Left Black Dragon, Right White Tiger

The guardian of the Wind Gate was Ye Qingxuan, who practiced an illusory art called the "Illusory Cloud Fog Killer."

This was a mystical technique that focused on blending reality with illusion, making it unpredictable and enigmatic.

Such an art wasn't meant for direct confrontation on the challenge platform; it wasn't a technique for face-to-face combat.

In an actual battlefield, encountering someone who practiced this art would make for an extremely formidable and troublesome opponent.

The formation space guarded by Ye Qingxuan was shrouded in mist, with visibility limited to less than five meters. Even magical detection methods couldn't penetrate beyond fifty meters.

Logically, with such a deceptive technique and environmental advantage, combined with guidance from Qin Ran, a master of survival tactics, Ye Qingxuan should have been able to toy with Nascent Soul cultivators who entered her gate, just like her neighbor Yao Qingke did.

However, she was unlucky. The Nascent Soul cultivator who came to her area didn't follow the usual pattern. After being ambushed and losing one Golden Core cultivator, he decisively pulled out a gourd-shaped magical treasure, removed its stopper, and sucked away all the mist in the formation space.

Without clouds and mist, the "Illusory Cloud Fog Killer" lost more than eighty percent of its effectiveness.

In the end, the Dao Sword Sect disciples at the Wind Gate fought to their deaths, taking down four Golden Core cultivators with them.

Not all prodigious disciples possess the ability, talent, and opportunity to challenge those above their level.

Tian Wenjin had the ability. Her combat prowess was accumulated through countless battles, and only with the formation space's power enhancement did she gain enough strength to face Yu Qingshan head-on.

Li Shiyin had the talent. She possessed the sword cultivator's instinct to be fearless and grow stronger when facing powerful opponents. Even in the most difficult times, she never thought of giving up.

Yao Qingke got the opportunity. The unique environment of the formation space, combined with personal guidance from the Thousand-Faced Poison Lord Qin Ran, allowed her to manipulate Nascent Soul cultivators at will.

As for the others, the sect members guarding the Divine Turtle Eight Trigrams Formation, even with the formation's enhancement, barely managed to escape from the Nascent Soul cultivators with their lives.

If there were unfortunate ones like Ye Qingxuan who encountered magical treasures that perfectly countered their abilities, they would die without any chance of survival.

In the end, when the Divine Ghost Eight Trigrams Formation was broken, the casualties on both sides were as follows:

On the Dao Sword Sect's side, three formation guardians died: Sun Yao, Liu Tu, and Ye Qingxuan. Twenty-three other Golden Core disciples perished (Ye Qingxuan's complete annihilation as an elite disciple was something Qin Ran hadn't anticipated), along with thirty-two Foundation Establishment disciples. Injuries weren't counted.

On the Hengduan Mountain Alliance's side, two Nascent Soul cultivators died: Zhang Wei and Zhang Yan (Zhang Wei was incapacitated by Li Shiyin and later finished off by Dao Sword Sect members; Zhang Yan was directly manipulated to death by Yao Qingke). Two were severely injured (Yu Qingshan was heavily wounded with his natal sword damaged, losing combat ability; another who was injured by Ximen Wushang wasn't described in detail but retained some fighting capability).

Forty-nine Golden Core cultivators died (seven from the first scouting group except Li Yiquan, twenty from the second breakthrough group in Li Shiyin and Yao Qingke's formation spaces, four taken down by Ye Qingxuan, plus eighteen others). Other injuries weren't counted.

Comparing the casualties, this battle could be considered a major victory for the Dao Sword Sect.

Even with Ye Qingxuan's unexpected loss, the Hengduan Mountain Alliance lost two Nascent Soul cultivators.

After all, while the Hengduan Mountain Alliance had over a thousand Golden Core cultivators, they only had forty-eight combat-capable Nascent Soul cultivators (Zhican Valley had many Nascent Soul alchemists whose combat strength wasn't counted, as they didn't participate and needed to stay behind to protect their territory). Therefore, Nascent Soul cultivators were strategic-level assets, and losing even one was a severe blow to the Hengduan Mountain Alliance's fighting strength.

Of course, despite the heavy losses, the Hengduan Mountain Alliance succeeded in breaking the Divine Ghost Eight Trigrams Formation. With this predetermined objective achieved, they still held the advantage.

Moreover, after the Divine Ghost Eight Trigrams Formation was broken, the Dao Sword Sect would have to face them directly.

What was it like to face the Hengduan Mountain Alliance head-on?

