In mid-air, the expression of the white-haired middle-aged man darkened.
Since ancient times, cultivators of the Shenxuan Sect had often been called a group of lunatics by outsiders.
This was because, regardless of the inheritance they cultivated within the sect, under the influence of their core cultivation techniques, most of them would become extremely violent.
As their cultivation realm deepened, this madness would intensify.
However, madness did not mean they were all fools.
Therefore, all cultivators of the Shenxuan Sect detested being referred to in such a manner.
If anyone dared to mention it in front of them, it would inevitably incite their boundless rage.
"This is your last chance. Hand over the Myriad Souls Yin Spirit Banner, and I'll give you a quick death!"
The white-haired middle-aged man said in a deep voice.
His voice reverberated through the sky, clearly conveying his anger.
Even the four individuals maintaining the formation had flames of anger burning in their eyes.
Clearly, the word "lunatics" had a significant impact on them.
"If you have the ability, come and snatch it from my hands!"
Elder Hong Tian snorted coldly, showing no intention of compromising.
In any case, whether he handed it over or not, the other party would not let him go.
"Since that is the case, then I shall grant your wish!"
The white-haired middle-aged man extended his right hand, and an aura of extreme cold surged from his palm.
An ice crystal longsword materialized, and over a dozen restrictions on the sword body were immediately activated!
Witnessing this scene, Ji Yuan's heart tightened. He hadn't expected this person to have completely refined a magical treasure!
The power of a magical artifact and a magical treasure varied greatly depending on the degree of refinement.
If one could completely refine it, the power it could unleash would differ vastly.
As the white-haired middle-aged man raised the ice crystal longsword in his hand.
Ji Yuan, who had been hiding in the void, could no longer hold back.
He believed that Elder Hong Tian had means to deal with the situation, but it would undoubtedly be a difficult fight.
Thus, almost simultaneously, he took a forceful step forward, and a faint luminescence enveloped his entire body.
In the next breath, he appeared outside the formation. A stream of light flashed between his eyebrows.
A white jade flying sword shot out, effortlessly piercing through the formation before him.
Ji Yuan flashed into the formation, then emerged from the void. He then pointed a finger at the white jade flying sword beside him.
In a flash, streaks of sword energy erupted, and within mere breaths, the entire formation was torn apart!
Seeing this, Elder Hong Tian let out a hearty laugh.
He immediately rose, and boundless thunderbolts surged upwards, sweeping towards the sky like a reversed waterfall.
Despite the clear sky, thunderous roars reverberated.
Thick bolts of lightning flashed, unleashing earth-shattering power.
"You court death!"
The white-haired middle-aged man snorted coldly and immediately raised his longsword to block in front of him.
The other four cultivators of the third realm also hurriedly took out their magical artifacts or used their formation flags to block.
In the next moment, an endless torrent of lightning swept over, each bolt capable of shattering a small hill!
The five Shenxuan Sect cultivators present were instantly engulfed by countless bolts of lightning.
Within mere breaths, an area of nearly a hundred zhang had transformed into a sea of lightning!
Deep within this lightning sea, an ordinary third-realm cultivator would likely not last long before being blasted into ashes.
This was a strike that Elder Hong Tian had brewed for a long time, originally intended as a method to break the formation.
However, Ji Yuan's appearance allowed him to use it in a much more fitting way.
"Go!"
Seeing the endless lightning engulfing several people, Elder Hong Tian immediately let out a low shout.
He grabbed Ji Yuan's shoulder, and the two of them transformed into streaks of lightning, suddenly vanishing into the distant horizon.
This was the first time he had transformed himself into a streak of lightning to escape.
Compared to transforming into a sword, the experience was entirely different.
In the former, it felt as if wisps of lightning were coursing through his body.
It made his entire flesh and blood, his very being, feel more active, and even the circulation of his vital energy became smoother.
Simultaneously, within this lightning, he sensed two distinct energies: life and destruction.
Especially the destructive energy, which stirred many reflections in Ji Yuan's heart.
After an unknown period, perhaps less than half an hour, or perhaps one to two hours.
Ji Yuan suddenly materialized from the streak of lightning.
He immediately looked around and saw a dense mountain forest.
Judging by the sky, only less than thirty breaths had passed.
"Quickly take out your flying magical artifact!"
Elder Hong Tian kept one hand on Ji Yuan's shoulder, ensuring they wouldn't fall towards the ground.
Upon seeing this, Ji Yuan quickly took out his flying magical artifact and then urged it to carry them away rapidly.
"Senior, how are you?"
Ji Yuan glanced back and then took out two bottles of healing spiritual elixirs.
Elder Hong Tian shook his head. His condition was very poor.
Besides swallowing Ji Yuan's healing elixirs, he also took out other spiritual elixirs and swallowed them all.
As the medicinal power slowly spread within him, his complexion improved slightly.
Then, he even took out two medium-grade spirit stones and began to absorb their pure spiritual energy.
Generally speaking, few people would use low-grade spirit stones to refine spiritual energy.
They were mostly used as formation bases or for alchemy.
This was because only spirit stones of medium grade or higher contained sufficiently pure and stable spiritual energy.
"The Shenxuan Sect is likely in trouble."
Elder Hong Tian said in a deep voice while absorbing the spiritual energy from the spirit stones.
He did not care about what happened to the Shenxuan Sect itself, but rather worried about whether the impending or already occurring changes would cause a greater impact.
"I suspect that in recent years, the rumors from the outside world about internal turmoil within the Shenxuan Sect are true."
He said with a grim expression, "It's very likely a power struggle between different factions."
And one of these factions was the one to which the white-haired middle-aged man belonged.
Moreover, this faction clearly had an inseparable connection with the Rebirth Tower, perhaps even cooperating with or having pledged allegiance to them.
This was because the reason they appeared at the border of Jinyang Commandery was not due to their identity as members of the Jiuxuan Sect.
"They were going to find the Flowing Fire Bandits to collect the Myriad Souls Yin Spirit Banner!"
Elder Hong Tian revealed the entire sequence of events.
Furthermore, the Myriad Souls Yin Spirit Banner he had previously seized from the rebels was also one of their targets.
If they hadn't been constantly changing their route, they would have been caught long ago.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan's heart sank. Although he had some premonition, he couldn't help but feel a sense of shock.
"They've caught up!"
Just as he was about to ask a question, he felt the aura approaching from behind.
Even though they were more than ten li away, that aura of extreme cold still swept towards them rapidly.
"Fully activate the magical artifact!"
The white-haired middle-aged man's expression also changed, and he immediately slammed his right hand onto the flying magical artifact!