Qiu Yin's mentality shattered.
He had expected to sweep through Fire Cloud Cave with his eight disciples, all at the peak of Qi Refining stage nine, now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
But reality had doused him with a bucket of cold water!
It was chilling, leaving him in disarray.
*Ding!*
With a clash of swords, he and Shi Hao Tian were once again separated.
He panted, looking at his opponent, his right hand's tiger's mouth numb.
The sword in his hand trembled.
His eyes were cold: "No wonder you dared to oppose Senior Nanyang and Senior Li Yuan. So you all have reached the Foundation Establishment realm!"
"But if I'm not mistaken, you are all only at the first level of Foundation Establishment, right?"
"Though I don't know why you've reached Foundation Establishment."
"But the strength of Senior Nanyang and Senior Li Yuan is not something you can contend with."
"Either one of them could crush you!"
"So, I advise you to be sensible."
"Don't struggle pointlessly!"
"If you do, I will surely put in a good word for you with the two seniors."
"I guarantee you'll be greatly valued."
Nangong He's gaze was cold: "We cultivators fear neither heaven nor earth, we act against the natural order, only to pursue the great Dao in our hearts, why should we be others' lackeys?"
Qiu Yin retorted: "When one ascends, his chickens and dogs ascend with him. Isn't that better than arduous cultivation?"
Nangong He sighed: "But, we are human!"
Qiu Yin roared: "Since you are determined to die, I shall fulfill your wish!"
Shi Hao Tian: "You surnamed Qiu, Fire Cloud Cave is not a place for you to run rampant. You're not even my match, why the grand pronouncements? What are you pretending for?"
"Do you really think I have no trump cards?" Crimson light flickered in Qiu Yin's eyes. He took out a red pill and swallowed it directly.
Instantly.
His cultivation actually rose to the early stage of Foundation Establishment second level.
A whole major realm was forcefully increased.
A terrifying aura erupted like a mountain torrent, making it hard for disciples below Foundation Establishment to breathe.
Even Nangong He and the others' expressions became much more serious.
"Qi Refining stage two... not too strong." Nangong He produced a long sword and said, "Let's combine our efforts and seize this opportunity to hone the Qiankun Sword Formation!"
"Yes!"
The other seven Foundation Establishment experts simultaneously drew their swords, surrounding Qiu Yin.
In the cultivation world, there are internal cultivation techniques, martial arts, divine abilities, sword arts, formations, and in addition, sword formations.
Sword formations are group attack methods.
Group attacks might seem unsavory, but with an exquisite sword formation, they can possess the power to defeat opponents of a higher level.
Although everyone knew Fire Cloud Cave possessed the Qiankun Sword Formation, they had never had the chance to practice it before.
"You actually take me as a whetstone?"
Qiu Yin roared. He had thought Nangong He meant to join forces against him.
But he never expected him to say that the eight of them would combine forces to hone the Qiankun Sword Formation...
Are you polite?
Instantly.
The eight figures took their positions in the eight trigrams.
Each of them stared intently at Qiu Yin.
"Die!"
Qiu Yin struck Nangong He with his sword.
But before he could get close.
From his left, right, and behind, powerful killing intents surged!
"Damn it!"
Qiu Yin was enraged. At a disadvantage, he hastily unleashed a sword strike, blocking the attack from behind.
*Swish swish swish!*
The sound of wind breaking was constant.
Initially, Nangong He and the others were somewhat flustered, lacking coordination.
But as time went on, the eight seemed to become one.
Some attacked!
Some defended!
Even facing an enemy a major realm stronger than them, they grew fiercer with every battle!
As for Qiu Yin, he was covered in sword wounds, bleeding profusely, looking exceptionally miserable!
"Die!"
Nangong He's sword slashed across his neck, splashing a mist of blood.
A bitter look flashed in Qiu Yin's eyes. He seemed to have not expected that after taking the Blood Burst Pill and reaching Qi Refining stage two, he would die so miserably!
He was actually worn down and killed by a group of ants.
He looked north and muttered, "Even if I die today, Senior Nanyang and Senior Li Yuan will avenge me... You'll never know who you've offended."
*Bang!*
He fell to the ground, dead, his eyes wide open.
"Master, I feel that even facing a mid-stage Foundation Establishment expert, we'd have a fight in us!" Shi Hao Tian, his face covered in blood, could barely conceal his excitement.
Though his face was bloody, it was Qiu Yin's blood.
"The power of the Qiankun Sword Formation is truly terrifying. Fighting Qiu Yin just now, I felt very relaxed," the Grand Elder also laughed.
Nangong He said, "We cannot have such arrogant thoughts. Although we just killed Qiu Yin, he was ultimately at the early stage of Foundation Establishment second level, belonging to the early stage of Foundation Establishment."
"And Senior Nanyang and Senior Li Yuan are mid-stage Foundation Establishment experts. As for their specific levels... who knows if they are at level four or level six of Foundation Establishment?"
"Even with the Qiankun Sword Formation, if we face an expert above level four of Foundation Establishment, we definitely won't be able to unleash its full power!"
Hearing this.
Everyone felt immense pressure.
Pressure from mid-stage Foundation Establishment experts.
Nangong He changed the subject: "Never mind, let's see if there are any treasures in Qiu Yin's storage bag!"
Upon hearing this.
Everyone's spirits were lifted.
"So poor..."
"There's nothing!"
After checking, their previous enthusiasm turned into dejection.
They found it hard to believe that the sect leader of a sect with over a hundred disciples would have nothing in his storage bag...
"If nothing unexpected happens, those two mid-stage Foundation Establishment experts will soon know we've killed Qiu Yin and the others, and they'll surely come to our Fire Cloud Cave."
"The urgent task is to practice the Qiankun Sword Formation. We must cooperate well. If the Qiankun Sword Formation is executed skillfully, operating the Seven Stars Dragon Slaying Formation won't be too difficult either."
"Strive for everyone to survive this catastrophe!"
Saying this.
He looked up.
Gazing at the sky, he saw white snowflakes falling.
A red figure stood on Phoenix Cry Stone, gazing eastward, looking desolate and beautiful!
She never turned her head from beginning to end.
Even though fierce battles and casualties had occurred behind her.
But her gaze remained fixed eastward, fearing that the figure she longed for wouldn't appear in her sight immediately!
------
"Mr. Chen, should we go down?"
Above Azure Dragon Mountain, Jiang Jiancheng asked Chen Nan loudly.
Chen Nan said, "Forget it, let's go back!"
His original purpose for coming here was to investigate the whereabouts of his master, Wu Shan, but now it seemed utterly unnecessary.
It wasn't that he didn't want to investigate!
But he couldn't.
Though he didn't know if his master was alive or dead.
One thing was clear: anyone who dared to bury themselves in the center of a Yin-Yang Feng Shui formation was a formidable individual!
And his cultivation was too low.
If he continued to investigate, he wouldn't just burn himself, but might even implicate his master.
After all, this was a man who had walked out of hell!
He was the key to the destruction of the eighteenth smaller world!