On another side, on top of the battlefield.

　　“I have no idea what you’re scheming,” Seven’s voice echoed. “Nor do I care. It doesn’t matter what you want to do—as long as I chop you into two halves, everything will be fine!”

　　“Brother Seven, you’re as decisive as always,” Young Master Hai said with a smile. “If you think you can kill me, come here and try it! No need to stand on ceremony. With the help of the Moon Saber Sect’s great defensive formation, I can surpass my limits and fight against you. We’ll be able to fight once again, aren’t you happy?”

　　“Fight with you?” Seven’s cold voice echoed again. “Do you really think I’ll be happy to fight with you? Today, I have no interest in comparing notes.”

　　He had always been fond of comparing notes with others. Therefore, he was known as a battle maniac inside the ‘Nine Provinces Number One Group’. But today, he only wanted to kill.

　　Su Clan’s Seven said once again, “Between the First and the Second Stage, there is the difference of a great realm. Between the Fourth and the Fifth Stage, there is also the difference of a great realm.”

　　“Yes, I know that,” Young Master Hai nodded.

　　“No, you don’t understand,” Su Clan’s Seven laughed. Afterwards, his whole body started to shine. The Golden Core inside his body was as bright as the sun.

　　The Fifth Stage’s Golden Core. After the formation of the Golden Core, the ‘true qi’ inside a cultivator’s body would change into ‘spiritual power’.

　　Spiritual power and true qi stemmed from the same root, but spiritual power held an overwhelming advantage over true qi. If we were to compare the two, it would be like comparing a sword made of wood to one made of sharp iron.

　　After he had condensed his Golden Core and ascended to the level of Spiritual Emperor, those that could challenge Seven had gotten fewer and fewer. Even the other battle maniac of the Nine Provinces Number One Group, Thrice Reckless Mad Saber, had been defeated by him. Therefore, he would rarely give his all when fighting someone! [1]

　　Su Clan’s Seven pointed his finger toward Young Master Hai.

　　A drop of spiritual power was transferred from the Golden Core to his forefinger.

　　When this drop of spiritual power left his body, it turned into a golden bullet that shot toward Young Master Hai.

　　The speed of this golden bullet was simply too fast! The cultivators in the surroundings could only see a streak of golden light as it brushed past them!

　　Moreover, this small golden bullet made of spiritual power contained a whole eighty saber blades!

　　“Start the formation!” The look in Young Master Hai’s eyes turned serious as he lightly shouted. “Switch to the fifth formation!”

　　Immediately, the Moon Saber Sect’s disciples took action. Under the leadership of the elders, they switched the new defensive formation of the sect to the fifth layer.

　　In the middle of the great formation, all the disciples of the Moon Saber Sect were shouting in ecstasy. They were pouring all their qi, blood, and true qi into the sect’s defensive formation. With that, the power of the defensive formation was directly adding up to that of Young Master Hai.

　　At the same time, that blood mist above the Lan Yuan Valley also underwent a change. It quickly condensed and turned into a multi-layered barrier that wrapped around Young Master Hai.

　　The golden bullet arrived there in an instant.

　　“Riiiip!”

　　The eighty saber blades contained inside the golden bullet clashed against the blood mist. That multi-layered barrier was pierced as if made of tofu—it was pierced so easily that it almost made one’s heart feel pain!

　　In the blink of an eye, those saber blades were already upon Young Master Hai.

　　Young Master Hai quickly brought out a small jade-like shield.

　　That small jade-like shield wasn’t a magic treasure but was instead a talisman. Moreover, it was a precious one-use talisman that could block the attack of a ‘Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor’.

　　The saber blades in the golden bullet bumped into the small jade-like shield.

　　In an instant, that small jade-like shield also started to break.

　　Sure, it was a one-use talisman that could block the attack of a ‘Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor’. But that applied only to normal Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperors, and not to someone like Su Clan’s Seven.

　　Young Master Hai’s right hand’s sleeve opened, “Demon Monarch Anzhi, it’s your turn.”

　　Demon Monarch Anzhi’s soul fragment smiled. He positioned himself in front of the golden bullet before the shield completely broke up. He opened his mouth and swallowed down that drop of spiritual power.

