“Boom!”
A colossal energy storm erupted once again, its staggering fluctuations surging like a tsunami, not only blasting away the three Martial Emperors besieging the Jiuxiao Sect elder but also sending other nearby battling Martial Emperors flying.
The terrifying energy waves swept across a hundred-mile radius, causing the entrapment barrier to emit a sizzling sound.
This time, Lin Xiao was only twenty or thirty miles from the Jiuxiao Sect elder, and the shockwave made his blood churn within.
The power of a Martial Emperor self-detonating their dantian was simply too immense.
Lin Xiao was utterly astonished.
Having reached the Martial Emperor realm, one stood among the top figures in the Southeast Domain. Who would not cherish their life? Who would willingly self-detonate unless driven to desperation?
Yet the Jiuxiao Sect elder had done just that.
Not yet in despair, seizing a chance to heavily wound the enemy, he chose to self-detonate.
Such decisiveness, such resolve, even Lin Xiao could not help but admire.
“No!”
At that moment, the Jiuxiao Sect leader and another elder’s cries rang out, as terrifying forces surged in the direction of their voices, accompanied by the massive commotion of battle.
Every Martial Emperor was a sect’s core strength, bound by decades or centuries of camaraderie. Their fall was hard to accept.
A little later, everyone saw another Martial Emperor attacking the Jiuxiao Sect elder fall, and another gravely wounded.
The blue-robed elder was covered in blood, though his injuries seemed lighter. Another Martial Emperor, slightly farther away, was also injured but not too severely.
“Damn it!” The blue-robed elder’s face darkened.
They had been cautious, yet the opponent, not even in dire straits, self-detonated, causing another of their Martial Emperors to perish and another to need time to recover before fighting again.
If others followed suit, with two or three more self-detonations, their advantage would vanish.
Fighting from a distance could avoid the impact of self-detonations.
However, within a hundred-mile radius, many Martial Emperors were constantly engaged in close combat, making distance fighting difficult.
Moreover, if they opted for ranged combat, the energy waves would affect everyone, prompting others to do the same.
Then, the chaos from all the battles would impact everyone.
In the aftermath of countless energy waves, the weaker Martial Emperors, regardless of side, would likely fall first.
This was why both sides avoided ranged combat and chose direct clashes.
Moreover, while the orthodox side was reluctant, the attackers had also suffered significant injuries.
Now, with two needing to recover and unable to fight, if heavy energy waves swept over, the attackers’ Martial Emperors would likely fall first.
“Kill!” The blue-robed elder moved again, charging at an elder of the Juedao Sect.
Another followed suit.
This time, they would be more cautious, more ruthless, ensuring the enemy had no chance to self-detonate and cause more losses.
One, after taking a pill, began healing, choosing not to continue attacking.
Currently, two Martial Emperors were healing.
Though some from the orthodox side wanted to attack them, their opponents would not give them the chance.
Moreover, while the two were healing, they were not fully secluded but dodged waves while recovering.
Otherwise, in such high-level battles, they could be killed at any moment.
After another quarter-hour of fighting, the Juedao Sect elder, as expected, had no chance to self-detonate and was killed by the blue-robed elder.
Of course, the attackers also sustained significant injuries.
Then, three turned to attack another.
This time, it was not one of the previously targeted seven but Zhong Moyang.
Having injured his opponent, Zhong Moyang was also wounded. Seeing an opportunity, the blue-robed elder turned to attack him.
After landing a blow that injured Zhong Moyang, four joined forces against him.
Watching Zhong Moyang, not far away, Lin Xiao’s heart raced with urgency.
Before, the fallen Martial Emperors were not from their side, so he was not as anxious.
But this time, the group was attacking Zhong Moyang, the second elder of their Gunlong Sect, making him frantic. He unleashed powerful techniques in succession.
However, Feng Youyu countered with even stronger attacks, preventing him from breaking free.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Dongfang Kaiyuan unleashed even more terrifying attacks, moving closer while launching ranged strikes, with powerful energy waves erupting.
Still, he could not shake off the bronze-robed middle-aged man. Even occasional ranged strikes to aid Zhong Moyang were futile.
“Lin Xiao, no matter what, you must survive and avenge us!” During the battle, Lin Xiao suddenly heard Zhong Moyang’s telepathic message.
His words carried the intent of sacrifice and a hint for Lin Xiao to temporarily pretend to join the attackers.
In short, he wanted Lin Xiao to live, confident that with his talent, vengeance was only a matter of time.
However, Zhong Moyang did not know that joining the attackers meant being controlled, leaving no chance for redemption.
Of course, Lin Xiao would not say this now. Instead, he wielded the Yaoguang Broken Sword, activating the Yaoguang Sword Technique, channeling the Blood Dragon Vision, ferocious martial intent, and spiritual power.
Yet, he still could not break free from Feng Youyu.
Feng Youyu’s combat strength seemed to grow stronger, even knocking Lin Xiao back some distance. Her position perfectly blocked his path to Zhong Moyang.
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon Palm surged within Lin Xiao, his skin darkening.
In desperation, he had to use this most draining, fearsome technique.
“Elder Zhong…” Lin Xiao sent a telepathic message, but before he could finish, a voice from the ground below reached his ears.
“Lin Xiao, I can break this formation and let you escape.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiao’s heart jolted.
The voice was familiar, belonging to Li Renchou, whom he had fought in the illusion of Shengshi City years ago.
Li Renchou, part of the Demon Sect, appearing here was not surprising.
There might be secret chambers or underground palaces beneath the Demon Sect.
However, back in Shengshi City, Li Renchou was only at the first level of Martial Lord. Even if he had reached a higher Martial Lord level now, could he break a formation that even Martial Emperors could not?
Moreover, while not enemies, Lin Xiao and Li Renchou had little connection. Though Li Huang and Zi Huang had some ties, would that be enough for Li Renchou to risk breaking the formation to help him escape?
“Trust me, this formation has some connection to me. I truly have the ability to undo it,” Li Renchou continued via telepathy. “But I must first open an exit. I’ll only help the others after you escape. Otherwise, others might flee, and you’d be trapped.”
