"How is this possible?!"
Shock, fear, and disbelief surged through the hearts of the attendants in the ancestral hall!
They had thought that with the combined strength of three Core Formation cultivators, they would surely capture and execute the Baixing Kingdom cultivator who had killed City Lord Guo Shuang. But unexpectedly...
All three Core Formation cultivators had been slain by that Baixing Kingdom cultivator!
This was utterly terrifying!
"Bad news! Bad news!!!"
A terrified attendant ran toward the City Lord's mansion to inform the remaining eight Core Formation cultivators of the dreadful news.
Crash!
A late Core Formation cultivator of the Boundless Empire, who had been leisurely sipping tea, was so stunned upon hearing of the deaths of his comrades that the teacup slipped from his hand and shattered on the ground.
The other Core Formation cultivators of the Boundless Empire were equally horrified. "That invading Baixing Kingdom cultivator… could he be a late-stage Core Formation expert?"
"No."
The trembling attendant, who had received reports from the front lines, swallowed nervously and said, "According to the scouts, the person is Lin Li, the vanguard general of Baixing Kingdom. He's only been in the Core Formation stage for ten years, and his cultivation is merely at the first level of Core Formation!"
"What?!"
Everyone gasped in disbelief. "Only at the first level of Core Formation?"
"Impossible!"
"How could a first-level Core Formation cultivator possibly kill three of our Core Formation cultivators in a direct fight?"
As they discussed the situation, the late Core Formation cultivator overseeing Nanchuan Island, Tu Long, a Daoist of the earth element, angrily slammed his chair, shattering it. He stood up and roared, "Four Core Formation cultivators, and who knows how many Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples have already been killed! If we don't bring him down, Baixing Kingdom will truly see our Boundless Empire as easy prey!"
"Let's go! We'll all go together and take him down!"
"Agreed!"
With Tu Long leading the charge, the other seven Core Formation cultivators, fueled by righteous anger, were determined. They did not believe that a first-level Core Formation cultivator like Lin Li could stand against them.
...
"Core Formation third level!"
Lin Li was elated! After reaching the peak of the second level of Core Formation, the feedback energy from the four Core Formation cultivators he had slain had finally been exhausted.
However, as Lin Li continued to press forward, he had suppressed and killed many of the Boundless Empire's Foundation Establishment cultivators along the way, which provided additional feedback energy. At last, he broke through to the third level of Core Formation!
At the same time.
Ye Fan, monitoring the system panel, was filled with anticipation.
[Evolution Points]: 10,000/1,000,000
"The next evolution to a mid-grade treasure will require one million evolution points," Ye Fan thought. "But with the Holy War of Baixing Kingdom now in full swing, accumulating that many points shouldn't be too difficult. I may even be able to evolve to a high-grade treasure soon!"
As the low-level cultivators of the Boundless Empire saw Lin Li approaching, they were terrified and scattered in all directions.
At that moment, eight streaks of light rapidly approached!
Soon.
Eight Core Formation cultivators from the Boundless Empire encircled Lin Li completely.
Seeing this, the fleeing Boundless Empire cultivators felt a surge of hope and began cheering, "The Grand Marshal is here!"
"Grand Marshal Tu Long!!!"
"The Grand Marshal will avenge our fallen comrades!"
As their cheers rose, Grand Marshal Tu Long spoke coldly, "So, it's you who killed my four comrades?"
"So what if it was?" Lin Li responded indifferently, thinking to himself: Perfect! I've successfully lured their main force away. Now, once I lead them away from Nanchuan Island, our vanguard troops will invade and capture it!
"Hmph! It seems you've accepted your fate. Then, let your head serve as a tribute to my fallen comrades!"
With that, Tu Long made a series of hand seals.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Lin Li shook violently!
One by one, massive earth walls rose up, encircling Lin Li and the eight Core Formation cultivators.
"Now, let's see where you can run!" Tu Long sneered, gesturing for his seven comrades to attack.
Lin Li's expression darkened as he ascended into the air and swung his sword at the top of the earthen walls.
Clang!
It was as if he had struck solid steel, and the attack had no effect!
"Damn!"
Lin Li frowned.
Although Lin Li was incredibly powerful, facing eight opponents—two of whom were mid-stage Core Formation cultivators and one a late-stage expert—winning seemed impossible.
So, Lin Li activated his Slaughter State and unleashed his concentrated Stunning Sword!
Boom!
The top of the earth wall exploded under the force of the Stunning Sword Arc!
"What?!" Tu Long shouted in shock. "Even a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator would struggle to break my Earth Dragon Trap! How did he do that?!"
At the same time, the seven Core Formation cultivators had already moved in on Lin Li.
Lin Li smirked, taunting them with a mischievous grin, "A bunch of fools! If you've got the guts, come catch me! I doubt you have the skills!"
With that, his figure blurred, his Like a Fish in Water and Skyborne skills stacked, boosting his speed dramatically. He dodged all seven cultivators' attacks and flew toward the sky.
"Chase him!"
The eight cultivators exchanged glances and, without hesitation, used their flying weapons to pursue Lin Li, transforming into eight streaks of light as they gave chase...
Outside Nanchuan Island.
Shallow Water Daoist frowned with worry.
Just then, a Foundation Establishment cultivator excitedly shouted, "Lin Li has sent a message with his magic tool! He's successfully lured the enemy generals away. There are no more Core Formation cultivators left on Nanchuan Island!"
Upon hearing this, the cultivators of Baixing Kingdom were overjoyed. Only Shallow Water Daoist's face grew more anxious: "Lin Li, please don't get hurt! Otherwise, my beloved disciple will be left a widow..."
Baixing Kingdom's ships docked!
Countless cultivators surged onto Nanchuan Island.
At the same time, the floating airships in the sky dropped numerous puppet tools to join the battle!
With no Core Formation cultivators defending it, Nanchuan Island fell quickly and was soon overrun.
...
At sea.
Lin Li received a return message from his magic tool, confirming that Nanchuan Island had been captured. His spirits lifted: "Now that the island has fallen, I can regroup with my fellow cultivators and surround these eight!"
"These eight should be enough to push me to mid-Core Formation!"
With that thought, Lin Li reversed his direction and headed back toward Nanchuan Island.
Thanks to the combined powers of Like a Fish in Water and Skyborne, Lin Li moved incredibly fast. If he hadn't been deliberately waiting for the eight pursuers, he would have long since left them behind. He intentionally slowed down, ensuring they kept up the chase.
After leading them near Nanchuan Island, Lin Li finally saw that Baixing Kingdom's Core Formation cultivators had been lying in wait for the ambush.
The commander of this battle, Yang Sheng, a late-stage Core Formation cultivator and Baixing Kingdom's vanguard general, emerged from the sea with a spear in hand, leading eight of his subordinates!
"Damn it!" The Boundless Empire's Grand Marshal Tu Long's face darkened with realization. "We've been tricked!"
At that moment, Lin Li stopped and joined the ranks of Baixing Kingdom's Core Formation cultivators, laughing mockingly. "Haha! Looks like none of you had the skill to catch me!"
Seeing Lin Li safe and sound, Shallow Water Daoist finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"The hunt begins!"
Ye Fan, meanwhile, eagerly anticipated the evolution points he would gain from slaughtering the eight Core Formation cultivators!