180: Chapter 180 Thorny Jungle, Three Deadly Killing Formations

Lin Wan shuttled through the dense primeval forest, his figure like a ghost, his aura restrained to the limit. He did not advance in a straight line, but constantly changed direction, sometimes burrowing into the ground, sometimes hiding in the tree crowns, carefully erasing the traces he left behind.

He knew that before those three died, they had crushed their transmission jade talismans. The people from the Xuan Yin Sect, Tian Sha Sect, and Hehuan Sect would likely catch up soon, and they would probably set up an even tighter dragnet to surround and kill him. In a head-on confrontation, he did not fear any Earth Immortal Cultivators, but if he were trapped by several Earth Immortal Peak Cultivators or, even worse, a troublesome Formation, he would also fall into danger.

"I must cross the Wood Region as soon as possible to enter the Earth Region, or head directly to the central region. The Five Elements Dao Derivation Platform is about to open, and that is where the most Cultivators will gather. They won't dare to openly surround and kill me on a large scale there," Lin Wan calculated in his heart. The central region of the Five Elements Small World was close to the Five Elements Dao Derivation Platform, where forces of all sizes would gather. With such a mixed crowd, it was actually relatively safer because no one would dare to easily provoke a large-scale chaotic battle and become the target of public criticism.

According to the map, after crossing this forest, ahead was the famous dangerous land of the Wood Region—the Thorn Forest. The Thorn Forest, as the name implied, was home to countless strange and dangerous thorny plants. These thorns were hard as iron, sharp as knives, and highly toxic, capable of actively attacking any living thing that approached. Even more troublesome was that within the Thorn Forest, one's Divine Sense was greatly suppressed, and it was easy to lose direction, making it one of the most dangerous places in the Wood Region.

"Although the Thorn Forest is dangerous, it is also a natural barrier. If those people are laying an ambush, they will most likely choose that place. However, crossing the Thorn Forest is a shortcut to the Earth Region. Detouring would take several more days and might not be safe," Lin Wan pondered. He had a map in hand, which marked the dangerous areas within the Thorn Forest. If he was careful, passing through should not be a big problem. Moreover, he Cultivated Chaos Immortal Energy and did not fear potent toxins, and his Chaos Reincarnation Domain also had a restraining effect on plant-type Yao creatures, which gave him the confidence to venture into the Thorn Forest.

"Wealth is found in danger. If I can quickly pass through the Thorn Forest, I can not only shake off any potential pursuers but also save time. Furthermore, it is said that some rare wood-attribute spiritual items grow in the Thorn Forest, which might help me comprehend the Wood Dao." Having made up his mind, Lin Wan no longer hesitated and sped off toward the Thorn Forest.

Half a day later, a boundless and bizarrely colored "forest" appeared in his vision. Those were not ordinary trees, but countless black thorny vines, dozens of zhang tall, covered in sharp barbs. These vines intertwined and twisted together, forming an airtight, terrifying barrier. From afar, it looked like a devouring black ocean. A faint sweet and metallic scent permeated the air, which was the toxic mist emitted by the thorns, making anyone who smelled it feel dizzy. On the ground, many white bones were scattered—some of Yao Beasts, some of humans—silently telling of the danger of this place.

"So this is the Thorn Forest." Lin Wan stopped at the edge of the forest, his eyes narrowing slightly as he felt the thick toxic mist and the dangerous aura emitted by the thorns. The wood-attribute Spiritual Qi here carried a cold, corrosive quality, completely different from the vibrant vitality of ordinary forests.

He took out a "Miasma Clearing Pill" given to him by Emissary Shen Lian and swallowed it, then circulated his Chaos Immortal Energy, forming a thin grey light membrane over his body to keep the toxic mist out. Chaos Immortal Energy could neutralize all poisons; although this thorn toxic mist was formidable, it could do nothing to him.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Wan stepped into the Thorn Forest.

As soon as he entered the forest, the light dimmed instantly. All around were dense, crisscrossing black thorns, making the sky almost invisible. Beneath his feet was soft, slippery soil piled high with thick, rotting fallen leaves, and the sweet, metallic scent in the air grew even stronger. When he spread his Divine Sense, it was indeed greatly suppressed, only able to probe about a hundred zhang around, and because of the interference from the thorns, his perception also became blurry and unclear.

"Zhi zhi!"

After taking only a few steps, an arm-thick black thorn nearby suddenly sprang up like a venomous snake, piercing fiercely toward the back of Lin Wan's heart with a sharp whistling sound! The tip of the thorn gleamed with a faint blue cold light, clearly laced with potent poison.

Lin Wan had long been on guard. Without even turning his head, he flicked his finger backward, and a finger force condensed from Chaos Immortal Energy accurately struck the tip of the thorn.

"Chi!"

Under the erosion of the Chaos Immortal Energy, the iron-hard thorn snapped like rotten wood. Black juice flowed from the break, emitting an even stronger stench. The broken thorn, like an injured venomous snake, writhed violently a few times before hanging down limply.

