Seeing that Tie Kuang was getting serious, the giant axe tore through the air and roared towards them, carrying terrifying energy.
Instead of retreating, Zhao Yan advanced, letting out a beast-like growl. His True Ki surged wildly into the cold blade, causing a thin layer of blood-red ice crystals to condense on its surface.
"Blood Moon Slash!"
With a hoarse, stern shout, Zhao Yan's figure transformed into a twisted blood shadow, slashing upwards against the trajectory of the giant axe.
Clang!
A piercing crash echoed through the valley, and a tangible shockwave spread outwards, instantly reducing trees within a ten-foot radius to dust.
The cold blade that Zhao Yan had only recently acquired let out a low groan as it groaned under the strain.
Instantly, cracks appeared all over the blade, but he also managed to slightly deflect Tie Kuang's powerful Tie Kuang.
At the same time, Zhao Yan was sent flying backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood. A deep wound was torn open on his chest by the axe wind, but a triumphant sneer flashed in his eyes.
Using this immense force, Zhao Yan aimed precisely at the entrance of the cave.
"Junior brother, wait!"
Bai Xuan's cold voice carried an unquestionable tone, causing Tie Kuang stop in his tracks.
Tie Kuang turned around in confusion. "Senior brother? The rats have all run inside."
Bai Xuan's gaze swept across the ravaged battlefield and the dark entrance to the cave, a cold smile playing on his lips, "No rush, didn't you notice?"
"The other boy who was always following Zhao Yan has disappeared since just now."
Upon hearing this, Tie Kuang's rugged face showed a hint of realization, then he grinned maliciously, "Heh heh, Senior Brother, you mean there's another rat lurking in the shadows, trying to play the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind? Isn't that ridiculous?"
"Whether it's a joke or not, we'll find out soon enough." Bai Xuan said indifferently, his gaze sweeping around, trying to find Lin Yu's hiding place.
Just then, something unexpected happened.
Buzz!
A deep and loud humming sound suddenly arose, coming from all directions.
Immediately afterwards, countless mysterious and complex patterns suddenly lit up on the ground of the valley, which spanned hundreds of feet in radius from the entrance of the cave.
The array patterns shone brightly, instantly weaving together into a huge, semi-transparent, earth-yellow light shield, like an inverted giant bowl, enveloping the entire valley along with the cave entrance.
"An array?" A hint of surprise flashed in Bai Xuan's eyes.
He never expected that someone in the Lower Realm could set up an array of such scale.
Then a glint of greed flashed in his eyes. "It wasn't a wasted trip; there are some good things in the Lower Realm."
Tie Kuang was also taken aback for a moment, then shouldered his giant axe and grinned nonchalantly, "Senior brother, it seems we've really fallen into their trap."
"How about we play with them for a bit?"
Tie Kuang spoke casually, saying he didn't believe that such a broken formation from the Lower Realm could harm his fellow disciples.
"Okay, be careful." Bai Xuan nodded, but still remained somewhat alert.
The art of formations is an extremely important and complex technique in the Upper Realm. Even a simple formation in the Lower Realm, when combined with favorable terrain, can produce unexpected results.
Bai Xuan's eyes flickered as he looked at the cave entrance, which was somewhat blurred and shrouded in the halo of the array.
Looking around at the distorted scenery, thoughts raced through his mind.
The enemy went to great lengths to set up this formation, clearly with the aim of interfering with their senses and forcing them into the cave.
There must be an even bigger ambush inside the cave.
"Interesting." Bai Xuan's smile deepened, but it grew even colder.
"Since they've extended such a warm invitation, let's go in and see what surprise they've prepared."
He was highly skilled and daring, coupled with absolute confidence in his own abilities.
If that hidden brat tries to launch a sneak attack from outside using the formation, he can easily defeat him.
If they were lying in ambush inside the cave, they could take care of it all at once.
"Let's go!" Bai Xuan waved his sleeve and took the lead towards the cave entrance, with Tie Kuang chuckling as he followed closely behind, carrying his giant axe.
Almost as soon as they disappeared, Lin Yu's figure slowly appeared from behind the shadow of an inconspicuous rock at the edge of the valley.
His face was slightly pale; maintaining this hastily arranged Bewildering Tracks Formation, which covered such a large area, had taken a toll on him.
But his eyes remained calm.
"The first step has been taken." Lin Yu whispered.
This formation is not intended to trap or kill the enemy, but only to confuse them and force them to follow their script into the cave and deep into the underground cavern.
He didn't follow immediately, but instead sat down cross-legged, took out a piece of pure Spirit Jade, held it in his hand, and quickly replenished his energy.
At the same time, his mind was connected to several simple early warning barriers set up in the cave passage, monitoring the movements of Bai Xuan and the other person.
"Two pieces of trash from the Upper Realm, dawdling along, are you scared? I'll be waiting for you inside!" Zhao Yan's hoarse and provocative voice echoed from the depths of the passage, reverberating in the narrow space.
"Hmph, still being stubborn even when death is imminent!" Tie Kuang angrily and quickened his pace.
Bai Xuan remained unhurried, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings, taking in the entire cave, yet he had encountered no danger along the way.
"The real ambush can only be inside. It's hidden so deep, let's see what kind of waves you can make," Bai Xuan judged in his heart.
Just as they turned a corner, a wide-open space appeared in the distance, and Zhao Yan, who had been stubborn all along, actually emerged from the shadows.
"Finally here? I've been waiting for you for ages." Zhao Yan grinned, revealing his bloodstained teeth.
"This is where you will die!"
Bai Xuan stopped in his tracks, his gaze passing over Zhao Yan and landing on what was behind him.
There is a pond there.
"So this is your backup plan? A small pond? Are you trying to drown me?" Bai Xuan couldn't help but mock.
"Drown? I'd love to! You piece of trash, you bastard."
Zhao Yan spat a mouthful of thick, bloody phlegm, enveloped in his True Ki, towards Bai Xuan.
Unfortunately, the phlegm was evaporated by Bai Xuan's True Ki in mid-air.
But Zhao Yan also managed to disgust Bai Xuan as he had hoped.
Seeing the veins bulging on Bai Xuan's forehead, Zhao Yan knew he had succeeded.
Without hesitation, he turned and jumped into the icy pool.
"Plop"
In that seemingly inconspicuous cold pool, water splashed everywhere, and Zhao Yan's figure was quickly swallowed by the dark pool water.
On the bank, Tie Kuang looked at the now calm surface of the pool and scratched his head. "Senior brother, should we chase after it? Does this rat really think it can escape by jumping into a puddle?"
Bai Xuan did not answer immediately. He walked to the edge of the pool and focused his mind on sensing.
The pool water was icy cold and bottomless. More importantly, he faintly sensed a fluctuation emanating from the depths of the pool that made his soul tremble slightly—something that no ordinary underground water vein could possess.
"Interesting. There's probably more to this pool than meets the eye." A glint of cunning flashed in Bai Xuan's eyes, a mixture of greed and caution.
"Chase!" Bai Xuan gave the order decisively, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"We've come all this way, how can we leave empty-handed? Today we must cut off Zhao Yan's head and use it as a chamber pot!"