Dozens of talismans floated in the air, giving the impression of obscuring the sun and moon.
As the middle-aged woman uttered a soft scolding, vigorous life force surged out, carrying with it a sharp killing intent.
As the core of each talisman was ignited, dozens of emerald green lights descended!
Some transformed into wooden swords, wooden spears, and a dense array of short arrows, pouring down like a tidal wave.
Seeing this, Yang Qianhe raised his palms upwards. The imposing figure condensed from demonic energy on his body immediately mirrored the action.
In an instant, torrents of demonic energy surged skyward, lifted by the imposing figure like a dark cloud.
In the blink of an eye, most of the onslaught was intercepted by the demonic cloud, but seven or eight emerald green masses of light pierced through, flashing and disappearing into the earth.
Immediately, roots as thick as a forearm broke through the soil, wrapping around the imposing figure's legs, while more than ten sharp thorns violently thrust forward.
These thorns were aimed directly at the imposing figure's chest, which was where Yang Qianhe's head was!
"Burn everything!"
He let out a low roar, and the surging demonic energy suddenly ignited, rising into a scarlet flame!
The surrounding void twisted for a moment, but no high temperature was emitted. However, the roots and thorns were all incinerated in this scarlet flame.
"Heart Flame Burning Heaven Technique!"
Wu Chengqing whispered, his eyes filled with gravity.
This was a legacy demonic art of the Scarlet Flame Mountain. It was said that if cultivated to its extreme, one could burn the heavens with it. Its flames were not ordinary fire, but were specifically designed to burn away emotions and desires.
As long as even a trace of emotion remained, one could not escape the burning of the heart flame!
Legend had it that an ancestor of the Scarlet Flame Mountain, at the Golden Core stage, had used this heart flame to ignite the desires of a newly ascended powerful cultivator, burning away the opponent's cultivation to fuel the heart flame's growth.
That ancestor had then broken through the Golden Core realm and become a demonic powerhouse that struck awe into a region, roaming freely for several centuries!
The imposing figure condensed from demonic energy dissipated. Yang Qianhe, surrounded by scarlet flames, slowly landed on the ground under the gaze of many pairs of eyes.
With a wave of his hand, the demonic cloud above his head suddenly collapsed, surging entirely into the scarlet flames, deepening their color.
The middle-aged woman did not attack again. She knew her abilities were inherently restrained by her opponent, and she could not win even with all her might.
Besides, she had already achieved her objective. At some unknown time, she had already retrieved the broken flying sword into her hand.
Seeing the opponent's gaze fixated on her, she immediately supported her husband and, without hesitation, retreated rapidly, heading down the mountainside.
This middle-aged couple, after losing their life-bound flying sword and finding their methods inherently restrained, had decisively chosen to withdraw and leave the area as quickly as possible.
"Huh, someone left?"
Yang Qianhe tilted his head, feigning an expression of confusion.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he resumed his nonchalant demeanor, looking incredibly irritating.
However, no one present dared to claim they could definitely defeat him. The surging scarlet flames not only naturally countered wood-elemental powers, but the demonic energy within them could also damage the spiritual essence of magical artifacts.
Even the presence of the heart flame made everyone feel as if their hands and feet were bound, daring not to touch it for fear of their own emotions and desires being ignited.
Those still present, whether from the Nine Xuan Sect or the Moon Gazing Sect, possessed detailed intelligence on the Scarlet Flame Mountain, one of the five great demonic sects.
The demonic arts of that sect were extremely overbearing, not only granting cultivators who practiced them combat power far exceeding their peers, but also allowing the heart flame to burn away all things and ignite the emotions and desires of sentient beings.
Even eminent Buddhist monks could not escape the burning of this flame, for the act of universal salvation was still a benevolent thought, and thus nourishment for the heart flame's burning and growth. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"So, what about you all? Are you still planning to make a move?"
Yang Qianhe scanned the crowd, his gaze finally settling on Ji Yuan.
Although he had gained the upper hand and possessed a significant advantage over the assembled opponents, he was quite willing to avoid further conflict.
After all, there were not just these dozen or so people around. Dozens of cultivators were gathered at the foot of the mountain.
If he were to suffer too much damage now, even if he managed to win and even eliminate everyone here, he would inevitably be severely drained of his spiritual power and possibly suffer significant injuries.
In such a state, facing the encirclement and pursuit of dozens of cultivators, it was uncertain whether he could escape successfully.
He clearly remembered that his previous actions had thoroughly enraged some cultivators in the mid-stage of the second realm, and these individuals would not let him go easily even if they obtained a great treasure.
"I'll trouble the two fellow daoists to help stall the few from the Moon Gazing Sect."
Ji Yuan glanced at the five people led by the handsome young man in the distance and then spoke.
If it were earlier, he might have been a little apprehensive, but after this bout of fighting, the strength of the five Moon Gazing Sect members had been significantly weakened.
Even the young man with mid-stage Spirit Point realm cultivation had his life-bound magical artifact repeatedly struck, pushing it to the brink of collapse. If he were to urge it further to fend off enemies, it would be completely destroyed.
