Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

The demon beast forces were also aware of the storm, but the intelligence was delayed and chaotic.

They dispatched only one Golden-Winged Thunder Roc at the late Foundation Establishment stage, along with ten flying demonic beasts at the early Foundation Establishment stage, to fly far towards the human territory of the Golden Sand River to gather intelligence.

---

A hundred miles of water, afternoon.

The fog was thinner than in the early morning, but it still lingered.

Lin Zhao sat in meditation on the flying boat for more than a day, his divine sense constantly open like the most sensitive spider web.

coming.

From the northeast, a powerful demonic aura broke through the fog and rapidly approached.

It was an iron-scaled eagle with a wingspan exceeding ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), covered in scaly feathers. On its back...

Standing there was an old man dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, with a withered face and eyes as sharp as a hawk's—Wan Heling!

His late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation spread out without reservation, causing irregular ripples to appear on the water below.

He arrived a day earlier than expected.

The Iron-Scaled Eagle hovered hundreds of feet above the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat. Wan Heling's cold gaze swept across the area below, instantly spotting the dragon egg that was simply placed at the front of the deck.

He also saw Lin Zhao sitting cross-legged next to the egg, and the spiritual energy fluctuations of the array underwater, which, though concealed, could not escape his notice.

"That kid from Tianyun Market?"

Wan Heling recognized Lin Zhao, his brows furrowed slightly, and his voice hoarse, "Where is my disciple? Hand over the dragon egg, and for the sake of the Cloud Sea Cangming Sect, I may let you leave."

His blood pact indicated that his disciple was in extremely poor condition, and since Lin Zhao was the only one present, the outcome was self-evident.

He didn't want to take action but had no choice but to come. The dragon egg was crucial to Wanheng Market and could not be lost.

Wanheng Market controls its cultivators through blood contracts, and its rules are extremely cruel, even for someone like him, the so-called deputy market master.

If he fails to obtain the dragon egg, he will likely be used to feed demonic beasts upon returning home, and will die without a proper burial.

Lin Zhao slowly stood up, a haughty expression on his face. His voice rose, sounding somewhat reckless:

"You evil fiends dare to use the blood and souls of countless spirits to create demons and wreak havoc on living beings! Today, I, Lin Zhao, will act on behalf of Heaven and eliminate you, you demon!" After saying this, he seemed to be unable to contain his anger and took the initiative to attack!

The Azure Lotus Sword was drawn with a clang, transforming into a sharp azure sword light that pierced straight into Wan Heling in mid-air! This sword strike was impressive in its momentum and speed, but in Wan Heling's eyes, it lacked the decisive and ruthless nature of a swordsman.

"Hmph, how arrogant!"

Wan Heling scoffed, flicking his sleeve. A white bone beast shield flew out, expanding in the wind to easily block the sword light, producing a dull thud. "A mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator dares to show off in front of this old man?"

"You've got some skill!" Lin Zhao's expression changed, seemingly surprised that the opponent had easily blocked the attack, but he immediately gritted his teeth and activated his sword technique, "Watch my Azure Lotus Sword Formation!"

All seventy-two blue lotus leaves took flight, swirling and intertwining in the air, instantly forming a shimmering blue sword array that enveloped Wan Heling and the Iron Scale Eagle.

The sword flashed and hissed, its power astonishing.

However, Wan Heling, who was inside the formation, felt it even more clearly: this sword formation was merely a shell; although the sword energy was sharp, it lacked the will of a sword cultivator to cut through everything.

"As expected, he's a junior from a sect who hasn't seen much of the Blood Sect. He has the cultivation level and magic weapon, but his practical combat experience is shallow." His contempt for him grew even stronger.

"A mere trick!" Wan Heling was too lazy to waste words. He patted his spirit beast pouch, and black light surged out. A "Earthshaking Rhinoceros" covered with a thick carapace and a single horn on its head crashed down below, splashing water everywhere!

This was clearly a late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast, its aura thick and violent.

