228: Dead End

The cold wind whistled, and killing intent filled the air.

Within the Seven Star Pagoda Array, Shen Lian stood firm, facing three Cultivators who had reached the Limit-Breaking Realm alone.

"Shen Lian!"

The leader stepped forward, roaring like a wild beast.

"I am Xuan Peng, the Beast King of the Monster Beast Mountain Range. A few months ago, you drew a Lightning Tribulation that killed millions of my beast clan's Demonic Beasts. Today, this King will settle that score with you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the person on the left also slowly stepped forward.

"At the Northern Domain Sect Master's Manor, forty thousand Cultivators were slaughtered by you, Shen Lian. Your crimes are unforgivable.

I, Bei Chen Huanyu, swear today to use your life to wash away the shame of my Northern Domain Profound Gate."

A black-robed Daoist on the right also chimed in at the opportune moment: "Boundless Heavenly Venerate, Fellow Daoist Shen is inherently cruel, and these days he has caused great damage to the Origin Qi of my Righteous Path.

If we do not bring you to justice, my Wen Dao Sect will be too ashamed to face the commendations of our fellow Daoists. Therefore, I, Cang Yang, swear to give an explanation to all Cultivators under heaven."

Shen Lian coldly scanned the three of them, his expression unchanged.

With one hand behind his back, he sneered, "Three Limit-Breaking Realm Cultivators and a Seven Star Pagoda Array. This lineup to deal with an Immortal Realm Cultivator like me truly shows you've gone all out."

"For ants and trash, facing such a lineup, they would probably be scared before even fighting. But in Shen Lian's eyes, this kind of lineup..."

The next instant, a scorching madness flashed in his eyes.

"It makes me feel the long-lost thrill of a life-or-death struggle!"

"Come, let me see if you can kill Shen Lian!"

Even though the situation was unfavorable, Shen Lian's Aura showed no signs of weakening.

The more desperate the situation, the more it ignited his fierce Battle Intent.

"Arrogant!"

Xuan Peng roared, taking the lead to raise his God-Slaying Saber and hack it down at Shen Lian.

"Hmm?"

With a low murmur, Shen Lian sidestepped, the Saber Qi carrying a fierce gust of wind, passing in an instant.

When he refocused, Xuan Peng was already in front of him.

Shen Lian stomped his foot, and with the subtle movements of the Four Symbols Limitless Steps, Xuan Peng's saber attacks all missed.

"Great Peng Spreading Wings!"

Xuan Peng's saber attack failed, and he followed up with a back sweep.

The fierce and biting Protective Aura, mixed with a trace of Dao Rhyme power, transformed into a Golden-Winged Great Peng, circling and arriving.

Shen Lian retreated several steps, his body spinning on the spot, and a stream of Yin and Yang Qi burst forth from his body, colliding directly with the Saber Qi.

Boom—

With a colossal explosion, heaven and earth changed color.

Amidst the swirling dust, Shen Lian's figure still stood on the battlefield.

"Is this the Beast Emperor's strength? Then I can only say that your disciples and grand-disciples truly died unjustly, and you can't even avenge them."

"Courting death!"

Provoked by Shen Lian's words, Xuan Peng's emotions immediately spiraled out of control.

After a furious roar, the God-Slaying Saber transformed into thousands of afterimages, like a violent storm, pressing down on Shen Lian.

But Shen Lian had already planned, relying on his extreme agility to dodge and weave through the pervasive Saber Qi.

"Something's not right."

Bei Chen Huanyu, who was watching the battle, noticed a clue.

"Shen Lian is only defending, not attacking, relying on his movement technique to evade Xuan Peng's saber attacks."

Cang Yang beside him was puzzled: "Is he trying to exhaust Xuan Peng's Spiritual Qi? Xuan Peng has the Physique of a ten-thousand-year Beast Emperor; how could his Spiritual Qi be so easily depleted? Moreover, there's the Seven Star Pagoda Array's enhancement, weakening Shen Lian's cultivation."

Bei Chen Huanyu shook his head: "I can't quite say, but I believe it's better to finish this quickly and not give Shen Lian a chance to catch his breath."

Cang Yang: "In that case, I'll join the fray as well. As long as the Beast Emperor and I don't flank him from both sides,

even if Shen Lian possesses heaven-defying abilities, he is bound to be defeated."

With that, Cang Yang conjured a Spirit Sword and also joined the battle.

As Cang Yang joined, Shen Lian's pressure suddenly increased.

"Wen Dao One Sword."

Cang Yang's sword, combined with Xuan Peng's God-Slaying Saber, instantly forced Shen Lian into a disadvantage.

But this only further ignited Shen Lian's madness.

