Chapter 97

A mere Xixia Yipintang? He didn't take it seriously at all.

Huang Rong sensed the reassuringly powerful aura emanating from Ning Chuan.

Her inner worries and tension also quietly dissipated by more than half. "San San Qi"

She nodded firmly, her eyes brimming with trust in Ning Chuan.

"Mm! With Brother Ning Chuan here, Rong'er fears nothing!"

"Let's go see what these reckless fools are up to."

No sooner had Ning Chuan spoken than his massive dragon-like body shot forward like a black lightning bolt.

Silent and swift, he raced toward the source of the battle cries, riding mist and soaring through the air, his form gradually shrinking to about three meters.

Huang Rong immediately activated her Lightness Skill and followed closely behind.

When they arrived at the edge of Taohuadao, near an open area by the dock,

they saw Qu Lingfeng, Lu Chengfeng, Wu Mianfeng, and Feng Mofeng leading dozens of armed servants of Taohuadao.

Engaged in fierce combat with a group of martial artists clad in bizarre attire and radiating ferocious energy.

Each of those martial artists had bulging temples and vicious eyes—clearly seasoned fighters.

Among them, the three leaders exuded particularly overwhelming energy—they were all Innate Realm experts!

One was a tall, thin man like a bamboo pole, his face twisted with a lewd grin, his eyes darting incessantly over the female servants of Taohuadao—it was Yun Yun Zhonghe, one of the Four Evils of Xixia Yipintang.

He wielded a strange stepping technique, his body flickering like a ghost, his steel claws striking relentlessly at women's vital points—cunning and vicious beyond measure.

Another was a monstrous brute wielding a massive crocodile shears; each opening and closing sent out glinting cold light and a nauseating stench of blood—it was Yue Yue Laosan, the "Fierce Demon of the South Sea."

He was hot-tempered and brutal; every slash with his shears carried crushing force, as if trying to cut a man cleanly in two.

The third was a middle-aged woman with a disfigured face, wielding a heavy black bronze cudgel whose techniques were cruel and treacherous, always targeting the lower body—it was Ye Erniang, the "Utterly Wicked."

Her attacks were accompanied by eerie, baby-like wails that unnerved the mind.

Aside from the most mysterious and powerful of the Xixia Yipintang's Four Evils—Duan Yanqing, "Evil to the Brink"—

the other three: Yun Yun Zhonghe, Yue Yue Laosan, and Ye Erniang, had all gathered here!

All three were renowned Innate Realm masters, infamous throughout the martial world, their hands stained with the blood of countless heroes!

Behind them trailed over a dozen Xixia Yipintang warriors dressed in uniform attire.

Though most were merely Postnatal Realm in cultivation base,

each was a ruthless killer forged in blood and corpses, fighting with flawless coordination and fearless ferocity—a force not to be underestimated.

Clearly, Xixia Yipintang had come fully prepared, determined to succeed!

They had learned that the Eastern Hermit Huang Yaoshi was in deep seclusion, attempting to break through to Grandmaster Realm.

This was precisely the perfect moment, in their eyes, to storm Taohuadao and seize the Nine Yin Manual!

"Jie jie jie! Your day of death has come, little brats of Taohuadao!"

Yun Yun Zhonghe let out a shrill, grating laugh, his body drifting like willow fluff, his steel claws flashing into streaks of cold light as he lunged at a female servant of Taohuadao.

"Hand over the Nine Yin Manual, and surrender all the young women on this island to me—maybe I'll be in a good mood and spare your worthless lives!"

"Hmph! A pack of cowardly rats! How dare you act so boldly on Taohuadao?!"

Qu Lingfeng roared, his body flickering as he unleashed the Falling Petal Divine Sword Palm to meet Yun Yun Zhonghe.

He was now at the third stage of Innate Realm, his Palm Technique exquisite and his internal energy profound—he feared not this infamous Xie Sect master.

Lu Chengfeng, Wu Mianfeng, and Feng Mofeng each took on Yue Yue Laosan, Ye Erniang, and the Yipintang warriors.

The two sides instantly plunged into chaotic battle!

In an instant, blades flashed, fists roared!

The clang of weapons and the cries of rage and pain rang incessantly!

The shockwaves of battle shook the surrounding trees, shattered the ground into deep craters, split massive boulders, and sent dust swirling into the air!

Hong Hong Qigong and Guo Jing had already arrived nearby.

