The withered branches shot toward them as though nothing stood in their way, piercing straight through the formation and embedding themselves where they had stood moments before.
Only then did Su Jiu understand her Junior Granduncle's intention. The Fourth Tier Formation in her hands could not withstand the withered branches' attacks at all.
As Su Jiu and the others raced after Chu Luohen, she heard her Senior Brother calmly analyze beside her, "Judging by their force and the strength of their demonic qi, these withered branches already possess the power of a Spirit Severing Stage cultivator. Naturally, your withered branches cannot stop them."
Understanding flickered in Su Jiu's eyes.
But... "Senior Brother, you can sense the strength of demonic qi?"
Xia Jue smiled faintly, though the smile did not reach his eyes. "Yes."
This time, her Senior Brother did not explain the reason in detail as he usually did. He answered her with only that single syllable.
Su Jiu glanced at Xia Jue. She had always known that her Senior Brother harbored many secrets, but this was the first time she had seen him show it so plainly.
Su Jiu was not one to dig down to the roots of every matter. After all, what cultivator in this world did not have a few secrets known only to themselves? Had she ever told anyone that she had been reborn...?
All four of them were reasonably agile. Although the withered branches attacked without any discernible pattern, their speed was not particularly fast to them.
Su Jiu's Wind-Welcoming Snow-Returning footwork was more nimble than before. Even while evading the withered branches, she had enough attention to spare for her surroundings.
Occasionally, when she saw Qi Song struggling to keep up, she even hurled several Ice Spikes to knock down the withered branches