Everyone turned their gaze once more toward the center of the previous attack.
As Styx charged into that area, the attack finally had a target, and all its power landed upon him.
But clearly, Styx was not so easily killed.
Sure enough, Styx appeared once again, standing upright in the void.
The attack did not seem to have injured him much.
A single thought arose in everyone's mind—Styx was actually this difficult to deal with?
And there was now something extra in his hand.
Styx glanced at the Spiritual Treasure Embryo in his hand with satisfaction.
As everyone sensed the aura emanating from the Spiritual Treasure Embryo, it seemed somewhat familiar.
Laozi was still the first to react. "The Dragon Head Crutch?"
Everyone immediately understood!
Styx had actually used the Quasi-Sage power of everyone's previous attack to destroy the Dragon Head Crutch?
Of course, as a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Dragon Head Crutch contained innate indestructible divine light and therefore could not be completely destroyed.
However, its original crutch form had already been ruined, and Eastern Duke's aura within it had been erased. It could be said that this Spiritual Treasure Embryo no longer had any connection to Eastern Duke.
Styx was quite satisfied. In the future, he could use this Spiritual Treasure Embryo to forge an Innate Spiritual Treasure of his own choosing.
The others, however, inwardly cursed his ruthlessness.
If he had merely destroyed a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, Eastern Duke would have been heartbroken, but it would not have truly crippled him.
Yet the treasure Styx had destroyed was the Dragon Head Crutch.
Eastern Duke's Good Corpse had been entrusted to it!
With the Dragon Head Crutch destroyed, Eastern Duke's Good Corpse was annihilated as well. Even his cultivation had been affected. How could he not have coughed up blood and passed out?
Now that the grand formation had been broken, Eastern Duke had fainted, and Styx had gained a Spiritual Treasure Embryo. It could be said that everyone had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it.
But clearly, none of them had abandoned the thought of killing Styx.
Laozi was the strongest among them, and he made his decision at once.
"Everyone, attack at once! We have already forged enmity with Styx today. If he does not die today, we will surely suffer his revenge!"
The moment he said this, Western Queen Mother and Kunpeng, the two loners among the remaining seven, immediately grew tense.
The Three Pure Ones stood together as one, while Jie Yin and Zhun Ti were inseparable. Only Western Queen Mother and Kunpeng stood alone.
Though they had disciples and followers below them, those disciples and followers would clearly be useless if Styx sought revenge.
Kunpeng transformed into a colossal bird that blotted out the sky, directly shrouding the entire region.
Then his massive talons clawed toward Styx. Beneath those enormous talons, Styx's body appeared minuscule.
At the same time, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti joined forces to activate a secret art, blocking him from both front and back and leaving Styx nowhere to flee.
The Three Pure Ones and Western Queen Mother also sprang into action at once, every move a killing strike.
Styx's expression grew grave as well.
Underestimating one's enemy was a great taboo in battle!
He paid no attention to Jie Yin and Zhun Ti. Those two were merely providing support.
Kunpeng's talons were terrifyingly powerful, but his immense body also made him an easy target for Styx.
Now that the pure qi suppressing Styx was gone, he directly fused the two Killing Swords into one, transforming them into No Sword.
The instant No Sword appeared, Kunpeng sensed the boundless killing intent emanating from it. But it was already too late to withdraw his talons.
No Sword not only pierced Kunpeng's talons, but even passed through his body.
Kunpeng let out a shrill cry in his true form before crashing to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.
Yet at that same moment, the attacks of the Three Pure Ones and Western Queen Mother shattered Styx's defenses and struck him!
Though Styx's defenses had absorbed most of the damage, the attacks still did not feel pleasant when they landed on him.
But attacks of this level were still incapable of defeating Styx.
Styx even mocked, "Laozi, is this all the strength you have?"
Everyone's faces darkened.
Styx had fought eight Quasi-Sages alone, yet in the end he had broken the formation, destroyed Eastern Duke's Good Corpse, and even injured Kunpeng.
Zhun Ti sneered, "Styx, do not be so arrogant! Even if we wear you down bit by bit, we can still grind you to death!"
"Come, then!" Styx replied without the slightest concern.
Zhun Ti came as soon as he spoke, and everyone yielded the battlefield to him.
Only Jie Yin, still worried, entered the battlefield with him.
Styx did not care.
Zhun Ti alone was beneath his notice. Even with Jie Yin added, it was no different.
"Senior Brother, use that move!"
Zhun Ti clearly bore deeper hatred for Styx. The moment he spoke, he urged Jie Yin to use their ultimate killing move.
But Jie Yin shook his head and refused.
"No. That move has not fully taken shape yet."
Styx was somewhat curious about what move it was, so he spoke. "What? Are you afraid?"
Jie Yin saw through the provocation and ignored him. Zhun Ti likewise did not respond to Styx.
Styx was not disappointed.
If Jie Yin and Zhun Ti could be so easily baited, how could the two of them establish such an immense Buddhist sect in the future, even surpassing the Mystic Gate after the Investiture of the Gods Calamity?
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti closed their eyes, pressed their palms together, and began chanting under their breaths.
Before long, a massive phantom had appeared behind them.
It was hazy and indistinct, making its appearance impossible to discern.
Styx was not one to sit and wait for death. While Jie Yin and Zhun Ti activated their secret art, he was already preparing to move.
Waiting until others attacked before counterattacking was not his style.
Styx lightly tapped the void with his toes, then leaped forward with all his strength, wielding No Sword as he charged at the two of them.
As Jie Yin and Zhun Ti activated their secret art, they naturally had no attention to spare. Instead, it was Laozi, who had been closely watching Styx's movements.
The instant Styx moved, Laozi immediately acted to stop him.
That alone was nothing unusual, but what greatly surprised Styx was the supreme treasure in Laozi's hand!
Laozi flung out a vast golden diagram. Golden light rapidly burst from it as it transformed into layer after layer of Taiji Phantoms, blocking Styx's path.
It was the Taiji Diagram!
It was one of the supreme treasures formed after Pangu's Heaven Splitting Axe had divided into three. It could pacify Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire, reverse yin and yang, and overturn heaven and earth. Its power was unparalleled.
But the Taiji Diagram was supposed to be given to Laozi by Hongjun only after the third lecture, when Hongjun distributed his treasures.
Now that it had appeared in Laozi's hands, it was obvious that Hongjun was determined to eliminate him.
Otherwise, he would not have handed such a precious treasure to Laozi.
Fortunately, Yuanshi and Tongtian had not made a move.
If Hongjun had also given the Pangu Banner and the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation to Yuanshi and Tongtian, then Styx would truly have been in a difficult position today.
For the moment, Styx no longer concerned himself with Jie Yin and Zhun Ti. Instead, he began battling Laozi.
Yuanshi and Tongtian immediately wanted to go help Laozi, but Laozi refused them.
"Do not come over!"
Laozi had his own pride as well.
In his eyes, even if he was slightly inferior to Styx, the difference was only marginal.
And with the Taiji Diagram, he had completely erased the gap in cultivation between himself and Styx.
He could even suppress Styx.
If that were the case, and he still needed Yuanshi and Tongtian's help, then what right would he have to call himself Pangu's orthodox lineage, the foremost of the Three Pure Ones?
Laozi swung the Taiji Diagram without emotion.
"Come!"
Before you continue