Hong Hong Qigong watched the battle with a solemn expression, holding back from intervening.

He knew clearly: if Xixia Yipintang dared launch such a full-scale assault, they must have more tricks up their sleeves.

These three—Yun Yun Zhonghe, Yue Yue Laosan, and Ye Erniang—were probably just appetizers.

The real prize might still be lurking.

He wanted to see what other cards Taohuadao held, besides its mysterious Dragon Island Master.

Yun Yun Zhonghe, Yue Yue Laosan, and Ye Erniang had originally believed that with their three Innate Realm masters and over a dozen elite Yipintang warriors,

defeating these obscure Taohuadao disciples would be effortless.

But the moment they clashed, they were stunned.

They saw that Qu Lingfeng and the other three, though young, each possessed profound internal energy and exquisite techniques.

They were all Innate Realm cultivators!

Especially Qu Lingfeng, whose strength was clearly suppressing Yun Yun Zhonghe!

This… how could this be?!

When had Taohuadao acquired so many young Innate Realm masters, besides Huang Yaoshi?!

Could Huang Laoxie really have some secret method for teaching disciples?!

What shocked them even more was

that Qu Lingfeng and the other three, along with the Taohuadao servants, moved with flawless coordination and perfect synergy!

They seemed to form a mysterious array, balanced in offense and defense, advancing and retreating with precision.

Each person's power was greatly amplified through the array's operation!

Even the Taohuadao servants, who were only Postnatal Realm, now displayed combat power approaching that of Innate Realm under the array's enhancement.

In an instant, the entire Xixia Yipintang contingent not only failed to gain the slightest advantage but was instead driven back step by step by the Taohuadao forces, teetering on the brink of disaster!

Even several experts from Yipintang, through a single lapse, were caught off guard by the Taohuadao group, exposed their flaws, and killed on the spot!

"This... what the devil is this formation?! How can it be so formidable?!"

Yun Zhonghe, while clumsily dodging Qu Lingfeng's Palm Technique that raged like a violent storm, cried out in horror.

He felt as though he had fallen into a quagmire; no matter how he struggled, he could not extricate himself.

The opponent's attacks came like a tide, wave after wave, leaving him unable to cope.

The situation for Yue Laosan and Ye Erniang was no better.

They too were firmly suppressed by Lu Chengfeng, Wu Mianfeng, Feng Mofeng, and those Taohuadao servants who cooperated with perfect harmony, utterly unable to unleash their true strength.

"Hahaha! A frog in a well! Dare you covet the treasures of my Taohuadao?!"

Seeing this, Qu Lingfeng could not help but throw his head back and laugh, his voice brimming with heroism and confidence.

"The profound mysteries of my Taohuadao, how could they be fathomed by such ignorant and narrow-minded fools as you?!"

"Today, I shall let you taste the might of my Taohuadao formation!"

His admiration and gratitude toward Brother Ning Chuan in his heart had reached an unsurpassable peak!

Had Brother Ning Chuan not previously carefully instructed them in Wu Gong and taught them the improved version of the mental cultivation method.

And had he not, based on the Daodeqi Sect's arts of the odd gates and hidden armor, crafted this combined attack formation specifically for them.

Facing such a formidable enemy as Xixia Yipintang today, they would long ago have been utterly routed!

How could they possibly hold the upper hand as they do now, defeating the enemy so thoroughly?

"The Island Lord's divine might is overwhelming! To receive the Island Lord's instruction is truly a blessing of three lifetimes!"

Lu Chengfeng and the others also inwardly sighed with emotion, their respect for Brother Ning Chuan overflowing in their words.

Yun Zhonghe, Yue Laosan, and Ye Erniang, at this moment, felt both shock and rage, both doubt and fear in their hearts.

They simply could not comprehend how the disciples of Taohuadao had suddenly become so powerful!

Moreover, this combined attack formation was too exquisite, simply unheard of!

Could it be that Taohuadao truly possesses some unknown secret trump card?

Watching their own men fall one by one, suffering heavy casualties.

While the Taohuadao side remained firmly in formation, their assault as unstoppable as a rainbow...

Yun Zhonghe knew that if this continued, they would truly be wiped out here!

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly let out a sharp whistle!

At the same time, he shouted harshly, "Boss! Save us! There is something strange about Taohuadao! We cannot hold on!"

As his call fell silent.

A cold, hoarse voice, filled with endless malice and majesty, suddenly came from the darkness not far away: