Gao Wu: Oh no! Young Master Zhen is a cultivator!

Li Zhu Wanwan neither dodged nor avoided.

Golden light shone brightly in his phoenix eyes, and the divine fire around his body suddenly receded, condensing into a thin layer of light.

The white light struck the light membrane.

hum!

Heaven and earth fell silent.

The clouds within a radius of a hundred miles evaporated instantly, the ground sank, and the rocks crumbled.

The optical film remained completely still.

Li Zhu Wanwan raised her long neck slightly and opened her mouth to spew out a stream of condensed phoenix true flame.

laugh!

With a flash of light, the white light was engulfed by flames and burned to nothingness, leaving not a trace.

The old man suffered a backlash; his body shattered, blood gushed out, and his life force rapidly declined, yet he still did not die.

He struggled to get up again, but he was too weak.

Just then, Xuanjiao and his entourage caught up and surrounded them again.

A barrage of attacks rained down on the old man's remaining protective aura.

Bang!Bang!Bang!

The light trembled continuously, and cracks spread rapidly.

The old man screamed repeatedly as his body was scorched by divine fire, his skin and flesh were charred and melted, and his spiritual power was rapidly dissipating.

In an instant, the Nascent Soul cultivator's physical body completely collapsed.

The nascent soul within the shell broke free of the tattered flesh, transforming into a streak of light, attempting to break through the void and escape.

Li Zhu Wanwan's phoenix eyes narrowed, and the Phoenix True Flame arrived first, completely engulfing the stream of light.

A dignified Nascent Soul cultivator perished so hastily without even having a chance to leave a last word.

Lin Ran rubbed the newly acquired storage ring between his fingertips, casually erasing the remaining divine consciousness.

He looked up at the crimson fire phoenix and casually said, "This old thing comes from a world with a higher limit, a world where demonic beasts can take human form."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wanwan paused slightly, then asked urgently, "Where is it?"

"Come with me first." Lin Ran was still thinking about going back to rescue people and didn't have time to say, "After I've taken care of things here, I can take you with me."

Li Zhu Wanwan lowered her phoenix eyes slightly and slowly suppressed her aura: "Okay."

"Okay." Lin Ran raised his hand and opened the entrance to the Nine Heavens Cave. "Let's go."

Xuanjiao, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, Chonglie, and Xiao Cangshan flashed inside in turn.

Three hundred merfolk stood in neat formation, following closely behind.

Li Zhu Wanwan shrank her body, transforming into a palm-sized firebird, and disappeared into the cave.

Lin Ran closed the entrance to the cave, then leaped into the air, transforming into a streak of light, and returned to the outskirts of Xinhai City.

Three Golden Core cultivators stood in three different locations, sealing off the skies above the city's outskirts.

Dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators formed a sword formation, trapping Bai Zhenting and his companions in the ruins, and confronting a group of investigators and city defense troops.

The group of cultivators neither made a move nor left; they simply waited quietly.

The outskirts of the city were in complete disarray, with broken trees lying everywhere.

Zhang Qichuan and Zhang Qiyang lay paralyzed between the broken pieces of wood, their vital energy almost completely depleted, their chests rising and falling weakly.

Their auras weakened second by second, their life force rapidly fading, and they could perish completely at any moment.

Despite their severe injuries, Bai Zhenting and Bai Zhenyue remained vigilant, a hint of anxiety flashing in their eyes.

Although they wouldn't die for the time being, they were no longer able to fight, and only Wang Chen was still able to move.

Just as the investigators were about to take action, a figure suddenly appeared.

Lin Ran steadied himself, his robes billowing as he looked down over the entire arena.

Upon seeing this, all the cultivators from the Cangxuan Realm showed expressions of surprise.

The leading Golden Core cultivator stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Why is it you? Where is my master?"

Lin Ran's lips curled into a mocking smile: "He went to a very far place. If you want to see him, I can take you there."

"You...it's impossible!" The Golden Core cultivator's pupils shrank, his face filled with disbelief.

"My master is at the late Nascent Soul stage. How could a mere Golden Core cultivator like you possibly deal with him?"

"Then you can ignore that." Lin Ran flicked his wrist, and the Jinghong Sword appeared in his hand, its cold light gleaming. "Now I only ask you, will you surrender or die?"

The Golden Core cultivator laughed in fury, his voice cold and sharp: "Arrogant! You alone dare to spout such nonsense."

"It seems they've already made their choice."

As soon as Lin Ran finished speaking, the illusionary light screen instantly unfolded, enveloping the entire suburban ruins.

The world was distorted and transformed, with rocks and trees growing wildly, trapping all the cross-realm cultivators in the illusionary domain.