At the same time, he brought out a large black drum with a ferocious shape and covered with the hide of an unknown animal—the Three Absolute Demon Drum!

He made a fist with his right hand, and a heavy hammer of spiritual energy slammed down on the drum surface!

"Thump—!!!"

The first drumbeat sent invisible sound waves distorting the air, and visible ripples swept outwards, carrying a tremendous force capable of shattering bones!

"Thump!!!"

The second drumbeat suddenly became sharp, penetrating the cultivator's dantian and causing his magical power to become disordered and surge backward!

"Thump—whoosh—!!!"

The third drumbeat transformed into countless mournful howls and wails, ignoring eardrums and drilling directly into the sea of ​​consciousness, tearing at the mind and creating terrifying illusions!

The three ultimate attacks, targeting the physical body, magical power, and divine consciousness, would likely cause an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator to immediately become weak and powerless, lose control of their magical power, and lose their mind under the combined attack of this second-grade high-quality magic weapon, becoming a lamb to the slaughter.

Lin Zhao's face turned pale, as if he had been greatly shocked. His body swayed in the air, and the light of the Azure Lotus Sword Formation flickered, making it seem difficult to continue.

However, a faint five-colored light flowed within his body—this was the result of his Five Sacred Mountains Spiritual Body forcibly suppressing the surging blood and spiritual power within him. The mental attack from the demonic drum was also forcefully resisted by his sword intent.

However, he pretended to be in pain.

"A late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast!" Lin Zhao looked at the Earth-Shaking Rhinoceros charging towards him on water with shock and anger.

As if driven to the brink, he frantically made a hand seal: "Four Elements Formation, activate!"

The water below exploded with a deafening roar! The Stegosaurus and Yinglong, which had been lying in wait, burst out of the water and roared as they charged toward the Earthshaking Rhinoceros.

The silver-white sword dragon launched the main attack, crashing heavily into the rocky armor of the earth-shaking rhinoceros, sending countless sparks flying. The Yinglong's wings unleashed a barrage of four-colored spells in an attempt to trap the behemoth.

However, the gap is too obvious.

The Earthshaking Rhinoceros merely lowered its head and roared, unleashing a burst of violent demonic power. The sword energy of the Stegosaurus was gradually eroded, and countless cracks appeared on its silvery-white body.

Yinglong was also severely restrained by the powerful demonic energy, and its wings of light dimmed.

Although the two array spirits were profound, their power was only at the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage. They could barely hold out for a moment, but they were no match for this berserk late-stage demon beast. They were constantly being pushed back and torn apart, with spiritual light scattering everywhere.

Seeing Lin Zhao struggling to hold on against the monster, with sweat beading on his forehead, Wan Heling finally felt completely relieved, a savage glint in his eyes.

"So this is all you've got! A core disciple of a major sect, your combat strength is only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage? Today, I'll make you a new soul on my Myriad Soul Banner! Kill you, seize your sword inheritance, and perhaps I can also glimpse some of the true essence of the sword!"

His heart burned with fervor, as if he could already see his future of slaying powerful sect disciples and seizing opportunities.

As for the consequences? When in the cultivation world do people not die?

Wanheng Marketplace also came from a dominant force, and he knew very well that as long as it wasn't a Core Formation cultivator bullying the weak, the Cloud Sea Cangming Sect wouldn't care too much about ordinary inner disciples.

At most, they would issue a bounty for the other Foundation Establishment disciples to use for training.

Unless a Core Formation cultivator personally hunts him down, who among the Foundation Establishment cultivators can do anything to him while he's hiding in Wanheng Market?

While continuously beating the demonic drum to apply pressure, he also controlled the Earthshaking Rhinoceros to increase its attack power, preparing to completely crush the two annoying array spirits and then capture and kill Lin Zhao in one fell swoop.

However, they failed to notice that deep within Lin Zhao's seemingly flustered eyes lay a cold and calm demeanor, like a deep, icy pool.

The fish has taken the bait.

It's time to close the net.