Yes, it was still him.

Song Lin.

Ever since disguising himself as Xiao Jin and traveling with Jian Chou, he had been shocked to discover that his good luck had completely vanished.

Entering the Realm of Hesitation, encountering Xie Buchen, fierce battles, opening the gate, and getting squeezed in by Xie Buchen.

Finally managing to walk forward, he saw Jian Chou and thought a sneak attack might succeed, only to be hunted down by her. Having shaken off Jian Chou, the hidden realm collapsed in the blink of an eye.

Fine—if he couldn’t provoke, he could at least hide.

By this point, Song Lin had completely lost hope in the entire hidden realm expedition. Who would have thought…

Even while fleeing, he would run into that group of Central Domain cultivators at the entrance!

Heaven knows how utterly devastated Song Lin felt at that moment.

He couldn’t help but blurt out: “Damn your grandfather!”

What was the point of these people splitting into so many groups for no reason?

Xie Buchen was one group, Jian Chou another, and there were four more behind!

He had encountered all three groups one after another, each time ending up utterly disheveled!

Song Lin held his breath in frustration. Being provoked by Young Master Ruhua’s seductive and demonic effeminate voice, thinking of all the grievances since entering the hidden realm, his anger simply erupted from his heart!

Both Xie Buchen and Jian Chou were dragons among men—one had powerful weapons at his side, the other had heaven-defying cultivation.

Due to various concerns at the time, Song Lin couldn’t use his full strength, so this renowned late-stage Golden Core cultivator from the Southeast Wilderness was suppressed by these two.

But what did these four people amount to?

Southeast Wilderness cultivators were warlike, recognized as the “Demon Path,” most skilled in combat, their battle prowess second only to Mingri Xinghai.

Once Song Lin decided to fight without restraint, his strength was naturally terrifying, intending to give these four a good lesson.

However, he ultimately underestimated these people’s abilities.

The effeminate man wielding a flower was ruthlessly vicious, often delivering cold strikes when least expected, leaving you dizzy and disoriented.

The one holding a jade folder was a trickster who only knew how to run around the battlefield chaotically.

Song Lin originally thought he was a soft target and prepared to kill him first as an example, but upon engaging, the opponent admiringly circled around him talking, and in the blink of an eye had actually learned his techniques.

There were actually such extraordinary people in the world!

In that instant, Song Lin immediately gave up and switched targets to the red-clothed youth who hadn’t made a move.

And so…

Song Lin was extremely unhappy right now!

The red-clothed youth was actually the most mysterious and perverted among the four!

Though his battle disc was only a zhang or so wide, less than two zhang, and his cultivation was quite low, the entire battle disc was covered with countless magical artifacts, one connected to another.

More terrifyingly, he could use them all freely!

In that moment, five characters immediately surfaced in Song Lin’s mind—

War Lord Xia Houshe!

Troublesome indeed.

Song Lin immediately knew that these four from the Central Domain were also a tough nut to crack.

This generation of cultivators from the Left Three Thousand Assembly, whether in cultivation, abilities, or even their troublesome degree, far exceeded previous years—something Song Lin never expected.

For a time, he couldn’t break free.

Among the four, the only female cultivator, the famous medicine woman from Baiyue Valley, Lu Xiangleng, was perhaps the lowest in combat power among them all.

But the three men protected her from behind, and she occasionally threw some auxiliary Dao seals from the side to help the other three, instead causing Song Lin even greater trouble.

Song Lin was grinding his teeth in hatred. With quick attacks proving futile, he decisively changed his strategy.

Going all out, he might as well use his knowledge of the hidden realm to lure these people into a trap, pin them down, then leave directly—much less troublesome.

The Southeast Wilderness had a long history and had once obtained the “Nine Curves River Chart.” After the River Chart was taken, people had been tracking its whereabouts.

As the final location where the River Chart fell, the Qingfeng Nunnery’s hidden realm naturally had information collected by the Demon Path.

It could be said that aside from lacking complete seal talismans for opening doors, Song Lin knew far more about the hidden realm.

He immediately maintained his composure while gradually leading everyone toward a certain sunken piece of land during the battle.

Initially, nobody noticed at all.

The waters of Yunmeng Great Marsh flooded the land, about to sink but not yet sunken, forming a wonderfully positioned “quagmire” in this place, like a muddy swamp.

