Chapter 137 Counterattack

Mo Qianhun's expression shifted slightly. He hadn't expected Liu Qingyan to still possess such strength despite her unhealed injuries. His short blade danced, and a toxic mist spread as he attempted to stall for time.

However, Liu Qingyan's sword technique was agile and elegant, leaving no trace like a ram hanging by its horns. Her sword light pierced through the toxic mist again and again, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.

On the other side, seeing that Wu Tianxiong and Mo Qianhun were unable to prevail after a long time, Mo Canyang's eyes flashed with a hint of impatience. He slammed his bone staff against the ground: "Profound Heaven Spirit Erosion, Evil Qi Manifestation!" The spirit-eroding patterns on the light screen instantly went berserk, as dense Evil Qi condensed into dozens of black serpents that lunged at everyone on the qinglan boat with bared fangs and claws.

"Ling Wei, set up the Four Symbols Array!" Lin Yue shouted in a deep voice, simultaneously turning to stand back-to-back with Liu Qingyan.

Liu Qingyan understood his intent. The spiritual light on the lingyun sword merged with Lin Yue's Golden Core Evil Qi, forming a golden-green interwoven light screen that blocked the first few attacking evil snakes.

Ling Wei had already prepared twelve Formation Flags. Upon hearing the command, she immediately threw them out. Twelve streaks of spiritual light soared into the sky, and the phantoms of the Four Symbols emerged within the array.

The Vermilion Bird's true fire scorched the lunging evil snakes, the Black Tortoise's water shield blocked the erosion of the Evil Qi, the Azure Dragon's vines entangled the vital points of several evil snakes, and the White Tiger's sharp claws tore apart the oncoming spirit-eroding patterns.

However, the Evil Qi of the Xuantian Shiling Grand Array was too dense. The power of the Four Symbols Array was suppressed, and the phantoms actually began to slowly fade.

"Lin Yue, lend me a strand of your evil power!" Liu Qingyan suddenly spoke. A faint Divine Soul fluctuation rose around her as she pointed the lingyun sword toward the array core. "I will guide it with my Divine Soul power, and you use your Golden Core Evil to break the array core. We must end this quickly!"

Lin Yue's heart stirred, and he immediately understood Liu Qingyan's intention.

He condensed a strand of pure Golden Core evil power in his palm and handed it to Liu Qingyan: "Revered Master, be careful!" Liu Qingyan took the power, and her Divine Soul power erupted fully. A brilliant white spot of light appeared at her brow, and the golden-green spiritual light on the lingyun sword surged instantly. A Sword Qi condensed to the extreme shot toward the array core. Wherever the Sword Qi passed, the Evil Qi was forcibly torn open into a passage.

"Now!" Liu Qingyan gave a light shout. Lin Yue leaped up, and the Golden Core Evil Strike on the zhensha divine staff erupted once more. The golden-red spiritual light followed the passage opened by the Sword Qi, blasting toward the array core like a cannonball.

That was a black crystal embedded in the stone wall, the very energy source of the Xuantian Shiling Grand Array. Struck directly by the Golden Core Evil Strike, the crystal was instantly covered in cracks, and the dense Evil Qi began to descend into chaotic turbulence.

"No!" Mo Canyang's face changed drastically. He hurriedly mobilized his spiritual power to stabilize the array core, but Liu Qingyan had already anticipated his move. She swung the lingyun sword again, sending a Divine Soul Sword Qi straight at Mo Canyang's brow, forcing him to pull back for defense.

Wu Tianxiong and Mo Qianhun wanted to step forward to support him, but they were pinned down by Su Qingyuan, Luo Ningshuang, and A He.

Su Qingyuan's Qingxuan Burning Heaven Sword Domain expanded, its flames scorching Wu Tianxiong's Evil Qi; Luo Ningshuang's poison-breaking pill qi pierced through Mo Qianhun's protective spiritual light, causing his toxic power to stagnate; A He's purple-gold holy bud vines entangled their legs, the paralyzing venom making them stumble.

With the array core shattered, the Xuantian Shiling Grand Array completely collapsed. The black light screen dissipated with a bang, and the dense Evil Qi receded like a tide. When Lin Yue landed, he felt his blood and qi churning, but the power of the Golden Core Dao Body was rapidly repairing his Meridians. He looked at Liu Qingyan and saw that her face was even paler, clearly having exhausted too much Divine Soul power, yet her eyes shone with a bright light.

Seeing the array broken, Mo Canyang knew the situation was lost and turned to flee. How could Lin Yue give him the chance? He leaped in pursuit, the zhensha divine staff sweeping across as golden-red spiritual light blocked Mo Canyang's path: "Stay here!" Liu Qingyan also endured her injuries, her lingyun sword unsheathed once more as a clear Sword Qi cut off Mo Canyang's retreat.

