This was the strongest combat state Li Xuanxiao had ever achieved!
Long Hui's eyes widened; he felt like he was meeting Li Xuanxiao for the very first time.
Instantly casting six Martial Arts and Buddhist Dharma techniques...
Was this truly something a human could accomplish?!
Even more shocked than Long Hui were the eight surrounding Demon Race members.
"This... How is this possible!!!"
"Dual Cultivation of Martial Arts and Buddhist Dharma, and both are of the top-tier grade..."
"Don't you all remember! He is only at the Heaven Realm Seventh Layer!"
"No wonder he dared to wait for us here; with such strength, he naturally has plenty of confidence!"
They looked at Li Xuanxiao with expressions as if they had seen a ghost. They felt that everything associated with this young man defied common sense. They had initially thought that since the opponent was merely at the Heaven Realm Seventh Layer, five Heaven Realm Eighth Layer Demon Race members attacking together should secure an easy victory.
Yet, after a round of fighting, it turned out to be an even match. They initially believed he was an enlightened High Monk of the Buddhist school, possessing mystic Buddhist Dharma. But it turned out this young man's Martial Arts were equally exquisite; he was actually practicing Dual Cultivation of Buddhism and Martial Arts!
They thought simultaneously releasing four Martial Arts techniques was already monstrous and Heaven-Defying enough. Yet now, he was unleashing six techniques simultaneously!
There was too much disbelief, too much that exceeded common sense. In the end, all of that transformed into an inescapable killing intent to slay Li Xuanxiao. A monstrous existence like this must surely be a top-tier Genius within the Ancient Martial Mystic Court of the Upper Kingdom, even among the most powerful factions.
He must be highly valued by the Ancient Martial Mystic Court, and perhaps even the entire Upper Kingdom. If they failed to eliminate him completely and destroy all evidence this time, what awaited them would be the wrath of the Ancient Martial Mystic Court, or even the fury of the entire Upper Kingdom!
With this realization, the numerous Demon Race members exerted every ounce of strength they possessed.
Li Xuanxiao gritted his teeth. He had to admit that no matter how strong he was, fighting against eight opponents simultaneously was an extremely difficult task. The halo barrier supported by the Boundless Zen Charm was shattered almost as soon as it formed!
If it weren't for his Mental Energy reserves being far more abundant than ordinary people, and his rapid mobilization speed allowing for continuous, seamless replenishment, he and Long Hui would have been in grave danger long ago.
However, running three Martial Arts techniques and three Buddhist Dharma techniques—six techniques operating at maximum power simultaneously—brought about a formidable strength that was no joke.
The eight Demon Race members were already beginning to suffer casualties and injuries.
If a Heaven Realm Eighth Layer Demon Race member was careless enough to be drawn close by Li Xuanxiao, they would need to face four offensive Martial Arts and Buddhist Dharma techniques at once!
Caught off guard, it wouldn't be surprising if they were instantly killed, let alone merely injured. And indeed, that is what happened. One unfortunate member was caught within the confluence of the four Martial Arts and Buddhist Dharma techniques and perished on the spot, falling from the sky to the ground.
Four other Demon Race members also sustained injuries of varying degrees. Aside from the two Heaven Realm Ninth Layer beings and Yu Chou, who was at the Peak Realm, almost all of them were wounded and could not retreat unscathed.
The more the Demon Race members fought, the more alarmed they became. Was this the strength of a top-tier Heaven Realm Martial Artist among humans?
If this person were allowed to grow, he would inevitably become another top figure capable of stirring up storms!
If they had a choice, they truly did not want to face someone like this...
The few Demon Race members gritted their teeth, maintaining their output while simultaneously guarding against Li Xuanxiao's advances.
...
Wu Jiangming hid stealthily beneath the battlefield, engaged in some unknown activity. He was seen taking out one small Formation Flag after another from his Storage Ring. He looked up at the location where Li Xuanxiao and the others were fighting, then urged his True Essence and inserted the flags into different positions. After bidding farewell to Li Xuanxiao and Long Hui, he had not left; instead, he descended to the ground and began this task.
