A ring of light circulated, multiple formations interlocking, directly locking all four Celestial Demons within.
Chu Xingchen's expression finally relaxed slightly. His gaze fell on Xu Linglong.
These Celestial Demons had ultimately only briefly worn human skin.
Now, each of them in their different, monster-like appearances—this was their true form.
But… this was only the beginning.
Two more Tribulation Transcendence cultivators came from the due west, and two extremely bright rainbow lights also crashed into the barrier.
They charged directly into combat with the demons.
For now, only this many Tribulation Transcendence cultivators had arrived.
The Celestial Demons had also nearly thoroughly infiltrated all of Yuzhou City. These Tribulation Transcendence cultivators had all used the Tianyan Sect's exclusive techniques to conceal their identities before infiltrating.
But there was a limit to this.
More Tribulation Transcendence cultivators had not truly entered the vicinity of Yuzhou City. They were still in places somewhat further away.
If there were any more, the probability of being discovered would increase to the extreme.
At this moment, Chu Xingchen truly had to hold out against the four Celestial Demons until the many Tribulation Transcendence cultivators could reinforce.
Additionally, the formation set up here did not have any suppression effect. Instead, it isolated space, preventing the Celestial Demons from using any means to tear through space and escape.
So this barrier, in a sense, was somewhat fragile. It might not withstand several strikes from the four Celestial Demons.
But this was already the best method. In all of Yuzhou City, only this place had a spiritual vein decent enough to sustain it.
If they had chosen another location, it would have been even harder to hold.
The barrier was one measure. But to truly keep them here…
Chu Xingchen's expression was solemn. All transformations became a sword in his hand—he would have to use his own life as bait.
I have risked my life. Do you dare to respond?
Xu Linglong's bow was drawn to its limit. Before she even released it, a black waterfall of energy shot forward.
"What bold spirit. But do you really think you can leave today?"
Xu Linglong's voice of praise rang out. Her purple, extremely charming gaze fell on Chu Xingchen: "Back then, what forced the Heavenly Dao to descend wasn't your strength. It was your incompetence. And today you think you can finish us off?"
Bai Xuanling swung her sword, blocking the energy Xu Linglong had launched in pursuit.
The bright white light of spiritual power illuminated Chu Xingchen's face. His smile remained: "If only you were truly united. Unfortunately…"
Chu Xingchen did not finish his sentence, but Xu Linglong naturally understood what he had left unsaid.
Among the Eight Celestial Demons, someone was selling them out.
No matter what Chu Xingchen had said before, Xu Linglong had never truly believed it all.
At most, it had only made her suspicious enough to send the Buddhist Celestial Demons to stir up trouble in the Western Niu Continent.
In a world this vast, there was no room for those willing to play the subordinate.
Moreover, how could someone willing to play the subordinate ever become a Celestial Demon?
So Xu Linglong had only been suspicious. She had not pushed the Buddhist Celestial Demons into a desperate situation.
But what she was doing here was already the highest level of secrecy.
Chu Xingchen had turned his attention to tracking her. Xu Linglong had prepared for this, so she didn't feel entirely surprised.
This operation had also been careful. Chu Xingchen had spent a considerable amount of time stirring up trouble in the Central Province. Clearly, it should have been impossible to track his whereabouts and destination.
But at some point, the activity in the Central Province had decreased significantly.
Originally, Xu Linglong had thought that after a long time of not finding her, Chu Xingchen wanted to try a different approach.
But looking at the situation now, this grand formation had no suppression power but cut off space. Clearly, it was prepared in advance.
The plan was to catch this entire group in one stroke, to take them all down at once.
The situation in the Central Province was so unclear, and the mess in the Western Niu Continent hadn't been fully resolved.
Without reliable information, how would Chu Xingchen dare to call so many people here?
The number of people who could access this level of information was very small.
Even among the demons deployed here, aside from being trusted confidants, practically no one else knew there were other Celestial Demons here.
Even though Xu Linglong knew Chu Xingchen might still be using a sowing discord tactic, after so many events along the way, could it all be explained away with a single word—coincidence?
