Chapter 720

The person before them was none other than Wu Xiang, who had been the first to track the white-haired old man into the cave earlier.

However, he was currently being chased by a mass of raging flames, relying on a jade tablet magic treasure to resist while fleeing for his life. His magic robe was already burned with several large holes, and he looked utterly disheveled.

Having been trapped in this Yin-Yang Eight Extremes Formation for so long, Song Qingming knew well the severity of the Yin-Yang water and fire within. If not for Xia Mo's "Mystic Ice Bead" magic treasure and the "Heavenly Dipper Five Elements Formation" he had set up, it would have been very difficult for the two of them to hold out until now.

He had assumed Wu Xiang had long since run out of magic power and been swallowed by the Yin-Yang water and fire in the formation, or had already been captured by the opponent. He truly had not expected that Wu Xiang, all alone, could actually hold out until now, and he could not help but show a look of surprise on his face.

Before Song Qingming and the others could call out to him, Wu Xiang turned and discovered the "Heavenly Dipper Five Elements Formation" they were in first. He immediately increased his escape speed and closed in on Song Qingming's side.

"Junior Sister Xia, Fellow Daoist Song, it is truly wonderful that you are both unharmed!"

Seeing Song Qingming and Xia Mo hiding inside the "Heavenly Dipper Five Elements Formation," a trace of joy instantly appeared on Wu Xiang's face.

Before he could continue speaking, Song Qingming, who was inside the grand formation, immediately opened a corner of the formation and brought the exhausted Wu Xiang inside.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, I didn't expect you to be safe as well. We hadn't seen your figure since we entered, and we thought you had met with misfortune." Seeing Wu Xiang walk in, Song Qingming immediately stepped forward and greeted him with a smile.

"Sigh! At the time, I wanted to chase after and capture the enemy, but I never imagined that I would lose their trail shortly after entering the cave. When I turned back, I realized you had all disappeared as well.

I wandered in that cave for a long time without finding a way out, only then realizing I had fallen into a trap set by the opponent. It is just a pity that I am not well-versed in the way of formations and could not find a way out for a long time.

Later, this eerie Yang fire appeared and kept chasing me. I barely managed to escape to this place. Fortunately, Heaven did not forsake me, and I unexpectedly ran into you again while being chased by this Yang fire; otherwise, I fear my life would have been forfeit here today.

This old fellow is truly insidious to have set up such a powerful magic formation here, trapping us all inside. I wonder how Junior Sister Han is doing now."

After seeing Song Qingming and the other, Wu Xiang immediately recounted his recent experiences with some resentment, not forgetting to worry about Han Yutong, who was still alone outside.

"Oh! So that is how it is. Fellow Daoist Wu is indeed quite lucky. The two of us encountered this Yin-Yang water and fire shortly after entering the cave and have been unable to escape, only able to rely on the grand formation to temporarily resist.

This formation is indeed quite powerful. Fellow Daoist Xia and I studied it for a long time but could not think of a way to escape, so we can only sit trapped here for the time being." Seeing Wu Xiang still worrying about Han Yutong outside, Song Qingming also sighed helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Wu Xiang could not help but blame himself, saying: "Alas! It is all my fault for being impatient, which is why I fell for the opponent's trick. Who knew that old brat still had this up his sleeve?

Now, not only have we failed to rescue Junior Sister He, but we are all trapped here, and Junior Sister Han's fate is unknown. If something happens to her as well, how will I explain this to the Senior Uncle when I return?"

"Good people have their own protection; Senior Brother Wu need not blame yourself too much. Now that we are trapped in this cage ourselves, even if we wanted to go out and rescue Junior Sister Han, we would be powerless to do so.

It is better to first recover our state, and we can talk about it once we think of a way to escape!"

"If it were just to kill and seize treasures, attacking so many of us Core Formation cultivators at the same time would be too risky!"

"If we had hesitated and not come in just now, these guys would definitely not be our match. Aren't they looking for trouble for themselves?"

"Junior Sister Xia, Fellow Daoist Song, the water and fire outside seem to have weakened quite a bit now. Should we go out and check the situation to see if we can find a way out?"

Hearing Wu Xiang's suggestion, Song Qingming looked at him and immediately shook his head, saying: "This formation is quite tricky; it is not something we can find a way to break so easily.

