"To withstand a strike from my Gui Yuan Xuan Hammer and still stand... your physical body is truly robust. But without your spiritual formations, what other tricks do you have?"
Liu Xuan showed no trace of worry at Li Xuan's appearance. With all the spiritual formations around shattered, Liu Xuan felt utterly fearless.
Li Xuan's eyes flickered with helplessness upon hearing this. He had to admit that a spiritual master at the peak of the Ming Xuan realm was not someone he could currently contend with head-on.
"Young Master, if it's truly impossible, then retreat. At least, A Jin and A Li have been rescued," the Heavenly Dao Brush's voice suddenly echoed in Li Xuan's mind, as if sensing his helplessness.
Li Xuan let out a wry smile. It seemed difficult to escape now.
"Losing the spiritual formations doesn't mean I'm incapable of fighting. Liu Xuan, since I dared to come, I was prepared to die. Some things are indeed impossible, yet must be done. This is not recklessness; this is my path, Li Xuan's path!"
Li Xuan's voice slowly resonated. As he spoke, Li Xuan's figure once again strode through the air towards Liu Xuan.
The golden light on his body grew increasingly brilliant, and in an instant, a powerful battle intent soared straight into the heavens.
"This child's will is so strong!" Liu Xuan's pupils contracted slightly as he observed Li Xuan's actions.
The will Li Xuan displayed at this moment had even made Liu Xuan somewhat wary.
"You asked what other tricks I have without my spiritual formations? Since you want to know, I'll show you!"
A hint of ferocity flashed across Li Xuan's face. With a thought, a sword's hum erupted from within him.
The Shi Sword in Li Xuan's hand vibrated with a resonant hum.
In the next moment, a bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, instantly merging into the Shi Sword.
Not only that, but the power of formations, the power of space, and the power of faith all poured madly into the Shi Sword.
The Shi Sword's radiance surged, and terrifying sword energy filled the entire world.
"Such astonishing talent! This child's origins must be extraordinary! I fear our Nine Gates cannot even scratch him, lest we face utter annihilation!"
"With such inexhaustible trump cards, any one of them cultivated to its peak would make one a supreme being. Behind him, there must be an unparalleled expert!"
"Though we understand this, the Nine Gates are controlled by the Liu family. Now, we can only rely on Gate Master Liu to handle this matter."
"..."
Witnessing Li Xuan's current state, Wu Yi Gou and Wang Can, along with the leaders of the other eight families, were all filled with shock.
"Who are you?" At this moment, a grave look appeared in Liu Xuan's eyes. Clearly, Li Xuan's series of actions had made Liu Xuan somewhat apprehensive.
Liu Xuan knew that someone possessing such trump cards likely had a background that was not easily opposed.
"What? Now you're trying to find out my origins? Are you afraid?" Li Xuan sneered.
Liu Xuan's eye twitched. As the ruler of the Huayang Continent, how could he be afraid?
After taking a deep breath, Liu Xuan slowly spoke, "In my life, Liu Xuan has never feared anyone. Since you are so insistent, then let me see just how substantial this so-called 'path' of yours truly is!"
As Liu Xuan's words fell, he waved his hand. The space around the entire Crescent Peak was instantly sealed.
It was evident that Liu Xuan was prepared to keep Li Xuan here to prevent future trouble.
"This is bad! Gate Master Liu is prepared to silence him!"
"If this child dies within our Nine Gates, I fear all eight of our families will be implicated!"
"This matter was the Liu family's fault to begin with. Gate Master Liu's actions now might be pushing our Nine Gates into an abyss!"
"..."
As Liu Xuan's aura erupted once more, Wu Yi Gou and the others felt Liu Xuan's killing intent.
In an instant, the patriarchs of the eight families grew tense.
Moreover, even they, as family heads, did not believe they could defeat Li Xuan's demonstrated strength.
But Liu Xuan's current attitude clearly indicated his intention to completely sever all information to prevent future repercussions.
However, Wu Yi Gou and the others knew that someone from a higher continent would undoubtedly possess special communication methods.
It was likely that the news would still leak, and by then, it would be too late.
"Heh heh, if that's the case, then let's fight!"
Li Xuan, of course, understood Liu Xuan's intentions. He let out a cold laugh. His life was not so easily taken.
