Chapter 164: Battle Against the Two Flood Dragons

After the two transformed into their demonic states, they lashed out with massive claws, sending four strands of baleful wind hurtling directly toward the white silk ribbon. Then, they spewed a nauseating stream of toxic mist that instantly merged into the baleful winds. Surprisingly, the baleful winds held their ground against the white silk ribbon in a stalemate, though the winds were clearly outmatched, slowly sinking downward.

Qiu Hu roared, "You useless idiots, what are you standing around for? Go get them! Capture all her subordinates and use them as hostages to make her stop!"

Fifteen Core Formation stage cultivators, including two in the late Core Formation stage, charged forward while driving two longsword magic treasures.

Wang Yudong let out a long whistle; it was finally his turn to showcase his prowess. He produced a top-grade magic treasure, the Fire Emperor Flag, poured his spiritual power into it, and shook it. Two blazing fire lions that seemed capable of scorching the heavens materialized, carrying rolling waves of intense heat as they charged separately toward the two late Core Formation cultivators wielding longswords.

Dai Yue flicked her delicate hand, and a flaming flying dagger appeared. Its material was indistinguishable, glowing with a faint fiery light and flickering blue sparks. With a single flash, it vanished.

A miserable shriek rang out. The enemy Core Formation cultivator who had charged at the very front suddenly burst into flames and was reduced to ashes in an instant.

Dongfang Ping wore a solemn expression. She reached out and retrieved a brilliant, starlit longsword—a replica of the Starry Sky Sword, personally custom-made for her by Xing Chenfeng. Pouring her spiritual power into it, she slashed fiercely and cried out, "Starlight Fills the Heavens!"

Countless five-colored star darts poured down like a violent storm upon all the enemy Core Formation cultivators.

Ge Qian flipped his hand, producing a small bell covered in runes. With a casual toss, it flashed and appeared directly above the one hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators who were currently forming the Single-Line Flood Dragon Formation. As it met the wind, it grew to twenty zhang in size.

Po Zhan slapped his thigh in delight, secretly gloating to himself. He thought, *Kid, you finally couldn't help yourself and used the Melancholy Bell. A moment from now, you'll die of grief and despair! Excellent! My, Po Zhan's possessions, are not something anyone can just take as they please!*

However, the result made him so furious that his three corpses jumped with rage, wishing he could smash Ge Qian into a pulp of meat with a single palm.

Suddenly, the Melancholy Bell rang out with a deafening "Clang," sending a wave of sorrowful aura rippling outward.

A realm of utter grief and agonizing despair enveloped all the Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Instantly filled with dejection, heartbreak, and utter hopelessness, the Foundation Establishment cultivators drew their magic tools and began slitting their own throats one after another. Fresh blood spurted out, and a sea of corpses collapsed to the ground.

Far from being affected by the Melancholy Bell, Ge Qian was instead full of vigor and glowing with high spirits. With a wave of his large sleeve, a chilling demonic mist transformed into a whirlwind that swept across the ground, gathering up all the corpses of the Foundation Establishment cultivators and pulling them into the demonic gourd hidden within his sleeve.

Jiuhua cast a scornful, sideways glance at Po Zhan, who was so furious he was nearly vomiting blood, and thought, *What an old piece of trash. Trying to be clever only to hand a magic treasure over to the enemy for free. What an idiot.*

Liu Xixi's palms were slick with sweat as she thought to herself that she was likely no longer his match.

Having eliminated the Foundation Establishment cultivators, Ge Qian turned his attention to a short, plump Core Formation cultivator. He formed hand seals and cast spells: "Changing the Course" and "Plucking the Moon from the Pocket." "Changing the Course" shattered the man's defense, while "Plucking the Moon from the Pocket" snatched away his core. The primordial spirit residing upon the core watched in terror as it suddenly found itself transferred into a powerful, vigorous grasp. Lacking his core, the man's body collapsed to the ground, meeting an untimely death.

Before he could even figure out what had happened, swirling winds rose around him. He found himself inside the mouth of a diminutive beast about the size of a fist, equipped with thick limbs, sharp scales, a robust body, terrifying fangs, and a single, thunder-radiating eyeball atop its head that emanated an eerie, fateful power.

Ge Qian continuously employed "Changing the Course" and "Plucking the Moon from the Pocket." In the blink of an eye, eight Core Formation cultivators were slain and swallowed by him.

The two late Core Formation cultivators who had been locked in combat with Wang Yudong saw that the tide of battle—which should have been a one-sided slaughter where they captured the enemy—had instead turned completely around. In the blink of an eye, the cultivators who had broken the formation were utterly wiped out.

