Deep within the ancient forest, towering ancient trees stood like slumbering behemoths amidst the dark mist. No wind rustled through their branches, only the afterglow of the distant starry sky filtering through the gaps in the trees and casting a pale gray glow on the ground. Led by Ye Wuhen, the Boundless Realm Divine Sect's group moved slowly forward.
Gu Linfeng followed closely behind, and the entire caravan, including the spirit boats and accompanying disciples, deliberately concealed their presence as they carefully traversed the ancient forest.
At that very moment, the entire ancient forest suddenly trembled slightly.
In the once silent forest, several hidden Annihilation Structure patterns suddenly emerged from the depths of the ground. These patterns were like ancient runes that had been dormant for countless years, now suddenly awakened by some kind of power. The black Dao patterns spread rapidly along the earth's veins, and in an instant, they connected to form a huge and strange array.
In the next instant, twelve figures appeared simultaneously from different directions in the ancient forest. Hua Jingmeng and Hua Feiting stood in the center of the array.
Hua Jingmeng stood with his hands behind his back, his dark gold-patterned robe swaying gently in the shimmering light of the forest. A cold, arrogant smile played on his lips, as if he had already foreseen the fate of the group before him. Hua Feiting stood quietly beside him, her purple robes resembling a dark nebula.
Her face was still obscured by spatial ripples, but the aura of the Profound Mystic Void Realm was no longer concealed, like a sleeping abyss slowly opening its eyes.
Around them, ten cultivators at the Realm Breaking Realm · Middle Stage had already taken their positions.
Simultaneously, Annihilation Structure runes lit up the ground beneath their feet, and streaks of black and gold light rose from the ancient forest's veins, weaving into a massive array in the air.
Annihilation Construct Killing Formation – The array patterns rapidly closed like chains, a low rumble echoed in the void, and the space of the entire ancient forest seemed to be slowly compressed by an invisible giant hand. The ancient trees, thousands of feet tall, trembled slightly under the array's power, the gray light on their branches and leaves was swallowed up, and a cold and oppressive killing intent filled the air.
Ye Wuhen abruptly stopped, his pupils shrinking sharply. However, before he could utter a warning, a dark shadow flashed through the depths of the ancient forest.
Qin Yu's figure appeared instantly in the forest. His aura remained calm, but his gaze was sharp as a blade.
Without any hesitation, he shouted, "Back off!" Qin Yu's voice boomed through the forest like thunder.
"The Hua Family Lineage is lying in ambush here!"
The shout startled the entire convoy, and the disciples, who had not yet realized the danger, instantly changed their expressions.
Ye Wuhen reacted extremely quickly; he made his move almost the instant Qin Yu spoke.
He suddenly pushed his palms forward, and the power of his Fate Soul surged within him, unleashing a powerful Void Evolution Principle like a torrent.
"Retreat--!"
The power of the Void Evolution in the air transformed into a massive thrust, propelling the entire convoy along with the spirit boat backward.
Boom! The space suddenly trembled.
Driven by this force, the entire convoy instantly retreated a hundred meters, leaving a large area cleared up where it was about to be Annihilation Construct Killing Formation.
The next moment, the array patterns completely closed, and the Annihilation Construct Killing Formation shut down abruptly on the spot. Black and gold light patterns covered the ground like a giant net, and the space emitted a muffled tearing sound.
If it weren't for that brief moment of retreat, the entire convoy would have been trapped in the formation long ago. A soft laugh echoed from the depths of the ancient forest.
Hua Jingmeng slowly walked out from the center of the array, followed closely by Hua Feiting and ten Hua Lineage cultivators.
The twelve figures stepped out of the array patterns one by one, their auras like twelve mountains pressing down on the heavens and earth.
Hua Jingmeng's gaze fell coldly on Qin Yu. "So it was you. I felt something was off about you back at the restaurant." His tone was indifferent, yet carried a hint of chill.
Qin Yu had already teleported to Ye Wuhen and Gu Linfeng's side, his black robes swaying gently in the forest.
Gu Linfeng stared at him, seemingly stunned for a moment, then...
His eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. "Brother Qin Yu...?" His voice even trembled slightly. "Is it really you?"
Ye Wuhen had now clearly seen Qin Yu's face, and the body of this deacon of the Boundless Realm Divine Sect trembled slightly.
Several dozen days ago, in the Heaven-Burning Flame Domain, the ancient divine beast Void Tribulation Devouring Chi went berserk, almost plunging the entire team into dire straits.
It was Qin Yu who lured away the terrifying beast all by himself, allowing them to escape. After that, they never saw Qin Yu again.
Everyone thought he had perished in that fiery region, but now he has reappeared before them.
And at the most crucial moment, Ye Wuhen's eyes reddened slightly, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Oh my—!" "Brother Qin, it really is you!"
His voice was filled with excitement and relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his heart.
Qin Yu looked at the senior who had once fought alongside him, and his expression softened.
He clasped his hands slightly, his tone respectful and steady. "Senior Ye." The air deep in the ancient forest seemed to freeze for a moment.
The emotions of reuniting with old friends had not yet completely dissipated, while on the other side, Hua Jingmeng and Hua Feiting were already coldly watching this scene.
The auras of the twelve cultivators from the Hua Lineage were slowly rising, and killing intent once again gathered in the ancient forest.
The fog in the depths of the ancient forest grew thicker, and the Annihilation Structure patterns flowed slowly across the ground, like the skeleton of a sleeping behemoth gradually awakening. A heavy killing intent permeated the air, and even the starlight falling into the forest seemed cold and dim.
Qin Yu stood before Ye Wuhen and Gu Linfeng, his gaze calm yet sharp. He no longer looked at the distant array patterns, but instead turned his head slightly to Ye Wuhen and said in a deep voice, "Senior, let's deal with the Hua Lineage first."
