70: Waiting for the bird to stalk the bird in the back and joining forces to break the deadlock

Fire Cloud Child, leading five Inner Sect Disciples, floated leisurely in mid-air, clearly having waited there for a long time. Their auras were connected, subtly forming a Formation, blocking Wen Youyi and the others' path back to the Sect.

“Fire Cloud Child, what do you intend?” Lin Feng held his long sword, his eyes as cold as frost, his tone devoid of any surprise, as if he had long anticipated someone blocking their way.

Youyi's heart sank, knowing this was no coincidence. The Five Elements Courtyard must have planted spies among them, otherwise, they couldn't have intercepted them so precisely here.

Fire Cloud Child's gaze greedily swept over Wen Youyi and Lin Feng, then he sneered, “Nothing much, I just heard that the two Junior Brothers obtained treasures in the Sword Scar Fissure, so I came to congratulate you. However, such treasures are for all who see them; surely the two Junior Brothers wouldn't want to monopolize them?”

An Inner Sect Disciple behind him even more arrogantly pointed at Wen Youyi: “Especially you, Wen Youyi! Last time you narrowly escaped, but this time, let's see where you run! If you know what's good for you, hand over the sword gallstone and all the treasures you got in the Ancient Ruins!”

Naked robbery! And without any pretense!

Youyi's anger flared, but his face remained impassive: “Senior Brother Huo is joking. The Sword Scar Fissure is dangerous; it's already fortunate that we managed to escape with our lives. How could there be any treasures?”

“Hmph! You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!” Fire Cloud Child's face darkened, “Since you're so unappreciative, don't blame this Senior Brother for not showing fellow Sect Disciple sentiment! Attack!”

At his command, the five Inner Sect Disciples behind him simultaneously formed hand seals, spiritual power surging. They were clearly forming a Formation for a strong assault! The lowest cultivation among these five was Qi Refining Sixth Layer, with two even at Qi Refining Seventh Layer, plus Fire Cloud Child, who was at the Peak of Qi Refining Seventh Layer. Their strength far surpassed Wen Youyi's side!

“Stay close to me, charge out!” Lin Feng growled, his long sword humming. A fierce and unparalleled Sword Qi, like a crescent moon, slashed towards the weakest point of the opposing Formation! He actually intended to use offense as defense, forcing a breakthrough!

“Star Domain, activate!” Wen Youyi also didn't hesitate. A pale silver light barrier instantly expanded, protecting their six people, enduring the spiritual pressure of the opposing Formation, and closely following Lin Feng!

“Boom!”

Lin Feng's Sword Qi collided fiercely with the hastily condensed defensive light barrier of the opponents, producing a deafening explosion! The light barrier violently shook, and a crack appeared! The Star Domain also suffered immense recoil, its light flickering erratically!

“Stop them!” Fire Cloud Child was both shocked and enraged, not expecting Lin Feng and Wen Youyi to be so decisive and powerful. He personally took action, a scorching giant flame palm striking down from the air, heading straight for the Star Domain!

“Iron Pillar, Ground Shaker to disrupt the people on the ground! Wang, Li, Zhang, full attack on the Qi Refining Sixth Layer on the left!” Seeing the Domain about to be struck by the giant flame palm, Wen Youyi's eyes flashed with a ruthless glint as he rapidly issued orders through his communicator!

Zhao Iron Pillar roared and stomped the ground, the violent tremor causing the two Inner Sect Disciples on the ground to lose their balance. Wang Wu, Senior Brother Li, and Senior Brother Zhang, on the other hand, concentrated all their attacks on a slightly weaker Disciple on the left!

“Pfft!” That Disciple was caught off guard, hit simultaneously by multiple attacks. His protective spiritual light shattered, and he screamed as he fell from the sky!

And it was in this flash of lightning that the giant flame palm heavily struck the Star Domain!

“Bang!!”

The Domain's light barrier let out an unbearable wail, instantly covered in cracks, on the verge of shattering! Wen Youyi was hit hard, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood, his Domain teetering!

However, precisely because of that Disciple's unexpected fall and the harassment from Zhao Iron Pillar and others, Fire Cloud Child and the others' Formation experienced an extremely brief moment of chaos and delay!

“Now! Senior Brother Lin!” Wen Youyi roared hoarsely!

Without needing his reminder, Lin Feng had already seized this fleeting opportunity! He merged with his sword, transforming into an exquisitely dazzling sword light, no longer slashing at the Formation, but like a butcher dismembering an ox, he pierced through that crack and directly broke out of the encirclement!

Almost simultaneously, Wen Youyi sharply contracted his Domain to a close-fitting state, reducing the force area, and using the residual power of the giant flame palm, he was thrown outwards like a Broken Line kite! Zhao Iron Pillar and the other four were already prepared, each employing their own methods to break out in different directions!

The Five Elements Courtyard's encirclement was surprisingly torn open by their desperate, well-coordinated charge!

“Chase! Don't let them escape!” Fire Cloud Child was furious, stomping his feet, and led the remaining four in hot pursuit.

An aerial chase thus began!

Lin Feng's sword light was the fastest, leading the way. Although the five of Wen Youyi were slightly slower, they constantly changed directions, covered each other, sometimes converging, sometimes dispersing, thanks to instant communication via their communicators, keeping their pursuers busy.

However, the disparity in cultivation was ultimately hard to completely bridge. Fire Cloud Child and the others got closer and closer, with attacks constantly coming from behind, creating dangerous situations.

Seeing that they were about to be encircled again, Wen Youyi's gaze swept over the terrain below, and he suddenly sent a message to Lin Feng through his communicator: [Senior Brother Lin, that Black Swamp below, dare we enter?]

Lin Feng's sword light paused slightly, instantly understanding Wen Youyi's plan. The Black Swamp was a notoriously dangerous place, filled with poisonous miasma, treacherous mud, and countless strange venomous insects. Ordinary Cultivators avoided it at all costs.

[Why not?] Lin Feng's reply was concise. His sword light veered, and he plunged without hesitation into the ominous Black Swamp below!

The five of Wen Youyi followed closely!

“They entered the Black Swamp!” an Inner Sect Disciple exclaimed.

Fire Cloud Child looked at the swirling black poisonous miasma below, his expression constantly changing. Going in was too risky; not going in, would he just watch them escape?

In the few breaths of his hesitation, the figures of Wen Youyi and the other five had already disappeared into the thick black poisonous miasma.

“Damn it!” Fire Cloud Child angrily punched the air, his face ashen. He ultimately did not dare to rashly enter this infamous Black Swamp.

“Great Master, what do we do now?”

“Guard the outside! I don't believe they can stay in there forever!” Fire Cloud Child gritted his teeth, leading his men to land at the edge of the swamp, fiercely guarding the exit.

At this moment, the six people who rushed into the Black Swamp immediately felt the harshness of the environment. The poisonous miasma corroded the Domain light barrier, beneath their feet was bottomless mud, and countless tiny venomous insects tried to burrow in.

“This way!” Wen Youyi, however, seemed to have been prepared. Relying on previously gathered intelligence and a strong sense of direction, he led the group through the swamp with difficulty, searching for the legendary, relatively safe secret path.

In this desperate situation, they once again found a glimmer of hope through their courage, wisdom, and tacit understanding.

(End of Chapter)