239: Three on Three

Inside the main hall of Wind Shadow City.

The First Elder, Second Elder, and Fourth Elder of Rapid Shadow Palace all had grim expressions.

The First Elder, in particular, had his fists clenched tightly, with veins bulging on the back of his hands.

The hall was silent, and the atmosphere was oppressive.

"...I still find it hard to believe that Luo Jun and Tong Binhong (Fifth Elder) would betray Rapid Shadow Palace and establish their own sect."

The Second Elder was advanced in age, the oldest among the five elders.

He was from the same era as the current Shadow Master of Rapid Shadow Palace.

Luo Jun was personally promoted by him to become an elder of Rapid Shadow Palace.

He knew that while Luo Jun had ambition, he would never betray Rapid Shadow Palace to establish his own sect.

This was not something the Luo Jun he knew would do.

"Now they have openly declared their independence in Tree Shadow City, calling themselves Tree Shadow Sect. How can this be false?"

"Before, that Luo Jun claimed to have a way to enhance the combat power of our Rapid Shadow Palace, but who would have thought he'd turn around and stab us in the back with Tong Binhong!"

"Now it seems..."

"He was deliberately lulling us into a false sense of security before, to give them enough time to establish themselves!"

The Fourth Elder said with gritted teeth and hatred.

"I actually think Luo Jun isn't the main culprit."

The First Elder analyzed seriously.

"The main culprit should be Tong Binhong."

"Don't forget, Tree Shadow City has always been under Tong Binhong's control. If Luo Jun wanted to rebel, he would have done so in Sword Shadow City, but now they are rebelling in Tree Shadow City."

"If I'm not mistaken..."

"It should be that Tong Binhong, by some unknown method, gained control of the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree, which gave him the confidence to betray Rapid Shadow Palace and establish his own sect. At the same time, he exploited Luo Jun's ambition, instigating him to stand on the same side."

The Second Elder and Fourth Elder both nodded.

They agreed with the First Elder's analysis.

Previously, the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree was not under their control, which prevented them from having it intervene when they faced an attack from a Martial Soul Realm expert from outside.

They believed that Tong Binhong and Luo Jun dared to rebel now because they had the powerful trump card of the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree.

"The most urgent task now is to suppress and defeat them in one fell swoop before they can firmly establish themselves!"

A chilling light gleamed in the First Elder's eyes.

No matter what.

They could not stand by and watch this Tree Shadow Sect establish itself.

They must suppress it.

"Does this matter need to be reported to the Shadow Master?"

The Second Elder asked.

They knew very little about the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree.

They only knew that the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree was incredibly powerful, but they didn't have an accurate concept of exactly how strong it was.

"Not yet."

The First Elder shook his head.

"If we can resolve it, then there's no need to trouble the Shadow Master."

"Although they now have the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree, at the end of the day, they still only have two Martial Soul Realm experts on their side."

"Even with the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree's assistance, at most, they would only be able to match us in combat power."

"We can use this to test them first..."

"Mainly to test what kind of abilities the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree possesses. If we can't handle it, then we'll report to the Shadow Master."

The Second Elder and Fourth Elder nodded in agreement.

In terms of combat power, they were completely superior to the other side.

The only uncertainty was the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree.

But the initiative was in their hands.

They could test it first.

See what the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree's abilities were like.

And then react accordingly.

In their opinion.

The worst-case scenario was that Luo Jun and Tong Binhong, with the help of the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree's abilities, would match them in combat power.

If that were the case.

They would then report to the Shadow Master, who would personally step in to suppress them.

They believed that with the Shadow Master's strength, suppressing them would certainly not be difficult.

After all, the Shadow Master was a Martial Soul Realm expert in the Soul Consciousness Stage!

That day.

The three elders of Rapid Shadow Palace arrived at the top of the pavilion in Wind Shadow City.

Standing here, they could clearly see the Five Shadow City below.

They clearly saw... that Tree Shadow City, which had originally merged with the other four Shadow Cities, was no longer in its previous position.

The ancient tree trunk, extending from deep underground, had directly moved Tree Shadow City to a more distant location.

It was separated by a distance from the four Shadow Cities.

Tree Shadow City was located on the giant tree trunk.

Among the many cities in Tian Dou Province, Tree Shadow City was definitely considered a major city.

But now, on the trunk of the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree that had emerged, it appeared extremely small.

And they all knew.

What the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree had revealed from underground was only a small part of its true self.

Most of its body was still buried beneath the ground.

This also made the three elders look solemn, not daring to show the slightest contempt or carelessness.

The three looked at each other.

