Cultivating To Immortality

"Good, be careful."

With that, the remaining four Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators, including Shi Ping, followed suit.

Song Yan still felt surprised.

The Formation was not broken, and there were no other Cultivators, only those few Foundation Establishment Realm escape lights.

How did the opponents enter this great Formation... heading straight for the canyon, could they be planning to directly destroy the Spirit Stone mine?

Warfare in the Cultivation World, at its core, is a struggle for resources.

To occupy, to control, or rather, to expand the sphere of influence over a larger geographical area.

This means more resources: Spirit Stone mines, Demon Beasts, and even Mortals.

Places like Tiansheng Pass should be something the Mo Xu Cultivators desire.

If the opponents truly intended to destroy it, causing its collapse, neither side would benefit.

On the other side, He Huan, along with the other three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, chased those escape lights all the way to the deepest part of the canyon.

The more they chased, the stranger everyone felt. No matter how they urged their Spiritual Qi, the Aura of the opponents remained unchanged, and their escape speed also showed no variation.

It wasn’t until they flew out of the canyon’s end that they realized something was wrong.

"This..."

The four escape lights began to slowly dissipate, and at the same time, the Foundation Establishment Realm Aura within them also began to fade.

He Huan’s body surged with Spiritual Qi. With a wave of his hand, four small wooden Puppets flew from where the four escape lights had dissipated.

However, the Spiritual Qi within them had already scattered, rendering them useless.

"Not good."

Buzz... Outside Tiansheng Pass.

Four pillars of light, each a different color, suddenly shot up from four inconspicuous hills.

The light was murky, especially noticeable in the night sky.

As soon as they appeared, the Spiritual Qi in this small area of heaven and earth began to vibrate violently.

Song Yan’s heart tightened.

The moment these four pillars of light appeared, his Divine Thought stirred, and he clearly and unmistakably felt the Spiritual Qi here suddenly sink.

Tiansheng Pass’s defensive great Formation was a relatively common Four Symbols Great Formation.

At this moment, as the earth pulse sank, the Four Symbols Great Formation, which covered the entire pass and mountain range, emitted a grating roar!

The Foundation of the Formation was being forcibly disintegrated by some chaotic power, both from within and without.

The illusory Four Symbols grew dim, eventually dissipating slowly into the night like burst bubbles.

The Qi Refining Realm Cultivators Within the Pass hadn’t even realized what had happened before the great Formation covering the pass completely collapsed within a few breaths.

An Anti-Four Symbols Formation, huh?

An anti-Formation is a method of breaking Formations, targeting those Formations where most of the Formation Eyes cannot change, such as the Four Symbols Formation here, which is built upon the earth pulse.

An anti-Formation requires special Formation Plates, placed outside the Formation, at positions corresponding to the great Formation’s Formation Eyes, in advance.

The instantly activated chaotic Spiritual Qi can twist, or even reverse-detonate, the Spiritual Energy condensed within the great Formation.

The method of an anti-Formation is extremely difficult, requiring high Formation mastery and precise positioning... It seems these Mo Xu Cultivators were well-prepared and very knowledgeable about the protective Formations of these Righteous Path strongholds.

There are Cultivators who betray the Demon Ruins, and there are also bad people in the Righteous Path’s ranks.

But an Anti-Four Symbols Formation also comes at a significant cost. Is it worth it for these Mo Xu Cultivators to put in such effort for Tiansheng Pass?

Thoughts flashed through Song Yan’s mind.

However, these were not what Song Yan should be considering at this moment.

Before his thoughts could settle, six Auras erupted simultaneously from various directions outside the pass!

The Auras were completely unconcealed, carrying cold and pure killing intent, locking onto Song Yan, who was suspended above the pass.

At the same time, about forty to fifty Late Stage Qi Refining Mo Xu Cultivators also appeared from outside the pass and charged in.

Four figures came from the positions of the four Spiritual Lights, while two others attacked from left and right, forming a pincer movement.

