Yun Xi's immediate concern was dealing with the giant demonic beasts surrounding the Evil Flower. Given her current injuries, it was a difficult task.
She paused to think, then waved her sleeve and released two small Flying Mist Butterflies, sending them silently toward the Evil Flower to see if a sneak attack was possible.
In the eyes of the giant beasts, the small butterflies were likely just insignificant insects. They paid no attention, allowing the butterflies to approach the red Evil Flower. However, Yun Xi's shared vision was abruptly cut off.
Fei Xia transmitted anxiously: "Master, the small Flying Mist Butterflies have been corrupted. They've lost control."
"Fei Xia, can you call them back?"
"I'll try."
Fei Xia replied immediately. Her two pairs of antennae lightly touched each other, transmitting signals back. Perhaps due to bloodline suppression, the two small butterflies returned in a disoriented, wobbling flight. Their pearlescent wings had turned a bloody red, exuding an evil aura.
Yun Xi frowned and held the two butterflies in her palm, then summoned Zi Yan to burn away the evil energy clinging to their wings.
The butterflies panicked at the flames, struggling to escape, but an invisible force restrained them as they underwent Zi Yan's purification.
Fei Xia hovered anxiously nearby, flitting up and down, yet dared not approach.
After five breaths, the butterflies collapsed weakly in Yun Xi's palm. Their wings had returned to their pearlescent hue, the evil energy completely burned away.
Yun Xi returned Zi Yan to her dantian and placed the half-dead butterflies into her spirit beast pouch, avoiding putting them in a storage space.
"Zi Yan, can you burn that flower?"
"Of course!"
Zi Yan replied enthusiastically. Yun Xi asked cautiously: "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. But I'll need your thunder spiritual energy to assist, or the evil energy could easily strike back."
Yun Xi pressed a hand to her forehead. She had suspected it wouldn't be so simple.
"How much spiritual energy will you need?"
"Not sure yet. This Evil Flower is at least fifth-tier. Only when it burns will we know."
Zi Yan spoke honestly.
Yun Xi swallowed nervously. Evil cultivators were truly daring; they would risk such a valuable fifth-tier plant.
Suddenly, Yun Xi seemed to realize something. She flashed to a safer distance and transmitted:"Xiao Xian, that flower is fifth-tier. Has it transformed?"
Xiao Xian shivered her leaves and replied: "Master, don't worry. Do you think a flower brimming with evil energy could survive a transformation thunder tribulation? Certainly not. It's only an illusion form now and will never transform successfully."
Yun Xi finally breathed a sigh of relief. If the flower had fully transformed, it could have hidden its true form, making it far more dangerous.
She checked the Buddhist beads in her storage ring. Unsure whether Yun Chen Fózǐ could break through, she decided to go see.
At that moment, Yun Chen Fózǐ and the other two, Han Lian and Xun Kun, had already set out. They had fought the corrupted giant beasts at the second defense circle and then broke into the beast horde, forming a triangular battle formation to push forward.
When Xian Yao received the news that the three had disappeared within the horde, she realized they had forced a breakthrough.
Xian Xu frowned: "They've treated our warnings like wind. If they fall here, it won't be our fault. Not a single Nascent Soul has perished against the corrupted beasts, yet they risk their lives for uncertain information."
Xian Yao did not respond. She felt it might not be that simple. After being trapped for so long, she hadn't asked carefully before, and now she was uncertain. "Don't jump to conclusions. Let's wait and see."
"That's all we can do."
Meanwhile, Yun Chen Fózǐ, Han Lian, and Xun Kun were in the densest part of the corrupted horde. Their escape slowed.
Yun Chen took a deep breath and transmitted: "I'll use my divine power to clear the beasts around us. Break through quickly."
Han Lian unleashed the Ice Seal of Ten Thousand Miles, freezing the approaching beasts. She warned: "Yun Chen, don't overextend!"
Xun Kun, wielding a double-headed sword glinting with cold light, swung it in a wide arc, slicing through the beasts' flesh. Injured beasts fell screaming, spitting fireballs at him as they collapsed.
Xun Kun deflected the fireballs and shouted: "Quick and decisive!"
Yun Chen chanted a Buddhist mantra, bringing his hands together: "Form of the Buddha, Heaven and Earth!"
A massive golden wrathful Buddha appeared behind him. Its gaze glared at the surrounding beasts, and with a powerful clap of its palms, countless golden handprints and massive strikes rained down, turning the attacking giants into minced flesh. The area around the three was instantly cleared.
The wrathful Buddha form was seen by the Nascent Soul cultivators in the valley and by Yun Xi waiting on the outer perimeter.
Xian Xu frowned: "Xian Yao, that's Yun Chen's form. Will he succeed in breaking through?"
"I don't know."
Yu Su at the Haoran Sect base looked at the massive golden form uneasily, and Yu Xiang frowned beside him.
Yun Xi, now outside the perimeter, knew Yun Chen Fózǐ's big move could not last long. She spun the Nine Nether Dragon Umbrella, infusing wind spiritual energy. Five black dragons burst from the umbrella, roaring as they charged into the beast horde, flanking Yun Chen from both sides.
The five enormous black dragons raised their scales and began ruthlessly slaughtering the beasts.
Han Lian and Xun Kun, seeing Yun Xi coming to assist, flashed toward her, supporting the exhausted Yun Chen and dashing outward.
The Nascent Soul cultivators in the valley witnessed the scene. They noticed that the one assisting from the outer perimeter was a Haoran Sect disciple who had previously fallen into a spatial rift. Their attention turned toward the Haoran Sect cultivators.
Yu Xiang frowned with concern. Yu Su felt anxious and suggested: "Those are our sect disciples. Should we break through and join them?"
Yu Xiang shook his head: "They acted intentionally to surprise the beasts. We might not succeed if we blindly follow."
Yu Su pressed further: "But if we stay here, we'll be worn down. If we can break through, we can flank the corrupted beasts, improving our chances."
Yu Xiang looked at the Nascent Soul beside him. The cultivator glanced at Yu Su: "If we act, it should be with all five-domain Nascent Souls. Charging blindly into the corrupted beasts is suicide."
Yu Xiang nodded: "I'll consult with Shi Jun Zhēnjūn first."
Yun Xi, having drained her dantian, successfully met up with Yun Chen Fózǐ and the others.
The four, drained from battle, were approached by a captivating woman in red.