Outside, no one knew the secret conversation between Chen Xuan and Luan Langyi.

The battle continued to rage on.

Foundation Establishment cultivators clashed in midair, bringing devastation upon the land below, while the lower-ranked disciples fought desperately with their feet on the ground.

Though the efforts of the Qi Refining disciples were unlikely to decide the outcome, there was no way they could simply stand by and wait.

The two factions saw this war as an opportunity: they hoped to use it to temper their disciples. After all, few things could assist a cultivator more than a genuine life-and-death battle.

Several figures stood out on the chaotic battlefield.

However, none were as impressive as a certain red-haired woman.

"Chirp!"

The high-pitched cry of a Phoenix rang out as a streak of crimson fire crashed into her opponent.

His defensive shield shattered like glass, and the attack slammed into his body.

The flames did not stop there; instead, they erupted violently, swallowing his figure completely.

Huo Ling’er watched this gruesome scene without flinching.

Though this was the first time she had taken a life, she had mentally prepared herself for this moment long ago.

Ordinary mortals might have hesitated, but as a member of a cultivation family, she knew she should never show mercy toward the enemy.

Before Huo Ling’er could catch her breath and take in what happened, a sonic boom cracked the air behind her.

A blood-red fist lunged toward her back while several blood-dripping spears emerged and thrust toward her from all sides.

Her earlier kill had drawn the demonic disciples’ attention.

Within moments, Huo Ling’er found herself surrounded by a group of cultivators of similar strength.

Her situation looked dire, yet she showed no panic.

Gritting her teeth, she concentrated on the power seemingly engraved into her blood and forcibly activated it.

A molten phantom erupted behind her, shrouding her small frame in a colossal, flaming silhouette.

It let out a deafening roar and struck out with a massive palm.

"Be careful! This girl has awakened a Vision!" one of the demonic disciples screamed, but the warning came too late.

Molten lava spewed forth, devouring the attacks in an instant.

By the time the phantom shattered a split second later, every cultivator who had besieged Huo Ling’er had been reduced to ash.

Her condition, however, was bad.

Huo Ling’er’s face turned pale, and a trickle of blood escaped the corner of her mouth, the price of forcibly activating a Vision she had not mastered.

But worse news soon followed. In the sky above, a demonic Foundation Establishment cultivator rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

What had he just seen? A Qi Refining cultivator had awakened a Vision?

How was this possible?

After confirming he had not unknowingly fallen into illusion, icy killing intent flooded his eyes.

He knew he must kill this girl.

Whether it was for himself or for the future of the demonic faction, he could not allow such a monstrous talent to survive!

Several thoughts flashed through the cultivator’s mind as he prepared to strike from afar.

Yet, before he could put these thoughts into action, a shrill, panicked cry interrupted him.

"Retreat! Cough, cough!"

The scream was soul-piercing, followed by the sound of someone coughing up mouthfuls of blood.

"The enemy is too strong! I can’t hold him back any longer!"

"Flee!"

The domain of ghosts in the sky suddenly burst apart.

The fragile figure of Luan Langyi shot out like a broken doll, slamming onto the ground.

Blood stained her lips, while her body was riddled with open injuries.

She didn’t care. Rising to her feet, she fled into the distance without daring to look back.

Half a heartbeat later, Chen Xuan stepped out of the dissipating white mist.

He glanced at Luan Langyi’s retreating back and shook his head with an unfathomable smile.

"You’re fortunate. The next time we meet, I will surely take your life," he stated coldly.

Then, he turned his aloof gaze toward Tang Chao. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Despite being at the Late Stage of Core Formation, Tang Chao was having a surprisingly difficult time dealing with Duan Feng.

Not because he was weak, but because his opponent was too slippery!

Duan Feng was continuously downing pills that boosted his strength and granted him various enhancements, dancing through the fatal blows with unexpected grace.

Sensing Chen Xuan’s gaze, Tang Chao cursed Luan Langyi’s ancestors in his heart.

Just one minute. If this woman had held on for just a minute more, they could have seized the mine!

Unfortunately, he had no one to voice his complaints to.

Tang Chao waved his hand.

"Retreat!" he shouted at his subordinates, placing himself between them and the two Peak Masters.

Intending to buy enough time for his subordinates to escape, he only needed to hold these two back—at least for a couple of minutes.

’Fortunately, Duan Feng is a weakling. And while people claim that Chen Xuan is talented, he is only at the Early Stage of Core Formation.’

Instinctively, Tang Chao did not stop to wonder how an Early Stage cultivator had forced a Late Stage expert like Luan Langyi to flee in terror.

Perhaps it was the heat of the moment, or perhaps he was simply arrogant by nature and underestimated his opponent.

Unfortunately, that arrogance had already sealed his fate.

Chen Xuan looked at the determined Tang Chao with a strange expression.

’Has news of my true strength not spread?’ he wondered, ultimately shaking his head.

’It doesn’t matter. Eliminating this man can serve as an achievement. From now on, I’ll be able to coast on this achievement for a while.’

With that thought, his expression grew cold.

Under Tang Chao’s astonished eyes, he drew a magnificent shining sword.

As his fingers closed around the hilt, a terrifying pressure erupted from Chen Xuan’s body.

Murderous sword intent surged toward the sky, as though gathering momentum.

Before Tang Chao could react, several Yin-Yang Symbols descended from the sky, locking his body and soul in place.

The next instant, the High-Grade Spirit Weapon left Chen Xuan’s hand.

It tore through space, appearing in front of Tang Chao before anyone could see its edge.

An agonizing scream rang out. Crystalline fragments of a shattered Core rained from the sky, accompanied by a shower of blood.