All six Auras were at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Three were in the Middle Stage, and three were in the Early Stage. Their speed was actually far superior to the four escape lights from before.

"Die!"

The leader was the fierce-looking Demonic Cultivator with the surname Chen.

He roared, and a blood-colored Demonic Blade in the air transformed into a streak of blood-red rainbow, slashing out from a hundred zhang away.

Before the Blade Aura arrived, the pungent, nauseating scent of blood already assailed them, and faintly, countless vengeful spirits wailed within the blade’s glow.

Almost simultaneously, a charming female Cultivator raised her hands, and countless fine, hair-like poisonous needles, shimmering with a faint pink glow, silently and overwhelmingly covered Song Yan, sealing off his escape space.

Next to her, a tall Demonic Cultivator formed hand seals, chanting incantations. A dark, heavy bone banner expanded against the wind, growing to the size of a millstone. Countless vengeful spirits shrieked on its surface, spewing out dark green flames that surged towards Song Yan.

The other three also employed their own methods.

The six Foundation Establishment Realm Demonic Cultivators, echoing each other, sealed off all possible retreat paths for Song Yan. Their offensive was like a mountain collapse and a sea tsunami, layer upon layer.

It had the momentum to engulf Tiansheng Pass.

The remaining Qi Refining Disciples only felt several suffocating Demonic Auras pressing down. Those with weaker cultivation were directly stunned.

It seemed like a life-and-death situation, on the brink of disaster.

But Song Yan merely frowned slightly, the golden lotus patterns in his eyes suddenly lighting up and swirling incessantly.

Without the slightest panic, his one-handed Sword Art was completed in the nick of time.

Seven Flying Swords flew out from the sword scabbard, circling in the night sky above Tiansheng Pass, their trajectories profound and unpredictable.

In an instant, the Seven Stars lifted, and within the Formation, the illusory Morning Star slowly emerged.

Facing six opponents alone, Song Yan dared not be careless.

Purple Qi gurgled around him, and Sword Qi surged out.

Only this time, the Harmonious Void Purple Qi was not as fierce as it had been on Heyan Mountain; instead, it resembled a gentle stream.

It instantly poured into the illusory star Formation constructed by the seven sword shadows.

"!"

The Demonic Cultivator surnamed Chen’s heart tightened, feeling a vague unease.

But there was no way they would stop. The Spiritual Qi and Devilish Qi around them became even more intense. Even if they couldn’t instantly kill Song Yan, they would severely wound him on the spot!

However, at this moment, Song Yan’s eyes glowed with a bluish-white light, Sword Qi flowed, and his fingertip moved.

"Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations."

In an instant, with the Unmoored Boat as the center, the Spiritual Qi in the space spanning several tens of zhang around seemed to be gently stirred by an invisible large hand.

A strange scene occurred as the six fierce attacks were about to approach Song Yan.

The blood-colored Blade Aura, like a streak of silk, was about to cleave Song Yan’s head, but its trajectory inexplicably shifted, grazing past his side.

Instead, it struck the lightning chain controlled by the yellow-robed old man next to him.

The clang of metal accompanied by the roar of thunder. The lightning chain whined and flew back, and the Blood Demonic Blade Aura was also greatly weakened.

"What?!"

The yellow-robed old man was both shocked and enraged. The Demonic Cultivator surnamed Chen quickly retracted his hand.

At the same time, the impenetrable pink poisonous needles, upon entering the edge of the sword Formation, seemed to be pulled by countless invisible threads.

A large portion of their original attack inexplicably shot towards the Demonic Cultivator who was currently activating the sea of fire.

The six attacks, within this Star Shifting Sword Formation, were either pulled, colliding with each other, or deflected and delayed, striking their own allies.

Although not completely neutralized, this terrifying situation, which was enough to instantly severely wound or even kill a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was forcefully "set right from chaos," transforming into a chaotic situation where they hindered each other.

