"Don't panic!! Give me some time, and I will break this Metal-Predominant Killing Formation! Watch upper right!"
The short-bearded cultivator wore a grave expression. Instead of engaging directly in combat, his eyes darted around, intensely observing his surroundings as he shouted warnings to his companions. It was clear he, too, was a Third-Grade Formation Master, and his attainments likely rivaled Zhao Qian's. His words implied absolute confidence in dismantling this formidable formation swiftly.
Bolstered by his assurance, the four Golden Core cultivators beside him visibly steadied. The panic in their eyes receded, replaced by fierce killing intent. They coordinated seamlessly: two focused entirely on deflecting the relentless golden blades materializing around them, while the other two countered the attacks from Lu Su and Duan Chenglian.
As for Huang Yisong, the killing formation seemed little more than a minor nuisance; the blades posed no substantial threat to him, merely requiring some attention. His primary focus remained solely on Lu Danxin. His flying sword lashed out with ferocious intensity, clearly aiming for a swift resolution before his Golden Core subordinates could be overwhelmed.
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!..."
Deafening clashes and explosions filled the cavern in an instant. A chaotic tapestry of multicolored lights flashed and intertwined, creating a dizzying spectacle.
Lin Feng stood beside Zhao Qian, not immediately joining the fray. He watched the killing formation, marveling inwardly as Zhao Qian controlled it to continuously manifest deadly blades targeting their enemies. So this is the power of a Third-Grade Killing Formation! Truly astonishing! Each golden blade strike possessed force comparable to a Golden Core cultivator's spell attack. If focused on a single target, it could obliterate a Golden Core cultivator in moments.
He held back, waiting for the perfect moment—the optimal strike. It was evident their enemies completely disregarded him. Even his own allies likely underestimated him, given his recent advancement to the first layer of Golden Core. This underestimation was his advantage, allowing his eventual intervention to achieve maximum surprise.
The battle had just begun. The Metal-Predominant Killing Formation significantly narrowed the gap between the unevenly matched sides. While the exchanges appeared fierce, neither side had yet unleashed their full capabilities. Lu Danxin and Huang Yisong, the pinnacles of power on each side, had each only employed a single flying sword and one defensive treasure. Nascent Soul cultivators possessed far broader arsenals; this was merely the probing phase, both seeking the perfect opening for decisive moves.
Within moments, countless exchanges had transpired. The sheer force unleashed by the two Nascent Soul combatants was immense; even the residual energies were dangerous. This forced Lu Su and the others to reposition. Essentially, the two Nascent Souls dominated the cavern's right side, while the left became the arena for the Golden Core cultivators.
"WHOOSH... BOOM!!" A thunderous explosion ripped through the air as Lu Su hurled a mid-grade Third-Grade Wind Explosion Talisman. However, one of Yunhuang Sect's Golden Core ninth-layer cultivators intercepted it, blocking the blast with a large, tortoise-shell-shaped defensive treasure the size of a round table.
"Now!!" Though Lu Su's attack failed, it created the opening Lin Feng sought. His eyes narrowed sharply. Internal Yuan Power surged violently as he pointed forward!
"CLANG!!" A clear, razor-sharp sword cry pierced the din. A flash of crimson-purple light erupted, piercing across the dozens of meters distance like lightning, aimed directly at the short-bearded Formation Master!
"Look out!" The emergence of the Chihun Flying Sword instantly drew the attention of nearly every combatant. The Yunhuang Sect Golden Core cultivators paled simultaneously. The Golden Core eighth-layer cultivator reacted fastest, yelling a warning as he desperately flung out his own flying sword to intercept the crimson-purple streak.
"CLANG!!" To his utter horror, upon impact, his flying sword was violently knocked aside! The crimson-purple sword, its momentum barely diminished, flashed relentlessly towards its target!
"Ah!!" The short-bearded cultivator had been wholly absorbed in deciphering the fluctuating formations around him, trusting implicitly in his guarding companions. He was completely unprepared for this sudden, lethal strike. His face drained of color as he screamed. A shimmering golden barrier flared to life before him—his mid-grade spiritual artifact defensive shield activated at the very last possible instant.
