Daoist Cangming sat beneath a spirit tree at the center of the island, his face pale and his vision dimming.
Among the four immortal-realm island masters nearby, Daoist Cangming possessed the most refined mana, and his cultivation method was also the most orthodox and moderate. In later ages, he could have been called a legitimate orthodox lineage of the Mystic Gate. Compared to Dragonfire Perfected One's unorthodox side path, his foundation was incomparably more solid.
Had he not been ambushed and wounded in his vital essence by the Supreme White Yinmetal Divine Fiend, allowing Dragonfire Perfected One to seize the chance to attack his sanctuary while he was reconstructing the island-protecting formation, he would not have feared Dragonfire Perfected One at all.
Had it been a few days earlier, before Spirit-Banana Island's protective formation had been altered, he could have used the spirit tree to draw in the essence of the surrounding seawaters and evolve a barrier through the mutual generation of water and wood. Even if Daoist Cangming lacked the strength to preside over it for long, it could have held out for several dozen days while awaiting Tortoise Immortal's rescue.
Had it been a few days later, he could have used the yang fire nurtured by the formation to dissolve the lingering Supreme White Yinmetal Divine Fiend within his body. Then, with his vital essence, he could have protected the spirit tree without fearing the Five Fires burning outside.
But it happened precisely when the Supreme White Yinmetal Divine Fiend was grinding away at his vitality from within and he needed to preside over the formation to protect the spirit tree from without that Dragonfire Perfected One came knocking.
No matter what he chose, he could not hold out for more than a few days.
At this moment,