Immortality and cultivation: Heaven rewards diligence, and success is inevitable.

In that instant, the guard with the hammer had already rushed in front of him.

The stone hammer crashed down with a whistling sound, and the earth-elemental true energy attached to the hammerhead made the air feel heavy.

Jiang Shi did not take the attack head-on. Instead, lotus flowers rose beneath his feet, and he shifted to the side, dodging the attack.

The stone hammer struck the ground, shattering the stone slab and sending fragments flying. One of the fragments grazed Jiang Shi's cheek, leaving a bloody mark.

Hammer Guard missed his first strike and then swept across the room.

The stone hammer swung from left to right, blocking Jiang Shi's retreat.

Jiang Shi leaped up, flipped over the hammerhead, and landed three zhang away.

On the other side, the guards simultaneously thrust their weapons at Shui Lingxi.

The stone spear was fast and accurate, its tip gleaming coldly, aimed straight for her chest.

The spirit beast of Shuilingxi pounced, opened its mouth and bit the spear shaft. The power of frost seeped into the stone spear through its teeth, and a layer of white frost formed on the spear shaft.

The most dangerous place was where Feng Yiran was attacked from both sides by the sword guards and the knife guards.

The sword guards swept their stone swords horizontally, while the knife guards slashed vertically, blocking all escape routes.

But Feng Yiran did not retreat but advanced, dodging the stone sword and using his sword to block the stone knife.

The two weapons clashed, sparks flying everywhere.

The sword guard was twice as strong as the previous guards, and Feng Yiran was forced back two steps, his hands going numb.

The archer stood at the very back, his bow fully drawn.

The arrowhead moved back and forth among the four men, searching for the best target.

Jiang Shi knew he couldn't delay.

The longer it drags on, the greater the threat from the archers.

"Fire Blaze, Archer Guard!" Jiang Shi called out.

Huo Lie gritted his teeth, biting his tongue until it bled, and smeared his blood onto the magical artifact.

A thin column of fire shot out, not to attack the archer, but to the ground beneath its feet.

Flames exploded, shards of stone flew, and the archers were shrouded in smoke, their vision obstructed, and the arrows were delayed in being fired.

"Wind, you too, block the swords and blades! Water Spirit Creek, follow me!"

Jiang Shi charged toward the spear guards, and Shui Lingxi and the little beast immediately followed him upon hearing this!

The guard's stone spear was partially frozen by the spirit beast's frost power, making it somewhat slow to swing.

Jiang Shi rushed in front of it, and thrust the Canglan Sword into its chest.

The guard parried with the shaft of his spear, the tip of his sword striking the shaft with a grating scraping sound.

The spirit beast from Shuilingxi pounced from the side and bit the gun guard's right arm.

The power of frost activated again, and a layer of ice formed on the right arm joint of the spear guard, making his movements even slower.

Jiang Shi sheathed his sword, switched hands, and thrust out again.

This time, the sword tip did not pierce the chest, but instead pierced the guard's frozen right arm joint.

The sword tip cut into the ice and pierced the joint gap.

The divine light of Geng metal exploded at the joint, and the spear guard's right arm broke off at the shoulder. The stone spear and the severed arm fell to the ground together.

The gunners lost their weapons, greatly reducing their combat effectiveness.

It threw a left punch at Jiang Shi, but Jiang Shi dodged it by dodging.

The spirit beast of Shuilingxi pounced and bit its left leg, freezing it with the power of frost.

The gunman lost his balance and collapsed with a thud.

Jiang Shi pierced its head with his sword, and golden light exploded, shattering its core.

Gun Guard, dead.

On the other side, Hammer Guard slammed his stone hammer into the ground.

A crack appeared in the ground, and the crack spread towards the river stone.

Jiang Shi leaped up to avoid the crack, but the Hammer Guard had already rushed in front of him.

The stone hammer was lifted from below and smashed into Jiang Shi's abdomen.

Jiang Shi had no choice but to take the hit head-on, as he was unable to dodge in mid-air. He crossed his arms in front of him, and a golden shield appeared.

