After enduring the second fire cannonball bombardment, Xiao Zuiji was already injured, and his Fortified Iron Shield’s energy had only a quarter remaining.
However, he hadn’t forgotten the Sect Master’s instructions to hold first aggro, so when the Fire Dragon Beast attacked Su Xiaomo and Li Fei, he struck it with I Slash.
This spiritual-energy-type martial technique, modified by that mysterious great power, was simple and easy to learn, but limited by his realm, its power was restricted. Striking a high fifth-rank fierce beast with it could only cause a bit of pain.
Still, it successfully attracted the Fire Dragon Beast, transferring all its aggro onto himself.
What was a tank?
It meant that at any time, one had to hold the target’s attention and use one’s own body to bear the damage, reducing threats to teammates!
In this regard, Xiao Zuiji was undoubtedly qualified!
When the tail carrying flames and thunderous force swept viciously toward him, Jun Changxiao in the distance roared with a savage expression, “Dodge!”
The tactics arranged before entering had been perfect, and their execution flawless.
However, he had underestimated the Fire Dragon Beast—underestimated this high fifth-rank fierce beast with fire-type attributes!
In the face of absolute power, any tactics, any techniques, would be shattered by overwhelming strength and become worthless!
Wutu-level disciples facing the Fire Dragon Beast were truly weak. If not for the Fortified Iron Shields, they would have long since been dead or gravely injured.
Dodge?
I cannot dodge!
I will use this broken body to bear the thunderous force for everyone!
This was the only thought in Xiao Zuiji’s mind as he channeled all his strength into the Fortified Iron Shield.
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Spiritual energy surged from his arms into the shield, reinforcing the already extremely dim Defensive Barrier.
But compared to the incoming force, even with his defensive strength pushed to the absolute limit, Xiao Zuiji still appeared incredibly small!
Jun Changxiao’s eyes were about to split with rage. The miniature form of the Unsheathed Blade had already appeared—clearly, he was prepared to pay any price to save his disciple!
However.
Ye Xingchen and Li Qingyang, who were closer, moved even faster than him.
One darted over and raised his Fortified Iron Shield in front, while the other used Ferry Step Dragon’s Journey to approach, then rapidly struck the void with both hands.
“Buzz!”
In an instant, the eight characters Qian, Zhen, Kan, Gen, Kun, Xun, Li, and Dui were traced in midair.
“Senior Brother Li!”
“Junior Brother Ye!”
Xiao Zuiji’s expression was stunned.
Li Qingyang raised his Defensive Barrier, using his body to protect his junior brother.
Ye Xingchen, with his back to him, struck both palms fiercely at the void and shouted, “Shifting Heaven and Earth!”
“Buzz!”
The eight characters flashed with dazzling light, instantly condensing into a Bagua diagram.
From appearance to execution took only one breath. The tail carrying thunderous force had already struck viciously!
Strangely, when it hit the diagram, no sound of impact came!
“BOOM—”
On the opposite side, terrifying force suddenly erupted from the void at the stone wall, collapsing half the mountainside.
“Crack! Crack! Crack!”
Cracks appeared in the Bagua, which then shattered into nothingness.
The flaming tail, with most of its force dissipated, continued sweeping forward. It first struck the Defensive Barrier, then directly sent Li Qingyang, Ye Xingchen, and Xiao Zuiji flying.
“Thud!”
“Thud!”
The three fell to the ground, their faces contorted.
“Bwah!”
Ye Xingchen even spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale.
This technique, Shifting Heaven and Earth, was a martial technique from his previous life that could transfer incoming force to another location.
Though powerful, limited by his current realm, executing it could only transfer thirty percent of the Fire Dragon Beast’s force, and it brought considerable backlash to himself.
This was already quite good!
If he hadn’t dissolved thirty percent of the force, and Li Qingyang’s Defensive Barrier hadn’t dissipated another portion, a direct hit would have meant severe injury at minimum—possibly instant death!
Though the cost was great, they had saved Xiao Zuiji.
