Western riverbank.
The river water rolled past, and the formation beneath his feet glowed brightly, preventing the spirit wind in the sky from crossing the riverbank. The demonic smoke moving south had no choice but to settle here, forcing a battle on the riverbank.
Li Xizhi lifted his rainbow light, dispersing the incoming spell art. He glanced downward. The surging devil cultivators were being held off by the formation. Most were blocked, but quite a few were searching for gaps, trying to slip around the edges of the formation.
The Azure Pond Sect’s formation hadn’t originally been designed to trap devil cultivators. It had been a strategic move between Purple Mansion Realm cultivators; a defensive measure rather than a complete blockade. After all, in their eyes, it was just a game of moves and countermoves between Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
But the situation had changed dramatically. The devil cultivators had surged toward them as one. The formation was no longer enough, even though it left them trapped outside. Most of the devil cultivators coveted the treasures inside and, emboldened by their numbers, hurled spell arts at the formation rather than trying to bypass it. Still, quite a few devil cultivators found other ways to slip through the gaps between formations.
These were mostly Qi Cultivation and Embryonic Breathing Realms cultivators, and Li Xizhi paid them little mind. He was fighting four at once, blocking any Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators from attempting to leap over, while still keeping an eye on the situation below.
Xushi’s light rippled in his hand as he slashed away a flying dharma artifact. Another figure landed before him, riding the wind, holding a large hammer in each hand, looking exceptionally fierce.
Now it’s no longer me blocking them. It’s these devil cultivators, greedy for the treasures and techniques I carry, who have surrounded me themselves... A thought flickered through Li Xizhi’s mind.
The Gold In Cloud transformed into a golden Heavenly Glow that leaped a few times in the air. He flicked his sleeve of Heavenly Glow, revealing his form and leaping out of the encirclement.
Though he was now fighting five opponents at once and it was growing harder, he remained calm. As a disciple of a major sect, he was not someone these devil cultivators could easily match. His Heavenly Glow was adept at maneuvering escape spells, and if the fight became truly desperate, Li Xizhi could simply ride his escape light to leave unharmed.
It was Li Ximing who, using his Radiant Pass, was holding down four devil cultivators but was already showing signs of strain. Li Xizhi, far more experienced in combat, frowned as he watched and thought, He doesn’t know any advanced escape spells, and this footwork is all part of his Immortal Foundation manifestation. If he gets injured, it won’t be a small matter... If he can’t hold out, it’ll lead to big trouble.
As this thought crossed his mind, the female cultivator practicing Wood Virtue in front of him had already drawn another dharma sword and thrust forward. But Li Xizhi also knew swordsmanship, and this woman’s sword art was truly not very skilled. He flicked his fingers and the dharma sword fell into his hand. He twisted his wrist to throw it away, and even managed to snatch away another devil cultivator’s spell art at the same time.
"You!"
The female cultivator, both angry and afraid, quickly backed up a few steps and reached for her storage pouch at her waist, only to find she had only an Embryonic Breathing Realm sword left. Her face fell in embarrassment as she muttered, "Such a devil! Only knows how to sneak around with those underhanded spell arts..."
She was still afraid of Li Xizhi and dared not raise her voice. She muttered to herself, but stopped halfway. Li Xizhi paid her no mind and took a moment to glance around.
This woman’s dharma light was actually clear and pure, so she didn’t seem like a devil cultivator. Li Xizhi looked at the other two beside her. Though there were some blemishes, they were lighter than those of ordinary Jiangnan cultivators. Only the last two radiated blood light, which was a clear sign they were up to no good.
A thought stirred in his heart, Both the north and south refer to them as devil cultivators, but it’s never that clear... As long as they’re Purple Mansion or Golden Core Realms cultivators, whether they’re devil cultivators or not, or to what degree, all depends on their own cultivation.
Though these thoughts filled his mind, the spell art in his hands was utterly merciless. He made no distinction based on the purity or impurity of their mana, striking every blow to kill. These cultivators were at most mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm, and his onslaught immediately forced them onto the defensive.
At the other end, Li Ximing’s forehead was dotted with sweat as he fully activated the Radiant Origin Pass. A dazzling stream of light burst from it, the scorching radiance within burning the air into a bright and still state. It trapped the four devil cultivators’ dharma artifacts inside and forcibly suppressed them.
While he still had to defend against incoming spell arts, he finally found a brief moment to glance at his surroundings, and his heart sank.
There are even more devil cultivators on Brother Xizhi’s side than here... and more demonic smoke is still coming! How could we possibly hold this?
Brother Xizhi and I are both pretty strong among Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, yet we’re already under heavy pressure. How could the other places fare any better?
He understood that the riverbank would inevitably be breached. But he had essentially pinned himself by suppressing these four. How could he possibly get away easily when the formation broke? He grew anxious.
Li Ximing waited a moment, then suddenly saw streaks of purple lightning light up in the east, drawing closer and closer with every moment. The jade token at his waist grew warm. Instantly overjoyed, he activated his Immortal Foundation, and the radiant light shone even more brilliantly, holding the four devil cultivators down tightly.
Boom!
After counting a few breaths, he finally saw the purple lightning tear through the sky. A woman with black hair flowing held a spear in one hand. Six silver Sixfold Profound Thunder Punishment Tokens swirled and gleamed around her. The pale green feathered robe she wore glowed softly with purple light in the air.
Rain was still falling from the sky. When the gray-black raindrops neared her, they were captured by the power of primal magnetism, transforming into small round gray beads that quietly rotated around her.
Her beautiful, misty purple eyes turned to look, and her voice was sweet, "When the sun reaches its apex, six thunders are born!"
The silvery lightning reflected in Li Ximing’s eyes, flashing as it descended from the sky. Amid the shocked expressions of the surrounding devil cultivators, Li Ximing finally let out a sigh of relief, shouting, "Aunt!"