By now, he had already planted nearly a hundred Formation Flags in various locations. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Wu Jiangming looked up at the sky once more. After a quick mental calculation, he immediately closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the ground. He activated his entire body's True Essence, and the eight trigrams plate floated into the air!
The runes on the plate lit up sequentially, and as True Essence was poured in, the surrounding Formation Flags activated one after another. The Formation Flags flickered with mystic runes, emitting a faint light that echoed the eight trigrams plate. Once everything was ready, Wu Jiangming slowly opened his eyes. His chubby face held an unprecedented seriousness.
"Nine Palaces aligned, Mystic Spirit revered, Flags guide the spiritual light, Formation locks the universe!"
"Nine Palaces Mystic Spirit Formation! Manifest!"
As Wu Jiangming gave the command, the Nine Palaces Mystic Spirit Formation fully activated. The lights between the Formation Flags connected, shooting straight toward the heavens!
A massive net of light formed, encompassing Li Xuanxiao, Long Hui, and the eight Demon Race members. True Essence surged within the Formation, creating countless tiny True Essence vortices!
This sudden change immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Li Xuanxiao and Long Hui looked down and showed looks of surprise. They had assumed that this fellow Wu Jiangming had already hidden far away. They never expected him to conceal his aura and set up a Formation on the ground within their fighting range!
"Brother Li, Lord Long Hui! I have trapped these eight Demon Race members! Their True Essence mobilization is damaged, and they cannot leave the Formation's area. Please seize the opportunity! This Formation has surpassed my current Realm. I can maintain it for at most one minute. Whether to fight or flee is up to you to decide!"
Hearing this, Li Xuanxiao was overjoyed. He never expected Wu Jiangming to give him such a massive surprise!
Flee? That was out of the question! They definitely had to fight!
He immediately suppressed his momentum toward one of the Demon Race members!
That Demon Race member rushed left and right within the Formation but could never break through the True Essence barrier formed by the flags. Its expression was one of shock and panic; it felt confused and wary of the surrounding net of light.
Seeing Li Xuanxiao chasing him, it prepared to use a Demonic Technique to escape, just as it had countless times before. However, it discovered that its True Essence mobilization had slowed significantly, and even if it managed to cast a technique, the speed was less than half of normal!
In the blink of an eye, Li Xuanxiao caught up and slew it!
[Successfully slain Heaven Realm Eighth Layer Eagle Demon, gained 800,000 Demon value Points!]
Li Xuanxiao ignored the light screen that popped up from the System and immediately pursued the next target. Wu Jiangming said he could only maintain it for one minute; every second now was precious!
In the next instant, he arrived before a Heaven Realm Ninth Layer Demon Race member. Due to its higher Realm, this demon showed slightly better resistance, but only slightly. Both its movement speed and counterattack strength were clearly weakened. It was completely unable to resist the fully powered, Peak-firepower Li Xuanxiao.
[Successfully slain Heaven Realm Ninth Layer Wolf Demon, gained 900,000 Demon value Points!]
In the span of a breath, two more Demon Race members were slain!
Li Xuanxiao did not pause, moving on to the next one!
[Successfully slain Heaven Realm Eighth Layer Dragonfly Demon, gained 800,000 Demon value Points!]
...
On the ground, Wu Jiangming's entire body was drenched in sweat. This Nine Palaces Mystic Spirit Formation was a top-tier Formation of the Heaven Realm grade. If he hadn't possessed extraordinary talent in Formations, it would have been impossible for him to learn it. But even having learned it, executing it across a Realm boundary was incredibly difficult!
The consumption of his Mental Energy and True Essence was terrifying. To be able to maintain it for one minute was already the absolute limit he could achieve by exhausting all his strength. As time passed, Wu Jiangming's consciousness grew increasingly blurred, and blood streamed from his nose, dripping onto his daoist robe.
He was completely unaware: "Brother Li... I can only help you this far..."
Muttering vaguely as his consciousness faded, Wu Jiangming finally could not hold on and slumped sideways onto the ground. And as he fell unconscious, the Formation could no longer be sustained. The net of light rapidly dimmed until it vanished completely. The numerous Formation Flags on the ground promptly burst into flames, turning into ashes...