233: Sneak attack!

The logic that Lu Ming understood, True Person Tianxing, with his level of cultivation, naturally grasped even more clearly.

The few Golden Core True Persons in the Southern Wilderness Region usually had no dealings with each other, let alone any friendship.

Seeing the opponent appear so coincidentally and proactively offer assistance, True Person Tianxing couldn't help but feel wary.

But with a great enemy currently before him, he had no time for careful thought.

He suppressed the doubts in his heart, cupped his hands toward Ji Ruge, and said, "Fellow Daoist, you arrived at the perfect time. This fiend is ferocious; we must join forces to deal with it!"

"Naturally!"

Ji Ruge smiled and nodded. With a shake of the Three-Foot Green Peak in his hand, he and True Person Tianxing formed a pincer attack and charged toward the Demonic Ape.

"Roar—"

The Demonic Ape roared in fury, malevolent Qi surging in its crimson eyes. It met the two head-on without dodging.

But with Ji Ruge joining, the tide of the battle immediately turned.

One attacked, the other restricted. Ji Ruge's sword technique was tricky and ruthless, every move aimed directly at the Demonic Ape's vital points.

True Person Tianxing, meanwhile, controlled the circumference of heavenly stars ring, letting streaks of starlight fall, weaving a Star Cage to restrict its movements.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Demonic Ape had acquired dozens of new sword marks of varying depths, and its movements became increasingly sluggish.

When the many Cultivators in the city saw this scene, they all showed expressions of pleasant surprise.

It seemed the danger of the Demon King besieging the Immortal City finally had hope of being quelled!

Sure enough, just as everyone expected.

The Mountain-Shaking Demonic Ape quickly found it difficult to continue.

Although it roared in furious rage, it knew it would be impossible to win today. Even if it was unwilling, it had no intention of fighting to the death.

It was seen slamming a fist into the ground, detonating a sky full of Bloody Malevolent Qi.

Using this blinding technique, its massive body instantly fled far away, disappearing into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

Seeing the Demonic Ape retreat, True Person Tianxing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He chose not to pursue the victory. While the two of them might be able to slay it, they would certainly pay a huge price.

Furthermore, if the Mountain-Shaking Demonic Ape was determined to escape, they couldn't stop it.

Thinking of this, the spiritual light around True Person Tianxing gradually receded. The circumference of heavenly stars ring behind him also dimmed and rotated slowly, displaying the appearance of having expended too much spiritual power.

He turned to Ji Ruge, a look of gratitude on his face, and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist Tianshang, thank you for this time..."

However, as soon as his voice fell, a sudden change occurred in the field!

Ji Ruge, who had just been smiling and talking pleasantly, seized the moment when True Person Tianxing's mind was most relaxed, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

The long sword at his waist suddenly left its sheath, and an incomparably sharp sword light slashed directly at the Golden Core within True Person Tianxing's Dantian!

This strike was vicious and cunning, the timing perfectly controlled, completely different from the grand sword momentum he displayed when they had just been fighting together!

But True Person Tianxing had been wary all along.

Not to mention the combat instinct honed by centuries of cultivation, his doubts about Ji Ruge appearing here had never dissipated.

Almost the instant Ji Ruge's long sword was unsheathed, the already dimmed circumference of heavenly stars ring behind him suddenly burst into brilliant light, and the circulating starlight forcefully blocked the sword strike.

"Clang—"

The starlight and sword light violently collided, emitting a sharp, grating sound.

True Person Tianxing used the force to fly backward, his face filled with shock and rage: "Ji Ruge! You truly harbor malicious intentions!"

However, his words abruptly stopped.

Because behind him, another cold, sinister, and contaminated aura suddenly appeared.

Like a venomous snake that had been lurking for a long time, it suddenly launched a sneak attack!

A Bone Claw wrapped in dense Devilish Qi silently tore through the Void Realm and struck towards his back.

The timing of this strike was exquisite, seizing the precise moment when his old strength had just faded and new strength had yet to be generated, and his entire focus was on Ji Ruge, causing him to fail to notice the change behind him.

"Pfft—"

Although True Person Tianxing forcefully twisted his body at the last moment, avoiding a vital spot.

The demonic claw still firmly imprinted itself on his left rear shoulder.

An extremely cold power instantly penetrated his body, relentlessly corroding his spiritual body, Dantian, and Meridians like maggots clinging to bone.

"Puff!"

True Person Tianxing violently spat out a mouthful of blood, which surprisingly contained wisps of black Qi.

He staggered a step in mid-air and struggled to look back.

He saw a figure shrouded in Devilish Qi slowly stepping out from a shadow in the clouds.

This figure, along with the coldly smiling Ji Ruge, stood front and back, sealing off all his retreat paths.

"A Golden Core True Person, how is that possible!"

True Person Tianxing looked incredulous. Observing the aura, it was completely unfamiliar. When did the Southern Wilderness Region gain another Golden Core True Person?

It was only then that True Person Tianxing belatedly realized he had likely been targeted in a plot!

This Beast Tide might only have been a prelude, and even the Mountain-Shaking Demonic Ape might have been a pawn used simply to lure him out of the Immortal City.

To be precise, it was to lure him outside the coverage area of the Third-Rank Grand Array!

Ji Ruge and this demonic Cultivator had already set up an ambush here, specifically establishing this killing trap for him, just waiting for him to walk right into it!

"A Golden Core from a borderland, yet you didn't die instantly after taking my 'Heart-Corroding Demonic Claw.' You certainly have some skill!"

The demonic figure's voice was hoarse and low, carrying a hint of surprise, but mostly amusement.

True Person Tianxing's expression was extremely grim. The Devilish Qi on his left shoulder continued to spread, bringing excruciating, bone-piercing pain, causing his spiritual power circulation to become sluggish.

He knew that facing a Golden Core of the same rank, he might still have the strength to fight.

But adding an unfathomably powerful Golden Core demonic Cultivator, he knew he had absolutely no chance of winning.

Moreover, he was now severely injured!

Understanding his predicament, a trace of ruthlessness and determination flashed in True Person Tianxing's eyes.

"Buzz—"

In an instant, the aura around him surged, and a vast pressure, far exceeding the Golden Core Middle Stage, violently spread out.

The violent spiritual power swept around like furious waves crashing onto the shore, forcefully pushing back Ji Ruge and the demonic figure.

Taking advantage of this momentary opportunity, True Person Tianxing transformed into a streak of bloody light and desperately fled toward the Immortal City, moving with extreme speed, vanishing almost instantly.

All of this was at the cost of burning his life force and Golden Core Origin.

Ji Ruge and the demonic figure waved their sleeves, shaking off the surging spiritual power. They looked at the fleeing light that vanished in an instant but did not immediately pursue.

"How decisive, to actually be willing to burn his Golden Core Origin!" Ji Ruge gave a cold laugh, but his tone held clear reluctance.

"It doesn't matter! He was struck by my Heart-Corroding Demonic Seal and forcibly burned his Golden Core Origin. He is now at the end of his rope, and the turtle shell of this Immortal City won't protect him for long!"

The demonic figure's tone was flat, but dark light flickered in his eyes. He then instructed Ji Ruge.

"Have your people come out! Surround this place for me; don't let a single fly escape!"

Facing this commanding tone, a trace of humiliation flashed across Ji Ruge's face, but he quickly hid it. He then bowed and cast a spell seal.

In an open area far away, space instantly twisted.

Thousands of figures emerged one after another, all Cultivators belonging to the Imperial City Directorate of the Immortal Dynasty!

Among them, the dozen or so leaders were, without exception, Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Clearly, this area had been previously concealed by a Formation, masking their presence.