129: Chapter 129 Fierce Battle in the Abyss, Dragon Qi Stirs

Corrupt Water Yin Puppets surged forward like a tide, each one emitting an aura ranging from the Late Foundation Establishment Stage to the Early Golden Core Stage. Although they lacked intelligence, their numerical advantage made them overlap like ocean waves.

"Form the Formation!"

With a command from Mysterious Yang Master, ten Foundation Establishment Disciples of the Seven Star Alliance quickly formed the "Seven Star Demon Slaying Formation." Seven held swords and three held shields; as the Formation's light circulated, it created a solid defensive line.

Three Golden Core Cultivators stood in a triangular position, guarding both sides of the Formation.

They were clearly battle-hardened elites with seamless cooperation and ruthless Moves, each strike accurately slicing into the core of the Yin Puppets.

However, the characteristic of the Corrupt Water Yin Puppets was their fearless disregard for death, and their core positions were extremely well-hidden. The Seven Star Alliance Cultivators often needed several attacks to kill one, while the puppets' counterattacks were like maggots on a bone.

"City Lord Lin, you deal with the left side!"

Mysterious Yang Master cut down three Yin Puppets with one sword strike and shouted toward Lin Yue.

Lin Yue nodded, exchanging looks with Star Radiance and Lin Hu.

The three of them moved simultaneously.

Lin Yue swept his spirit slaying star scar across; the Power of the Stars erupted from the blade, and wherever it passed, the Yin Puppets shattered like paper—the Power of the Stars' innate suppression of the Spirit Devouring Clan was fully displayed at this moment.

Star Radiance formed hand Seals, and thirty-six starlight runes flew out, smashing into the puppet swarm like meteors, each explosion clearing an entire area.

Lin Hu was the most direct, wielding a specially made "Evil-Breaking Heavy Saber." The blade was wrapped in the lightning power of thunder pattern crystals, and every heavy strike was aimed specifically at the heads of the Yin Puppets.

Under the cooperation of the three, the tide of Yin Puppets on the left was quickly suppressed.

However, the rustling sounds from deep within the platform grew louder and louder.

"Something's not right..."

Star Radiance's expression suddenly changed. "These Yin Puppets are just the vanguard! The real thing... is behind them!"

The words had just left her mouth.

Deep in the platform, the mountain-like pile of Spirit Devouring Clan remains suddenly began to Move!

The remains reorganized and pieced together like living things, finally condensing into three fifteen-meter-tall "Spirit Devouring Abominations"!

These monsters had the bodies of Corrupt Water Yin Puppets, the tentacles of Spirit Devouring Shadow Guards, and the heads of some unknown beasts, emitting the terrifying aura of the Golden Core Late Stage Peak.

Even more frightening was that their bodies were covered in a layer of viscous black fungal carpet. The carpet wriggled constantly, absorbing all the scattered Spirit Devouring aura around them and converting it into their own energy.

"These are... 'Spirit Devouring Creations'!"

A hint of gravity finally appeared in Mysterious Yang Master's eyes. "The Spirit Devouring Clan uses battlefield remains as Materials to forcibly stitch and grow these monsters. Their combat power far exceeds ordinary Cultivators of the same rank!"

The three abominations roared at the sky simultaneously, their foul-smelling saliva falling like rain.

Their gazes were locked dead onto the individuals with the strongest auras in the group—Mysterious Yang Master, Lin Yue, and Star Radiance.

"I'll handle the one in the middle."

Mysterious Yang Master took a step forward, his Mid Nascent Soul Stage pressure released without reservation.

He gripped the air with both hands, and two longswords burning with golden flames appeared out of thin air—these were his Lifebound Treasure, the "Solar Flame Twin Swords," supremely yang and rigid, which also had a suppressive effect on the Spirit Devouring Clan.

"Leave the one on the left to me."

Lin Yue pointed his spirit slaying star scar diagonally at the ground, the Star Scars on the blade lighting up one by one.

Star Radiance looked toward the one on the right: "I'll stall it; you two finish yours as quickly as possible."

The battle erupted once again.

Mysterious Yang Master struck first, the Solar Flame Twin Swords pouncing like two fire dragons toward the middle abomination.

The abomination neither dodged nor avoided; the fungal carpet on its body wriggled frantically, actually transforming into a massive black shield to block the twin swords!

Screech—!

The Solar Flame Sword Qi collided with the fungal shield, producing a piercing corrosive sound.

Two large holes were burned into the surface of the shield, but new fungal threads quickly filled them, restoring it to its original state.

"Such strong regenerative abilities..."

Mysterious Yang Master's gaze turned sharp, and the twin swords split apart, turning into a sky-filling rain of swords that attacked frantically from every angle.

Although the abomination was strong, under the full-force attack of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, it could only defend passively and retreat step by step.