"Such strong toxicity, such resilient texture." Lin Wan glanced at the broken thorn, his heart slightly chilled. This was only the most ordinary thorn; if he encountered swarms of them, or even more formidable mutated thorns, it would probably be much more troublesome.

He became even more cautious, carefully observing his surroundings as he moved forward. Following the guidance of the map, he avoided the areas marked as extremely dangerous, such as the "Poisonous Thorn Flower Sea" and the territory of the "Ghost Face Vines."

Along the way, he encountered many thorn attacks, but all were easily neutralized by Lin Wan. Occasionally, he would also run into some venomous insects and beasts living in the Thorn Forest, but most of these Yao Beasts possessed low intelligence, with strengths only ranging from the Human Immortal to the Early Stage Earth Immortal level. They posed no threat to Lin Wan and instead became targets for him to practice his skills. He simulated wood-attribute and poison-attribute attacks with his Chaos Immortal Energy, familiarizing himself with the combat style in this special environment.

"Hmm? This is..." After walking for about an hour, Lin Wan stopped at a relatively open clearing. In the center of the clearing grew a peculiar plant, translucent green as if carved from jade, about a foot tall, with seven narrow leaves. At the top of the leaves bloomed a fist-sized flower emitting a pale green fluorescent glow. Around the flower, pure wood-attribute Spiritual Qi lingered, and there were even faint fluctuations of the Law of Wood.

"Seven-Leaf Jade Glow Flower! Good stuff!" Lin Wan's eyes lit up. The Seven-Leaf Jade Glow Flower was a treasure among wood-attribute Spirit Medicines, containing pure Wood Spirit Origin. It could be used to refine Medicinal Pills that increased wood-attribute cultivation, or directly refined to comprehend the Wood Dao. Judging by the age of this flower, it was at least three thousand years old, making it highly valuable.

"However, next to this kind of Spirit Medicine, there is usually a Yao Beast guarding it." Lin Wan did not rashly step forward, carefully sweeping his Divine Sense over the surrounding area. Sure enough, in the soil beneath the Seven-Leaf Jade Glow Flower, a dark shadow lurked. Its aura was obscure, almost completely blending with the surrounding environment. Had it not been for Lin Wan's powerful Divine Sense and careful inspection, it would have been nearly impossible to detect.

"Earth Dragon Vine, Middle Stage Earth Immortal cultivation, excels at camouflage and sneak attacks." Lin Wan recognized this Yao Beast. The Earth Dragon Vine was a plant-type Yao Beast, shaped like a vine, capable of burrowing through the ground. Its attacks were like an earth dragon turning over, making them impossible to guard against.

Lin Wan did not want to waste time here, nor did he want to alert any enemies who might be lurking nearby. With a thought, he executed "Void Shift," and his figure instantly appeared beside the Seven-Leaf Jade Glow Flower, reaching out to grab the flower.

At the very instant his fingers were about to touch the flower, the soil below suddenly exploded. A bucket-thick, pitch-black vine covered in suckers and barbs shot out like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave, bringing a foul wind and dirt as it coiled toward Lin Wan's legs! Before the vine even arrived, a stinking toxic gas blew in his face. At the same time, several slightly thinner vines burst from the ground, blocking all of Lin Wan's paths of retreat!

"I was waiting for you!" Lin Wan sneered. Without dodging, he brought his other hand's fingers together like a sword, greyish light flickering at his fingertips, and pointed a finger at the main vine attacking from below!

"Finger of Finality!"

The finger force, containing the dao rhyme of "finality," struck first despite being launched later, hitting the tip of the pitch-black vine.

"Chi—!"

Like a hot knife cutting through butter, the incredibly tough main vine of the Earth Dragon Vine, which was strong enough to strangle a Middle Stage Earth Immortal Cultivator to death, rapidly withered and decayed under the power of "finality." Starting from the tip, it snapped inch by inch, turning to ashes! Moreover, that power of "finality," like a maggot on a rotting bone, rapidly spread along the vine, destroying all vitality wherever it passed!

"Si—!" A sharp, painful hiss echoed from underground. The other vines of the Earth Dragon Vine retracted into the soil as if shocked by electricity, no longer daring to show themselves. It felt a fatal threat; that greyish power seemed to be its natural nemesis, capable of ending all its vitality.

Lin Wan paid no attention to the fleeing Earth Dragon Vine, quickly plucking the Seven-Leaf Jade Glow Flower and storing it in his Storage Ring. The entire process took a mere two to three breaths, clean and efficient.

"The finality dao rhyme seems to work surprisingly well against these resilient plant-type Yao creatures." Lin Wan's heart stirred. Ending and silent extinction were the exact opposites of vitality, having a miraculous effect against wood-attribute Yao creatures known for their life force.

