“Form the array!”

At Lei Yingjie’s command, the Grand Formation roared to life.

BOOM—!

Thirty pillars of spiritual light erupted into the heavens. Each column was as thick as an ancient tree, its surface etched with writhing, intricate thunder patterns. In the void above, they wove together, forming a colossal net of lightning that spanned a thousand zhang.

The runes on the formation diagram ignited in sequence. First, the eighteen [Earth Fiend] runes at the base flared to life. Then, the two [Heavenly Gang] runes at the core lit up. Finally, the nine [Purple Heaven Divine Thunder] runes at the apex blazed like falling stars.

The earth groaned and trembled. The array patterns etched into the ground writhed like living creatures, voraciously draining all Spiritual Qi within a ten-mile radius. The energy condensed into rolling mist that flooded the formation, pulsating as if a slumbering giant beast were awakening.

The Grand Formation was divided into a strict three-tiered hierarchy:

At the base, eighteen Golden Core cultivators anchored the foundation. Phantom images of mythical thunder beasts manifested beneath their feet, their spiritual power linking together to suppress and contain the target.

In the middle layer, Lei Yingjie and two others held the array flags, acting as the central hub and brain of the formation.

At the apex—the core of the offensive power—stood Shen Xing and the other eight prodigies. Their role was pure destruction.

High above, thunderclouds churned. Purple lightning cracked and hissed, weaving a ceiling of pure electricity. Every bolt that struck down was caught by an invisible barrier three zhang above the array, transforming into fine, slithering snakes of lightning that coursed through the formation’s veins.

Thirty Golden Core True Masters cycled their spiritual power in unison. Their Daoist robes fluttered without wind, and tiny arcs of static electricity danced through their hair.

From high above, the scene was breathtaking. The Grand Formation resembled a blooming Thunder Lotus, each petal sculpted from pure, destructive lightning.

The purifying aura was so intense that the surrounding baleful energy was obliterated. The black mist clinging to the ruins sizzled and vanished like snow meeting the blazing sun.

The spectators watching from the perimeter felt their minds tremble in awe. They retreated mile after mile, only stopping when the suffocating Pressure finally eased.

Meanwhile, sect disciples like Bai Qingyao formed defensive circles, their Magical Artifacts drawn. They scanned the rogue cultivators with hawk-like vigilance, ready to cut down anyone foolish enough to interfere.

As the array stabilized, the atmospheric lightning suddenly coalesced. All the stray arcs of electricity converged toward the center, forming a pillar of thunder ten zhang wide. It poured into the celestial position like a river of molten light.

The nine prodigies at the core were instantly bathed in blinding radiance. Their silhouettes blurred within the intense glare, their auras surging as they fought to withstand the crushing backlash of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

“Now!”

In that moment of peak intensity, Qiu Ruoli flicked her wide sleeve.

A crystal-ice Gu worm slipped unnoticed from her slender jade fingers.

A faint smile played on her lips, masking the cold malice in her eyes. The Gu worm transformed into a streak of light, silent and deadly, shooting straight for Shen Xian’s exposed back.

Anger me, and you pay the price.

However…

The moment the Gu worm entered the Xun Position, Shen Xian raised his eyes.

A cold, mocking glint flashed in his gaze.

ROAR—!

The [Burning Heaven Cauldron] suddenly emitted a dragon’s roar that shook the heavens!

The seven layers of artifact patterns on the cauldron’s bronze body ignited simultaneously. The fiery light pierced the void, illuminating the sneak-attacking streak of light for all to see.

In the next second, the crimson-gold flames within the cauldron coalesced into a ferocious fire dragon. It swallowed the Gu worm in a single gulp and lunged straight at Qiu Ruoli!

The heatwave arrived before the flames, scorching her snow-white skin.

“What?!”

Qiu Ruoli’s beautiful face drained of color. She hastily formed hand seals, desperate to defend herself.

Three protective white lotuses bloomed instantly—but under the impact of the fire dragon, they shattered inch by inch!

BOOM!

An earth-shattering explosion ripped through the air.

Qiu Ruoli was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut.

Her pristine white dress was scorched black, revealing jade-like skin marred by angry burns. Her jade hairpin shattered, letting her waterfall of black hair fall in disheveled chaos.

The face that was once capable of toppling cities was now pale as paper, a trickle of glaring crimson blood staining her lips.

“Holy Maiden!” the Tianyao Sect disciples screamed.

Qiu Ruoli barely managed to stabilize herself in mid-air when she looked up—and froze.

Shen Xian was already striding through the air toward her. He looked down like a god of war, the Burning Heaven Cauldron spinning in his palm, spitting tongues of lethal fire.

“STOP!”

The Grand Formation ground to a halt.

Lei Yingjie flashed between the two, a purple-gold gourd appearing in his hand. His usually casual demeanor was gone, replaced by a look of grave seriousness.

“Both of you, please! Prioritize the greater situation!”

He stared at Shen Xian warily. This Evil Cultivator… is so domineering!

“You Evil Cultivator! Do you intend to disregard everyone’s lives?” the black-robed elder, Liu Wanduo, roared, his aura surging with righteous indignation.

