44: The net is closed! The counterattack begins.

The cave was deathly silent, with only the lingering scent of blood and the dim starlight proving the fierce battle that had just occurred.

Wen Youyi and The core five people collapsed "gasping for breath" beneath the rock wall, their Domain light shield as weak as a flickering candle in the wind, looking as if it would shatter at any moment. They even intentionally let a trace of poisonous miasma seep in, causing a few "weak" coughs.

The acting was realistic, and the atmosphere was perfect.

After about half an hour, a series of footsteps, intentionally lightened yet still clear, came from the passage they had arrived through.

They're here!

Wen Youyi sent out a final warning through the "communicator": [Target has appeared. Act according to plan. Await my command.]

The footsteps stopped at the cave entrance, seemingly observing. A moment later, accompanied by a smug sneer, Chen Jian strode in with four subordinates (he had recruited two more Qi Refining Fourth Layer desperadoes).

Seeing the "tragic state" within the cave—especially the massive Bat King corpse on the ground and Wen Youyi and The core five people collapsed everywhere, seemingly lacking even the strength to stand—the smile on Chen Jian's face could no longer be suppressed.

"Hahaha! Wen Youyi, oh Wen Youyi, I didn't expect you to actually have some skill. You actually managed to clear this Black Wind Cave!" Chen Jian was smug, as if everything was within his grasp. "What a pity. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind! You fought with your lives on the line, but in the end, it's all just making a wedding dress for me!"

His greedy gaze swept over Wen Youyi, lingering significantly on his chest (hinting at a Storage Pouch). "Hand over everything you got from the Ancient Ruins, as well as the spoils from this Bat King! I might consider giving you a quick death!"

The four people behind him also fanned out, faintly forming an encirclement, their faces wearing the playful expressions of a cat toyed with a mouse.

Wen Youyi "struggled" to lift his head, his face stained with "blood," staring at Chen Jian with "despair" and "fury" in his eyes. "Chen Jian! You... you are despicable! Killing fellow disciples, the Sect will never let you off!"

"Fellow disciples?" Chen Jian sneered. "In this desolate wilderness cave, who knows how you died? Torn apart by Demonic Bats, or poisoned by the poisonous miasma? Who would care about the lives of a few bottom-tier trash?"

He approached step by step, Spiritual Qi beginning to surge as he prepared to strike. "Since you won't appreciate my kindness, I'll take it myself!"

Just as Chen Jian was less than three zhang away from Wen Youyi, his vigilance at its lowest point, preparing for a thunderous blow—

Wen Youyi's originally "despairing" eyes instantly became as sharp as a blade, and he clearly uttered a single word:

"Detonate!"

It wasn't shouted, but instantly transmitted through the "communicator"!

Senior Brother Zhang, who had already received the command and was hiding in the shadows beneath the Bat King's corpse, suddenly activated the last item he held tightly—a powerful Crimson Talisman from Blazing Edge of the Blazing Sun Sect! The target wasn't Chen Jian and his group, but an unstable section of the rock wall above their heads!

"Boom!!!"

A violent explosion erupted at the top of the cave! Rubble fell like rain! Dust filled the air!

This sudden explosion and falling rocks caught Chen Jian's group of five off guard. They subconsciously looked up to defend or dodge, and their formation instantly fell into chaos!

"Now! Star Domain, full release!"

Wen Youyi leaped up, showing no sign of being injured! A pale silver starlight light shield suddenly expanded with him as the center, instantly enveloping the entire core area of the cave! The light shone brightly, dispersing the dust and completely covering Chen Jian's group of five!

Within the Domain, starlight flowed, and the Spiritual Qi was pure! That uncomfortable poisonous miasma was completely blocked out!

"Not good! It's a trap!" Chen Jian's face changed drastically. Feeling the solid light shield and the surging aura of Wen Youyi and The core five people who had instantly recovered, how could he not understand that he had fallen into a trap!

"Kill!"

Without any nonsense, Wen Youyi and The core five people were like tigers released from a cage, pouncing on the enemies who were panicked by the explosion and the Domain's expansion!

