As the group rushed forward toward Ji Wuchen, their earlier hesitation completely gone as they moved like rabid dogs chasing an opportunity, Lin Xiao Tian let out a faint chuckle at the sight. Look at them, a moment ago they were ready to run, now they are fighting to be useful.

Ji Wuchen clapped his hands sharply and ordered everyone to line up without delay, his tone carrying clear authority as he organized them. At the same time, his gaze remained fixed on the dragon, which was watching them warily while its wounds continued to heal.

Without wasting a moment, Ji Wuchen took out several materials from his storage ring and began laying down an array formation with practiced speed. The structure formed quickly under his control as he completed the outer lines before taking out a token identical to the one he had used earlier.

He placed it at the center of the formation and stepped back, his expression turning serious as he looked at the gathered cultivators.

"Inject your Qi into it and maintain the flow," he said without hesitation.

All of them followed immediately, channeling their Qi into the formation as instructed, none daring to question him at this point. The array lit up faintly as energy began to circulate through it in a stable pattern.

Ji Wuchen’s gaze shifted briefly toward Lin Xiao Tian’s group, his eyes narrowing slightly as their composure remained unchanged. When their eyes met, Lin Xiao Tian simply shrugged with a relaxed expression, as if the entire situation held little interest for him.

Go on, perform... I’ll watch for now.

The dragon let out another roar as its presence surged again, its body stabilizing as it moved forward without hesitation. Its massive form cut through the air as it charged directly toward them.

At that moment, Ji Wuchen extended his hand, and instantly his spear flew back toward him from behind the dragon, cutting through the air with sharp momentum. The dragon reacted quickly, twisting its body to dodge as the weapon spun past and returned to his grasp.

Without pause, Ji Wuchen moved forward again as the battle resumed, his attacks sharp as he clashed head-on with the dragon. However, despite his strength, he could only barely hold it back, his movements already showing signs of strain.

Lin Xiao Tian observed quietly, his expression gradually shifting as something felt off the longer he watched.

The dragon was fighting, yet something about it lacked intent.

Its movements were precise, yet empty, as if it was only responding rather than acting on its own will. It did not use any techniques, nor did it show the instinctive variation expected from such a creature.

This... feels wrong and controlled.

To him, it no longer looked like a living being engaged in battle, but rather a hollow body being driven by something unseen.

As the clash continued, a sudden change rippled through the formation as one of the cultivators let out a sharp scream. Before anyone could react, his body collapsed and was pulled inward, his essence drawn directly into the array.

The others panicked instantly and tried to break away, yet the formation had already taken hold of them from within. The miasma had weakened their circulation, and now the array fed on that instability, binding them in place as their resistance crumbled.

One after another, their screams rose as their bodies were drained, their Qi and blood forcefully extracted to sustain the formation. The structure began to shift in color, a dull crimson spreading across its lines as it absorbed more of them.

Yan Feng and the others frowned at the scene, confusion evident on their faces as they tried to understand what was happening. Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian let out a soft chuckle, his expression relaxed despite the brutality unfolding before him.

"This is how the world works," he said casually. "The weak are nothing more than portable resources."

His gaze shifted toward Ji Wuchen, who stood at the center of it all without the slightest hesitation.

"As for what he is doing, it is simple," Lin Xiao Tian continued, his tone almost amused. "He wants to open the legacy realm faster, and blood is the quickest way to trigger it."

Impatient, irritated... and unwilling to wait even a moment longer.

"In his eyes, they are nothing more than disposable trash."

As his words fell, the formation deepened into a dark crimson, its glow turning heavier as the token at its center began to crack under the strain. The last remaining cultivators struggled desperately before being completely consumed, their final cries echoing with threats of revenge.

"Our sects will—!"

Their voices cut off abruptly.

Ji Wuchen merely laughed it off, his expression carrying clear disdain. "As if that news will ever leave this place," he said coldly. "And even if it does, none of you have the ability to touch me."

The moment the last of them was consumed, the token shattered completely as the space above it twisted. A blood-red spatial passage tore open, pulsing with unstable energy as it connected to something beyond.

The dragon reacted instantly as its entire presence shifted as it turned berserk, its eyes locking onto the opening before it lashed out violently. Its tail swept across the space toward Ji Wuchen with overwhelming force.

Ji Wuchen barely managed to block the strike, his body pushed back as the impact shook him, blood rising in his throat before he coughed it out. Without hesitation, he took out a talisman and threw it forward to intercept what came next.

As the talisman intercepted the dragon’s attack, the impact burst outward and stalled it for a brief moment. Ji Wuchen did not waste that opening as he immediately signaled his subordinates to move.

They rushed toward the blood-red passage without hesitation, entering one after another under his command. Ji Wuchen followed right behind them, clearly having no intention of staying any longer.

Before stepping in completely, he threw out a defensive talisman toward the portal, and a barrier formed instantly, sealing the entrance tightly. The space stabilized under it, cutting off any chance for others to follow. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Seeing this, the dragon’s aura surged violently as it grew even more berserk, its attention locking onto the portal. Its movements turned sharper as it lashed out repeatedly, clearly reacting to its prey escaping.

Lin Xiao Tian watched the entire sequence and let out a small chuckle, his expression relaxed as if he had expected this outcome.

Tch just these cliche schemes again and again.

He shifted his gaze toward the dragon, his eyes narrowing slightly as he finally stepped forward. "Enough watching," he said casually.

His gaze swept across his disciples as his tone turned slightly sharper. "Now move and take that lizard down".