Before long, a group of people all flew to the cloud top. Yuan Ming faced Bai Zhengxiong from afar, both ready to engage in battle, while those around them kept their distance and watched from afar.

"A duel of Returning to Void over a mere Core Formation really seems a bit unreasonable. How about this: if Fellow Daoist Yuan loses, he will leave Spiritual Ape Island and not challenge any other islands for a hundred years. If Fellow Daoist Bai loses, then he compensates with spirit stones equivalent to a hundred years of income of Spiritual Ape Island as a prize. What do you both think?" Just then, Shen Fangyuan suddenly spoke.

"I fear Fellow Daoist Yuan wouldn't dare to agree," Bai Zhengxiong sneered coldly.

Yuan Ming suddenly glanced at the void behind Bai Zhengxiong, revealing an expression of understanding.

"Why wouldn't I dare if it's picking up something cheap? I just hope Fellow Daoist Bai prepares the spirit stones in advance and doesn't renege later," Yuan Ming retracted his gaze and replied with a crisp laugh.

Upon hearing this, anger flashed in Bai Zhengxiong's eyes. His right hand fiercely formed a spell, and an invisible fluctuation surged from his body and spread rapidly around him.

Yuan Ming immediately felt a cold wind assault his face, messing up his hair and sleeves. The temperature around him plummeted suddenly, and then snowflakes as large as goose feathers began to fall out of thin air, as if it were the depths of winter.

The coldness seeped into Yuan Ming's body, even causing slight stagnation in the circulation of his qi-blood and spiritual power.

Simultaneously, Bai Zhengxiong's aura surged. With another raise of his hand, thousands of pale ice rings appeared in the snowstorm, spinning furiously towards Yuan Ming, threatening to utterly demolish him.

Yuan Ming's expression darkened slightly, his arms blurring momentarily as he unleashed hundreds of punches. The dense fist winds formed a solid wall, blocking and shattering the incoming ice rings.

At the same time, he took the opportunity to close in on Bai Zhengxiong, aiming to launch a fierce melee attack.

Bai Zhengxiong seemed to have anticipated Yuan Ming's thoughts. As soon as he made a move, Bai Zhengxiong immediately spat out a palm-sized white banner, which grew several meters tall as it fluttered in the wind.

Next, Bai Zhengxiong hit the white banner with a spell, and instantly, images appeared on its originally blank surface—strange white shadows hidden within the snowstorm.

The next instant, the snowflakes falling from the sky increased several times over, howling winds came rushing in, and heavy snow whirled about, completely blocking Yuan Ming's vision, and Bai Zhengxiong's figure also disappeared into the blizzard.

Seeing Bai Zhengxiong's figure vanish and even unable to lock onto him with his Divine Sense, Yuan Ming forcefully halted mid-air, slightly frowning as he looked around, feeling the chill within his body slowly building up, gradually affecting the circulation of his qi-blood and mana.

Thus, he immediately activated the Demon Image Prison Suppression Skill, radiating waves of heat from within, driving away all the coldness.

But just then, among the whizzing snowstorms, a chaotic howling sound arose, followed by hundreds of green-eyed, white-furred wolf demons with icy claws leaping out of the surrounding snow.

Their claws, formed of ice, emanated chilling coldness that struck awe into anyone merely by looking.

Faced with the assault of these wolf demons, Yuan Ming decisively countered with punches. Surprisingly, the wolf demons were not particularly strong; their bodies shattered upon contact, failing entirely to approach Yuan Ming, let alone attack him.

However, each time a wolf demon was dispersed by Yuan Ming, a trace of coldness would invade his body. Even though Yuan Ming would expel it with his techniques, it still gradually drained his physical strength.

Moreover, those disassembled wolf demons did not die but turned into a cloud of snowflakes, which were swept up by the wild wind and instantly reformed, once again charging at Yuan Ming.

"Cold Snow Tide Skill of the Fourfold Transformation, seeing this person struggle so pitifully with the first level is truly disappointing," commented Shen Fangyuan with a mocking smile as he watched on the side. This chapter was made possible by the * community.

"Fellow Daoist Bai, with his profound cultivation, has studied this spirit art for many years, and combined with his Lifebound Magical Treasure, it's not so easy for ordinary Returning Void cultivators to break through. If Fellow Daoist Yuan wants to lose less embarrassingly, I'm afraid he needs to pull out some trump techniques," Elder Shi also commented, clearly not optimistic about Yuan Ming's situation.

As if proving his point, Yuan Ming, hindered by the wolf demons, now looked significantly more solemn.

Suddenly, spirit light faintly appeared in his eyes. He then looked around, his eyes gleaming as if he could see through the snowstorm and locate Bai Zhengxiong.

Bai Zhengxiong was also looking into Yuan Ming's eyes at the same time, feeling an inexplicable shock in his heart. He hurriedly urged his Lifebound Magical Treasure, casting another spell.

Only to see the white strange shadows on the banner quickly receding, replaced by dense white ice flowers filling every empty corner.

However, in the next moment, before Bai Zhengxiong's magic could take effect, Yuan Ming's body seemed to ignite red Blood Flames. His left arm was raised in front, right fist drawn back at his abdomen, and even sounds like a surging river of blood boiling resonated from his body.

In an instant, the surrounding snowstorm seemed tamed and no longer scattered randomly downward but revolved around Yuan Ming, whirling in his presence. The rushing wolf demons did not even require Yuan Ming's directstrike to crumble by themselves, turning into snow in the same manner, submitting under the influence of the aura emanating from Yuan Ming.

Bai Zhengxiong felt his heart tighten and hurriedly sped up the manipulation of his spell, his figure disappearing again and reappearing hundreds of meters away in a blink.