Whoosh!

Their figures shot out simultaneously.

A gust of wind formed beneath the First Elder's feet, allowing her to directly step on this wind and advance through the air.

Beneath the Second Elder and Fourth Elder's feet, a water shadow and a shield shadow appeared respectively.

This also allowed them to fly through the air.

At an extremely fast speed, they rushed towards the distant Azure Calamity Ancient Tree, arriving directly in front of Tree Shadow City.

Almost the moment they arrived.

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Two figures simultaneously shot out from within Tree Shadow City.

They were Luo Jun, stepping on a Sword Shadow, and Tong Binhong, supported by a Tree Shadow.

The five elders of the Rapid Shadow Palace, who were originally united, now formed two opposing factions, suspended in the air in a standoff.

Neither side chose to let their subordinates engage directly in battle.

Instead, their respective top experts clashed first.

After all, this was an internal conflict within the Rapid Shadow Palace.

It was not suitable to launch a full-scale war.

As long as the top experts from both sides could be resolved, the remaining disciples could naturally be reabsorbed.

This would avoid unnecessary casualties.

"You two scoundrels dare to betray Rapid Shadow Palace and establish your own sect, thinking that with the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree, you can contend with us? Ridiculous!"

The Fourth Elder, as usual, first declared their crimes.

The First Elder's gaze was icy cold.

The Second Elder's eyes held a look of regret.

Luo Jun and Tong Binhong remained unmoved, staring coldly at the three, and said faintly.

"Enough talk, let's fight!"

"Heh, so you really want to fight two against three? Since you're so eager to die, then we'll grant your wish!"

The Fourth Elder sneered.

The shield shadow beneath his feet rapidly solidified.

A powerful aura spread from him, causing the air currents to vibrate.

Powerful aura fluctuations also emanated from the First Elder and Second Elder, poised for action.

"Two against three?"

Luo Jun and Tong Binhong laughed simultaneously.

"Hmm?"

The three elders of Rapid Shadow Palace were startled.

As if sensing something, they turned around simultaneously.

They suddenly saw... a figure completely shrouded in a large black cloak, who had appeared behind them at some unknown point.

His entire body was covered by the black cloak, obscuring his physical appearance beneath it.

"Now, it's three against three!"

A hoarse, ancient voice emanated from within the cloak.

And the moment the voice sounded.

Whoosh!

The figure in the black cloak seemed to teleport, flashing once and already appearing in front of the Fourth Elder.

A lightning-fast punch shattered the air.

It directly slammed towards the Fourth Elder.

The Fourth Elder's pupils constricted.

Too fast!!

He had no time to react at all.

Buzz!

The moment the fist reached his face.

A purplish-black shield suddenly appeared in front of him.

This purplish-black shield was his protective treasure!

It would automatically activate when he encountered danger.

It could be said to be an extremely important protective treasure of his.

Such automatically triggered protective treasures have always been rare and uncommon, often capable of saving a life at a critical moment, making them extremely valuable.

Crack!

When the purplish-black shield was struck by the fist, the entire shield was directly shattered by a single punch, and an incredibly powerful impact force, following the opponent's fist, slammed into the Fourth Elder's entire body, causing him to fall straight down.

With a loud bang.

He heavily crashed onto the ground.

Leaving a large crater in the earth.

Xiao Shi, whose entire body was covered by a black cloak, after sending the Fourth Elder plummeting from the air to the ground with a single punch.

His figure flashed again.

Without any pause, he charged towards the Fourth Elder in the pit.

Ignoring the First Elder and Second Elder beside him.

All of this happened in an extremely brief instant.

The First Elder and Second Elder, in their shock and anger, were about to provide aid.

But they found that Luo Jun and Tong Binhong had already closed in on them.

"The three of them chose their opponents long ago!!"

The First Elder was shocked and angered.

Previously, they had always thought that Luo Jun and Tong Binhong only had two Martial Soul Realm experts.

They had never expected that there was a mysterious expert hidden among them!

And based on Luo Jun and Tong Binhong's understanding of them.

It was clear that they had already decided who would fight whom from the very beginning.

This way.

They had already gained the initiative and advantage as soon as the fight began!

After all, Luo Jun and Tong Binhong understood the strengths, methods, and specialties of the three elders.

They could target them very well when choosing opponents.

For example, having the mysterious expert, who specialized in speed, deal with the Fourth Elder, who had the strongest defense.

This would maximize the suppression of the Fourth Elder!

Even if the three elders of Rapid Shadow Palace wanted to switch opponents now, it was already too late... Boom!

The Fourth Elder crashed heavily onto the ground.

