Chapter 4

The two cultivators in the sky were caught off guard and were hit directly.

There was no scene of blood and flesh flying everywhere; ripples merely spread around their bodies as an invisible force deflected the bullet-like tide.

"Hmm, what kind of magical tool is this?" In the face of a sudden attack by over a thousand mortals, the two cultivators remained unperturbed. Kou Hong extended his right hand, lifting a soldier into the sky, snatched the gun from the soldier’s hand, and examined it closely before casually tossing the soldier away.

"Interesting, using intricate mechanical structures to replace magical arrays, and using the explosive power of mundane objects to replace spiritual energy, it can actually unleash the power of the initial stage of Qi Condensation..." Kou Hong understood the principle of the gun with just a glance.

He shook his head. "I didn’t expect that after thousands of years, the mortals exiled to this place cut off from the divine would be able to develop such a sophisticated device. Unfortunately, it only works in this place where the great Dao is incomplete. Outside this place, it’s just a pile of useless scrap metal." With that, the gun in his hand suddenly disappeared, as if he had casually put it away.

"Just a bunch of mortals, daring to attack us cultivators. I had a bit of guilt in my heart, but now it seems you are courting death!"

Kou Hong looked down from above at the countless mortal soldiers in the darkness, his eyes full of disdain.

He quickly pointed his right hand in the air, drawing mysterious traces.

Countless sparks suddenly appeared in the darkness, instantly expanding into huge fireballs like a raging wildfire.

"Dao Technique: Fire Dragon Roar!"

As Kou Hong shouted coldly, red flames erupted from these huge fireballs, spreading and burning outward. In just a moment, the red flames connected the fireballs in the sky like flesh and blood.

A giant dragon, its face fierce and composed of red flames, appeared, coiling in the sky above Xuanjing City.

The fire dragon raised its head and let out a loud roar, then stretched its body and plunged downward.

"Boom!"

Intense explosions sounded continuously.

The houses in Xuanjing City, like flimsy toys, were easily destroyed without any resistance.

The red flames, as if having their own will, devoured and burned everything they touched upon landing.

In a blink, Xuanjing City turned into a blazing hell on earth!

However, Kou Hong frowned, his expression filled with surprise and doubt.

Because he found that although Xuanjing City looked devastated, most of the soldiers had survived his attack!

After all, the Fire Dragon Roar he released in his rage was a full-power attack.

The power of a perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator was something mortals could not withstand!

Even if the soldiers were well-trained and took cover in the corners of buildings with protective gear the moment he cast the spell, their casualties should have been much higher!

What's going on!?

Kou Hong was both surprised and suspicious. Suddenly, he seemed to have discovered something. He waved his hand, picking up the small metal objects that had rained down after being easily deflected by his protective spiritual aura.

"This is..." Kou Hong's expression changed drastically, and he began to scan his surroundings with heightened alertness, the disdain in his eyes turning to wariness.

"These hidden weapons are soaked in mortal blood, they are the Immortal-Mortal Miasma..." Daoxuanzi's voice also sounded, his expression grim.

"We were ambushed as soon as we arrived here. And the other party even used the Immortal-Mortal Miasma, clearly with prior preparation. Could there be a cultivator guiding these mortals behind the scenes?" The two exchanged glances, and several thoughts flashed through their minds. "No matter what, this place is strange, and we shouldn't stay long."

Although Daoxuanzi and Kou Hong could fight to the death over the Core Formation cultivation technique, that was their own business.

Now, with unexpected variables, the two, who had a century of默契 (默契 means默契, which can be translated as 'understanding' or 'tacit agreement'), subconsciously chose to flee at the same time.

Perhaps sensing their intention, the gunfire that had paused due to the Fire Dragon Roar sounded again!

However, this only deepened Daoxuanzi and Kou Hong's suspicions.

These mortals clearly had a purpose!

"Go!" The two were about to flee when a voice sounded from below.

"Daoxuanzi! Kou Hong! If you two flee today, the news that you obtained a Core Formation cultivation technique will spread throughout the entire cultivation world tomorrow!"

The voice came from all directions around Xuanjing City, echoing in the night, lingering endlessly.

The voice was somewhat old, but the tone was firm and cold.

Kou Hong and Daoxuanzi's figures froze, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

"How is this possible? The matter of obtaining the Core Formation cultivation technique was known only to the two of us, how could the news leak?"

The two were plunged into deep fear.

They had traveled together to explore the cave, then Kou Hong had stolen the cultivation technique and fled, with Daoxuanzi in hot pursuit. Kou Hong had taken a desperate risk, entering this place cut off from the divine to seek a chance of survival...

The scenes of the people and events they encountered during this time flashed through their minds.

Who could it be!

Just as the two were shaken to their core, almost unable to control themselves, dozens of shells, trailing long tails of flame, flew toward them from unexpected positions in the darkness.

"Looking for death!" Kou Hong, recovering from his shock, became even more enraged.

"Dao Technique: Flame Ash Explosion!"

A huge ring of fire appeared in the air.

"Watch out, Kou Hong, get out of the way!" Daoxuanzi's voice sounded urgently at this moment.

"Huh?" Kou Hong was taken aback, and as he scanned with his divine sense, his face turned pale with shock.

