Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 372 One against three
The three surrounded him in a fan shape, with the Foundation Establishment Level 8 cultivator facing him and the other two on his left and right.

None of the three wore masks or concealed their figures, indicating that they had no powerful backgrounds. They were like independent cultivators, free from all ties and wandering the world, unlike cultivators with powerful backgrounds who could run away but not hide.

Generally, organized ambushes will conceal their faces and figures to avoid retaliation, while independent cultivators have fewer such concerns.

They usually pull off one heist and run away, disappearing to all corners of the country. Unless you have an extremely powerful organization, there's really nothing you can do about them.

Ten fire snakes charged one after another into the fire shield surrounding Song Xian. Flames intertwined without a sound, and the fire snakes gradually melted in the raging flames.

The triangular-eyed man at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment twitched slightly at the corner of his eye. He had long since noticed that the fire shield used by Song Xian was unusual. Even with the repeated attacks from the black giant claw, it had failed to cause any significant fluctuations in the fire barrier.

The fact that even his own giant flaming serpent flames failed to break through the flame barrier shows that the opponent possessed extremely high-level fire-attribute techniques.

Both being mid-grade second-tier spells, the fire shield cast by the opponent is twice as powerful as, or even more than, that of an ordinary person.

Under the relentless attacks of the black giant claw and the fire serpent, the Fire Shield finally showed signs of distortion and deformation.

Meanwhile, the Foundation Establishment Level 3 man with a bulbous nose condensed a giant sword in the form of green water light and slashed down.

Seeing that the fire shield was about to be destroyed, Song Xian immediately clasped his hands together, and a large number of sparks surged from his palms, like fireflies flying around, forming a dense wall of sparks.

The next moment, sparks burst forth, transforming into shield shapes. These fiery shields were arranged in an orderly fashion, forming a massive, flaming wall that blocked the way.

This is indeed a second-tier superior-grade spell, Flame Wall.

The Fire Shield has a defense of 840 points.

However, the Flame Wall has a defense of up to 1680 points.

The value is exactly twice that of the Fire Stream Shield, because the Fire Stream Shield, as a low-level second-grade spell, only has a base defense of 300 points.

As a high-level second-grade spell, the Flame Wall has a defense of up to 600 points.

Furthermore, Song Xian's Xuan Tian Fusion Fire Technique has reached the fourth level, and he has absorbed three kinds of strange fire. With the superposition of the spell's power, it is 2.8 times the power of the basic spell.

After the wall of flames was formed, he cast a spell again, and sparks rose from his palms, turning into huge fireballs. Twenty huge fireballs, each several meters in size, shot towards the Foundation Establishment Level 8 cultivator like meteors, and flames raged in the air wherever they passed.

Of the three, the man was clearly the leader. To catch the thief, you must first catch the leader. Only by taking down this man can this crisis be resolved.

Seeing the massive fireballs approaching, the Foundation Establishment Level 8 man retreated, clasped his hands together, and a huge golden shield of light condensed into shape. This was the second-tier Golden Armor Flowing Light of the Metal Attribute.

It is the strongest defensive technique among all the spells he has mastered.

Metal-based magic is the most powerful of the five elements, and since the man himself cultivates a high-level metal-based technique, the power of his magic can be further enhanced at his current level.

In Song Xianzhen's discerning eyes, the golden light shield had a defensive power of 1080 points.

It's important to know that a typical high-level second-grade spell only has a base attack power of 500 points. Furthermore, defensive spells of the same grade are generally more powerful than offensive spells.

Metal-based magic is the strongest among the five elements, and its power is about 20% stronger than other magic.

Even so, it wouldn't have such a high defense of 1080. Clearly, the man's cultivation technique greatly enhanced the power of his magic.

According to Song Xian's estimate, the man's cultivation technique, which is based on metal-based magic, should have an enhancement of around 40% to 50%.

Unfortunately, he encountered Song Xian.

Among the five elements, the relationships of mutual restraint between the attributes are very serious, and the fire element is precisely the one that restrains the metal element's magic, which can achieve twice the result with half the effort.

For example, a metal-type spell with 100 defense can be shattered by a fire-type spell with only 60 power.

One after another, huge fireballs slammed into the golden shield, the flames and golden light intertwining, causing the golden shield to gradually twist and deform.

The man's expression changed slightly. He had already learned that the other party was extremely skilled in fire magic, but he did not expect that the other party's fire magic was so powerful.

As the golden light shield was about to shatter, the man clasped his hands together, and a giant black claw condensed once more, grabbing down at the fireballs.

The black giant claw shimmered with black light, and with a single strike, a huge ball of fire shattered instantly.

Although the man mainly cultivated metal-based techniques and was also skilled in metal-based spells, the metal element was countered by the fire element, so he did not use metal-based spells, but instead used the Dragon-Capturing Claw to fight back.

