Betrayal

As Kuang Batian's words fell, everyone except Su Min turned their murderous gazes toward the followers behind them. At this moment, those stragglers seemed like glaring eyesores.

"Hmm."

Seeing the four late-stage Divine Transformation experts' bloodthirsty stares, the trailing cultivators wisely turned tail and fled. Now that a treasure had appeared, it was time for the big shots to clear the field.

Anyone who had played games like Legend knew this rule, it was best not to linger.

"At least they have some sense."

Kuang Batian watched the fleeing crowd with indifference. What happened here today couldn't be leaked to the outside world. As for the others, they were afraid these stragglers might ambush them during the heat of battle.

"How do we attack? Who among us is good at defense?"

Once the scavengers were gone, Liu Xunhuan looked at the group. His Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation Art wasn't suited for defense. Without someone to hold the stone demon's attention, he wouldn't be able to fight effectively.

A Dao Comprehension-stage stone spirit wasn't something anyone could underestimate, except Su Min.

"I'll take the front. But you all have to break its shell. Just saying upfront, I might not be able to hold it off completely."

Su Min glanced at the others. If they kept dragging their feet, who knew how long this would take? She wanted to deal with that Five Elements Sacred Body and claim all the Five Elements Crystals here.

If necessary, she might even have to use the Future Maitreya Bell, an Emperor-grade artifact. Though she could only activate it once a month, this situation was worth it.

"Since Miss Le is willing, we'll naturally give it our all."

Seeing Su Min take on everything, the others were overjoyed, except Kuang Batian, who felt something was off. No one who reached this level was an idiot. If Su Min was this enthusiastic, what was her goal?

But there was no time to dwell on it,

BOOM!

The earth shook violently as the stone spirit sensed the group's presence. Multicolored light erupted from the crystal on its back, raining down on them like a storm.

"Watch out!!!"

Kuang Batian shouted in alarm. The creature had no intelligence, it acted purely on instinct. Even he could be killed by it.

"Sand Shield."

Su Min reacted far faster than him. Golden sand surged from the gourd on her back, forming a massive barrier above their heads just as the attacks landed.

Squelch!

The shield instantly bulged in multiple places, it couldn't fully block the barrage, but it bought enough time for everyone to scatter.

BOOM!!!

A series of explosions rocked the area. Though the attacks missed, the shockwaves made the entire Five Elements Mountain tremble, leaving the group swallowing hard.

During their earlier battle, they hadn't used their trump cards, but they had gone all out. Yet even then, they hadn't been able to shake the mountain like this.

The fleeing cultivators shuddered in fear, the big shots were about to go all out.

"Sand Prison!!!"

Su Min suddenly slammed her palm onto the ground, unleashing a surge of spiritual power. The earth beneath the stone spirit erupted, launching it into the air. The group exchanged glances,

BOOM!!!

A kaleidoscope of attacks bombarded the stone spirit, filling the sky above the Five Elements Mountain with violent energy. The deafening explosions made the stone spirit roar in pain. The tortoise-like shell on its back glowed brilliantly once more.

"Disperse."

Su Min abruptly canceled her technique. The massive stone spirit lost its support and plummeted to the ground, only to be punched by giant stone fists erupting from below. Under this assault, the stone spirit was flipped onto its back like an overturned turtle.

BOOM!

The energy it had gathered erupted again but this time, thanks to Su Min, the blast didn't target the group. Instead, it exploded against its own back.

Crack! Crack!

Tiny fissures spread across its once-impenetrable shell. A mindless creature like this was easy to manipulate, Su Min could have dealt with it even before reaching the Dao Comprehension stage.

"Now's our chance! Aim for the cracks!"

The group didn't have time to marvel at Su Min's quick thinking. They immediately focused their attacks on the fractures.

"ROAR!!!"

The stone spirit's agonized screams filled the air as its massive body twisted in pain. Chunks of rock fell from its form, but the real danger was the cracks on its back.

If those shattered, it would be fatal.

"Increase the firepower!"

Seeing this, the group attacked even more fiercely. Meanwhile, Su Min used sand and stone to pin its limbs in place. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, she had to keep up appearances. If she suppressed a Dao Comprehension-stage stone spirit effortlessly, it would be too suspicious.

"Hurry up! I can't hold it much longer!"

Su Min cursed. The moment she spoke, the restraints on the stone spirit's limbs shattered. The creature scrambled to its feet,

And the front of its shell split open like the barrel of a cannon.

"!!!"

Su Min's eyes widened. Without hesitation, she vanished,

WHOOSH!!!

