"Hmph! Xiao Yan, don't be so smug. With your strength, I believe you can only use such a high-level Dou Technique once at full power. Right now, you're already at your last gasp."
In the sky, Zhao Xian brandished his snow-white spear, the sound of it cutting through the air echoing through the heavens. The invisible pressure felt like a boulder crashing down on Xiao Yan's chest.
Zhao Xian was right. After using the Heart-Shattering Palm, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi was completely exhausted. Although he still looked strong and unyielding on the outside, he was actually just a tough exterior with a weak interior.
However, compared to Xiao Yan, Zhao Xian was in much better shape after resolving the violent power within him. His aura was smooth and long, far superior to Jin Yao's.
" Xiao Yan, you take that girl and leave first. I'll hold them off here. I'll find a way to escape after you're gone."
Jin Yao stared intently at Zhao Xian with her beautiful eyes, and said in a solemn tone.
After hundreds of clashes, Jin Yao gained a better understanding of Zhao Xian's strength. He was no weaker than her, and if Xiao Yan and Murong Qianqian continued to stay here, they might not be able to leave in the end.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was about to frown and speak when Zhao Xian Xiao Yan let out a cold laugh, staring at the three of them with a sinister grin, and said in a chilling tone:
"None of you are leaving here today!"
With a cold laugh, Zhao Xian slashed his spear fiercely in front of him. The sharp spear tip rubbed tightly against the air, creating a piercing sonic boom in the sky. At the same time, four unusual auras simultaneously emerged from the four directions of east, west, south, and north where the four people were located.
These four auras were the very same extremely subtle auras that Xiao Yan had sensed when he first arrived here.
" Hei Shi, activate the formation!"
Facing Xiao Yan and his two companions, Zhao Xian suddenly let out a cold laugh. As his shout fell, from all four directions, surging Dou Qi transformed into pillars of Dou Qi, soaring into the sky and disappearing into the void.
As the four pillars of light stood erect, the void within hundreds of feet around the four people was quickly enveloped by a layer of golden energy. The barriers on all sides spread rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, only one gap between the four barriers remained, allowing people to pass through.
And the direction of the gap was exactly westward.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan's heart tightened slightly. Zhao Xian must have made full preparations to send people to use an array to stop him. In his current state, he probably wouldn't be able to break the array.
Right now, if we want to leave the area covered by this formation, we can only rely on this gap and use this last bit of time to quickly escape from within the formation.
"Um..."
However, despite having some thoughts in his mind, Xiao Yan had barely set off when he couldn't help but stagger.
The depletion of Dou Qi within his body and the lack of Spiritual Strength had brought Xiao Yan Xiao Yan to the brink of unconsciousness. Even standing in this void was still a considerable pressure for him.
Given Xiao Yan's current state, there's no way he could escape from this formation, let alone with Murong Qianqian in tow.
"Go! I'll hold off this formation for you!"
With a sharp shout, Jin Yao brandished her longsword, and instantly, streaks of fiery red sword light shot out, like fiery maple leaves, fiercely striking the spreading array barrier.
With Jin Yao's intervention, the speed at which the barrier spread was indeed reduced considerably. At the same time, the auras in the four directions outside the formation also fluctuated violently. Clearly, they were the core supporting the entire formation, and since the formation was affected, they were inevitably affected as well.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan shook his head violently, hurriedly stuffed a handful of Qi Recovery Pill into his mouth, and taking advantage of the slight recovery of his Dou Qi, he moved and instantly appeared in front of Murong Qianqian, grabbing her hand in his palm.
"King of Gold, you be careful too!"
After giving a solemn reminder, Xiao Yan no longer hesitated. He moved swiftly, grabbed Murong Qianqian, and flew away quickly towards the outside of the formation.
"Hmph! You think you can just leave so easily!"
However, Zhao Xian scoffed at this, brandishing his spear and charging towards Jin Yao with a tremor.
In the blink of an eye, Zhao Xian and Jin Yao were locked in battle once again.
With the formation no longer obstructed, its spread gradually accelerated. When Xiao Yan, holding Murong Qianqian's hand, was about to approach the barrier, the remaining gap at the edge of the formation was less than ten feet in size.
Seeing the only remaining gap, Xiao Yan's heart tightened slightly. He dared not hold back any longer. With a thought, he unleashed all the Dou Qi that had just been restored in his body. He changed his footing and instantly used the Heavenly Severing Steps Annihilation Step to its limit. In the blink of an eye, Xiao Yan and Murong Qianqian appeared in front of the formation.
Just as he was about to step out of the formation, Xiao Yan felt a slight sense of relief. However, before he could catch his breath, the void outside the formation suddenly twisted, and then a figure shrouded in a black robe appeared in front of Xiao Yan and Murong Qianqian, blocking their path.
Xiao Yan never expected that, besides the four auras controlling the formation, there was another person hidden here. Moreover, based solely on the aura this person exuded when he appeared, Xiao Yan was instantly certain that the latter was undoubtedly a Nine-Star Half-Emperor as well.
Meanwhile, Jin Yao, who was engaged in a fierce battle with Zhao Xian, couldn't help but change her expression instantly, her delicate brows furrowing into a knot.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Xian had this trick up his sleeve. If Xiao Yan and Murong Qianqian couldn't escape first, then things would be dangerous from here on out!
Seeing the change in Jin Yao's expression, Zhao Xian smiled coldly. In order to prevent Xiao Yan from escaping, he had made full preparations today. Right now, all five of his Zhao Clan's death servants were here, and each of them was a Nine-Star Half-Emperor. With him added, even if Xiao Yan had the ability to challenge opponents of higher levels, he would definitely not be able to cause any trouble at this moment!
However, just as Zhao Xian sneered inwardly and Jin Yao's face darkened, Xiao Yan Yan's pale face suddenly turned fierce. His forward momentum did not falter at all because of the black-robed man who suddenly appeared in front of him. On the contrary, it became even more swift and domineering.
Even Murong Qianqian, who had been held tightly by Xiao Yan, couldn't help but show a look of horror on her pretty face at this scene. Xiao Yan's actions were simply courting death!
"Die!"
Seeing Xiao Yan 'Xiao Yan desperate look, the black-robed man standing opposite him coldly snorted, and a flash of light appeared in his hand, revealing a short knife.
With a swift backhand grip, the black-robed man moved, instantly transforming into a ghostly, dark shadow. The gleaming short sword reflected a terrifyingly cold light as it viciously stabbed towards Xiao Yan's throat.
" The Northern King!"
However, in the next moment, when the black-robed man was less than a meter away from Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan suddenly uttered a cold and indifferent voice. At the same time, a burly black shadow suddenly shot out in front of Xiao Yan, and in just one exchange, it blasted the oncoming black-robed man away.