Perhaps for the Dao Sword Sect disciples, it could be described like this:

Years later, the Dao Sword Sect disciples would still remember the terror of that day. A massive flying ship crashed against the sect's protective mountain formation, making the entire sect tremble. Around the flying ship, outside the formation, cultivators were everywhere, in the sky and on the ground, endless in number. They held magical weapons, their eyes bloodshot, murderous intent radiating from them, each like an ancient beast seeking prey. They attacked the mountain-protecting formation, seeming as if they would break through at any moment to devour everyone alive.

Many disciples felt fear, their survival instincts telling them they were surely doomed;

Many disciples felt regret, wondering why they had chosen to defend the Dao Sword Sect with their lives instead of fleeing;

Many disciples' legs trembled as they wondered if surrendering now might still give them a chance to survive.

They weren't unaware of the power difference between Zhican Valley and the Dao Sword Sect, but without direct comparison, they had remained hopeful, thinking the Dao Sword Sect had a chance of victory.

Now, with the enemy at their gates, the terrifying impact shattered their minds and souls.

How could they possibly win?

"Roar..."

Suddenly, as fear gripped the hearts of all sect disciples, a tiger's roar erupted from nowhere!

This roar originated from within the Dao Sword Sect, echoing through its five peaks and rolling across the Hengduan Mountain Alliance's flying ships.

The tiger's roar pierced straight to the soul, dispelling the Dao Sword Sect disciples' fear and instilling dread in the members of the Hengduan Mountain Alliance.

Amidst the roaring, thousands of Dao Sword Sect disciples and Hengduan Mountain Alliance cultivators witnessed a massive white tiger rising from within the mountain-protecting formation.

It stood on the formation barrier, large enough to block out the sun and sky, casting its shadow over all Dao Sword Sect disciples.

Winds appeared from nowhere, blowing away nearby Hengduan Mountain Alliance cultivators. The tiger held its head high, standing at the highest point of the Dao Sword Sect, its eyes slightly narrowed, looking down upon the entire Hengduan Mountain Alliance with contempt.

It brought a sense of security to the Dao Sword Sect disciples and terror to the Hengduan Mountain Alliance cultivators.

"The Profound Underworld Spirit Tiger!" Someone knowledgeable in the Hengduan Mountain Alliance quickly recognized the white tiger. "It's a seventh-grade demon beast! Equivalent to late Nascent Soul or early Transcendent realm!"

"I know it, it's the Poison Lord's mount!" Others revealed even more about the tiger's background.

With these two pieces of information, the entire Hengduan Mountain Alliance retreated, including the massive flying ship.

Whether it was a seventh-grade demon beast or the Thousand-Faced Poison Lord, both were terrifying. But for the cultivators on the flying ship, they feared the Thousand-Faced Poison Lord more, afraid that the Profound Underworld Spirit Tiger might suddenly throw some Death Notice Pills at them.

"It's just a beast!"

As everyone was retreating, someone from the Hengduan Mountain Alliance suddenly shouted.

All eyes turned to see another Celestial Sword Sect Nascent Soul elder stepping forward from the crowd (Celestial Sword Sect had sent three Nascent Soul cultivators: Wu Lan, Yu Qingshan, and this one). He drew his sword, staring contemptuously at the white tiger.

"A Nascent Soul cultivator?!" The Hengduan Mountain Alliance's morale surged. "Even a seventh-grade demon beast is still just a beast. How can it compare to humans? How can it match a powerful Nascent Soul sword cultivator?"

The Celestial Sword Sect elder, encouraged by everyone's attention, puffed out his chest and moved to attack the Profound Underworld Spirit Tiger.

But before he could launch his attack, another sound rang out...

"Roar..."

A dragon's cry echoed.

Dragons are divine beasts with bloodline suppression over all living things. When the dragon's cry sounded, the Hengduan Mountain Alliance cultivators trembled, nearly falling to their knees. The Celestial Sword Sect elder also stopped his advance, quietly retreating back into the crowd.

The tiger commands the wind, the dragon commands the clouds.

When the Profound Underworld Spirit Tiger appeared, fierce winds arose; now with the dragon's appearance, the clouds transformed, gathering into dark masses. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled.

Amid the changing weather, to the left of the Profound Underworld Spirit Tiger, a massive black dragon emerged from the mountain-protecting formation, coiling through the air.

It was even larger and more powerful than the Profound Underworld Spirit Tiger. Any low-level Foundation Establishment cultivators touched by its body were instantly reduced to bloody mist, dying without intact remains.

