Ji Yuan no longer paid attention to the battle on the river surface, but concentrated on purifying the resentment at the bottom of the river.
With the assistance of the Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian families on the shore, the power of the sage's artifact above, his own cultivation realm, and the gradually controlled origin power of the Lin Fu River.
Although the pressure he faced was increasing, he became more and more adept. Compared to a few days ago, the same amount of divine power could purify more resentment.
As the resentment was purified by him, many resentful spirits trapped within were freed.
Although they no longer had the chance to re-enter reincarnation or be reborn, they were finally freed from endless torment.
Before they dissipated into heaven and earth, they were at least able to stand in the sunlight again. Although for their past selves, the sunlight should have been warm, it now felt like scorching hot oil.
With the liberation and dissipation of each resentful spirit, Ji Yuan and everyone participating in the ritual gained a trace of tangible merit.
This was both the recognition of heaven and earth, and the thanks and gift from the resentful spirits.
Unconsciously, more than half of the Lin Fu River had been purified, and Ji Yuan had returned to the upper reaches, not far from the source.
He had now mastered more than half of the origin power. With the support of the power of heaven and earth, his golden body had been elevated considerably from its original realm, and he was extremely close to the middle stage of the Third Realm.
As soon as he approached the source, he would be able to elevate his realm to the middle stage of the Third Realm with the blessing of the Lin Fu River's origin power, and with a continuous supply of water fortune power, his divine power would also be maintained at the same level.
At that time, he could be considered a true cultivator in the middle stage of the Third Realm, at least within the territory of the Lin Fu River.
Moreover, being in the water, his divine abilities could be further enhanced. Even if facing a cultivator in the late stage of the Third Realm, even if he couldn't gain much advantage, he could at least guarantee that he wouldn't be defeated.
However, at this moment, a powerful aura appeared and enveloped his location.
Ji Yuan looked up at the river surface. Even with the enhancement of his divine eye, he couldn't see the enemy's figure, but he could sense their cultivation realm.
It was a cultivator with the power of the Third Realm!
Just as he was marveling at the patron's lavish expenditure, even deploying a cultivator of the Third Realm, five more auras suddenly came from the riverbed.
He glanced over and then saw five cultivators who had practiced water arts rapidly approaching.
He only watched for a moment before slowly withdrawing his gaze. He paid no further attention. The black giant python beneath his feet, as if receiving an order, gently swayed its body and rapidly swam towards the five cultivators in the riverbed.
Before long, fierce fluctuations of magical power spread through the riverbed.
On the surface of the river, a middle-aged man stood in the air, temporarily flying by means of his magical power, emanating an astonishing aura.
However, the man's aura rose and fell, indicating that he had not broken through long ago, and his realm had not yet been completely stabilized.
But even so, the power of a Third Realm cultivator was still enough to awe a region.
The man looked down, his magical eye penetrating the layers of river water, finally landing on the young man emanating divine light.
He extended a hand, and surging magical power gathered in his palm, quickly forming a sharp spike. He was about to strike the divine being in the river.
However, at that very moment, a chill ran down his spine. He could then sense a sharp aura rapidly flying towards him.
The middle-aged man retreated without hesitation, striking back at the incoming sword energy with the spike in his hand. Immediately, a violent fluctuation erupted on the water's surface!
Through the churning magical power, he saw that a figure had appeared more than ten zhang away.
The figure was wearing a Daoist robe, carrying a long sword on his back, with one arm extended, forming a sword finger. His appearance was remarkably similar to the young man in the riverbed, but he was older.
"A mere Second Realm, daring to attack this seat?"
The middle-aged man sneered, a ferocity appearing between his brows.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan slightly shook his head. The magical power within his true body surged through his meridians. Although he was only at the late stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm, he exuded an aura that was no weaker than the man before him.
His aura was so powerful that it was comparable to, and even slightly superior to, the middle-aged man who had just broken through to the Third Realm.
Seeing the middle-aged man extend his hand, his powerful magical power stirred the surrounding spiritual energy, transforming into a large hand that grabbed towards him.
Ji Yuan immediately smiled gently, drew the long sword behind his back, and with a flash of sword light, the large hand before him was split in two.
Ignoring the look of astonishment on the man's face, he slashed at him from a distance. Instantly, sharp sword energy shot out, flashing and disappearing in mid-air.
The next moment, the middle-aged man felt a palpitation. Without thinking, he shook his sleeve, and a stream of light flew out, transforming into a small shield that blocked in front of him.
Clang!!!
A beam of sword energy appeared and fiercely struck the small shield. Sharp sword intent erupted, nearly splitting the shield in two!
However, even though he had managed to block one beam of sword energy, the small shield was deeply scarred. The triple innate restrictions within were mostly shattered, and the spiritual energy it contained was also lost.
The middle-aged man looked at the small shield in front of him with heartache, then his face turned angry. He vibrated the magical power within his body and instantly completed the preparation of his spell. Heavy water light appeared around him.
In an instant, countless streams of water light condensed, forming a strangely shaped giant fish, more than half his size, which violently charged towards the young man before him.
The magical power of the Third Realm erupted with powerful might in this strike. Even a small mountain would likely be half-destroyed by this single blow.
However, upon seeing this, Ji Yuan's expression remained unchanged. As he raised the long sword in his hand, the abundant sword intent within him flowed out, quickly reaching its peak.
When the long sword was heavily swung down, a sword energy half a zhang long separated from the blade and then struck the strange giant fish formed by the spell!
There was no dazzling light or deafening roar. Under the sharp sword energy, the giant fish was immediately cut open. The sword intent, as heavy as the sky, caused it to collapse silently!
Seeing this, the middle-aged man's face changed drastically. Although he was heartbroken, he still pushed out the small shield in front of him with all his might and then detonated it in mid-air!
Although the magic item was nearly half-destroyed, its self-destruction at this moment still erupted with powerful spiritual energy, like a small sun rising on the river surface!