Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Just as the giant hand was about to close—

"Hey——!"

A clear, melodious, and proud phoenix cry pierced through the clouds from the southern horizon!

A pale blue wind shadow, as large as the giant hand, appeared out of thin air—a phantom of a blue phoenix composed entirely of pure spiritual energy! The blue phoenix spread its wings, stirring up a spiritual light that swept across the heavens and earth, and crashed heavily into the giant spiritual hand!

"boom--!!!!"

The sky seemed to have been blown apart! The violent energy turbulence tore the clouds to shreds!

The giant hand and the blue phoenix trembled violently at the same time, locked in a stalemate!

"Chu Fengge... are you going to stop me?" From deep within the clouds, the aged voice carried a hint of surprise and trouble.

"So what if I stop you?" Chu Fengge's voice came calmly. He was nowhere to be seen, but the illusory image of the Azure Phoenix shone even brighter, and it even seemed to have a faint force of counter-pressure.

He used his Foundation Establishment cultivation to unleash supernatural powers and the Dharma Domain that only Core Formation cultivators possess.

Two extremely powerful divine senses clashed fiercely in mid-air, vying for control of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

This eventually created two domains covering dozens of miles, which eroded and crushed each other!

Below, the pressure decreases sharply.

Zhu Yi seemed to have anticipated all of this, and roared hoarsely, "What are we waiting for?! Kill the dragon! Only when the dragon dies will this situation be broken!"

The remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators, their eyes bloodshot, transformed into streaks of light and rushed toward the black dragon pinned down by the blood spear!

"Insolence!" came an angry snort from the clouds.

A point of red light pierced through the clouds, instantly absorbing some of the overflowing spiritual energy and transforming into a terrifying lightning ball several meters in diameter, with crimson lightning surging inside!

Core Formation Divine Power – "Crimson Fiend Divine Thunder!"

The lightning ball, carrying an aura of annihilation, crashed down relentlessly towards the densest area of ​​the dragon corpses and the crowd below!

Zhu Yi's eyes were bloodshot as he suddenly crushed the core magic artifact in his hand that controlled the Golden Sand Lock Spirit Boat!

The Golden Sand Lock Spirit Boat transformed into a burning golden meteor, rushing upwards and blocking the path of the Crimson Fiend Divine Lightning!

"burst!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The self-destruction of the second-tier top-grade spirit boat, combined with all the remaining array power within it, formed a golden sphere of light more dazzling than the sun, which collided with the Crimson Fiend Divine Lightning! The terrifying explosion momentarily shattered the two Core Formation level domains above!

In that split second—

Xue Ya of the Black Fiend Pavilion, who hadn't truly made a move yet and whose aura was the most intact, sighed helplessly.

Then, it transformed into an almost invisible, jet-black line, piercing through the aftershocks of the explosion and the chaotic spiritual energy field. The second-tier natal magic weapon in its hand, the Black Fiend Soul-Slaying Blade, silently swept across the neck of the black dragon.

The knife passed silently.

The enormous dragon's head, filled with frozen terror and resentment, slowly slid down.

Dark red dragon blood shot into the sky like a fountain, staining the entire sky crimson.

"hold head high--!!!"

Between heaven and earth, a mournful cry filled with resentment and bitterness seemed to echo, a cry that only high-level cultivators and demonic beasts could perceive.

That was the mournful cry of the dragon's remaining will and soul as it fell.

This is the real reason why Zhu Yi insisted on Xue Ya coming; the Black Fiend Magic Weapon in his hand is the most powerful weapon to slay the dragon.

-----

Above the clouds, the aged voice let out a muffled groan of extreme anger.

Chu Fengge's illusory blue phoenix also let out a clear cry, and its attack became even fiercer.

The clash between the two domains intensified suddenly, and the out-of-control spiritual energy storm, like an invisible meat grinder, began to spread to the battlefield below!

"Retreat! Retreat now!!!" Zhu Yi roared hoarsely, ignoring his serious injuries, while simultaneously collecting the dragon's corpse.

The surviving cultivators, as if waking from a nightmare, desperately rushed towards the spirit boats and flying ships that were not yet completely destroyed.

Carrying the survivors in a panic, the car fled downstream like a school of frightened fish.

Behind them, the energy storm formed by the collision of the Core Formation realms had completely spiraled out of control.

The crimson and dark blue light intertwined, exploded, and spread, forming a huge vortex that reached the sky and the earth!

Wherever the vortex passed, mountains crumbled, the earth tore apart, rivers changed course, vegetation turned to ash, and everything was shredded and swallowed up!

The raging energy turbulence was like the lash of death, chasing after the fleeing fleet.

Every now and then, flying boats were swept into the edge and instantly disintegrated; the protective shields of spirit boats were shattered, and the cultivators on board screamed as they turned to ashes.

When they finally escaped a hundred miles away from the energy storm, only four second-tier spirit boats and thirteen flying boats remained.

Of the eight thousand elite troops and fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators who arrived, only three thousand wounded survivors remain, and only twenty-three Foundation Establishment cultivators are left.

More than half of the casualties did not die from the monsters, but perished in the aftershocks of the final, terrifying energy storm.

Looking back, the area that was once the Blackwater Swamp has been replaced by a giant energy vortex that covers dozens of miles and is still slowly rotating and expanding.

At the center of the vortex, lightning flashed and thunder roared, the light blinding, as if connecting to another destroyed world.

That was a scene where someone who had reached the Core Formation stage was not restrained and was attacking with all their might.

Zhu Yi slumped in the cabin, clutching the black dragon's inner core tightly in his hand.

He gazed at the devastating celestial phenomena, his face devoid of any joy of victory, only displaying utter exhaustion.

The cost of this war was far too high.

------

Jinshafang City, three thousand miles away

The Ghost Crying Hall, which was confronting the Zhong family's second-tier spirit boat, saw its communication talisman silently turn to ashes.

He remained silent for a few breaths, his gaze beneath the mask sweeping across the Golden Sands Market array below, then glancing at the Blood Slaughter Spirit Ship not far away, which was always locked onto the Ghost Cry Palace.

"Chu Fengge has made his move, facing off against a sect master; the battle for Core Formation has begun." His voice was hoarse, devoid of emotion, but the chilling energy fluctuations from the Ghost Cry Palace slowly subsided. "The situation is hopeless; retreat."

The massive black palace emitted a deep hum and began to slowly turn, retreating into the depths of the Cloud Mist Mountains, like a melting shadow, quickly disappearing into the vast mountain shadows.

Below, in the market town, the surviving cultivators watched as the palace of the Ghost Cry Market Town retreated. At first, there was a deathly silence, and then they erupted into a deafening cheer and shouts filled with sobs.

Many people collapsed to the ground, exhausted, and only then did cold sweat pour down their faces.

Bai Zhi Fairy of the Hundred Herbs Sect took a deep breath, suppressing her lingering fear. Her figure transformed into a streak of azure light, flying out of the great formation and arriving in front of the Zhong family's spirit boat.

"Master Zhong, the entire Jinsha Market will forever remember your kindness in helping us." She curtsied, her voice clear yet tinged with genuine weariness.

Zhong Zhenyue stood at the bow of the ship and returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Fairy Baizhi, you are too kind. We are of the same lineage as Yunxia, ​​and we are as close as lips and teeth. Now that the Ghost Cry Palace has been evacuated, my mission is complete, and I will take my leave."

Having said that, he steered the spirit boat and silently returned towards Tianyun Market.

Although the Zhong family was cunning and did not directly participate in the battle, their two arrows at the crucial moment effectively blocked the Ghost Cry Palace, buying vital time for the market.