As for why he used the high-level second-grade gold-attribute spell, Golden Armor Flowing Light Defense, it was because it was the strongest defensive spell he possessed; he had not mastered any other defensive spells of other attributes.

Because he cultivates metal-based magic techniques, which can enhance the power of metal-based magic, he devotes most of his energy to studying metal-based magic.

In Song Xianzhen's discerning eyes, the black giant claw's attack power reached 700 points, which was obviously extraordinary and even stronger than a second-grade high-level metal-attribute spell. Moreover, the man had to consume 100 points of spiritual power each time he used this spell.

Song Xian's Flame Meteor only requires 75 points of spiritual power to achieve an attack power of 1400 points.

Without the other two people, he could easily defeat his opponent, provided, of course, that the opponent chose to fight him to the bitter end.

Although he was strong enough in terms of raw power, he was not proficient in escape techniques. If his opponent was more powerful than him and was determined to escape, there was nothing he could do.

While the two were locked in combat, the other two were not idle either.

They all unleashed their magic and launched a fierce attack on Song Xian.

After unleashing the Flaming Serpent Giant Flame, the man with triangular eyes at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment clasped his hands together, muttered incantations, and his body shone with a dark light. Above his head, a majestic roc, its entire body radiating black light, materialized.

This is the cultivation technique that the man mainly cultivates, the Black Roc Shining Sun Technique. It is a third-tier low-grade technique. When cultivated to its peak, it can transform the user into a black roc and possess the same powerful physical strength as a roc.

Although we haven't reached that point yet, with the power of the Black Roc, we can still unleash powerful wind-attribute spells.

At that moment, his mind stirred, and the roc, radiating black light, let out a clear cry. With a flap of its wings, a huge hurricane condensed and rushed towards Song Xian.

Another man with a bulbous nose, who was at the third level of Foundation Establishment, also continuously attacked Song Xian with water-attribute magic.

A barrage of ice arrows surged toward the Flame Wall. The reason they participated in this ambush was because the leader, an eighth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, had obtained information about Song Xianji's Tremor Fire attribute spells and had invited him.

Although he only had the third level of Foundation Establishment cultivation, he mainly cultivated water-based techniques, and his water-attribute spells were perfect counters to Song Xian's fire-attribute spells.

For Song Xian, this person was even slightly more threatening than the Foundation Establishment Level 5 cultivator.

Under the constant attack of hurricanes and water arrows, the fiery walls gradually twisted and deformed.

This won't do; it's still too difficult for one person to fight three.

Song Xian slapped his hand on the spirit beast pouch at his waist, and a golden figure flashed out—it was the Golden Armored Ant.

Since its advancement, Song Xian has never used it in battle. Firstly, he didn't want others to know that he still had this trump card. Secondly, he could handle the previous battles alone without the Golden-Armored Ant's assistance.

Now, facing an attack from three people, he had no choice but to summon the Golden-Armored Ants.

The golden-armored ant's two long golden antennae fluttered in the wind. After emerging from the spirit beast pouch, its fierce eyes kept turning, staring at the three of them, as if it were choosing its prey.

Its two long teeth were constantly rubbing together, as if it couldn't wait to have a feast.

The three people opposite were all stunned when they saw a second-tier ant-like spirit beast with a golden body appear.

The two people on either side looked at the man who was at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, their eyes practically filled with questions, as if they were engraved on his forehead.

How come there are second-tier spirit beasts? This doesn't match your intelligence!

The Foundation Establishment Level 8 cultivator's eyes showed deep apprehension, but he didn't say much. He also patted his waist, and a black shadow flashed out, which turned out to be a black moth-shaped second-tier spirit beast.

Song Xian's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected that the other party also had a second-tier spirit beast. It was very rare for a rogue cultivator to have the resources to support a second-tier spirit beast.

This person not only has the cultivation level of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, but also raises a second-tier spirit beast. Is this really a rogue cultivator? Song Xian began to doubt his guess.

But if he wasn't a rogue cultivator, which power in the Muh Grasslands could he be? He didn't seem to have offended any major power in the Muh Grasslands.

Although Song Xian was curious about the other party's identity, now was not the time to think about such things. With a thought, he sent his golden-armored ants flying toward the red-nosed man at the third level of Foundation Establishment on his left.

At the same time, he clasped his hands together again and unleashed the Flame Meteor Technique, attacking the man at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment.

Seeing the golden-armored ants rushing towards him, the Foundation Establishment Level 3 man retreated. Everyone knows that when fighting demonic beasts, you must never let them get close.

Once it comes to close-quarters combat, it's basically a death sentence. The man clasped his hands together, and a water-colored ball of light condensed between his palms. The water ball shot out and surged in the wind.

