256: Li Xiaoqing

The Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard!

Jiang Chen still remembered Xue Lianxing, the member of the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard who had specifically come to Cangzhou City to reward Lu Qian and the others.

He recalled being told then that the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard was an extremely powerful and secretive existence, and their primary duty was to protect the Empress, rarely participating in external operations.

They had always only followed the Empress's commands.

Clearly, the Empress also had her own judgment and had dispatched the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard to this place immediately.

But she likely hadn't expected that even the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard would be pinned down by the opponent.

Furthermore, looking at the battle situation, the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard seemed to be suppressed by the other side.

And the ones blocking them were precisely the group from the Innocent Sect.

"The Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard is being suppressed!?"

"What kind of methods is the Innocent Sect using to be able to condense these spiritual bodies!"

Lu Qian said as she looked at the scene ahead.

"It's a Formation!"

Jiang Chen took a glance.

There were eighteen people in the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard group.

Two of them were in the Heavenly Martial Realm, while the rest were at the strength of the Earth Martial Realm.

The battle array formed by these eighteen people was enough to withstand six Heavenly Martial Realm experts.

Clearly, the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard also had their own battle Formations.

It was precisely this battle Formation that enhanced the strength of the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard.

Yet even such a powerful battle Formation failed to take down the people from the Innocent Sect.

Thus, the two commanders leading the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard were both extremely infuriated!

Inside the Formation at this moment.

"This damn Formation!"

Li Xiaoqing, one of the two commanders of the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard, spoke through gritted teeth.

Li Xiaoqing's weapons were twin blades; as she swung them, the terrifying blade glows she unleashed whistled like a blood-red wind.

They were heavy and powerful, like terrifying mountains crashing into the deep sea, erupting into waves ten thousand feet high.

However, the opponent's defensive Formation was quite tight.

Even as these massive waves struck out, the opponent's power showed no signs of dissipating.

Not only were they pinned down, but as time passed, they gradually fell into a disadvantage.

Li Xiaoqing was the primary commander of this operation. Seeing the situation, the only way was to first send out one group to find another path to attack, while the other group remained to defend and hold the position, thereby stalling these people.

Otherwise, all of them would be dragged to death right here.

"This Formation is as solid as a rock; it requires at least the ninth level of the Heavenly Martial Realm to break! We should not stay in this stalemate!"

"Xue Lianyue, Xue Lianxing! Quickly take ten people, break away from the Formation, and circle around to the back!"

"The rest of you stay here with me to block the Formation ahead and prevent them from making a move!"

Li Xiaoqing shouted.

Xue Lianyue and Xue Lianxing were sisters, and Xue Lianyue was also the other Heavenly Martial Realm expert.

However, her cultivation was only at the first level of the Heavenly Martial Realm, far inferior to Li Xiaoqing's third level.

If they stayed behind, their likely fate would be to be ground down to death by the opponent's Formation.

Xue Lianyue and the others were startled.

"Commander Li! Absolutely not!"

"The two of us sisters will lead the group to stay here. After breaking away from the Formation, enough power is still needed to crush the Heaven-Grade Demon Cave! It definitely won't work with just our strength; only if Commander Li takes action will there be a chance. We will stay behind to cover the retreat!"

Xue Lianyue said hurriedly.

Beside her, Xue Lianxing also nodded slightly.

"Commander Li, this is the only way, otherwise it will only result in a lose-lose situation."

Xue Lianxing also advised.

Although Xue Lianxing's current strength hadn't reached the Heavenly Martial Realm yet, she was excellent in all aspects. Her strategic planning far surpassed others, so her calm analysis was often followed for key decisions.

Hearing Xue Lianxing's words, Li Xiaoqing's heart also jolted.

If she let the two of them stay, it was clear that these people would never return; there would be no hope of survival.

Seeing Li Xiaoqing still hesitating.

Xue Lianxing continued.

"Commander Li, if you aren't willing to sacrifice anything, you won't gain anything."

Clearly, Xue Lianxing and the others knew this well, so they didn't have the slightest regret.

They only wanted to do their utmost to fulfill their final duty.

"Xue Lianyue, Xue Lianxing, each lead three people to stay and resist the Formation. The rest follow me to break away and find another way out!"

Li Xiaoqing barked.

At this moment.

Li Xiaoqing also realized that now was not the time for indecision.

She made a prompt decision.

At this time, the two Heavenly Martial Realm Grand Elders of the Innocent Sect, along with a group of Earth Martial Realm experts, all sneered after realizing the movements of the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard.

"Hehe, you want to escape? It's not that easy!"

"Since you've come, don't think about leaving. Leave your lives behind!"

The two Grand Elders of the Innocent Sect roared.

In the next instant, the power of the Formation surged several times over.

Like a majestic mountain, it was rapidly descending upon the heads of the eighteen Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard members.

Li Xiaoqing hadn't expected that what the opponent had been using all along wasn't even the limit of the Formation!

At this moment.

A terrifying power was released.

The group of Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard members were all forcibly suppressed in place.

It was extremely difficult even to break free.

Boom!

Right at this moment.

A loud explosion erupted.

Li Xiaoqing and the others saw a massive flying boat warship approaching from afar, crashing violently into the Formation.

The moment the flying boat collided with the Formation, a violent vibration broke out.

The group of people on the opposite side who were controlling and maintaining the Formation...

...were instantly struck by a powerful backlash.

Many Earth Martial Realm experts in the group could not withstand the counter-shock force, and their physical bodies directly exploded.

Even the two Heavenly Martial Realm experts from the Innocent Sect were severely injured at this moment, their figures forced back.

Their hearts jolted, and they coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The power of this flying boat's impact was truly terrifying.

After all, this was an eighth-grade spiritual artifact!

Besides its speed and defense, if it crashed directly into you, as long as it aimed correctly, even if you were in the Heavenly Martial Realm, you would be finished.

It was fortunate that the Formation provided a slight buffer.

Otherwise, in that single instant, those two Heavenly Martial Realm experts from the Innocent Sect would have also exploded.

"What!"

The eyes of Li Xiaoqing and the others trembled.

They were completely shocked by the scene before them.

They had exhausted so much effort just to barely hold their ground here.

In the end, it was even highly likely they would be swallowed by the opponent's Formation.

Yet they never expected this flying boat to be so terrifying that it directly smashed the opponent's Formation upon impact!?

Since when did a flying boat have such an effect?

"Lord Lu, Lord Jiang! And Enshrined Zhang Xian!"

The sharp-eyed Xue Lianxing immediately saw the three figures on the flying boat.

"Lord Xue, we meet again."