Barely dodging the continuous saber and sword attacks, he leaped back three zhang: "What's wrong with one against two!"

With a raise of his hand, Huo Jie's Emperor-grade Dragon Phoenix Twin Swords appeared in his grasp, and he attacked with both hands.

Only the ringing clash of metal and the continuous hum of Sword Qi could be heard.

"Is that all you have?"

The next moment, a golden Dao light flashed in Shen Lang's pupils, and the Eye of the Great Dao instantly opened.

At this time, Xuan Peng and Cang Yang were completely unaware that all their weaknesses had been fully seen by Shen Lian.

Just as they were about to attack again, Shen Lian's sword stance suddenly changed.

"Dao Extreme Heavenly Might · Vast Righteous Sword."

The Dragon and Phoenix Qi intertwined, instantly erupting with a majestic Sword Intent condensed from Dao Rhyme.

As the sword light shone, it immediately forced Xuan Peng and Cang Yang back several steps.

At the same time, Sword Qi swirled, weaving into a scorching net that swept past grandly, like swift lightning obscuring the sun, leaving several sword marks on each of them.

"Hmm?"

Seeing this, Bei Chen Huanyu pondered, and as the two retreated, he decisively advanced with a raised palm.

Bang—

The residual force of Shen Lian's sword strike collided with Bei Chen Huanyu's bare palm, producing a resounding boom.

"Hmph~"

After a brief standoff, accompanied by Bei Chen Huanyu's cold snort, Shen Lian was immediately forced back several steps.

When he regained his composure, a trace of blood had appeared at the corner of his mouth.

But Shen Lian seemed completely unfazed, his burning eyes once again filled with killing intent.

"You finally can't resist making a move, can you? In that case, what's wrong with one against three?"

Bei Chen Huanyu frowned. He couldn't understand where Shen Lian's arrogant confidence came from.

He was clearly in a desperate situation, yet his Battle Intent showed no signs of diminishing.

"What are you hesitating for?"

A question interrupted Bei Chen Huanyu's contemplation.

Looking up, Shen Lian's expression was frenzied, and killing intent transformed into dense black Qi swirling within the Barrier.

"What kind of Cultivation Technique is this!"

Bei Chen Huanyu's face showed surprise.

But the next moment, he heard Cang Yang exclaim from behind him: "Not good! Quickly stop him, he's setting up an array within the Barrier, attempting to block the Seven Star Pagoda Array's Aura Pressure."

"What!"

Xuan Peng and Bei Chen Huanyu both cried out in alarm.

Setting up an array within an array to counter a Barrier was simply unheard of.

As the two lost themselves for a moment, processing this information, Cang Yang had already seized the initiative, thrusting his sword at Shen Lian.

"Old man, you do have some insight, but unfortunately, your warning came a bit late."

With a sneer, Shen Lian's pupils were already dark red.

Meeting his gaze for an instant, Cang Yang actually felt a deep, instinctive fear.

Clang—

A resounding clang echoed through the sky.

Cang Yang's thrusting sword was blocked by Shen Lian's crossed twin swords.

The next moment, Cang Yang felt his True Essence uncontrollably leaking from his body.

"How can this be? My Spiritual Qi."

"From now on, for the next fifteen minutes, this place will be my, Shen Lian's, domain."

As his voice fell, Cang Yang was immediately forced back dozens of steps.

At the same time, black mist completely covered the luster of the Seven Star Array's light.

"Uh~"

Just as the black mist obscured the three lights, Cang Yang and Xuan Peng both groaned.

Upon investigation, they discovered that their Spiritual Qi was rapidly depleting, and they even felt their Mental Energy was not as strong as before.

"What exactly is going on!"

The three immediately panicked, especially Cang Yang, who felt his legs weaken, unable to stand, and directly knelt on one knee.

Shen Lian sneered, spreading his palms, and Yin and Yang Qi furiously converged.

"There's a saying, 'reap what you sow.' Since you prepared to use such methods to kill me, how could I not give you the same response?"

"With your current cultivation Foundation, if all three of you had attacked me openly and honestly, even if I didn't die, I would have been forced to flee in defeat.

But you insisted on deploying the Seven Star Pagoda Array, unaware that this superfluous move would cost you your lives."

"If not for the majestic Dao Rhyme of this Seven Star Pagoda as nourishment, I wouldn't have been able to turn the tables and activate the Swallowing Heaven Demonic Array to counter it. How does it feel now, with 90% of your Spiritual Qi suppressed?"

Upon hearing this, the three's pupils immediately constricted in shock.

Just as they were about to speak, Shen Lian waved his hand.

"Now, I allow you to leave your last words, and then, die with regret!"