Yet, the specialty of the Moon Gazing Sect lay in this moon wheel and illusions. With the loss of his magical artifact, the young man's illusionary arts alone no longer possessed much killing power.
Then, Ji Yuan turned his gaze to Yu Qingling and others. After a moment of thought, he spoke, "Daoist Yu, how about letting me make the first move? If I'm not their match, you can then take the great treasure at your leisure?"
Yu Qingling, without thinking, stepped back a zhang with his three junior brothers. Although he did not reply verbally, he responded with his actions.
Although the other party was not his fellow disciple, he was, after all, someone who had supplemented the luck of the Nine Xuan Sect and held the title of an executive of Xuan Tian Peak.
Moreover, in a few decades, he might be in charge of the Xuan Tian lineage, or at least a peak elder.
Doing him a favor was not a bad idea. Furthermore, given the strength Yang Qianhe had displayed, Yu Qingling was not entirely confident he could snatch the treasure from him.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan took a deep breath and slowly walked forward, stopping only after reaching three zhang away.
"Hey, hey, hey, at least acknowledge me, will you? You just decided amongst yourselves?"
Yang Qianhe let out a few strange cries. Although he still had a nonchalant air, a hint of gravity flickered in his eyes.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan blinked and said, "Aren't you the one who loves to act superior and ignore others?"
The implication was that he was merely returning the favor.
Upon hearing this, the other party shrugged with some helplessness, and a sharp glint suddenly appeared in his eyes.
Without any warning, he suddenly swung his arms, and the rolling scarlet flames around him surged out, transforming into waves of fire that swept towards the front!
Ji Yuan's gaze remained unchanged. He formed a hand seal, and the spiritual power within him surged out, merging with the six heavy water beads slowly rotating around him.
In a moment, heavy water light erupted, transforming into a colossal wave that slammed towards the surging fire waves!
With a 'hiss,' a patch of white mist suddenly rose, enveloping an area of seven to eight zhang, naturally including the figures of the two of them.
In everyone's sight, besides the thick white mist, there were only red and blue lights constantly clashing and intertwining, releasing waves of astonishing spiritual power fluctuations.
No one had expected that Ji Yuan and Yang Qianhe would choose to clash their spiritual powers head-on right from the start!
Though it seemed simple, it contained countless dangers, far beyond ordinary battles. A single misstep could lead to mutual destruction.
Moreover, without an absolute advantage, even if one eventually won, they would inevitably suffer heavy injuries. It was truly an act of "hurting a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of oneself"!
"The demonic cultivators of the Scarlet Flame Mountain have never relied on their spiritual power. However, their heart flame can burn away the opponent's spiritual power and emotions, supplementing their own consumption, and even increasing their cultivation through this process!"
Wu Chengqing said with a grave expression.
Legend had it that an ancestor of that sect, who was still alive, was once stuck at the peak of the Golden Core realm, his lifespan nearing its end with no hope of breaking through.
Thus, he took a desperate gamble and set his sights on a rising star of a sect. After the latter broke through to the powerful cultivator realm and solidified their cultivation, he devised a plan to use his heart flame to ignite the latter's spiritual power and all their emotions and desires.
In the end, the ancestor of the Scarlet Flame Mountain successfully burned away everything the newly ascended powerful cultivator possessed, using the opponent's cultivation as his own nourishment. He even stole the opponent's insights from achieving the powerful cultivator realm, finally taking the step that had trapped him for countless years.
The reason why that sect could remain unvanquished amidst the encirclement and suppression by the Great Yu Dynasty and various other forces was also related to the techniques they inherited.
The demonic cultivators of this lineage specialized in using the heart flame to ignite others' cultivation and desires, thereby rapidly increasing their own realm and constantly producing powerful individuals within their sect.
"I advise you not to harbor any wicked thoughts!"
Suddenly, Zhao Yuansong let out a cold snort, his sword intent flowing, and he glared sternly in a certain direction.
There, several Moon Gazing Sect disciples had hesitation in their eyes, seemingly contemplating whether to deliver a fatal blow to the two while they were locked in a spiritual power battle.
After Zhao Yuansong exposed them, their faces turned somewhat awkward, and they sheepishly withdrew their thoughts.
If they were ordinary martial artists or some reclusive cultivators, they would have already made their move forcefully, without caring so much.
This was a life-and-death struggle, a contest for a great treasure and opportunity, not a sparring match between sect disciples!
However, the Moon Gazing Sect was, after all, a reputable righteous sect. Even though they harbored deep enmity with the Nine Xuan Sect, they still had to consider their reputation.
If word got out about such a cowardly act of taking advantage of someone's weakness and striking from behind, they would undoubtedly be condemned by their peers, discussed by countless cultivators, and even ostracized by their own fellow disciples, who would be ashamed to associate with them!
Of course, the most crucial point was that the five members of the Moon Gazing Sect currently had no confidence that they could eliminate everyone present and silence them. Otherwise, they would not be standing quietly on the sidelines.
Regardless of the thoughts of others, the two within the white mist had pushed their cultivated techniques to their limits, holding back no spiritual power.
Although Ji Yuan's spiritual power far surpassed that of disciples from reputable sects, being three times as pure and abundant, he still felt considerable pressure, his forehead beaded with sweat.