Chu Song patted him on the shoulder. "Actually, those talismans belonged to your third senior sister. You thanked the wrong person."
Chi Wang: "..." He wanted to slap someone.
"Third Senior Sister, thank you," Chi Wang said nonetheless.
Tang Yao nodded, clicking her tongue inwardly. This kid had probably been bewildered by the blood formation and was having trouble accepting the Devil Race's actions.
If they were not trapped here, she would have wanted to turn him to their side immediately and start digging for information.
This brief interlude also let the four of them relax their taut nerves a little before they began searching for the formation core.
They still could not break it. Seeing that even the Profound Heaven Sect's talisman cultivators could not break it, the others felt their hearts sink. Talismans and formations had been inseparable since ancient times. If even the Profound Heaven Sect could not break it, what chance did the rest of them have?
Ripples spread across the lake. The Spirit-Devouring Vine's next attack was about to begin, and the power within its vines was greater than on any previous occasion.
"We can't wait any longer..." Tang Yao frowned at the lake and the power pouring endlessly into the Fusang Flower, then shouted, "Everyone, if you're willing to take a gamble, focus all your attacks on the Fusang Flower!"
"A Fusang Flower that has to devour cultivators' spiritual power to bloom-is it a divine flower or a demonic flower? The answer speaks for itself! Stop hesitating!"
Most of them agreed after hearing her. Even if they did nothing, they would be sucked dry in the end anyway. Better to stake everything on one last fight.
The moment several Rogue Cultivators' Law Treasures touched the Fusang Flower, yellow roots extending from its center coiled around them. The flower's center transformed into a human face and wailed in agony, "Big Brother, why are you attacking me?"
It was the face of the cultivator who had been dragged into the lake earlier.
"Since you attacked me, you can die!" the face shrieked, its features twisting.
Whoosh-Jiang Yueyan threw another high-grade Spirit Artifact. The explosion made the Fusang Flower retract its roots, and the three cultivators immediately seized the chance to pull away. "Quick, everyone, follow up! Don't stop!"
For a time, none of the cultivators held anything back. Dragging this out would only mean death, so they might as well fight it with everything they had.
Quite a few cultivators followed Jiang Yueyan's example, hurling Spirit Artifacts at it.
And sure enough, it worked pretty well!
Tang Yao pinched a flight talisman and leaped into the air above the Fusang Flower. "Make some room first. Sword cultivators, withdraw, and beast cultivators, pull your spirit beasts back too. Everyone else, use ranged attacks."
With that, a Storage Bag appeared in her hand. She aimed it at the flower below and began pouring out Explosion Talismans like mad.
In an instant, a deep crater was blasted into the ground below. The Fusang Flower withdrew the human face it had assumed, letting out wails in a voice that was neither male nor female.
"All of you, stop! I'll kill you all!"
"Oh, who's listening to you?" Tang Yao scattered them wildly, showing no intention of stopping.
"Is this how all of you from the Profound Heaven Sect... do things?" the Azure Cloud Sect disciples asked in astonishment after silently retreating.
Jiang Yueyan swallowed. Only after a long while did he reply, "I don't do this..."
He was no less bewildered than they were.
Jiang Yueyan would have liked to do this, but his father would probably chase him down eight streets with a blade.
"Boss!! I'm coming too!"
Xiao Linyu suddenly darted out of some obscure corner, riding a green snake with wings, and came up beside Tang Yao.
He promptly produced the bagful of Blazing Flame Talismans, Violent Thunder Talismans, and Wind Blade Talismans he had traded pills to Tang Yao for, and began dumping them down.
For a chance to show off like this, he would come no matter how far away he was!
"As expected of the Xiao Household. They're rolling in wealth!"
"Exactly! He isn't even a talisman cultivator, and he dares to do this!"
Song Tinglan asked in puzzlement, "Sister Rong, how much money does your family give that idiot?"
Xiao Rong narrowed her eyes as she looked up. "I remember cutting most of his allowance."
"..."
With the sword cultivators and beast cultivators withdrawn, the main force now consisted of Tang Yao's talismans, scattered as though they cost nothing, along with the occasional Spirit Artifact or Pill Furnace hurled over.
None of these contained spiritual power, so the Fusang Flower could not absorb any to replenish itself.
The weaker the Fusang Flower's light grew, the harder Tang Yao worked at scattering talismans.
As the saying went, strike while you were sick and take your life!
Just as the Fusang Flower could no longer even maintain its color, before everyone could celebrate, a spatial rift tore open overhead.
An immense suction instantly dragged Tang Yao inside, sucking in Xiao Linyu, who was closest to her, as well.
At that moment, a cool female voice rang out in Tang Yao's mind. "Save me."
"Junior Sister!" the Profound Heaven Sect disciples cried anxiously.
In a rare display of anger, Xiao Rong snapped, "Xiao Linyu! Why did you have to stick your nose in?!"
As those cries rang out, Tang Yao and Xiao Linyu vanished before everyone's eyes.
The feeling of weightlessness lasted for the time it took an incense stick to burn.
Tang Yao landed on a patch of soft grass. Yellow petals filled the sky before her eyes, verdant green stretched across the land, fallen blossoms drifted in profusion, and butterflies fluttered.
Looking up, she saw a valley surrounded by mountains that towered into the clouds.
Tang Yao sprang aside, dodging the falling Xiao Linyu.
Xiao Linyu hit the ground hard. He sat up and scratched his head, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings. The moment he spotted Tang Yao, his eyes lit up.
"Boss, you've got to protect me!"
"Who's your boss?" Tang Yao frowned. Now she had to drag this dead weight along too. "Do you know that saying?"
"What saying?" Xiao Linyu asked, looking up.
"If you don't court death, you won't die."
"What were you doing running over beside me to show off?"
A trace of embarrassment appeared on Xiao Linyu's face, and he stammered a little.
"They all l-look down on me. What's wrong with showing off a little?!" His voice grew quieter as he spoke, and inwardly he regretted it like hell.
Sure enough, he should leave this sort of limelight-hogging to those geniuses...
"Let's find out what's going on here first." With that, Tang Yao walked straight ahead.
Seeing Tang Yao leave, Xiao Linyu immediately dusted off his backside, stood up, and hurried after her!
"Hey, wait for me!"
The two passed through a cave. Just as they were about to emerge, a young woman's sharp rebuke rang out. "Stop! Who are you two?"
The girl wore moon-white robes embroidered with intricate, exquisite cloud patterns. Locks of hair framed her cheeks on either side, and her long hair cascaded like a waterfall. Five black-clad guards followed behind her.
"Who are you?" Tang Yao stopped and asked in return.
As though she had heard the funniest joke in the world, the girl signaled the guard beside her with her eyes. "Tell her who I am."
The guard she had singled out hastily lowered his head and answered, "Yes." Then he said, "Our young lady is Zhongli Si, daughter of the master of Free and Unfettered Valley."
"You don't even recognize me, yet you dare come to Free and Unfettered Valley seeking treatment?" The girl snorted coldly and waved her hand.
"Take them away!"
"What are you doing?! Does everyone have to know you?! And who's seeking treatment? I'm perfectly fine!" A guard's hand had already pinned Xiao Linyu down.
He glared at Zhongli Si in displeasure, then looked at Tang Yao, who gave him a look telling him to stay calm.
Zhongli Si's aim from the start had been to take them away. Whatever trumped-up excuse she used made no difference.
But what her purpose was remained unknown.