Moreover, the Yin-Yang water and fire outside this grand formation are controlled by a formation master. Once we go out and the opponent suddenly attacks, I fear it will not be so easy for us to return. Fellow Daoist Wu, it is best not to take this risk."

"Oh! This formation is truly that powerful. I am not well-versed in formations; please forgive my ignorance." Hearing Song Qingming's explanation, Wu Xiang hurriedly cupped his hands to express his apology.

"Who is there?"

Just as Song Qingming and the other were speaking, a somewhat strange spiritual power suddenly appeared outside the grand formation, startling Xia Mo, who was sitting in meditation with her eyes closed.

Hearing Xia Mo's voice, Song Qingming and Wu Xiang immediately turned their heads to look outside the grand formation, only to see that at some point, a strange purple light had appeared outside the protective barrier of the "Heavenly Dipper Five Elements Formation."

"Not good, someone wants to destroy the formation eye!"

Song Qingming shouted and prepared to rush out of the formation to stop the opponent, but Xia Mo's movements were faster than his. Her figure had already turned into a streak of escape light, blocking the path in front of that purple light.

Seeing that Xia Mo had already released her flower basket magic treasure and aimed it at him, that somewhat eerie purple light instantly flashed and left its original spot, turning into a mysterious person wrapped from head to toe in a purple robe.

After dodging Xia Mo's strike, the purple-robed person immediately cast a spell with both hands, and a flying sword magic treasure appeared in front of him, launching a direct counterattack toward Xia Mo's position.

At the same time, the Yin-Yang water and fire all around, which had already become somewhat calm, suddenly became extremely fierce and attacked toward Xia Mo's side.

With the opponent's coordination with the Yin-Yang water and fire of the grand formation, Xia Mo was caught off guard for a moment and could only use a defensive magic treasure to resist with all her might.

Seeing that Xia Mo was somewhat unable to match the opponent, Wu Xiang immediately spoke to Song Qingming beside him: "Fellow Daoist Song, you guard here; I will go help Junior Sister Xia."

Then, without waiting for Song Qingming's reply, the somewhat anxious Wu Xiang flew out of the formation and used a golden flying knife magic treasure he had on him, beginning to accumulate power in mid-air.

A moment later, Wu Xiang, having poured most of his magic power into the magic treasure in his hand, unleashed a desperate strike and threw the flying knife directly.

However, what was somewhat unexpected was that under Wu Xiang's control, the target of this flying knife's attack was not the mysterious purple-robed person not far away, but a formation eye of the "Heavenly Dipper Five Elements Formation" located not far behind him.

With such a strike accumulating power at such close range, Wu Xiang already had great confidence in destroying a formation eye. Seeing that his magic treasure was about to strike the formation eye's position, a strange smile suddenly appeared on his face.

But before Wu Xiang could rejoice for even a moment, a huge bronze mirror suddenly appeared out of thin air in front of the formation eye, blocking the flying knife magic treasure he was desperately controlling at a distance of less than a zhang from the formation eye.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, what is the meaning of this?"

When Song Qingming had seen Wu Xiang suddenly appear in the "Five Elements Heavenly Dipper Formation" earlier, seeing that the other could hold out for so long in this "Yin-Yang Eight Extremes Formation," Song Qingming had actually been somewhat puzzled for a long time.

Especially when Wu Xiang later explained that it was because he was lucky and hadn't been attacked by the grand formation at the beginning, which allowed him to persist and find them, Song Qingming was even more suspicious of what he said.

Nowadays, in such a life-or-death battle, once the opponent makes a move, they would absolutely not leave any leeway. Relying on such luck to survive just seemed strange no matter how one looked at it.

Therefore, just as Wu Xiang left the grand formation, Song Qingming had already followed closely behind him out of the formation, timely guarding against this strike from the opponent that intended to destroy the formation eye.

Seeing Song Qingming, who had also arrived outside the grand formation, staring at him with a puzzled look, Wu Xiang only then realized that the other was clearly prepared for him long ago, which was why he could timely block his flying knife magic treasure.

"Fellow Daoist Song, what do you mean by this? Why would you attack me?"

