Roaring with anger, the Nine-Isles launched an attack capable of disappearing, crashing fiercely into Hou Yunfei, who couldn't even evade.

As he tumbled backward, blood spurted from his mouth, bones cracking and snapping inside him. When he struggled to land on his feet, he couldn't—he could only lay there helplessly as more than a hundred cultivators attacked Yan Xiaobao relentlessly.

"Xiao Chun," he murmured, "this is my failure."

Other disciples from the Spirit Sect were also heavily injured. Fortunately, the disciples from the other three sects were focused on killing Yan Xiaobao and didn't try to kill them.

Of course, every enemy disciple hoped to be the one to land the killing blow. After all, whoever was closest to Yan Xiaobao upon his death would maximize their gain from the explosion of Earth Energy.

By now, not a single Spirit Sect disciple had any energy left to fight and could only watch painfully as Yan Xiaobao was bombarded.

The great booming sound continued. Fang Lin and Nine-Isles were at their best, now being cultivators with seven Tideflows Earthstring Foundations. Under their leadership, all of the Qi Condensation disciples' bombardment meant that Yan Xiaobao's Holy Crane Shield was on the verge of shattering.

"Your time is up, Yan Xiaobao!!"

"Return your Earth Energy to the world around you," Fang Lin said. "Even though I may not continue my Tideflow, at least some of my Pill Stream Sect disciples will reach Earthstring Foundation Establishment!"

"Yan Xiaobao, we absolutely won't let you succeed!" The crowd roared, and the Holy Crane Shield finally exploded.

The magical item that Yan Xiaobao's eldest brother organization leader had given him shattered. As it did, the spirit of the holy crane flew out and settled around Yan Xiaobao, providing a final line of defense.

However, it would only last for a moment before it gradually disappeared. At that moment, all the disciples from the other three sects charged in. It was also at this point that the last batch of disciples reaching Foundation Establishment joined the fray. The strongest among them were Tideflows, albeit the weakest one. However, they were still Earthstring Foundation cultivators, and their attacks made the holy crane emit a screeching sound as it vanished.

Zhao Rou from the Pill Stream Sect launched an especially malicious attack, reaching out to touch Yan Xiaobao's forehead the moment the crane disappeared.

"Even as an expert who's reached the Eight Tideflows Foundation Establishment, it doesn't matter. This time you won't escape death. All Spirit Sect disciples must die!" When her finger touched Yan Xiaobao's forehead, Zhao Rou's beauty twisted with malicious intent.

As she expected his head to explode, a powerful force struck her, throwing her backward several meters. At the same time, the attacks of the other disciples ricocheted.

With a loud rumble, Yan Xiaobao emitted a black light that defended against everything.

"Damn it! He has more defenses!?"

"This Bai Xiaochun has deep defensive preparations. He must have known that reaching Nine Tideflows would provoke widespread wrath. That's why he prepared in advance!"

"No matter how many layers of defense he has, regardless of how much Earth Energy he absorbed, that's how much he's going to need to spit out!"

As seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators and over a hundred Qi Condensation disciples launched their assaults, magical light rose into the sky. The life-saving magical item from Li Qinghou began to deform, and after a moment, when it returned to the shape of a bracelet, a cracking sound could be heard, the bracelet now covered with fissures. If it weren't for the new Foundation Establishment cultivators not daring to channel all their power, it would have been destroyed by now.

When the black light disappeared, Yan Xiaobao was revealed, shining with endless golden light!

"Die!" Zhao Rou exclaimed excitedly. She extended her index finger again, but before she could get close, Yan Xiaobao's eyes snapped open.

They looked like the eyes of a beast, filled with boundless madness and fury. The whole world seemed to freeze into place! As Yan Xiaobao opened his eyes, he saw Nine-Isles' malicious expression, Fang Lin's cruel smile, and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Zhao Rou, her beautiful face twisted with malevolent anger as she reached for his forehead.

Everything around him moved in slow motion as if time itself had been suddenly locked in place.

He could feel his ninth Tideflow coming to an end, and there was a ninth Spirit Sea present in his Dantian Region.

He now had nine Spirit Seas, each larger and more magnificent than the one below. Infinite spiritual power surged into his heart, pouring into his body. As his Spirit Seas became more stable, his Dao foundation formed!

He also realized something other disciples couldn't know; the peak of Earthstring Foundation Establishment, Nine Tideflows, required almost no time to stabilize, unlike other levels.

It stabilized almost instantly, filling him with an unprecedented sense of power. He had never experienced such spiritual force, which was a vital energy. He could clearly sense the terrifying life force emanating from him and signs of his longevity.

Moreover, his Immortal Skin had broken through to a new level. Instead of Immortal silver skin, he now possessed Immortal golden skin!

He transformed remarkably, becoming stronger in all aspects. He reached a new level of existence, entirely different from before. No longer was he a part of the Mortal World, but a true cultivator who had escaped death!

However, the price he had to pay was immense, and he was acutely aware of it. He understood, only suited for survival, the law of the jungle resonated with him. He knew that on the path to eternal life, whether he hated fighting and killing didn't matter. The path was narrow and tight, though he was willing to walk alongside others, many did not share that sentiment.

Now he realized more clearly than ever; even if he did not want to kill others, they might want to kill him. In such a scenario, he could either close his eyes and die or unleash his fury and fight!

He observed the shattered battlefield, the area outside his Immortal Cave. He saw the injured Spirit Creek Sect disciples and the blood-soaked, unconscious Hou Yunfei.

He was deeply moved, tears welling in his eyes. These were his fellow disciples, like his family. Every Spirit Sect disciple was someone he would never be able to forget.

He saw some Spirit Sect disciples, now merely corpses, filled with agony. Their end reminded him of Zhou Youdao, and that thought filled Yan Xiaobao with anger, turning his eyes red.

Oh, how his anger burned!

He was infuriated at being besieged, and with the Spirit Sect disciples defending him. He was enraged that even though he had not provoked the other sects, they had already targeted his life!

"I practice cultivation because I want to live forever. I do not enjoy fighting and killing. But... if I must, I will!" To Yan Xiaobao, the world turned scarlet as blood. Everything slowed to the point of stillness.

"My fellow Spirit Sect disciples died protecting me. So now, I will ensure that the survivors reach Foundation!

"Every Soul Stream disciple here will reach Earthstring Foundation Establishment!"

Anger burned within him like a vow, and then, everything seemed to return to normal. Zhao Rou appeared as fierce as before. As her index finger closed in, it stopped abruptly. From some unknown place, Yan Xiaobao raised his right hand; before Zhao Rou realized what was happening, he pressed his hand down on her wrist.

"No!" she screamed. She was ready to cut off her arm to escape, but with intent flashing in Yan Xiaobao's eyes, he pressed down harder. A bang was audible as Zhao Rou's entire arm exploded, accompanied by a scream. Meanwhile, Yan Xiaobao stood up, taking a step forward, slamming his body into her. Her chest caved in, blood spraying from her mouth amid another scream. Even as she tried to turn and flee, her whole body exploded.

Simultaneously, her Dao foundation was destroyed. Having just entered Foundation, the Earth Energy within her had not fully solidified. As she perished, a vast amount of Earth Energy erupted in all directions. Yan Xiaobao swiftly waved his hands, sending it toward the Spirit Sect.

...