Yet, before even a flicker of relief could cross his mind, he heard a soft "SCHLICK!" Simultaneously, he stared in utter disbelief as the mid-grade spiritual artifact barrier before him was pierced effortlessly, as easily as puncturing paper. A flash of crimson-silver light filled his vision, followed instantly by a cold sensation at his neck. Consciousness fled him forever...
"NO!!" The Golden Core eighth-layer cultivator who had failed to intercept the sword turned deathly pale, letting out a terrified shriek. He reflexively reached out to grab his comrade, but grasped only a headless corpse. The others nearby were equally frozen in horrified disbelief, momentarily stunned.
Even Lu Su and his allies were momentarily stunned by the sudden, brutal turn of events. But Lin Feng showed no hesitation. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. His right hand, fingers formed like a sword, slashed downward. The Chihun Flying Sword, having just slain the Formation Master, pivoted sharply and swept towards the nearest Yunhuang Sect cultivator!
The target, a Golden Core fifth-layer middle-aged man, felt terror seize his heart. He screamed in panic, instinctively raising his right arm defensively. A lower-grade spiritual artifact vambrace covered his forearm—his flimsy shield against the oncoming doom.
In the next instant, he felt his arm go strangely light. Simultaneously, cold steel kissed his throat. The world spun violently before his eyes. His final conscious thought was the sight of a headless body, its arm grotesquely severed, collapsing before him...
"WHOOSH…" The Chihun Flying Sword traced a bloody arc through the air, returning to Lin Feng's side in a heartbeat. Lin Feng allowed himself a small, grim sigh of relief.
Two kills, in the blink of an eye! And one of them was the enemy Formation Master!
The entire sequence, from Lin Feng's first motion to the sword's return, spanned mere seconds. Yet, the Chihun Flying Sword's lethal pass reverberated through the cavern, shaking the minds of everyone present. Even Lu Su and his allies stared at Lin Feng, their eyes wide with incredulity, struggling to process the horrific efficiency they had just witnessed.
"A top-grade spiritual artifact!! Impossible!!"
A voice, cracking with shock, suddenly rang out. It was Huang Yisong. The attack had been too sudden; his attention had been fully occupied with Lu Danxin. By the time he registered the disturbance, the crimson sword had already claimed two lives. Overwhelming shock and disbelief warred within him. When he clearly saw the sword—a weapon surpassing even his own flying sword in grade—his disbelief crystallized into stunned recognition, forcing the exclamation from his lips.
"AAARGH!! YOU DIE NOW!!" Despite the shock, his Nascent Soul instincts took over swiftly. Fury erupted into a near-frenzied roar. Huang Yisong's face contorted with rage as he pointed viciously towards Lin Feng. His orange flying sword shot forward like a furious bolt of lightning, aimed to obliterate the unexpected threat.
"Hmph!" Lu Danxin intercepted Huang Yisong's furious strike with his own sword just in time, their intense duel reigniting instantly.
On the other side, Lu Su and the others snapped out of their stunned state. Their eyes blazed with fierce jubilation. Confidence surged through them, fueling a renewed barrage of fierce attacks. In stark contrast, the Yunhuang Sect cultivators were thrown into utter disarray. The tide of battle had turned dramatically; Lu Su's group now held an overwhelming advantage.
Once Lin Feng rejoined the battle, wielding the Chihun Flying Sword once more, the remaining Yunhuang Sect Golden Core cultivators were paralyzed by despair. They dared not face the crimson blade head-on. Dodging desperately, their defenses crumbled, creating fatal openings. Within mere minutes, another mid-stage Golden Core cultivator fell victim to the Chihun Flying Sword. The demise of the remaining two became an inevitable certainty.
No one could have foreseen it. Lin Feng, previously the most overlooked presence, had become the pivotal factor deciding the outcome of this desperate struggle. The underestimated pawn had delivered the killing blows.