On the left battlefield, Lin Yue's fight with the abomination was even more direct.

He completely ignored the tentacle attacks, his figure moving like lightning as he circled the monster at high speed, each sword strike precisely piercing the thinnest parts of the fungal carpet.

The Power of the Stars from the spirit slaying star scar was even more effective at suppressing the fungal carpet than the Solar Flame Sword Qi.

Every time the sword edge passed through, large patches of the fungal carpet withered and fell off, revealing the disgusting rotten flesh beneath.

The abomination let out painful screeches, its dozens of tentacles lashing out frantically, yet it couldn't even touch the corner of Lin Yue's clothes.

Meanwhile, on the right, Star Radiance adopted a completely different tactic.

She didn't fight the abomination head-on, but instead used starlight runes to set up small trapping Formations, restricting the monster's attack range to within thirty feet.

At the same time, she constantly adjusted the Formation, guiding the monster toward the edge of the platform—where there was a bottomless fissure. Once it fell, even an abomination would find it difficult to climb back up.

Three battlefields, three styles.

The Cultivators of the Seven Star Alliance, while clearing the remaining Yin Puppets, observed from the corners of their eyes, their hearts filled with shock.

In particular, the performances of Lin Yue and Star Radiance completely exceeded their expectations.

A Late Golden Core Stage could suppress a Golden Core Late Stage Peak abomination to the point where it couldn't fight back.

A Middle Golden Core Stage could use Formations to trap a monster of the same rank with ease.

Such combat power would definitely be at the Prodigy level even in the Central Region!

"No wonder they dared to refuse the Seven Star Alliance's recruitment..."

A Golden Core Cultivator sighed in a low voice.

The battle lasted for about fifteen minutes.

The first to finish his opponent was Mysterious Yang Master.

He was, after all, at the Mid Nascent Soul Stage with deep foundations. After figuring out the abomination's characteristics, he decisively used his Lifebound Divine Ability.

"Solar Flame... Heaven Incineration!"

The twin swords merged into one, turning into a thirty-meter-long golden giant sword. Carrying the intense heat that could incinerate all things, it slashed down fiercely!

Boom—!

Before the abomination could even scream, it was sliced in half by the sword, its remains quickly turning to ash in the solar flames.

Mysterious Yang Master sheathed his sword, turning his gaze toward the other two battlefields.

Lin Yue's side was also nearing its end.

After consecutively shattering three fungal carpet cores, the abomination's regenerative ability finally couldn't keep up with the consumption speed, and its movements grew slower and slower.

"It's over."

Lin Yue took a step forward, his figure merging with the spirit slaying star scar, transforming into a Star Scar sword light that pierced through heaven and earth!

Puchi—!

The sword light pierced into the abomination's head and exited from its tail, pinning it completely to the ground.

The monster convulsed a few times and stopped moving.

Star Radiance's side was even more ingenious.

She had already led the monster to the edge of the fissure. In the instant its next pounce missed, she detonated all the starlight runes she had planted beforehand.

Boom—!

The shockwave from the explosion pushed the abomination into the fissure. Its screams quickly faded into the distance, eventually swallowed by the darkness.

The three abominations were completely annihilated.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the expressions of Lin Yue and Star Radiance did not relax in the slightest.

Because they both felt it—there was still something deep within the platform.

Something even more terrifying than the abominations.

"Elder Xuan Yangzi."

Lin Yue looked at Mysterious Yang Master. "This place is not for staying long. The battle fluctuations just now very likely disturbed the existence deep within the Seal."

Mysterious Yang Master nodded.

He also felt that obscure yet heart-palpitating aura.

"Collect some samples and prepare to evacuate."

The Seven Star Alliance Cultivators moved quickly, placing parts of the Yin Puppets and abomination remains into specially made Spirit Sealing Jade Boxes.

Just as everyone was about to leave the platform—

Buzz!!!

The entire Burial Dragon Abyss suddenly trembled violently!

It wasn't an earthquake, but... some massive life form was awakening deep within the Seal!

In the fissure below the platform, a dark red light shot up into the sky like a volcanic eruption!

In the light, one could vaguely see a giant claw covered in pitch-black scales, over thirty feet in diameter, slowly emerging from the depths of the fissure!

The surface of every scale was covered in twisted runes. The runes flickered with a dark red luster, emitting a suffocating devouring aura.

Just a single claw emitted a pressure that made the breathing of all the Golden Core Cultivators stop!

"Nascent Soul... Peak?!"

Mysterious Yang Master's face changed drastically.

No, it wasn't just the Nascent Soul Peak.

In that aura, there was also a mix of an even more ancient and evil will—the will belonging to a high-level existence of the Spirit Devouring Clan!

"Run!"

Lin Yue shouted, being the first to rush toward the top of the fissure.

