Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

However, although Elder Tong himself dodged the sneak attack, the strange giant hand left several deep slash marks, from which black energy continuously dissipated.

The large hand slowly opened, revealing Old Man Tong's figure once again.

He retreated directly behind Ayan, his face slightly pale. Clearly, forcibly using the life-saving secret technique had taken a toll on him.

"These bastards!!" Old Tong stared intently at the four masked men opposite him with a gloomy gaze. His expression turned even more ugly when he noticed a faint crimson flame mark on the corner of their clothes.

"I thought someone was attacking me from behind, but it turns out it's just some scum from your Crimson Flame Continent!"

"Just as I expected, you guys from the Crimson Flame Continent are still the same as before, doing nothing but petty theft and backstabbing!"

However, Elder Tong's words did not enrage the four masked men from the Crimson Flame Continent. On the contrary, the leader's exposed eyes flashed with a hint of mockery. "Old Monster Tong, does it matter what methods you use? The victor is king, the loser is villain; it's always been like this. Now that we've run into you, your Azure Mist Continent's points, and these two fat sheep from the Eastern Xuan, we, the Crimson Flame Continent... will take them all!"

"Hmph! Arrogant!" Old Master Tong's face was filled with anger. "Just the four of you? Since you dared to make a move, don't blame me for dealing with you all today. It'll be a good opportunity to settle both old and new scores!"

"Big Fatty, Second Fatty, protect the left and right! Ah Yan!" Old Tong shouted sternly, "Smash that leader first!"

"Alright!" The giant Ayan nodded without hesitation. His eyes flashed with even more ferocity, and his massive body swung his fist again, smashing it hard at the masked man who was the leader of the Crimson Flame Continent!

However, the opponent showed no fear as he watched the fist getting closer and closer; instead, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

"Form ranks!" he shouted in a low voice.

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a crimson array suddenly lit up beneath the feet of the four of them!

Within the formation, dozens of crimson threads, like blood vessels in the human body, rapidly wrapped around the other three masked men. At the same time, an even thicker thread extended from each of these three men, connecting to the leader's flesh.

In an instant, the aura of the masked leader surged dramatically, like a volcanic eruption!

The surrounding air was constantly distorting.

He raised his hand, his fingers slightly spread, and slapped Ayan's fist.

The scorching fire wave collided with the violent fist wind, creating visible shockwaves that rippled outwards, sending Elder Tong and the others flying dozens of meters away.

"Venerable One, why don't we take this opportunity to slip away?" On the ground not far away, the gray-robed swordsman glanced at the two groups of people above, tugged at Venerable Miaodi's gray monk's robe, and whispered a few words.

Venerable Miaodi glanced at the gray-robed swordsman with a strange expression, then said expressionlessly, "Wait a little longer. This is just the beginning. We can leave without being discovered once they unleash their full power."

"That makes sense, Venerable One, you've thought things through!" The gray-robed swordsman secretly gave Venerable One a thumbs up.

After saying that, the two of them looked back into the void, but the result surprised them greatly.

Because in this exchange, the one who was sent flying backward was none other than the incredibly powerful giant, Ayan! Venerable Miaodi and his companion had already experienced his strength firsthand.

Ayan staggered back seven or eight steps before barely managing to steady himself. His fist, which had been exchanging blows with his opponent, trembled slightly, and his skin turned crimson!

"What?! The legendary 'Melting Fire Returning to Origin Formation' from the Crimson Flame Continent?!" Elder Tong involuntarily clenched his fists, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty. "You actually practiced this formation on purpose!"

"Hahaha! Of course, the four of us have been preparing for this temple assessment for a full ten years!!" The masked leader from the Crimson Flame Continent stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the shocked Elder Tong, a hint of mockery appearing on his face.

"Old Monster Tong, under this 'Merging Fire Returning to Origin Formation,' the power of the four of us is merged into one. What do you have to fight us with? Today, none of you are leaving!"

Upon seeing this, Da Pang and Er Pang's expressions turned extremely ugly, and they subconsciously moved closer to Old Tong, protecting him.

"Old Tong, this guy seems tough to deal with! A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle, so why don't we retreat first?" Big Fatty looked at Old Tong with a serious expression.

"Hmph! What are you afraid of? You two just need to keep an eye on my body. As for the others, Ah Yan and I can handle them!" Seemingly noticing Da Pang's worries, Old Tong's eyes gradually turned cold, and then he let out a sneer.

"You lot don't actually think that only your Crimson Flame Continent knows this kind of combined attack amplification technique, do you?"

"Ayan!" He glanced at the burly man beside him and nodded to him.

The next moment, a somewhat terrifying scene appeared!

The shadow beneath his feet seemed to come alive, completely detaching from Tong Lao's body, and then swiftly spreading upwards along the feet of the giant A Yan beside him!

As the shadow enveloped him, Ayan's already burly and powerful body seemed to swell even more, and black demonic patterns appeared on the surface of his skin!

A violent aura shot straight into the sky, even startling Xia Jin, who was watching from the shadows.

"Go! Now, get out of here!" Venerable Miaodi, seeing the imposing, demon-like man standing nearby, quickly pulled up the stunned gray-clad swordsman and rushed out along the ground.

However, although Elder Tong noticed their actions, he had no time to care about them at the moment.

Ayan's previously dull eyes were now filled with dense darkness, leaving only two points of scarlet light, like a ferocious beast awakening.

"Hahahaha! Did you see that? This is the combined attack technique of Ah Yan and me!" Old Tong looked at the masked leader opposite him, whose face was grim, with a sinister glint in his eyes. "Ah Yan, tear them to pieces!"

"Roar!!"

Completely corrupted by demonic energy, Ayan let out a violent roar that shook the three elders, including Tong Lao, causing them to sway involuntarily.

He stomped his foot on the ground, creating a huge crater, and a dark figure instantly appeared in front of the masked leader of the Crimson Flame Continent.

"You all must die!!"