Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Shen Qianshan's tone turned serious: "Two months ago, the core formation of the second-tier defensive array of 'Ironstone City' in the eastern part of the defense line fell into disrepair due to years of neglect."

The damage was exacerbated by an attack from a small horde of beasts, requiring urgent repairs using specific second-tier array materials with earth and metal properties.

We searched the inventory in Jinsha Market, but we are still missing several key array materials, which are difficult to find in other markets.

Second-tier array materials are generally in the hands of the three major sects, but the situation of these sects is complicated and hard to say...

However, within these ancient ruins, the remaining formations offer relatively easy access to substitute materials.

He pointed to the ruined formation before him: "The core of this Zhenyue formation uses the Sunken Gold Stone and Yuewen Stone, which are among the materials that are urgently needed."

Our Po Jun Demon Hunting Team was given an urgent mission to enter the secret realm and collect such materials as much as possible.

The method of dismantling had been repeatedly deduced by a Foundation Establishment senior who was proficient in formations before the trip.

"As long as no one interferes, I'm 70% confident I can dismantle the formation."

So that's how it is! Lin Zhao was immediately filled with respect.

Shen Qianshan and his companions abandoned their search for spiritual herbs that would be more beneficial to their cultivation within the secret realm, thus squandering their precious opportunity to enter it.

Their dedication to protecting mortals is truly admirable.

"Captain Shen, you are so righteous! How can I sit idly by and do nothing about this? Leave the matter of protecting the Dharma to me!" Lin Zhao immediately declared, his tone resolute.

"Brother Lin Zhao..." Upon hearing this, Shen Qianshan patted Lin Zhao's shoulder forcefully. "Good! On behalf of everyone in Ironstone City, I, Shen Qianshan, thank you, Brother Lin!"

Just then, Xu Chuan, who had been watching from a distance, also strolled over.

He had obviously overheard the conversation, his playful laughter subsided, and he said seriously, "Repairing the defensive array? You can't leave that out!"

"Captain Shen, count me in! Don't underestimate me just because my cultivation isn't high; I can handle taking down some small fry and giving them a handy."

Although Shen Qianshan didn't know Xu Chuan's specific background, he saw that Xu Chuan was traveling with Lin Zhao and that his attitude was sincere at the moment.

Without any pretense, he clasped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist Xu, your kindness is truly admirable; I will remember it!"

Without delay, Shen Qianshan led two team members to begin planning.

They were well-prepared, with a clear division of labor among the three: Shen Qianshan was in charge of the overall operation, while the other two team members assisted him.

The dismantling process was much slower than breaking the formation, and it inevitably triggered the spiritual energy within the formation.

The spiritual energy gathered by the formation scattered as the formation was dismantled, standing out prominently in the central area.

Sure enough, before long, the unusual commotion attracted some cultivators in the vicinity.

The first group consisted of three cultivators who, seeing that Shen Qianshan and his companions appeared to be "retrieving treasure,"

Seeing that there were only two people guarding it, he stepped forward to ask for a share.

"Fellow Daoists, this is the formation we broke through. Please retreat." Lin Zhao stepped forward with his sword, his tone carrying an unquestionable air.

"Hmph, treasures from secret realms are for everyone who sees them! You want to hoard them all?" The leading cultivator's eyes gleamed, but he did not back down.

Lin Zhao said no more. He did not use his sword dragon form, relying solely on the powerful sword energy of a sword cultivator.

In just a few moves, he had the leading cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining churn with blood and qi, causing his magic weapon to fly out of his hand.

Lin Zhao's cultivation has reached the ninth level of Qi Refining. Sword cultivators are known for their powerful attacks. With just a single first-grade superior Qingfeng sword, his strength is comparable to that of a cultivator at the tenth level of Qi Refining.

Xu Chuan then cheerfully tossed out several powerful talismans, causing the other two cultivators who wanted to attack him to become flustered.

Seeing that things were not going well, the three had no choice but to retreat in frustration.

But this was just the beginning. As time went on, the spiritual energy fluctuations caused by the dismantling of the formation became more and more obvious, attracting more and more people.

The second wave consisted of two cultivators from Jinquan Market who, relying on their wealth and powerful magical artifacts, attempted to force a breakthrough.

Lin Zhao and Xu Chuan worked together to finally make the other side back down.

Then, representatives from Hidden Mist Market and Black Rock Market attempted to force their way in, but Lin Zhao repelled them all with his sword energy.

Fortunately, those who came were all from the lower ten districts; the cultivators from the upper seven districts were not so easy to deal with.

Finally, a group of seven cultivators, clearly from different markets, appeared.

The one leading the group, wielding a giant axe, was the same burly man from Tiger Roar Market.

They stopped probing and launched a full-scale attack right from the start! All sorts of magical artifacts and spells rained down upon them!

Lin Zhao's eyes turned cold. Since someone wanted to die, then he couldn't be blamed.

He took a deep breath, exerted all his strength, and released the Four Elements Pearl to begin gathering spiritual power. A magnificent four-colored spiritual light shot up from behind him!

"roar--!!!"

A dragon's roar that shook the entire region resounded through the sky! Countless dazzling runes emerged from the air, intertwining and transforming in an instant into a ferocious, clawed, and over seven zhang long Four Elements Sword Dragon!

As soon as the sword dragon appeared, the oppressive feeling brought by its massive body and the incomparably sharp sword intent caused the attack of the six cultivators who came with Tiger Roar Market to pause, and their faces changed color!

"Piercing the sun!"

Lin Zhao pointed his fingers forward like a sword! This was the most concentrated and ultimate single-target attack he had mastered so far!

All the destructive sword intent converged at the dragon's throat! The next moment, a silver-white sword light, condensed to its extreme, shot forth like a meteor tearing through the sky.

Emerging from the dragon's mouth, the force surpassed the limits of ordinary cultivators' divine sense, hurtling straight towards the burly man leading the group of seven, Tiger Roar Market.

The burly cultivator was horrified. He summoned a protective bronze mirror and roared as he poured all his spiritual power into it.

But it was too late!

"laugh--!!!"

The sword light, carrying an absolute domineering power, crashed violently into the bronze mirror and the giant axe!

There was no deafening explosion; the silvery-white sword light, like a hot knife slicing through butter, passed effortlessly through the bronze mirror.

The bronze mirror shattered into countless metal fragments like glass, then pierced through the giant axe, the axe fragments carrying a sword-like light as they swept past his body.

Finally, the fragments of the body mixed with the remnants of magical artifacts stained the ground and vegetation behind it with a dazzling crimson!

A strong stench of blood instantly filled the vicinity.

How could two mere Tier 1 superior-grade magic artifacts withstand a sword dragon that had shattered a top-grade magic artifact? Top-grade magic artifacts are precious, and not everyone in the Upper Seven Market has one.

quiet!

Deathly silence!

After killing one person, the silvery-white sword light continued its momentum, carving a deep, bottomless trench more than ten feet long into the ground behind it before slowly dissipating.

The remaining six cultivators, along with all the other groups observing from a distance, were frozen in place.

He stared dumbfounded at the Four Elements Sword Dragon hovering above Lin Zhao, radiating terrifying pressure, and at the corpse on the ground that had died instantly.

One strike, instantly killing a cultivator at the tenth level of Qi Refining! What terrifying attack power!

This is almost beyond the level of an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator, and has touched the threshold of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!