Within the "Star Domain," they were fighting on their home turf! Their Spiritual Qi recovered extremely quickly, and they were perfectly synchronized and mentally connected through the "communicator"!

Zhao Iron Pillar went straight for Chen Jian, his fists carrying a fierce wind, each strike heavy and powerful! With the Domain's enhancement, he was actually able to briefly clash head-on with the Qi Refining Fifth Layer Chen Jian!

Wang Wu and Senior Brother Li were like ghosts, specifically attacking the weaknesses of the other two Qi Refining Fourth Layer opponents. Quagmires, Entanglements, Wind Blades, and Water Arrows harassed the enemies to no end, making it impossible for them to effectively cast Spells.

Senior Brother Zhang coordinated with Wen Youyi to focus on the remaining two. Wen Youyi infused the power of starlight into his attacks; his finger strikes and fist winds all carried a property that broke through evil and drove away darkness, greatly countering enemies who Cultivated cold and dark Cultivation Techniques (there were such people in Chen Jian's team)!

As one side weakened and the other grew stronger, the battle became completely one-sided!

Chen Jian became more alarmed as the fight progressed. He found that his sword techniques, which he took pride in, had their power greatly reduced within that strange starlight Domain, while the opponents' coordination was simply seamless. Whenever he found a slight opening, it was immediately filled or disrupted by someone else.

"Bastard! What kind of sorcery are you using?!" Chen Jian roared in frustration.

"Sorcery?" Wen Youyi sneered, dodging a Sword Qi and pointing a finger back at an opening in Chen Jian's ribs. "This is honest and upright... Technology and Hard Work!"

Chen Jian didn't understand, but the sharp pain from his ribs made him realize that he had kicked a steel plate today!

One of his subordinates was the first to falter, defeated by the joint efforts of Wang Wu and Senior Brother Li, falling to the ground with a scream.

The defeat was like a mountain collapsing!

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, a flash of madness and despair crossed Chen Jian's eyes. He suddenly pulled out a pitch-black Talisman that emitted an ominous aura!

"It's a demon fiend talisman! He wants to take us down with him!" Wang Wu cried out in alarm!

"Domain, maximum contraction!" Wen Youyi's pupils shrank as he roared!

The pale silver light shield instantly contracted to only wrap around Wen Youyi and The core five people, its defensive power increasing to the extreme!

At that same moment, Chen Jian activated the demon fiend talisman! A black mist filled with corrosive and destructive energy suddenly exploded, sweeping in all directions!

"Sizzle—"

The black mist slammed into the solid starlight light shield, making a corrosive sound. The light shield fluctuated violently, and the starlight dimmed rapidly! Wen Youyi and The core five people turned pale, feeling immense pressure.

But this Domain, which concentrated all their power, ultimately blocked this desperate strike!

The black mist dissipated, and the Domain light shield became transparent, looking as if it would break at any moment, but it ultimately held.

As for Chen Jian, because he had forcibly activated a magic Talisman far beyond his own capability and was at the center of the explosion, he was now bleeding from his seven orifices and kneeling on the ground, gasping for breath. His other three subordinates had been turned into withered bones under the indiscriminate attack of the black mist.

Wen Youyi dispersed the Domain, walked up to Chen Jian, and looked down at him.

"It seems that behind the oriole, there is still a hunter." Wen Youyi's tone was calm.

Chen Jian lifted his head, his face covered in blood, his eyes full of resentment and malice. He rasped, "Wen Youyi... you... you will die a horrible death... my Revered Master... will not let you off..."

Before he could finish his words, his head slumped to the side, and he breathed his last.

Looking at Chen Jian's corpse, Wen Youyi didn't feel much satisfaction, only a trace of gravity. Chen Jian's final words indicated that there was someone behind him.

He quickly cleaned up the battlefield, collecting the Storage Pouches of Chen Jian and his men, as well as the fragments of the demon fiend talisman that hadn't been completely destroyed.

"This place isn't safe to stay. Let's go!"

The five people didn't linger and quickly left the bloody cave.

The Black Wind Cave mission was completed with Perfection. A conspiracy against them had also been completely crushed.

After this battle, the D-7 Courtyard would truly begin to show its brilliance in the Outer Sect!

(End of Chapter)