Chapter 243: It

The twelve‑sided Mountain River Flag swayed in the rain, its overwhelming binding force pressed the Fuhai Sect elder, while white long arcs brimming with fierce killing power continuously pierced toward it.

The Fuhai Sect elder, seeing this, roared, "Fang Yuan, what are you doing? You still dare strike at me, truly thinking you have backing and are fearless—so I don't dare do anything to you, right?"

The Mountain River Flag's grade fell, its main formation flag was more than half destroyed, yet among third‑tier Magic Treasures it remains a top‑quality item; if the user is strong enough, it can unleash the pinnacle power of a third tier.

Otherwise, this Magic Treasure wouldn't require such a high contribution value to exchange at the Sanyang Sect.

Moreover, this place is Blood Crystal Island, surrounded by endless sea, which makes it almost a home field for the Mountain River Flag.

If the Fuhai Sect elder were a slightly weaker mid Core Formation cultivator, he would likely be suppressed outright by the Mountain River Flag.

"No wonder you dared to act against me; you must have some backing. But to think you could defeat me like this, you are far too naive!"

"Since you won't show any courtesy, I'll give you a taste of hardship so you learn humility!"

The Fuhai Sect elder sneered.

He didn't know what Xiao Zhangqing was up to—whether he had been persuaded by Jin Mu in advance to betray, or was just clueless and overconfident.

In the face of absolute strength suppression, none of that matters.

Boom~!

The Fuhai Sect elder ceased concealment, his aura suddenly surged, and he brandished a blade as thin as a cicada wing yet dozens of meters long; the blade exuded terrifying killing aura, and with a casual slash it shattered the Mountain River Flag's binding force.

The ensuing overwhelming sharp force caused the Mountain River Flag's power to retreat and become isolated.

Immediately after, a sweeping motion caused the white long arcs to dissolve completely under the blade.

This object turned out to be a fourth‑tier Spirit Treasure embryo! It is not a damaged fourth‑tier Spirit Treasure, but one that was crafted to near completion before being halted for some reason; its might already exhibits the nascent fourth‑tier killing power and possesses some traits of a fourth‑tier Spirit Treasure.

In the future, if the right opportunity and materials arise, this blade could fully transform into a fourth‑tier Spirit Treasure.

However, unleashing the true killing power of such a fourth‑tier Spirit Treasure embryo is beyond the capability of ordinary Core Formation cultivators.

Most mid Core Formation cultivators lack sufficient spiritual power to fully activate the embryo's potency.

And the elder before him from the Fuhai Sect clearly has complete control over this Spirit Treasure embryo.

Otherwise, the Mountain River Flag's binding would not have lost its effect on him.

It also proves that, although his cultivation is still mid Core Formation, he is only one step away from late Core Formation and will soon breakthrough.

In terms of combat power, he is already nearly on par with late Core Formation! But for Xiao Zhangqing, it naturally has little impact.

He merely looked at the slender blade Spirit Treasure embryo with slight surprise and praised, "This treasure is fine, it belongs to me!"

…

At the very center of Blood Crystal Island, Elder Li and Madam of the Dark River's battle had reached a white‑hot state.

Overall, however, Elder Li still held the advantage.

In terms of personal strength, Elder Li was inferior to the Madam of the Dark River.

But the fourth‑tier great formation on Blood Crystal Island, even though the Madam of the Dark River briefly opened a breach, did not have its formation power completely dissipate; Elder Li tapped a portion of that power to compensate for her slightly weaker personal strength.

Moreover, as time passed, the breached part of the formation would gradually repair, and Elder Li's advantage would grow larger.

If the Madam of the Dark River could not defeat Elder Li before the formation fully repaired, she would have to retreat.

Otherwise, she would be left on Blood Crystal Island permanently!

Although the duel of techniques favored him, Elder Li was not careless; on one hand to prevent the Madam of the Dark River, a veteran Core Formation Real from the Eastern Extreme State ranking among the top, from any follow‑up moves, and on the other hand he constantly monitored the situation at the western corner of Blood Crystal Island.

She was confident on her own battlefield, but regarding the western corner, she lacked confidence in the newly arrived elder named Fang Yuan.

She could hold the main formation, but if the western corner's formation fell, her efforts would be in vain.

"I've already made my words very clear; I suppose Elder Fang shouldn't slip up…"

Elder Li thought to himself, trying to ease his mind.

But in the next instant…

Her heart tightened.

"Fang Yuan, what does he want to do?!"

Seeing Xiao Zhangqing not obey her order to stay inside and defend, but instead, at the moment the Fuhai Sect Core Formation elder broke the formation breach, he brandished a battle flag and completely sealed off the western corner.

This is clearly a sign that he ignored her instructions and intends to hard‑fight the opposing Core Formation elder!

"What does he want? Exactly what does he want! Has he gone mad?"

Although Elder Li's age is not especially high among Core Formation cultivators, he is nearly two hundred years old, making him very steady; at this moment he was completely disordered, unable to stop becoming irritable.

She imagined the worst case: Fang Yuan couldn't resist the Fuhai Sect's temptation and began to hunt down the severely wounded Core Formation elder.

But, unexpectedly, the opponent needed no lure; as soon as the battle began, Fang Yuan charged straight forward.

He acted as if he were insane, having lost his reason.

The Mountain River Flag formed a barrier, completely concealing Xiao Zhangqing's battle with an unnamed Fuhai Sect elder; although the massive collisions and spiritual energy fluctuations could be felt, the outside world could not discern the specifics.

Yet in Elder Li's heart, a strong sense of foreboding had already arisen.

"This guy must think that exchanging for the Mountain River Flag Magic Treasure will make up for his recent breakthrough past mid Core Formation, allowing him to stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with seasoned mid Core Formation cultivators, huh? Bastard!"

