Lin Xia nodded, cupping his hands as he gestured for Gu Qinghe and the others to leave. As for him, he would remain on the island in the middle of the lake, keeping watch over Lin Ru’s condition.

His head turned slightly to the side as a pulse of golden qi flared and throbbed with notable intensity. However, it was not a sign that Lin Ru was about to finish her cultivation.

Elsewhere, Gu Qinghe flew away from the lake island area on his flying sword. He passed through the dome surrounding the island, a formation of rune arrays created by Ling Jia.

With the power of that rune array and the suppressive pressure from the Ninefold Pagoda, not a single cultivator would be able to approach the island.

Gu Qinghe and the others returned to the main path, glancing up at the sky. He urged them to move on without wasting any more time.

Before reaching the region of black clouds, Gu Qinghe was once again startled by the appearance of massive monsters. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

His flight slowed to a stop before getting too close to the two creatures.

Their forms resembled the snow stone monsters from the first peak, but the qi aura emanating from the ones before him was far stronger.

"Be careful," Gu Qinghe warned.

The stone monsters swung their arms forward, attacking directly at Gu Qinghe. Their movements felt slow, making it easy for him to dodge.

Yan Ran and Liu Xi took on one monster, while Gu Qinghe and Ling Jia handled the other.

From the corner of his eye, Gu Qinghe could see Yan Ran and Liu Xi using their water-element attack techniques.

In less than ten minutes, they managed to destroy and defeat the monsters.

Gu Qinghe extended his hand, absorbing the remaining energy from the snow stone creature.

"How is it?" Yan Ran asked.

"We keep moving," Gu Qinghe replied.

Yan Ran and the others nodded obediently. They resumed riding their flying swords, leaving the area and ascending higher into the clouds.

From time to time, faint sounds of battle and explosions echoed in the distance.

Gu Qinghe glanced over and saw cultivators fighting near the region known as the Black Rift Abyss, a dangerous area due to its ability to absorb soul cores.

He had no intention of helping them. His focus was on continuing upward until he reached the black clouds.

Unexpectedly, several cultivators were already hovering there, their robes and uniforms revealing the sects they came from.

Gu Qinghe’s arrival startled them, not because they recognized him, but because of his cultivation level.

Some of them whispered among themselves, discussing Gu Qinghe and his strength.

"I’m sure he can destroy that black cloud monster with ease."

"We should work together with him."

Their reactions quickly turned into action. Many cultivators near the black clouds flew toward him, raising their hands in greeting as they bowed.

"Greetings, Senior. Are you also planning to destroy the black cloud?"

"The black cloud cannot be destroyed. However, the monster inside it can be defeated," Gu Qinghe answered coldly.

"Please allow us to join your team, Senior. These are our Spirit Stones. You may take them," one of them said. The others followed suit, crowding around him.

Gu Qinghe did not like them. He narrowed his eyes as a golden glow flickered within them. A powerful wave of cultivation pressure slammed into those trying to take advantage of him.

All the surrounding cultivators were injured, dropping to their knees and coughing up blood.

Gu Qinghe and his companions were unaffected, walking past them freely while keeping their focus on the black clouds.

"Have any of you seen a cultivator from the Yin-Yang Sect?" Gu Qinghe asked, glancing slightly to the side.

"He already passed through the black clouds... he may have reached the palace on the third peak."

Gu Qinghe listened, then waved his hand, withdrawing the oppressive pressure. He ordered them all to leave, and they immediately obeyed.

From within the black clouds, Gu Qinghe was surprised to see three cultivators thrown out, injured.

He extended his hand, wrapping them in golden qi to soften their landing.

"Thank you, Senior," one of them said.

The fire phoenix inside the black clouds was indeed at the Mid Core Formation level. However, it was possible that the foundation of its strength was far greater.

That explained how the three of them had been defeated.

Yan Ran flew closer to Gu Qinghe. "What should we do?"

Gu Qinghe looked at her, then turned his gaze forward again, eyes fixed on the black clouds. "I plan to destroy that black cloud, no matter the risk."

"But how?"

He did not answer with words, but with action. Both his hands moved, forming long and complex seals.

From behind him, a sword with a golden blade manifested, radiating a powerful qi presence.

Everyone watching felt a surge of optimism. That golden sword would surely be able to defeat the fire phoenix inside the black cloud.

"It’s useless," said one of the injured cultivators. "That fire phoenix... it will shatter your technique easily."

"Then let’s see if it can," Gu Qinghe replied.

He thrust his hand forward, his fingertips glowing with blinding golden light. The massive golden sword behind him shot forward at incredible speed, targeting the phoenix.

The sword plunged into the black cloud and clashed with the creature. A violent collision of qi erupted, leaving many cultivators shocked and curious.

Gu Qinghe could feel that the fire phoenix was stronger than he had expected. He had no choice but to activate another technique.

This was no ordinary technique. One of his hands formed another seal, then pointed toward the sky.

In an instant, the clouds split apart as five elongated stones connected by chains shot down into the black cloud.

The stones pierced several parts of the fire phoenix, linking together with chains.

"Five Stone Seal of Nature... activate!"

RWAAAR!

The cry of the fire phoenix grew louder, echoing violently and deafening anyone who heard it. Yet Gu Qinghe remained completely unaffected.

With the Five Stone Seal of Nature, I can kill it freely... and open the path forward.

With his hand thrust forward, Gu Qinghe commanded his sword once more to strike the phoenix.

"Attack!"