The Iron Mask Executive's palm carrying certain-kill intent, demonic energy, like dark clouds covering the sky, instantly covered all Xiao Qi's retreat. Before the palm wind arrived, that cold killing intent and terrifying pressure had the surrounding air solidify. Xiao Qi felt his bones, breathing completely stalled,.
A Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator's angry full-power strike, absolutely not something a Qi Refining disciple could withstand! Even with his frying pan, even with purification origin, before absolute power difference, also like.
"Xiao Qi!"
"Stop!"
Liu Yun and Mu Qingfeng's startled cries sounded simultaneously,. They were slightly farther away, and had just been repelled by the collision—wanting to rescue was!
At the, Xiao Qi's pupils contracted. Survival instinct and reactions tempered by countless actual battles let him make the most correct choice—he didn't try to withstand head-on, nor uselessly dodge. Instead, he that faint golden purification force within his body at unprecedented speed,, crossing to guard over his head. Simultaneously, he the black iron frying pan in front!
He chose defense— defense, betting on this mysterious pot's sturdiness, betting on purification power's natural counter to demonic energy!
"Dang—!!!!"
Earth-shaking metallic collision sound echoed through the entire cavern, even drowning out previous energy explosion sounds. The Iron Mask Executive's palm violently struck the frying pan's bottom!
An indescribable tremendous force, Xiao Qi's arms ached intensely,, throat sweet, blood uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth. His entire person, both feet leaving the ground, flying backward, violently on the cavern's hard stone wall,, then.
However, he blocked it!
That seemingly clumsy black iron frying pan, under such terrifying heavy strike, actually only, didn't shatter! More importantly, the moment palm met pot bottom, Xiao Qi's fully activated purification force collided most violently with the Iron Mask Executive's demonic energy!
"Sss-sss—!"
Like hot branding iron immersed in ice water, pitch-black demonic energy and faint golden light intertwined, annihilated, producing sounds. The Iron Mask Executive felt a searing pain in his palm—this wasn't physical damage, but from his demonic energy source being purified and! Fully three-tenths of his striking force was, by this uncanny purification power!
This unexpected obstruction made the Iron Mask Executive's certain-kill palm's power greatly reduced, and caused his figure, eyes showing impossible-to-believe.
This was the!
"Frost... Slash!"
A cold-to-extremity,. Already, sword intent and cold aura pushed to peak, Liu Yun seized this fleeting opportunity! She person and sword united,, speed surpassing visual capture!
This sword had no flourishes, only extreme speed and extreme cold! Where the sword edge passed, space, leaving a clear ice crystal trail.
The Iron Mask Executive just recovered from purification force's disruption. That lethal icy blue extreme light was already before him! His pupils contracted sharply, fully activating demonic energy to condense Ghost Face Demonic Shield. But hastily, how could it compare to Liu Yun's?
"Pu-ci!"
The dull sound of blade cutting flesh, in the silent cavern.
The icy blue sword tip, penetrating from the Iron Mask Executive's back heart, bringing out a trail of dark red blood instantly frozen. His churning demonic energy,. Those cold, cruel eyes, Xiao Qi struggling to get up, then, filled with, , and....
"You..." He opened his mouth,, but cold aura had, iron mask,.
Liu Yun wrist flicked; sword.
"Crack... whoosh..."
Ice sculpture shattered,, together,.
Shadow Snake Pavilion Iron Mask Executive, Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator, dead!
Only then did Mu Qingfeng arrive by Xiao Qi's side, hastily helping him up. He spiritual power,. "Xiao Qi, how is it?"
Xiao Qi violently coughed, spat out another mouthful of, face pale as paper, both arms,. But looking at that pile of ice residue, his eyes filled with and. "Not... not dead yet, Big Brother, I can survive."
Liu Yun stood sword-in-hand. Her chest, face also somewhat pale. That "Frost Slash" had spiritual power and mind, but her eyes still. She walked to Xiao Qi's front, looking at his battered appearance and that frying pan that saved his life. Her cold gaze, finally only said: "Well done. Without your disruption, we couldn't have killed him."
This from Liu Yun, since Xiao Qi knew her,. He endured pain,,,.
Mu Qingfeng carefully examined Xiao Qi's injuries, relieved: "Both arms bone-fractured, internal organs shaken, spiritual power depleted—but didn't. With good rest and recuperation, no major problem." He looked at Liu Yun: "This truly was. Didn't expect an Iron Mask Executive here. If not for Xiao Qi's purification power demonic energy, disrupting his mind, the three of us today."
Liu Yun nodded, gaze sweeping toward the cavern's depths: "This place cannot stay. Quickly search once, immediately evacuate. An Iron Mask Executive stationed here—this base is definitely not simple."
The three dared not neglect. Mu Qingfeng protected Xiao Qi; Liu Yun strengthened her spirit, swiftly searching the cavern's depths. Indeed, at the end of the passage where the Iron Mask Executive had appeared, they discovered a more hidden stone chamber. Inside, besides some cultivation supplies and spirit stones, most importantly were a jade slip similar to the one found before, and a map drawn on some unknown beast skin, marking several locations and complex routes.
Liu Yun took the jade slip and map, expression grave: "Looks like we found something even more important."
A moment later, the three, with captives and found items, swiftly left this cavern full of blood and death. On the return road to Kaoshan Village, the setting sun's glow, bringing warmth. Xiao Qi, leaning on Mu Qingfeng's support, turned back to look at that cave hiding evil and battle. His heart was turbulent.
This battle, he truly experienced high-level cultivators' terror, and understood more the significance of the power he bears. Joining forces to defeat the enemy, sharing life and death—this road of eliminating demons, he will walk even more firmly.