Having gathered the Seven-Leaf Jade Glow Flower, Lin Wan continued forward. Along the way, he discovered several other decent wood-attribute Spirit Medicines and successfully harvested them without any mishap. Although these Spirit Medicines were not as precious as the geocentric fire lotus or the Gold-Veined Wood Element Fruit, they made up for it in quantity. Accumulating little by little, they were of no small help in strengthening his Wood Origin and comprehending the Wood Dao.

Just like that, Lin Wan trekked through the Thorn Forest for a day and a night. During this period, he avoided several areas marked as extremely dangerous and also killed a few blind Middle Stage Earth Immortal Yao Beasts, reaping a rich harvest. His comprehension of the Wood power was also constantly deepening. In his Dantian's immortal essence sea, besides that fiery red Fire Law seed, a faint, weak green light was gradually condensing—the prototype of the Wood Law.

"According to the map, another hundred li forward and I will have crossed the core area of the Thorn Forest, entering a relatively safe region." Lin Wan checked his position against the map. Although he had encountered many dangers along the way, overall it had been quite smooth, and he had not encountered any ambushes from other Cultivators.

"Could it be that they gave up? Or are they waiting in ambush further ahead?" Lin Wan did not lower his guard; instead, he became even more cautious. He had a faint intuition that those fellows would not give up so easily.

After advancing another fifty li or so, a denser area appeared ahead, where the thorns were of a deeper color, almost purplish-black. The thorns here were not only thicker and sharper, but they also emitted a bizarre aura, slowly writhing as if they were alive. The sweet, metallic scent permeating the air also carried a trace of decay, making one feel nauseous.

On the map, this area was marked as the "Death Thorn Forest," one of the most dangerous places in the Thorn Forest. It was said that Peak Earth Immortal Cultivators had once fallen here, warning latecomers to detour as much as possible.

Lin Wan stopped at the edge of the Death Thorn Forest, his brow furrowing slightly. This area gave him a very uncomfortable feeling, as if a great danger was hidden inside. Moreover, he keenly sensed that the flow of Spiritual Qi in this area seemed somewhat abnormal; it was too "calm," calm to a bizarre degree.

"Should I detour, or go straight through?" Lin Wan pondered. Detouring would require at least two to three more days of travel, and the direction of the detour was not clearly marked on the map, meaning there could be more unknown dangers. Going straight through, while dangerous, was something he might be able to handle with his means.

Just as he was hesitating, suddenly, from deep within the Death Thorn Forest, an extremely weak, almost inaudible groan drifted out. It sounded like the painful moan of someone who had been severely injured.

"Someone is there?" Lin Wan's heart skipped a beat, and he carefully swept his Divine Sense forward. However, the Death Thorn Forest seemed to have the effect of isolating Divine Sense. His Divine Sense could only penetrate dozens of zhang before being blocked by a cold, gloomy force, unable to go deeper.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

"Go and see." Lin Wan, bold due to his high level of skill, decided to investigate.

If a Cultivator was truly trapped, he would save them if he could; if it were a trap... hmph, he wasn't made of mud either.

He became even more cautious, restraining all his Qi, as if blending into the shadows, and silently snuck into the Thorn Forest.

Once he entered the forest, that cold, decaying aura became even more intense, and the soil beneath his feet became viscous, like a swamp.

The purple-black thorns all around seemed to come alive, silently writhing like lurking venomous snakes.

Lin Wan pushed his Chaos Immortal Energy to its limit, forming a thin gray film of light on his body to keep the cold, decaying aura at bay.

Following the faint moaning, Lin Wan wove through the Thorn Forest for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, arriving at a relatively open clearing.

In the clearing lay a young man wearing the attire of a Tianshu Immortal Palace Inner Sect Disciple.

He was covered in blood, with a terrifying wound on his chest that was deep enough to see bone, and his aura was withered; he seemed to have fallen unconscious.

Beside him lay scattered a few broken Magic Treasures, as well as a picked, emerald-green Jade Spirit Ganoderma that radiated a rich aura of Wood Spirit.

"Jade Spirit Ganoderma? Judging by its age, it's at least five thousand years old!" Lin Wan's gaze fell on the spirit ganoderma, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The Jade Spirit Ganoderma was a Wood-attribute Spirit Medicine even more precious than the Seven-Leaf Jade Light Flower; it contained vast vitality, was a holy medicine for healing, and could help one comprehend the Dao of Wood.

"Is he a Disciple of our Sect?" Lin Wan looked at the unconscious young man.

He was indeed wearing the Tianshu Immortal Palace Inner Sect Disciple attire, and his face looked somewhat familiar; he seemed to have seen him when entering the Small World.

He swept his Divine Sense over him. Although this person's aura was weak, it was indeed the Cultivation Technique aura of the Tianshu Immortal Palace, and his cultivation was at the Middle Stage of the Earth Immortal realm.

The wound on his chest had also been pierced by thorns, with the thorns' toxicity and wood splinters remaining.