The two exchanged glances, abruptly drove their longswords to thrust fiercely at the fire lions, and then activated their escape lights in an attempt to flee.

Ge Qian said coldly, "Wanting to leave? It's too late!"

He directly cast "Stealing the Beams and Pillars," causing the two men to feel themselves lose control of their bodies as they materialized right before the tall figure of Ge Qian. Gritting their teeth, they immediately raised their swords and slashed.

Ge Qian had been prepared. The Melancholy Bell flashed and appeared above their heads. With a deafening "Clang," an aura of absolute grief and agonizing despair descended upon them.

The two men instantly succumbed to utter despair, plunging their swords into each other's dantian. With expressions of horror, they met their gruesome ends.

With a flick of his sleeve, Ge Qian stirred up a swirl of dark mist to collect the corpses into the demonic gourd.

Dai Yue's flying dagger cleaved her opponent in two, reducing them to ashes, and she made a beckoning gesture to retrieve their storage bag.

Dongfang Ping also used "Nebula Burst" to blast her opponent into countless fragments, the blood dyeing half the sky red.

By this point, the cultivators brought by the two land-dwelling flood dragons had been completely and utterly slaughtered without a single survivor, showcasing the ruthless and bloody methods of Ge Qian and his companions.

Seeing that there were no further threats, Ge Qian flicked his figure several times, moving back and forth to gather numerous formation flags into his storage bag. Although the Nine Nethers Soul-Refining Ultimate Killing Formation had suffered an explosion, its foundation remained intact, and it could be used again with just a little repair.

Po Zhan's heart was bleeding. Watching helplessly as Ge Qian took away the Nine Nethers Soul-Refining Ultimate Killing Formation, he was filled with both shock and rage, secretly vowing that this brat must be eliminated.

Qiu Hu and Qiu Long inwardly cursed their ill fortune. They had suffered a massive loss this time; watching the Tiger Dragon Gate—which they had painstakingly built—wiped out in a flash made their hearts bleed. *Qin Chuchu, Star Sect, we are irreconcilable enemies with you!*

Yet the white ray of silk was growing thicker, and its power was steadily increasing. At this point, it was utterly impossible for them to break free. *Could it be that today is truly the day we perish here?* The two exchanged glances, realizing in their hearts that if they hadn't been greedy for the Beast Taming Sect's treasure—the Nine Nethers Soul-Refining Ultimate Killing Formation—they would never have fallen into such a desperate plight.

Rolling his eyes, Qiu Hu said, "Grand Priest Qin, since you are a person of great stature with immense magnanimity, why don't you let the two of us brothers go? We guarantee we will never provoke anyone from the Star Sect again!"

Ge Qian smiled faintly and said, "Letting a tiger back into the mountains only leaves future troubles. In my view, it is far safer to kill them!"

With that, he formed hand seals and cast "Changing the Course," directing the spell straight at the two men's baleful winds.

The silk ribbon executed an uncanny maneuver, piercing right through their defense. The white light flared brilliantly, and in an instant, they were reduced to piles of minced meat, their nascent souls unable to escape.

How could Ge Qian miss out on the rich vital blood and energy of Void Refinement stage entities, which served as such exceptional nourishment? A whirlwind stirred, sweeping everything directly into the demonic gourd.

Qin Chuchu flipped her hand to put away the crystal ball, then cast a cold glance at the treacherous Po Zhan and the others. She said, "As you all have witnessed, although my Star Sect brought fewer people, our strength is by no means weak. I think it is best for everyone to go their separate ways, lest we drag you all down with us!"

Tu Linlin of the Wind and Moon Sect swayed her proud bosom haughtily and said, "Sister, you misunderstand. In fact, I had long seen that these two fellows were no match for you, which is why I put on a false front to trick them into letting us out, intending to wipe them all out together. Who would have thought you would solve the problem before we even had a chance to strike?"

"Indeed, that was what I was thinking as well," echoed Sima Lindong of the Confucian Sect.

Having witnessed the strength of the Star Sect, none of them wanted the Star Sect to leave. In the event of similar incidents in the future, having the Star Sect around gave them a sense of security.

However, Qin Chuchu cared little for such considerations. Staying with them offered no benefits whatsoever. There were no more teleportation arrays ahead, traveling together made them too large a target, and most of the pursuers were likely coming after the Star Sect anyway. Choosing a separate path of her own would be far safer.

She replied, "I think it's better not to. Chuchu will keep your kind intentions in mind and repay them another day. Farewell!"