Brace yourself

Haishi's flying improved with every passing minute. The air around her seemed to carry her, guiding her like the flow of a river.

Feng Xin carefully surveyed his surroundings, mindful of potential accidents and ensuring Haishi's current state wasn't disturbed. Such a state was more chanced upon than planned, and the benefits she gained would significantly impact her foundations and future potential. The longer she could sustain this state, the greater her gains would be.

As Feng Xin continued to monitor the surroundings, his brow furrowed when he noticed Haishi was using the momentum from her comprehension and the influx of qi to push herself toward breaking through to the fifth stage of the core formation realm.

"She's rushing," Feng Xin thought to himself.

"Haishi, don't rush your breakthrough to the fifth stage just yet," Feng Xin advised gently. "Use this moment to reinforce and solidify your foundations. The stronger they are now, the further and easier your path will be. It'll also make you stronger in combat, even against those of the same realm."

With a calm gesture, Feng Xin placed his palm above her head, channeling some of his qi to help steady her.

Though it was dangerous to let another cultivator's qi flow through her body, Haishi didn't resist. Feng Xin's qi soothed her long enough to halt her attempt.

Though she didn't yet trust Feng Xin and feared him more than anything, she respected his insight. She had witnessed firsthand how effortlessly he had slaughtered her compatriots, driving even a false king to flee in terror. It had been as simple as harvesting chives. While she had no grand desire to become the most powerful spirit beast, the display of power had left a lasting impression. She both feared and envied it.

When Feng Xin offered his suggestion, Haishi didn't hesitate. She took his words as a creed, a guiding principle, hoping that one day she could attain even a sliver of the ability she had witnessed from him.

Despite the brief exchange, Haishi maintained her speed, unwavering in her focus. Within five minutes, they were nearing the outer edges of the Green Fog Region. The attacks ceased as they ventured further, with most of the spirit beasts in this area being at the Foundation Establishment realm. Haishi's mere presence was enough to deter them.

The distance to the edge of the Green Fog Region continued to shrink with little to no external interference. The oppressive green fog that blanketed the region grew thinner as they approached the boundary.

"Haishi, you see that spot with the small green cloud? That's our destination. Fly there," Feng Xin instructed, pointing toward a faint, fist-sized dot in the distance, visible through the thinning fog.

For core formation experts, spotting such a distant mark was simple, but it was even easier for Haishi. Her compound eyes, with their thousands of lenses, granted her unparalleled vision. Years of navigating the Green Fog Region had further honed her keen eyesight. Without hesitation, she shifted course and flew toward the dot, drawing ever closer to the exit of the Green Fog Region.

.....

The battle between the Tupelo tree and the Ao Yin raged on, fierce and unrelenting. One sought to corrode while the other fought to purify. Yet, the odds were tipping against the Tupelo tree. It was forced to contend with Ao Yin while simultaneously maintaining a barrier to shield Peng Zhen and Gui Bingwen from the devastating aftermath of their clash.

Both elders bore pained expressions, their faces etched with guilt and frustration over their helplessness. If the situation continued as it was, it would only be a matter of time before the Tupelo tree succumbed. Leaves fell steadily with every passing moment, a grim indicator of its dwindling strength. Peng Zhen and Gui Bingwen worried deeply about this, especially knowing the tree was on the cusp of its seclusion to prepare for a breakthrough to the palace realm. Its chances of success hinged on retaining as many leaves as possible. Losing them now was akin to a cultivator sacrificing their blood essence—an act of desperation that carried long-term consequences.

Unable to bear the sight of the Tupelo tree's suffering, Peng Zhen turned his gaze upward toward the strange green cloud that had appeared. His instincts screamed that something terrifying was about to descend. Ordinarily, such a phenomenon would fill him with dread, but now it seemed like their only salvation.

If whatever lay within the cloud descended, it might turn its fury on the Ao Yin just as much as on them. The prospect of mutual destruction was a far better alternative than the current course of events. Deep down, Peng Zhen even dared to hope that the Ao Yin would bear the brunt of the attack, which would be a more favorable outcome for them. Anything was better than this steady march toward defeat.