Because this piece of land still had formations, once cultivators fell into it, their chances of escape were almost zero.

Just as he was about to lure everyone into the complete trap and use unique methods to trigger the formation to trap and kill them, unexpectedly, the previously silent medicine woman suddenly raised an alarm, telling everyone to flee.

This completely ruined Song Lin’s plan.

With no choice, he had to trigger the first layer of the formation early.

By coincidence, medicine woman Lu Xiangleng happened to be closest to this sunken land, with the previously wounded Zuo Liu beside her.

This female cultivator saved her companion at the crucial moment but couldn’t escape herself, being struck down by the formation.

Song Lin then triggered the second layer of the formation, intending to trap the remaining people here while simultaneously launching his strongest attack in his lifetime—

The Eighteen Demon Techniques.

Finally, he successfully broke free.

The moment he shot up from the ground, Song Lin felt that even the gloomy, oppressive, and about-to-collapse sky overhead had become dear and lovely.

Having been in the hidden realm so long, he was finally no longer constantly frustrated.

What a refreshing feeling!

He couldn’t control his wild laughter and spoke arrogantly.

Let these damned Central Domain cultivators be thoroughly buried in the Qingfeng Nunnery’s hidden realm.

He didn’t want to care about them at all!

Rising higher and higher, his form grew swifter. Song Lin even felt his mental state and cultivation had some wonderful improvement, like finally having the sun come out after being under heavy clouds for half a year, bringing a bright clear day.

But perhaps it was extreme joy leading to sorrow…

Just as he was rushing toward the southern maze gate, under the dark sky, a crescent moon suddenly exploded!

And moreover…

Getting closer and closer!

That crescent moon expanded thunderously before his eyes, condensing the purest blade qi, seeming like a casual flick yet also like a full-strength strike!

In that instant, Song Lin had no time to react.

He was in mid-air, still immersed in the joy of having schemed against everyone. How could he imagine a Cheng Yaojin would appear halfway, with someone actually waiting for him here!

His mind seemed to flash with ten thousand thoughts, but Song Lin in mid-air only had time to shift his body slightly, barely avoiding vital points.

Bang!

That crescent moon, that blade light, struck his back with tremendous force.

The surging power instantly turned his internal organs upside down.

“Pah!”

A mouthful of fresh blood gushed out, dyeing his entire field of vision red!

Song Lin was carried by the blade light, deviating from his original flight path and plummeting straight toward a more distant location!

Until he was thrown to the ground, feeling his organs about to rupture, he still couldn’t quite react. Only when water submerged his body did he remember who had struck just now…

Jian Chou of Yashan!

That female cultivator from this year’s Central Domain Assembly who had climbed the Solitary Platform!

In that moment, the three words “your grandfather” were completely inadequate to describe his collapse!

How is it you again!

“What the hell did I do to provoke you, always giving me trouble!!!”

Song Lin roared in grief and indignation, nearly coughing up blood.

Fortunately, this place was still some distance from Jian Chou’s side. After Song Lin’s outburst, he calmed down.

His injuries were severe, but countless cracks surrounded him—this place was definitely not safe to remain in.

He had trapped those four from the Central Domain, with a medicine woman caught by the formation, probably in mortal danger. Even if Jian Chou was unwilling after that strike, for the sake of saving people, she surely wouldn’t pursue further.

“There’s no better opportunity to escape than this!”

Song Lin immediately assessed the situation, forcing himself to swallow a pill, suppressing his injuries, and leaping up again.

This time, he dared not fly high, only slowly traveling close to the ground.

Looking up at the sky, it was a gray expanse, utterly depressing.

Dear?

Lovely?

Hah.

He wished he could someday get the chance to chop off that stinking woman’s hands and feed them to dogs!

With a gloomy face, Song Lin quickly disappeared over the water surface, soon exiting the maze and following the path he came, seeing the white jade long road in the distance.

Cloud shadows floated on both sides, still a natural barrier.

After crossing the long road, he could exit the hidden realm in no time.

Song Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief. No Central Domain cultivators would appear here again. He confidently strode forward, walking onto it without hesitation—

In the maze formation.

Jian Chou’s unexpected strike was truly surprising, yet extremely accurate, probably catching Song Lin completely off guard.