Demonic essence surged in the air, poisonous flames churned, and various colored lights fiercely collided and exploded, with shockwaves rolling like tides.

Song Yan’s figure, however, remained motionless at the center of this chaotic Spiritual Qi storm.

Several sword shadows circled around his body, starlight flowed, and purple Qi permeated the air.

"What kind of demonic Spell is this?!"

The Demonic Cultivator surnamed Chen was dumbfounded. One strike missed and almost injured a teammate, leaving him with a surge of anger in his chest.

The charming female Cultivator watched as most of her painstakingly refined Soul-Shattering Needles missed, her heart aching to the point of almost spitting blood.

The yellow-robed old man, however, was filled with doubt and surprise, muttering to himself.

"This kind of secret art,’Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations,’ how... how is it so similar to the rumored Divine Ability ’Mutual Erosion’ of my Yellow Springs Path lineage?"

His eyes were sinister, and he suddenly shouted, "It’s a Formation shift! Let’s break it together!"

Black Qi surged in his hand, and he actually pulled out another small, dark banner with a ferocious ghost head drawn on it. He bit his tongue and spat a mouthful of vital blood onto it.

"Don’t panic! This child is relying on the power of the Formation to hold on; he cannot last long!"

Another Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivator also reacted, suppressing the shock in his heart and re-concentrating his attacks.

In fact, their guess was not wrong.

This Star Shifting Sword Formation was one of the most complex sword Formations to operate among the first-tier sword Formations recorded in the Grand Void Transformation Tome.

The consumption of Sword Qi was indeed very high and could not be sustained for long.

Song Yan’s eyes flickered.

Just now, when the sword Formation took effect, in the chaos, one Early Stage Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivator’s position was the worst. After being shifted by the power of the shifting stars, he was coincidentally exposed to the aftershocks of the attacks from the yellow-robed old man and Senior Brother Chen.

This was precisely the moment when old power had waned and new power had not yet arisen.

At the same time, the Demonic Cultivator controlling the skeleton ghost fire, in order to avoid the re-surging attacks, also experienced a momentary stagnation in his movements.

If he were to take a gamble and use Sword Intent... The moment the thought arose, Song Yan foresaw the outcome.

With all seven swords unleashed, supplemented by the illusions of Mirror Flower, Water Moon, and combined with the current restraint of the Star Shifting Sword Formation, he had over ninety percent certainty of trapping these two in an illusion, and then, with the killing power of the sword Formation, instantly slaying them.

But what was the cost... Although the Mirror Flower, Water Moon Sword Intent was incredibly powerful, it also required a high degree of mental concentration. A sudden activation would inevitably cause a momentary delay in the operation of the sword Formation.

Although the coordination of these six individuals currently showed signs of chaos, they were by no means incompetent.

The yellow-robed old man’s methods were strange, and the charming female Cultivator’s poisonous needles were difficult to guard against. Once the sword Formation experienced a momentary delay or gap, facing the inevitable counterattack from the other four, especially the yellow-robed old man and Senior Brother Chen, he might not be able to retreat unscathed.

Injury or excessive consumption was almost inevitable, and at this moment, the Tiansheng Pass Formation was already broken, leaving him isolated and unaided. The risk was too great.

Do not be impatient.

Song Yan glanced slightly in the direction of the mountain gorge.

Let’s stabilize the situation first.

On Tiansheng Pass, one person faced six Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators, with continuous roaring sounds.

Demonic flames, blood-light, poisonous miasma, bone shadows, and brilliant starlight Sword Qi fiercely collided, and a Spiritual Qi storm raged above the pass.

Song Yan was like a lone boat in a raging storm, seemingly on the verge of capsizing, yet constantly deflecting the opponent’s attacks at the last possible moment, relying on his sword Formation and swordsmanship.

Within Tiansheng Pass, the other Qi Refining Cultivators were also struggling to hold on.

It was only because Cultivators had arrived as reinforcements a while ago; otherwise, there would probably have been a large number of casualties by now.

