Mortal: I have a Spirit Gathering Cauldron

At this moment, the alluring woman took out a blanket from her storage bag and spread it on the ground. She then took out a pot of spirit wine from her sleeve and handed it to her with a smile: "Master, would you like a sip? This is jujube wine that I bought at the market. Although it is not as good as the spirit wine of the sect, it has its own unique flavor."

Jin Nantian took the wine pot, uncorked it, tilted his head back and took a sip, then handed the wine pot back to her expressionlessly.

The burly man didn't sit down, but instead flew around the Gobi Desert, as if surveying the terrain.

During this time, the big man's gaze lingered on the rock where Lin Feng was hiding for two seconds before moving away.

Lin Feng's heart was in his throat.

After the big man finished his inspection, he returned to Jin Nantian's side.

"Master, there's nothing unusual about this Gobi Desert," the burly man said in a deep voice.

Jin Nantian nodded.

The alluring woman had already sat down on the blanket, her two long, fair legs crossed, her toes lightly touching the ground, looking completely relaxed and content.

"Master, do you think there will really be Core Formation level spiritual items at the Sunset City auction this time?" she asked, tilting her head with curiosity in her eyes.

"The information is reliable." Jin Nantian said sparingly.

"That's wonderful!" The alluring woman clapped her hands and laughed. "If the sect leader successfully forms his core, the Thousand Bamboo Sect can regain some of its former glory!"

The burly man grinned!

Jin Nantian's eyes were deep, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned: "Don't worry, the sect has spent a lot of money this time to help me form my core. I won't keep this glory to myself!"

At this moment, they were several hundred feet away from Jin Nantian and the others.

Lin Xingjian and his three companions were quietly hiding inside the Earthly Fiend Locking Yuan Formation.

Lin Feng licked his lips and continued to wait.

As the sun slowly sank below the horizon, the light in the desert changed from red to dark, and finally, darkness enveloped everything.

On the Gobi Desert, the night was as dark as ink.

Jin Nantian sat cross-legged on the blanket, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing steady. The alluring woman and the burly man sat on either side of him, also meditating and recovering.

Several small flags were planted on the ground between the three people, forming a simple warning formation that flickered with a faint spiritual light.

The wind howled in the distance, whipping up fine sand grains that rustled against the rocks.

Occasionally, the howls of sand beasts could be heard from afar, mournful and long, echoing through the vast desert.

Everything seemed calm and normal.

But beneath that seemingly empty Gobi Desert, within the Earthly Fiend Locking Yuan Formation, four pairs of eyes were peering intently at Jin Nantian and his companions through the formation's concealment.

"They've arrived," Lin Bingcheng whispered cautiously. "Jin Nantian and two newly appointed Dharma Protectors."

At this moment, Lin Xingjian's gaze pierced through the light barrier of the formation and landed on the golden-robed man sitting cross-legged. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes: hatred, fear, and something else that was hard to describe.

"Young Master, there's one peak Foundation Establishment cultivator and two mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators." Old Hu's voice was hoarse, like the wind blowing through dry reeds. "We must wait until they enter the formation before making a move."

Lin Xingjian's eyes narrowed slightly, his pupils reflecting the three blurry figures in the distance. He gripped the flying sword in his hand tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"I know," he said softly.

Lin Bingcheng's gaze lingered on Jin Nantian for a moment, then shifted to the alluring woman and the burly man, and he said in a low voice:

"That woman is called Su Mei. She was promoted to Protector of the Faculty by Jin Nantian a few years ago. She is skilled in seductive arts and poison techniques. That pink silk ribbon is her famous magical artifact, called 'Soul-Destroying Ribbon.' It is said that those who are entangled with it will lose their minds and be at the mercy of others."

He paused, then looked at the muscular giant: "That man is called Tie Xiong, also a newly appointed Dharma King. He has an extremely strong physique and immense strength. The Crimson Flame Axe in his hand is a top-tier magic weapon. One swing of the axe can even break the defensive magic weapon of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Lin Xingjian nodded without saying anything.

Old Hu spoke, his voice still hoarse, but with a hint of solemnity: "Young Master, Huang Long will lead them in a bit."

Huang Long grinned, revealing a set of yellow teeth: "Don't worry, Old Hu. I may not be good at much else, but I'm a master at running away. Back in the day, I was chased by a group of sand beasts in the Hurricane Desert for three days and three nights, and I still survived, didn't I?"

Lin Xingjian glanced at him and said in a deep voice, "Huang Long, be careful. Just lure him over, don't fight him head-on."

Huang Long's smile faded, and he nodded solemnly: "Yes, young master."

Lin Xingjian's gaze swept over the three people inside the formation, and he took a deep breath: "Huang Long, go and lure them over. The rest of us, get ready. Once Jin Nantian enters the formation's range, Elder Hu will immediately activate the formation."

"Jin Nantian is at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and the four of us combined are no match for him. But the Earthly Fiend Locking Yuan Formation can suppress his cultivation level. The spiritual energy within the formation will be drained, and the power of his magic weapon will decrease by at least 30%."

"Our goal is to stall. To stall until his spiritual energy is exhausted and he has used up all his trump cards. Then, we'll strike decisively."

Mr. Hu, Huang Long, and Lin Bingcheng nodded in unison.

"And one more thing," Lin Xingjian's gaze sharpened, "Kill those two Dharma Kings if you can, otherwise keep them occupied. Don't let them interfere with Elder Hu's control of the formation. Once the formation is broken, we'll all die here."

After saying this, he shut his mouth.

Silence fell again within the ranks.

Huanglong silently slipped over the edge of the formation.

His figure was almost invisible in the darkness. He moved slowly forward, close to the ground, like a snake.

Huang Long stopped about a hundred feet away from them, hiding behind a wind-eroded rock about half a person's height. He took a deep breath and channeled his spiritual energy into the ghost-headed broadsword in his hand.

He suppressed the spiritual light on the blade to a minimum, with only a faint glint of cold light at the tip.

Jin Nantian remained seated with his eyes closed, seemingly unaware of anything. The alluring woman, Su Mei, yawned and stretched, her curves barely visible under the moonlight beneath the thin veil.

Business as usual.

It's now!

Huang Long suddenly sprang up from behind the rock, and the spiritual light on his Ghost Head Saber instantly burst forth, transforming into a cold beam over ten feet long that shot towards Jin Nantian's face.

The blade flashed through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

Jin Nantian and his two companions reacted the instant the aura of the Ghost Head Saber was revealed.

Tie Xiong reacted the fastest. He suddenly opened his eyes, and a large hand pulled a pitch-black iron shield from his storage bag. He infused it with spiritual power, and the shield instantly expanded to three feet square, blocking Jin Nantian's path.

"clang--"

The demon-headed broadsword struck the shield, sending sparks flying. The immense recoil propelled the broadsword away, sending it tumbling several times in the air.

Su Mei reacted quickly as well. A pink silk ribbon from her sleeve flew out like a serpent, coiling and wrapping around the three of them to form a pink protective shield. The ribbon was embroidered with intricate runes, shimmering with spiritual light and emitting a sweet fragrance.

Jin Nantian did not move.

A vast divine sense spread out from his body, like an invisible net, instantly covering an area of ​​several hundred feet in radius.

Then he opened his eyes.

Those eyes shone brightly in the night, like two cold stars. He looked in the direction Huanglong had fled, his lips moved slightly, his voice not loud, but carrying a powerful, trembling force that made the surrounding air buzz.

"What kind of scoundrel are you, hiding your head and showing your tail?"