But no matter how many coincidences there were at this moment, they would have to be discussed later.
Xu Linglong looked directly at Chu Xingchen. The choice to make now was—fight or retreat.
Since Chu Xingchen had information and had made so many arrangements, this was inevitably a hard battle. Cutting losses in time and retreating might be the best approach.
At least, that was what reason told Xu Linglong.
As long as they put force into smashing this barrier, how could it truly stop them.
As if seeing through Xu Linglong's slightly hesitant movements, Chu Xingchen smiled lightly: "You understand. Fleeing is the right choice. Flee quickly."
Xu Linglong suddenly laughed out loud.
Such an obvious provocation tactic.
But…
Since you dare to risk your life, what do I have to fear?
Xu Linglong's figure no longer hesitated. The long bow in her hand transformed into a black short dagger.
Under the moonlight, Xu Linglong's figure became a black stream of light.
In the blink of an eye, she was already in front of Bai Xuanling.
Zhong Su fought one against three, blocking the two newly arrived Tribulation Transcendence cultivators. Black tides surged around him, and with a raise of his hand came a heaven-and-earth-destroying strike.
Bai Bo had unleashed his true form. Huang Miao could no longer suppress him completely as before.
Chi Guo took a hit from the opposing cultivator head-on, sacrificing himself to charge at Chu Xingchen.
Bai Xuanling's gaze swept past Chi Guo, then looked toward Xu Linglong's direction: "If you can't handle it, call me. Don't stubbornly save face and then actually die."
"When have I ever cared about face?" Chu Xingchen answered with a smile.
Bai Xuanling turned her back, seeming to scoff, and her figure also disappeared.
In the next moment.
Two extremely terrifying forces clashed.
Bai Xuanling's single sword pressed directly against Xu Linglong.
Pressure swept across, spiritual power exploded, destroying everything around them.
Chu Xingchen exhaled heavily and gripped the Wanban in his hand tightly. He looked sideways at Chi Guo, who was charging at him relentlessly despite being heavily injured.
In Chu Xingchen's vision, extreme black inauspicious energy twisted like a sea from Chi Guo's body.
Twist!
Chu Xingchen's eyes widened. Clear qi that everyone's vision and divine sense could not detect descended from the sky.
Though it was clear qi so fine that even subtle spiritual energy could blow it away and make it drift, it crashed directly into Chi Guo's constantly boiling and spreading black energy.
In the next moment, the clear qi actually scattered Chi Guo's black energy directly.
A sweep stirred it up.
Chi Guo's movements clearly paused. The strange weapon in his hand, similar to a large blade, also had its pressure significantly weakened.
Primal qi—its rank was indeed extremely high.
Chu Xingchen's figure retreated quickly. He raised his hand slightly, and the turbid qi that had entered the earth surged upward, crashing directly at Chi Guo.
Space was reinforced and sealed. Under conditions where a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator could not ride spatial power, their speed would drop to a level Chu Xingchen could react to.
Chi Guo clearly had not noticed the slightly slowed turbid qi. But when it was about to hit him—
His figure suddenly twisted in an extremely strange manner, barely dodging it. Then he turned around and looked with an extremely puzzled expression, but couldn't see any problem.
Seeing this, Chu Xingchen decisively mocked: "Are you learning to do dog flips to make me laugh?"
"With so many people here, I'm a bit embarrassed. Just do it for me in private."
Chi Guo roared angrily, his figure charging at Chu Xingchen again.
But the Tianyan Sect's Tribulation Transcendence cultivator who had been pursuing had also arrived.
Chu Xingchen gripped the Wanban in his hand tightly. His figure only dodged, making no attacks. His gaze merely glanced toward Xu Linglong's direction.
The clear qi twisted and crashed into Xu Linglong's black energy again.
In a clash between top cultivators, even a slight abnormality was a fatal flaw.
And coincidentally, Bai Xuanling was one of those top cultivators.
Xu Linglong now bore a deep, bone-visible wound.
Her gaze stretched across, looking directly at Chu Xingchen.
Sure enough. He was the biggest trouble.
A strange technique that divine sense could not detect…
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