Sword Slash Foundation Establishment Fourth Level

Two days prior.

Inside Yuanshan Tower.

"Tower Lord, I have investigated, and Lu Qingshan spoke the truth. A high-grade Illusion Array is indeed set up there. Although I'm not certain if it's a Blood Pool within the array, the probability is very high," Jiang Rong reported the specific situation he had investigated to Tantai Qingrun.

Tantai Qingrun raised an eyebrow and pondered for a long time before finally deciding, "Contact Supervisor Qi. Let's not disturb that high-grade Illusion Array for now, to avoid alarming them."

Jiang Rong agreed, "Alright, I'll contact Supervisor Qi right away."

"That's how it is." Tantai Qingrun calmly recounted everything she knew to Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan, who had been summoned by Tantai Qingrun, seemed to gain some insight after hearing her explanation.

"The Underworld and my Heavenly Mystery Temple have been old rivals for many years, and I understand the Heavenly Mystery Temple's methods. No wonder they were so careless this time, allowing me to discover a clue so easily."

"So, the drunkard's intention is not the wine."

"How does Supervisor Qi plan to respond?" Tantai Qingrun asked, concerned.

Qi Yuan thoughtfully said, "There's a suspicious point in this matter. The Underworld wants to seize the Heavenly Mystery Mirror Fragment when I use it. How could they know when I would use the Heavenly Mystery Mirror Fragment?"

"Unless..."

"Unless there's an inside informant," Tantai Qingrun provided a definitive answer.

She had already figured this out.

To seize the Heavenly Mystery Mirror Fragment when Qi Yuan used it, they had to ensure that someone from the Underworld was present at the same time.

Seizing the Heavenly Mystery Mirror from Qi Yuan, who was at the Nascent Soul cultivation level, was by no means an easy task.

Given the Underworld's manpower and strength in Yuanshan City, they would undoubtedly need to make extensive preparations.

If strength is insufficient, external forces will compensate.

Arrays would be the first choice, and only the power of arrays could allow low-level cultivators to fight against high-level cultivators within a short period.

However, arrays require time to set up, and it would be unrealistic to set up an array after determining Qi Yuan's location.

Therefore, the most practical approach would be to set up an array in a specific location beforehand and find a way to lure Qi Yuan into using the Heavenly Mystery Mirror within the area covered by the array.

This would facilitate the Underworld's subsequent plan.

In conclusion.

"This inside informant must be of no low status and will also find ways to instigate the Supervisor to use [Observe Heaven]!" Tantai Qingrun stated with certainty.

Qi Yuan naturally agreed with Tantai Qingrun's statement, "Regarding the matter of coming to Yuanshan City this time, I only informed your Yuanshan Tower and the City Lord of Yuanshan City, Luo Yan!"

A cold glint flashed in Tantai Qingrun's clear eyes, "Could it be?"

"It's too early to make a definitive conclusion," Qi Yuan said in a deep voice. "Let's observe the situation. As long as the Underworld makes a move, they will inevitably reveal their tracks."

The Underworld thought they had set a bait, and Qi Yuan was the fat fish attracted by it.

But little did they know, at this moment, Qi Yuan and Tantai Qingrun were also playing along.

As expected.

Just as they had predicted, the City Lord's Mansion was already covered by a pre-arranged formation.

Qi Yuan also cooperated by activating the [Observe Heaven] technique within the City Lord's Mansion.

They intended to lure out all the Underworld's personnel in Yuanshan City and then capture them all in one fell swoop.

Under the spiritual technique effect of Qi Yuan's [Xuantian Spirit Technique], Tantai Qingrun had been following Qi Yuan in an extremely concealed manner.

If the Underworld made a move, she would also make a move.

Tantai Qingrun was confident.

Seeing the current situation, Rakshasa's heart chilled.

Although she didn't know how the action plan was exposed, she knew she was in trouble this time.

"What are you waiting for! Hurry up and act!" Unable to think of anything else, Rakshasa's only thought was to complete the mission to the best of her ability.

At Rakshasa's urging.

From within the black mist, a ferocious behemoth suddenly appeared, its back adorned with three terrifying barbs.

Beneath the behemoth stood a cultivator.

It was Cry Soul True Person.

According to the plan, he released the War Beast from his spirit beast pouch.

Swish!

A barb on the behemoth's back detached and shot out.

Completely black and shaped like a long sword, the barb flew with extreme speed towards Qi Yuan and slashed lightly at the void.

Countless black streams of light splashed out, and a golden line flashed in the void.

Then, under the power of the Sword Bone, the line snapped.

Qi Yuan's expression changed.

His connection to the Heavenly Mystery Mirror Fragment was severed at that moment.

He could no longer recall the Heavenly Mystery Mirror as easily as before.

Qi Yuan reacted quickly.

He immediately channeled the spiritual energy within his body, preparing to forcibly retrieve the Heavenly Mystery Mirror.

