Outside, those members of the Wushen Sect continued attacking the projection of the Nine Refinement Spirit Tower.

Lake and Sea Wanderer revealed a sinister smile, "So many people, it can feed my Blood Soul Banner well, hehe, truly an unexpected joy."

The stronger the Blood Soul Banner, the more useful it was to him as its master.

Under the attacks of these Wushen Sect Martial Artists, the light of the Nine Refinement Spirit Tower kept dimming!

Even a Quasi-Saint Artifact requires a vast amount of spiritual power to function.

And their attacks would force the Nine Refinement Spirit Tower to consume more spiritual power to resist.

Once the threshold is reached, the tower’s defenses will be broken.

Inside the tower, Zi Yuan, Emperor Xi Yue’s daughter, and others felt the disturbances coming from outside the tower, showing a solemn expression full of worries on their faces.

They all focused their gaze on Chen Xiao...

Now, their only hope was for Chen Xiao to successfully make a breakthrough.

The Martial Artists from Xuantian Sect and Great Zhou Imperial Family were also filled with emotions, they never thought that they, strong Heavenly Realm warriors, would have to pin their hopes on someone at the late Transcendent Realm...

This made their feelings complex.

But remembering Chen Xiao’s terrifying combat power, they were at ease.

Being protected by such a prodigy was not shameful.

Truthfully, the one with the most complex feelings was Feng Hen...

He initially thought of himself as a genius looking down on Chen Xiao, but now, it turned out he wasn’t worthy of even carrying Chen Xiao’s shoes—the gap was too vast.

Meanwhile, Chen Xiao didn’t pay attention to the noises outside.

He frantically operated Tianyang Jue, absorbing all this refined spiritual energy into his body.

The spiritual power refined by the Nine Refinement Spirit Tower was exceptionally pure, much higher than that from mid-grade Spirit Stones, saving a lot of effort when absorbing it.

Therefore, his cultivation progressed very quickly!

The speed at which he absorbed spiritual energy left everyone present astounded!

It’s known that the speed of absorbing spiritual power is also related to a martial artist’s cultivation.

Yet Chen Xiao absorbed spiritual power at such an alarming rate, and his body wasn’t overwhelmed; it showed how solidly built his physique and foundation were!

It’s estimated that Chen Xiao’s meridians and dantian could accommodate far more spiritual power than theirs!

Time passed minute by minute...

Outside.

Lake and Sea Wanderer gazed at the Nine Refinement Spirit Tower, now dimmed, a sinister smile curling at his lips, "Seems like I should personally break it open!"

With that, the Blood Soul Banner in his hand appeared, a fierce and evil aura surging forth, after which he began gathering spiritual power into the banner, and in the next moment, he suddenly swung the Blood Soul Banner!

A pungent black spiritual power, like a cloud of black fog, spewed forth, transforming into a gale rushing toward the Nine Refinement Spirit Tower’s projection!

"Boom—!"

The projection violently trembled, its surface light completely fading.

Within the projection of the Spirit Tower, Zi Yuan and others only felt a dizzying sensation.

Lake and Sea Wanderer showed a smug expression, then continued swinging the Blood Soul Banner.

"Boom—"

This time, as the Blood Soul Banner waved, faint ghost faces appeared within the black gale, emitting extremely piercing wails, very disturbing!

The next second... cracks began appearing on the entire Spirit Tower projection.

Finally, the entire Spirit Tower shattered.

Zi Yuan, Xiyue, and others fell to the ground, appearing in front of Lake and Sea Wanderer and others.

"Now, you can’t hide anymore, can you?" Lake and Sea Wanderer laughed loudly.

Those Wushen Sect members also stared fiercely at the Xuantian Sect and Great Zhou Imperial Family crowd.

"Fight them!" Several elders of the Xuantian Sect snorted coldly.

At this point, what other choice did they have?

Only a desperate struggle remained!

"Leader, you take Lady Zi Yuan and leave!" A few elders took a deep breath, "We’ll stay behind!"

They already resolved on dying heroically, knowing that if they sacrificed themselves, their descendants would be treated well.

But if they fled and let Zi Yuan die here.

Not only would they suffer...

The three martial artists of the Great Zhou Imperial Family similarly protected Xiyue tightly behind them.

"Emperor’s daughter, you leave first!"

"Rest assured, none of you will escape." Lake and Sea Wanderer laughed crazily, "You’ll all die, all will enter my Blood Soul Banner as nourishment!"

Other members of the Wushen Sect also surrounded them from all directions.

Lake and Sea Wanderer waved his hand!

The Blood Soul Banner once again erupted with black fog, sweeping toward one elder of the Great Zhou Imperial Family.

The elder wanted to resist, but when the black fog corroded him, he let out a gruesome scream; the fog was pervasive, breaking through his defenses, enveloping and dragging him into the Blood Soul Banner in an instant...

Under the terrified and shocked gazes of all, his physical body was completely eroded, and a soul was forcibly yanked by countless vengeful spirits within the Blood Soul Banner—the harrowing sound chilled the soul...

"Elder Xu!" Xiyue’s eyes were red with rage.

He was her old protector, guarding her for years.

Though not like family.

But indeed, very close.

Now, she couldn’t accept seeing Elder Xu slaughtered by Lake and Sea Wanderer.

Others were filled with fear.

A Transcendent Realm Peak Martial Artist, casually wiped out.

What power did they have left to resist?