Just from the blood scattered across the sky, she could judge that Song Lin was seriously injured.

It could be said this was an excellent opportunity to kill Song Lin in one blow.

However, just as Song Lin had judged, Jian Chou didn’t pursue to finish him off, but instead lightened her form and flew directly toward the incident location.

Lu Xiangleng had saved Zuo Liu but couldn’t escape herself, temporarily trapped by the formation.

A terrifying pressure struck down from above when the formation activated, actually pressing her down forcibly. Combined with Song Lin’s departing strike, the situation became even worse.

Her plain clothes were already stained with blood, her entire person almost pressed into the quagmire. Below, the terrifying suction of cracks pulled at her, threatening to bind her here completely.

Her slightly cold brow and eyes seemed to contain distant mountain mists and rain. Lu Xiangleng bit her silver teeth secretly, forming hand seals and trying desperately to resist.

But being within the formation, how could she?

“Bang!”

Only moments later, her delicate five fingers burst with wound after wound, blood spattering everywhere.

As the pressure above pressed down, half her body was completely submerged.

Not far outside, Zuo Liu instinctively wanted to rush in to save her, but unexpectedly, as soon as his hand entered the first formation layer’s range, it sank straight down.

Suspended in mid-air, he was caught off guard and nearly pulled down from the sky by this force.

Fortunately, Young Master Ruhua was nearby. He pulled from behind, yanking Zuo Liu back and breaking him free from that terrifying range.

“Swish swish swish…”

From the quagmire below, qi swords shot out one after another, densely packed, instantly enveloping Ruhua and the others.

Xia Houshe nearby was fine—numerous magical artifacts emerged to protect him thoroughly, though he couldn’t spare more attention for other matters.

For a time, this second layer formation actually trapped several people within.

Seeing Lu Xiangleng in the very center seemingly losing consciousness, sinking deeper and deeper.

Young Master Ruhua frowned tightly, anxious in his heart. His wide sleeves fluttered, and a bean-green peony embroidered on them spun out, grasped in his palm.

The bean-green peony was a famous variety among peonies, also called “Jade Green,” with petals thick, moist, and transparent like jade.

Young Master Ruhua took flowers as his title, naturally a flower lover. Even during the Assembly, he hadn’t used such ultimate techniques.

Beside him, Zuo Liu immediately widened his eyes.

Countless sword rains fell around them, causing everyone to cry out in distress.

Young Master Ruhua’s fingers formed seals, and the entire green peony completely scattered, countless petals flying!

Among the surrounding sword rain, a flower rain bloomed magnificently, bursting with dazzling radiance in this dim place.

Of course, what drew more attention was its power.

Each bean-green petal that flew out transformed into a sharp blade, sweeping away all the surrounding sword rain like a violent storm.

The remaining petals wove into a giant net, extending bean-green silk threads as they flew, covering the ground below.

“Splash!”

A great sound of water.

Large waves splashed up over the vast water surface below, and countless qi swords that hadn’t yet emerged from the water were immediately scattered by the petals!

Young Master Ruhua, one person with one flower, actually managed a group attack!

Zuo Liu was surprised but knew the breathing moment had come.

This was the best opportunity. He didn’t hesitate, suddenly lunging forward to enter the more central formation and rescue Lu Xiangleng.

But unexpectedly, just as he was about to set off, a lightning-like figure swept rapidly from behind!

“Ah!”

Zuo Liu only felt someone grab his back collar, not only preventing him from moving forward but actually making Lu Xiangleng appear even farther away!

Like someone had grabbed his back collar and flung him backward.

Zuo Liu was simply furious: “Who the hell—”

Choked.

Completely choked.

Zuo Liu only felt a gust of wind blow past his side, then saw that long-missed figure rush past like lightning.

A light voice fell in the wind as the person had already gone far.

“Wait here.”

“…”

Heavens!

Senior Sister Jian Chou!

In that instant, Zuo Liu was completely dumbfounded. The unfinished words naturally went down his throat, leaving only a full sense of security lingering in his heart.

If they went in, they’d probably die immediately, but she at least had the confidence to retreat safely.

Just such a light sentence, just such a domineering sentence!

She had already roughly observed the formation’s situation from afar. Only someone of her level of strength could enter and try. If Zuo Liu went in, he’d come out as a pile of mince in no time, leaving Jian Chou nowhere to cry.

