42: The sun exploded in flames, and a true immortal appeared!

"How did they find this place?!"

Vice Sect Master's expression was terrifyingly dark, his gaze sweeping over everyone from the Xuanming Sect with ill intent. "Could there be... a traitor?"

"Whether it is a spy or a traitor, now is not the time to investigate," Sect Master said coldly and indifferently.

"Xinghe has already set up the anchor array, and the other Disciples are nearly finished. As long as we break through the encirclement, we will have a chance to turn the tables."

"Well said! It was not in vain that I put so much effort into nurturing you all!"

Zhao Jiuyin laughed heartily as his figure flew out from beneath the mountain gate, quickly merging with his Dharma Idol to transform into a thirty-meter-tall giant.

Together with Sect Master and Vice Sect Master, he charged straight toward one of the Soul Transformation phantoms that appeared to be the weakest.

As for the members of the Xuanming Sect below the Soul Transformation Stage, they could no longer afford to care about them.

Facing the siege of ten Spirit Transformation Cultivators, even if only one was a Peak Spirit Transformation Cultivator, the chances of survival were still infinitesimal.

They could barely protect themselves; the lives of the other Disciples were not even within the three's consideration.

"Everyone, move out!"

As the person in charge of this operation, Qiu Hongyun roared and took the lead, lunging forward without hesitation.

A distance of a hundred miles was but the blink of an eye for a Spirit Transformation Cultivator.

In an instant, magical power surged above the Xuanming Sect, and the ground began to crack inch by inch.

Zhao Jiuyin and the other two had originally thought that the Spirit Transformation Cultivator from the Hundred Refining Gate, dressed in leather armor, was the weakest.

To their surprise, the opponent tanked their magical attacks and threw a punch shadow that blotted out the sun.

The power of a single punch actually managed to block all three of them.

"Trying to use me as a Breakthrough point? How laughable!"

The Netherworld Ghost Hand, Soul-Devouring Skull, and Soul-Shocking Spike they unleashed were all blocked by a pitch-black bell.

"A Soul-Suppressing Spiritual Artifact?!"

Seeing this, Zhao Jiuyin blurted out in shock.

A Spiritual Artifact was an existence that surpassed Magic Treasures.

Not a single one could be found in the entire Xuanming Sect.

At any other time, he would have surely been consumed by greed and done everything in his power to kill the man and take it.

But now, the Breakthrough point they had carefully selected turned out to be an incredibly thick iron plate?!

As the only three Spirit Transformation Cultivators in the Xuanming Sect, they all practiced the Profound Nether Soul Refining Treasure Canon.

Their most powerful techniques were Divine Soul attacks.

However, an Early Stage Spirit Transformation Cultivator who was also a Body Cultivator, equipped with a Soul-Suppressing Spiritual Artifact, was a truly tough nut to crack.

For them, he was a hard bone they simply could not bite through.

What drove the three to despair most was that, being hindered like this, the other Spirit Transformation Cultivators had already closed in.

"Haha, Old Ghost Jiuyin, there is no escape for you this time!"

Qiu Hongyun spread his hand, and a massive hand of black mist, wailing with ghosts and howling like wolves, pressed down ruthlessly toward Zhao Jiuyin.

Meanwhile, the other five young Spirit Transformation Cultivators unleashed their signature Spells.

Some sent Flying Swords through the air, some burned the sky with raging flames, some brought down frost from the heavens, and some played ethereal zither music... they launched a merciless slaughter against Sect Master and Vice Sect Master.

As for the remaining four, three held the line, ready to support or block at any moment.

The last one, a female Spirit Transformation Cultivator in fluttering colorful robes, watched over the juniors who were currently battling the Nascent Soul and Core Formation Disciples of the Xuanming Sect.

This suppression operation was, for one, to eliminate the cancer that had been plundering Spirit Seeds.

Secondly, it was to give these juniors, including the young Spirit Transformation Cultivators, more opportunities for experience.

Even before the Disciples of both sides had clashed, the Xuanming Sect was already starting to collapse and flee.

A combination of over a hundred Core Formation and a dozen Nascent Soul Disciples had absolutely no chance of victory against dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators.

Fortunately, that female Spirit Transformation Cultivator did not intervene, giving the Xuanming Sect Disciples a slim chance of survival.