Everything looked as if this Disciple had discovered the Jade Spirit Ganoderma and had been severely injured by a guardian Yao Beast or mutated thorns while picking it, leaving him unconscious here.

But in Lin Wan's heart, that sliver of unease grew stronger and stronger.

It was too coincidental—in a dangerous place like the Thorn Forest, he just happened to encounter a fellow Disciple severely injured, with a precious Jade Spirit Ganoderma beside him?

Moreover, the surroundings seemed too "clean."

Apart from this Disciple, there were no other signs of a struggle, nor was there any aura of a Yao Beast.

"Is a fellow Disciple in danger, or is it... a trap?"

Lin Wan's eyes flickered, and he did not rush forward.

He stood where he was, carefully observing his surroundings while simultaneously using his Divine Sense to thoroughly examine the "unconscious" Disciple.

"His aura is weak, his injuries are severe, it doesn't seem fake... but his heartbeat seems too steady; he doesn't look like someone on the verge of death..." Lin Wan's eyes turned cold.

He slowly raised his hand, and a barely perceptible strand of Chaos Immortal Energy shot silently toward a piece of rubble beside the Disciple.

Just as the Chaos Immortal Energy was about to strike the rubble, a sudden change occurred!

The "unconscious" Disciple suddenly opened his eyes.

There was not a shred of pain or weakness in them, only cold murderous intent and a hint of mockery!

At the same time, the ground beneath him suddenly lit up with complex Formation patterns, and light flared brilliantly!

"Hum—!"

With that Disciple as the center, a massive Formation covering a radius of a hundred zhang was instantly activated!

The Formation's light appeared in three colors—black, red, and pink—intertwined and wrapped together, emitting three distinct yet eerily fused auras: cold, violent, and seductive!

The Formation's light barrier was like a giant inverted bowl, enclosing Lin Wan and that "Disciple."

On the light barrier, the black, red, and pink lights swirled, forming strange runes that locked down the surrounding space, making even the light appear distorted and dim.

"Three Absolutes Killing Formation!" Lin Wan's pupils constricted slightly as he recognized this Formation.

The Three Absolutes Killing Formation was a combined-attack Formation jointly created by three Demonic Path Sects: the Xuan Yin Sect, the Tian Sha Sect, and the Hehuan Sect.

It integrated the insidious corrosion of the Xuan Yin Sect, the Evil Qi impact of the Tian Sha Sect, and the seductive illusion arts of the Hehuan Sect.

Its power was astonishing, specifically designed to surround and kill powerful enemies.

Once this Formation was set up, it could trap, kill, and confuse enemies, making it extremely difficult to break.

"Hahaha! Lin Wan, you truly fell for it!"

The "unconscious" Disciple had already stood up, a smug, ferocious grin on his face.

Where was there any sign of severe injury?

The Tianshu Immortal Palace attire on his body rapidly changed, transforming into a black robe; he was indeed a Xuan Yin Sect Disciple!

This person was adept at disguise and concealment, even able to simulate auras.

Just moments ago, even Lin Wan had almost been deceived.

"To lure you into our trap, we put in quite a lot of effort."

Another mocking voice rang out.

Outside the Formation's light barrier, three figures slowly emerged, forming a triangular Formation and surrounding the Formation in the center.

The person on the left had a sinister face and a deep aura; it was one of the leaders of the Xuan Yin Sect this time, Yin Wuming, at the Peak of the Earth Immortal realm.

The person on the right had hair as red as fire and a hideous scar on his face.

He held a blood-colored giant axe the size of a door panel, with Evil Qi soaring to the heavens; it was Blood Butcher of the Tian Sha Sect, also at the Peak of the Earth Immortal realm.

Directly in front was a woman wearing pink sheer gauze, with a graceful figure and a charming face, but her eyes were cold.

It was Hua Meiniang of the Hehuan Sect, at the Peak of the Earth Immortal realm.

She was playing with a delicate, dripping-wet pink flower in her hand.

The sweet, cloying fragrance emitted by the flower resonated with the pink light in the Formation, making one's mind ripple upon smelling it.

Three Earth Immortal Peak experts!

Plus the Xuan Yin Sect expert in the Formation disguised as a Tianshu Immortal Palace Disciple, and this meticulously arranged "Three Absolutes Killing Formation"—this was clearly a death trap aimed at Lin Wan!

"Lin Wan, didn't expect this, did you? You thought that after killing a few of our Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, you could just sit back and relax?"

Yin Wuming laughed sinisterly.

"Today, this Thorn Forest will be your burial ground! Under the Three Absolutes Killing Formation, even if you have heaven-reaching abilities, you won't be able to escape!"

"Why waste words with him! Activate the Formation, refine his Divine Soul, and avenge our dead Junior Brothers!"

Blood Butcher licked his lips, bloodthirsty light flashing in his eyes.