Before he could even stand up from the ground.

Xiao Shi had already descended from the sky.

And stomped on his chest.

The Fourth Elder coughed up blood from his mouth from the stomp, and the bones in his chest emitted cracking sounds.

Although he specialized in defense, it was mainly reliant on his shield shadow, not his own physical defense being strong.

"Get lost!!"

He roared in anger.

Three layers of thick shield shadows condensed in front of him, overlapping each other to form a powerful pushing force that sent Xiao Shi flying far away.

The Fourth Elder seized this gap and quickly stood up from the ground.

However, he had barely stood up.

Bang!!

He felt a heavy blow to his back.

Xiao Shi, who had been in front of him just a second ago, had now appeared behind him, his elbow heavily striking his back, sending his entire body flying forward.

And while he was flying.

Xiao Shi strangely appeared in front of him again.

Kicking him back.

The Fourth Elder was like a ball, being kicked back and forth by Xiao Shi alone.

The most terrifying thing.

Was that Xiao Shi's own speed even exceeded the speed at which the Fourth Elder was being kicked, and before he could reach his landing spot, Xiao Shi had already arrived at the landing spot ahead of him and kicked him back.

This kind of speed... the Fourth Elder had never encountered in his entire life!

Blood continuously seeped from his mouth, and many bones in his body were fractured.

Because the shield shadow he cast could only block attacks from one direction, when facing a speed-type strong enemy like Xiao Shi, he found it difficult to block Xiao Shi's attacks with his shield shadow.

When he blocked attacks from the front, Xiao Shi would appear behind him.

When he blocked attacks from behind, Xiao Shi would appear to his left.

"If this continues... I'll definitely be played to death!!"

The Fourth Elder was anxious.

He was constantly being thrown into the air now, unable to land.

Completely being kicked around like a ball by Xiao Shi.

Whoosh!

When Xiao Shi kicked him away again.

The Fourth Elder let out a furious roar of grief.

Around his body, hundreds of shield shadows instantly appeared.

These shield shadows encircled his body, completely enveloping his entire form from all angles, leaving no blind spots.

They overlapped, forming a massive polygonal sphere.

"Now you really are a ball."

A hoarse, ancient voice emanated from within the cloak.

Although the opponent had protected his body with these shield shadows, this would not bring any change; he could still kick him around like a ball.

"Hmm?"

But when Xiao Shi's attack once again slammed into the opponent's shield shadow.

He suddenly noticed a slight difference.

The opponent's shield shadow, while blocking his attack, was actually able to absorb a portion of the power from his attack.

Although the absorbed portion was not much.

But if he kept attacking, it would inevitably accumulate over time.

"Is this your countermeasure?"

Xiao Shi kicked the entire polygonal sphere, formed by the shield shadows, high into the sky... "Their strength has clearly increased."

The Second Elder was currently facing Luo Jun.

The water shadow condensed in front of him was directly shattered by Luo Jun's Sword Shadow.

At the same time, his entire body was sent reeling back by Luo Jun's attack.

The First Elder, who was fighting Tong Binhong not far away, had an even deeper realization of this.

As the First Elder of Rapid Shadow Palace, even though she had not yet reached the Soul Consciousness Stage, her strength had always been the strongest among the five elders.

In the past, Tong Binhong was no match for her at all.

But now... he was actually on par with her.

Even subtly suppressing her.

"Wind come!"

The First Elder formed hand seals and pushed forward.

Suddenly, a sky-filling gale surged from all directions, making this area seem to transform into a world of raging winds.

Within this gale.

Some things that they could not see before now appeared clearly before them.

The First Elder and Second Elder immediately saw... that behind Tong Binhong and Luo Jun, there was an invisible branch.

This branch was embedded in their backs, connected to the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree.

Clearly.

This was the source of their increased strength.

"It truly is the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree!"

The First Elder and Second Elder exchanged glances.

However, this increase in strength was within their acceptable range.

What truly surprised them this time was mainly the presence of a third Martial Soul Realm expert!

With that being the case.

It was clearly impossible for just the three of them, the elders, to resolve the situation with Luo Jun and the other two.

This matter... required the Shadow Master to personally step in and suppress them!

Thinking of this.

The First Elder and Second Elder no longer had the intention to continue fighting and simultaneously decided to retreat.

The First Elder raised her hand and pointed towards Tong Binhong and Luo Jun, and the wind in this area suddenly swept towards the two.

Forcing the two to defend themselves.

The Second Elder, seizing this opportunity, sought out the Fourth Elder, preparing to retreat with him.

As he lowered his head.

He saw a spherical object flying out of the pit below.