Chapter 2101: Five Flowers Binding

The North Sea.

In the jungle of a deserted island, a small fox cautiously poked its head out, its eyes filled with vigilance. The sea was calm and tranquil, a gentle breeze rustling, and waves softly lapping against the shore.

A moment later, the little fox pulled its head back, then bounded nimbly through the jungle. It finally reached a towering ancient tree and seemingly bumped into it. Strangely, the ancient tree remained completely still, and the fox's figure vanished into thin air.

It turned out there was a tree hollow at the base of the ancient tree, concealed by a hidden formation. The little fox reappeared inside the hollow, which was dry and cool. Two meditation mats lay side-by-side, and Qin Li sat on one of them, eyes closed in meditation. His complexion was slightly pale, and his lips were chapped, clearly indicating an injury, though his breathing had now stabilized. Qin Li and the little fox had been hiding there for several days.

After the second defensive line was breached, they retreated with the main army, subsequently enduring several routs. However, the command was well-organized; each time, they withdrew promptly before the situation deteriorated, allowing junior disciples like them to evacuate first while experts covered the rear. This strategy minimized direct confrontation with the enemy's main force, ensuring an orderly retreat despite setbacks. While such repeated withdrawals could dampen morale, they successfully prevented major casualties. However, accidents are unavoidable. During one evacuation, Qin Li's squad was targeted by a division of the Changyou tribe army. A fierce battle ensued, during which he and the little fox became separated from their comrades, and Qin Li sustained injuries.

By the time they shook off their pursuers, they had completely lost track of everyone else, leaving just the two of them—one human and one fox—adrift at sea. Unsure if their side had repelled the enemy or if they were still in retreat and being hunted, they dared not follow their pre-determined route to rejoin others. Furthermore, with the Changyou tribe's invasion, the entire sea region was in chaos. The strongholds they remembered might have already been occupied by the enemy, meaning no place was truly safe.

Without any source of intelligence, they were adrift, unsure where to go. Qin Li's worsening injuries compounded their difficulties, yet they dared not stop to heal. Ultimately, the little fox decided against trying to find the main army and instead opted for the Beichen Realm. First, Beichen Realm was the ancestral home of Qingyang Monastery. Second, their previous retreats toward the Xuan Yue Realm had been met with frequent pursuits and blockades, suggesting that the enemy's primary target was likely Xuan Yue Realm, given its critical ancient teleportation array.

The little fox led Qin Li northeast, proceeding cautiously towards the Beichen Realm. The journey, while nerve-wracking, passed without major incident, confirming their decision. A few days prior, Qin Li's injuries had suddenly worsened, and elixirs alone could no longer suppress them. They were forced to risk stopping to allow Qin Li to recuperate. Fortunately, after a period of rest and self-regulation, Qin Li's condition gradually improved.

He slowly opened his eyes, licking his chapped lips, to see the little fox squatting in front of him, watching. "How are you feeling?" the little fox asked. "Much better," Qin Li replied after a pause, a hint of apology on his face. "I've been a burden to you."

Qin Li understood the inherent danger of their location and that the little fox was taking a significant risk by staying with him. The little fox scoffed, then stretched. "This isn't a good place to linger. We should set off. I just went out and checked; the surroundings are safe." "Alright!"

Qin Li took out a jade bottle and swiftly swallowed its entire contents of elixirs, not even waiting to refine them. After erasing their traces, he and the little fox left the tree hollow. He then activated a magical artifact with concealment properties, and they continued their journey toward the Beichen Realm. They proceeded with extreme caution. The little fox, exceptionally astute, could keenly detect subtle traces even in the sea, allowing it to discern danger and repeatedly help them evade enemies.

Qin Li focused on operating the magical artifact, while the little fox maintained vigilance, and they safely passed another two days. Just as they were nearing the Beichen Realm, an unexpected crisis suddenly descended upon them!

It was late evening. Though there was no fierce storm, thick clouds blanketed the sky. The last rays of the setting sun could barely penetrate the dense cover as wisps of cloud vapor drifted and shifted endlessly above. At that moment, a subtle mass of cloud mist moved through the higher clouds, so inconspicuous that even the ever-alert little fox failed to notice it.

Above the cloud mist, figures sat or stood: they were the experts of the Changyou tribe. General Minshan, following the tribal chief's directive, had shifted their objective from the Xuan Yue Realm to the Beichen Realm. He deliberately created a diversion to deceive the Storm Realm forces, while their main army was in fact already nearing the Beichen Realm.

With the strategy now in motion, the Changyou tribe experts tasked with luring the enemy immediately moved to provide reinforcement. Passing through this area, they spotted the little fox and Qin Li. Deeming them mere juniors with low cultivation, the experts above the clouds barely spared them a glance. One of them casually tilted his jade cup, letting a few drops of wine spill. The wine instantly transformed into a raging storm of wind and rain. Qin Li and the little fox only then sensed the danger, but it was already too late.

"Whoosh!" Torrential rain poured down, filling the air with the aroma of wine. A terrifying pressure caused the little fox and Qin Li to tremble uncontrollably, unable to even conceive of resistance. Their faces were etched with despair; despite their meticulous caution throughout their journey, they had ultimately failed to escape this catastrophe.

