“What’s there to panic about? Before entering this place, we knew there would inevitably be battles with other factions.”
“Haven’t you prepared yourselves mentally?”
Ouyang Pingzhi asked in a stern voice.
His words made the flustered disciples lower their heads in shame.
“Senior Brother Ouyang, it’s not that we’re afraid. Other factions have already started fighting. When will we join the battle?”
A sensible disciple spoke up.
This person was clever. At such a moment, he couldn’t let their faction’s morale falter. So, he reframed the panic of some as eagerness to fight, boosting their momentum.
“Rest assured, this conflict won’t pass us by, the Wind Thunder Sword Sect.”
“First, break the formation here, then we’ll go find the people from Nine Star Heavenly Mountain.”
Ouyang Pingzhi declared loudly.
From the start, he had chosen their target: Nine Star Heavenly Mountain.
“Right, we must teach them a harsh lesson and show them the might of our Wind Thunder Sword Sect.”
The disciples voiced their agreement with Ouyang Pingzhi’s decision.
The thought of clashing with Nine Star Heavenly Mountain even set many hearts ablaze with excitement.
“Teach us a lesson?”
“You lot sure dare to dream. Why don’t you weigh your own worth first?”
Just then, a mocking voice rang out from the distant horizon.
Looking toward the sound, several figures were seen flying toward them—disciples of Nine Star Heavenly Mountain.
Leading them was Song Jinglun, and the taunting words had come from his mouth.
Not only was Song Jinglun present, but all one hundred disciples of Nine Star Heavenly Mountain were there.
“How are they all here?”
“Did they not break any formations?”
Seeing all one hundred disciples of Nine Star Heavenly Mountain, the Wind Thunder Sword Sect disciples realised their intent.
They must be here to seize their gains.
What puzzled them, though, was that all of Nine Star Heavenly Mountain’s disciples were present.
Could it be they hadn’t been breaking formations?
Were they doing something else instead?
“Song Jinglun, you’ve probably been lying in wait for a while, haven’t you?”
“How interesting. Instead of breaking formations yourselves, you’re hoping to freeload and steal our results.”
“You’ve really opened my eyes.”
Ouyang Pingzhi said sarcastically.
He had already drawn his own conclusions about why all the Nine Star Heavenly Mountain disciples were here.
But in response to Ouyang Pingzhi’s conclusion, Song Jinglun gave a mocking smile, as if ridiculing his ignorance.
“Ouyang Pingzhi, do you think we’re as weak as you, taking so long to break such a formation?”
As Song Jinglun spoke, his hand reached for the Qiankun bag at his waist. The bag glowed, and a delicate glove appeared in his hand.
Seeing the glove, all the Wind Thunder Sword Sect disciples understood.
Song Jinglun and his group had already broken one of the twelve purple light pillars and had taken a piece of the armour, beating them to it.
Realising that Nine Star Heavenly Mountain had outpaced them and claimed a treasure, the Wind Thunder Sword Sect disciples felt a loss of face.
After all, in their eyes, their true rival this time was Nine Star Heavenly Mountain.
Yet, in this first round of competition—breaking formations—they had already lost.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shot into the sky, charging toward the Nine Star Heavenly Mountain disciples.
It was Ouyang Pingzhi, gripping his long sword, heading straight for Song Jinglun.
He aimed to seize the glove in Song Jinglun’s hand.
But Song Jinglun was prepared. Facing Ouyang Pingzhi’s attack, he not only dodged swiftly but also tucked away the glove and drew his weapon.
Immediately, the void tore apart, ripples raging.
The Wind Thunder Sword Sect and Nine Star Heavenly Mountain’s top geniuses were now locked in combat.
To avoid disrupting the Wind Thunder Sword Sect disciples’ efforts to break the formation, Ouyang Pingzhi forced Song Jinglun to move the battlefield further away.
The Wind Thunder Sword Sect disciples understood his intent and began focusing on breaking the formation.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
But suddenly, several figures descended from the sky, surrounding the Wind Thunder Sword Sect disciples.
It was the disciples of Nine Star Heavenly Mountain.
“Will you step aside willingly, or do we have to make you?”
The Nine Star Heavenly Mountain disciples looked at the Wind Thunder Sword Sect disciples with confident gazes.
Naturally, the Wind Thunder Sword Sect disciples wouldn’t back down.
Seeing that a fight was inevitable, they stopped breaking the formation and collectively attacked the Nine Star Heavenly Mountain disciples.
“Arrogant fools, today we’ll settle old and new scores.”
In an instant, all the disciples of the Wind Thunder Sword Sect and Nine Star Heavenly Mountain were engaged in battle.
The clash of both factions’ elite disciples was a rare and spectacular sight.
Yet, despite the intensity, few were watching.
The attention outside the barrier world was mostly focused on Nangong Yifan and Shentu Haoli.
Their battle had defied everyone’s expectations.
Shentu Haoli, widely regarded as the strongest disciple among the six major factions, was now being pushed back by Nangong Yifan.
Most surprising was that both had already unleashed their strongest techniques.
With divine gifts, supreme treasures, and inherited techniques, under the protection of these three powers, both had elevated their cultivation from Second-Rank Venerable to Third-Rank Venerable.
Logically, with similar cultivation levels and comparable weapon grades, even if Nangong Yifan’s strength had surged, he should only barely suppress Shentu Haoli.
Yet, Shentu Haoli was struggling, while Nangong Yifan appeared completely at ease.
This made people realise that Nangong Yifan had surpassed Shentu Haoli in every way.
It was highly likely that Nangong Yifan was the strongest among the younger generation of the six major factions.
“Shentu Haoli, you’ve lost. I don’t want to hurt you. Admit defeat, and this battle can end now. Otherwise… don’t blame me.”
Though Nangong Yifan’s words were polite, his attitude was lofty, which Shentu Haoli found unbearable.
“The outcome isn’t decided yet. Don’t act like you’ve already won.”
As expected, Shentu Haoli was provoked by Nangong Yifan’s words.
Her body turned fiery red, and she hurled her giant axe toward Nangong Yifan.
Rumble—
The heavens and earth shook, and the void changed colour.
Led by the giant axe, a massive fire dragon appeared.
The fire dragon tore through the sky, charging to devour Nangong Yifan.
Seeing this, many were shaken.
They all knew this was the supreme immortal technique of the Blazing Fire Academy.
The Nine-Stage Immortal Technique: Fire Dragon Devours the Heavens.