"Giggle, Young Master Lin, it's a pity about this good skin and cultivation. However, being refined by our Three Absolutes Killing Formation is your honor."

Hua Meiniang giggled, but her eyes held only cold murderous intent.

Inside the Formation, Lin Wan's expression was calm.

His gaze swept over the four of them and finally landed on Yin Wuming.

He said indifferently, "To kill me, you really went to great lengths. Three Earth Immortal Peak experts, plus this 'Three Absolutes Killing Formation'—you certainly think highly of me."

"Hmph, to be able to die under the Three Absolutes Killing Formation, you have enough to be proud of!"

Yin Wuming sneered, stopped talking, formed seals with his hands, and shouted sharply, "Do it! Activate the Formation!"

As his voice fell, Yin Wuming, Blood Butcher, and Hua Meiniang outside the Formation, along with the disguised Xuan Yin Sect Disciple inside the Formation, all simultaneously injected their immortal essence into the Formation!

"Boom—!"

The Three Absolutes Killing Formation was instantly fully activated!

The black, red, and pink light flared brilliantly, the Formation's light barrier spun violently, and a terrifying pressure squeezed toward Lin Wan from all directions!

At the same time, three strange powers erupted within the Formation!

The black was the Profound Yin Qi, like viscous ink, carrying intense corrosiveness, surging toward Lin Wan from all directions, intending to erode his immortal essence, Physical Body, and Divine Soul!

The red Evil Qi of the Tian Sha Sect, like burning flames, carried violent Evil Qi and murderous intent, forming streaks of blood-colored blade light and spear shadows, coming to strangle Lin Wan!

The pink Qi of the Hehuan Sect transformed into decadent sounds and seductive illusions, drilling into Lin Wan's Sea of Consciousness without any gaps, intending to confuse his mind and disintegrate his fighting spirit!

The three powers complemented each other; the insidious poison corroded his Physical Body and immortal essence, the Evil Qi assaulted his Divine Soul and will, and the seductive illusion disrupted his mind—truly vicious!

An ordinary Earth Immortal Peak Cultivator, if caught in this Formation, would likely not last more than an hour or so before being refined into a pool of pus and blood, with their Divine Soul completely destroyed!

"The Three Absolutes Killing Formation, truly worthy of its reputation."

Lin Wan was in the Formation, feeling the erosion, impact, and confusion of those three strange powers, yet his expression remained calm.

On his body, his Chaos Immortal Energy automatically circulated, forming a thin gray film of light, blocking all the surging Profound Yin Qi, Evil Qi, and Hehuan Qi outside, and slowly refining them.

Chaos Immortal Energy accommodated all things and resolved all poisons; although this Formation was powerful, it could not break his defense in a short time.

"However, wanting to kill me with this Formation alone is not enough!"

Lin Wan's eyes turned cold.

Inside his body, the rudiments of four types of dao rhyme vibrated simultaneously, and the phantom of his Dao Seed in his Dantian shimmered with light.

A more vast and profound aura rose from his body!

"Chaos Reincarnation Domain, open!"

Gray mist, with Lin Wan as the center, suddenly expanded, colliding with the three-colored Formation light barrier!

The two different powers of the Domain and the Formation eroded and opposed each other, emitting "hissing" sounds, and the space itself distorted slightly.

Chaos Reincarnation Domain: accommodate, erode, assimilate, reincarnate!

Three Absolutes Killing Formation: corrode, impact, seduce, strangle!

For a time, they were actually deadlocked!

The Formation's light barrier vibrated violently, and the black, red, and pink lights intertwined and annihilated with the gray mist, making "zzzt" sounds.

"What?! He can actually resist the Three Absolutes Killing Formation with a Domain?!"

The three of them outside the Formation—Yin Wuming, Blood Butcher, and Hua Meiniang—changed expression simultaneously, revealing looks of disbelief.

The Three Absolutes Killing Formation was a killing Formation capable of trapping and killing an ordinary Early Stage Heavenly Immortal!

Lin Wan was only at the Late Stage of the Earth Immortal realm; how could he resist it head-on with a Domain by his own power?

"This brat must not be allowed to live! Drive the Formation with full power!"

Yin Wuming's murderous intent surged violently.

He shouted sharply, bit his tongue, and sprayed a mouthful of essence blood onto the core of the Formation.

Blood Butcher and Hua Meiniang also simultaneously sprayed essence blood, frantically driving their immortal essence into the Formation.

With the essence blood and the three of them driving it with full power, the power of the Three Absolutes Killing Formation increased again!

The light barrier of the Formation flared brilliantly, and the three types of attacks became even more violent, surging toward Lin Wan like a tidal wave, wanting to completely submerge and destroy his Chaos Reincarnation Domain!

"Mayflies shaking a tree!"

Lin Wan snorted coldly, formed hand seals, and the Chaos Immortal Energy within his body surged like a river, frantically injecting into the Domain.

The gray mist roiled, becoming even denser and more viscous.

