128: view

Even if they were on guard, what could they do?

If they were in that forest, they might have been able to fight their way out, but now that they've entered this narrow valley, they are trapped like birds in a cage.

He didn't know whether to call these five people stupid or clever.

Since they had seen through the scam long ago yet still dared to walk right into it, they surely didn't think that just five people could shake thirty-some Cultivators.

"Attack!"

"Once we've dealt with this group, we'll go find the next targets."

Following the Saint's command, the other Taixu Disciples mobilized their physical and spiritual energy, brandishing their long swords as they charged toward the two women among the five.

*Boom!*

A massive explosion suddenly erupted!

The rock beneath Li Pingan's feet shattered as he shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring, his muscles bulging and his robes fluttering loudly.

Before anyone could react, his fist had pierced through a Cultivator's abdomen without any resistance, and blood gushed out.

"So... so fast!"

Su Zi's eyes were fixed on the scene, filled with horror.

She had clearly lured several waves of Yao Beasts to test their strength; she never expected that even when facing those Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer Yao Beasts, they still had enough strength to hide so much of their Realm.

At the thought of having traveled with this group earlier...

Su Zi and her companion's shoulders couldn't help but tremble slightly.

Li Pingan expressionlessly withdrew his fist and then, like a wolf entering a flock of sheep, instantly charged into the enemy crowd, his movements clean, decisive, and without the slightest hesitation.

It was as if one person had surrounded many!

Almost at the same moment Li Pingan attacked, Xiao Lingxian was suddenly engulfed in blazing flames!

The Nine Phoenix Burning Heaven Physique fully erupted. The flames rising around her were no ordinary fire, but red-gold flames carrying the aura of an ancient Divine Beast. Faint phoenix cries echoed within the flames, which transformed into nine tiny fire phoenix phantoms circling her.

She raised her hand, and one of the fire phoenix phantoms shot out like an arrow from a bow, heading straight for a Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer Cultivator.

The Cultivator hurriedly swung his sword to parry, but the moment the blade touched the flames, it instantly melted. The fire phoenix phantom passed through his chest without hindrance, incinerating his body into a ball of fire. A shrill scream echoed in the canyon for a moment before being swallowed by the flames.

Seeing two of his subordinates fall instantly, the playfulness on Ling Yi's face finally vanished.

He glanced at the two beautiful women beside him and delivered a heavy slap. The force was so great that it nearly sent one of them stumbling to the ground.

"You two are useless trash. It's one thing to misjudge their Realm, but you couldn't even tell that they were a Body Cultivator and a fire Cultivator."

Su Zi clutched her stinging cheek, not daring to show even a hint of anger. "Saint, please appease your anger. It was our stupidity for failing to uncover their true depths."

Seeing their terrified expressions, the anger in Ling Yi's chest subsided slightly. He waved his hand impatiently, "Forget it, there's no use talking about this now."

These two were still needed as bait to capture more prey, so they were still useful for now.

He turned his gaze back to the battlefield. "We've run into a tough nut to crack this time."

"I wonder how many spirit fate crystals we can scavenge from your bodies after we crack this nut."

The dozens of Cultivators surrounding them all sacrificed their Flying Swords. More than ten cold-glinting Flying Swords rose into the air, turning into streaks of light as they shot toward Mu Wanqing's group of five, driven by spiritual energy!

Mu Wanqing's fingers formed a seal, and spiritual energy surged from her fingertips. Fine ice crystals appeared around her, instantly weaving into a translucent ice net that stood before her.

*Clang, clang, clang—*

The Flying Swords struck the ice net, producing a series of crisp sounds. They were stopped dead in their tracks, their blades vibrating intensely, unable to advance an inch further.

Seeing this, Ling Yi's face darkened, and he shouted sternly, "Form the sword array!"

No wonder they could get involved with that Mysterious Realm Emissary; they truly did have some skill.

Outside the Arena Stage!

Outside the Arena Stage, on the mist-shrouded viewing platform, the Sect Master of Taixu Holy Land and several Elders had varying expressions.

