A powerful surge of demonic energy swept toward Shanggu and Shi Yongheng.
Shi Yongheng had long been prepared and had kept a close watch on Xuan Yi's movements. The instant Xuan Yi turned hostile, he transformed into a streak of light with Shanggu and swiftly fled toward their prearranged destination.
When Xuan Yi saw that his attack had missed, he was not angered. With a thought, he vanished from the spot and gave chase in the direction Shi Yongheng had gone.
Although Shi Yongheng's thought-avatar had a lower cultivation than Xuan Yi, the difference was fortunately not great. Moreover, he had left first, so Xuan Yi could not catch up with the two of them for the moment.
Time passed quickly. Dozens of breaths went by in the blink of an eye.
The surroundings changed rapidly. They had already reached the vicinity of their meeting point, while Xuan Yi had drawn close enough to catch them within a few breaths.
Shi Yongheng merely glanced at the terrain ahead before sweeping out his hand and turning sharply. With his left hand, he hurled Shanggu away, while his right condensed a blade and thrust it at the rapidly approaching Xuan Yi.
Clang!
A crisp collision rang out, like metal and stone striking from antiquity.
Driven by the force of Xuan Yi's attack, Shi Yongheng borrowed the momentum in midair and shot backward without stopping.
By the time he came to a halt, he had reached the center of the appointed location. With a thought, taking advantage of the slight distance their clash had created, he vanished from the spot.
The instant he escaped the formation's range, the three people who had arrived even earlier immediately activated the Binding God Formation.
Three enormous pillars of light descended from the sky, forcing Xuan Yi