Within the Domain, phantoms of Chaos opening and the birth and death of the Universe faintly flickered, and the power of Reincarnation flowed, constantly grinding down, devouring, and transforming the incoming Profound Yin, Evil, and Hehuan Qi!

"His Domain is devouring the power of the Formation!"

Hua Meiniang exclaimed in shock.

She felt the immortal essence she had injected into the Formation rapidly flowing away, being devoured and transformed by that gray mist!

"How is this possible! What kind of Domain is this?!"

Blood Butcher also changed color in horror.

His Evil Qi, which was extremely violent, was actually easily assimilated by that gray mist?

"We cannot wait any longer! Attack together, kill him!"

Yin Wuming's face was livid.

He knew he could not drag this out any longer; otherwise, the Formation might be broken by this strange Domain.

His figure flickered, and he actually rushed directly into the Formation.

His hands transformed into pitch-black ghost claws, accompanied by the ear-piercing sound of ghosts crying and wolves howling, and he clawed toward Lin Wan's head!

He wanted to enter the Formation personally to coordinate with the Formation and kill Lin Wan!

"Well come!"

Cold light flashed in Lin Wan's eyes; instead of being surprised, he was pleased.

The opponent couldn't help but enter the Formation, which was exactly what he wanted!

Outside the Formation, he had to resist the attacks of both the Formation and the three people simultaneously, which was a lot of pressure.

But inside the Formation, with the blessing of the Chaos Reincarnation Domain, his strength could be exerted to the limit!

"Yin Soul Life-Taking Claw!"

Yin Wuming shouted sharply.

On the ghost claws, black Qi roiled, as if countless aggrieved souls and evil ghosts were wailing, carrying bone-eroding Yin wind and deadly poison as he clawed toward Lin Wan.

"Chaos Return to Void Fist!"

Lin Wan did not dodge or evade.

He threw a punch, and within the fist imprint, Chaos Qi roiled, and even more of the "the end" dao rhyme flowed, wanting to end everything and return it to nothingness!

"Boom!"

The fist and claw collided, erupting with a heaven-shaking roar!

Under the power of Lin Wan's Chaos Return to Void Fist, the black Qi of Yin Wuming's ghost claw rapidly dissipated, and the sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling came to an abrupt halt. He groaned, his figure retreating violently, a look of horror appearing in his eyes.

His Soul-Snatching Ghost Claw had actually been blasted apart by the opponent's single punch. Furthermore, that bizarre gray power was encroaching into his body along his arm, frantically devouring and annihilating his immortal essence and vitality!

"What kind of power is this?!" Yin Wuming was shocked in his heart. He hurriedly circulated his Xuan Yin immortal essence to force out the gray power invading his body, but his complexion had already paled by a fraction.

"It's my turn now!" Lin Wan did not let up after gaining the advantage. Taking a step forward, his figure moved like a phantom, instantly appearing before Yin Wuming, flicking a finger to strike directly at the center of his brow!

"Samsara Tribulation Finger!"

The gray finger force was silent and soundless, yet it carried the power of annihilation that ended all vitality, making Yin Wuming's soul tremble in fear!

"Xuan Yin Ghost Shield!" Yin Wuming shouted sharply. A shield as black as ink and covered in ghost faces instantly appeared before him. This was his natal defensive Magic Treasure, a Low Grade Immortal Artifact that he had refined for many years.

"Hiss!"

The Samsara Tribulation Finger struck the Xuan Yin Ghost Shield. The shield vibrated violently, and the ghost faces upon it let out shrill screams before rapidly dimming and dissipating. A fine crack appeared on the surface of the shield! Although it had blocked the finger attack, Yin Wuming, being mentally connected to it, suffered a backlash, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"Xuetú! Hua Meiniang! Why aren't you attacking yet?!" Yin Wuming roared in shock and anger.

"Kill!" Xuetú roared, charging into the Formation. Wielding a giant blood-colored axe, he swung it down. The blood-colored axe radiance tore through the air, carrying monstrous Evil Qi, and slashed towards Lin Wan's back! This axe strike was heavy and powerful, enough to split mountains and crack rocks!

"Giggle, Young Master Lin, you have such a ruthless heart, dealing such a heavy blow to my Senior Brother." Amidst Hua Meiniang's charming laughter, she also floated into the Formation. With a light wave of her jade hand, countless pink petals appeared out of thin air, shooting toward Lin Wan's vital points like sharp blades. At the same time, seductive sounds arose again, attacking his Sea of Consciousness directly.

The Disciple from the Xuan Yin Sect who was disguised within the Formation also seized the opportunity to launch an attack, a pitch-black Sword Qi silently stabbing towards Lin Wan's ribs.

In an instant, Lin Wan was besieged by three Peak Earth Immortal experts and one Late Stage Earth Immortal expert! Furthermore, there was the suppression of the Three Extremes Killing Array!

