Chapter 266: Fierce Battle

On their side stood nine Foundation Establishment cultivators and over sixty Qi Condensation disciples. While their individual strength was somewhat limited, they had the Four Fiends Formation to rely on, giving them a fighting chance.

At Xuan Le's summons, Han Li and the other cultivators promptly ascended, taking cover near the Four Fiends Formation and silently observing the enemy's movements.

Only now could Han Li clearly discern the appearance of the approaching demonic cultivators. Most of them wore red and yellow robes, indicating they belonged to two distinct sects.

At the forefront stood an ordinary-looking young woman in red robes and a yellow-robed elder, seemingly in his sixties or seventies. Their cultivation levels were not particularly remarkable: the young woman was at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and the elder was at the late Foundation Establishment stage. They conversed with smiles on their faces.

"'Be cautious,' Lu Tianmeng, the only one among them with prior combat experience against the Six Demonic Sects, warned the cultivators around him with utmost gravity. He seemed to hold a significant apprehension towards these two particular sects."

Upon hearing this, Han Li and the other cultivators naturally became even more vigilant.

At that moment, the red-robed young woman at the top ceased her conversation. She turned her head and spoke a few words dispassionately. Han Li and the others, being too far away, could not hear clearly. However, all the red-robed figures behind the young woman immediately flew forward, slowly approaching the Four Fiends Formation in the valley below.

Simultaneously, the yellow-robed elder silently waved his hand. Instantly, the yellow-robed cultivators on his side transformed into over a dozen streaks of yellow light, heading directly for the Four Fiends Formation. They seemed to have moved later but arrived earlier. This caused Han Li and the others within the Four Fiends Formation to hold their breath, with some more impatient individuals already drawing out their magic artifacts.

These yellow-robed cultivators were not foolish enough to charge directly into the formation. Instead, they stopped about ten zhang away from the Four Fiends Formation, revealing their forms. Then, various magic artifacts flew from their bodies, aggressively heading towards the grand formation.

The dazzling light of the magic artifacts colliding with the blue, red, green, and yellow protective barriers of the Four Fiends Formation produced thunderous explosions, causing the expressions of the seven sects' members below to subtly change.

"Half of you, deal with these Heavenly Fiend Sect members; don't let them breach the grand formation. The other half, be wary of the Demonic Flame Sect cultivators!" Xuan Le of the Moon-Covering Sect deliberated for a moment before decisively giving her orders.

She then leaped out of the formation, taking the lead by releasing a pure white small sword that transformed into a white rainbow, blocking a flying dagger and a spherical magic artifact outside the Four Fiends Formation.

Hearing her words, the cultivators in Xuan Le's group followed suit, releasing their respective magic artifacts and rushing out of the formation to intercept the bulk of the enemy's assault. Han Li was naturally among them. He unleashed his incredibly proficient golden-hued artifact.

Because the master of this artifact, chosen by Han Li, was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, just like himself, their combat, though appearing fiercely chaotic with golden and blue light swirling about, was actually easily controlled by Han Li, allowing him to occasionally glance at the other battlegrounds.

The situation seemed manageable!

Most of the cultivators on Han Li's side were merely at the Qi Condensation stage, and their magic artifacts were far inferior to the enemy's. Approximately five or six of them combined their efforts to barely withstand the attack of a single Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, thanks to the grand formation's protection, these cultivators could retreat into the formation at any moment of crisis, thus avoiding casualties for the time being. As for the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, like Han Li, each successfully held off a yellow-robed enemy, putting on a colorful fight.

"Is this the true strength of the Six Demonic Sects?" Han Li wondered, feeling a bit strange. "If the enemy's strength is truly only this, then defending the spiritual mine should not be a problem!"

As he pondered this, the red-robed members of the Demonic Flame Sect finally reached the Four Fiends Formation, albeit sluggishly. This immediately put Lu Tianmeng and the other cultivators who had not yet acted on high alert. Some of the younger cultivators from the seven sects even looked eager to join the fray.

The red-robed figures did not immediately engage in battle. Instead, they formed a peculiar formation among themselves. Then, at the command of one of their number, each pulled out a fiery red banner. Golden crow and blazing sun patterns adorned the banners, gleaming with red light, instantly revealing their extraordinary nature.

"No, these are Frenzied Flame Cultivators! They're going to unleash the Azure Sun Demonic Flame! Stop them quickly!"

Lu Tianmeng had an ominous premonition when he saw the unhurried demeanor of the red-robed figures. When they formed their array and drew out their banners, he suddenly recalled a terrifying scene he had witnessed during the great war against the Six Demonic Sects. His face instantly turned pale as he shouted.

Following this, the Spirit Beast Mountain cultivator rushed out of the formation without hesitation, hastily throwing a leather pouch from his waist. Immediately, two several-foot-long flying centipedes emerged from the pouch. These two centipedes had hideous black and yellow mottled patterns all over their bodies and possessed a pair of translucent, emerald-green wings. At Lu Tianmeng's urgent whistles, they charged towards the red-robed figures with savage glints in their eyes.