This was already enough!
“ROAR—”
Enraged that the three humans were still alive, the Fire Dragon Beast let out another ear-splitting roar, then gathered a fire cannonball in its mouth.
This was bad.
Li Qingyang and Xiao Zuiji’s faces changed drastically.
Though both still held their shields, the energy was completely exhausted—they definitely couldn’t withstand a fire cannonball attack!
Ye Xingchen’s heart also turned cold.
The martial technique he’d executed and the backlash he’d endured had left him seriously injured. The chance of dodging the incoming fireball was zero!
As a Wudi, he would never despair at any time, so he channeled his dantian with one breath and shouted loudly, “Hurry up and ice-seal it!”
Those four words rang out with perfect timing.
This also meant that to escape this crisis, they could only place their hopes on Lu Qianqian!
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Suddenly, behind the Fire Dragon Beast, icy-cold qi spread out. The surrounding scorching temperature instantly dropped!
How much did it drop?
Li Fei, who was closest, was shivering from the cold!
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The spreading icy-cold qi rapidly condensed into a giant hand composed of countless ice blocks.
The Fire Dragon Beast, which had been gathering power to attack, felt the chill and hurriedly turned its head. It immediately discovered that the crystal-clear ice hand was actually larger than itself!
Lu Qianqian’s hair flew wildly, her face pale. Her extended right hand suddenly grasped at the void as she shouted coldly, “Nine-Fold Ice Sealing Palm!”
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
The ice-sealing hand swept over fiercely, directly grasping the four-zhang-tall Fire Dragon Beast in its palm.
Whoosh!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh—
Powerful extreme-cold qi erupted, pressing against the high fifth-rank fierce beast’s skin, rapidly forming layer upon layer of thick ice.
In an instant, the Fire Dragon Beast was ice-sealed!
“Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!”
Lu Qianqian retreated several steps, her face showing weakness, yet she still bit her teeth and released her ice-type attributes, maintaining the ice seal for those few breaths!
“Stomp!”
Zhou Hong charged forward in a stride, then leaped into the air. His single hand rested on his sword hilt in a drawing stance, and cold, sharp sword force instantly erupted from his entire body.
At that moment.
The scene seemed frozen in eternal stillness.
Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji, Ye Xingchen, and the others all watched Zhou Hong.
At this moment, they deeply understood—whether they could kill the Fire Dragon Beast all depended on this one strike!
Junior Brother Zhou!
You must succeed!
“Crack! Crack! Crack!”
The ice layer began to crack!
“Sword Force!”
Just then, Zhou Hong, bearing everyone’s hopes, focused his gaze and shouted, “Startling Swan!”
“Clang!”
The sword left its sheath, and sword light flashed brilliantly!
“Swish—”
Before the ice layer could break open, a matchless silk-like sword qi slashed down from above!
“Clang!”
The sword entered its sheath.
“Sword Force, Annihilation!”
“Clang!”
As his body descended, the sword left its sheath again. A sword qi carrying annihilating force swept out horizontally.
“Stomp.”
Having executed two sword strikes, Zhou Hong landed opposite the Fire Dragon Beast.
“Clang!”
The ancient, simple sword slowly entered its sheath. Beneath his flying black hair, his weathered face was revealed, beads of sweat condensing on his forehead.
From Lu Qianqian’s ice-sealing to his sword drawing and sheathing.
Time elapsed: five breaths!
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The ice layer immediately shattered. The sealed Fire Dragon Beast broke free, raised its head, and let out a furious roar that shook the entire gourd-shaped cavern.
“That’s the Fire Dragon Beast’s roar!”
“It’s been enraged!”
“Retreat, retreat, quickly retreat!”
The rogue cultivators outside, hearing the terrifying roar, were so frightened they immediately fled backward.
Long Ziyang, Li Yuhua, and the others standing at the tunnel entrance held their ground. Even if the Fire Dragon Beast came out, they wouldn’t leave unless they saw the Sect Master and their senior brothers!