Lake and Sea Wanderer licked his lips, "Not bad, the power of the Blood Soul Banner has indeed increased a lot, the taste of a Transcendent Peak martial artist is truly exquisite, hahahaha—"

"Let’s fight them to the end!" Several of the strong from Xuantian Sect and the Great Zhou Imperial Family charged at Lake and Sea Wanderer!

"Overestimating your abilities!" Lake and Sea Wanderer continuously waved the Blood Soul Banner in his hand.

They struggled to evade.

Yet, two martial artists were struck by the black mist emitted from the Blood Soul Banner and perished on the spot.

Completely without any power to resist!

"Junior sister, let’s go, go!" Feng Hen’s legs had gone limp with fear, and he hurriedly grabbed Zi Yuan’s hand, ready to take her away.

However, Zi Yuan shook off his hand, "Rather than be broken, do not be whole as a tile!"

In this situation, even if they escaped, they would likely still face death...

But if she stayed to buy time, perhaps there might be a sliver of hope...

She looked towards Chen Xiao, still seated on the ground, continuing to charge towards the Transcendent Realm Peak.

At this moment, Chen Xiao had already reached the critical point of breakthrough!

"If you won’t leave, I will!" Feng Hen didn’t want to stay here a moment longer.

He turned and fled, wanting to leave this place.

"Leave? Where do you think you’re going?!" Lake and Sea Wanderer swung the Blood Soul Banner in his hand, and a black mist accompanied by a chorus of wailing souls surged towards him!

"Ah—!" Feng Hen let out a piercing scream, his body invaded by the black mist, "Junior sister, save me, save me..."

In the blink of an eye, he turned into a withered skeleton, completely corroded by the Blood Soul Banner.

Zi Yuan’s eyes were filled with even more killing intent, angrily staring at Lake and Sea Wanderer.

Feng Hen, although cowardly, was still her senior brother for many years, and now having died before her eyes, how could she not hate?

She took a deep breath, and a Square Seal appeared in her hand.

Then, she cut her finger, letting it fall on that ancient Square Seal!

Her complexion turned pale at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"It’s actually a Heavenly Grade Top magic treasure, and also a replica of some Holy Artifact? Not bad, not bad, from now on, it’s mine!" Lake and Sea Wanderer laughed wildly.

"Even if I die, today, I’ll take you, this beast, down with me!" Zi Yuan shouted, and then, constantly formed hand seals with both hands.

Afterward, the Square Seal before her rapidly enlarged, bursting out with dazzling golden light.

Emperor Xi Yue observed, gritted her teeth, and summoned her own sharp sword.

Similarly, it was a sword of blood sacrifice.

This sword was also a Heavenly Grade Top sharp sword, with formidable power.

"Go!"

The two women shouted together!

The next second, the golden Square Seal floating before Zi Yuan was like a massive golden mountain, carrying immense pressure, forcefully aiming to suppress Lake and Sea Wanderer!

Meanwhile, the sword Emperor Xi Yue summoned transformed into a Flying Sword that pierced the sky, carrying an unstoppable killing intent, to pierce through Lake and Sea Wanderer!

"The magic treasure is not bad, but unfortunately, the users’ cultivation is far too low." Lake and Sea Wanderer shook his head in mockery, then waved the Blood Soul Banner twice!

"Whoosh—"

"Whoosh—"

The black mist from the Blood Soul Banner directly sent the golden Square Seal flying away.

Controlling the magic treasure, Zi Yuan was immediately pushed back two steps, blood trickling from her mouth.

On the other side, Xi Yue’s Flying Sword was also tightly entangled by the black mist, unable to inch forward, and finally, under the corrosive influence of the Blood Soul Banner, the Flying Sword fell to the ground!

She too spat a mouthful of blood, her breathtakingly beautiful face now tinged with a sorrowful expression.

The strong from Xuantian Sect and the Great Zhou Imperial Family who were battling other members of the Wushen Sect saw this and were very anxious, wanting to return to support, but were entangled by their opponents.

Lake and Sea Wanderer sneered coldly, looking at those idle members of the Wushen Sect, and said indifferently, "Go capture them; this protector will enjoy them first before sacrificing them to my Blood Soul Banner!"

"Yes!" Those Wushen Sect members, filled with murderous intent, immediately surrounded Zi Yuan and Xi Yue.

The two women were already injured, and seeing them attack, their faces turned even paler.

After exchanging a glance, they took a deep breath, drew their swords back-to-back, and stood ready to fight, with Chen Xiao protected in the middle.

"Two beauties, you’d better surrender and let our Guardian Hai have his fun. This way, you’ll suffer less, and who wouldn’t want some pleasure?"

"Exactly, exactly, after Guardian Hai finishes, we small fry will do our best to make sure you feel like you’re in heaven!"

These lewd words darkened Zi Yuan and Emperor Xi Yue’s expressions.

The battle was about to erupt.

Though the disciples of the Wushen Sect were vulgar in speech, they showed no mercy in their attacks.

In a blink, the two women found themselves in grave danger.

Suddenly...

Splutch!

Zi Yuan’s shoulder was slashed by a sword, and she showed a pained expression.

A disciple seized the opportunity in front of Zi Yuan to thrust his sword at her!

Zi Yuan’s face turned extremely pale.

At such proximity, even if she wanted to dodge, she couldn’t!

At a critical moment...

Clang!!!

A sharp sword emerged from the void, knocking the sword aiming at Zi Yuan aside.

Zi Yuan looked up to see a tall figure standing in front of her.

Chen Xiao turned his head, smiled faintly at the two women, "Thank you for your hard work. Now, leave this to me."

With those words, his gaze, filled with killing intent, swept over the Wushen Sect disciples and Lake and Sea Wanderer one by one.