609: The collusion between evil spirits is beginning to show.

As the sun set, the afterglow dyed the dense forest outside Tianling Academy a golden red. The leaves rustled in the wind, interspersed with the chirps of unknown birds. What should have been a serene and peaceful scene was faintly tinged with a solemn Killing Intent.

Huang Xiaolong and Su Linger walked side by side along the narrow forest path. They had just come from the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion, each holding several classics they had just borrowed. Huang Xiaolong's Huaxia Battle Qi Fist had already reached Minor Achievement, and he was currently pondering how to more perfectly integrate the Dragon Vein Power with his fist techniques. Su Linger, on the other hand, held the Introduction to Formations in the Lingxu Realm, her eyes filled with excitement, clearly having learned many new Formation techniques from it.

"Senior Brother Huang, do you think this Formation-Plant Fusion Technique can really combine Spiritual Plants with Formations?" Su Linger looked up, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "If it succeeds, wouldn't we be able to save a lot of Spirit Stones when setting up Formations in the future?"

Huang Xiaolong smiled slightly and was about to answer when he suddenly stopped. The Chiyou War Mark on his brow flared with heat, and a thick evil energy drifted over with the wind. His gaze sharpened, and he whispered, "Careful! There's Killing Intent!"

Before his voice had even faded, several dark shadows darted out from the depths of the forest, surrounding the two of them. Leading them was none other than Lie Haitao, the Young Sect Leader of the Blazing Fire Sect. Beside him stood three Cultivators dressed in black robes; beneath those robes, black energy faintly swirled, emitting a nauseating, fishy stench.

"Huang Xiaolong, Su Linger, I didn't expect you to deliver yourselves right to me!" Lie Haitao's face was filled with a malicious smile. He looked at Huang Xiaolong, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes. "Today, I will avenge the Secret Realm, reclaim the Black Wind Leopard! And while I'm at it, I'll take that Chiyou War Mark from your brow!"

The three black-robed Cultivators also slowly raised their heads, revealing faces covered in wrinkles and eyes that were sinister and cold. One of them said in a raspy voice, "Rest assured, Young Sect Leader. With us Evil Cultivators here, this boy won't be able to escape even if he had wings!"

Evil Cultivators!

Both Huang Xiaolong and Su Linger's expressions changed. They hadn't expected that Lie Haitao would collude with the remnants of the Extra-Domain Evil Spirits just for revenge! The methods of these Evil Cultivators were sinister and ruthless, far more troublesome than those of ordinary Cultivators.

"Lie Haitao, you collude with evil spirits and betray the Human Race; aren't you afraid of being hunted down by the Huaxia Alliance?" Su Linger's face darkened as she shouted angrily.

"Hunted down?" Lie Haitao sneered, completely indifferent. "As long as I can kill Huang Xiaolong and seize the Chiyou War Mark, I wouldn't care even if I made the whole world my enemy!"

With that, he waved his hand abruptly: "Attack! Kill them!"

The Disciples of the Blazing Fire Sect immediately brandished their weapons and charged. Meanwhile, the three Evil Cultivators raised their hands simultaneously, spraying three streams of pitch-black poison mist toward Huang Xiaolong and Su Linger. Within the poison mist was a dense Evil Spirit Poison Art; everywhere it passed, the grass and trees instantly withered, and even the air seemed to be corroded.

"Watch out! This poison mist can contaminate spiritual power!" Huang Xiaolong's expression changed drastically. He quickly circulated the Huaxia Battle Qi Fist, and his crimson-gold fist light, carrying the Dragon Vein Power, formed a solid barrier in front of them.

The poison mist slammed into the barrier with a sizzling sound. The golden light on the barrier flickered violently but remained unbroken. However, Huang Xiaolong could feel his spiritual power being slowly contaminated by the poison mist, becoming turbid and messy.

"Hahaha! Boy, your spiritual power will soon be contaminated by the poison mist! By then, you'll be our prisoner!" one of the Evil Cultivators laughed wildly.

Huang Xiaolong's brow furrowed tightly; he knew this couldn't continue. He had to find a way to break the Evil Spirit Poison Art as quickly as possible. He took a deep breath, circulating the Huaxia Battle Qi Fist to its limit. The Dragon Vein Power surged frantically through his Meridians, and within the crimson-gold fist light, a hint of a holy aura appeared.

"Break!"

Huang Xiaolong roared, throwing a punch toward that Evil Cultivator. The Dragon Vein Power within the fist light, carrying a majesty that purified all evil spirits, instantly dispersed the poison mist. The fist light's momentum didn't diminish as it slammed heavily into the Evil Cultivator's chest.

"Pfft!"

The Evil Cultivator spat out a mouthful of black blood and was sent flying, his Storage Pouch falling to the ground. A pure white Jade Slip rolled out from the Storage Pouch, with the six characters 'Evil Spirit Poison Art Countermeasure' carved upon it.

