Danger!
With his Heart Refinement method operating at full capacity, Bai Yichen's mind was clear, almost to the point of foresight.
But warning signs flared repeatedly, signaling that he was on the verge of a great crisis.
However, Bai Yichen had never fought unprepared. He remained calm, his eyes sharp and clear, as if still in control of the situation.
It was as if, even in the face of a collapsing mountain or a chaotic sea, he would remain composed, his inner peace unshaken.
He watched as the five Acquired masters stood in a plum blossom formation, charging toward him.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Wuya continued to attack Bai Yichen's vital points with cold, glittering darts. Under the moonlight, the darts emitted eerie purple glints, clearly poisoned, forcing Bai Yichen to respond with his full attention.
Bai Yichen saw through their plans with clarity.
Wuya intended to stall him long enough for the formation to fully form. Once Bai Yichen was entangled in the five-person formation, Wuya would launch a sneak attack with his hidden weapons, waiting for Bai Yichen to become overwhelmed and vulnerable, allowing them to capture him.
But what if the formation couldn't be completed, or if Wuya couldn't make his move?
Bai Yichen chuckled softly. He had planned to keep a few tricks hidden, saving them as a surprise for the Wheel King, but now it seemed he had underestimated his opponents.
With the internal energy from breaking through two meridians fully unleashed, it surged like a dragon soaring through the clouds, twisting like the movements of the Eight Trigrams, rushing toward Wuya with the momentum of piercing through the heavens.
"Has he gone mad?!"
Wuya's pupils shrank, shocked by Bai Yichen's reckless charge, but in an instant, he realized this was a perfect opportunity.
"You think I'm like that Monkey, only swinging a sword and letting you get close easily?"
"If you're so eager to walk into hell, I'll be kind enough to send you on your way!"
With a cold sneer, filled with the bitterness of Bai Yichen's earlier mockery, Wuya pulled out a finely crafted short tube. With a twist, hundreds of cold, shimmering needles shot out like meteors, streaking toward Bai Yichen like a violent storm.
This was the hidden weapon he had specifically prepared for this battle—the "Heaven and Earth Soul-Hunting Needles." It was as fearsome as the legendary "Buddha's Fury Lotus" and "Pear Blossom Rain of Needles," known to be lethal even to Innate-level experts.
Wuya could already envision Bai Yichen's body riddled with needle holes, dying in agony. He was just about to turn and help the Wheel King deal with Yan Bei when suddenly, a golden figure burst forward with eyes closed.
The golden hue was like refined red gold, and the cold needles struck it as if hitting thick leather, leaving only faint white marks.
It was as if Bai Yichen had radar, precisely sensing Wuya's position. His speed suddenly increased several fold, and the golden light grew ever brighter.
Bai Yichen seemed like an unsheathed flying sword, dashing forward with terrifying speed, emitting sharp sword energy with every moment. It surged like a tidal wave, overwhelming everything in its path, as though it intended to crush Wuya beneath the sword's overwhelming force.
"Die!"
The word had barely left his lips when a long, narrow sword was already inches away from Wuya's mask, almost piercing it.
Wuya's face changed drastically. He had no choice but to unleash all his inner energy. His hands moved frantically, switching between seven or eight different hidden weapon techniques, throwing out every weapon he had—poisoned darts, needles, iron caltrops…
The sky filled with scattered weapons, all aimed at vital points with terrifying precision.
But it was useless!
Too fast!
The sword moved like lightning piercing through stars, and the energy felt like a cold blade tearing through the air!
In the blink of an eye, faster than anyone could react, the sword energy struck with a force that couldn't be dodged.
At that moment, Wuya felt a chill on his face as his Rat mask shattered into pieces, scattering like his hidden weapons. His sharp, venomous, and bitter face with a pointy chin and sparse whiskers was revealed.
"What incredible sword energy, what terrifying speed!" he muttered, spitting out these final words.
At the same instant, a walnut-sized steel dart shot from Wuya's mouth in a desperate last attempt. But it was in vain.
The sword did not deviate by even a fraction, slicing the dart in half in midair.
A sharp pain pierced his forehead. His vision went dark, and blood exploded into the air!
Boom!
A short, stout body fell from the treetops, red and white matter splattering everywhere.
"Impossible!"
The members of the Zodiac group, who had just completed their Plum Blossom Sword Formation and were preparing to surround Bai Yichen, cried out in disbelief.
Several of them even showed fear in their eyes, hesitating.
"Don't be fools! If we scatter now, we'll all die. It's better to stick to the formation and attack. Only by holding on until the Wheel King arrives can we hope for a chance at survival," one of the wiser Zodiac members shouted.
If they didn't seize this moment to perfect their formation and attack as one, and instead tried to flee, none of them would make it out alive. Once their morale crumbled, they would have no hope of surviving under Bai Yichen's sword.
The other Zodiac members, experienced in the ways of the martial world, quickly realized the truth and stopped hesitating.
The five of them charged forward, taking advantage of the moment when Bai Yichen's previous strength had just dissipated and his new energy had yet to recover. They formed the Plum Blossom Sword Formation, trapping Bai Yichen within.
However, Bai Yichen showed no sign of panic. He simply glanced at the five Zodiac members and sneered, "Do you really think, now that Wuya is dead, that with just the five of you and this poorly practiced formation, you can stop me?"
Inwardly, Bai Yichen was amused. He had used much more effort and energy to kill Wuya because the true danger had been the combination of the two attacking together. Now, with only the formation left, it was no longer a real threat.
He had already noticed that only two of the five were familiar with the Plum Blossom Sword Formation, while the other three were clearly new to it and clumsy in their execution.
Besides, they were using a formation he had mastered years ago. Now, with his far greater understanding of martial arts, wasn't this just walking into his hands?
Because of this, Bai Yichen showed no concern as the five figures gradually closed in with their formation. He had no intention of breaking through but instead took the opportunity to regulate his breath and restore his energy. This infuriated and astonished the five attackers.
Immediately, they held nothing back. Together, the five swords thrust forward, swift and unpredictable, resembling a plum blossom in full bloom. But hidden beneath that beauty was layer upon layer of lethal intent.
It seemed that the leader of the formation, the false Tiger of the Zodiac, was skilled in swordsmanship, allowing the Plum Blossom Sword Formation to display a semblance of its true power under his guidance.
Yet, in the clear-minded and insightful eyes of Bai Yichen, flaws were still present.
With a relaxed expression, Bai Yichen leaped and dodged. Using the steps of the Eight Trigrams, he deftly flipped and twisted his body. The five sword strikes missed him by just a hair, gliding past him from every direction, as if he were passing through a field of blooming flowers without being touched by a single leaf.
The false Tiger was utterly shocked. Just a slight inward adjustment of their strikes should have injured him, yet Bai Yichen avoided the swords as if guided by divine precision.
Could it be that this man could see through the changing patterns of the sword formation?