Chapter 417

The defensive barrier was set up, instantly cutting off the strong suction of that black vortex.

What was unexpected, however, was that the black vortex was rapidly approaching their position, and its oppressive force grew stronger, causing the defensive barrier to emit a resonant hum.

Feng Xuanji, seeing this, spoke with a solemn expression: "Our defensive barrier probably won't hold for much longer."

Xie Yan's eyes narrowed slightly: "You stay here; I'll go out and meet it."

He flashed out of the barrier's area, right hand gripping his longsword, and fiercely swung at the black vortex that was approaching at visible speed.

Boom——

The sword blade directly split the black vortex in half!

But in the next instant, the black vortex emitting a chilling aura instantly returned to its original state, and with a "boom," its suction erupted with tremendous pressure, violently pulling Xie Yan toward it.

"Junior Brother!" Feng Xuanji's face changed drastically, and she couldn't help shouting.

At the critical moment, Xie Yan forced himself to stop a few feet before the black vortex, twisted his wrist, and slashed with his sword!

"Wuji First Form, Blood‑Transforming Blade!"

Boom!

The sword intent that burst forth seemed to momentarily stagnate the airflow of space.

The black vortex was loosened by a single sword strike.

Just as Feng Xuanji and the others thought the crisis was over, the already‑dispersed black vortex suddenly transformed in mid‑air into countless black shadows, which fiercely attacked the white‑clad youth.

The white‑clad youth's eyes flickered, and he quickly raised his sword to meet the attack.

Moreover, these black shadows' attack power far exceeded that of the undead beasts; they were extremely fast, and each strike could violently twist the surrounding space, making it impossible for Xie Yan to predict their trajectory, let alone defend precisely.

In that split second, a black shadow pierced Xie Yan's body.

Instantly, a bone‑piercing cold seeped through the wound into his marrow, making his whole body shudder as if he had fallen into a bottomless icy abyss.

At the same time, his mind felt as if an invisible giant hand had ruthlessly grabbed it, dragging his consciousness unwillingly into a dark, profound void.

After a brief lapse, he immediately sensed something was wrong, quickly broke free of that strange dark Bind, and regained control of his body and thoughts.

He succeeded in regaining control of his consciousness, but the price was coughing up a large mouthful of blood, his whole body swaying on the verge of collapse, nearly falling to the ground.

"Zixu!" Bian Chen exclaimed in shock, just as he was about to leave the barrier and head toward Xie Yan—

A green‑clad silhouette, faster than him, flashed past his side and in an instant left the barrier.

Bian Chen couldn't help but stare, instinctively calling out: "Miss Yuan..."

"Yao Yao!" Cang Li started, about to give chase, but then heard Yuan Yao's urgent voice.

"Third Senior Brother, don't come over yet!"

As soon as Yuan Yao stepped out of the barrier area, she noticed the surrounding space‑flow twisted severely, bringing an extremely terrifying oppressive feeling that made her feel as if her whole body were being forcibly squeezed and twisted, almost to the point of suffocation.

Moreover, there were mysterious spiritual power fluctuations in the air.

It seemed, as if, stirring restlessly.

Yuan Yao immediately released her own spiritual power, shaping it into a spiritual power barrier to resist the surrounding spatial forces.

And as she lifted her head, her eyes met Xie Yan's.

Xie Yan's brows furrowed slightly.

Yuan Yao understood his gaze; he felt she shouldn't have left the barrier.

At this moment, Yuan Yao had her back to everyone, and she glared displeasedly at Xie Yan.

Then she quickly closed in on Xie Yan's direction.

Xie Yan's expression stalled, then he swung a sword toward Yuan Yao's side, dispersing the black shadows, and said to her: "Fellow Daoist Yuan, be careful of these black shadows; they seem able to seize the consciousness of those whose resolve is weak."

Yuan Yao replied politely: "Thank you for the warning, Fellow Daoist Xie."

At this moment, the two stood almost back‑to‑back, continually fending off these mysterious, strange black shadows.

Yuan Yao used her spiritual power to resist the surrounding spatial distortion, narrowed her eyes, gripped the Phantom Spirit sword tightly, and fiercely attacked the black shadows.

"Nirvana First Form, Phoenix Fire!"

The sword blade swept sideways, as if it would ignite in mid‑air.

Those black shadows seemed to move a bit slower.

Seeing this, Yuan Yao's lips curled slightly; she swiftly flickered to several positions and laid down a formation.

"Earth Fire Formation, activate!"

In an instant——

Flames blazed fiercely across the ground of the entire area.

Yuan Yao and Xie Yan exchanged a glance, then quickly retreated from the Earth Fire Formation area.

Meanwhile, countless black shadows were trapped within the layered earth fire, and the flames inside the formation were seen twisted terribly.

Yuan Yao knew this Earth Fire Formation could not annihilate those black shadows.

Xie Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he suddenly said: "These black shadows are merely avatars."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao faintly sensed a guess forming in her heart.

Could these black shadows be the Undead King's avatars?

If so, is the Undead King nearby, observing them?

Yuan Yao's thoughts reached this point; she lifted her gaze and scanned the surroundings, only to find that the undead beasts had already withdrawn from this area.

Her gaze suddenly halted, falling upon the yellow‑clad boy seated on the puppet's shoulder, his disheveled hair fluttering in the wind.

He wore a rabbit‑grinning mask, which in the night gave off a somewhat eerie feeling.

Most alarming was that his eyes, which had originally been exposed, were now sunk into dark shadows.

He seemed to have looked over as well.

At that moment, Yuan Yao felt her whole body turn icy, and her heart seemed to pause.

「Xie Dao friend! 」 she called out immediately.

Xie Yan sharply followed her line of sight and also saw the yellow-clad youth Jiang Xiao.

At that moment, Cang Li, Feng Xuanji, Bian Chen, Bai Zhixing, Yan Yunlan, and Yu Jing — the seven inside the defensive barrier — also noticed Jiang Xiao's abnormality.

Suddenly —

The Earth Fire Formation was broken!

Immediately after, those countless black shadows actually headed toward the defensive barrier!

「Be careful! 」 Yuan Yao suddenly came to her senses, she looked toward the few people at the defensive barrier, and shouted.

Feng Xuanji and the others immediately gathered spiritual power to strengthen the defensive barrier.

Yuan Yao and Xie Yan also hurried toward the defensive barrier.

Boom!

With a bang, the defensive barrier was twisted and torn apart by the spatial power of countless black shadows; this happened so quickly that everyone was somewhat shocked.

「Thirteenfold Shadow Slash! 」 the black-clad girl Yu Jing swiftly lifted her heavy sword and struck.

Thirteen sword-blade shadows erupted in succession, delivering an unstoppable powerful attack.

After Feng Xuanji's shock, she quickly stepped back two steps and unleashed a sword technique!

「Phoenix Order One Sword, Burn Autumn Cliff! 」

The phoenix phantom emerged with the blade, spun a few times, then suddenly spread its wings; in an instant, one could hear the phoenix's cry, and the scorching fire blade devoured the black shadows.

「Furious Thunder Technique, Thunderfire Spear! 」 Cang Li slightly turned his wrist, like a dancing dragon, swiftly gripped the spear with both hands, and thrust it at the black shadows.

Purple thunderfire flickered, like heavenly thunderclaps, the roaring sound deafening.