If I stay in the Hehuan Sect, I'll live off the pampered daughters of the Heavenly Pride Sect.

The sword energy did not spread outwards, but instead, like a giant black cocoon, tightly wrapped around him.

With each breath, the black sword cocoon would contract slightly, emitting a "humming" sword sound.

With each contraction, a chilling pressure intensifies.

Wenren Ji.

This usually quiet and reserved young man is currently at the most crucial moment in his breakthrough to the Core Formation stage—condensing his core!

If interrupted, at best one's cultivation will be completely destroyed, and at worst one's body will explode and one will die.

And at the mouth of the valley not far from him.

A red figure stood firm like a javelin, rooted to the spot, refusing to retreat an inch.

Qin Wanzhuang.

This second senior sister, who is usually so fastidious that she would frown for ages if there was even a speck of dust on her clothes, was in a state that could only be described as "tragic".

Her usually spotless, sharply tailored black outfit was now torn in several places, revealing the rolled-up flesh underneath.

Her once high ponytail had come undone, and a few strands of hair were stuck to her cheeks with blood.

A piece of white cloth casually wrapped around his left arm was soaked in blood, turning a glaring dark red, and was still dripping blood.

But her back remained perfectly straight.

The longsword in his hand, "Blazing Sun," had turned bright red due to excessive use of spiritual power, radiating intense heat that burned away all the miasma that was approaching.

"Huff... huff..."

Qin Wanzhuang was breathing heavily, and with each breath, her lungs felt like they were being pumped by a bellows.

And opposite her.

Seven or eight enormous, terrifying beasts were fanning out to surround them.

Among these demonic beasts, two are "elite monsters" at the mid-stage of the Core Formation realm—the Ironclad Violent Bear and the Ghost-Faced Demon Spider.

The rest were all "ordinary monsters" at the half-step Core Formation stage.

Worse still, in the shadows further away, there seemed to be several furtive figures moving about. They were cultivators who had come after hearing the noise, waiting to reap the benefits.

"roar--!!!"

The armored bear, standing three zhang tall, let out a deafening roar, its massive paws slamming onto the ground, shaking the entire valley.

Its small, scarlet eyes were filled with greed as it stared intently at Wenren Ji in mid-air.

To demonic beasts, a human cultivator who is breaking through to a higher level is the most delicious tonic in the world!

"You beast."

Qin Wanzhuang coldly uttered two words, her voice hoarse, yet exuding a chilling killing intent.

She glanced at the blood and dirt on her body with disgust, a hint of annoyance flashing between her brows.

"It's filthy."

"After I kill you all, I'm going to take three days of baths."

Before he could finish speaking...

The Ghost-Faced Demon Spider, which had been unable to restrain itself any longer, suddenly launched an attack!

"hiss--!"

It opened its ferocious mouth, and a stream of pale green venom shot out like a high-pressure water gun, heading straight for Qin Wanzhuang's face.

At the same time, the armored bear also moved, charging forward like a heavy tank, crushing the earth with every step.

The other monsters also swarmed forward, their claws, fangs, and poisonous mists pressing down from all sides.

This was a decisive victory!

"Blazing Sun Sword Technique - Fourth Form, Meteor!"

A resolute glint flashed in Qin Wanzhuang's eyes.

She did not back down.

We cannot return it.

Because behind her was her junior brother, who was teetering on the brink of life and death.

She bit her tongue hard, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the sword.

boom!

The originally crimson longsword instantly burst into dazzling golden light, flames shot into the sky, transforming into countless meteor-like sword energies that crashed head-on into the overwhelming attacks.

Bang bang bang bang—! ! !

A violent explosion resounded at the mouth of the valley.

Venom splattered, and flesh and blood flew everywhere.

Qin Wanzhuang's figure appeared so small in the terrifying shockwave, yet so tenacious.

"puff!"

A mouthful of blood spurted from her mouth.

She was all alone, and she was already at her last gasp.

Although she managed to block the attack, one of the Ghost-Faced Spider's spears still treacherously pierced through her protective sword aura, leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound on her right leg.

Qin Wanzhuang swayed and knelt down on one knee.

