Xiao Huo remained oblivious to the true weight of his Master’s words, but many quickly realized what was happening.

Of course, these people did not need a reminder from this mysterious cultivator to grasp the gravity of the situation.

--

Chen Xuan held Huo Ling’er to his chest and stared at the burning arena, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes.

In an instant, hundreds of unknown cultivators had emerged from the stands, erupting with extraordinary combat power.

Even he, who was already in the arena, had barely found time to react.

Fortunately, these hidden attacks mainly targeted the Elders, paying little attention to ordinary disciples.

Had they not, hundreds of disciples would have perished the moment the chaos ensued.

--

"Argh!" A scream rang out and blood splattered across the stone floor, as Chen Xuan raised his hand and struck an ambusher, crippling them with a single, clean blow.

Before he could catch his breath, however, another wave of attacks arrived.

A group of red-clad cultivators with grotesque features lunged forward, their auras reaching the Foundation Establishment realm.

Chen Xuan frowned.

Judging from their sudden emergence and seamless cooperation once they took action, the demonic cult must have prepared for this war long ago.

They should have known his true combat power.

’Why send only a few Foundation Establishment cultivators to target me? Are they sending these people to their deaths?’ he thought.

Ignoring the bloodcurdling screams of his enemies, Chen Xuan gently carried the unconscious Huo Ling’er across the battlefield.

He planned to find a relatively safe place for her before regrouping with the other Peak Masters and the Sect Leader.

He could sense that the true experts of both forces had long moved their battle out of the arena and were currently engaged outside the Jade Pure Sect.

Though apprehensive, he knew that he had to fulfill his responsibilities as a Peak Master.

Just as Chen Xuan was approaching the edge of the arena and was about to leave its boundaries, he froze in place and looked up.

The clouds above him parted, as if sliced by an invisible blade. A dark streak plummeted from the sky, smashing into the ground close to him.

Several red figures chased after it, demonic cultivators with the same eerie appearance and cold aura as the others.

"Junior Brother Chen! Escape! Go meet up with the Sect Leader! The situation is dangerous!" An anxious voice echoed in his mind, revealing the identity of the dark streak:

Tang Yuechen!

As for her pursuers?

An elderly, shriveled Nascent Soul cultivator leading a dozen Core Formation experts.

All were filled with killing intent, paying no heed to Tang Yuechen’s beauty and aiming to kill her.

Chen Xuan noticed that Tang Yuechen was already injured by the time she rose to her feet.

Part of her dress had been torn away, but it didn’t diminish her aura in the slightest.

Combined with her solemn expression, she looked particularly heroic as she rushed to meet the enemy.

Chen Xuan stopped in his tracks, watching the scene in silence.

He understood Tang Yuechen’s warning and knew that the place near Qian Lingxue was indeed the safest. After all, the other party was the strongest person he had seen so far.

Unfortunately, he no longer had the luxury of choice.

Not because of a sudden urge to "save the beauty", but because several blades were already flying toward him.

’Senior Sister Tang, you really are a magnet for trouble.’ Chen Xuan thought, shaking his head.

The Nascent Soul cultivator didn’t spare him a second glance, but four Core Formation experts moved on their own, turning around and striking him from afar.

Their blades gleamed red as they activated the demonic signature spell Blood-Drawing Blade, ready to harvest his life with one blow.

Four Core Formation Experts. All were at the Late Stage, with two of them having reached the Peak.

Chen Xuan, a mere "Early Stage Core Formation" cultivator, should have died instantly upon meeting their attacks.

At least, this was what these demonic cultivators believed as they rushed to besiege Tang Yuechen, having already imagined the gruesome scene of his demise.

’Being cautious and concealing one’s strength is indeed the best option for us ordinary cultivators.’ Chen Xuan sighed to himself.

’Look at me. I was previously besieged by a bunch of weaklings, not taken seriously at all. Meanwhile, a famous fairy with a fierce reputation like Tang Yuechen was targeted and suppressed the moment she showed her face.’

Unfortunately, Chen Xuan could no longer afford to hide, unless he was ready to die.

With a thought, a Yin-Yang Symbol manifested around him, far more majestic than the one he had used to suppress Huo Ling’er.

The legendary Great Yin-Yang Origin Dao was subtly activated, enhancing its strength by turning it into the source of the Yin and Yang Dao.

It fell like a two-colored curtain, effortlessly grinding the demonic attacks into nothingness.

Before anyone could gasp, Chen Xuan moved once more.

Still holding Huo Ling’er with one hand, he vanished and appeared before an opponent in an instant.

He threw a punch, and the Yin-yang curtain spiraled around his fist, transforming into an elegant dragon that let out a roar, seemingly freezing space itself.

A deafening explosion followed.

Having underestimated his opponent, the demonic cult member was caught completely off guard.

He didn’t even have time to scream before his body detonated like a firework.

From start to finish, only a split second had passed.

Yet, not only had Chen Xuan survived, but he had turned the situation around and caused one of their companions to perish.

The demonic cult cultivators were stunned, but above all, they were furious.

"Go! Kill the one who dares to blaspheme the cult!" the elderly Nascent Soul cultivator roared at his subordinates.

His subordinates moved to execute his orders. They didn’t speak about chivalry, swarming toward Chen Xuan and working to besiege him.

Though this alleviated the pressure from the struggling Tang Yuechen, it put Chen Xuan in a dire position.

Besieged by a dozen opponents of the same realm while protecting an unconscious girl, even a Peak Core Formation cultivator would soon fall.

His opponents also sensed his predicament and smiled cruelly, chuckling as if to taunt him.

But a moment later, their smug smiles were cut off.

Chen Xuan suddenly pulled out a Spirit Weapon and tossed it straight at them.

Just as the demonic cultivators were confused, his expression turned ruthless.

"Explode!" he let out a shout.

Following his words, the Spiritual Energy rioted. The Spirit Weapon expanded, before...

Bang!

Chen Xuan self-destructed the magic weapon!

The shockwave was akin to a miniature atomic bomb.

It sent the cultivators flying, tearing through their defensive robes.

However, they had ample combat experience and reacted quickly. They drew their own weapons or cast defensive skills, managing to suppress the shockwave.

Yet, they had no time to celebrate.

Chen Xuan reached into his space ring and pulled more than a dozen Spirit Weapons.

"Explode! Explode! Explode!" he yelled continuously, though he maintained a calm expression throughout the process.

The self-destruction of a single Spirit Weapon was enough to make a Core Formation expert take things seriously.

The only saving grace was that such weapons were very rare, and few cultivators would detonate them unless pushed to the brink of death.

Unfortunately for his opponents, Chen Xuan was not "most people".

Seeing that his opponents were only gravely injured after the first barrage, he unleashed another wave of self-explosions.

A mountain of Spirit Weapons shot forth, not to strike, but to serve as bombs.

Even Tang Yuechen and her opponent, fighting in the distance, paused, stunned. It was impossible to tell whether they were terrified by the destructive power or envious of Chen Xuan’s absurd display of wealth.