65: The first attempt at the Golden Elixir resulted in the collapse of the Black Tide.

Inside the Ancient Hall, the aura of the three newly advanced Golden Core Cultivators surged. Although they tried their best to restrain it, the Spiritual Pressure brought by the leap in life level was still like three clusters of flames ignited in the darkness, clearly attracting the predators in the fog.

Outside the hall, three blurry Black Shadows no longer hesitated. Enveloped in thick gray fog and bone-chilling sinister Qi, they rushed toward the Ancient Hall like ghosts! Wherever they passed, the ground solidified into black frost, and the air hissed as if being corroded.

"They're here!"

Lin Xuan gave a low shout and moved first! The Mid-stage Golden Core magical power surged abundantly. He did not conjure the immortal abode pivot token. Instead, he clenched his fists, and his pale golden vital Qi mixed with pure magical power, transforming into two solid Fist Auras, which roared out like angry Dragons leaving the sea, directly smashing toward the two Black Shadows charging at the front!

"Boom! Boom!"

The Fist Auras collided with the Black Shadows, producing a dull roar like beating leather. The two Black Shadows let out a sharp shriek, their forward momentum suddenly halted, and the black fog on their surfaces violently churned. Clearly, Lin Xuan's attack, which contained supreme Yang vital Qi and Golden Core magical power, had a clear suppressive effect on them.

But that was all. The aura of these two Black Shadows was comparable to the Peak of the Early Golden Core Stage. Their bodies seemed to exist between reality and illusion, making them extremely resilient. Lin Xuan's Fist Aura failed to scatter them in a single blow.

Just then, a cold, clear Sword Light flared!

Su Wanqing moved. Her body followed the sword; the person and the sword seemed to merge into one, transforming into an intensely icy stream of light. It arrived later but struck first, directly piercing the core of one of the Black Shadows that Lin Xuan had intercepted! Her newly formed Supreme Yin Golden Core operated at full capacity. Wherever the sword tip passed, the air seemed to freeze, leaving behind a clear trail of ice crystals.

"Sizzle!"

The icy Sword Light precisely pierced the center of the Black Shadow's scarlet eyes! The Black Shadow let out an incomparably mournful shriek. Its entire body rapidly froze and shattered from the inside out, finally dispersing into black ice crystals filling the sky! The might of a single sword strike actually instantly killed a Black Shadow comparable to the Early Golden Core Stage!

This was the terror of combining the Taiyin Youying Bloodline with the power of the Golden Core!

Almost simultaneously, a strange fragrance wafted from the other side.

Qu Feiyan did not attack directly. Her red dress swayed, as if she were performing an elegant yet deadly dance. An invisible Seduction Skill force field spread like mercury flowing across the ground, engulfing the other two Black Shadows. The movements of the two Black Shadows instantly became sluggish and chaotic. Their scarlet eyes flickered erratically, as if they had fallen into some kind of illusion, and they even began to snarl and attack each other!

"Giggle. It seems the new ability this big sister acquired is quite effective," Qu Feiyan chuckled, giving Lin Xuan a flirtatious glance, a hint of playful pride in her eyes. After forming her Golden Core, her Seduction Skill was already capable of directly influencing the minds of Cultivators of the same rank, or even these strange entities.

"Thunder Prison, suppress!"

Gongsun Yu shouted softly. The thunder light silver ring flew out of her hand, hovering above the two remaining confused Black Shadows. The silver ring's thunder light intensified greatly, transforming into a lightning net covering several zhang in area, which slammed down! The supreme Yang and supremely firm power of the thunder wildly poured out, causing black smoke to stream from the two Black Shadows as they let out painful wails, their movements becoming even stiffer.

Lin Xuan seized the opportunity, moving like lightning, instantly appearing before one of the Black Shadows suppressed by the Thunder Prison. He did not use his fist again. Instead, he joined his fingers like a sword, concentrating highly compressed Golden Core magical power and a trace of the newly acquired Supreme Yin affinity power on his fingertip, and pointed it toward the Black Shadow's head!

"Puff!"

The fingertip was like a searing hot iron plunging into ice and snow. The Black Shadow's head was instantly pierced and purified, and its entire body immediately scattered.

The last Black Shadow, under the dual suppression of the Thunder Prison and the Seduction Skill, was already at the end of its rope. Su Wanqing finished it off with a supplementary strike of icy Sword Qi, completely annihilating it.

The battle, from start to finish, lasted only ten breaths.

The Three women, who had just formed their Golden Cores, showcased their respective strengths under Lin Xuan's containment and support, cooperating perfectly. They managed to resolve the three troublesome Black Shadows so cleanly!

Silence temporarily returned before the Ancient Hall. Only the residual sinister Qi and energy fluctuations in the air attested to the fierce battle that had just taken place.

Su Wanqing stood with her sword sheathed, a flicker of confirmation regarding her strength passing through her icy eyes. Qu Feiyan played with a strand of hair near her temple, her smile seductive, clearly quite satisfied with this practical combat experience. Gongsun Yu recalled her silver ring, her pretty face flushed with excitement. Fighting an enemy with her Golden Core cultivation for the first time and achieving victory greatly boosted her confidence.

Lin Xuan looked at the Three women, feeling relieved. The System prompt sounded once again:

[Ding! Investment targets engaged in cooperative combat, demonstrating excellent potential and growth. Host receives comprehensive feedback: All attributes slightly increased, team cooperation tacit understanding improved.]

A warm current flowed into his limbs and bones. Lin Xuan felt his magical power, vital Qi, and Divine Sense all subtly increase by a fraction. More importantly, there seemed to be an invisible connection between him and the Three women, allowing him to perceive their combat intentions more clearly.

"Well done," Lin Xuan praised unreservedly. "To have such fighting strength right after entering the Golden Core stage, your future is limitless."

Receiving his affirmation, the Three women's expressions varied, but a spark of light flashed in their eyes.

However, Lin Xuan did not let down his guard. He looked up toward the depths of the gray fog, his brow slightly furrowed. Eliminating these three Black Shadows did not bring him relief; instead, he felt a sense of oppression, as if a storm was brewing. The methods of the Guixu Cult were certainly not limited to this.

"This place is not suitable for long stays. The commotion just now might have attracted more things. We need to leave quickly and find a way out," Lin Xuan said gravely.

The Three women nodded. Having just achieved a Breakthrough and undergone practical combat, they also needed a safer environment to consolidate their cultivation and digest what they had gained.

Just as the four were preparing to leave, the immortal abode pivot token in Lin Xuan's palm suddenly emitted a strange fluctuation. It was no longer a warning, but a faint resonance carrying a sense of guidance, pointing toward a direction in the ruins they had not previously noticed.

"Hmm? It seems... there's a new discovery." Lin Xuan's eyes flashed. Perhaps this was a glimmer of hope amidst the crisis?