Chapter 87: Foundation Establishment [3]

His gaze flashed through the void like a bolt of crimson lightning. Yin Tianfang stamped hard in midair, and a fierce aura exploded from within him, erupting into a dreadful storm that swept outward in all directions.

Within his dantian, the three fully refined blossoms bloomed to their limit. The one in the center was white as snow, while the two on either side were one black as ink and the other red as blood-diamond scarlet.

For more than a year, he had tried in vain to break through. Now, the vast spiritual energy he had gathered day after day through breath and circulation surged at once into the white lotus. At the same time, beneath the tranquil sea of qi in his dantian, ripples spread across the still water, and strands of black mist poured into the black lotus.

As the changes within his dantian unfolded, the aura around Yin Tianfang grew ever more powerful, no weaker than that of the old man at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

"How can this boy's aura be so terrifying?" Several elders of the Azure Cloud Sect saw this and their pupils shrank sharply, shock written all over their faces.

Yin Tianfang's current state had completely exceeded the limits of their understanding. When ordinary cultivators were on the verge of breaking through, which one of them did not proceed with utmost caution and seek a quiet place to advance? Even after a breakthrough, they would spend a period of time quietly comprehending their new realm. Only after a stretch of steady accumulation would their aura truly stabilize, and only then could they be said to have genuinely stepped into Foundation Establishment.

But Yin Tianfang did not need any of that at all. After breaking through amid slaughter, his aura did not waver in the slightest; instead, it was rising at a frightening pace.

"Move, now! Strike at once!" the old man at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment roared, murderous intent blazing on his aged face. With a rapid incantation and a point of his finger, a massive sword light came crashing fiercely down toward Yin Tianfang.

At the same time, the other elders attacked as well. Rampaging spiritual power engulfed the area. With several Foundation Establishment cultivators joining forces, the terrifying force swept across a radius of more than thirty miles, shattering everything with a physical form into dust.

The surviving disciples of the Mystic Dao Sect turned pale at the sight and fled frantically into the distance, wishing they could sprout two more legs.

Some disciples who failed to escape in time were blasted apart by the dreadful power, turning into a cloud of blood mist that was then scattered by the gale, leaving no corpse behind.

The old men did not care in the least about those deaths. Though these men had submitted to the Azure Cloud Sect, they were not truly its disciples. Even if many more died, they would not feel the slightest emotional stir.

What was more, those who had died were only Qi Refinement cultivators. In the eyes of ordinary people, Qi Refinement cultivators were immortals; but in the eyes of these Foundation Establishment experts, they were nothing more than a pack of ants. Why would they care how many ants died?

"Boy, die!" The sword light, several zhang wide, smashed viciously toward Yin Tianfang, followed closely by the attacks of the other Azure Cloud Sect elders.

With a cold snort, Yin Tianfang's expression turned icy. He raised his hand and pointed. Purple light flashed, and the speeding ray swelled against the wind into a gigantic purple sword several zhang long.

Boom!

The purple giant sword slammed into the sword light in the sky. The void trembled, and an invisible wave spread outward in concentric rings.

Puff!

Under that terrifying shockwave, Yin Tianfang spat out a mouthful of blood and was forced backward. At the same time, the attacks of the others arrived as well. Yin Tianfang abruptly lifted his head; red light flickered in his eyes as he raised a finger. The void quivered, and a colossal finger descended from the heavens.

Boom!

The giant finger met the assaults of the others, erupting in a thunderous blast. Yin Tianfang gave a muffled groan and retreated again.

The elders of the Azure Cloud Sect also flushed red, blood and qi surging wildly through their bodies. Looking at Yin Tianfang, shock filled their eyes. They had never imagined that Yin Tianfang, having just broken through to the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, would possess such horrifying combat strength.

Sweeping the few from the Azure Cloud Sect with a cold glance, Yin Tianfang beckoned with his hand. The purple flying sword dropped beneath his feet. With a thought, he turned into a streak of light and shot into the distance.

"Chase him! Do not let him escape!" the old man at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment cried out with a dark expression. Among them, he was the eldest, and his lifespan was nearly exhausted. Unless he could break through or encounter some other great fortune, he would run out of years within a few short years.

Yin Tianfang's appearance now gave him hope. So long as he could seize Yin Tianfang, he could force Elder Xuan Yin to reveal the secret. Then the mysterious power standing behind the Azure Cloud Sect would surely reward him handsomely.

With the methods of that mysterious power, helping him break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, or even the great circle of Foundation Establishment, would likely be an easy matter.

At the thought of this, he flashed into motion and gave pursuit. The other elders followed close behind. How could they possibly miss such an opportunity?

Riding the purple small sword, Yin Tianfang cut through the void like lightning, heading straight out of the Mystic Dao Sect. Looking back at the Azure Cloud Sect elders who were closing in, his eyes narrowed, and a deep murderous intent flickered within them. However, he did not act immediately. He knew that if this continued, the final outcome would surely be his defeat, whether death at their hands or capture alive.

"One day, I will make your entire Azure Cloud Sect vanish from Clearwater Kingdom."

Those chilling words rang out in the air as Yin Tianfang suddenly plunged downward, diving headlong into the Clearwater River and disappearing without a trace.

The elders who had given chase stood in midair, staring at the river with cold expressions.

"Freeze it!" One elder formed hand seals and gave a clear shout. Above the surging river, a layer of frost gradually appeared. The frozen area expanded little by little, and in just a few breaths, the water within several miles had all congealed into ice.

The men frowned and looked at the frozen river surface, yet they still did not see any sign of Yin Tianfang. They stood there with rather unsightly expressions, exchanging glances, and each saw the same trace of unwillingness in the other's eyes.

"No matter what, we must find this boy. If the information we received is true, then so long as we can take him down, we will obtain what we want."

"Indeed. That mysterious power is extremely formidable. If we can find what they seek, they will surely reward us richly. Perhaps we may even use this chance to advance another step!"

At those words, the eyes of the others lit up. One more step forward would mean a longer lifespan, and with more time, they would have more years to cultivate. If they could break through to Core Formation, they would become inner sect elders of the Azure Cloud Sect, a rank far above their present station.

"Split up and search. Under no circumstances can we let this boy escape!" The figures of the men flashed as they began to search along the Clearwater River.

"Remember this: if you see that boy, do not act rashly. Wait until we arrive!" After giving his instructions, the old man at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment waved a hand. The frozen water surface returned to normal, and he leapt down into the river.

The Clearwater River was a hundred meters deep. Within its waters, countless fish swam to and fro with carefree delight.

Splash!

A figure suddenly burst upward from beneath the sand, frightening the nearby schools of fish into scattering in all directions. That figure was none other than Yin Tianfang. When the Azure Cloud Sect elder cast his spell to freeze the river, Yin Tianfang had simply sunk straight to the riverbed and hidden himself in the sand.

He raised his head and let his gaze pierce through the water toward the surface. Seeing those several figures spreading out, Yin Tianfang's lips slowly curved into a cold, sinister smile.