Chapter 458: Invincible Posture

In her opinion, one more reinforcement wouldn't make a difference. Not only would they fail to rescue the three besieged Nine Sect disciples, but she herself would also die from exhausting her spiritual energy. Instead of reinforcements, they were more like free labor for her.

The other three, however, were somewhat nervous.

"What if this person is extremely powerful?"

"Wouldn't all our efforts to gather scattered Beast Kings from various places and bring them here just end up benefiting this person?"

Although many fiend beasts had invaded the rear, most were scattered. Many Foundation Establishment realm beasts were also mixed in. The four of them had exerted great effort to gather all the Beast Kings from different areas. This was how they achieved their current success.

Wu Manyue took a sip of wine and smiled cunningly, "However powerful, can he be stronger than a late-stage Core Formation cultivator? With so many Beast Kings, even a late-stage Core Formation cultivator would have their spiritual energy completely depleted. In two hours at most, this person will be the first to falter. Either their spiritual energy will be exhausted and they'll be angrily killed by the Beast Kings, or they'll be smart enough to escape."

The three of them felt relieved. Wu Manyue was highly skilled in group combat and extremely experienced in evaluating combat strengths. Since she said two hours, it was as good as certain.

Soon.

Two hours passed. Wu Manyue had already put down her wine cup. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. Clearly, events were unfolding differently than she had expected.

"Is this person's spiritual energy so abundant? Let's wait one more hour. Even if he's a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, his spiritual energy can't last beyond three hours."

Another hour passed. The battle on the other side of the canyon was still ongoing. Moreover, the Beast Kings seemed to be frightened. They were actually retreating towards their side.

Wu Manyue could no longer sit still. She stood up, her expression extremely solemn: "How is this possible? Is this person's spiritual energy endless? He's clearly just one person!"

Her three companions' expressions were grim. It seemed a formidable expert had appeared! Single-handedly, he was slaughtering the Beast Kings, forcing them into a steady retreat.

"Sister Wu, let's not worry about this for now. Quickly, order the Beast King leader to stop the Beast Kings from retreating!"

Wu Manyue came back to her senses. She immediately pressed her index finger onto the small black flag and commanded it, "No retreat! Kill them!"

As she spoke, the controlled giant python raised its head and emitted a series of hissing fiend-tribe sounds. Wu Manyue used similar methods to control the Beast Kings' actions.

However, Jiang Fan, as if possessing endless spiritual energy, continuously unleashed powerful techniques. He had almost annihilated the Beast Kings on the other side. Having gained some sentience, the Beast Kings were certainly not going to continue sacrificing themselves. Even with the giant python's command, they continued to retreat. Especially the few at the Core Formation Fourth Layer, who led the charge backward. As a result, they formed a stampeding beast tide that surged back towards Wu Manyue and her companions.

"Don't go! Stop all of you!" Wu Manyue repeatedly issued commands to the formation flag.

The Beast King leader beneath her feet let out hissing sounds, but it couldn't control them at all. Seeing that these Beast Kings were about to flee, how could Wu Manyue allow the Beast Kings she had painstakingly gathered to scatter? She gritted her teeth and said, "Prepare to act, all of you! Kill as many as you can!"

She took the lead, ordering the giant python beneath her to launch the first attack. With a thundering sound, its massive snake tail, like a whip, instantly lashed out and killed a Core Formation Fourth-layer Beast King.

Initially, the Beast Kings were shocked. Then, they realized something was wrong with their leader. They roared angrily at the few humans standing on their leader's head.

Wu Manyue scoffed, "Too late to realize now! Kill!"

The python's enormous body crushed the Beast Kings relentlessly, like a machine. The three Core Formation Fourth-layer disciples of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion were forced to join the battle.

On the other side, Xia Chaoge and her two companions, already at their limits, were utterly exhausted. Liang Feiyan could no longer even lift his sword. In the past three hours, he had relied entirely on sheer willpower, using only physical strength to wield his long sword. His overexerted arms were now swollen as thick as calves. Jin Zhongming was no better off. Due to overexertion, his muscles were torn, and streaks of dark liquid seeped from his pores.

Even Xia Chaoge's spiritual energy was completely depleted. Though her expression remained as calm as ever, her pale face and the continuous pea-sized beads of sweat indicated that she, too, had reached her limit. The three of them simply couldn't last much longer.

"Heaven has forsaken us!" Liang Feiyan sighed, looking up. He unwillingly glanced behind him at the approaching aura of the human expert.

Jin Zhongming's eyes were filled with unwillingness. He glanced at the reinforcement behind him, a hint of resentment in his eyes: "What is he doing? Why isn't he here yet after all this time?"

Xia Chaoge shot him a look and said, "If you're so capable, say that to his face."

Jin Zhongming's mouth twitched. A powerful figure who could cut through over fifty Beast Kings from the canyon entrance—how could he afford to provoke such a figure? If he displeased the other party, a single slap could kill him.

Liang Feiyan also expressed dissatisfaction, "Are you actually resenting him now? It's already a huge kindness that he's willing to help. Furthermore, fighting alone for three straight hours—normally, his spiritual energy would have been long exhausted. He must have used some extremely expensive heavenly materials and earthly treasures to forcefully replenish his spiritual energy and continue fighting. And you still have complaints about this?"

After being scolded by two companions in a row, Jin Zhongming lost face and scoffed, "What's the point of saying all that? Aren't we still doomed?"

At this moment, three Beast Kings simultaneously launched an attack on them. Liang Feiyan couldn't even lift his arm. Feeling the deadly attack, a bitter, desperate smile appeared on his lips. "To think we'd fall into the hands of a group of monstrous beasts. I've truly let down my master's nurturing!"

Xia Chaoge also sighed faintly, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. "We were so close to succeeding." Gazing at the reinforcement now so close, Xia Chaoge's eyes showed regret. Memories from her life involuntarily flashed through her mind. They were all the important people and events in her life. They passed by like a fleeting panorama.

Suddenly, a young face also appeared in her mind. A faint smile unconsciously appeared on her lips. "Before dying, I'd actually think of Uncle-Master. When did he become important to me too? Oh! He clearly ignores me. Why am I still thinking of him?"

A strong gust of wind swept over them. Xia Chaoge struggled to raise her sword for one final, desperate struggle. In her current state, she might not be able to withstand this deadly blow.

However, just as the three of them were completely despairing, the Beast Kings attacking them seemed to sense something. They hurriedly ceased their attacks and retreated towards the other end of the canyon. The three of them froze. Only then did they realize the Beast Kings had already been retreating. The remaining five or six Beast Kings on their side, seeing this, dared not continue fighting Jiang Fan. They all fled in disarray.

The other end of the canyon, which had blocked them for half a day and driven them to despair, was finally clear! A single glance revealed a landscape entirely covered with fallen Beast King corpses. They piled up like hills, one after another. Also appearing in their sight was a figure standing on the fiend beast corpses, a tall, slender figure with one hand behind his back and the other gripping a sword!