Starting with the consumables of the Demonic Sect, one can barely achieve immortality.

On the edge of the square, Pei Yi, who was not trying to understand the situation before her and was only hoping hopelessly that Yan Cheng would turn the tide, suddenly received a telepathic message from her fellow disciple beside her:

"I sense things aren't going well."

Pei Yi was suddenly startled:

"Why do you say that? Don't you see that Senior Brother Yan and this fellow are evenly matched?"

Deng Jian shook his head:

"Senior Brother Yan's swordsmanship is indeed exquisite, and when spiritual flames and sword light work together, the power is even more fierce and unparalleled."

"If he has already reached the peak of Qi Refining, a full-force sword strike should be enough to break through the armor on this guy's body."

"Among those of us who study swordsmanship, it is not uncommon to see the weak defeat the strong..."

"But that's on the premise that there was always a possibility of winning."

His experience in combat far surpassed Pei Yi's, and his analysis was concise and powerful:

"When cultivators fight, the first thing to look at is their cultivation level, the second is their techniques, and the third is their equipment."

"Why are the direct descendants of those major sects beings that even independent cultivators of the same realm cannot touch?"

"Because the techniques are superior and the equipment is complete, even if the rogue cultivators have a higher cultivation level, they cannot bridge the insurmountable gap between the two."

A cold, gleaming light appeared in the corpse cultivator's eyes:

"On the other hand, what may seem like a small difference in realm requires both techniques and equipment to catch up."

"Moreover, the difference between Senior Brother Yan and this fellow isn't just a small realm, but a world of difference between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment!"

"Of the three, my senior brother is only superior to his opponent in terms of techniques."

"As for equipment, this big guy's full set of high-end gear might not seem impressive... but have you ever seen a Foundation Establishment cultivator in full Qi Refining gear?"

"Even if it's just the most mediocre batch of Foundation Establishment equipment, it's still at the Foundation Establishment level."

"Though the spirit sword is sharp, it cannot pierce the icy iron armor!"

Pei Yi said softly:

"What should we do then?"

"Should we escape before Senior Brother Yan captures us and forces us to take his place? Or...?"

Deng Jian's face was cold:

"escape?"

"At this point, you're not joking, are you?"

His eyes suddenly flashed with a burning fervor:

"Under normal circumstances, I could cast aside my dignity and humbly serve the higher-ups, just to avoid being used as expendable material and to live out my life without any ulterior motives..."

"However, what we are witnessing now is an epic showdown that we may never see again in our lifetime!"

"To witness a swordsman's duel against a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even if I die, would be worth the ticket price!"

Pei Yi suddenly turned her head and stared at him, her eyes looking at him as if he were a madman.

She couldn't understand this inexplicable fanaticism at all, nor did she feel that anything was "worth the price" even if she died; she had only one thought in her mind:

"What a sword maniac! Can he even be considered a disciple of an immortal sect?"

"No, those who follow the traditions of the immortal sects are greedy for life, for the future, and for immortality."

"This guy's greed was driven by his love for swords, and this greed even outweighed his instinct for survival!"

"His greed has reached such a level that the terms 'discipline of the immortal sect' are no longer sufficient to describe him."

"I never realized he could be so insane!"

Although she had gained some understanding of Deng Jian's motives, Pei Yi still held firm to her own beliefs.

As a disciple of the Immortal Sect, she firmly believed that nothing in the world was more important than her own life, which made her immediately turn her attention to the direction of the Fog Gate.

Even if we abandon Yan Cheng at this moment, it would be tantamount to wasting all our previous efforts.

But it's always better than risking your life in this chaos!

However, just before she was about to leave, a figure suddenly passed through the fog gate and stepped onto the plaza.

The woman in the golden hairpin and wide robe had flowing sleeves, giving her the appearance of riding the wind, which contrasted sharply with her withered and rotten body.

Rather, it is precisely because the body of the deceased was filled with a strong yin energy that the woman's posture at this moment appeared so ethereal and otherworldly, almost like that of a ghost or deity.

She held a gleaming longsword in one hand and a familiar corpse cultivator's head in the other.

It was Chen Xiang's head!

Deng Jian and Pei Yi both exclaimed in unison.

What level is Chen Xiang at?

With all eight meridians open and a mastery of archery, even Yan Cheng, whose cultivation and magical power far surpassed his, was nearly pierced in the throat by an arrow from this corpse cultivator who found an opening.

Even though Yan Cheng was beating this person like a dog, it didn't mean he lacked the combat strength and cultivation commensurate with his reputation.

On the contrary, the pathetic performance of Chen Xiang's two companions in Yan Cheng's hands, which was like paper boats, only further highlighted the power of this fourth-level corpse cultivator.

Even if Deng Jian and Pei Yi join forces, they will definitely be no match for Chen Xiang's iron fists!

However, at this moment, the woman casually tossed the corpse cultivator's head far away, making him die more carelessly than a stray dog ​​on the roadside.

Neither of them possessed the aura-gazing technique of Tian Tong.

Despite sharing the same yin-based connection, they gained a profound and deep-seated understanding of the woman's power before them...

"Late stage of Qi Refining? No, more than that."

"His aura and spiritual power, even surpassing that of the Holy Maiden... already qualify him as a peak Qi Refining cultivator!"

Peak Qi Refining cultivator!

What significance does this hold for the group of corpse cultivators in the Hall of Longevity?

None of them had ever seen the first five disciples practicing Qi. The only people they could come into contact with in the late stage of Qi cultivation were the Holy Maiden and Huang Tong.

However, the former practiced Yang magic, while the latter wielded the Soul-Capturing Bell. The powerful sense of oppression they exuded in the eyes of the corpse cultivators did not actually stem entirely from the difference in their cultivation levels.

But the person before them was completely different; he subdued the two of them simply with his cultivation level!

She didn't even glance at the two of them, but stared intently at the palace guards who were locked in fierce combat with Yan Cheng, slowly raising the long sword in her hand.

She held the knife in one hand, while her other hand rested on the back of the hilt.

His entire being exuded a concentrated and focused aura, like a heavy mountain that could withstand the wind and rain without moving an inch.

In the next instant, this mountain-like figure transformed into a whirlwind of attacks, its sharp blade slicing through the air and piercing the giant's back!

At the same time, Yan Cheng caught a glimpse of that fleeting blade of light out of the corner of his eye, his thoughts racing like the wind:

"They weren't coming for me...that's fine."

He knew that the woman with the golden hairpin was not a corpse puppet, but a living corpse.

The undead have no soul, or rather, no soul that can be extracted from the body again. They rely solely on the spiritual power remaining in their bodies to move.

In other words, when no one is in control, the zombies will only act according to their instincts.

Yan Cheng possessed a soul, and his yang energy could have been used as food for corpse cultivators, making him the prime target of the Golden Hairpin Woman.

But the woman did not target him; instead, she made the palace guards her target.

That means that this guy's lingering will to enter the Moon-Sheltering Palace is incredibly strong, even surpassing the living corpse's instinct to hunt souls.

A strange light shone in Yan Cheng's eyes:

"They are fit to be used by me!"