The other cultivators joined in, their faces twisted in anger. If this infighting happened during the battle with the Seventh-Order Demon Beast, they would all be dead!

“Heh.”

Shen Xian sneered, his voice cutting through their shouts. “Must I tear off your hypocritical masks right now?”

When she ambushed me, you were all blind. Now that I strike back, suddenly you’re full of justice and principles?

WHOOSH!

The flames within the Burning Heaven Cauldron roared higher, sending a scorching heatwave washing over the crowd. The cultivators flinched, their expressions changing.

Shen Xian’s eyes were cold. If these people wanted to play games, he didn’t mind sending a few of them to the afterlife early.

The atmosphere turned brittle. Swords were drawn; bows were bent.

“Everyone!” Lei Yingjie raised his voice, desperate to salvage the mission. “The Seventh-Order Demon Beast is the true enemy!”

He turned to Shen Xian, switching to voice transmission. “Fellow Daoist, I will give you an explanation for this. Please, put away your Dharma Treasure.”

Few had seen Qiu Ruoli’s ambush clearly, but Lei Yingjie, controlling the hub, had seen everything.

Shen Xian snorted coldly but allowed the flames to recede slightly.

Seeing this, Lei Yingjie exhaled in relief. He immediately transmitted his voice to Qiu Ruoli. “Fairy Qiu, this person’s methods are strange and dangerous. Please, endure for now! After we deal with the beast, we can discuss revenge.”

“For now… apologize. Say it wasn’t intentional. Let this pass.”

Qiu Ruoli’s chest heaved violently. The fury in her beautiful eyes was solid enough to kill.

Make me bow my head to an Evil Cultivator?!

But then she looked at the Burning Heaven Cauldron. She remembered the terrifying heat that had shattered her defenses in an instant.

Damn it! Now is not the time.

If she couldn’t kill him in one strike, his retaliation would be devastating. For the sake of the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Milk and the Fated Chances awaiting them, she had to swallow her pride.

Qiu Ruoli took a deep breath, forcing the magma in her veins to cool.

“Just now…” The words were squeezed through gritted teeth. “…I was discourteous.”

It was a non-apology, but for the Holy Maiden of the Tianyao Sect, it was a humiliating loss of face.

Shen Xian raised an eyebrow. “That’s it?”

You think you can settle an assassination attempt with three words? Keep dreaming.

Lei Yingjie caught the dangerous glint in Shen Xian’s eye and quickly interjected. “What compensation does Fellow Daoist Shen require? As long as it is not excessive…”

“A high-grade Spirit Treasure,” Shen Xian said bluntly.

It was time to open the lion’s mouth.

“You!” Qiu Ruoli trembled, her rage reigniting.

This Evil Cultivator dares to extort me?!

A high-grade Spirit Treasure was a rare item, usually possessed only by Nascent Soul cultivators. Even with her status, she only had one aside from her life-bound treasure.

“Impossible!” she spat.

“Oh?” Shen Xian’s voice dropped an octave. “Then don’t blame me for being impolite.”

BOOM!

The Burning Heaven Cauldron flared again, the fire dragon rearing its head.

“You ambushed me in secret. You tried to kill me,” Shen Xian declared, his gaze sweeping over the self-proclaimed righteous cultivators. “Even if I kill you now, who here has the moral standing to stop me?”

The crowd shifted uncomfortably.

“Holy Maiden, the greater situation is what matters!” a cultivator shouted.

“Yes, Fairy Qiu, just give it to him!” another added.

After witnessing Shen Xian’s dominance, no one wanted to provoke him. Since the payment wasn’t coming from their pockets, they were happy to sacrifice Qiu Ruoli’s wealth to buy peace.

Qiu Ruoli gritted her teeth.

These fair-weather friends! Walls of grass, swaying with the wind!

Lei Yingjie lowered his voice, urging her. “Fairy Qiu, it is just one treasure. It is far less valuable than the Spirit Milk and the flesh of a Nascent Soul beast. Weigh the pros and cons.”

Qiu Ruoli stared fixedly at Shen Xian. Her fingernails dug so deep into her palms that blood dripped from her clenched fists.

Absolute humiliation.

But in the end, she broke. With a trembling hand, she retrieved a high-grade Spirit Treasure from her Storage Ring and flung it toward Shen Xian.

“Take it!”

Shen Xian caught the item. His Divine Sense swept over it, confirming its quality. Satisfied, he tucked it away.

“If only you had been this straightforward earlier,” he said breezily, returning to the Xun Position as if nothing had happened.

If there weren’t so many witnesses, you’d be dead already. Consider this a temporary reprieve.

On the other side, Qiu Ruoli forcibly suppressed her killing intent. With the help of her disciples, she repaired her appearance, but the hatred churning in her eyes was visible to all.

Shen Xian! I will make you wish you were dead!

Lei Yingjie shook his head, exhausted by the drama.

“Continue the joint practice!” he shouted.

Please, no more trouble.

From his position at the core, Shen Xing watched Shen Xian’s retreating back. A flash of amusement danced in his eyes.

Interesting…