The other cultivators from the seven sects who had not yet acted, though they didn't know what "Frenzied Flame Cultivators" or "Azure Sun Demonic Flame" were, realized that if their late Foundation Establishment stage leader reacted with such a drastic change in expression, it must be something extraordinary. They did not hesitate and immediately launched their own attacks. In particular, several Foundation Establishment cultivators followed closely behind Lu Tianmeng, and their magic artifacts, along with the two poisonous centipedes, swiftly reached the red-robed figures.

At this moment, over a dozen Demonic Flame Sect members were still muttering incantations while holding their large banners, their bodies remaining motionless and seemingly oblivious to the approaching attacks. This greatly pleased Lu Tianmeng and the other cultivators.

One of the two centipedes, which had arrived first above the Demonic Flame Sect cultivators, opened its massive mouth, preparing to unleash a torrent of dark green poisonous gas.

But just then, something shocking occurred!

Before the giant centipede's poisonous mist could even be expelled, several slender silver beams of light flashed across its body. Following the paths of these lights, its body suddenly disintegrated, cut into pieces that plummeted to the ground.

Before the dumbfounded cultivators of the seven sects could react, the same scene immediately unfolded for the other centipede. This caused Lu Tianmeng's face to change dramatically. He hastily stopped his advance and pulled out a small shield, instantly activating it to guard himself. The other cultivators behind him, equally horrified, unleashed various defensive magic artifacts and talismans, fearing they would meet the same fate as the centipedes.

But then, something even more preposterous happened!

As some of the magic artifacts that followed the centipedes tried to attack, bursts of fine silver threads suddenly appeared out of thin air in front of them, completely enveloping these artifacts, rendering them utterly motionless.

As a result, these cultivators from the seven sects who had just rushed out of the grand formation looked at each other in astonishment, momentarily at a loss for what to do. "'Quick, use the Spirit Light Technique! There are other people in front of those red-robed figures; they've used some kind of invisibility secret art!' A Foundation Establishment cultivator, who had also just lost his magic artifact, cried out in alarm after a blue light flashed in his eyes."

These words brought enlightenment to all the other cultivators. However, only Foundation Establishment cultivators could use the Spirit Light Technique; Qi Condensation cultivators could only stare in frustration.

Han Li also used the Spirit Light Technique to observe the scene. He had witnessed the entire preceding event and was equally astonished. Now, with the reminder from others, he examined carefully with the Spirit Light Technique and indeed saw several faint white figures appearing before the Demonic Flame Sect cultivators holding the banners. These figures held slender weapons like long swords in one hand, while their other hand released silver threads to control the immobilized magic artifacts.

At this moment, even after Lu Tianmeng and the other cultivators discovered the white figures and unleashed all sorts of spells and magic artifacts to fiercely attack them, they were completely blocked by these white figures. It seemed that no magic artifact or spell could cause significant harm to the white figures; they were almost like undead beings.

However, fortunately, these white figures only used two methods: rapidly slashing with the weapons in their hands and releasing silver threads from their other hand. As long as one was careful to avoid close quarters, there was no great danger. Otherwise, it would be uncertain who was attacking whom!

"What kind of monstrosity is this?" Han Li exclaimed in amazement. These figures were clearly not normal humans. Could they be some kind of refined ghost spirits?

As he pondered, he casually commanded his golden blade in front of him. This nonchalant attitude finally infuriated the Heavenly Fiend Sect cultivator facing him.

With a grim expression, this cultivator simultaneously directed his green halberd to entangle Han Li's golden blade and silently patted his storage pouch. Instantly, a continuously spinning white pearl flew out from it. As soon as the pearl was released, it expanded against the wind to the size of a house, fiercely smashing towards Han Li.

Although Han Li was somewhat distracted, he couldn't possibly miss such a large movement from his opponent. Without haste, he casually slashed the air with one hand, and a ten-foot-long green sword aura shot forth, directly striking the pearl, causing it to halt for a few moments, unable to approach.

Then, Han Li took out a pair of "Black Dragon Grips" from his storage pouch. These then replaced the rapidly dissipating sword aura, immediately countering the opponent's pearl, once again forming a stalemate. This greatly infuriated the Heavenly Fiend Sect cultivator, but he was temporarily helpless.

"This is bad!" Lu Tianmeng's extremely anxious cry caused Han Li's heart to tremble, and he quickly looked to the side again. He saw that the red-robed figures had stopped chanting their incantations and simultaneously held their banners diagonally towards the sky. Faint blue flames had already begun to emerge from the banner tips.

"So this is the Azure Sun Demonic Flame," Han Li widened his eyes, staring intently at the blue flames, feeling a sense of unease.

And Lu Tianmeng, seeing the enemy about to successfully complete their ritual, felt his heart sink. However, the white figures before them were simply not something they could break through quickly!