Before Song Qingming could speak about the opponent's strange actions just now, Wu Xiang suddenly made a counter-accusation against Song Qingming and retreated directly to Xia Mo's side.

Xia Mo, who was focused on fighting the purple-robed person, also hurriedly disengaged from the battle and retreated, scanning Song Qingming and Wu Xiang not far away with a puzzled look.

"Junior Sister Xia, be careful! Song Qingming is the mole among us. I was already suspicious of this brat when Junior Sister He suddenly went missing earlier. So he really is in cahoots with the other side."

Seeing Wu Xiang slander him directly in front of Xia Mo, Song Qingming only looked at him with a smile, not opening his mouth to argue or explain a single word.

Xia Mo, who had just retreated, scanned Song Qingming and Wu Xiang, then looked at the purple-robed person not far away. Seeing this situation, a trace of sorrow could not help but reveal itself in her eyes.

"Junior Sister Xia, this place is truly too dangerous. I will cover you; you go first."

"Senior Brother Wu, if you want to leave, then leave. I will not go." Before Wu Xiang could finish, Xia Mo suddenly spoke and interrupted his words.

"Junior Sister Xia, what do you mean by this? Are you actually willing to believe this outsider surnamed Song rather than believe the words of your Senior Brother?" Hearing Xia Mo's words, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on Wu Xiang's face, and he looked at her somewhat puzzled.

"Senior Brother Wu, I will say it again: if you want to leave, then leave immediately. I will not stop you. This is your last chance to leave; I hope you can think clearly before making a decision."

The words from Xia Mo's mouth were spoken for Wu Xiang to hear, but her eyes were always tightly fixed on the purple-robed person not far in front of her, as if she did not care too much about Wu Xiang on the side.

Seeing this scene, Wu Xiang still had a look of confusion on his face. Just as he was preparing to continue explaining, the purple-robed person not far away suddenly spoke and interrupted his words.

"Enough! You don't need to continue acting anymore. She had already seen through our identities long ago. Now, even if we wanted to take a step back, there is no way out." The purple-robed person's voice carried a hint of softness; it was clearly a woman, and her voice sounded somewhat familiar to Song Qingming, clearly something he had heard somewhere before.

Seeing the purple-robed person, who had been silent until now, suddenly speak, the look on Wu Xiang's face, who was standing not far from Song Qingming and the other, suddenly changed. He immediately revealed a hint of ferocity, no longer having the "good person" appearance from just a moment ago.

Then, Wu Xiang's escape light suddenly flashed, and he moved away from Song Qingming and the other, arriving beside the purple-robed person not far away.

Xia Mo stared tightly at the two people not far away and spoke softly: "Master had just entered seclusion to cultivate when Junior Sister He suddenly went missing. Immediately after, you, this Senior Sister, also happened to be away and not in the palace, leaving only me to come and investigate this matter. All these coincidences seem to have been pushed by you in the dark.

To deal with me alone, you spent so much effort to set up this trap here. Senior Brother Wu, Senior Sister Chen, if I am not mistaken, you must have been plotting this for a long time, right!"

"Hahaha, I have to say, that you could see through Junior Brother Wu's strategy and guess our identities so quickly is indeed somewhat beyond my expectations.

It is said that Junior Sister Xia is as clever as ice and snow, and even Master is always praising you in front of me. How could we not plan carefully to deal with a clever person like you?"

After the purple-robed person gave a light laugh, she immediately pulled off the disguise she had covering her head, revealing a very mature woman's face.

At this moment, finally seeing the purple-robed person's identity clearly, Song Qingming remembered that when he visited He Mengxin in the East Sea decades ago, he had also had a brief encounter with the purple-robed woman before him.

This purple-robed woman hiding behind the scenes and laying out all this was the Great Elder of the "Hundred Flower Palace," Chen Yurong, who had gone to the nearby "Red Dragon Island" to participate in the Barter Assembly with Song Qingming and He Mengxin back then.

Although it was their first meeting at the time, Chen Yurong's impression on Song Qingming was still quite good. As a Great Elder, she had also taken quite good care of He Mengxin and the other Junior Sisters at the Barter Assembly.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Song Qingming would have found it hard to imagine that Chen Yurong, as a Jin Dan Great Elder who had already entered the core of power of the "Hundred Flower Palace," would actually collude with Wu Xiang and outsiders to set a trap to attack the sect's Saintess, Xia Mo.