"Or perhaps Fang Yuan has already betrayed his sect, having been bought by the Fuhai Sect?"

Li Yuan couldn't help but think so in her heart, speculating Xiao Zhangqing's actions with the utmost malice.

In her view, she could not comprehend how a normal person, a cultivator who had reached mid Core Formation, could act so foolishly!

If truly that foolish, one could not reach the Core Formation realm in the Cultivation World!

"Hahaha! Li Yuan, what's wrong, burning with impatience?"

Madam of the Dark River wielded vast black spiritual energy mingled with rain, surging like a wide, eerie river flowing into Blood Crystal Island, and within the river seemed to brew countless demonic beasts that rushed forward, constantly trying to damage the island‑protecting formation. "Noisy!"

Li Yuan let out a cold snort, forcibly suppressing her inner irritation and unease; a white dust‑sweeping blade transformed into countless fine threads, continuously darting toward the Madam of the Dark River to block her from destroying the formation.

At the same time she also gathered formation power, continuously performing repairs.

As for the Madam of the Dark River's specialty, Soul Transformation attacks, she was not particularly afraid.

Because her own Soul Transformation strength is also extremely high, nearly reaching its limit, albeit slightly inferior to the Madam of the Dark River, and she also possesses a third‑tier top‑grade Soul Dao Defense Magic Treasure; thus the opponent's Soul Transformation secret technique, though powerful, cannot inflict serious injury on her.

"Stubbornness is useless; once the formation on Blood Crystal Island is completely broken, I will refine your soul into a wandering spirit in my Mist River, increasing the power of my Divine Power!"

Mist River Lady began a psychological attack.

"This time the cultivator I sent to disrupt the west‑corner formation is no unknown; he is among the Golden Core elders of my Fuhai Sect, ranking roughly within the top ten in strength!"

"Although his cultivation is still mid‑Golden Core, his accumulated foundation and strength already compare to late Golden Core!"

"Moreover, he also possesses a fourth‑grade Magic Treasure embryo in his hand—most adept at offense!"

"For the past half‑year I have not acted, waiting for his arrival."

"Guarding the west corner of Blood Crystal Island is—if I recall correctly—Fang Yuan, who barely died at my hands before escaping by luck. With his strength, can he hold the defense?"

"Feel it, will you? This magical aura already fully matches late Golden Core! And that sharp blade wave—neither you nor I can take it lightly. Can a mere Fang Yuan withstand it?"

Mist River Lady attacked while chattering incessantly, a not‑particularly pretty face full of a smug smile.

Li Yuan remained silent, as if she hadn't heard the other's words.

But inside her, she grew increasingly cold.

Yes.

She could not pinpoint the situation inside the Mountain River Banner, yet she sensed a sudden burst of magical aura comparable to late Golden Core, along with a startling sharp force.

If she were to face such an attack, she would have to take it seriously.

Fang Yuan, who has just broken through to late Golden Core, how could he hold it?

It seems the west corner of the island will fall completely at once.

Next, the Fuhai Sect will use a piercing aspect, and the Island Protection Array on Blood Crystal Island will be gradually destroyed piece by piece.

Foreseeing the worst outcome, Li Yuan felt despair.

But she was willing yet powerless, unable to do any remedy.

At this moment she had no mind to blame Fang Yuan, and had to start thinking how to retreat.

First, she cannot retreat immediately; she must hold out to the end.

Even if the Island Protection Array cannot be repaired and its destruction is inevitable, under her control it can at least persist for a while.

If she fled at once, the formation would be completely broken, and many disciples of the Three Yang Sect on the island, as well as the other two Golden Core elders, would likely not escape death.

She holds on, letting others escape first, perhaps saving many.

But letting others go first and leaving herself alone, she likely faces a grim fate.

How to choose—Li Yuan, usually decisive, now cannot help but be conflicted.

After all, this is a matter of life and death…

Buzz! At that moment, the situation at the west corner of Blood Crystal Island suddenly changed in an unexpected way.

It sounded like a soul‑piercing dragon's chant, followed by a massive Soul Transformation wave emanating from the Mountain River Banner; even at a great distance, the aftershock made Mist River Lady and Li Yuan glance sideways.

"Such a strong Soul Transformation aura…"

Both were startled in their hearts.

Such a powerful Soul Transformation aura is already not inferior to Li Yuan's.

It has reached the pinnacle of late Golden Core, approaching the limit of Soul Transformation, only slightly below Mist River Lady.

And.

The technique that manifested this Soul Transformation aura is also highly refined.

Just as the two were uncertain and speculating what had happened, the suddenly burst magical aura comparable to late Golden Core vanished instantly.

It disappeared completely, no longer existing.

It is highly possible that this late‑Golden‑Core Fuhai Sect elder, in the recent Soul Transformation technique, had his soul scattered! If so, that would mean the one who performed the Soul Transformation technique is…

"Fang Yuan?"

The thought kept popping up in her mind.

Li Yuan's previously gloomy face broke into ecstatic joy, while Mist River Lady, who had been smug, suddenly darkened, her expression terrifyingly grim.

She gave the two women no time to speculate.

After the dragon chant, the Twelve‑Faced Mountain River Banner was retracted, and its interior situation finally became clear.

Only Xiao Zhangqing's figure hovered in the air; before him lay a storage sack and a blade‑like Magic Treasure as thin as cicada wings, yet without a hilt—clearly an unfinished embryo.

As for the Golden Core elder of the Fuhai Sect whom Mist River Lady had waited months for and placed great hopes on, he has now become a corpse.

"Fang Yuan, did he really slay the Fuhai Sect elder?"

"How could that be? What exactly is he?"

Li Yuan no longer needed to suppress her thoughts; the surprise shone fully on her face! (End of chapter)