Even so, a dozen Core Formation Disciples who were too slow in their flight were instantly annihilated by the overwhelming barrage of Spells.

"Protect the array and find the coordinates!"

A Peak Nascent Soul Disciple of the Cangyun Sect shouted, leading a dozen allies skilled in formations as they flashed toward the main Peak's square.

In the sky, Sect Master caught sight of those people flying toward the array, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

A Netherworld Ghost Hand struck out violently toward the main Peak.

If he could not have it, he would rather destroy it than let anyone else get it!

However, how could the three Spirit Transformation Cultivators who had been holding the line possibly give him the chance?

One of them stepped through the Void Realm, transforming into a sword shadow and instantly appearing above the main Peak.

A great sun rose into the sky, instantly incinerating the Netherworld Ghost Hand.

Under this protection, the many Nascent Soul Stage Disciples were able to land safely on the square.

They all extended their Divine Sense to investigate the array that had not yet been fully dismantled.

Seeing that escape was hopeless and the Foundation of the Secret Realm was about to be seized, Zhao Jiuyin went mad.

His Lifespan was running out, and he had originally hoped to find Spirit Medicine in the Secret Realm that could help him break through or extend his life.

But now, everything had vanished like bubbles.

"Qiu Hongyun!"

"You have pushed me this far, then let us perish together!"

Hit by another of Qiu Hongyun's Spells, even his defensive Magic Treasure shattered. Zhao Jiuyin let out a furious roar and performed a hand seal, pointing toward the Pale Flaming Sun atop the dome.

Wisps of red light gathered from all directions, merging into the Pale Flaming Sun.

In an instant, the Pale Flaming Sun turned crimson.

A destructive aura began to spread out in all directions.

"Zhao Jiuyin, how dare you?!"

Qiu Hongyun swept his Divine Sense across and immediately understood what Zhao Jiuyin intended to do.

But it was too late to stop him.

"Boom!"

The crimson flaming sun exploded violently.

Boundless fire-elemental power shattered the entire dome for dozens of miles around.

Countless lava, boulders, and clumps of earth rained down from the sky.

The Xuanming Sect was instantly like a scene of doomsday, facing imminent destruction.

Qiu Hongyun roared and manifested his Spirit Transformation Dharma Idol, resembling a sky-propping giant, using his vast magical power to hold up the falling dome.

The other nine Spirit Transformation Cultivators also could not care less about stopping Zhao Jiuyin and the other two from escaping; they all manifested their Dharma Idols to help Qiu Hongyun prop up the ceiling.

If it were just a simple collapse of the dome, they would not have needed to go to such great lengths.

They could have just cut off the main Peak and taken the other Disciples away.

The problem was that this Underground World chosen by the Xuanming Sect had several large cities above it.

Once the dome collapsed, the crust above would experience a violent earthquake.

Countless Mortals in the cities above would surely perish!

Such a result was unacceptable even for the Mingye Sect, which had a more eccentric style of conduct.

But no one expected that Zhao Jiuyin would actually dare to commit such an atrocious act.

The faces of the ten Spirit Transformation Cultivators were all terrifyingly dark.

Because they felt that their magical power probably would not be enough to stop this disaster.

"Sigh, how troublesome. In the end, I still have to do it myself..."

A lazy voice echoed around, and a wave of incredibly vast magical power swept through.

The already collapsed dome miraculously began to knit back together rapidly.

After a dozen breaths, the dome had completely solidified, looking even sturdier than before.

"A True Immortal?!"

"An Earth-elemental Immortal Art!"

Qiu Hongyun and several young Spirit Transformation Cultivators cried out in shock.

Above Body Integration—the True Immortal Realm!

That was a level of strength only the Grand Elders of their Sects possessed.

Only two Spirit Transformation Cultivators dressed in cloud-patterned robes bowed toward the air in unison. "Thank you for your intervention, Junior Martial Uncle!"

"Qiu Hongyun, you have been a bit derelict in your duties as the person in charge."

A figure flashed beside Qiu Hongyun and lightly patted his shoulder, teasingly.

"So it is Junior Martial Uncle Ye. This time, I was reckless. I will certainly plead for forgiveness from the elders afterward!"

Qiu Hongyun looked bitter as he cupped his hands in a respectful bow.