The Treasured Body Breaks the Formation, Startling the Immortal Soul; The Halberd Splits the Deep Chasm, Settling the Common Heart

The dense slicing sounds of "shhk, shhk, shhk, shhk" were like a sudden downpour battering banana leaves.

Zhao Cheng's protective True Essence was thick and resilient, yet under the repeated slashes of the boundless Sword Qi, it cracked layer by layer as though silk were being drawn from a cocoon.

In the blink of an eye, it had been carved full of holes.

Within mere breaths, the Sword Qi broke through every layer of True Essence defense and reached Zhao Cheng's skin. Several sharp strands even grazed his neck, sending a few black hairs drifting down.

"It worked!"

Yun Miao's eyes suddenly lit up, and a flicker of hope surged within her.

Though triggering the sword formation ahead of time had diminished its power by several tenths, it had at least exhausted Zhao Cheng's vast, ocean-like protective True Essence!

Everyone knew that a cultivator's greatest strength lay in the True Essence they had condensed through years of arduous cultivation.

Once one's protective True Essence had been depleted, then before her Ten Thousand Rivers Autumn Water Sword Formation, Zhao Cheng's body would be as fragile as an infant's.

That way, he could only fall back and defend.

And Yun Miao could seize this chance to turn the tables, transforming passivity into initiative!

Using the Sword Qi as cover, she would restore her True Essence, continue employing hit-and-run tactics, and lay the groundwork for the sword formation.

One step ahead, every step ahead!

She would give Zhao Cheng no chance to restore his protective True Essence, press him relentlessly, and cut him down beneath her sword!

In but an instant, Yun Miao had already rehearsed everything in her mind.

She had even grasped every detail perfectly.

But the next second, the confidence on her face froze, replaced by terror that seeped into