"That boy Ling Yi, why did he have to provoke this group? If he displeases the Mysterious Realm Emissary..." the Grand Elder sighed as he looked up at the high platform.

"What is there to fear? The Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony is a matter of life and death! Besides, only by killing this group can the other Mysterious Realm Emissaries see the Prodigies of our Taixu Holy Land and value them more!"

"The Divine Ability that yellow-robed woman is using is not simple. I wonder if it's that high-grade earth-rank one."

The Fourth Elder smiled and said, "No matter how powerful she is, could she possibly break our Taixu Holy Land's Falling Flower Sword Formation?"

"Even a Second Layer of Golden Core Stage Cultivator would be helpless once trapped in that sword array. Furthermore, you all may not know, but that boy Xiao Yi has already broken through to the Golden Core Realm."

The Sect Master's eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing this. "Fourth Elder, is this true?"

"Naturally." The Fourth Elder nodded with a serious expression. "I wouldn't joke with the Sect Master on such a critical matter."

Several Elders sighed in amazement. "That kid, it's one thing for him to hide his cultivation normally, but to think he even kept us old fellows in the dark."

"To break through to the Golden Core after only thirteen years of cultivation... such talent. It's a pity his surname is Ling." The Grand Elder's tone was full of regret. "Otherwise, he could truly inherit the position of Sect Master and lead our Taixu Holy Land to new heights."

Around the Arena Stage, the crowds were bustling. Seventy percent of the Cultivators were watching the struggle in the canyon through the smoke projection, and the sound of discussion rose and fell like the tide.

"These people have some skill! That dark-skinned youth looks sturdy and is incredibly fast; he must be a Body Cultivator, right? With that kind of skill, he could probably handle a Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer without any trouble."

"Hmph, Taixu Holy Land is truly insidious, sending female Disciples to feign seeking help and secretly lure them in. I'm glad I didn't participate, or I might have fallen for such a dirty trick too..."

"Damn it, it's one thing for these Prodigies to have good Aptitude, but their hearts are more calculating than the next. It would be best if they all died in the mouths of those Yao Beasts."

"Look, the three Saints of Heavenly Secret Pavilion have run into the people from the Invincible Holy Land. It looks like a fight has broken out over there too."

The Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion, Fang Wuchang, narrowed his eyes slightly, not paying any attention to his own Disciples' battlefield, as it wasn't necessary.

His gaze remained fixed on the battle in the canyon; this was the perfect chance to see what these five were truly made of.

Daoist Lianxiao of the Medicine Pavilion stood to the side, his face full of regret.

He had originally wanted the Medicine Pavilion Disciples to use these five as stepping stones to prove their strength at the right moment, but he hadn't expected Taixu Holy Land to encounter them first. His plan had fallen through, and he muttered, "A pity, what a pity..."

At another part of the viewing platform, the exquisite Sect Master Xiao Yue sat in her moon-white dress, her waist-length silver hair fluttering slightly in the wind.

She asked softly, "Yun Yao, do you think those five can escape?"

Elder Yun Yao shook her head slightly, her tone certain. "Although these five have impressive Realms, they are simply outnumbered. Taixu Holy Land's Falling Flower Sword Formation is extremely sophisticated; with seven people forming the array, everything is interconnected. Even a Golden Core Cultivator would find it difficult to break once they've entered!"

"Moreover, that Saint of Taixu Holy Land is no pushover. News broke a year ago that he had already reached the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer; he is likely much stronger now."

Sect Master Xiao Yue gazed at the smoke projection near the Arena Stage, her eyes deep as she spoke slowly. "I, however, believe that these five can defeat the Taixu Sword Sect."

Elder Yun Yao was stunned, clearly not expecting her Sect Master to say such a thing.

"Why does the Sect Master have such a view?"

Xiao Yue's waist-length silver hair fluttered slightly as she replied:

"Look closely. Even when facing the life-and-death situation of being surrounded by a sword array, those five show no signs of panic. Instead, they seem to have everything under control. To maintain such a state of mind in a desperate situation is not something ordinary Prodigies can compare to."