"You're taking this too far, don't you think?" Elder Ye said coldly.
Whoosh!
Beside him, Elder Wu's aura surged, as if he was ready to strike at any moment.
"Too far? Your disciples don't know how to talk properly, so I merely taught them a lesson. If I were truly going too far, he'd already be dead." Luo Tian replied calmly.
"Hmph, a lesson? Do you even qualify? So young, yet your heart is already this malicious. Let me discipline you on behalf of your elders!"
As Elder Ye spoke, he stepped forward, forming hand seals as he chanted, "Radiant Moon Sword Formation!"
Caw, caw, caw...
A crow flew overhead.
Other than that, nothing happened.
"Huh? What's going on?"
Everyone present froze in confusion.
"Um, Elder Ye, the Radiant Moon Sword Formation… it was destroyed by him," a disciple said in a low voice.
"What? Impossible! We heard the commotion and rushed here. When did he destroy it?" Elder Ye asked, utterly shocked.
"Just now. The sword energy of the Radiant Moon Sword Formation struck him, but it broke upon contact..." the disciple explained.
"This..."
Elder Ye was dumbfounded.
The Radiant Moon Sword Formation was a formation the Diming Sect had spent a significant fortune to commission from the Sword Profound Sect. It was designed to fend off external threats.
The formation's power was immense, capable of killing Sky-soaring Realm cultivators, and even ordinary Profound Realm experts would bleed if they trespassed.
Who could have expected that today, it would be destroyed?
Could this person before them possess a cultivation level beyond the Profound Realm?
Elder Ye looked at Luo Tian, and a bead of cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
"What? Do you intend to make a move?" Luo Tian asked, his tone indifferent.
"Uh... no, my arm was just sore. I needed to stretch," Elder Ye said quickly, changing his tone.
What kind of joke was this?
He was merely at the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Refining Realm and needed artifacts to fly. Confronting someone stronger than the Profound Realm would be courting death.
"Alright, everyone step back," Elder Huang sighed, signaling the others to retreat.
He then approached Luo Tian, cupped his hands, and said, "Esteemed friend, our Diming Sect has been an ungracious host. Please forgive us."
Luo Tian said flatly, "Spare me the formalities. I'm not here to cause trouble. I just want a portion of thousand-year stalactite. Once I get it, I'll leave immediately."
"This..." Elder Huang's face turned troubled.
"What? Does your Diming Sect not have any?" Luo Tian asked, raising an eyebrow.
Elder Huang let out a bitter laugh and said, "We do have thousand-year stalactite, but we cannot deliver it to you right now."
"Why not?" Luo Tian asked in surprise.
Elder Huang sighed and explained, "Our sect has faced a misfortune, and we did not wish to tell outsiders. However, since you are here, it would be inappropriate to hide it.
"Our Diming Sect specializes in geomancy, skilled in finding dragon veins and mining spirit ores. However, geomancy goes against the natural order, often attracting malevolent spirits.
"Several months ago, a few elders accidentally summoned an evil spirit during geomancy. It now resides in the largest mine in our sect, rendering the thousand-year stalactite and other spirit ores inaccessible.
"The evil spirit is incredibly powerful, and we have already lost several elders. To eliminate it, we hired a soul master at great cost. He has been setting up an array for forty-nine days, and today is the final day. We cannot afford any disruptions.
"As such, we sealed the sect and refused visitors. Unfortunately, our disciples were ignorant and offended you. I beg for your understanding."
Elder Huang's tone was polite, clearly recognizing Luo Tian's formidable strength.
Luo Tian nodded. "So you're saying there's a chance the evil spirit could be eliminated today?"
Elder Huang hesitated before replying, "There's a possibility, but the evil spirit is very strong. Nothing is certain."
He glanced at Luo Tian and continued, "If you don't mind, esteemed friend, you may accompany us to the mine. Should the evil spirit be eliminated, the Diming Sect will gladly offer you a portion of thousand-year stalactite."
Luo Tian nodded. "Alright, take me there."
"Please, follow me!" Elder Huang flew up gracefully on his artifact.
Whoosh!
Almost simultaneously, Luo Tian disappeared from where he stood and reappeared on Elder Ye's flying artifact.
"Ah... what are you doing?" Elder Ye was startled, staring at Luo Tian in shock.
"I can't fly. You're taking me," Luo Tian said calmly.
"You... can't fly?"
Elder Ye, deep down, didn't believe Luo Tian's claim at all.
A Profound Realm expert who couldn't fly?
Who's he trying to fool?
This guy was obviously looking for trouble!
Despite his reluctance, Elder Ye knew Luo Tian was someone he couldn't afford to offend. Left with no choice, he grudgingly flew Luo Tian toward the sect's rear mountain.
Before long, they arrived at the mining region where the sect's ore veins were located.
"Friend, the person below is a third-rank soul master overseeing the exorcism of the evil spirit. Please exercise caution in your words and actions. As you know, soul masters... tend to have peculiar tempers," Elder Huang cautioned.
"Don't worry. I know what to do," Luo Tian said nonchalantly.
As they spoke, the group landed one after another.
The moment they touched down, an angry shout came from ahead.
"How many times have I told you? No noise during the preparations! And now you're flying around? Do you even want this evil spirit exorcised?"
On the ritual platform stood a skeletal, gaunt old man whose eyes were as sharp as blades. He glared at the group with undisguised irritation.
Elder Huang's face turned crimson, and he hastily bowed. "Master Su, my apologies. That was my oversight."
Master Su snorted coldly. "Step aside! If this happens again, I'll leave immediately!"
"Y-Yes!" Elder Huang replied awkwardly, retreating to the side without daring to argue.
At that moment, Master Su took a deep breath, stepping to the center of the ritual platform. His hands moved swiftly in complex gestures.
"Five Souls Formation, activate!"
With a loud cry, the braziers surrounding the platform ignited with eerie green flames.
Whoosh!
A powerful force field spread across the entire mining area.
"Wicked creature, show yourself!" Master Su shouted again, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Awroo—!"
A bone-chilling howl echoed from the distant mountains.
Moments later, black mist churned through the forests as a shadowy, humanoid spirit emerged slowly from the dense fog.
"Everyone, stay alert! Do not let that black mist touch you—it's soul poison! Contact means instant death!" a Diming Sect elder warned loudly.
The sect members immediately became tense, holding their breath and preparing for any unexpected developments.
In stark contrast to their vigilant stances, Luo Tian's expression was remarkably casual.
He furrowed his brows slightly, staring at the black spirit, his eyes filled with confusion.
"An evil spirit? That's it?" he muttered to himself, unimpressed.