After seeing the appearance of Chen Yurong, who was plotting all this behind the scenes, Song Qingming, who had previously had a puzzled look, finally saw the whole situation before him clearly.

And Xia Mo, standing beside him, seemed not to be too surprised by the appearance of Chen Yurong and Wu Xiang. Her face always maintained a very calm look, and she even wanted to persuade Wu Xiang to stop in time.

However, Wu Xiang, standing beside Chen Yurong, did not pay too much attention to Xia Mo's previous words. Standing beside Chen Yurong, at this moment, looking at Song Qingming and Xia Mo, only a look of ferocity remained in his eyes.

Chen Yurong, on the other hand, looked at Xia Mo with a light smile, seemingly somewhat displeased in her heart that she still had a calm look on her face after seeing her.

"Junior Sister Xia, although you have already seen through our layout, a wise man may have his worries, and you have already been trapped by us here. Don't you think it's a bit too late to discover these things now?"

Xia Mo's gaze was still tightly fixed on Chen Yurong. After waiting for the other to finish speaking, it was a long while before she asked with a serious face: "Senior Sister Chen, although I have already figured out these problems now, there is still one point I cannot quite understand. Senior Sister, why on earth are you doing this?

Ever since I entered the sect, I have always respected you, Senior Sister, for so many years. Even if Xia Mo has done some things inadequately on weekdays, it is not worth you, Senior Sister, designing to harm me like this! Before coming to the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, I had actually felt long ago that someone was watching me from behind, but I never expected that the person behind the scenes would be you, Senior Sister.

I ask you, Senior Sister, to clear up my confusion now: why are you willing to betray the sect just to choose to take action against me? Have you never thought about how painful it would be for Master to know about this?"

Facing Xia Mo's questioning, Chen Yurong changed her previous dignified manner and revealed a fierce smile: "Junior Sister Xia, things have come to this, there is no need for you to continue pretending. Do you really not know why I am doing this?

Master and the others always feel that you have better talent for cultivation than I do, and every good thing must be reserved for you first. Now, even if it concerns my path of cultivation, I still need to make concessions for you, Junior Sister.

Now, it is time for me to take back some of what is mine. Senior Sister will accept the Nascent-Forming Pill on your body first.

You can rest assured, Junior Sister. After you die, I will not betray the sect. When I return, I will naturally explain this matter well to Master, and I will certainly not let her, the old lady, feel painful.

From now on, the Hundred Flower Palace will just be missing you, this Saintess, and soon there will be a new Saintess, so there will not be too much influence. Once I condense the Nascent Soul, the sect will be even more powerful in the East Sea cultivation world than it was in the past."

When Chen Yurong spoke to the end, a hint of excitement had already appeared in her gaze, as if she were about to become a Nascent Soul cultivator and stand at the top of the cultivation world immediately.

Hearing Chen Yurong's confession, Xia Mo's face still did not have any major changes, only sighing slightly: "Although Master is more optimistic that I will be able to condense the Nascent Soul in the future, she has always been cultivating you, Senior Sister, with great care.

Back then, you also obtained a Nascent-Forming Pill, but you still failed to break through your cultivation base. Even if you get this pill on my body, Senior Sister, do you think you can definitely succeed in advancing to the Nascent Soul realm? Moreover, I did not bring the Nascent-Forming Pill with me this time, so I fear this will disappoint you, Senior Sister!"

"Hehe! You don't need to worry about that, Junior Sister. As long as you are dead, I will be the only one left in the sect who can form the Core. Regardless of whether the Nascent-Forming Pill is on you or not, Master will support me in condensing the Nascent Soul at that time.

I have a secret technique in my hand that can increase the probability of advancing to the Nascent Soul. As long as there is another Nascent-Forming Pill, breaking through to the Nascent Soul will have at least a thirty percent probability, which is already worth me gambling on this.

It is a pity that Master is unwilling to believe in me one more time and would rather pin all her hopes of condensing the Nascent Soul on you. Otherwise, I would not have had to plot for many years and take this desperate measure.

Junior Sister Xia, if Master could have two Nascent-Forming Pills in her hand now, I would not want to be your enemy either.

