54: A turtle in a jar, a fierce black dragon

Outside the stone hall, high in the sky, a figure quietly hovered—it was Lin Feng, who had arrived earlier to wait for his prey.

He was not in a hurry to enter immediately, his Divine Sense slightly spread out, vigilant of his surroundings.

The person he was waiting for should be arriving soon.

Sure enough, not long after, two sneaky figures emerged from the dense forest behind the side of the stone hall.

Leading them was a young man dressed in Spirit Beast Mountain attire, with shifty eyes and a hint of lewd smile on his lips.

Following him was a fair-faced man who seemed a bit awkward in his movements—it was precisely the Tianque Fortress Disciple, previously encountered, who had a fondness for men.

"Hehe, Senior Brother Zhong Wu, look, those little girls from Yanyue Sect have indeed all gone inside," the Tianque Fortress man said in a high-pitched, fawning voice.

The Spirit Beast Mountain Disciple, called Zhong Wu, scanned the tightly shut entrance of the stone hall, a sinister smile appearing on his face.

He pulled out several Talismans from his Storage Pouch and then took out a dark, spherical Magical Artifact.

"This 'Earth-Shaking Pearl' is enough to completely blast this entrance apart. Once they are both injured from fighting the Yao Beast, we'll block the entrance and set up Restrictions. By then, not a single one of them will survive!" Zhong Wu's tone was filled with malice.

Hearing this, the Tianque Fortress man's eyes lit up, and he giggled, "Brother Zhong Wu, you're so bad! But I like it! I can't wait to see the day the Seven Sects are annihilated by us."

Zhong Wu's brows furrowed imperceptibly, seemingly displeased with the form of address, but he still patiently said, "Do it!"

With that, he was about to activate the Earth-Shaking Pearl in his hand.

Just then, Lin Feng's eyes narrowed.

Now!

His figure flickered, and the pre-prepared Invisibility Talisman instantly activated. His entire being transformed into a phantom almost integrated with the air, drifting silently towards the stone hall entrance like a falling leaf.

"Boom!"

A tremendous roar erupted as the Earth-Shaking Pearl in Zhong Wu's hand unleashed immense power. The massive stones at the entrance of the stone hall were shattered, and dust billowed.

Rolling rubble completely buried the already small entrance.

Zhong Wu did not stop there; he cast several more magic incantations, setting up multiple Restrictions at the collapsed entrance before patting his hands with satisfaction.

"Let's go! Let's hunt down a few more Cultivators from the Seven Sects elsewhere!"

"Mm, I'll listen to Brother Zhong Wu."

The two exchanged a smug glance and quickly left the area.

And in the last fleeting moment before the entrance was completely sealed, an almost invisible shadow, like a swimming fish, narrowly slipped through the cracks of the rubble and entered the stone hall.

As soon as Lin Feng entered, he was met with a strong smell of blood and Demonic Qi.

He suppressed his entire Aura, maximizing the effect of the Invisibility Talisman, and quietly concealed himself behind a massive stone pillar, his gaze fixed on the center of the great hall.

...

Meanwhile, inside the great hall.

Nangong Wan, relying on the power of the Vermillion Bird Ring, unexpectedly trapped the Ink Dragon, and all the Yanyue Sect Disciples were instantly invigorated.

"Great! Grandmaster is mighty!"

"This Prodigy is trapped by Grandmaster's Magic Treasure; it certainly can't escape now!"

Several Disciples had relaxed smiles on their faces, and their previously tense minds also eased.

Some even began to prepare to activate their respective Magical Artifacts, eager to strike while the iron was hot and completely end the Ink Dragon's life.

They subconsciously stopped the operation of the "Yin Yang Guidance Art," and their formation showed a slight disarray.

Seeing this, Nangong Wan's heart sank, and an ominous premonition surged within her.

She could clearly feel that the struggling force from the Vermillion Bird Ring was growing stronger and stronger. The Demonic Qi within the Ink Dragon had not weakened; instead, it seemed to be brewing an even more terrifying power.

"Not good!" Nangong Wan's delicate face instantly turned pale. She felt the Vermillion Bird Ring's restraint on the Ink Dragon rapidly weakening.

Her cultivation, which had dropped to the Qi Refinement Stage due to the backlash from her Cultivation Technique, now became a fatal weakness.

If she were in her prime, a mere peak-level first-grade Ink Dragon could be annihilated with a flick of her finger.

But now, she had the Divine Sense and experience of a Core Formation Cultivator, yet her magic power was difficult to sustain.

"Quick! Maintain the formation! It's about to break free!" Nangong Wan's voice trembled with urgency as she sharply cried out.

However, before her words finished.

"Roar—!!!"

An earth-shattering roar erupted from the Ink Dragon trapped by the Vermillion Bird Ring.

The sound was filled with endless rage and ferocity, forming a tangible sound wave that made the entire hall hum. Disciples with weaker cultivation even felt their Qi and blood surge, making them dizzy.

Immediately after, a deep, dark ink-colored radiance suddenly appeared on the Ink Dragon's scales, which had been charred black by the Vermillion Bird Ring's flames.

A surge of Demonic Qi, several times stronger than before, shot into the sky, actually forcing the Vermillion Bird Ring to open a slight gap!

"Crack!"

The Vermillion Bird Ring let out a mournful cry of being overwhelmed, and its flames suddenly dimmed.

"Pfft!"

Nangong Wan felt a heavy blow. Her petite body trembled violently, and a mouthful of fresh blood uncontrollably spurted out, staining the front of her robes.

Her delicate face instantly lost all color, becoming as white as paper.