In the blink of an eye, she had directly rushed into the first formation layer.

A strange sense of familiarity suddenly struck her mind.

Even with Jian Chou’s formidable strength, she could now hear the explosive sounds of her bones resisting the formation’s pressure throughout her body, even having a vague premonition: what Wue heard when struck by her palm seal and dying was probably the same sound.

Extremely similar to an Earth Binding Formation!

Only more ferocious and powerful than the formation she had encountered in the Blood-Red Small Realm!

That terrifying pressure was like the entire world had been flipped over and pressed down on your head, bending your spine and forcing you to kneel.

Upon entering the formation, she immediately saw Lu Xiangleng in the central quagmire.

Healing the world with compassion, with skillful benevolent hands, having saved countless people from danger.

People said she was the most kind-hearted person in all the lands of Shijiu Zhou, appearing like moonlight in heaven from afar, like fresh snow up close.

Lu Xiangleng was already weakened to the extreme. Things in the formation constantly attached to her body, causing her spiritual energy to rampage through her meridians, and in a moment she coughed up blood.

Her world had already become a blur, only vaguely sensing a figure approaching her…

Jian Chou knew the situation was urgent. The hidden realm’s conditions were complex and ever-changing—how could it withstand delays?

Her spiritual power circulated to the limit. At this moment, Jian Chou’s bones were like jade, instantly marked with dark wind patterns. The pressure around her immediately lightened, and her speed suddenly increased somewhat.

But unexpectedly, just as she was about to approach Lu Xiangleng, a burst of crimson dark light suddenly exploded in mid-air.

“Bang!”

Like fireworks blooming, the explosion filled Jian Chou’s vision with halos of light.

She had a basic understanding of formations, but before this trap was triggered, she had no awareness of it at all.

This could only prove one thing—

The person who arranged this formation in the hidden realm had skills far exceeding ordinary formation masters!

Outside the first formation layer.

Zuo Liu had been pulled out by Jian Chou and obediently stood there, holding his jade folder, his eyes shining with wonder.

Young Master Ruhua, who had originally planned to go in and rescue someone, relaxed slightly upon seeing Jian Chou arrive.

None of them were confident they could rescue Lu Xiangleng. By his judgment of that formation, even Jian Chou would have difficulty.

In that case, even if they forced their way in, they’d only cause trouble. Better to wait outside.

The earlier Jade Green peony had swept away countless sword rains, but it couldn’t maintain for long.

On the broad water surface, bubbles began gurgling up again.

This was the precursor to qi swords appearing.

Young Master Ruhua’s feminine face instantly turned ugly.

Zuo Liu also unhesitatingly moved to his side, preparing to defend together.

“Exchange three-four, Li nine-five, walk Yang lines hexagram, establish Zhen one-two.”

Just as their scalps were about to explode with tension, a somewhat hoarse, calm voice drifted over.

In that instant, Zuo Liu felt the voice was familiar again.

But before he could figure out who it was, another problem occupied his mind: what did this string of gibberish mean?

Young Master Ruhua naturally heard the voice too.

But he wasn’t as slow as Zuo Liu.

After only a moment’s hesitation, he directly formed hand seals and stepped out a mysterious, eerie footwork pattern, taking three steps in the void, then three small flowers flew from his fingers toward three different locations on the water surface.

“Splash!”

“Splash!”

“Splash!”

The three small flowers transformed into brilliant light, and the water surface immediately rippled with waves.

Originally, countless qi swords had already formed on the water surface, about to rush toward them in the next moment, but after these three flowers fell, all the qi swords about to rise simultaneously froze!

Thousands upon thousands of qi swords suspended in mid-air, all motionless at the same time!

That moment of stillness felt as long as sixty years.

Zuo Liu’s heart rose to his throat.

The next moment, they heard a sound like a groan, and the thousands of qi swords crumbled like being scattered by a gale, completely destroyed without leaving even dregs!

Zuo Liu stared wide-eyed, unable to recover for a long time.

What exactly had Young Master Ruhua done?

“…”

The crisis was temporarily resolved.

Young Master Ruhua himself took a sharp breath inwardly.

He composed the emotions showing on his face, turned sideways, and saw the pale, nearly withered-looking Xie Buchen.