The two of them joined forces, offense and defense as one. Lin Yue's Golden Core Evil Strike was fierce and peerless, while Liu Qingyan's Flowing Wind Sword Technique was agile and tricky. Although Mo Canyang was at the Golden Core Middle Stage, he gradually fell into a disadvantage under their seamless cooperation. After a few rounds, several wounds appeared on Mo Canyang's body, and his aura became increasingly withered.

"Wu Tianxiong, Mo Qianhun, hurry over and help!" Mo Canyang roared, but the two of them could barely protect themselves, being pinned down by Su Qingyuan and the others with no way to escape.

Lin Yue seized an opening and slammed the zhensha divine staff heavily against Mo Canyang's bone staff, sending it flying. He then kicked him in the chest. Mo Canyang spat out a mouthful of black blood and flew backward, falling to the ground unable to move.

Seeing his granduncle captured, Wu Tianxiong's mind fell into chaos. Su Qingyuan seized the opportunity to pierce his shoulder with her sword, and he fled with a miserable scream.

Mo Qianhun also took the chance to transform into a black shadow, attempting to flee the ancient path, but his ankle was caught by A He's purple-gold holy bud vines. Luo Ningshuang seized the moment to throw a poison-breaking pill. The pill qi invaded his body, causing his movements to stall. Lin Yue caught up and struck him on the back with his staff, leaving him heavily injured on the ground, where Ling Wei trapped him with Formation Flags.

In less than half a pillar of incense's time, this carefully planned ambush was completely dismantled.

Mo Canyang and Mo Qianhun were captured alive, while Wu Tianxiong fled heavily wounded. Lin Yue's zhensha divine staff still glowed with a red light, and the residual power of the Golden Core Evil Strike made the staff slightly hot. He could clearly feel the changes within his body.

[System Notification: Host has withstood Golden Core Grade attacks and joined forces with a Golden Core Cultivator to break an array. The Ten Thousand Jun Dao Body has evolved into the [Golden Core Dao Body]! Physical Body strength is now comparable to the Early Golden Core Stage! Hongmeng Space has absorbed the Xuantian Shiling Grand Array Origin. Spiritual Qi concentration has increased to 40%! Unlocked [Array Simulation] function, allowing the simulation of seen arrays at 80% of the original power!]

Interwoven golden and red spiritual light circulated around Lin Yue. The power of the Golden Core Dao Body caused his muscles to bulge instantly, and a faint golden light shimmered beneath his bronze skin. The defense of the prajna divine armor also increased several times over. He walked up to Mo Canyang, the zhensha divine staff pressed against his brow, and said coldly: "Speak, who sent you to ambush us?"

Mo Canyang's face was deathly pale, but he gritted his teeth and refused to speak. Lin Yue didn't force him, instead taking both him and Mo Qianhun into the Hongmeng Space to be interrogated later.

In a hidden cave on the other side of the ancient path, Wu Tianli and Mo Renxing watched this scene, spitting blood in rage. Wu Tianli clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, the resentment in his eyes almost dripping like blood: "Lin Yue! Liu Qingyan! I will definitely tear you into ten thousand pieces!" Mo Renxing clutched his chest, looking at the captured Mo Canyang and Mo Qianhun with eyes full of unwillingness and ruthlessness: "I didn't expect them to be able to break the Xuantian Shiling Grand Array together and even capture my granduncle and cousin. This Lin Yue's Golden Core Dao Body is actually so terrifying!"

Knowing they couldn't stay there, the two cast a resentful glance toward the ancient path and fled in a wretched state.

On the qinglan boat, the people of the Qingyun Sect finally breathed a sigh of relief. Liu Qingyan walked to Lin Yue's side, enduring her discomfort with a look of praise in her eyes: "The strength of your Golden Core Dao Body is already no less than that of an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator. You deserve the most credit for breaking the array together this time."

Lin Yue supported Liu Qingyan. Feeling the weak spiritual power fluctuations within her, he said with concern: "Revered Master, you've exhausted too much Divine Soul power. Sit down and adjust your breathing quickly."

Liu Qingyan nodded slightly and sat cross-legged to begin healing.

Lin Yue stood by her side, the zhensha divine staff in his palm still hot. He gazed in the direction where Wu Tianli and Mo Renxing had fled, his expression solemn.

He knew this victory was only the beginning. Wu Tianli and Mo Renxing would never let this go; they still had more cards to play. And the battle to advance from the top eight to the top four would become even more dangerous because of this ambush.