The stone hammer struck the golden shield with a muffled thud.

Jiang Shilian, protected by a golden shield, was sent flying and crashed into the arena wall, blood spilling from his mouth.

"Jiang Shi!" Shui Lingxi called out.

Jiang Shi slid down the wall and squatted on the ground, his arms numb and his bones feeling like they were about to break.

This is where dreams begin, and where dreams come true.

He shook his hand and stood up.

"fine."

Hammer Guard charged forward again.

This time it was faster; the stone hammer was raised high, pressing down like a small mountain.

Jiang Shi immediately activated the "Earth-Suppressing Mountain Technique," and the earth element portion of the five-colored golden elixir lit up.

He thrust out with both hands, and a phantom of a mountain emerged from his body, taking the blow head-on.

This is Zhenyue!

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Shi converted his true essence, and the five-colored golden pill changed again, with a golden light flashing out from it!

"Geng Metal—Divine Light!"

Golden light shot out from the palm, passed through the stone hammer, and struck the hammer guard's head.

Hammerguard's head exploded, his body swayed, and he collapsed with a thud.

On the other side, Feng Yiran was simultaneously dealing with both the sword guards and the knife guards.

It was a bit strenuous, but Jiang Shi had freed up his hands and immediately came to help.

With everyone's combined efforts!

All five guardians were reduced to rubble.

Five fragments of earth spirit stones rolled out from the pile of rubble, emitting a warm yellow light.

Jiang Shi bent down to pick up the shards and stored them in his storage bracelet. His arms were still trembling, and the blood from his tiger's mouth had already congealed.

Huo Lie sat on the ground, panting heavily. His face was as white as paper; the burning of his essence and blood just now had made it almost impossible for him to stand up.

Huo Lie leaned against her, his eyes closed, his chest heaving.

Shui Lingxi glanced at him, took out a Rejuvenation Pill from her storage bracelet, and put it into his mouth.

"Eat sparingly," she said.

Huo Lie chewed on the pill and mumbled something indistinctly.

Just then, the passage in front of the portal opened.

Feng Yiran sheathed his sword and walked to Jiang Shi's side. The two of them looked at the teleportation array together.

"What's the next challenge?" Feng Yiran asked.

"Earth Spirit Battle Formation," Jiang Shi said. "Each of the five Earth Spirit Warriors is stronger than the guards from before."

Feng Yiran nodded without asking any further questions.

The four of them rested for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Jiang Shi gave each of the guards a piece of the Earth Spirit Stone fragments he obtained from them. Huo Lie was too weak to carry them, so Shui Lingxi kept them for him.

Then they stood up and walked toward the teleportation array.

The five-colored light engulfed the four people.

Heaven and earth are upside down.

When they opened their eyes again, they were no longer in the maze.

Before us stood a massive arena.

It was circular, with a diameter of 100 zhang, and surrounded by stone steps and stands, where petrified ancient cultivator statues sat.

They were in various poses, some clapping, some shouting, some standing, some sitting, all petrified in the same instant, frozen in time forever.

In the center of the arena stood five Earth Spirit Warriors.

Each statue is two zhang tall and holds a different weapon—a sword, a knife, a spear, a hammer, or a shield.

Their bodies are made of dark brown rock, and their eyes are golden, radiating a cold, warlike aura.

Mid-stage Golden Core.

All five were at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm.

Huo Lie's expression darkened further upon seeing the five warriors.

"You're kidding, right..."

Jiang Shi did not answer.

His gaze passed over the warrior and landed on another door opposite the arena.

Behind the door, a faint rumbling sound could be heard—the sound of fighting, people were fighting, and it was fierce.

The Five Elements Demonic Sect is right behind that door.

"They're still fighting." Feng Yiran heard it too. "The Earth Bear isn't dead yet."

Jiang Shi withdrew his gaze and looked at the five warriors in front of him.

"Let's finish this level first."

He strode into the arena. Feng Yiran followed, with Shui Lingxi carrying Huo Lie at the rear.

The golden eyes of the five warriors lit up simultaneously.