Arrow wounds dripped blood all over his body, easily revealing deep bone-visible scars, especially that blade wound on his shoulder—the wound was extremely large and eye-catching.

Blood had completely soaked his robes, with much filthy mud sticking to his body, utterly disheveled.

Even so, he emanated a sense of profound stillness like deep waters and towering mountains.

He stood suspended in the void, his expression calm.

But Zuo Liu, looking at him, almost doubted he’d fall down the next moment.

Only then did Zuo Liu recover, remembering that Xie Buchen’s formation mastery was extremely high. His simple two sentences just now were probably guiding Young Master Ruhua on how to break this formation.

Thinking how this formation had tormented them nearly to death, yet with Xie Buchen it was merely a matter of two or three sentences.

Such formation mastery—how could it be ordinary?

Everyone had their own thoughts.

Young Master Ruhua’s embroidered robes were gorgeously colorful, but his expression hadn’t returned to its usual elegant composure. Instead, he frowned, wanting to ask how Xie Buchen had ended up like this, but turning his gaze, he saw Xie Buchen only calmly watching deeper into the formation.

So Young Master Ruhua also looked over.

Jian Chou had been in the formation for a while.

After the first encounter with the exploding crimson light, she had encountered three more times consecutively.

She carefully recalled the various books she had read in the Scripture Pavilion, finally remembering this light’s name—

Five-Zhang Drum.

Five-zhang was a nominal number, actually meaning appearing once every five formation nodes in this technique.

Logically, since Jian Chou knew its origin, she should be able to break it easily. Unfortunately, this “Five-Zhang Drum” was itself extremely profound and complex within formations.

Knowing it appeared once every five formation nodes, but not knowing the entire formation’s structure, how could she utilize its pattern?

Not to mention this formation was full of deadly traps, with various formations interlocking, and earth-binding formations constraining her movements.

Moving through the formation, Jian Chou could certainly explore forward while ensuring she wasn’t harmed.

Even when previously exploring the Blood-Red Small Realm, she could purely rely on strength, chopping down axe blow after axe blow to forcibly destroy the Earth Binding Formation’s foundation.

But now…

Lu Xiangleng’s figure was only a vague shadow, seemingly about to be swallowed by the hidden realm’s crumbling earth, completely sinking into that quagmire.

How could she wait?

She had to save her, and urgently.

Though her formation mastery seemed decent, it truly couldn’t compare to Xie Buchen’s…

For the fastest way…

In that instant, Jian Chou looked at the surrounding complex formation, countless thoughts flashing through her mind’s depths, but finally gritted her teeth decisively—

Retreated!

Going in was extremely difficult, but retreating didn’t have so many obstacles.

Young Master Ruhua and Zuo Liu only saw a flash of afterimage before Jian Chou had already exited the formation, standing before them.

In that moment, Young Master Ruhua was slightly stunned: was she giving up?

As soon as this thought emerged, he immediately suppressed it.

Jian Chou wore plain robes, standing in the void. Due to her exploration in the formation, her mood was somewhat heavy, her brow slightly furrowed with frost-like coldness.

They all watched her, seeming to have questions.

But Jian Chou had no time for lengthy explanations. She simply turned her hand, producing a jade-colored pill, and tossed it toward Xie Buchen!

The jade pill flew from her fingertip, tracing a rather plain straight line.

“Snap!”

Xie Buchen’s eyes flashed, lightly extending his hand and catching the pill between two fingers.

With just a glance, he could easily judge: “Stolen Spring Pill?”

A healing medicine from Yashan with amazing efficacy.

Why was she giving it to him?

He watched her without speaking.

But the inquiry in his eyes was obvious.

Jian Chou wasted no words, only two brief syllables: “Cooperation.”

Her voice was cold and sharp, with some stiffness.

Xie Buchen almost instinctively frowned, glanced at her, then looked down at the formation and quagmire trapping Lu Xiangleng below—the medicine woman’s figure was about to disappear completely.

Cooperation?

For Lu Xiangleng’s sake, she was even willing to temporarily set aside this deep hatred.

She was always beyond expectations.

Xie Buchen lowered his eyes slightly, withdrawing his gaze and turning the jade Stolen Spring Pill between his fingers. His agreement was also straightforward: “Good.”