　　Soon after, the soul fragment flew upward.

　　But he had flown for less than fifty meters when that drop of spiritual power inside his body detonated.

　　“Boom~!”

　　When those saber blades exploded, Demon Monarch Anzhi’s soul fragment was also broken into pieces. The shock wave created by the explosion was so powerful that it almost sent the nearby Young Master Hai that was riding his flying sword flying.

　　Young Master Hai used his small jade-like shield talisman once again. Only then he was able to block the explosion caused by those saber blades.

　　Young Master Hai stabilized himself with great difficulty. After heaving a deep sigh, he said, “As expected… a Golden Core is truly terrifying. However, I already knew this!”

　　It was exactly because he knew the fearfulness of a Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor that he had to become one at all costs!

　　***

　　Seven’s attack had been blocked.

　　The Moon Saber Sect’s disciples on the ground were now aware of Seven’s strength. An invisible pressure had started to weigh on them, making them gasp for breath.

　　Facing the terrifying Su Clan’s Seven, they could only give maintaining this ‘defensive formation’ their all. Because, this was their only way out of this situation.

　　The continuously moving disciples revolved their true qi and poured all their strength into the sect defensive formation!

　　Right now, they had only one thought in their minds, ‘maintain the formation’. Only then would they be able to stay alive.

　　If they could stop Seven’s attack…

　　Then, they would be able to repel him!

　　Without anyone realizing it, the eyes of the disciples of the Moon Saber Sect had started to turn red. Their breathing also grew quicker.

　　“Elder Young Master Hai!” In the end, the Moon Saber Sect’s disciples started to call out Young Master Hai’s name in a frenzied state.

　　“Done.” In the middle of the crowd, a disciple whose appearance was covered by a layer of black fog quietly withdrew from the defensive formation of the sect, disappearing without a trace.

　　It was Demon Monarch Anzhi. His main body had quietly mixed with this crowd of disciples from the Moon Saber Sect. At that point, he had secretly used a demonic technique and confused the minds of the other disciples, making them descend into a state of madness.

　　***

　　Young Master Hai, who had stabilized himself with great difficulty, looked toward Su Clan’s Seven.

　　Even if he appeared to be in a slight predicament, he still maintained his elegant demeanor.

　　“What are you going to do now? By now, you should have realized that you won’t get anywhere by relying on talismans and magical treasures,” Su Clan’s Seven said coldly. “Saber, come!”

　　A magical saber fell into his hand.

　　He wasn’t riding a flying sword. But Seven was still easily walking on air as if on earth.

　　Immediately, a terrifying power exploded from the saber. The Su Clan’s Seven that was holding a saber was completely different from the one who wasn’t. They were like two different people!

　　Young Master Hai was also influenced by this power that caused him to slightly shiver. However, he quickly recovered his cool, “I knew from the beginning that I wouldn’t be able to ward off more than three of your attacks. Even if I were to use all my talismans and magical treasures.”

　　Seven slightly furrowed his brows.

　　“Actually, the moment you appeared here in the Lan Yuan Valley, my plan was already complete,” Young Master Hai stretched out his arms and said with a smile.

　　Every single thing had been under his control. Now, it was time to catch everything with a net.

　　“Brother Seven, did you notice the strange shouts of those disciples below us? They are recklessly pouring all their energy inside the sect’s defensive formation. In their minds, there is only one thought… repel Su Clan’s Seven!

　　Yes, Brother Seven. From the very beginning, you have been acting according to my plan. You don’t even need to move a finger. The reason being, you can let Moon Saber Sect’s disciples feel an overwhelming pressure only by standing there. And to oppose you, the Moon Saber Sect’s disciples are ready to squeeze out their potential and pour all their qi, blood, and true qi into the sect’s defensive formation.

　　But this is not the end. Thanks to my improvements, the sect’s defensive formation has become insatiable. Not only their true qi, but even their life force and souls will be absorbed into the sect’s defensive formation.