They were on the verge of being engulfed by the downpour when, at this critical juncture, a brilliant ray of light suddenly pierced through the clouds and descended from the heavens. The Changyou tribe experts on the cloud platform all blanched. The one holding the jade cup abruptly rose, swiftly flipping the cup upside down and hurling it downward. The mouth of the jade cup rapidly expanded, unleashing an incredibly powerful suction force, attempting to draw the little fox and Qin Li inside. However, the ray of light was even swifter, appearing above their heads in an instant, manifesting as a sword shadow, both real and illusory.

Wherever the sword shadow passed, raindrops melted and the torrential rain abruptly ceased. Then, with a slight flick of its tip, a surge of sword qi suddenly slashed towards the jade cup. "Clang!" With a crisp sound, a crack appeared on the jade cup. A moment later, with a clatter, the jade cup shattered into several pieces and plummeted into the sea.

The little fox and Qin Li huddled together, convinced they were about to die, only for the situation to take a sudden turn. They stared blankly at the spiritual sword before them, finding it vaguely familiar, yet its immense power far exceeded anything they remembered. "Whoosh!"

After shattering the jade cup with a single strike, the spiritual sword immediately slashed towards the cloud mist in the sky. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" The clouds rippled violently, and several formidable aurae suddenly erupted. The flicker of hope that had just ignited in the little fox's eyes was extinguished once more.

These aurae were even more terrifying than those of Golden Core cultivators. They were all Fourth Realm experts of the Changyou tribe, with power comparable to Nascent Soul Grandmasters. Any one of them could crush them with effortless ease!

Unexpectedly, the spiritual sword surged forward with unstoppable momentum, like a rainbow piercing the sun, striking directly into the cloud mist. The figures above scattered in disarray; surprisingly, none dared to block the sword, choosing instead to evade its terrifying edge. Witnessing this, the little fox was stunned, then suddenly felt its eyes light up as a familiar figure appeared—it was Sword One, who had been missing for so long.

Sword One could actually force back several Nascent Soul experts with a single sword strike. Was this truly the person they knew? The euphoria of reuniting with an old friend, combined with the sheer shock of that sword strike, profoundly impacted the minds of both the little fox and Qin Li.

While Qin Li was still stunned, the quick-witted little fox had already reacted, prostrating itself and crying out, "Senior Sword, save us!" Sword One nodded at them, his tone as calm as ever. "You two go first."

The little fox tugged at Qin Li's sleeve, and they quietly retreated. They watched as Sword One merged with his sword, soaring into the sky, fearlessly confronting multiple opponents alone. Even from a great distance, they could still feel the astonishing energy fluctuations behind them, coupled with the alarmed and enraged cries of the Changyou tribe experts.

The little fox was secretly alarmed, whispering, "The enemy likely includes powerful cultivators comparable to those in the late Nascent Soul stage." They had witnessed the formidable strength of late Nascent Soul seniors on the battlefield. "Sword..." Qin Li almost called out "Brother Sword" but quickly corrected himself. "Will Senior Sword be in danger?"

"Why be scared? Senior Sword is clearly a mighty expert who chose to live among mortals, and we just happened to encounter him! Thankfully, we never treated him poorly when his cultivation seemed low..." The little fox looked fearful, then a little curious. "What do you think Senior Sword's true identity is? Which powerful sword cultivators exist in the North Sea?" "Sword cultivation?" A specific figure instinctively appeared in Qin Li's mind. He exchanged a glance with the little fox, who had evidently thought of the same person.

"If it's *that* person, we're rich! This immortal fox is good friends with the Sect Master of Qingyang Monastery; let's see who dares bully me now!" The little fox's eyes gleamed with excitement, its fluffy tail wagging back and forth. As they fantasized about the future, several roars echoed behind them, followed by an unsettling silence. Finally, Sword One flew back alone, completely unharmed; the fate of their enemies was self-evident. A flash of sword light enveloped the human and the fox, swiftly carrying them north.

Meanwhile, the Changyou tribe's invasion of the Beichen Realm had already begun. Soon after the fighting commenced, Minshan and the tribal elders sensed that something was wrong. The Beichen Realm's counterattack was far more intense than anticipated, particularly the number of Soul Transformation stage experts, which significantly exceeded their estimates.

In their strategy, the Xuan Yue Realm was to be under siege, forcing any reinforcements from the Central Plains to defend in place to protect the ancient teleportation array. Even if the Storm Realm forces sensed a diversion, they wouldn't dare dispatch all their troops to the Beichen Realm. However, reality diverged from their expectations. The Storm Realm seemed to have accurately predicted their movements; the appearance of Li Yufu, Tong Lingyu, Bao Zhengnan, and others confirmed their fears.

Minshan was both shocked and enraged, uncertain where the leak had occurred. All indications suggested that the various factions in the Central Plains harbored their own agendas, and reinforcements had yet to arrive. How could the North Sea and its allies dare to make such a bold gamble alone? With the situation as it was, retreat was impossible; they could only continue the fight. West of the Beichen Realm, the two armies quickly engaged in fierce combat. Dark clouds blanketed the sky, strange lights frequently erupted from the sea, and battle cries echoed like thunder.

