33: Snatching food from the tiger's mouth! Star Core acquired!

Wen Youyi and The core five people were like moths to a flame, heading straight for the grey star core fragment in the deepest part of the depression, instantly becoming the focus of the entire field!

"Stop them!" Chen Jian's roar came through the air, mixed with sharp Sword Qi! He hated Wen Youyi to the core and would never allow them to succeed again!

Simultaneously, the Five Elements Courtyard adjusted its formation, channeling a heavy force of earth element that pressed toward the front of Wen Youyi like an invisible wall! Though the lone traveler Lin Feng did not act directly, a cold Sword Intent had already locked onto them from afar, carrying a warning and a threat!

With the Five Elements Courtyard blocking the front, Chen Jian intercepting from the side, and Lin Feng watching like a tiger from behind!

At the critical moment, Wen Youyi remained exceptionally calm, instantly issuing orders through the "Inner Network"!

"Iron Pillar, use your strongest Ground Shaker! Blast open that earth wall!"

"Wang and Li, use Mire Entanglement on the left and right to delay Chen Jian!"

"Senior Brother Zhang, use all Blazing Sun Talismans to bombard the ground behind Chen Jian indiscriminately!"

"I'll take the treasure!"

The commands were like lightning! The core five people executed them without any hesitation!

Zhao Iron Pillar let out a wild roar, his muscles bulging as he combined the meager spiritual energy gathered from the "Inner Network" with his own brute strength. His feet stomped down heavily like a giant elephant!

"Rumble!!"

A vibration stronger than any before erupted with him as the center! That invisible earth wall shook violently, and a crack appeared!

Wang Wu and Senior Brother Li's Spells accurately covered the path of Chen Jian's trio. Mud surged and vines grew wildly. Although they couldn't truly trap Chen Jian, who was at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, they successfully slowed them down!

Senior Brother Zhang did not hesitate to activate all the remaining fire-element Talismans from the Blazing Sun Sect. The scorching fireballs were not aimed at Chen Jian himself, but at the ground behind him and his flanks!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The violent explosions and soaring flames created chaos and dust once again. Not only did they further interfere with Chen Jian, but they even affected other nearby Cultivators vying for fragments, drawing a chorus of angry curses and making the scene even more chaotic!

Meanwhile, Wen Youyi used those precious moments—less than a single breath—to slide through the crack in the earth wall like a swimming fish. The resonance between the "Inner Network" in his body and the star core fragment reached its peak. His right hand shot out like lightning, grabbing for the dull grey stone!

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the star core fragment, a bone-chilling killing intent struck like something tangible! It was Lin Feng! He had finally made his move! A thin but extremely condensed strand of Sword Qi arrived later but struck first, aiming straight for Wen Youyi's wrist! Fast! Accurate! Ruthless!

If hit, Wen Youyi would surely lose this hand!

In the nick of time, a flash of madness appeared in Wen Youyi's eyes. He didn't pull back; instead, his speed increased by thirty percent as he jerked his left arm up to block!

Squelch!

Blood splattered!

Wen Youyi's left arm was sliced open by the Sword Qi, leaving a deep wound that showed the bone. Intense pain surged! But using that momentum, the five fingers of his right hand finally closed, firmly clutching the cold, rough star core fragment in his palm!

It felt heavy in his hand, as if he were holding a small piece of a solidified star!

"Got it! Retreat!" Wen Youyi endured the sharp pain in his left arm and roared hoarsely!

They had it!

Seeing this, Zhao Iron Pillar and the others didn't linger to fight. They immediately abandoned all engagements and closed in around Wen Youyi.

"You want to leave? Leave the item behind!" Chen Jian was exasperated. Ignoring the dust, he slashed out with his sword! Two people from the Five Elements Courtyard also broke away, their Spells blasting toward them! Lin Feng's eyes grew colder as a second strand of Sword Qi began to brew!

Facing a pincer attack from three sides, Wen Youyi saw he couldn't retreat unscathed. He shoved the star core fragment into his robes and slapped an inconspicuous Storage Pouch at his waist (taken from Blazing Edge)!

A round bead the size of a longan fruit, crimson all over and covered in cracks, appeared in his hand. It was extremely unstable—something he had found in Blazing Edge's Storage Pouch that he didn't recognize and hadn't dared to use. It felt like some kind of one-time explosive from the Blazing Sun Sect!

Without a second thought, he frantically poured his remaining Qi into it and threw it hard toward the densest cluster of pursuers!

"Have a taste of my 'Big Treasure'!"

The crimson bead traced an arc through the air.

When Chen Jian, the Five Elements Courtyard Disciples, and the others saw it, though they didn't know what it was, they felt the violent and chaotic energy within. Their expressions changed drastically as they all stopped or dodged!

BOOM!!!!!

A massive roar, far exceeding all previous explosions, shook the depression!

The crimson bead exploded violently, turning into a terrifying fireball several yards wide. A scorching airwave carrying destructive power swept in all directions! One of Chen Jian's teammates and a Disciple from the Five Elements Courtyard were the first to be hit. Their protective spiritual light shattered instantly, and they were blown away screaming, their fates unknown!

Chen Jian and the others from the Five Elements Courtyard were also knocked over by the airwave, left in a wretched state as their offensive instantly collapsed!

Even Lin Feng, who was preparing to strike again from a distance, was forced to pause his sword stance by the sudden massive explosion, a flash of surprise and suspicion crossing his eyes.

Wen Youyi and The core five people used the recoil of the explosion and the cover of the smoke to flee desperately toward the outer edge of the depression without looking back!

"Bastard!! Wen Youyi! I will kill you!!" Chen Jian scrambled up from the ground, looking at the mess of a battlefield and the vanished Wen Youyi. He let out a hysterical roar, so angry he nearly spat blood.

The faces of those from the Five Elements Courtyard were also very grim. Not only had they failed to get the star core fragment, but they had also lost the combat strength of one person.

Lin Feng silently sheathed his sword and glanced in the direction Wen Youyi had fled, his thoughts unknown.

The other Cultivators were also frightened by the terrifying explosion, and the momentum of the struggle slowed down.

By relying on precise timing, fearless cooperation, and that unexpected "Big Treasure," Wen Youyi and The core five people had actually snatched food from the tiger's mouth under the watch of three powerful enemies, successfully seizing the most important objective—the star core fragment!

Although the price was a severe injury to Wen Youyi's left arm and completely offending Chen Jian and the Five Elements Courtyard to the death, in Wen Youyi's view, it was all worth it!

The star core fragment in his robes emitted a cool aura, as if containing infinite hope.

(End of Chapter)