In the next instant, Lin Ran suddenly swooped down, his Jinghong Sword carrying a chilling azure light, aiming straight for the vital spot between the eyebrows of the leading Golden Core cultivator.

laugh!

The sword light tore through the air and arrived in an instant.

This Golden Core cultivator possessed profound spiritual foundation. Just as the sword tip was about to touch his flesh, he suddenly regained his senses and forcefully broke free from the illusion's restraints.

His body shone with golden light, and his spiritual power erupted. He drew his sword and blocked the attack.

Clang!

A deafening clang of metal rang out, sparks flying everywhere.

The violent impact traveled along the sword, causing the Golden Core cultivator to be violently pulled back several feet, his arms going numb and his tiger's mouth trembling.

"How is this possible?" He was shocked and realized Lin Ran's true combat strength. He immediately sent a message loudly.

"This person's combat power far exceeds their cultivation level. Everyone, form a defensive formation!"

The remaining two Golden Core cultivators immediately rushed to their aid from the left and right, forming a triangular encirclement with their spiritual energy intertwining to create a sword formation.

However, Golden Core cultivators are able to see through illusions and respond accordingly.

Foundation Establishment cultivators with weak spiritual souls are unable to distinguish between friend and foe.

Under Lin Ran's manipulation, the Foundation Establishment cultivators were unable to distinguish friend from foe, and were just short of turning on each other.

Lin Ran flashed and weaved through the gaps in the sword formation.

The Jinghong Sword moved with lightning speed, bringing with it streaks of sharp, cold light.

puff!puff!puff!

Several soft sounds rang out in succession, and several Foundation Establishment cultivators perished.

They didn't have time to make any blocking movements; their bodies fell straight to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

The leading Golden Core cultivator's eyes widened in fury at the sight, and he roared angrily, "You villain, how dare you slaughter my Qingxuan Sect disciples!"

"What do I have to be afraid of?" Lin Ran's lips curled into a disdainful smile.

With the sword formation broken, the remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators remained trapped in the illusion, like lambs to the slaughter.

Lin Ran moved swiftly and agilely, his sword light relentlessly reaping rewards, like harvesting wheat, quickly clearing out all Foundation Establishment combatants in the outer perimeter.

In just a dozen breaths, dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators perished, leaving the ruins littered with corpses.

On the battlefield, only three Golden Core cultivators remained, struggling to hold on.

The leading Golden Core cultivator was enraged: "You villain, prepare to die!"

He unleashed his full spiritual power, causing the sword to blaze with three feet of golden light, carrying immense power as it cleaved towards Lin Ran's head.

A strong wind rushed towards him, and the sword intent was chilling, locking away all of Lin Ran's space to dodge.

Lin Ran lightly touched the pile of rubble with his toes, and his body suddenly rose half a zhang in height.

At the same time, he flipped his wrist, and the Jinghong Sword slashed upwards, precisely meeting the opponent's heavy sword.

clang!

A deafening roar erupted, and shockwaves exploded outwards, scattering dust in all directions with the fierce wind.

The leading Golden Core cultivator was so shocked that his arm ached and he staggered backward.

The other two Golden Core cultivators seized the opportunity, attacking from both sides with their swords thrusting simultaneously.

Two sharp sword lights, one on the left and one on the right, blocked Lin Ran's retreat, their attacks swift and cunning.

Lin Ran twisted his waist and abdomen, his body spinning in mid-air to avoid the two sword strikes.

He then swept his foot across the chest, accurately striking the cultivator on the left.

Bang!

A dull thud resounded, and the spiritual energy barrier on the cultivator's chest shattered instantly.

His body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the broken mountain wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his injuries severe.

The cultivator's sword on the right grazed past him, missing its mark, and a chill ran through him.

He knew that the longer he lingered in the illusion, the greater his disadvantage would be, so he gritted his teeth and fought desperately.

"Even if it means fighting to the death today, I will avenge my master!"

He burned his own essence and blood, his cultivation level surged briefly, the red light on his sword intensified, and he charged forward again.

"Hmph! Overestimating yourself!" Lin Ran made a hand seal with his fingertips, instantly activating the immobilization spell.

An invisible divine power suddenly enveloped the opponent's body, tightly binding his divine soul meridians.

The cultivator's charging figure suddenly froze in mid-air, his limbs stiff, his spiritual energy stagnant, and he was unable to move.

"What kind of magic is this?!"

His heart was filled with surging fear, and he tried his best to urge his soul to break free, but to no avail.

Lin Ran stepped forward, and with a flash of sword light, swiftly pierced the opponent's vital point in the dantian.

puff!

The sword light pierced through his body, and his spiritual power instantly dissipated, extinguishing the life force of this Golden Core cultivator.