Yuan Jun hadn't expected that even at the Nascent Soul stage, he would face such a terrifying situation, his expression growing serious.
At such close range, facing Ouyang Chuge's fatal attack, how could he possibly evade it?
Moreover, he was even more perplexed in his heart, still unable to comprehend why Ouyang Chuge could directly ignore his attacks and appear before him so silently.
This kind of sneak attack was completely against the spirit of martial arts.
Didn't he know how scared he was?
Although he didn't know how Ouyang Chuge had reached him, Yuan Jun knew that what he had to do now was to first survive the fatal attack.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have any chance to find the reason.
But since Ouyang Chuge had already made his move, he wouldn't be easily dodged. After all, this was his signature move; if it were so easily evaded, the souls of those who had died by his hand would surely not agree.
Seeing Yuan Jun trying to escape, he gritted his teeth and unleashed the power within his body.
What was originally some distance from Yuan Jun was instantly closed as he reached Yuan Jun's chest, mere inches away.
Looking at Yuan Jun before him, Ouyang Chuge revealed a sinister smile.
Things, after all, were coming to an end.
With such a rapid turn of events, and Yuan Jun having lost his momentum in mid-air, he was unable to mount an effective defense.
Under Yuan Jun's stunned gaze, he swiftly plunged his dagger into Yuan Jun's chest.
"Squelch!"
The sound of blade entering flesh echoed, instantly destroying everything.
Ouyang Chuge's dagger wasn't long, but as it pierced Yuan Jun's body, it seemed to come alive, relentlessly burrowing deeper.
Streams of black energy continuously surged into Yuan Jun's body, followed by his blood being rapidly siphoned into the dagger.
The dark, black dagger, now soaked in blood, glowed with an eerie crimson hue.
Feeling his blood being constantly devoured, Yuan Jun's heart filled with panic.
Not only was his blood draining rapidly, but a significant portion of his vital essence was also being consumed. If this continued, Yuan Jun would simply wither away into a husk, long before Ouyang Chuge needed to do anything else.
Yuan Jun absolutely did not want to become a dried-up husk to be studied by future generations millions of years later. Thus, as soon as his feet touched the ground, he fiercely struck out at Ouyang Chuge, intending to stop him.
However, Ouyang Chuge, agile as a fish, did not engage Yuan Jun head-on. Dodging Yuan Jun's dangerously sharp palm strike, he swiftly retreated to the side and escaped.
His dagger had been steeped in Nine Nether Yellow Springs Water for a hundred years, making it not only incredibly cold but also capable of inflicting irreversible damage on living beings.
An ordinary person, without special cultivation techniques, would suffer an invasion of sinister energy if they accidentally touched it, leading to a life worse than death. Therefore, he had no concern that Yuan Jun would pull out the dagger himself; instead, he deliberately gave Yuan Jun the opportunity.
He wasn't afraid of Yuan Jun not acting, but of him acting too late.
As expected, seeing that he had missed Ouyang Chuge, Yuan Jun immediately gripped the dagger and attempted to pull it out.
But as his hand made contact with the dagger, before he could even begin to pull, a searing, electric pain shot through his entire body.
The discomfort in his hand startled him, and he recoiled, his face a mask of horror.
What had happened?
He looked down at his hand, only to see the skin of his palm rapidly decaying, spreading towards his arm, and threatening to reach his neck.
Yuan Jun had never imagined that Ouyang Chuge possessed such potent poison.
Watching it spread faster and faster, Yuan Jun knew with certainty that if this potent toxin reached his head, even the Grand Supreme Immortal could not save him.
Therefore, without a second thought, as the poison was about to creep past his arm, he severed it.
After losing his arm, his face contorted.
He cast a spell to control the bleeding from his wound and then glared at Ouyang Chuge.
Very well, someone had dared to harm him.
Su Xi watched the scene unfold and shook her head helplessly.
She had deliberately feigned weakness earlier to deceive the enemy. Who knew that Ouyang Chuge's fatal attack would still be blocked by Yuan Jun?
As expected, the transformation to the Nascent Soul stage didn't just improve cultivation; other aspects of the body also saw significant enhancements.
The injured Yuan Jun wore a ferocious expression as he looked at Su Xi and the others, his voice laced with malice, "You have successfully angered me, so all of you shall die. Not one of you will escape. Furthermore, to repay your provocation, I will make your lives a living hell."
With that, his aura began to surge. In just a short while, his wounds healed, and even his severed arm regrew.
Facing the suddenly fierce Yuan Jun, Su Xi's expression grew more serious.
It wasn't because of Yuan Jun's powerful attacks, but because of his extraordinary regenerative ability. If she could find the gene responsible for this recovery, she would essentially possess invincibility.
Therefore, Yuan Jun was a subject of great research value.
