In an instant, Li Qi, who had just appeared, was completely locked onto by the aura of the four individuals.
Facing the combined auras of one peak tribulation cultivator and three peak tribulation ninth-heaven cultivators, even a peak tribulation cultivator whose combat power could rival a half-step Mahayana stage would have to exert considerable effort.
This was enough to demonstrate the perilous nature of the situation.
However, it was understandable. After all, Li Qi's recent display had already proven his strength to be at least at the peak tribulation level.
If they were facing the third life puppet, which had become mere fish in a barrel, Zhao Qin and the other three could have easily captured it alive.
But now, facing Li Qi, whose combat power was at least at the peak tribulation level, attempting to capture him alive would be utterly unrealistic.
With Li Qi at the peak tribulation level, Zhao Qin and the other three's sole objective was to kill him on the spot.
If they could kill Li Qi, even at some cost, they could still bring the heavily wounded and near-death third life puppet back to the Mo Dao Merchant Association.
As long as they could thoroughly understand the background of the Penguin Medicine Pavilion, the Mo Dao Merchant Association would have a clearer strategy to deal with them.
After all, the Jade Dew Harmonious Pill, which the Penguin Medicine Pavilion was selling and was more potent than their own, had put immense pressure on the Mo Dao Merchant Association.
At the same time, Zhao Qin and the other three's auras, which had already been pressing down on Li Qi, intensified further, pervading every inch of space around him.
With a flash, Zhao Qin appeared in front of Li Qi, raising his hand into a palm and grasping fiercely. The pressure surged dramatically, and ripples like water waves appeared in front of Zhao Qin's palm, rushing towards Li Qi.
The other three peak tribulation ninth-heaven cultivators were not much slower. With a flash, their figures shifted, blocking Li Qi's potential escape routes.
Judging by the situation, even peak tribulation cultivators with combat power comparable to the half-step Mahayana stage would have to temporarily retreat.
Likewise, it was precisely because of this that Zhao Qin, standing in front of Li Qi, revealed a faint smile.
In his opinion, dealing with this individual, who was suspected to be the powerful figure behind the Penguin Medicine Pavilion, did not seem too difficult.
He glanced sideways, and the smile on Zhao Qin's lips widened.
He saw that Li Qi, trapped within their encirclement, remained motionless, as if he had completely given up resisting.
"No resistance is good. Then die."
Cold words fell, and the killing intent emanating from Zhao Qin intensified further.
His palm pressed down, striking directly towards Li Qi's head.
The terrifying power left no room for doubt that if Li Qi made no move, Zhao Qin's strike would shatter both Li Qi's physical body and his soul!
"Boom!"
Vast swathes of space shattered and continuously healed, and the terrifying fluctuations completely engulfed both Li Qi and Zhao Qin.
The other three peak tribulation ninth-heaven cultivators, who were blocking Li Qi's escape routes from their respective directions, showed expressions of relief.
They had seen Li Qi's earlier lack of resistance.
One of them, sensing the terrifying fluctuations, muttered, "Facing Daoist Zhao's attack without defending, even if he's also a peak tribulation cultivator, this strike will likely lead to his immediate demise or severe injury."
Another peak tribulation ninth-heaven cultivator sneered, "Isn't that for the best? We thought we'd have to go through some trouble and even pay a considerable price for a sudden peak tribulation cultivator appearing. Now it seems we might get the extra reward Daoist Zhao promised for free this time."
Hearing this, the other two agreed, and they all smiled.
"That's true."
But at that moment, a sudden cry of alarm rang out, instantly shattering their relaxed moods.
The three's expressions changed instantly, and their gazes snapped towards the direction where Zhao Qin and Li Qi had been.
The cry of alarm had naturally come from Zhao Qin.
The panic, confusion, and disbelief in his voice made the three peak tribulation ninth-heaven cultivators somewhat bewildered.
From their earlier observation, Zhao Qin had been in a completely dominant position, with their three men strategically surrounding Li Qi.
What had happened to make Zhao Qin so panicked?
As they released their divine senses and clearly saw what was happening at Li Qi and Zhao Qin's location, their pupils contracted sharply.
"How is this possible!"
They saw that Li Qi was still as calm as before.
The only difference was that Li Qi had raised one of his palms at some point.
But it was this raised palm that had completely blocked all of Zhao Qin's powerful moves.
And the crisis was not over yet.
Zhao Qin now lacked his earlier terrifying aura.
This was because Li Qi's raised palm was holding Zhao Qin's head as if he were a dead dog, and no matter how Zhao Qin struggled, he could not escape Li Qi's grasp.
At this moment, the three peak tribulation ninth-heaven cultivators instantly realized something was amiss.
But with Zhao Qin being held so miserably by Li Qi, they naturally could not stand by and do nothing.
"Daoist, I'm coming to save you."
In an instant, the relaxed demeanor of the three vanished as their auras surged to their peak, charging towards Li Qi in an attempt to rescue Zhao Qin from his grasp.
In just a moment, the three arrived around Li Qi.
They formed hand seals, and terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations erupted from their bodies, surging towards Li Qi.
But Li Qi's eyes flickered slightly, and a trace of contempt appeared in his gaze.
This time, he intended to fully display his combat power.
The higher his displayed combat power this time, the less trouble the Penguin Medicine Pavilion would face later. Therefore, from the very beginning of the fight, Li Qi had directly activated his hundredfold amplification.
"Do you think the four of you working together can deal with me?"
The Annihilation Space suddenly appeared behind Li Qi.
With a terrifying suction force, the offensives of the three peak tribulation ninth-heaven cultivators were all drawn into it.
Furthermore, the suction force of the Annihilation Space did not diminish, and it actually moved towards the three peak tribulation ninth-heaven cultivators.
As the intensity of the Annihilation Space grew stronger, the expressions of the three peak tribulation ninth-heaven cultivators changed slightly.
Because they suddenly discovered that even they were finding it difficult to break free from this terrifying suction.
"Such a peculiar technique."
The three inwardly marveled, but looking at the dark, profound, and silent scene within the Annihilation Space, they had no desire to enter and see what was happening inside.
Their spiritual energy erupted once more, colliding with the suction force pulling at them, creating a brief vacuum between them and the Annihilation Space.
The moment the terrifying suction force briefly disappeared, they decisively flashed back.
But before they could breathe a sigh of relief, their pupils contracted sharply once more, filled with disbelief.
Suddenly, from Li Qi's direction, a piercing scream rang out, and simultaneously, Zhao Qin's peak tribulation aura completely vanished.
Their gazes shifted slightly, and they could clearly see Li Qi's location, where a dense, sky-filling crimson blood scattered freely.
Zhao Qin's figure had completely disappeared, leaving only Li Qi's calm form standing motionless on the spot.