However, Yuan Ming's eyes firmly locked onto him. As soon as Bai Zhengxiong reappeared, Yuan Ming also fiercely swung his fist. The surrounding void instantly solidified, the force of heaven and earth rapidly gathering around his right fist and launching it out with his Fist Power.

The next moment, a massive pale elephant, entirely formed of ice, materialized and charged furiously towards the newly appeared Bai Zhengxiong, reaching him in just half a breath's time.

Bai Zhengxiong paled dramatically, instinctively shook the banner.

But then the giant elephant crashed into his body, with a loud "boom". The ice and snow in the sky were blown away by the blast, clearing the view for the onlookers like Shi Huan, who soon saw Bai Zhengxiong's body full of cracks.

Before they could express their astonishment, Bai Zhengxiong's body completely split open, turning into falling ice and snow, while not far away, a pale-faced Bai Zhengxiong reappeared, gasping heavily, his fingers clutching the banner turned white, showing a lingering dread.

Just then, a loud explosion suddenly came from behind Bai Zhengxiong. Startled, he quickly turned around to see a fist the size of a pot hurtling towards his face.

"I admit defeat!" he decisively shouted, as he channeled all his mana toward his Lifebound Magical Treasure, bracing for a final struggle.

However, Yuan Ming's fist ultimately stopped just half an inch from his face, and the fierce gust caused only by the motion messied his hair without inflicting any damage.

"Thanks for the concession," Yuan Ming nodded, retracting his fist and stepping away.

Onlookers like Shen Fangyuan were completely dumbfounded, not expecting that Bai Zhengxiong, who initially had the upper hand, would be defeated by Yuan Ming in mere moments.

"To harness the energy of the heavens and earth to empower one's Fist Power and even convert Fellow Daoist Bai's summoned wind and snow to his own advantage, Fellow Daoist's Cultivation Technique is truly profound. May I ask under which master you studied?" Shi Huan exclaimed, bowing with clasped hands towards the approaching Yuan Ming.

"Just a nameless Loose Cultivator, it's just good luck and some opportunities I came across," Yuan Ming shook his head slightly, reluctant to say more.

"I see, my apologies for the presumption," Shi Huan was not offended.

Just then, Yuan Ming suddenly turned and threw a punch towards a cluster of white clouds in the nearby sky.

The punch dispersed the white clouds with a thunderous noise, and a figure staggered out, revealing itself to be Silver Dragon Taoist.

"A battle for the island is fair and reasonable, if Fellow Daoist remains unconvinced, you are welcome to apply for a rematch at Dongji Palace. But if any underhanded tactics are used next time, do not blame me for being ruthless and ending your promising path to immortality."

Yuan Ming's voice contained no hint of emotional fluctuations, yet Silver Dragon Taoist's face was dark as water, not daring to speak. He simply left a resentful glance and flew away.

Yuan Ming simply smirked and looked away, knowing in his heart that had he not been reluctant to kill, causing ire amongst the cultivators of Dongji Sea, he wouldn't have let him go so easily.

"Fellow Daoist Bai, I've just arrived here and only wish to find a tranquil place to cultivate in seclusion. I hope you won't let yourself be swayed by others in the future, to avoid tarnishing your own reputation," Yuan Ming then turned to Bai Zhengxiong.

Bai Zhengxiong was both embarrassed and annoyed, muttering a vague response before turning away to leave, eager to stay no longer.

Seeing this, Shen Fangyuan hurriedly followed.

"Ah, Fellow Daoist Yuan, please forgive me. I believed only one side of Fellow Daoist Bai's story without expecting Silver Dragon Taoist to stir up trouble. Rest assured, the rules were set by us at Dongji Palace. I'll report this once I return, and we won't let someone bother you again," Shi Huan, however, stayed behind and spoke politely with a chuckle.

"With Elder Shi's words, I am at ease," Yuan Ming discerned Shi Huan's intentions of making connections and did not turn him away.

Times changed, and now that he was rooted on Spiritual Ape Island, he needed a period of peace. To coldly reject others from afar was not wise.

"That's good to hear. But, it's indeed my negligence; I happen to have a pot of fine wine on me, as an apology. Would Fellow Daoist Yuan care to join me for a drink?" Shi Huan added.

"It's I who should be hosting as the landlord. Perhaps Yun Luo Fairy would also care to join us?" Yuan Ming replied, looking towards Yun Luo Fairy.

Yun Luo Fairy naturally did not refuse, and the three returned to Spiritual Ape Island where they enjoyed a feast, making for a merry gathering which ended in good spirits.

When it was time to leave, Yuan Ming, as previously agreed, plucked two pieces of White Infant Fruit and handed them to Yun Luo Fairy.

"Thank you for your protection, Island Master. Your great kindness is something I can hardly repay," only Ye Xinyao was on the island as Situ Zhan and the others were not around. She fell beside Yuan Ming and knelt down.

"Stand up, since you have joined Spiritual Ape Island, I naturally will protect you," said Yuan Ming indifferently, waving his sleeve to release a force that lifted Ye Xinyao.

"Then, I'll get busy," Ye Xinyao said few words, bowing to Yuan Ming before starting to leave.

"Wait, pick a spot with nice feng shui on the island and build a tomb," Yuan Ming suddenly stopped Ye Xinyao.

"A tomb? Understood," Ye Xinyao was surprised but asked no further.

Yuan Ming gazed at the vast sea. Originally in Shura Palace, he had promised the Residual Soul of Shura Master to bring his body to be buried in the Overseas World. Although Dongji Sea was remote, it was still part of the Overseas World, so he decided to fulfill that wish here.

Yuan Ming did not linger there and turned back to his Cave Mansion.