"Roar!"
Yuan Jun let out a roar, followed by a barrage of attacks that erupted outward, reducing everything around them to dust in the wake of the sonic blast.
Within the roar, various phantom weapons materialized.
Each weapon was imbued with a deadly aura, emitting an arrogant, chilling glint.
Facing such a formidable assault, the Grand Elder dared not relax in the slightest, quickly channeling his spiritual energy to form a protective barrier around himself.
Although the barrier temporarily withstood Yuan Jun's roar, it trembled continuously, clearly unable to hold on for long. It was only a matter of time before it shattered.
Knowing he couldn't last long, the Grand Elder looked to see what countermeasures Su Xi had in store, intending to seek her help if all else failed.
However, when he finally located Su Xi, he was so furious he almost exploded.
Su Xi was shamelessly standing behind him, making no effort to deploy any other tactics, and instead relying on him to withstand Yuan Jun's assault.
(－_－)
Seeing the Grand Elder's pleading gaze, Su Xi smiled and said, "I truly didn't expect you to discover it. Don't worry, I'm just brushing against you, not fully entering. You carry on as you please."
The Grand Elder was speechless.
Looking at the expression on Su Xi's face, he found it utterly unacceptable.
He was an elder, couldn't she show him some respect?
But now that he was at the forefront, there was no turning back. He could only watch helplessly as Su Xi stood behind him.
If he withdrew his defense, he would be the first to suffer.
"Fellow Daoist, I can't hold on much longer. Perhaps you could lend a hand?" the Grand Elder's voice trembled, like that of a frail old man on the verge of expiring.
Earlier, he had thought Yuan Jun's attack would subside quickly, but who knew it would last so long, draining his spiritual energy almost completely.
Hearing the Grand Elder's plea for help, Su Xi chuckled, "Don't be so anxious; just hold on a little longer. Men can't say no, can they?"
The Grand Elder felt a wave of helplessness at Su Xi's words.
Was she truly not joking with him?
However, he was aware of the potency of her sonic attack and could not evade it.
Su Xi wasn't intentionally making the Grand Elder take the blame; rather, she was using this opportunity to set up a formation, seeking a breakthrough.
Her supercomputer contained numerous formations. Now, adapting to the situation, she had chosen the most suitable one, preparing a killing blow for Yuan Jun.
However, the more powerful the formation, the more time it typically required. And Yuan Jun wouldn't kindly grant her time to set up her formation. Therefore, the only solution was to find someone to stall for time.
Thus, she had no choice but to ask the Grand Elder for help.
After all, someone had to bear the brunt of it.
Just as the Grand Elder was about to reach his limit, Su Xi uttered, "Done."
Just as the Grand Elder's protective barrier was about to collapse, and he believed he was doomed, he suddenly felt a beam of light emanate from behind him.
As the light emerged, the sonic waves were instantly blocked.
"Huh?" The Grand Elder looked behind him with confusion, wondering what Su Xi had done to produce such a powerful effect.
But upon seeing what Su Xi had done, his face contorted with disbelief.
Su Xi stood within the formation, radiating a sacred glow. An urge to prostrate himself rose within him, almost making him kneel and call her mother.
Forcing down the urge to worship, he felt a renewed sense of hope.
It seemed an opportunity had presented itself.
Indeed, Su Xi had not disappointed him.
Seeing that Su Xi still had time to set up a formation, Yuan Jun's expression shifted to one of mild curiosity. However, he quickly reverted to his dismissive demeanor.
No matter what tricks Su Xi possessed, they were nothing before him.
After all, his strength was far beyond that of ordinary individuals.
Might overrides all.
Any tactic would be considered mere showmanship before him.
Moreover, a formation set up so quickly by Su Xi wouldn't even be enough to catch fish, let alone deal with him.
"Hun Tian Fist!"
Yuan Jun roared, his fist instantly solidifying, and a suffocating pressure enveloped everyone around.
Following this, a blinding light erupted in the sky.
An aura like Mount Tai crushing down swept towards everyone, exuding an air of utter annihilation and overwhelming power.
Su Xi, witnessing Yuan Jun's formidable display, was not surprised but rather felt a touch of regret. Her only concern was that Yuan Jun might still be holding back, not fighting with his full strength.
Now, it seemed, Yuan Jun truly hadn't pushed her to the brink of death.
Yuan Jun might never have realized that their side actually had four people, not three. After all, the rarely seen Black Mountain Old Demon had already made a quiet move.
The Black Mountain Old Demon's most proficient skill was its ability to attack the soul.
Thus, while Ouyang Chuge was engaging Yuan Jun, he had quietly slipped into Yuan Jun's body along with the dagger. Now, once Yuan Jun's body relaxed, it would be his time to shine.