The female cultivator's gaze flickered for a moment, and a cold smile touched her lips.
She raised the Crescent Moon Saber in her hand, its sharp blade reflecting a pale, cold light.
"Killing you will only take ten breaths."
As her words fell, her figure vanished into the void, leaving behind only a chilling killing intent permeating the mountain forest.
"Protect Qu Xiaoxiao!"
Long Haotian shouted, slapping his storage bag with his right hand. A blue lotus appeared before him.
"Rise!"
The blue lotus spun rapidly in the air, finally hovering above the heads of Long Haotian and the other three, enveloping them in a soft, pale blue glow.
*Hummm~*
The moment the halo enveloped them, a sharp, cold light suddenly slashed towards it.
Under the fierce impact, the halo vibrated wildly. Seeing this, Long Haotian immediately injected his spiritual energy into it, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
A few breaths later, the cold light dissipated, and the halo gradually stopped its fluctuations.
"Hoo."
Chen Tao, within the halo, couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
They blocked it.
However, Long Haotian and Wang Yian were not so optimistic.
This first strike was merely the female cultivator's probe. What followed would be a storm of attacks, and Long Haotian had no idea how long the blue lotus could hold.
"Qu Xiaoxiao." Long Haotian suddenly called out.
"Senior Brother Long?"
Qu Xiaoxiao's eyes were watery as she softly responded.
"Once the blue lotus's defense is broken, I will, along with Senior Brother Chen and Senior Brother Wang, hold off that woman. You seize the opportunity to escape, as far as possible."
Qu Xiaoxiao's eyes widened: "I'm not leaving."
How could she abandon her three senior brothers and leave alone!
"You..."
Long Haotian's eyes widened, about to say something, but Wang Yian beside him shook his head and stopped him.
"Staying here would just be a burden to us. Go find Senior Brother Jin and Senior Sister Hong, and have them come back to save us."
The same words spoken by Wang Yian were more convincing.
At least Qu Xiaoxiao, who had been resolute, wavered.
She didn't know that Long Haotian had already sent a message to Jin Biao and Hong Shengyi. She believed this was indeed the only way to save herself.
But Qu Xiaoxiao felt something was wrong, though she couldn't pinpoint it, which made her feel uneasy.
As the group was talking, the second cold light struck again.
After the first attack missed, the female cultivator wielding the Crescent Moon Saber increased her offensive. The blue halo vibrated more violently, seeming as if it would shatter at any moment.
Long Haotian, who was supporting the blue lotus, let out a muffled groan, his expression growing more weak.
The female cultivator's attack, after being weakened by the blue lotus, surged into his body. The difference in their strength made it difficult for him not to be affected.
"Senior Brother Long!"
Qu Xiaoxiao cried out, the struggle in her eyes intensifying.
"Junior Sister Qu, you are our only hope. You must find Senior Brother Jin!"
Wang Yian struck while the iron was hot, persuading her once more.
"Qu Xiaoxiao, the lives of us three brothers are entrusted to you." Chen Tao added fuel to the fire.
Under the expectant or solemn gazes of the three, Qu Xiaoxiao bit her lower lip and nodded forcefully.
I will definitely find Senior Brother Jin and Senior Sister Hong.
Seeing that Qu Xiaoxiao had finally fallen for their plan, Long Haotian and the other two felt half of their burden lifted.
Not to mention that Qu Xiaoxiao was Elder Qu's beloved daughter and their junior sister, but her cultivation level wouldn't be much help here anyway. In this situation, it was better to save one more life if possible.
"Once the defense breaks, turn around and run immediately, don't hesitate. We will hold her off, understand?"
Long Haotian glanced at the tottering halo and said in a deep voice.
"I understand."
Long Haotian seemed to have foreseen what was about to happen.
The moment Qu Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement, the light barrier shattered.
"Run!"
Qu Xiaoxiao, disregarding everything, threw the attack talisman in her hand, channeled her spiritual energy to her feet, and began to flee in the direction Jin Biao had previously left.
She didn't look back, her eyes determined.
She was determined to fulfill her promise.
Senior Brother Long, Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Chen, you must wait for me.
"Trying to call for reinforcements?" The female cultivator stepped on the void, dodging the attack talisman Qu Xiaoxiao threw, her eyes filled with disdain. "Dream on!"
With that, the Crescent Moon Saber flew out of her hand, carving a long, narrow arc in the air.
The female cultivator remembered the cultivation levels of the two missing members of this team, and therefore regarded them with a degree of apprehension.
It was precisely because the two were absent that she dared to attack these four.
She naturally would not allow that little girl to go and find someone to deal with her.
Without any need for verbal communication, Long Haotian and the other two simultaneously threw out the magical treasures in their hands.
The tacit understanding accumulated over a long period was displayed to its fullest at this moment.
*Bang bang bang!*
Violent collisions sounded one after another.
The magical treasures of Long Haotian and the other two were sent flying back upon collision with the Crescent Moon Saber.
Long Haotian and the other two caught their respective magical treasures but were forced to retreat by the immense force they carried.
Trees fell one after another with a crash.
Leaves scattered, and dust filled the air.
Qu Xiaoxiao, who was running at full speed, heard the commotion behind her, her heart clenching fiercely, her watery eyes on the verge of tears.
Senior Brother Jin, Senior Sister Hong, where are you!
"I underestimated you. It seems all three of you are not nobodies."
The female cultivator, holding the Crescent Moon Saber that had been blocked by Long Haotian and the other two, showed a subtle change in her expression.
Although her strength had been somewhat weakened, resolving three cultivators in the Outgoing Stage (出窍) should have been as easy as a single strike in her opinion.
She hadn't expected that these three would first block her several attacks with a strange lotus, and now they had joined forces to block her fatal blow.
This was by no means something ordinary cultivators could achieve.
Sect disciples.
A guess flashed through the female cultivator's mind, and she quickly found several pieces of evidence to support it. m..oΓg
It was just a few days ago that she discovered, because that fleeing little girl had carelessly exposed the Starlight Flower, that it was evident to her that the girl had never ventured out before.
A cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage yet as naive as a Qi Refining disciple who had just entered the sect, there was no other possibility besides sect disciples and disciples from aristocratic families.
Coupled with the appearances of these individuals, their attack styles were all different, making it easy to deduce the most accurate answer.
This was a bit troublesome now.
The female cultivator's brow furrowed slightly, and she conceived the idea of retreating.
These sect disciples usually had powerful elders behind them. Taking on one was akin to provoking a whole nest.
Moreover, she had let that little girl escape due to her carelessness earlier. If she truly dealt with these three and the other party found clues, she would face the predicament of being hunted by a top sect.
The female cultivator's brow furrowed even tighter.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally chose to give up.
She didn't want to sacrifice the rest of her life for a moment of satisfaction.
However, even if she let the three go, she still wanted to collect some interest.
The female cultivator let out a cold snort and raised her hand, scattering a handful of medicinal powder behind her.
Seeing the powder quickly blend with the dust, she stepped onto the Crescent Moon Saber and left triumphantly.