After the six flying palaces entered the formation, within a few breaths, they were relocated to different positions by the array. No matter how hard they tried, they grew increasingly distant from each other. However, things were different for the Demon Cultivators inside the formation. They knew the paths, possessed spells, and had mutual sensing abilities. With a mere thought, the array led them to the locations they desired.
Jin Tanggong saw that Ge Shuo, sly and experienced, refused to show himself, causing his calculated plans to fall into void. Impatient to wait any longer, he sensed a certain direction, took one step forward, and the scenery around him changed. Another flying palace appeared right before him.
But here, the battle was far more intense than where Ge Shuo was. In the skies, True Demons and Fake Demons, numbering in their tens of thousands, had surrounded a flying palace, relentlessly attacking it. Thunderous sounds of combat echoed across the skies. Overhead, dozens of Mingcang Sect Xuan Guang Disciples, under the lead of a Hua Dan Cultivator, darted back and forth amidst the Illusion Realm. This cultivator seemed capable of distinguishing truth from illusion, consistently trapping several Demon Cultivators each time. His body emitted a surge of Qi of Elixir Evil, reducing them to mere wisps of flying ash.
Jin Tanggong immediately recognized the figure—it was Fang Hong, the one who had thwarted him several times before. In his heart, he thought, "This Fang Hong acts so domineeringly, daring to step out of the flying palace to fight us directly. If that’s the case, I’ll capture you first, so my trip won’t be in vain."
Miss Shan was currently fighting Fang Hong, surrounded by swirling peach blossom petals, scattering delicately like falling petals—a charming sight. However, even Fang Hong dared not let the blossoms touch him carelessly. Every time he blocked them with Qi of Elixir Evil. Yet since he was of Xuanmen Sect origin, it only took a few exchanges before forcing Miss Shan into step-by-step retreat.
Though Miss Shan was at a disadvantage, she had the array’s cover. Whenever danger arose, she shifted her thoughts, evading with ease before swiftly returning. Her movements were poised. At this moment, her eyes sparkled. Seeing Jin Tanggong stepping forward, her spirit was revitalized, and she called out coyly, "Brother Jin, hurry and help me. Together, we’ll take this man down!"
Fang Hong was confident in his strong mana and armed with powerful Dharma Treasures. He had always planned to act as bait, drawing Demonic Cultivators of Hua Dan to slaughter them. But Miss Shan was adept at reading expressions and withdrawing the moment things turned unfavorable, depriving him of solid opportunities. Now seeing Jin Tanggong approaching, he didn’t feel startled but instead delighted, thinking inwardly, "Perfect, I’ll capture both of you together."
Jin Tanggong, cultivating the Power Dao, carried the Mountain-opening Axe forward. Its blade shimmered faintly with Treasure Light, encased in talisman imagery. He let out a loud roar, paying no heed to the menacing Qi of Elixir Evil surging from Fang Hong. With no hesitation, he swung the axe down mightily.
Fang Hong let out a cold snort as the Qi of Elixir Evil surged forward, pushing Miss Shan back a few paces. With a flick of his wrist, a cascade of Heavenly Water fell from the sky, spanning before him like a shimmering curtain of crystal waterfalls. Jin Tanggong, undeterred, widened his furious eyes, magnifying his momentum further. Lowering his head, he rammed forward with full force. With a deafening "boom," the water curtain shattered.
A trace of deliberately feigned shock appeared on Fang Hong’s face, but a flicker of mischievous amusement danced in his eyes. His fingers were about to secretly move the jade green thumb ring he wore.
Just then, a sudden tremor echoed in the air, as black clouds surged from the left-front side, demon energy spilling out profusely. Zhao Xiong emerged wielding his golden melon hammer, his head shaking lazily as streaks of disheveled hair swayed dramatically behind him. His mouth muttered strange syllables, incomprehensible to anyone nearby.
Fang Hong’s expression immediately darkened at the sight of this Demon. He inwardly lamented the bad timing. Though bold in appearance, Fang Hong never acted without assurance of over ninety percent success. If these three Hua Dan Demonic Cultivators joined forces to surround him, he could manage to barely endure. However, should another join or powerful Dharma Treasures get utilized, escape might become impossible. He abruptly let out a loud shout, unleashing waves of Qi of Elixir Evil to push Jin Tanggong and Miss Shan away temporarily. He quickly turned back and retreated into the flying palace.
Yet while Fang Hong withdrew, the battling Xuan Guang Disciples were left behind to fight. In terms of speed, how could they possibly outmatch Hua Dan Cultivators? But Fang Hong had always been one to prioritize personal gain. As long as his own safety was secured, the deaths of a few Disciples meant little to him.
Miss Shan saw this and was infuriated, huffing coldly at Zhao Xiong. She said, "If Brother Jin and I had combined efforts, we could’ve captured this man for sure! But your clumsy arrival ruined everything."
Zhao Xiong had been targeting Fan Changqing earlier but came away empty-handed as usual. Irritated, he sensed the intensity of the battles here and, already somewhat infatuated with Miss Shan, felt compelled to join in. Yet just as he arrived, Fang Hong fled swiftly, leaving him momentarily pleased with himself—only to be scolded harshly by Miss Shan. Her rebuke left him slightly disheartened.