Meanwhile, in the sky outside the Super-Giant Mountain, a dark-faced, middle-aged cultivator of average build was flying slowly toward the defensive restrictions of the Five-Element Formation. He appeared to be injured, but his face brimmed with delighted surprise. Clearly, he had already gained something on the Super-Giant Mountain.
"Whew! Thank goodness it didn't follow me!" The cultivator glanced back the way he had come and murmured, "Once I get back and find a way to refine this treasure, breaking through my bottleneck will be just around the corner! Hahaha!" With that, he sped toward the five-element defensive restrictions. Clearly, having secured his gains, he had decided to stop taking risks and head back!
Suddenly!
"Ahem! Why not stay a little longer?" A voice that seemed to come straight from hell rang beside his ear!
"Who's there?" The cultivator's expression changed drastically as he cried out. At the same time, light erupted all over him, and a suit of gleaming golden armor appeared on his body. He flashed backward repeatedly, retreating several dozen feet!
"Think you can get away?" the voice said coldly.
"Who are you?" the cultivator cried, his heart pounding with alarm. Even with his nascent soul middle stage divine sense, he could not detect this person's whereabouts at all. That alone showed how formidable the stranger's cultivation was. He looked around warily.
"Someone who'll help you break through your bottleneck!"
Boom! As those words rang out, a thunderclap exploded in the sky. An enormous swath of black light suddenly appeared several dozen feet from the cultivator. Within it lurked the phantom of a monster with a pair of pointed horns! It transformed into a vast cloud of black smoke and charged at him!
"No! Die!" Terrified, the cultivator thrust a finger toward the approaching phantom with all his