit, its level was below that of the Water Burial Buddha and would likely not fare well in a one-on-one battle.
Fortunately, Chen Guan still held the Spirit of the Cheerleaders talent, able to assist from the sidelines if Yanzhi and Qin Ziyu struggled against the Water Burial Buddha.
As Chen Guan pondered, he examined the Water Burial Buddha, noticing it was now empty-handed, the bone bowl it previously held was nowhere in sight.
Chen Guan quickly glanced towards the spot where the Water Burial Buddha's body had lain earlier and indeed spotted the crude bone bowl. The liquid resembling blood within it was entirely gone, leaving him a faint realization that the content within the bowl had likely prevented the Water Burial Buddha from truly dying, resulting in its current form.
Revived, the Water Burial Buddha became even more terrifying, with strength, speed, and primordial energy regeneration significantly enhanced. Previously able to contend with it evenly, Qin Ziyu, even in teamwork with Yanzhi, could merely parry the Water Burial Buddha's attacks.
The scales on the Water Burial Buddha were like Vajra, colliding directly with Qin Ziyu's sword and Yanzhi's blade without so much as a scratch. Sparks flew everywhere as swords and blades clashed with the Water Burial Buddha's limbs.
Gongsun Zhuo wanted to help, but with his abilities, he couldn't find an opening.
Chen Guan's focus hadn't entirely been on the battlefield; his gaze fell on Wang Lian, who was dragging her injured body and quietly crawling towards her soft sword.