232: Chapter 231 Sneak Attack!!!

Behind him, twelve figures sat cross-legged.

Two Protectors—one wielding a saber, one using poison, both at the Yuan Xiang middle stage. Ten Core Disciples—seven men and three women, ranging from the Initial Stage of Yuanxiang to the Middle Stage.

The thirteen of them formed a massive Spirit Gathering Formation, frantically absorbing the Dragon Qi stripped from the flood dragon bones.

Jiang Hanzhou and Zhou Lie lurked behind a huge rock at the cave entrance, their expressions grave as they watched this scene.

"They are refining Dragon Qi," Zhou Lie whispered. "Using a Spirit Gathering Formation to forcibly strip the power from the Dragon Essence, then absorbing and refining it."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded.

He could sense that the Bloodfang Old Monster's aura was strengthening at an alarming rate.

With every wisp of Dragon Qi absorbed, his cultivation became a bit more stable.

With every wisp of Dragon Qi absorbed, he took another step closer to the Dragon Fetus Realm.

If he were allowed to continue absorbing like this, in at most an hour—

He would undergo a Breakthrough.

"We can't let him break through."

Jiang Hanzhou stared at the Bloodfang Old Monster's increasingly powerful aura, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Zhou Lie tightened his grip on the crimson flame saber and said in a low voice, "What's the plan? Just charge in?"Line

"The Spirit Gathering Formation requires thirteen people to maintain it together." Jiang Hanzhou's gaze swept over the twelve figures. "As long as we break their Formation, the Bloodfang Old Monster's refining will be interrupted. At that time—"

He didn't finish, but Zhou Lie already understood.

At that time, the Dragon Qi that hadn't been fully refined would backlash within the Bloodfang Old Monster's body. At best, his Meridians would be damaged; at worst, his cultivation would regress.

"I'll go lure away those two Protectors." Zhou Lie licked his lips, his eyes full of Battle Intent. "You find an opportunity to break the Formation."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded, then shook his head.

"No. I'll break the Formation. You cover Senior Sister Liu."

Zhou Lie was stunned. "Liu Ningshuang? Isn't she—"

Before he could finish, a faint ripple came from behind them.

The two turned their heads to see a slender figure quietly creeping up.

Liu Ningshuang.

A pale blue Talisman was stuck to her body—it was a Black Tortoise Peak Stealth Talisman, more Advanced than Jiang Hanzhou's Breath-Concealing Talisman. Her expression was solemn as her gaze passed over the two of them and landed on the massive Spirit Gathering Formation in the center of the cave.

"I waited up there for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. When I saw you didn't come up, I knew something had happened." Her voice was very soft. "No more talk, let's go together."

Jiang Hanzhou looked at her, fell silent for a moment, and then nodded.

"Senior Brother Zhou will launch a surprise attack from the left flank to draw the attention of those two Protectors. Senior Sister Liu will cut in from the right flank and use Ice True Intent to freeze the Core Disciples' movements. I will go from the front—"

He paused and tightened his grip on the tiger soul saber:

"To strike the Formation's eye."

Zhou Lie and Liu Ningshuang exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

In the next instant—

The three of them burst forth at the same time!

Zhou Lie took a step forward, and the crimson-gold flames around him erupted! His Blazing Sun True Intent was fully activated, boiling a large area of the surrounding seawater!

Like a burning meteor, he crashed straight toward the left flank of the Spirit Gathering Formation!

"Who goes there—!"

The two Protectors suddenly opened their eyes, a flash of shock and anger in them!

The saber-wielding Protector lunged forward, his blood-colored long saber slashing out violently! With one strike, Blood-Fiend Energy surged, transforming into a three-zhang-long blood-red saber light that chopped down toward Zhou Lie's head!

The poison-using Protector waved his hands, and countless fine black poison needles shot out from his sleeves, enveloping Zhou Lie like a rainstorm!

Zhou Lie neither dodged nor avoided, slashing his crimson flame saber horizontally!

"Clang—!"

Saber light collided with saber light, erupting in a deafening metallic clash!

Zhou Lie was knocked back three zhang by the massive force, but he flipped in the air and landed steadily. Looking down, he saw three black poison needles embedded in his chest; where the needles entered, the skin had already begun to turn black and fester.

But he only grinned, plucked out the poison needles, and the flames around him burned frantically, forcibly purging the toxin from his body!

"Is that all you've got?" He licked his lips. "Again!"

He lunged forward again, his crimson flame saber slashing wildly as he became entangled in a fight with the saber-wielding Protector!

On the other side, Liu Ningshuang moved.

She wasn't as violent as Zhou Lie; her figure was like a ghost, darting through the darkness. Her twin swords were unsheathed, deep blue frost condensing on the blades—it was her condensed Ice True Intent. Although it was only at ten percent, it was already sharp enough.

She cut in from the right flank, charging straight at the Core Disciples sitting cross-legged!

These Disciples were focusing all their strength on maintaining the Spirit Gathering Formation and simply couldn't react in time!

A sword light flashed, and one Disciple's throat was slit!

Blood spurted, and the Disciple's body slumped to the ground, causing the Spirit Gathering Formation to shudder violently!

"Stop her—!"

The Bloodfang Old Monster roared, yet he remained sitting cross-legged—he was at a critical moment in refining the Dragon Qi and couldn't afford to be distracted!

The remaining nine Core Disciples rose one after another, using various means to pounce on Liu Ningshuang!

Sabers flashed and swords shadowed, as Blood-Fiend Energy surged!

Liu Ningshuang fought one against nine without a hint of fear. Her twin swords were like two swimming dragons, weaving through the crowd. With every thrust, a Disciple was forced back. However, those Disciples' cultivations were no weaker than hers, and with nine of them joining forces, she soon fell into a bitter struggle.

And at this moment—

Jiang Hanzhou moved.

He didn't launch a frontal assault but instead flickered and vanished into the darkness.

Supported by his Tidal True Intent, his speed in the water was astonishing. The attention of the Blood Shark Island Disciples was entirely drawn by Zhou Lie and Liu Ningshuang, so no one noticed a shadow quietly approaching the core of the Spirit Gathering Formation.

That core was precisely the Bloodfang Old Monster.

As long as his connection with the Spirit Gathering Formation was severed, the entire Formation would collapse.

Fifty zhang.

Thirty zhang.

Ten zhang.

Closer.

Even closer.

Jiang Hanzhou burst out from the darkness, the red and blue saber light on the tiger soul saber suddenly flaring up!

Tidal Heaven-Burning Slash—!