Caught off guard, the two cultivators in the sky took the full brunt of the attack.
Yet there was no explosion of blood or torn flesh, only waves rippling outward as an invisible force intercepted the storm of bullets.
“Hmm, what kind of artifact is this?” Despite suddenly getting besieged by thousands of mortals, the two cultivators remained unperturbed.
Kou Hong made a clutching gesture with his right hand, hauling a soldier into the air. He snatched the firearm from the soldier’s grasp, examining it closely before casually tossing the man aside.
“Interesting. By using intricate mechanical structures in place of arrays and harnessing the explosive force of mundane materials instead of spiritual qi, it can unleash power comparable to the early-stage Qi Refinement realm...” With just a glance, Kou Hong grasped the weapon’s mechanisms.
He shook his head. “Who would have thought that after thousands of years, the mortals exiled to this Immortal Forsaken Land could devise something so ingenious? A pity it only works in this place where the Great Dao is fragmented. Outside, it’s nothing but worthless scrap metal.” With that, the gun in his hand vanished, evidently stashed away.
“Insignificant mortals, you sure have some nerve, raising your weapons against us cultivators. I initially felt a twinge of guilt, but now I see you’re simply courting death!”
Kou Hong looked down at the countless mortal soldiers hidden in the darkness, his eyes filled with disdain.
His right hand moved rapidly through the air, tracing mysterious patterns.
Countless sparks erupted from the darkness, swelling like wildfire into massive fireballs.
He then barked a cold command, “Dao Technique: Flame Dragon’s Roar!”
Crimson flames erupted outward from the massive fireballs. The fireballs acted like nodes while the flames acted like connecting tendrils. In moments, the fireballs scattered across the sky were woven together like congealed blood and flesh.
Soon, a ferocious dragon composed of blazing fire coiled in the sky above Xuanjing City.
The dragon reared its head and let out a deafening roar before plunging downward.
Boom! Explosions erupted without end.
The buildings of Xuanjing City offered no resistance and were effortlessly reduced to rubble like flimsy toys.
The crimson flames seemed to possess a will of their own, devouring everything they touched.
In the blink of an eye, Xuanjing City transformed into a blazing hellscape!
Yet Kou Hong, the architect of this devastation, frowned. His expression shifted between shock and suspicion.
Despite the devastation of the city below, he realized that most of the soldiers had survived the attack!
One had to understand that the strike he had unleashed in his fury was one at his full power.
The might of a final-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was far beyond what mere mortals could withstand!
Perhaps the soldiers were highly trained, donning protective gear and hiding behind buildings the moment they saw him casting his technique. Even then, their casualties should have been far greater!
What was going on?!
After Kou Hong’s initial shock, he seemed to realize something. With a wave of his hand, he summoned one of the countless small metal projectiles that had rained upon them earlier, now scattered across the ground after being deflected by his spiritual qi.
“What is this?” After examining it for a moment, his face twisted in horror. He swiftly scanned his surroundings, his earlier disdain replaced by wariness.
“These projectiles have been soaked in mortal blood... It’s Immortal-Mortal Miasma...” Dao Xuanzi’s voice came through, his expression grim.
“We were ambushed the moment we arrived, and they even used Immortal-Mortal Miasma. They were clearly prepared. Could there be a cultivator behind these mortals?” The two exchanged glances, countless thoughts flashing through their minds. “Regardless, this place is too strange. We shouldn’t linger.”
Though Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong had been ready to kill each other over the core formation method, that was a matter between themselves.
Now, even though their opponents were merely thousands of mortals, the two cultivators who had fought side by side for a century tacitly chose to flee. There were simply too many unexpected variables.
Perhaps sensing their intent, the gunfire that had been silenced by Flame Dragon’s Roar resumed!
“Let’s go!”
Just as they prepared to escape, a voice rang out from below. “Dao Xuanzi! Kou Hong! If you flee today, word that you’ve obtained a core formation method will spread throughout the entire cultivation world by tomorrow!”
The voice echoed from all directions, reverberating endlessly through the night.
It was aged, yet carried an unshakable certainty and ruthlessness.
Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi froze mid-air, their faces contorted in shock and disbelief.
“How is this possible? Only the two of us knew about the core formation method! How was the news leaked?!” For a moment, they were paralyzed by terror.
Scenes flashed through their minds—their joint expedition to the ancient cave, Kou Hong snatching the technique and his subsequent flight, Dao Xuanzi’s relentless pursuit, Kou Hong entering the Immortal Forsaken Lands, gambling on a chance of survival...
Who could it be?
As their minds reeled, dozens of artillery shells streaked through the darkness from unexpected angles, trailing long tails of flame as they homed in on the two cultivators.
“You must be tired of living!” Kou Hong snapped out of his daze, his fury erupting anew.
“Dao Technique: Ember Explosion!”
A massive ring of fire began to materialize in the air.
“Kou Hong, dodge!” Dao Xuanzi’s urgent warning came too late.
“What?” Kou Hong’s eyes widened as his divine sense swept outward.
He tried to evade, but it was impossible.
The shells detonated around them.
There were no deafening explosions; only bursts of dark red liquid, raining down in a macabre shower that drenched the two cultivators.
“AH!”
Bloodcurdling screams tore through the sky.