Under the man's control, the water ball slammed into the golden ant with a bang, and the surging water formed a water prison, submerging the golden ant's body.

Inside the water prison, the water surged wildly, following the golden-armored ant's movements. No matter where it went, the water prison always followed it, trapping it in the inner chamber. No matter whether it went forward or backward, it was always in the center of the water prison.

Although its body was hard, it was trapped in the center of the water prison and subjected to the powerful pressure of the water flow, so it could not exert any strength and had nowhere to use it.

This is a mid-level second-grade water prison, specifically designed to confine people.

The golden-armored ant quickly realized this. After discovering that it was in the center of the water prison, it burst into golden light, and golden thorns grew on its body, covering its entire body. In the blink of an eye, it grew to a size of ten feet.

With a hiss, all the golden spikes around its body burst forth and shot forward.

Inside the water prison, water surged and churned, trying to entangle the attacks of these golden spikes. The water flow became increasingly turbulent, and the water prison gradually twisted and deformed.

With a final soft thud, the water prison shattered, and the golden spikes, no longer hindered by the water flow, shot towards the man like arrows.

At this moment, countless black threads shot out, not only wrapping around the golden spikes, but also binding the golden-armored ants, turning them into the shape of silkworm cocoons in the blink of an eye.

The black threads were emitted by the black moth spirit beast, and the threads were shot out from its abdomen.

Seeing the Golden Armored Ant bound, the man with the red nose at the third level of Foundation Establishment immediately clasped his hands together and condensed a water-based spell to attack Song Xian.

Under the relentless onslaught of hurricanes and water arrows, the fiery walls gradually gave way, and shields shattered upon impact.

Song Xian remained calm, clasped his hands together, and once again condensed the Flame Wall spell to protect himself.

Then, he reached for the storage bag at his waist. As spiritual energy flowed in, the bag's opening flashed slightly, and a lifelike humanoid puppet emerged from it—the second-tier low-grade puppet he had crafted.

The three men's expressions changed immediately when they saw him pull out another humanoid puppet.

The three of them exchanged a knowing glance, all of them seeing shock in each other's expressions.

This person was not only highly skilled, but also had a second-tier spirit beast and a puppet to assist him, which was completely unexpected.

The man with the bulbous nose, who was at the third level of Foundation Establishment, swallowed hard. He was already considering retreating, but he didn't dare to abandon the two of them and escape alone.

If the two of them saw him flee and then turned and ran as well, his situation would be extremely dangerous, since he had the lowest cultivation level and the slowest escape speed.

Ignoring his words, the two were caught up by the other side, and he was no match for them no matter what.

Moreover, this wasn't the first time the three had worked together. If they fled without a word now, there was no guarantee that the two wouldn't settle scores with them later.

Therefore, he looked at the leader and waited for his instructions.

Another man at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment also sensed that this was a tough one and looked at him as well.

The man at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment naturally understood the hidden meaning in the two men's eyes. His gaze flickered slightly, but he ignored them.

Although the opponent was highly skilled and had the assistance of a second-tier spirit beast and a puppet, he was not a great threat to him. He could retreat at any time if he wanted to, because the opponent's escape speed was not as fast as his.

He was certain that his opponent did not have any means to enhance their speed, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to catch up with them in the first place.

In other words, he was actually in an invincible position.

The other party's performance further convinced him of the intelligence's authenticity. This job would be enough for him to cultivate to the Golden Core stage and never have to worry about spirit stones again.

With this in mind, he was even less willing to give up.

Now that we've already taken action and exposed our target, if we fail this time, we won't have another chance. The other side will definitely be on guard and won't be able to go out alone without any scruples again.

Seeing that he remained silent, the other two also abandoned their plans to retreat. Although the enemy had second-tier spirit beasts and puppets, they also had second-tier spirit beasts to assist them. So far, they still held the advantage.

With a thought, Song Xian sent the puppet rushing toward the Foundation Establishment Level 3 cultivator.

Although he had the ability to craft second-tier low-grade puppets, he had only crafted this one.

Controlling puppets consumes a great deal of spiritual energy. With his spiritual energy, controlling one second-tier puppet is already the limit. He simply does not have the ability to control two second-tier puppets at the same time.

He currently has 692 points of spiritual power, and it takes 400 points of spiritual power to control a second-tier low-grade puppet.

If this puppet is destroyed, he will not be able to control a second puppet to fight for a short period of time.

Therefore, no time was spent crafting a second puppet for backup.

It should be noted that crafting puppets not only requires materials but also consumes a great deal of divine consciousness. It requires a long period of time to inject fragmented divine consciousness into them, and it takes a considerable amount of time to recover after crafting each puppet.

(End of this chapter)