Minzhuo, being privy to internal information, knew that the Changyou tribe had not committed their full strength. Nevertheless, even with the combined might of the North Sea sects, halting the Changyou tribe's army was by no means an easy feat.

"Senior Sword Slave!" Illusion Mark returned, having resumed his true form. His demeanor remained incomparably sharp, yet a profound, fundamental transformation had occurred within him. Sword Slave nodded approvingly, then rose on his sword. "Follow me into battle and strike down the enemy!" "Yes!"

Two streaks of sword light, one after the other, streaked towards the heart of the battlefield. Here, most of the Storm Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators and the Changyou tribe's First Stage Void Realm experts were locked in brutal combat. This was a battleground for the truly powerful; everyone else had retreated to a safe distance, leaving a vast expanse of empty sea around them.

Li Yufu knew that in direct duels, his side would inevitably be at a disadvantage. He, Tong Lingyu, and others remained close, assisting each other, barely holding their ground under the enemy's concerted assault. His gaze flickered, constantly scanning the battlefield, seemingly waiting for a critical moment. Suddenly, a streak of sword light pierced the air, its incredibly sharp sword intent drawing the attention of both sides.

Sensing the newcomer's aura, Minshan and the others were aghast. When had another late Soul Transformation expert appeared in the Storm Realm? Sword Slave said nothing, his sword intent locked onto a Changyou tribe elder as he charged forward relentlessly!

Simultaneously, a sharp light flashed in Li Yufu's eyes, and he roared, "Activate the formation!" His voice boomed across the entire battlefield, where spiritual flags instantly rose. These were a set of formation flags specifically refined by Qin Sang, designed in imitation of the Heaven River Reversal Kill Formation, their immense power self-evident. Core disciples from Qingyang Monastery, Xuantian Palace, and other sects took charge of these flags, strategically positioned across the battlefield. Upon receiving the Monastery Master's command, they all activated their respective flags. Other cultivators simply followed orders, assisting them in wielding the flags, and the grand formation was instantly completed. The battlefield, stretching for thousands of miles, was immediately shrouded in darkness, like a colossal black dragon. Then, points of light, like scattered stars, began to flicker across the black dragon's form.

At this moment, even from the Beichen Realm, one could observe the west falling into an eternal night, as stars began to rise from the horizon. The next moment, these stars trembled, bursting forth with brilliant starlight. A meteor plunged into the sea, followed by countless others, transforming into a meteor shower that rained down from the heavens. The inhabitants of Beichen Realm witnessed a beautiful, albeit melancholic, meteor shower, while the Changyou tribesmen on the battlefield experienced a living nightmare.

On the central battlefield, Minshan and his cohort also descended into chaos. The sheer power of the grand formation disrupted their ranks, while they simultaneously faced the formidable Sword Slave. Within a few breaths, two tribal elders perished by Sword Slave's blade, pierced clean through. Following closely behind, Illusion Mark also slew a Changyou tribe expert, his eyes growing ever brighter. This experience had not been in vain; he had finally witnessed a more magnificent spectacle and felt his cultivation bottleneck begin to loosen. It was then that he heard a sigh from Sword Slave.

Sword Slave was also pursuing a higher realm, but these enemies proved too weak to truly hone his sword intent. Unnoticed by anyone on the battlefield below, two figures were locked in a standoff high above.

"If fellow Daoist does not intervene soon, the Changyou tribe will be routed," Su Nu kindly warned the other party. The figure opposite, whose face was obscured by a bamboo hat, responded blandly, "My only responsibility is to obstruct cultivators of my own cultivation level. If they prove to be weak and are annihilated, I bear no fault." Su Nu's eyes flickered. "So, fellow Daoist is not an ally of the Changyou tribe, yet you choose to assist them? May I ask why?"

Seeing the other party remain silent, Su Nu's beautiful eyes roved, then she suddenly smiled. "Found it! Surely, fellow Daoist wouldn't obstruct me for the sake of *these* people, would you?" As she spoke, she lightly flicked her finger, sending several subtle aurae towards the edge of the battlefield. There, some individuals were observing the battle, one of them named Hong. He was the demonic cultivator who had secretly allied with the Flood Dragon King and had been instructed by him to collude covertly with the Changyou tribe.

The demonic cultivator named Hong, having received the intelligence, had personally led his people to the scene. The outcome of this battle was crucial, as it determined whether they would obtain the Azure Spirit Qi from the Changyou tribe. Witnessing the constant bombardment of starlight decimating the Changyou tribe army, several individuals looked grim. One anxiously exclaimed, "Why are the Changyou tribe so ineffective?" "It's because the grand formation's power is overwhelming!"

The demonic cultivator named Hong slowly shook his head, sensing that something was amiss. "Where did the North Sea acquire these formation flags?" Preoccupied with the battle, none of them noticed the subtle, chain-like black patterns quietly appearing on their ankles, gradually spreading up their legs and across their entire bodies.

"Whoosh!" By the time they realized the danger, they were already tightly bound.