"Evil Spirit Poison Art Countermeasure!" Huang Xiaolong was overjoyed. His Divine Thought sank into the Jade Slip, and he instantly grasped its Profound Truth. He operated the countermeasure method, purifying all the contaminated spiritual power in his body, and his aura instantly returned to its original state.

At the same time, Su Linger was not idle. She operated the Formation-Plant Fusion Technique, took several Spiritual Plants from the Lingxu Realm out of her bamboo basket, and scattered them on the ground. The Spiritual Plants took root upon landing, instantly growing sharp leaves and forming a green Formation barrier that trapped the Blazing Fire Sect Disciples within.

"A Spirit Plant Formation!" the Blazing Fire Sect Disciples cried out in alarm, trying to break through the barrier only to be cut bloody by the leaves of the Spiritual Plants.

Seeing this, a sharp light flashed in Huang Xiaolong's eyes. He activated Spirit Snake Evasion, his figure weaving through the crowd like a spirit snake. Every time his crimson-gold fist light fell, a Disciple was sent flying. He intentionally led the battlefield into a narrow valley, using the terrain advantage to completely disrupt the enemy's Formation.

This was the essence of Anti-Ambush Tactics!

As the battle progressed, a crisp sound suddenly rang out—

"Clatter!"

A grey Jade Slip fell from the Void Realm and rolled to Huang Xiaolong's feet. Carved upon the Jade Slip were the five characters 'Anti-Ambush Tactics,' which detailed how to use terrain advantages, counter-surround enemies, and turn the tide of battle in adversity.

"Anti-Ambush Tactics!" Huang Xiaolong was ecstatic. He quickly picked up the Jade Slip and sank his Divine Thought into it, instantly mastering the tactics.

He adjusted his strategy, no longer clashing head-on with the enemies but instead using the valley's terrain to constantly maneuver and wear down their physical strength. Seeing this, Lie Haitao was fuming with rage. He pulled a black Magical Artifact from his robes; it was covered in evil runes and emitted a dense black energy.

"Boy, you're looking for death! Taste the power of my evil Magical Artifact!"

Lie Haitao roared and hurled the Magical Artifact at Huang Xiaolong. The artifact turned into a black shadow in the air, heading straight for Huang Xiaolong's face with a world-destroying momentum.

"Paltry tricks!"

A hint of disdain flashed in Huang Xiaolong's eyes. He circulated the Huaxia Battle Qi Fist, fusing the Dragon Vein Power and Battle Qi to the limit, and threw a punch at the black shadow.

"Bang!"

With a loud explosion, the evil Magical Artifact was instantly smashed into fragments, and black energy splattered in all directions. A black Jade Slip fell from the fragments and rolled to Huang Xiaolong's feet, with the seven characters 'Evil Spirit Artifact Suppression Art' carved upon it.

"Evil Spirit Artifact Suppression Art!" Huang Xiaolong picked up the Jade Slip, his face full of joy.

Looking at his shattered Magical Artifact, Lie Haitao's face turned as pale as paper. He hadn't expected that his trump card would be shattered by a single punch from Huang Xiaolong!

"Young Sect Leader, retreat quickly!" an Evil Cultivator shouted in terror, turning to flee.

"Want to run? Too late!"

Su Linger's face turned cold as she operated the Formation-Plant Fusion Technique, pushing the power of the Spiritual Plant Formation to its limit. The leaves of the Spiritual Plants grew frantically, completely blocking the valley's exit and forming an airtight green cage.

The moment the Formation took shape, a crisp sound rang out—

"Clatter!"

A green Jade Slip fell from within the Formation and rolled to Su Linger's feet. Carved upon the Jade Slip were the five characters 'Enemy Trapping Formation Art,' which detailed how to set up trapping Formations and use the characteristics of Spiritual Plants to trap enemies whose strength far exceeded one's own.

"Enemy Trapping Formation Art!" Su Linger picked up the Jade Slip in surprise.

The Evil Cultivators and Blazing Fire Sect Disciples trapped in the Formation instantly fell into despair. Huang Xiaolong walked forward slowly, his crimson-gold fist light flashing as he subdued them one by one.

While clearing the battlefield, Huang Xiaolong found a damaged Jade Slip in the Storage Pouch of one of the Evil Cultivators. The Jade Slip was covered in dense runes; it was a Chaos Sea Coordinate Fragment. The evil energy on the fragment resonated strongly with the Chiyou War Mark on Huang Xiaolong's brow.

"A Chaos Sea Coordinate Fragment!" Huang Xiaolong's pupils constricted, and a strong premonition surged in his heart.

Lie Haitao's collusion with the Evil Cultivators was no accident. These remnant evil forces were certainly searching for the entrance to the Chaos Sea, wanting to make a comeback!

He gripped the coordinate fragment tightly, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. This matter had to be reported to the Dean immediately so the Huaxia Alliance could prepare early!

The sun gradually set, and night slowly descended. In the dense forest, only the mess on the ground and two hurried figures remained.

A new crisis was quietly brewing. And Huang Xiaolong knew that the burden on his shoulders had grown heavier once again.