"Grandmaster!"

Seeing this, the Disciples were greatly alarmed. The relaxed expressions on their faces vanished, replaced by endless panic.

"Bang!"

With another loud bang, the Vermillion Bird Ring could no longer withstand the Ink Dragon's violent power. It was forcefully shaken off, falling to the ground nearby with its light dimmed.

The restraint was lifted!

The Ink Dragon's massive body fully stretched out. It let out a hearty roar to the sky, its body swirling with dark light. As its scales opened and closed, it exuded a terrifying Aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

Its size seemed to have expanded by another circle, and the two fleshy horns on its head became even more grotesque. Its pair of blood-red pupils stared fixedly at Nangong Wan and the Yanyue Sect Disciples behind her, filled with bloodthirsty killing intent.

"This... this Aura..." Nangong Wan endured her internal injuries, her beautiful eyes wide open, her face filled with disbelief.

"It... it actually had a Breakthrough in battle! This is the Aura of a second-grade Yao Beast! Comparable to a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator!"

At these words, all the Yanyue Sect Disciples felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, chilled to the bone.

A peak-level first-grade Ink Dragon had already made it difficult for them to cope. Now that it had broken through to second-grade, how much more had its strength increased?

And their Grandmaster, whose cultivation was currently suppressed at the Qi Refinement Stage and was injured, how could she be a match for a second-grade Yao Beast?

"It's over... we're doomed..." A female Disciple's face was ashen, her voice trembling.

Despair spread like a plague among the Disciples.

Nangong Wan took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the panic in her heart.

She knew that if she lost her composure now, these Disciples would truly have no chance of survival.

"Everyone, calm down!" Nangong Wan cried out, her voice, though somewhat weak due to her injuries, still carried an undeniable authority.

She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her gaze once again becoming sharp: "It's merely a newly broken-through second-grade Yao Beast; its Aura is not stable, so it's not impossible to fight!"

"Everyone, retreat outside the hall immediately! I'll hold it back!" Nangong Wan's tone was resolute, without the slightest hesitation.

She knew very well that in her current state, defeating this second-grade Ink Dragon was an almost impossible task.

The only way to survive was to buy time for these Disciples to escape.

With that, Nangong Wan, disregarding her own injuries, forcefully activated the remaining magic power in her body. With a flick of her small hand, the Vermillion Bird Ring, which had fallen to the ground, let out a mournful cry and flew back into her hand.

Although its light was dim, it still exuded astonishing fire-attribute spiritual energy.

"You beast!" Nangong Wan cried out, actively charging towards the Ink Dragon.

The Vermillion Bird Ring spun in front of her, transforming into several fiery blade-lights that slashed towards the Ink Dragon's head.

The Ink Dragon let out a disdainful hiss, its massive tail sweeping suddenly, bringing with it a fishy wind, easily swatting away all the fiery blade-lights.

Its lantern-like blood-red pupils were filled with mockery and cruelty.

In its eyes, these weak humans before it were merely appetizers after its Breakthrough.

Seeing Nangong Wan intending to single-handedly fight the second-grade Ink Dragon to buy them a chance at survival, the Disciples felt both moved and anxious.

"Grandmaster! No!"

"We'll fight alongside you!"

Several hot-blooded Disciples were about to step forward to assist.

"Nonsense!" Nangong Wan rebuked without turning her head, "You coming up would only be suicide! Go quickly!"

Hearing this, the Disciples' eyes welled with tears, but they also knew that their Grandmaster was speaking the truth.

Their staying behind would be useless, except to drag her down.

"Grandmaster, take care!"

A leading female Disciple cried out in sorrow, being the first to rush towards the direction of the stone hall entrance.

The other Disciples also suppressed their grief and followed closely behind.

However, just as they were about to rush to the stone hall entrance, the Disciple at the very front suddenly let out a terrified shriek.

"Ah! The entrance! The entrance is blocked!"

This shriek was like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, making everyone's hearts sink.

Hearing this, Nangong Wan's heart plummeted. In her haste, she looked back.

She saw that the original stone hall entrance was now completely sealed by countless massive fallen rocks, not even leaving a single crack.

"How could this be?!" Nangong Wan was greatly alarmed.

She forced back the Ink Dragon's pounce with one move, her figure flickering, and flew desperately towards the blocked entrance.

She raised her delicate hand, gathered all her magic power, and slammed a palm onto the massive stones.

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, the massive stones remained unmoved. Instead, it made her arm numb and her Qi and blood churn.

Nangong Wan was unwilling to give up and struck several more palms consecutively, but the result was still the same.

The massive stones blocking the entrance seemed to be connected to the entire mountain, indestructible.

What chilled her heart even more was that she keenly sensed that behind those massive stones, several rather clever Restrictions had been set up.

These Restrictions were superimposed on each other, and their power was extraordinary. Not to mention her current Qi Refinement Stage cultivation, even a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator would not be able to break through them in a short time.

"Someone deliberately sealed it!" Nangong Wan instantly understood, and a bone-chilling coldness rose from the bottom of her heart.

Who could it be? To be so malicious, wanting to trap them all within this stone hall!

Could it be Demonic Path Cultivators? Or competitors from other Sects?

At this moment, she didn't even have time to ponder.

Because the second-grade Ink Dragon, having shaken off the brief impact of her previous attack, once again let out a deafening roar. Its massive body, carrying an overwhelming Aura, lunged towards the Yanyue Sect Disciples who were gathered near the entrance, their faces filled with despair!

A fishy wind assaulted them, and the shadow of death instantly enveloped everyone.