It coiled its body around the mountain-protecting formation's barrier, raising its upper body, its massive dragon head held high, its golden vertical pupils coldly regarding the Hengduan Mountain Alliance cultivators without a trace of emotion.

A huge black dragon on the left, a massive white tiger on the right - the Hengduan Mountain Alliance cultivators retreated once more.

Instantly, the space outside the Dao Sword Sect cleared up, as a large clean area emerged from the densely packed cultivators. The sky above the Dao Sword Sect was finally clean again.

"Dragon..."

"Flood Dragon!"

"It's a Dragon!"

The cultivators of the Hengduan Mountain Alliance cried out in terror.

"A Flood Dragon is a ninth-grade beast!" someone shouted.

A ninth-grade beast was at least equivalent to a late Merger Realm or Grand Achievement Realm cultivator.

How could such a powerful creature appear at the humble Dao Sword Sect?

Initially, all cultivators of the Hengduan Mountain Alliance were frightened, including their Spirit Formation Realm cultivators. But they quickly realized something was off about the Flood Dragon.

It wasn't a real Flood Dragon—it was the formation spirit of the Dao Sword Sect's protective array... or something else that existed by relying on the sect's defensive formation.

In short, it wasn't a real Flood Dragon!

It didn't possess Grand Achievement Realm power, nor Merger Realm strength—it only had Spirit Formation Realm cultivation.

Yes... only Spirit Formation Realm.

Of course, regardless of whether it was a real Flood Dragon or not, it should have been one of the Dao Sword Sect's trump cards.

Why reveal it now? Playing their strongest hand at the start?

Why bring out a Spirit Formation Realm expert in just the second battle?

If the first round was mainly Foundation Establishment cultivators, shouldn't the second round be primarily Core Formation cultivators?

"Beast! How dare you show such arrogance?!"

After discovering the dragon was only at Spirit Formation Realm, a voice suddenly rang out from the massive cloud ship of Zhican Valley. A black-robed elder flew up from the ship, his powerful aura telling everyone inside and outside the Dao Sword Sect that he was a Spirit Formation Realm cultivator.

Standing high in the air, he coldly said to Ao Yi: "I am your opponent!"

However, Ao Yi ignored him, merely casting cold glances at the lower-ranked cultivators of the Hengduan Mountain Alliance.

"How dare you ignore me!" The Spirit Formation elder produced a soul-binding bell, about to ring it at Ao Yi.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a sword flew out from within the Dao Sword Sect, heading straight for the Spirit Formation elder.

The elder didn't have time to ring the bell and hurriedly raised his hand, creating a shield before him to block the flying sword.

At some point, a white-haired elder with stern features had appeared outside the Dao Sword Sect's protective formation. He recalled the sword back to his hand.

He smiled at the black-robed elder and said: "I am your opponent!"

These were the black-robed elder's original words, now returned to him.

"Are we comparing who has more Spirit Formation cultivators?" the black-robed elder said coldly.

As his words fell, another Spirit Formation cultivator appeared beside him.

"If the number of Spirit Formation cultivators could determine the outcome of this war..." the white-haired elder shook his head and smiled, "Zhican Valley would have lost long ago."

A Spirit Formation cultivator appeared beside him.

Spirit Formation cultivators appeared one after another on each side, and in the blink of an eye, six Spirit Formation cultivators were facing off in the sky above the Dao Sword Sect.

On Dan Peak, Qin Ran squatted outside the small wooden cabin, drinking a bowl of ginseng soup.

He looked at the Spirit Formation cultivators confronting each other outside the Dao Sword Sect and asked Gu Yueming beside him: "That Spirit Formation elder looks very similar to you!"

Gu Yueming turned his head and gave him a meaningful look.

"Is there a problem?"

"I never expected you to be a Spirit Formation elder's second spirit." Qin Ran shook his head. "It's really unexpected...

So how many seemingly ordinary cultivators in this cultivation world are actually avatars of Spirit Formation powerhouses? Everyone is more cunning than the next!"

"Actually, I once suspected you were someone's avatar, but finally discovered you weren't," Gu Yueming said. "That's why you're the most cunning of all. Others' cunningness is forced by the cultivation world, but yours is innate."

Qin Ran didn't respond, only saying: "The cultivation world... its depths are beyond my imagination. I'll need to be even more careful in the future."

"Master!"

At this moment, Li Shiyin's voice rang out under the old locust tree, "Did you drink my ginseng soup?!"

"Ah?" Qin Ran finally realized the ginseng soup in his hand was meant for Li Shiyin. He quickly stood up and walked towards her with an ingratiating smile, saying, "I was just testing the temperature."