Last-ditch counter-attack

Wang Quan stood at the center of the formation, holding the Five Elements Spirit Disk. The power of his Defiant Bloodline surged throughout his body, forming a peculiar barrier that intertwined with the surrounding spiritual energy and deathly aura. He could feel the confrontation between his internal power and the external deathly aura, but more alarming was the terrifying presence of the approaching Golden Core-stage evil spirit.

"It's coming..."

Wang Quan's heart sank as he sensed the powerful and chaotic energy rapidly approaching. The evil spirit, which had once shown some degree of rationality, now seemed completely drawn in by the Defiant Bloodline, its mind clouded, as if driven by an unseen force.

"What's the connection between the Defiant Bloodline and these evil spirits?"

A flicker of doubt crossed his mind as unease grew within him. The allure of his bloodline to the evil spirits was far stronger than he had anticipated. However, there was no time to dwell on this mystery—immediate danger was closing in.

As the evil spirit's aura surged toward him, the Foundation Establishment cultivators sprang into action. The leader of the Cloud Mist Mountain sect moved first, summoning the Soul-Piercing Needle once more. With a loud shout, he poured his spiritual energy into the artifact, causing the azure needle to blaze brightly, illuminating the surrounding deathly aura.

"Soul-Piercing Needle! Full power!"

The leader of the sect shouted, sending the needle hurtling through the air like a lightning bolt, straight toward the core of the Golden Core evil spirit. This specialized weapon, designed to strike spiritual beings, pierced through the evil spirit's body with terrifying force, striking its previously injured core.

"Hiss—!"

The evil spirit let out an anguished, ear-splitting howl as its body convulsed, black deathly aura exploding outwards, shaking the entire cave. The power of the Soul-Piercing Needle pierced its core, dealing significant damage, and the evil spirit faltered.

Seizing the opportunity, the other Foundation Establishment cultivators launched their attacks, each unleashing powerful techniques.

"Blazing Inferno!"

One cultivator clasped his hands together, summoning a massive pillar of fire that erupted from the ground, scorching the evil spirit with a surge of intense spiritual energy. The flames twisted and distorted the deathly aura surrounding the spirit.

"Thunderstrike!"

Another cultivator channeled lightning-based magic, summoning purple lightning that cracked through the air, accompanied by deafening thunderclaps. The lightning tore into the evil spirit's body, ripping apart its form.

Wang Quan, standing at the rear, gripped the Five Elements Spirit Disk tightly. His elemental energy surged as he focused on the evil spirit's wounded form. With a swift motion, he unleashed his Five Elements Revolving Sword. The sword, shimmering with the power of the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—shot forth in a brilliant arc, aiming for the heart of the evil spirit.

"Five Elements Revolving Sword!"

The sword, imbued with unstoppable power, sliced through the spirit's defenses and struck its body. The collision of the five elemental forces with the deathly aura created a massive tear in the surrounding black fog.

The evil spirit's form was shattered, its dark aura scattering, and its core, already heavily damaged by the Soul-Piercing Needle and the combined attacks, was on the verge of complete collapse. Its body was riddled with cracks, and it was teetering on the edge of destruction.

However, just as the group thought victory was within reach, the evil spirit let out a frenzied shriek. The scattered deathly aura suddenly converged once more, and the red gleam in its eyes grew wilder and more violent.

"Not good! It's going to self-destruct its Golden Core!"

Feng Ming Daoist's face went pale as he suddenly sensed the evil spirit's energy swelling uncontrollably. It had lost its reason, now preparing for a final, desperate act of vengeance—self-destruction.

A Golden Core self-destruction was unimaginably destructive, a force capable of obliterating everything in its path. If the evil spirit succeeded, everyone in the cave would face certain death.

"Retreat, now!"

The Cloud Mist Mountain sect leader shouted, pouring all his spiritual energy into escaping as fast as he could. He knew the explosion was beyond what any of them could withstand. Any hesitation would mean death in the explosion's wake.

But the evil spirit moved too quickly. Deathly aura swirled madly around it as its Golden Core expanded, its form shaking violently.

"Boom—!"

In the next instant, the evil spirit's Golden Core exploded, unleashing a deafening roar. The force of the explosion resembled a mountain collapsing and the sea surging, a devastating storm of spiritual energy and deathly aura engulfing the entire cave in an instant.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators closest to the explosion had no time to react. They were swallowed by the shockwave, their bodies and spirits utterly obliterated, leaving no trace behind.

"Ah—!"

Several agonized screams echoed briefly before being drowned out by the explosion. Those caught in its direct path were turned to ash, their souls unable to escape. The cave was filled with the remnants of the explosion, the air thick with the lingering, destructive force.

Wang Quan, reacting in the last moment, rapidly summoned his elemental energy, channeling it through the Five Elements Spirit Disk. The combined power of the five elements formed a protective shield in front of him. While the shield absorbed much of the blast, the impact still caused his blood to churn, a trickle of blood escaping his lips.

He staggered backward, using his spiritual sense to assess the damage around him.

"The power of a Golden Core self-destruction is truly terrifying…"

Wang Quan thought with a shudder. Even though he had expected such immense destruction, experiencing it firsthand filled him with awe at the sheer magnitude of the force.

As the shockwave gradually subsided, the cave fell into an eerie silence. Gasping for breath, Wang Quan surveyed the surroundings and saw that several of the Foundation Establishment cultivators had been reduced to ash, their bodies vaporized by the blast.

Feng Ming Daoist emerged from the distance, his face pale, clearly having suffered significant injuries. He glanced at the wreckage around them and spoke gravely, "Few survived... the evil spirit's self-destruction caused severe casualties."

Wang Quan nodded, still feeling the weight of the devastation.

"We've made it through, at least."