Xiao Yifeng had no time to pay her any further attention. Closing his eyes, he focused entirely on refining the surging medicinal energy within his body.
He was not acting out of recklessness, but rather employing a special Foundation Establishment method that used the physical body as a furnace to refine the human body's core pill. It was a secret technique recorded in Wuxiang Temple, designed to temper latent potential.
While they were anxious inside, the three demonesses outside were humiliated and enraged. To have a captive rescued right under their noses was intolerable, and they joined forces to attack the Nine Li Fire Dragon Formation.
Su Miaoqing was ultimately alone, and Xiao Yifeng was in the midst of his breakthrough, unable to assist her.
Little Bing, owing to his ice attribute, could not operate the fire-attribute formation at all. For a time, holding out proved exceptionally difficult.
"Fairy Su, Young Master Xiao, the two of you have already done more than enough for us," Zhang Tianzhi said, having gathered a bit of his strength. "Why not hand us over and escape on your own?"
"Do the two of us look like people who abandon others?" Su Miaoqing replied with clear resolve. "Besides, do not be foolish. They belong to the Demonic Sect. Even if we handed you over, they would never let us go."
Seeing that the Nine Li Fire Dragon Formation was on the verge of breaking, Su Miaoqing turned to Little Bing. "In a moment, you tie up one, and I will hold off two. Do not let them disturb Junior Brother Xiao's breakthrough."
Without waiting to see if Little Bing fully understood, she funneled all the remaining power of the formation into a massive fire dragon, driving it straight toward the three demonesses.
Su Miaoqing followed right behind. The sword at her side split into countless streaks of sword light swirling around her, and a Fire Phoenix condensed beneath her feet, carrying her toward Plum Attendant and Bamboo Attendant. With a sweep of her sword light, she engaged both at once.
At the same time, Little Bing spat out a blast of frigid breath with swift speed, attacking the remaining demoness, Chrysanthemum Attendant, before lunging at her with bared claws.
Relying on his formidable physical body, Little Bing lashed out with teeth, claws, and tail, occasionally breathing bursts of terrifying frost. He managed to fight on even terms without falling behind.
As for Su Miaoqing, fighting two opponents at early Foundation Establishment while still in Qi Condensation was entirely a matter of burning resources. She drew forth precious Golden Core talismans one after another, throwing them out as though they cost nothing.
Every talisman unleashed immense power, forcing the two demonesses to frown. Furthermore, Su Miaoqing possessed exceptional battle instincts.
She carried an astonishing number of protective Dharma Treasures. The two demonesses watched with both envy and frustration, unable to break through her defense for the moment.
The four cultivators and the flood dragon fought in a chaotic brawl. On the side, Xiao Yifeng was bearing the violent surge of medicinal power, forced to admit he had been overconfident. He had nearly killed himself.
The Spiritual Power within his body was in turmoil, though the medicinal power was finally being digested piece by piece.
The most dangerous issue lay in his Sea of Consciousness, which could barely endure the wild surge of mental energy hammering against it.
Just as he was on the verge of Qi Deviation, the Green Lotus in his Sea of Consciousness suddenly trembled, instantly calming the entire expanse.
With the aid of the Green Lotus, he began to sense the elusive aura of the Heavenly Dao, seeking his own innate potential as he tempered his body and built his foundation in earnest.
Seeing Xiao Yifeng's aura stabilize, the demonesses grew anxious, even if they doubted a fresh Foundation Establishment cultivator could turn the tide.
Dark clouds began to gather in the sky, condensing into a tribulation cloud. The demonesses' expressions changed. Xiao Yifeng had effectively succeeded in his breakthrough; so long as he survived the heavenly lightning, he would truly step into Foundation Establishment.
"Why hasn't Orchid Attendant returned yet? Useless creature," Chrysanthemum Attendant spat in anger.
"Do not delay any longer. Once that boy completes his Foundation Establishment, it will be troublesome. Use your full strength," said the red-robed Plum Attendant.
With that, the three went all out, deploying high-cost techniques. Su Miaoqing and Little Bing quickly found themselves hard-pressed to withstand the onslaught.
Just as Su Miaoqing was about to be overwhelmed, a dense hail of sword Qi rained down from above-the Heaven-Slaying Sword Energy.
Xiao Yifeng had ignored the tribulation cloud overhead entirely. The moment his aura stabilized, while his True Essence was still converting, he launched an attack.
Carrying the lock of the tribulation cloud with him, Xiao Yifeng flew straight toward Plum Attendant, who was besieging Su Miaoqing. He swung his sword, forcing Plum Attendant to retreat in haste, not daring to block.
To strike at Xiao Yifeng now would tie her aura to his, drawing the attention of the tribulation cloud and increasing its power, dragging her into the Heavenly Tribulation as well.
"Are you mad, boy?!" Plum Attendant cursed furiously as Xiao Yifeng pursued her relentlessly. "Instead of undergoing your tribulation properly, you dare meddle in our fight? Do you seek death?"
"Beauty, were you not chasing me just a moment ago? Why run now? How dare you bully my Senior Sister-you must be tired of living!" Xiao Yifeng laughed aloud, chasing her back and forth across the clearing.
The battle devolved into a strange spectacle: Xiao Yifeng pursued Plum Attendant alone, while she could only dodge continuously, not daring to strike back.
With the pressure on Su Miaoqing relieved, she stabilized her position, using her talismans more conservatively as she traded blows with Bamboo Attendant.
Boom!
A bolt of heavenly lightning struck down from the sky, hitting Xiao Yifeng squarely. He staggered, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
"Boy, if you undergo your tribulation obediently, you might still survive it!" Plum Attendant shouted angrily. "If you insist on dragging us both down, we will only perish together!"
Xiao Yifeng did not dare let her return to attack Su Miaoqing. If she broke free, none of them would leave this place alive.
The two raced across the terrain, one in pursuit and one in flight, carrying the tribulation cloud far from the main battle. At that moment, another bolt of heavenly lightning crashed down toward Xiao Yifeng.
This lightning strike covered a wide area, engulfing Plum Attendant as well. Xiao Yifeng hurriedly raised his sword, unleashing his sword barrier to protect himself against the lightning.
Xiao Yifeng could defend, but Plum Attendant dared not circulate her power to resist in the slightest, leaving her to absorb the strike directly with a miserable shriek.
When the lightning faded, Xiao Yifeng stood charred black in place. Plum Attendant was in an even worse state-her clothes were tattered, her hair disheveled, and she looked like a madwoman.
She had tried to break away and target Zhang Tianzhi and the others, but Xiao Yifeng kept her pinned down completely.
"Beauty, your clothes are in tatters now," Xiao Yifeng teased with a grin. "Though you are so covered in soot that there is hardly anything worth seeing."
Plum Attendant boiled with rage, but having no recourse, she could only glare at him with burning hatred.
"Boy, how about a compromise?" Plum Attendant said, softening her tone. "You focus on your tribulation, and I will not return to the fight. We can wait until you finish, then settle this on our own merits. What do you say?"
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