But it was too late. The Heavenly Mystery Mirror Fragment had vanished into thin air the instant the Sword Bone severed the golden thread.

Where the Heavenly Mystery Mirror Fragment had disappeared, a hazy shadow emerged.

—A Golden Core stage Nether Cultivator from the Underworld, who had been lurking in the shadows for a long time.

He had waited this long, all for this moment. Once the War Beast severed Qi Yuan's connection to the Heavenly Mystery Mirror Fragment, he would seize the mirror.

"It's mine!" Luo Sha's face finally showed a hint of joy as he saw the Golden Core Nether Cultivator pocket the Heavenly Mystery Mirror Fragment into his storage ring.

"Do you really think you can still get away?" Qi Yuan's voice carried a trace of anger.

Qi Yuan extended his hands forward and pressed down forcefully.

Instantly, winds surged and the sea of mist churned!

In the void, the black mist that originally belonged to the Three Spirits Demonic Array formed two black hands, which, under Qi Yuan's control, pressed down towards the Golden Core Nether Cultivator and the War Beast.

Even if Spirit Cultivators were not adept at offense, Qi Yuan was, after all, a Nascent Soul cultivator. How could the Underworld cultivators, whose highest cultivation was only Golden Core, withstand his techniques?

This palm strike carried immense pressure. The Golden Core Nether Cultivator was directly sent staggering, spitting out a mouthful of blood and collapsing onto the ground, unable to move.

However, the War Beast, facing this colossal black palm, had a golden pattern light up on its dark skin.

The moment the golden pattern illuminated, the already massive War Beast grew even larger.

At this moment, the War Beast was as ferocious and colossal as a prehistoric behemoth.

Roar—

With a roar, the War Beast thrust its claws upward.

Earth and stone flew.

The ground where the War Beast stood caved in significantly under this immense force.

The War Beast had actually withstood the palm strike.

For a moment, the War Beast and the black palm were locked in a stalemate.

Hmm?

A flicker of surprise flashed in Qi Yuan's eyes, and he let out a soft snort.

The beast before him was only a third-grade creature, equivalent to a Human's Golden Core cultivator, yet it had withstood his technique.

Qi Yuan felt greatly humiliated.

Qi Yuan formed a hand seal with his left hand, and a crimson fire ring appeared in response. Under Qi Yuan's control, it rapidly attacked the War Beast.

This was his spirit artifact, the Vermillion Bird Ring.

The War Beast, seeing the Vermillion Bird Ring charging towards it, had its ink-black eyes filled with ferocity.

Swish!

The remaining two Sword Bones on the War Beast's spine flew out.

One Sword Bone slashed towards the Vermillion Bird Ring, and the other slashed towards Tantai Qingrun's life-bound sword.

Having suffered a setback, Qi Yuan and Tantai Qingrun would naturally not fall for the same trick so easily.

The Vermillion Bird Ring faced the incoming Sword Bone.

Crimson light soared into the sky.

Sparks flew everywhere.

At this moment, the Vermillion Bird Ring was like a ball of fire.

Under Qi Yuan's mental command, it charged forward with an unstoppable momentum, directly meeting these two Sword Bones.

Qi Yuan intercepted the Sword Bone that was originally targeting Tantai Qingrun.

With no interference, Tantai Qingrun's Spirit Concealment Sword finally struck Luo Sha with a thunderous might.

As the Spirit Concealment Sword neared him, blood-red light erupted from Luo Sha's eyes.

Terrifying blood-red patterns appeared on his face.

Chii—

At this very instant, Luo Sha's entire body ignited, flames erupting everywhere.

[Demon Bloodline], a third-grade demonic bloodline.

Luo Sha activated his Demonic bloodline, transforming into his demonic form—Demon.

Empowered by the Demon Bloodline, Luo Sha's physical body withstood Tantai Qingrun's flying sword attack.

The flames swirling around the Rakshasa's body scattered under the sword intent, filling the sky with splashing sparks. Mixed with the black mist, it was like a volcanic eruption.

Bang!

The Rakshasa's chest bore a huge gash from the Spirit Concealment Sword's attack.

—Even with its demon bloodline activated, the attack from a Golden Core stage Sword Cultivator was not something it could easily withstand.

The Rakshasa's original plan was to seize the Heavenly Mystery Mirror Fragment and then use the power of the Three Spirits Demonic Array to temporarily trap Qi Yuan, after which they would immediately flee.

But at this moment, there were many Yuanshan Tower cultivators outside the Three Spirits Demonic Array. Stepping out of the array would be like walking into a trap.

This plan was no longer viable.

The Rakshasa's gaze shifted.

It saw Cry Soul True Person wielding his Cry Soul Sword and directly severing the right index finger of the unconscious Golden Core Nether Cultivator lying on the ground.

On the Golden Core Nether Cultivator's right index finger was a storage ring.

—The storage ring containing the Heavenly Mystery Mirror Fragment.

Cry Soul True Person obtained the storage ring.

The Rakshasa's heart settled.