Fighting fire with fire was utterly useless to the three men from Dragon-Tiger Mountain, who were desperate to ascend and leave. Instead, their own immortal fire had tangled with the Samadhi True Fire, forming a barrier of flame that was difficult to cross. Zhang Yuanji had therefore already withdrawn his immortal fire.
Now the black-and-white binding formation had also been broken, and the wounded Cloud Shoulder Xiao had been driven some distance away. Although Zhang Yuanji had lost a precious crossbow bolt, he had no intention of retrieving it. At this point, only Ji Hehe was still holding his gourd and releasing Samadhi True Fire to interfere with them. Meanwhile, after taking an Immortal Elixir refined on Dragon-Tiger Mountain, Zhang Xianmin had recovered some immortal power. He was now forcing his way upward behind the Canopy, hoping to shake Ji Hehe off in one sustained push. Even if they could not shake him off, it would not matter. Once they reached the Third Heaven and opened the Heavenly Gate, even True Lord Evolving Transformation himself would be unable to stop them.
But just as the three relaxed somewhat-especially Zhang Yuanji, who felt rather pleased with the remarkable success of his surprise shot-they suddenly heard Ji Hehe, who had been keeping them suppressed with fire, say, "Treasure, please nod!"
At this strange incantation, alarm bells instantly rang in the three men's hearts. They all looked toward the scarlet Fire Gourd, unsure what might fly out of it. Zhang Yuanji reacted particularly quickly. Without a second thought, he raised his hand and fired. Another dark silver bolt flew out of his sleeve straight toward Ji Hehe, intended to force him back or interrupt his spell.
What the three men surrounded by milky-white true fire failed to notice, however, was that within this