Meanwhile, Dong Yanlin remained in a petrified state, though faint traces of color were beginning to return to his limbs and face. Peng Zhen had kept a close eye on him ever since the barrier had been erected. Knowing Dong Yanlin's cunning nature, Peng Zhen suspected he wouldn't have risked his life without leaving himself a slim chance of escape. This suspicion proved accurate as Dong Yanlin slowly began to regain vitality, though the process was painstakingly slow.

If Dong Yanlin woke, it would add yet another layer of danger to an already dire situation.

Just as Peng Zhen was deliberating how to convince the Tupelo tree to let him out of the barrier to deal with Dong Yanlin, his earlier wishes seemed to be answered. A flash of green light, shaped like an arrow, streaked through the air with such speed that Peng Zhen barely caught a glimpse of it. The arrow-like light shot toward the Ao Yin's position with lethal precision.

Before Peng Zhen or Gui Bingwen could register what was happening, a blinding explosion erupted upon impact. The Ao Yin roared in defiance, but the green arrow decimated part of its form, striking the grotesque, flesh-like finger that wielded the bone saber. The force of the strike was so immense that the resulting shockwave nearly tore apart the Tupelo tree's barrier. What had seemed sturdy just moments before now groaned under the strain, its surface riddled with cracks.

The Tupelo tree responded immediately, glowing brighter as it sacrificed more leaves to mend the barrier. Though it held firm, the cost was painfully evident with each leaf that fell.

As the dust began to settle, Peng Zhen and Gui Bingwen finally got a clear look at the green arrow. It wasn't just light—it was a green feather, which had penetrated a small section of the Ao Yin's bone saber before dissipating into a soft gust of wind.

Peng Zhen's mind raced, trying to make sense of what he had just seen, when suddenly the green cloud above began to clear. In its place appeared a colossal swallow, its size rivaling that of an elephant. Its cold, piercing gaze locked onto the Ao Yin as it floated effortlessly in the air, wings spread wide.

Then, it screeched. The sound was so loud and penetrating that Peng Zhen's eardrums felt like they might rupture. He quickly channeled his qi to dampen the sound, muting the sharp screech that echoed throughout the battlefield.

The swallow's cry faded, replaced by an unsettling silence. The atmosphere grew heavy, charged with an almost suffocating tension.

Peng Zhen and Gui Bingwen, both filled with trepidation, hesitantly glanced upward once more. Their eyes widened in horror as they saw a vibrant green light gathering in the swallow's mouth.

Sensing the terrifying undulations emanating from the green light, Peng Zhen's composure finally shattered. His voice, usually calm and composed, was now laced with desperation and frenzy.

"GUI! WE NEED TO GET TO THE CENTER OF THE TREE, NOW!" he shouted. "Tupelo, shrink the barrier to within a few meters! If you don't, we won't survive what's coming!"

Peng Zhen and Gui Bingwen sprinted toward the Tupelo tree. Within seconds, they reached its base, where the tree promptly shrank the barrier, condensing it until it was just inches away from its trunk. The new space barely left enough room for the two men to stand.

Without exchanging a single word, as if in perfect understanding, both elders began pouring their qi into the Tupelo tree with reckless abandon. They knew this barrier was their only hope of survival. In response, the barrier grew brighter as the tree layered five more barriers on top of the existing one.

The price was steep. Over two hundred leaves fell in an instant.

"IT'S COMING! BRACE YOURSELF!" Peng Zhen bellowed.

High above, the swallow unleashed its attack. A pillar of green light descended like divine judgment, filled with millions of compressed squalls swirling within its radiance. The Ao Yin roared defiantly, raising its massive fist to meet the incoming strike in a ferocious counterattack.

BOOM!

The green light collided with the Ao Yin's punch, triggering an earth-shattering explosion. A colossal mushroom-shaped shockwave of green energy erupted from the impact site, drowning out even the Ao Yin's enraged cries.

The devastating wave of destruction spread outward like an unstoppable tide, carving through the land as if the earth itself were being shredded. The explosion's reach extended over a mile, reducing everything in its path to dust. The Ao Yin, the Tupelo tree, and all else in the vicinity vanished within the sandstorm of chaos and ruin that blanketed the battlefield.