"Turns out you're nothing special."

Ye Wumei stood atop the cyan rattan, her almond eyes carrying a hint of cold murderous intent as she looked down at Yue Hua and the four others retreating relentlessly below. Seeing them being forced to retreat, a look of excitement and pride immediately spread across her cold face.

Even the prodigies of Mountain Suppression in the Middle Realm couldn't stop them.

The Sect Leader's promise of entering the top hundred of the Red Domain before joining the sect will most likely come true!

Thank you, Elder Yun.

Thank you, Father.

Thank you, Mother.

...

Thank everyone.

After silently thanking the Sect Leader in her heart, the pride on Ye Wumei's face disappeared, replaced by a confidence that emanated from within. Just moments ago, she had doubts about herself.

But now.

She's extremely confident!

Then the Meridian Gate trembled again, and tens of thousands of cyan rattans danced, completely engulfing Yue Hua and his four companions.

Thousand Vine Annihilation, Second Move.

Cyan Rattan Cage!

Once trapped by the Cyan Rattan Cage, a cultivator's spirit body within will be parasitized by the rattans, continually causing significant trauma to the spirit body. Meanwhile, the cage isolates part of the Vein Qi, making it extremely difficult for those inside to use the Vein Releasing Skill to break free from the cage.

With part of the Vein Qi isolated, the effect of the Meridian Gate gathering Qi would not be as pronounced, naturally diminishing the power of the vein techniques. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Yue Hua and his four companions covered by the Cyan Rattan Cage instantly sensed something amiss within the cage.

"Fight your way out!"

"I refuse to believe Ye Wumei alone can trap all four of us!"

The four of them sounded the battle call, releasing their vein techniques and activating the Three-Vortex Vortex Map to enhance their powers. However, as they were about to unleash their techniques, countless small cyan rattans suddenly climbed all over them, wrapping them up like dumplings.

These tiny rattans emerged from Yue Hua's skin, rooted in his flesh. The pain was negligible, but the sight sent a shiver down the spines of all four.

What's worse, when they stopped releasing the vein techniques, they began frantically pulling the dense rattans off their bodies, while screaming. As they tore the rattans off, they inevitably peeled off bits of flesh as well, creating a somewhat gruesome scene.

To describe it vividly: it's like pulling hair along with the scalp.

Imagine it.

Really picture it.

I'll give you a few moments to think.

Take your time...

Riiiip—

The blood kept flowing from where it had been torn. Yet after the rattans were pulled off, they continued to emerge seemingly like endless seeds inside the body.

"Ye Wumei's vein techniques are peculiar!" When Yue Hua saw this, he dared not use his hands anymore and let the rattans consume and drain his spirit body. "Stop pulling! Also, if you're going to pull, don't fling them onto my face! Damn it! They've gotten into my mouth!"

Ptooey, ptooey—

Yue Hua hurriedly spat out whatever had gotten into his mouth.

He couldn't tell if it was his comrades' bits of flesh or blood-soaked rattans.

After spitting it out, Yue Hua quickly activated his vein techniques.

No longer the Myriad Sword.

Yue Hua's Meridian Gate trembled, and countless red leaves appeared out of nowhere— the Red Leaf Sect's sect's Vein Skill!

Though it was merely the first dance of Thousand Leaves Chaotic Dance, it was still an Upper Grade Earth Level School Vein Skill, with astonishing power!

The moment the countless red leaves appeared, they began cutting through the rattans, severing one vine after another. Seeing this, the other three quickly released their vein techniques, all performing the first dance of Thousand Leaves Chaotic Dance together to slice through the rattans.

However, even with Thousand Leaves Chaotic Dance, the effect was minimal.

After all, the four were merely at Entry Level.

The difference between Entry Level Upper Grade Earth Level School Vein Skills and Middle Realm Peak Earth Level School Vein Skills is significant, even if Yue Hua and the others were at Mountain Suppression in the Middle Realm. At this cutting speed, it would take at least half a stick of incense time to break through the cage.

By then, even if the cage was broken, their spiritual power would likely have been reduced significantly.

Because Upper Grade Earth Level School Vein Skills consume a great deal of spiritual power and are meant as trump cards, how can they be sustained for long?

Adding to this, the rattans on their bodies continue to drain their spiritual power, hastening its depletion.

"How could I, Yue Hua, be defeated by you, Ye Wumei!" Yue Hua thought of this, feeling rage as he furiously swung his sword through the leaves, severing the rattans. "Break! Break for me!"

The other three weren't as frenzied as Yue Hua but fought desperately since none of them wanted to lose.

It's a matter of honor!

If they lost this battle, what face would they have left in the future?

Meanwhile, outside the Cyan Rattan Cage, Ye Wuping glanced at the three who were fighting, then over to Chen Qin's direction and said, "Go help Chen Qin! My Cyan Rattan Cage can trap them for at least half a stick of incense time. The four of you together can take down Yuan Lang and then come back to assist me."

The three nodded, then leaped toward Yuan Lang.

At this moment, Yuan Lang, unable to deal with Chen Qin and being overwhelmed by him, was in distress. Seeing three others suddenly charging at him, he was at a loss.

He thought Yue Hua would defeat Ye Wumei and come to assist him against Chen Qin.

Unexpectedly, roles were reversed.

What a mockery!

"Yue Hua, you've screwed me over!" Yuan Lang immediately split off three water snakes to fend off the incoming disciples from the Immortal Sect.

The consequence was a windstorm surrounding Yuan Lang swallowing a gigantic water snake, shredding half its body within a few breaths. The other three water snakes were also forced to retreat, soon disbanding under the assault of the three Immortal Sect disciples.

The four worked together with overwhelming power to close in on Yuan Lang, leaving him utterly defenseless, resorting to using the strongest Defensive Vein Skill to withstand the attack from Chen Qin and the three, retreating backward until he found himself at the edge of the barrier.

Yuan Lang stepped against the barrier, pushing against attacks with his feet threatening to give way. In desperation, he yelled, "I surrender! I surrender!"

Had he not surrendered, the break in his defenses would have left him vulnerable to death from the four's vein techniques.

Continuing was futile.

Because Yue Hua and his group showed no sign of escaping.

"Your surrender alone is invalid!" The Earth Unrestricted Expert outside the barrier casually replied.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Lang couldn't help but spew profanity, uttering the most vile words he'd ever known. But before he had any further thought, his defense shield shattered, and Chen Qin and the others' vein techniques surged toward him.

Seeing the storm towering up to a hundred feet, and the raging forces, fear gripped Yuan Lang's eyes.

In this fright, Yuan Lang was utterly overwhelmed by the four's attack as if a lonely boat swallowed by massive waves.

Vanished instantly!

Not even a scream could escape!

(Too late... too late...)