Ye Wuhen's eyes instantly darkened. He took a deep breath, and with a sudden flick of his right hand, an ancient artifact appeared in his palm. It was a halberd with a dark gold body, its blade engraved with densely packed Void Evolution Dao patterns, each pattern seemingly containing some ancient power.
As he poured his Fate Soul force into it, the surface of the halberd suddenly lit up with layers of radiance, and the power of Void Evolution reverberated in the air, as if an ancient ferocious beast was slowly awakening.
Ye Wuhen slammed his halberd into the ground, his voice booming like thunder as he roared behind him, "Brothers—!" "We swear to protect the goods to the death!"
A resolute fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. "Don't let that old man Hua Lineage get a single cent!" The moment his words fell, dozens of disciples from the Severed Thought Realm at the back of the convoy stopped simultaneously.
They were originally guarding around the spirit boat, but now they all activated their Fate Soul power, and streams of energy soared into the sky.
Some people formed hand seals, and huge Daoist talismans appeared in the void; some people brandished long swords, and the sword light cleaved the air like thunder; others used supernatural powers to condense huge spiritual shields to protect the cargo spirit ships.
In an instant, the power of the Dao intertwined within the ancient forest, forming a dazzling sea of light. On the other side, however, only a cold smile appeared on Hua Jingmeng's face.
"Hmph." His voice was cold and contemptuous. "How laughable." He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as if looking down at dust.
"You ants think you can rebel?" As he said this, his gaze suddenly locked onto Qin Yu.
His gaze suddenly turned cold. "Boy." "I advise you not to meddle in other people's business." His voice was like a knife slowly being drawn from its sheath.
"Leave immediately." "The matter at the restaurant is settled." Qin Yu stood calmly in the forest.
He didn't even move an inch. After a moment, he spoke calmly, "What if I don't?"
The moment those words were spoken, Hua Jingmeng's eyes turned completely cold. A slow smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Don't blame me for not warning you."
His voice was low and cruel. "Our Hua Lineage wants to kill you—" He slowly raised his finger. "As simple as crushing an ant."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu suddenly chuckled softly. The laughter was calm, yet carried a sharp, cold edge. "Excuse me."
His gaze was fixed on Hua Jingmeng. "I'm specifically targeting the Hua Lineage." The air in the ancient forest seemed to freeze for a moment. Qin Yu continued.
"Oh, right." "And the Shangguan Lineage too." His tone remained calm, yet it struck the crowd like a thunderbolt.
"And most importantly—" "It seems your Hua Lineage and the Shangguan Lineage have a pretty good relationship, right?"
"I heard they're allies?" As soon as the words were spoken, the faces of everyone in the Hua Lineage darkened simultaneously. And at that very moment...
Hua Feiting, who had been silent all along, finally took a slow step forward.
Her figure seemed to blend into the space, her eyes, hidden behind the light and shadow, quietly gazing at Qin Yu.
Her voice was calm, yet carried a chilling, authoritative edge. "Fellow Daoist Qin," she said, "if you insist on interfering in this matter—"
Her aura suddenly rose slowly, causing the entire ancient forest to tremble slightly. "Then don't blame us for being impolite."
Hua Jingmeng's patience had clearly run out. He didn't even say another word. The next moment, he suddenly raised his hand.
"Charge!" The voice boomed like thunder. "Kill that brat too!"
Boom! Ten cultivators from the Hua Lineage, Realm Breaking Realm · Supreme, attacked simultaneously.
The Annihilation Structure array patterns beneath their feet instantly lit up, and black-gold light surged into the sky like a torrent.
A cultivator suddenly waved his hand, and a huge black battle axe appeared in the void. The axe shadow fell like a mountain, tearing open a thousand-foot-long rift in space.
Another cultivator clasped his hands together, and countless burning Dao talismans suddenly appeared in the sky above the ancient forest. The runes poured down like a meteor shower, each carrying the power to Realm Breaking.
With a wave of his sleeve, another person unleashed dozens of black chains that extended from the void, their chains entwined with Annihilation Structure runes, as if to completely seal off the entire space.
Ten experts at the Realm Breaking Realm · Supreme powers simultaneously, causing the heavens and earth to tremble. Ancient trees, some tens of thousands of feet tall, shook violently at this moment, their branches and leaves torn apart by the shockwave, and countless fragments of leaves danced in the light.
At that moment, Ye Wuhen roared, "Everyone, attack together!"
He suddenly swung his halberd. Boom! The power of Void Evolution erupted like a tidal wave, and the halberd drew a golden arc of light hundreds of feet in the air, directly meeting the huge battle axe phantom.
At that moment, Gu Linfeng also drew his sword and rose up. The sword light suddenly shot into the sky.
A streak of azure sword light, like lightning, ripped through the sky, directly striking the rain of falling talismans.
Behind them, dozens of disciples from the Severed Thought Realm attacked simultaneously, unleashing a barrage of sword flashes, talisman arrays, and supernatural powers within the forest.
Dozens of powerful forces shot into the sky, forming a dazzling sea of light to meet the Hua Lineage's attack. Boom--!!!
The two forces collided suddenly in the center of the ancient forest.
The shockwave from the explosion instantly swept in all directions, the space shook violently as if struck by a heavy hammer, ancient trees were uprooted in the violent shockwave, and a huge energy vortex formed above the forest.
The sky was completely illuminated by divine light. Light, thunder, shattered space, and burning Dao principles intertwined in the air.
The battlefield at this moment was like a world-destroying storm, and Qin Yu stood quietly in the center of this storm, his gaze slowly rising.