In a corner, Zhou Mengdie was frantically urging her Spiritual Qi, her expression flustered.

A Spiritual Fish swam around her body.

Around her, three Mo Xu Cultivators, all Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, surrounded her.

Several Spells charged towards Zhou Mengdie, but they were all blocked by that Spiritual Fish.

"Brother Hu, this should be a good treasure of hers."

One of the Demonic Cultivators said.

The Mo Xu Cultivator called Brother Hu nodded, "Mm, quickly kill her."

"Hey, Brother Hu, I see this little girl is very timid. She probably won’t resist. How about we have some fun with her later?"

Brother Hu frowned, "Less nonsense, quickly."

Zhou Mengdie listened to the vile words of the three, about killing and having fun, and she was extremely frightened.

Thinking of the terrible fate that was about to befall her, she actually burst into tears on the spot.

"Wuwuwu wah... Stinky Ling’er, I’m going to die."

Just then, the three Demonic Cultivators’ Spell attacks became fiercer and fiercer, and the spiritual light of that Spiritual Fish also grew dimmer and dimmer.

"Push harder!"

At a certain moment, the Spiritual Fish trembled slightly, then quickly collapsed and dissipated.

The spiritual light transformed into a Spiritual Fish jade pendant, falling back into Zhou Mengdie’s hand.

"Ah..."

She stared blankly at the jade pendant in her hand, then tremblingly looked up at the three menacing Demonic Cultivators... Wuwah, my life is over!

Zhou Mengdie closed her eyes and fainted.

"Hahahahaha, this little girl."

The person who had spoken earlier let out a lewd laugh, his gaze inquiringly directed at Brother Hu.

The latter also chuckled softly and nodded, "Together."

He stepped forward.

But as soon as they took a step, the three felt an overwhelming drowsiness, as if the sky and earth were spinning.

"?"

That heavy drowsiness seemed to pour down from the top of their heads.

Without any resistance, the three Demonic Cultivators instantly collapsed to the ground.

After a few breaths, they even began to snore.

Around them, Qi Refining Cultivators were fighting, and above them, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were battling chaotically.

But in a corner of Tiansheng Pass, there were these four Cultivators, lying quietly on the ground, sleeping incredibly peacefully... "You scoundrels, how dare you!"

In the distant sky, thunder rumbled out of nowhere.

A furious roar suddenly exploded from the direction of the canyon.

He Huan, along with Shi Ping and three other Foundation Establishment Realm colleagues, returned to the sky above Tiansheng Pass at an astonishing speed.

The sight before them made their eyes split with rage. The Four Symbols Great Formation was shattered, and the pass was in chaos.

However, He Huan and Shi Ping’s eyes were filled with astonishment.

This Song Yan actually fought six Foundation Establishment Realm Demonic Cultivators alone, and he really managed to hold them off?!

"Cunning scoundrels!" Shi Ping’s beard trembled with anger. Being lured away by Puppets earlier had left him utterly humiliated.

Although he no longer had the fighting spirit to contend with others, that didn’t mean he didn’t care about his reputation.

After all, nominally, he was still the Guardian of Tiansheng Pass.

"Daoist Song! We are here to assist!"

He Huan and the other three no longer held back in the slightest. Their Auras instantly soared, and several Spiritual Artifacts glowed brightly, striking down with the force of thunder.

The yellow-robed old man was the first to realize the situation was dire.

They had been held up by Song Yan alone for too long!

The yellow-robed old man roared, "Retreat quickly!"

The Demonic Cultivators knew that their mission could no longer be accomplished. Several of them had already harbored thoughts of retreat while entangled with Song Yan.

Upon hearing the old man’s command, they naturally no longer lingered. Spiritual Qi surged within them, and they were about to transform into escape lights to flee.

Just then, a young voice echoed in their ears.

"You think you can come and go as you please?"

But to the six Demonic Cultivators, this voice was truly chilling.