Star Radiance and Lin Hu followed closely behind.

The Seven Star Alliance Cultivators also snapped to their senses and fled frantically.

But the owner of that giant claw clearly didn't intend to let them go.

The claw suddenly lunged out like a bolt of black lightning, grabbing toward the slowest-fleeing Seven Star Alliance Foundation Establishment Disciple!

"Watch out!"

Mysterious Yang Master slashed back with his sword, the Solar Flame Sword Qi hitting the claw like a silk ribbon.

Clang—!

The loud sound of metal clashing.

The claw was hindered for a moment by the Sword Qi, but the scales on its surface only dimmed slightly and were not damaged.

However, that Foundation Establishment Disciple had already been grazed by the wind of the claw; he was sent flying back like a cannonball, his protective spiritual light shattered, and blood sprayed wildly.

Mysterious Yang Master's face was ashen.

He had used seventy percent of his strength in that sword strike just now, yet it only made the claw pause for a moment.

This monster's defensive power was far beyond imagination!

"Concentrate attacks on the claw's joints!"

Lin Yue's voice suddenly came through.

He had turned around at some unknown point, the Star Scars on his spirit slaying star scar fully activated. Like a burning meteor, he stabbed straight at the joint gap where the claw connected to the fissure!

There, the scale coverage was thinnest!

Mysterious Yang Master's eyes lit up, and he slashed both swords at the same spot simultaneously.

Star Radiance also formed hand Seals, all the starlight runes condensing into a massive "Starfall Awl," following closely behind.

The combined attack of the three was world-shaking!

Puchi—!

Finally, a small crack was pierced through the claw joint.

Dark red viscous blood poured out like a waterfall!

"Roar—!!!"

A deafening roar came from deep within the fissure.

The entire Burial Dragon Abyss was shaking, and countless rocks fell from the rock walls.

The claw, feeling the pain, suddenly retracted into the fissure.

But that terrifying pressure did not disappear; instead, it became even more violent.

"It's coming out..."

Star Radiance's face was pale.

"Go!"

Lin Yue no longer hesitated, guarding the group's full-speed evacuation along with Mysterious Yang Master on either side.

The group climbed up frantically like stray dogs.

Behind them, the dark red light in the fissure grew stronger and stronger. The owner of that giant claw was forcibly prying open the Seal's crack, attempting to descend into this world.

Finally—

When the last person rushed out of the fissure and landed on the ground at the mouth of the abyss.

An unwilling roar came from deep within the fissure.

The dark red light slowly dimmed, eventually falling silent.

The owner of that giant claw seemed to be temporarily unable to fully break through due to the obstruction of the Seal.

But everyone knew this was only temporary.

The Seal had become so fragile that even a monster of this level could stick its claw out.

Next time, it might be able to... descend completely.

"What was that... just now?"

A Seven Star Alliance Golden Core Cultivator asked with lingering fear.

"A projection of a high-level Spirit Devouring Clan existence, a 'Spirit Devouring War General'."

Mysterious Yang Master's voice was low. "At least the strength of the Nascent Soul Peak, and it possesses some Soul Transformation characteristics. A monster of this level, even in the Central Region, would require at least three Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators working together to contend with."

He looked at Lin Yue, the previous contempt in his eyes completely gone.

"City Lord Lin, you were right. The crisis in the Southern Border... is a hundred times more serious than the Seven Star Alliance anticipated."

Lin Yue wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth—the forced outburst just now had worsened his injuries a bit more.

"Now, does Elder Xuan Yangzi still feel that Luoxia City cannot be held?"

Mysterious Yang Master was silent for a long time before slowly shaking his head.

"It's not a question of whether it can be held or not."

He looked toward the direction of the fissure, a flash of determination in his eyes.

"It's that it must be held."

"The Seven Star Alliance will re-evaluate the strategic value of the Southern Border. Before the final report is submitted, the investigation team will temporarily stay in Luoxia City to assist you with the defenses."

"As for the matter of joining the Seven Star Alliance..."

Mysterious Yang Master paused.

"We can put that aside for now. But there's a condition—Luoxia City must immediately report all changes in the Burial Dragon Abyss to the Seven Star Alliance. When necessary, the Seven Star Alliance has the right to take over defensive command."

This condition was much milder than before.

Lin Yue knew that this was the compromise Mysterious Yang Master made after witnessing the true danger of the Burial Dragon Abyss.

"Deal."

He nodded. "But the prerequisite for taking over command is—the Southern Border truly cannot hold anymore. Until then, the defense must be led by Luoxia City."

"Deal."

The two looked at each other, having reached a preliminary agreement.

The crisis was temporarily resolved, but everyone knew that the real storm... had just begun.

The owner of that giant claw would never let things go.

And the time until the Seal collapsed might be... shorter than ten months.