　　The faith in their hearts is very firm. They are exactly like those fanatical religious followers from ancient times. Compared to those sacrificial offerings that are afraid of being killed, these fanatical disciples of the Moon Saber Sect can offer up even more life force and soul power. This is really incredible! They are the best type of sacrificial offering!

　　Revel, sing heartily, dance with joy!

　　My… sacrificial offerings!”

　　Those disciples on the ground had gone mad. They were crazily jumping while shouting “Elder Young Master Hai” out loud. Their eyes were bloodshot, and they had long lost their reason.

　　At last, all those disciples started to fall on the ground one after another!

　　“Start the formation! Blood God’s Evil Saber Formation!”

　　Young Master Hai held both his hands high. All the blood mist hovering over Lan Yuan Valley started to rise.

　　Demon Monarch Anzhi’s main body had a cruel smile on its face. In this moment, he had quietly arrived beside Young Master Hai. The raging demonic flames on his body were rising toward the sky. It was all thanks to him that those Moon Saber Sect’s disciples on the ground had fallen into a frenzied state this quickly.

　　Demon Monarch Anzhi and Young Master Hai were standing back to back with their hands held high. They were both controlling this ‘Blood God’s Evil Saber Formation’!

　　“Blood Saber Sect’s leftovers?” Su Clan’s Seven prepared his saber and assumed a strange posture.

　　HEAVENLY SABER BURYING THE STARRY SKY!!!

　　After many years, Su Seven had once again used his ‘Heavenly Saber Burying the Starry Sky’. What kind of power would it have now?

　　***

　　On another side, Palace Master Seven Lives Talisman was taking his time and earnestly explaining to Song Shuhang the strange aspects of this defensive formation right before their eyes.

　　“This formation used in the Lan Yuan Valley and the one used by the Moon Saber Sect’s disciples are part of a set. This is the ‘Blood God’s Evil Saber Formation’. It was used back in the days by the now extinguished Blood Saber Sect to sacrifice the lives of countless people. The purpose of this formation is to condense a life-bound Blood God Saber. However, this formation used by the Moon Saber Sect has obviously been improved from the original version.

　　Only, no matter how the formation is changed, its roots will remain the same. It cannot deceive my eyes.”

　　Palace Master Seven Lives Talisman said self-satisfied: “Now, what’s happening inside the Lan Yuan Valley?”

　　“A great quantity of blood mist is rising. It has covered the entire Lan Yuan Valley. It seems that Senior Seven has also made his move!” Song Shuhang quickly replied.

　　“This is the time! Go, Little Friend Shuhang. Head toward the place I’ve marked! Wait for the formation to end and you’ll obtain a great harvest!” Palace Master Seven Lives Talisman said with a laugh.

　　Song Shuhang stretched the muscles of his body as he charged like a cheetah toward that random big tree. At the same time, he asked, “Can’t Senior Seven just break this formation?”

　　“It cannot be destroyed. Even if he manages to kill all the people maintaining this formation, it will still keep going on on its own! Killing all those Moon Saber Sect’s disciples will merely speed up the process. Since this great formation started, all those Moon Saber Sect’s disciples have become living offerings. They have become the raw materials for my life-bound Blood God Saber! It doesn’t matter if they die now or a bit later, it won’t make any difference. At most, it might influence a bit the harvest one would receive at the end of the formation.” [2]

　　Palace Master Seven Lives Talisman continued, “All of this will lose significance… if you can completely destroy Lan Yuan Valley with a single saber attack! Seven can achieve this point. However, he will need to accumulate energy for a long period of time. And right now, he doesn’t have it. His only hope is to directly kill the person that started this formation!”

　　At this time, Song Shuhang had already arrived at his destination, “I’m here! What should I do now?”

　　“You don’t have to do anything, just stand there and don’t move. Just wait for the meat pie to fall from the sky onto your head,” Palace Master Seven Lives Talisman said in a self-satisfied manner. “You only need to pay attention to your safety. Don’t get killed while you’re there. I’ll hang up first. In a while, if you’re still alive, call me and tell me about your harvest.”

　　Song Shuhang hung up and cautiously squatted in the place marked by Palace Master Seven Lives Talisman. This way, he would be less noticeable and not as eye-catching.