Facing attacks from all directions, Lin Wan's eyes turned completely cold. He knew he could no longer hold back; he had to finish the battle quickly. Otherwise, dragging it out would be disadvantageous to him—who knew if there were other ambushes outside?

"Since you are seeking death, then... let's all hit the road together!"

Lin Wan let out a low shout. Inside his body, that tiny but initially condensed Fire Law seed suddenly shone with brilliant light! At the same time, his comprehension of the Wood Law, resonating with the wood-attribute Spiritual Qi in the Thorn Forest, reached a critical point. In his Dantian's ocean of immortal essence, that wisp of cyan light suddenly condensed, forming a tiny Wood Law seed radiating with vibrant vitality!

The Fire Law seed and the Wood Law seed vibrated simultaneously!

Wood generates fire! Nourished by the Wood Law seed, the Fire Law seed erupted with unprecedented radiance! A scorching, violent, and vitality-filled power erupted from Lin Wan's body!

"Chaos opens, Five Elements rotate, Fire illuminates the heavens!"

Lin Wan held his hands in a phantom embrace, and a fist-sized ball of light, half crimson and half Chaos-colored, condensed in his palms! Inside the light ball, it seemed as if a miniature Universe was being born and dying; the crimson flames and Chaos Qi intertwined, emitting terrifying fluctuations capable of destroying the heavens and the earth!

This was a new move he had created by initially fusing the Fire Law with the Chaos dao rhyme, combined with the Concept of "Universe Birth and Death"! Although it was not yet perfect, its power far exceeded the Samsara Tribulation Finger and the Chaos Return to Void Fist!

"Go!"

Lin Wan pushed the Chaos fireball in his hand fiercely towards Yin Wuming!

The Chaos fireball left his hand and grew in the wind, instantly becoming the size of a millstone. Everywhere it passed, the Xuan Yin Qi, Evil Qi, and Hehuan Qi within the Formation melted like snow and scattered! Even the light barrier of the Three Extremes Killing Array trembled violently, as if it could not withstand this power!

"Not good! Retreat quickly!" Yin Wuming's complexion changed drastically. From that Chaos fireball, he felt a fatal threat! He wanted to flee, but the speed of the Chaos fireball was too fast, and it seemed to have locked onto his Qi, leaving him with nowhere to hide!

"Xuan Yin True Body! Ten Thousand Ghosts Protect the Body!" Yin Wuming roared frantically. Black Qi churned around him, transforming into a hideous phantom of a three-headed, six-armed ghost, which protected him in the center. At the same time, he pushed the Xuan Yin Ghost Shield to its limit, blocking it in front of him.

Xuetú, Hua Meiniang, and that Xuan Yin Sect Disciple also felt the fatal threat and hurriedly unleashed their strongest defenses, retreating frantically.

However, everything was in vain!

The Chaos fireball drifted lightly and collided with the Xuan Yin Ghost Shield.

"Boom—!!!"

There was no heaven-shaking roar, only a dull sound as if something had been completely annihilated. The Xuan Yin Ghost Shield, that Low Grade Immortal Artifact, vaporized instantly under the impact of the Chaos fireball, as if made of paper, leaving not even a scrap of residue!

Following that, the Chaos fireball continued its momentum undiminished, slamming into the Ten Thousand Ghosts phantom protecting Yin Wuming.

"Hiss—!"

The Ten Thousand Ghosts phantom let out an incomparably shrill scream, as if it had encountered its nemesis. Under the burning of the Chaos flames, it rapidly dissolved and annihilated! Yin Wuming's true body was exposed before the Chaos fireball.

"No—!!!" Yin Wuming let out a desperate and unwilling roar, his eyes filled with fear and regret. No matter what, he could not have imagined that he, along with three Peak Earth Immortal experts and the Three Extremes Killing Array, would be defeated by a Late Stage Earth Immortal kid, and defeated so thoroughly, so... humiliatingly!

The Chaos fireball lightly touched his body.

The next moment, Yin Wuming, this elite Peak Earth Immortal of the Xuan Yin Sect, could not even let out a scream. His entire being, along with all the Magic Treasures and Storage Ring on him, turned into nothingness in that Chaos-colored flame. His body and soul were destroyed, leaving not even a speck of ash behind.

"Senior Brother Yin!" Xuetú, Hua Meiniang, and that Xuan Yin Sect Disciple, having witnessed Yin Wuming being instantly vaporized, were so scared that their souls flew away and spirits scattered. They had no fighting intent left at all and turned to flee, wishing their parents had given them two more legs.

"Can you get away?" Lin Wan's complexion was slightly pale. That strike just now had consumed a massive amount of energy, nearly draining thirty percent of his immortal essence. But his eyes were cold, and his killing intent was absolute. Since he had started the fight, he had to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots!

"Samsara Tribulation Finger!"

"Finger of Finality!"