But in front of the Great Dao of cultivation, you and I only have this one chance to advance to the Nascent Soul. If I do not fight for it, I can only sit in the cave and wait for death for the rest of my life.

Since ancient times in the cultivation world, how many of the so-called opportunities can be destined by Heaven? Don't all the so-called struggles for the Great Dao eventually have to rely on oneself to risk one's life to fight for? If you want to blame someone, blame this world for being too cruel!"

"This cultivation world is indeed very cruel, capable of forcing people to kill their own sect members.

However, you said one thing wrong, Senior Sister. You only have this one chance to advance to the Nascent Soul, but even without this pill, I still have the opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul.

Perhaps you will not believe it, but if Master asked me to give up this Nascent-Forming Pill to you, I would absolutely not have too much hesitation.

Great Senior Sister, you think you have a thirty percent probability of condensing the Nascent Soul, but what you don't know is that in Master's eyes, I fear your chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul is not even half a percent.

Even if I die here today, even if Master chooses to support other Junior Sisters to condense the Nascent Soul, she will absolutely not choose to leave this Nascent-Forming Pill to you."

"Enough! Whether I can break through to the Nascent Soul realm is my business in the future. Anyway, you will not have the chance to see it. Today, you just need to accept your death."

Hearing Xia Mo say that she had no hope of breaking through to the Nascent Soul, Chen Yurong's face changed drastically, and she scolded angrily in a somewhat desperate manner.

However, Xia Mo's side still had an unchanged face and continued to speak: "Great Senior Sister, I have actually felt long ago over these years that someone in the sect was watching me, but I never expected it would be you and Senior Brother Wu.

Since things have been said to this point today, I have one last word to tell you.

If you two are willing to take a step back and leave the sect from now on, and leave the East Sea cultivation world far away, perhaps there is still a glimmer of life. If you are still obsessed and do not realize your error, then do not blame me for cleaning up the sect on behalf of Master."

After speaking! Xia Mo had another transparent crystal ball in her hand, which was the magic treasure "Mystic Ice Bead" she had used before.

Seeing Xia Mo still persuading herself to stop, Chen Yurong suddenly let out a few light laughs with a mocking face: "Xia Mo, oh Xia Mo, I really don't know if you are too naive.

It has come to this, and you still expect us to let you have a way to survive? No matter what, we have cultivated for hundreds of years longer than you; how could we be bluffed by a single word from you?

Junior Sister Xia, you are looking down on us too much!"

After Chen Yurong finished speaking, she did not say anything more, and the flying sword magic treasure in her hand had already been released, coming directly to kill in front of Xia Mo.

Wu Xiang, who was beside her, revealed a hint of ferocity in his gaze, and the twin-blade magic treasure in his hand was also quickly sacrificed, directly following Chen Yurong to press toward Xia Mo's position.

Following their actions were also those Yin-Yang water and fire that had been surrounding everyone. At this moment, their momentum suddenly rose several times, and under the control of the white-haired old man who controlled the grand formation, they turned into two giant pythons and rolled directly toward Xia Mo.

However, facing the attacks of Chen Yurong and the other two as well as the Yin-Yang water and fire, Xia Mo had a calm face and urged the "Mystic Ice Bead" magic treasure in her hand without panic, directly freezing everything around her.

Then she spoke to Song Qingming on the side: "Fellow Daoist Song, they are all people of this sect, so I will not trouble you. You just retreat and guard the grand formation well."

"This, Fairy Xia, we only need to hide in the formation and persist for a few days. Once Siyuan and the sect's reinforcements arrive, they will certainly retreat in the face of difficulties.

Now, there is no need to risk our lives fighting them outside." Seeing Xia Mo wanting to take action alone outside the grand formation to deal with Chen Yurong and the other two, Song Qingming also had some confusion on his face and hurriedly persuaded her.

Although Xia Mo's divine abilities and means were extraordinary, and she had many magic treasures on her, her fighting ability was absolutely top-tier among Jin Dan cultivators.

However, the opponent had two Jin Dan ninth-layer cultivators, who were also not weak, plus the help of the Yin-Yang water and fire in the "Yin-Yang Eight Extremes Formation." In Song Qingming's view, Xia Mo wanting to defeat them alone was absolutely a risky move. (End of chapter)