"hiss--"

The spider hissed excitedly, seemingly sensing its prey's weakness.

Its eight long legs moved swiftly, turning into a blur, and its sharp, knife-like spider spears were raised high, stabbing fiercely down at Qin Wanzhuang's throat!

At this moment, Qin Wanzhuang's old strength had been exhausted, and new strength had not yet emerged.

She could only watch helplessly as the eerie spider spear rapidly magnified in her pupils.

"Is it going to end...?"

"It's really... so dirty."

Qin Wanzhuang closed her eyes, a self-deprecating bitter smile curling at the corners of her lips.

At this critical moment.

"Hello!"

A voice filled with helplessness, disdain, and even a hint of exasperation suddenly rang out from above the valley.

"I'm telling you, you beasts, can't you have any sportsmanship? A bunch of grown men... oh no, a bunch of indistinguishable beasts, bullying a girl, have you no shame?"

Accompanied by this sound.

Dozens of sheets of yellow paper, covered with strange runes, drifted down like snowflakes.

It landed right on the heads of the group of monsters.

On each talisman was a large, nouveau riche-sounding character written in cinnabar—

【burst】!

Qin Wanzhuang suddenly opened her eyes.

next second.

Rumble rumble rumble—!!!

A spectacular fireworks display burst forth at the mouth of the valley.

That was the effect of fifty enhanced "Chain Flame Talismans" detonating simultaneously.

The terrifying wave of fire instantly engulfed the Ghost-Faced Demon Spider at the forefront, and even the Armored Bear was blasted over, its body charred black.

Amidst the billowing smoke of battle.

A figure dressed in tight-fitting night clothes, wrapped up like a dumpling, and holding a handful of talismans, descended from the sky, cursing and blocking Qin Wanzhuang's way.

"What a waste of money!"

"Throwing out this handful of talismans is worth hundreds of low-grade spirit stones!"

"I'll definitely get reimbursed by that brat Wenren Ji later! I'll pawn his sword if I'm short even a single spirit stone!"

Mo Chengyue trembled with heartache as he tossed a bottle of pills to Qin Wanzhuang without turning his head.

"Second Senior Sister, stop daydreaming."

"Quickly gulp down this bottle of 'Rejuvenation Pill,' which I obtained from Master's private stash of money... cough cough, I begged it from Master."

Qin Wanzhuang stared blankly at the suddenly appearing figure.

Although his mouth was full of cunning calculations, and although his posture was not handsome at all and even a bit sleazy.

But at this moment.

That back view, damn it... it looks kind of reliable?

"Mo... Chengyue?"

Qin Wanzhuang subconsciously caught the pill, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"What are you doing here?"

"Could it be that they came specifically to rescue me...?"

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Mo Chengyue jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, quickly interrupting her self-indulgent sentimentality.

"Please don't misunderstand!"

"I was just passing by!"

"I was just checking to see if there were any corpses I could touch, but who knew it would be so lively here."

Mo Chengyue turned around and looked at the several injured but ferocious beasts in front of him, as well as the restless aura of the cultivators in the distance.

He sighed deeply and pulled out a large handful of even thicker talismans.

This time.

Not only does it have Explosive Flame Talisman.

There are also lightning strike talismans, ice cone talismans, and even a few precious "bewitching talismans".

"Never mind, we're already here."

"Second Senior Sister, can we still fight?"

With his back to Qin Wanzhuang, Mo Chengyue's voice became unusually serious for a moment.

"If you can still move, finish me off with that last blow."

"These beasts are so tough and thick-skinned, I'm afraid I'd go bankrupt and still not be able to kill them by just throwing spirit stones at them."

Qin Wanzhuang was stunned for a moment.

Then.

She pulled the longsword from the ground and, enduring the excruciating pain, stood up.

A fierce fire reignited in those eyes that had previously dimmed.

She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, revealing a smile that, though disheveled, was breathtakingly beautiful.

"certainly."

"As long as they're not dead, you can kill them."

The two stood back to back in the eye of the storm.

One is a stubborn but soft-hearted master of Gou Dao.

One is a violent sword cultivator with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a haughty personality.