A beam of energy shot across the sky, so fast it traversed an entire continent before vanishing into the ocean.

Countless people looked up in shock. Ordinary civilians only saw a streak of light, but cultivators broke out in cold sweat, some even wet themselves in terror.

The attack had felt like a nuclear explosion detonating overhead, it might not kill them, but the sheer terror was overwhelming.

"What kind of attack was that?!"

The group's scalps tingled. They could tell, that strike had exceeded their limits. A direct hit would have annihilated them.

"Where's Miss Le?"

Only then did they realize the attack had been aimed at Su Min and she was nowhere to be seen. Without her to hold the stone spirit back, they'd be in serious danger. If not for her quick thinking, they'd still be chipping away at it like scraping a dead fish.

"Pah."

Su Min's voice rang out as she crawled out of a nearby ditch, covered in mud but unharmed. She had barely dodged in time.

That cannon blast had been instantaneous, if she had reacted even a fraction slower, she would have taken a direct hit. Even she didn't dare to face it head-on. It wouldn't kill her, but it would definitely leave her injured.

"Stop staring! While it's stunned from that attack, hit it now!"

Su Min's sand warrior reappeared, its bow glowing as it prepared to strike. The others didn't dare hesitate, this was a temporary alliance. If the battle turned against them, they'd scatter like rats. And if that happened, they might not survive another blast.

So, in the next moment, dazzling lights gathered before each of them as they prepared their strongest attacks. The sky above the Five Elements Mountain churned violently. A hurricane of spiritual energy erupted from their battle, sweeping outward in all directions.

Those who had barely escaped earlier trembled in fear. News of several Divine Transformation experts teaming up to enter the mountain had already spread like wildfire. This was the power of Divine Transformation cultivators in battle, far beyond what they could withstand.

"Heavens, thank goodness I ran. If that attack had landed, even the aftershocks would have made me wish for death."

"So this is the might of Divine Transformation experts..."

The group that had fled to the outskirts stared in awe. They had escaped just in time, if they had been caught in that, they'd have been reduced to dust.

Back at the stone spirit's location, everyone's attention was fixed on the creature. This attack would finish it off, and the crystals on its back would be their spoils.

But,

Whoosh!

In that instant, Kuang Batian's attack suddenly dissipated.

"Brother Kuang???"

The Skeletal Sect Leader, Gu Hai, stared in shock. This was the perfect moment to kill the stone spirit, why had Kuang Batian stopped? If their combined attacks weren't enough, they'd be in trouble.

But then, something even more shocking happened.

Kuang Batian moving faster than anyone but Su Min could perceive, appeared before Gu Hai and slammed a palm into his chest.

"You, URGH!!!"

Blood sprayed from Gu Hai's mouth as he was sent flying like a meteor, crashing into a distant cliff. His voice, filled with disbelief and fury, echoed through the air.

"AHHH!!!"

Another scream followed. Liu Xunhuan's chest was pierced by a withered hand before he could react. Then, his head was grabbed,

Crunch. Crunch. Crack.

The horrifying sound of chewing filled the air. In mere seconds, Liu Xunhuan had been devoured whole.

"!!!"

The remaining two sect leaders were frozen in shock, it had all happened too fast. They hastily aborted their attacks, the backlash surging through their meridians.

Su Min reacted the fastest, redirecting her arrow,

BOOM!

The explosion struck the mysterious assailant, giving the other two a chance to retreat to Su Min's side. Amid the dissipating energy, Gu Hai already grievously wounded by Kuang Batian was seized by a dark purple hand and dragged away.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

The sound of chewing resumed.

"Who are you?!"

Tian Mengchan's composure finally shattered. Her face twisted in horror as she stared at the figure. The stone spirit, now suppressed by some unknown force, lay motionless on the ground.

"Kuang Batian! What are you doing?!"

She also turned her fury toward Kuang Batian, who stood coldly in the background. The scene was utterly surreal.

"Munch, munch, delicious. Little girl, your reflexes are impressive. But there's something strange about you... No matter. You'll make an excellent meal."

A voice emerged from the fading energy fluctuations. An elderly man stepped forward, eyeing Su Min like a rare delicacy.

"Hmph."

Su Min snorted coldly. Before she could speak, Kuang Batian burst into laughter.

"Congratulations, Master, on such a fine feast!"

"Hahaha! You've done well."

The old man laughed heartily, clearly pleased with his "meal." But his laughter abruptly froze,

Because a hand had pierced his chest.

And that hand belonged to Kuang Batian.

This sudden betrayal left everyone, even the two remaining sect leaders, completely stunned.