He was about to dodge, but it was too late.

Dozens of shells exploded around them.

There was no deafening explosion, only dark red liquid splattering around them, forming a small-scale blood rain that drenched the two cultivators!

"Ahh..."

A bone-chilling scream echoed through the sky.

At the same time, the intimidating aura that made mortals fear them rapidly diminished.

After a brief resistance, the two could no longer hold on and fell from the sky.

Over a thousand soldiers, guns in hand, surrounded them.

The current state of the two "immortals" made these specially trained, fearless soldiers feel a chill.

Originally, Daoxuanzi and Kou Hong looked like young men in their twenties or thirties, but after being drenched in the blood rain, their hair turned snow white in an instant. In just a few breaths, they aged dramatically, their faces covered in wrinkles, looking terrifying.

The two hunched over, slumped on the ground. Kou Hong was on the verge of death, while Daoxuanzi, with a slightly higher cultivation, seemed to be in better condition, but was only barely hanging on.

The revered immortals had become this!

Not only the soldiers present, but even Li Fan, who was hiding in the background and directing the operation, felt a chill upon hearing the report from his subordinates.

"The two immortals, our master orders that if you surrender, your lives will be spared!" A soldier shouted from a distance.

"Surrender..."

The heavily injured Daoxuanzi looked at his friend, whose eyes were filled with unwillingness, wanting to say something but unable to speak. Suddenly, he let out a cold laugh.

Seeing Daoxuanzi's action, Kou Hong had already guessed what he was about to do.

He shook his head slightly, then used his last bit of strength to pass the storage ring on his hand to Daoxuanzi.

"Go..." Kou Hong's mouth moved slightly, then his head drooped, and he passed away.

In the sky, a strange phenomenon appeared!

A red dragon appeared in the sky. It seemed to be in great pain, struggling and roaring, trying to break free from something.

However, it was all in vain.

It gradually became emaciated, and in a blink, it was reduced to skin and bones.

A moment later, the entire dragon was completely devoured, leaving no trace of bone or flesh.

At this moment, people saw that a brown, seemingly ordinary branch had taken root and sprouted inside the dragon, devouring it completely!

Even a mundane branch can devour a dragon!

This magnificent scene illuminated the sky for thousands of miles around, like a brilliant firework.

All living beings, whether human or other, who witnessed this scene, naturally thought of these words in their minds.

"Foundation Establishment cultivator Kou Hong, who practiced for 205 years, achieved his Dao foundation with the strange object [Dragon Branch]. In this place cut off from the divine, he was attacked by thousands of mortals and accidentally injured by the Immortal-Mortal Miasma."

"His cultivation was lost, and his lifespan was nearly over."

"Now, he has died, and his Dao has dissipated, returning to the heavens!"

Feeling a kinship and sorrow, all living beings in the vicinity of Xuanjing City, enveloped in this strange phenomenon, were immersed in such emotions, unable to control themselves.

The magnificent scene lasted for almost half an hour before gradually dissipating.

The soldiers finally came to their senses, silently watching the other cultivator, who was now an old man.

"Immortal Daoxuanzi, our master has no intention of fighting to the death with you. If you surrender, our master guarantees your safety..." The soldiers continued to shout according to Li Fan's instructions.

Li Fan, however, sighed in the shadows, knowing that the attempt to capture the immortals had failed.

He never expected the Immortal-Mortal Miasma to be so lethal to cultivators.

Indeed, Daoxuanzi paid no attention to the shouting.

He looked up at the sky, which had already dissipated, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

"Dragon Branch..."

After a long time, he收回视线, 努力直起了佝偻的身子.

He scanned the surroundings, trying to find the mastermind behind the scenes.

"I don't know who you are," he said to Li Fan. "I don't know what your purpose is."

"Perhaps it's for the Core Formation cultivation technique, or perhaps for something else." Daoxuanzi looked at the storage ring on his hand and said calmly, "Now that my brother and I have been tricked and our Dao has dissipated, there's nothing more to say."

"But I am not satisfied," Daoxuanzi said coldly.

"Being able to follow us without being detected and knowing everything about us, you must have a high cultivation."

"Such a person, unwilling to face us directly, resorting to underhanded tactics, hiding behind mortals, and even using the Immortal-Mortal Miasma, which all cultivators despise..."

Daoxuanzi took a deep breath.

"My brother Kou Hong, dying at the hands of someone like you, I find it unjust."

Daoxuanzi slowly ascended, looking down at the suddenly alert crowd, his face expressionless.

"You have seen my brother's Foundation Establishment strange object. Now, I would like to show you mine."

"Using the wonders of heaven and earth to build my Dao foundation." Daoxuanzi chanted loudly.

"My Dao foundation is named: Daoxuan."

A huge, broken iron sword appeared in the sky above Xuanjing City.

All living beings under the shadow of the giant sword felt their thoughts slow down, as if their minds were rusted machines.

"I have a sword, please observe it!"

The world suddenly brightened, and everyone in Xuanjing City seemed to be frozen in absolute stillness.

Then, like cracks appearing in glass, the entire city shattered in an instant!

"True."

The charging progress plummeted, and in the last moment before losing consciousness, Li Fan silently recited in his heart.