As soon as the words left his lips, his already prepared Shi Sword was swiftly wielded. With a single movement, a tear appeared in space.
As if sensing the battle intent within Li Xuan, the Shi Sword let out a resonant hum, its blade imbued with a warlike spirit.
Liu Xuan's eyes narrowed. With a thought, a spiritual light flashed on the Gui Yuan Xuan Hammer, and it instantly smashed down towards Li Xuan.
At the same time, the Shi Sword directly slashed towards Liu Xuan.
BOOM!
The immense shockwave generated by the collision of the Gui Yuan Xuan Hammer and the Shi Sword instantly spread in all directions. Even though Liu Xuan had sealed the surrounding space, the space trembled under such a powerful impact, and the mountains below collapsed and caved in.
*Puff!*
After the exchange, Li Xuan spat out a mouthful of blood. Liu Xuan's strength was too immense. Even though the Shi Sword bore the brunt of most of the force, Li Xuan still suffered significant backlash from Liu Xuan's hammer blow.
As he spat blood, Li Xuan's vision began to blur.
Liu Xuan, who had not failed to notice Li Xuan's state, struck out with another palm towards the void.
BOOM!
*Puff!*
The giant palm formed from spiritual energy struck Li Xuan squarely in the chest. Li Xuan spat out another mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward heavily.
At this moment, Li Xuan's physical body began to crack, fissures appearing like shattered porcelain. Crimson blood instantly stained his white robes.
Feeling the intense pain within his body, Li Xuan smiled with a sense of release.
Then, Li Xuan slowly raised his head and looked at Liu Xuan, who was floating in mid-air: "Cough cough... Liu Xuan, I must admit, I am not your match right now. But one day, I, Li Xuan, will surpass you!"
"Your son's life is mine!"
As Li Xuan's words fell, a blood-red light instantly appeared around his body.
"With my blood, I draw the void!"
Just as Liu Xuan sensed something was wrong, Li Xuan's voice rang out again.
Liu Xuan then saw a Bagua diagram emerge from the blood-red light surrounding Li Xuan. An ethereal spiritual formation instantly enveloped Li Xuan's body, and in a mere instant, he vanished from his original spot.
"What happened? Li Xuan has disappeared!"
Seeing Li Xuan vanish with a trail of blood, Wang Can and the others were all shocked.
"Li Xuan deliberately took a palm strike from Gate Master Liu, and then executed a blood escape technique. However, such a fast blood escape suggests that Li Xuan had made some arrangements below the mountain when he was struck down earlier."
"Everyone, don't forget that Li Xuan himself is a Level Six formation master," Chen Jin Tian said, glancing at the mountains below, and finally sighed.
"Blood escape technique! If that's the case, I fear the animosity between our Nine Gates and this Li Xuan will only deepen."
Wu Yi Gou's expression grew serious upon hearing this.
While the blood escape technique was a powerful means of escape, it also depended on the severity of the injury. The more severe the injury, the faster the blood escape.
Furthermore, Liu Xuan's strength was formidable; a palm strike from the peak of the Ming Xuan realm was not something easily endured.
"Although Li Xuan has disappeared for now, this is arguably the best outcome. If Li Xuan had been killed by Gate Master Liu, it would have been even more difficult for our Nine Gates to resolve the grievances with Li Xuan's backing."
"But regardless, our Nine Gates will likely not be peaceful in the coming days," an elder standing before Hong Thirteen sighed.
"Our current Nine Gates are no longer the Nine Gates as they were when first established. Well, if that day comes, perhaps our Nine Gates will finally undergo a complete nirvana and rebirth," the Zhao family patriarch nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes.
Ten thousand li away from the Nine Gates headquarters on Crescent Peak.
A figure descended from the sky and landed heavily in a dense forest, creating a large pit that startled the surrounding beasts into fleeing.
This person was Li Xuan. His face was pale, and his eyes were filled with extreme exhaustion.
Li Xuan's condition was dire. Not only were his internal organs displaced, but countless meridians were broken.
Li Xuan, enduring the urge to faint, willed himself into the Prison Suppressing Tower.
Less than five minutes after Li Xuan entered the Prison Suppressing Tower, Liu Xuan's figure suddenly appeared in the sky above.
"Hmm? The aura has vanished?"