Two finger forces, launched later but arriving first, instantly caught up with the fleeing Xuetú and the Xuan Yin Sect Disciple.

"Puff!" "Puff!"

Xuetú and the Xuan Yin Sect Disciple's bodies stiffened simultaneously. A blood hole appeared in each of their brows and backs. The vitality in their eyes rapidly dissipated, and their corpses fell from the sky.

Hua Meiniang ran the fastest, and she seemed to have used some kind of secret technique. Her figure moved like a phantom, instantly fleeing to the edge of the Formation, and she was about to rush out of it.

"Want to leave?" Lin Wan snorted coldly. With a thought, his Chaos Reincarnation Domain suddenly contracted, transforming into a gray chain that instantly wrapped around Hua Meiniang's ankle.

"Ah!" Hua Meiniang screamed, her figure stalling.

"Finger of existence, define—Imprisonment!"

Lin Wan pointed a finger out, light flowing at his fingertip, containing the dao rhyme of "existence". The space around Hua Meiniang seemed to be forcibly "defined" by some power, becoming viscous and solid, firmly imprisoning her in place and unable to move!

"No! Young Master Lin, spare me! This slave is willing to be your servant and maid, serving you for all eternity! I know many secrets, I can tell you..." Hua Meiniang's face lost all color, and she begged for mercy in terror.

"A demoness of the Hehuan Sect, and you dare to beg for mercy?" Lin Wan's eyes were cold, without a shred of pity. He pointed his finger again, and the gray-dark finger force containing the dao rhyme of "the end" pierced through her brow.

Hua Meiniang's pleading voice came to an abrupt halt. The terrified expression on her face froze, the luster in her eyes rapidly dimmed, and her body collapsed softly, devoid of all breath.

Four great experts, three dead and one "nothing", their bodies and souls destroyed!

With the death of the four, the Three Extremes Killing Array, left without anyone to preside over it, rapidly dimmed. Finally, with a "pop", it shattered like a bubble and dissipated into the air.

Lin Wan landed slowly, his complexion somewhat pale, his breathing slightly disordered. Continuously activating the Chaos Reincarnation Domain, casting the "Chaos fireball" fused with Fire Law and Chaos dao rhyme, and repeatedly using the Samsara Tribulation Finger and the Finger of Finality had consumed him greatly; his immortal essence was nearly bottomed out.

But in his eyes, there was a glimmer of excitement. This battle, though dangerous, had yielded huge gains. Not only had he slain the strong enemies and resolved the lethal trap, but more importantly, under pressure, he had initially fused the Fire Law with the Chaos dao rhyme, creating the "Chaos fireball" killing move, the power of which far exceeded expectations. Moreover, the Wood Law seed had also condensed during this battle; he had now obtained two of the Five Elements!

"This place is not suitable for staying long; I must leave immediately." Lin Wan forced himself to stay alert and quickly collected the Storage Rings and Magic Treasures of the four (Yin Wuming's Magic Treasures had vaporized along with him, leaving only his Storage Ring). He glanced at the jade-green lingzhi, waved his hand to collect it, and then did not linger. He took an earth origin pill, barely recovering some immortal essence, and his figure turned into a gray stream of light, fleeing rapidly towards the outside of the Thorn Forest, soon disappearing into the vast sea of trees.

Not long after Lin Wan left, several powerful auras sped over from the distance and landed on the battlefield where the fight had just taken place.

Looking at the devastation all over the ground, the residual terrifying energy fluctuations that made one's heart palpitate, and the auras of Yin Wuming and the others that had completely dissipated, leaving not even corpses behind, the faces of the newcomers became incomparably grave and ugly.

"Yin Wuming, Xuetú, Hua Meiniang... and the 'Ghost Face' from the Xuan Yin Sect who is skilled in disguise—the four of them joined forces and set up the Three Extremes Killing Array, yet they were... completely wiped out?!" A green-robed man with a deep aura and a long sword on his back gasped, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Was it done by that Lin Wan? How could he have such strong power? Even if it were us, caught in the Three Extremes Killing Array and facing a siege by four Peak Earth Immortal experts, there would be absolutely no possibility of survival!" Another burly man with a tall stature and knotted muscles said in a deep voice, his tone carrying a trace of fear.

"This kid has become a great threat! We must report it immediately and ask the Sect's Senior Brothers, or even... request a Prodigy to make a move!" The green-robed man's face was as gloomy as water. He took out a specially made communication jade talisman and quickly transmitted the situation here, as well as the news that Lin Wan was suspected of having mastered some kind of terrifying fire-type Divine Ability.

The battle in the Thorn Forest, where Lin Wan fought four alone, counter-killed three Peak Earth Immortal experts, and broke the Three Extremes Killing Array—if this news spread, it would surely shake the entire Five Elements Small World!

And at this moment, Lin Wan had already moved far away from that place of trouble, heading rapidly towards the center of the Five Elements Small World, in the direction of the Five Elements Dao Derivation Platform.