CHAPTER 789: CHAPTER 012: DEFEATED IN ONE MOVE!

Xu Yingxia felt a surge of heat rising within her, yet she knew the vast difference between herself and her opponent, understanding there was not the slightest chance of victory. She couldn’t help feeling incredibly insecure and looked toward Zhou Yan with eyes pleading for help.

Zhou Yan casually glanced at the red-clothed woman Fang Yunyin before calmly turning to Xu Yingxia and said, "Go ahead, don’t worry, I will lend you a strand of soul power, and you will be able to win."

As Zhou Yan spoke, he lightly lifted his ethereal hand and a stream of Sword Soul Power, derived from the vast qi of the Soul Path, entered into Xu Yingxia’s body.

Xu Yingxia’s body trembled, but she didn’t feel anything abnormal, as if she had only become a bit more clear-headed.

Besides that, there were no other changes.

Feeling somewhat anxious in her heart, Xu Yingxia knew that if the person she relied on failed, she would perish there.

So, after hesitating for a moment, she suddenly clenched her teeth, drew out her treasured cyan-colored Flowing Light Sword that she had been reluctant to use, and then directly rode upon the flying sword, controlling the air as she aimed to land on that floating platform.

But at that moment, the red-clothed woman Fang Yunyin unexpectedly released a red rhombus that locked down the space-time around them, blocking Xu Yingxia from stepping onto the floating platform.

"You can talk about ascending the platform after you manage to get onto it. This place is not somewhere a disciple of a minor sect can just climb onto at will. To get up here, you must have the ability!" Fang Yunyin said with a cold voice.

Xu Yingxia had only cultivated the Sword Soul, and what were called ’Refining God and Returning Void’ in Zhou Yan’s view was just the Sword Soul Realm. The Sword Soul was far from Great Success, her soul was still very weak, and coupled with the sealing power of the ancientDao few on Earth, naturally, the strength she could display was quite limited.

Comparing himself, Zhou Yan knew that the strength Xu Yingxia could display was perhaps more than a hundred million times inferior to his own at Sword Soul Realm on the Sword Burial Ancestor Star.

And being intercepted like this, it was very difficult for Xu Yingxia to rush up to confront her opponent.

Fang Yunyin, the red-clothed woman, had the strength of about the Sword Soul First Layer Heaven, her Sword Soul had reached Great Success, her soul had unlocked its potential, and her strength had surged forward, more than enough to crush Fang Yunyin.

With such a realm, and being looked down upon in this manner, it was tantamount to a blatant insult, but Xu Yingxia had no choice but to accept the challenge since there was no alternative.

Even if she did not fight, all these cultivators aimed at the heart of the Pure Yang Ancient Cauldron would not perish.

The red rhombus danced in the void, forming a mysterious rune pattern, highly in tune with the Supreme Dao.

Such an attack, if it were on the Sword Burial Ancestor Star, would surely be accompanied by a Great Dao Resonance and dazzle with Tao Light.

But on Earth, this attack caused not even a ripple in an ancient well, and the void was unaffected, with space barriers acting as an invisible yet immensely formidable presence.

It was as if, no matter how fiercely a cultivator fought, the space barriers remained indifferent, aloof from worldly affairs, the space completely unaffected.

From this, one could infer that Earth was an ancient Holy Land.

The void barriers were even more powerful and solid than the space barriers of the Divine Plane.

"Insulting me just because of your higher cultivation!" Xu Yingxia snorted coldly, her blood and qi surged, her blue robe fluttered in the wind, manifesting a unique demeanor.

"And what if I am insulting you?!" Fang Yunyin responded with disdainful laughter. Her manipulation of the red rhombus became even more intricate, transforming instantaneously like chains of order, and suddenly manifested a fierce killing intent.

In an instant, it burst forth with dazzling, invincible brilliance, slicing towards Xu Yingxia’s waist.

Xu Yingxia’s sword in her hand suddenly emitted a strong light of Sword Soul Power, blocking the fierce killing intent.

However, upon contact, Xu Yingxia was forced to retreat a great distance, and her sword now displayed tiny fractures.

In contrast, the red-clothed woman merely paused for a moment, and after emitting a blinding radiance, her red rhombus continued its previous murderous assault.

Xu Yingxia, despite putting her all into the defense, couldn’t even manage to delay the red rhombus weapon wielded by Fang Yunyin.

With this strike, the state of affairs became abundantly clear.

"With your abilities, you still dare to challenge the elite here? You are far too lacking! Not only are you incompetent, but you also considered a common secular ant as your senior? That’s truly laughable to the extreme," the woman said.

As she spoke, her gaze occasionally shifted toward Zhou Yan, her disapproval evident for his mundane attire.

While speaking, her powerful red rhombus aimed a fierce killing blow directly at Xu Yingxia’s forehead.

This red rhombus, once unleashed, left Xu Yingxia utterly defenseless, and she was about to meet her demise.

At this place, other than Zhou Yan, all the cultivators were casually preparing to watch a simple and elegant woman spill her blood and undergo God and Body Annihilation.

It was akin to how ordinary people numbly watched as enemy forces slaughtered revolutionaries during a war.

This scene imbued Zhou Yan with an exceptionally intense sensation.

Furthermore, solely because of his mundane attire, his hidden cultivation abilities, and accompanying Xu Yingxia, he was facing such hostility from these cultivators.

Did these cultivators consider themselves the Jade Emperor? Or took themselves for the Xuanyuan Ancestor?

"These are a bunch of completely ’wild’ barbaric cultivators, lacking proper guidance, leading to cruel and malicious natures — numb, self-centered, and full of their own importance."

"These cultivators are like uncultivated children, all on a distorted path."

"Hopefully, there’s still a chance for change!"

Zhou Yan sighed inwardly, feeling increasingly disappointed.

Among the cultivators, he hadn’t seen any good aspects, only flaws, only the evils.

There’s no such thing as mutual aid. It’s all about plotting against each other, crushing each other underfoot.

Even Xu Yingxia had schemes up her sleeve, hoping to use Zhou Yan’s strength to enhance the fame of the Pure Yang Sect...

Disappointment. Zhou Yan was truly disappointed.

He arrived full of dreams, carrying the hopes of teaching imparted by the Xuanyuan Ancestor. Yet Zhou Yan felt a sense of loss, and suddenly, he no longer wanted to instruct.

He wondered if these Cultivators would become more crazed the stronger they got; if they would refine to death countless ordinary lives in their pursuit of strength that exceeded the Heavenly Dao.

Had they not considered that many of their own elders had risen from the suffering masses?

"Senior—"

Xu Yingxia’s eyes widened in shock as she watched the Red Rhombus attack, her gaze flusteringly turning towards Zhou Yan.

Yet Zhou Yan’s expression remained indifferent, unmoved as if he had no intention of making a move.

Xu Yingxia’s hopeful gaze quickly dimmed, her eyes filling with self-mockery, sarcasm, and despair—Zhou Yan, it seemed, was no longer concerned with her plight at this moment.

She felt like a fool, believing she had found a support, only to realize that the other party merely watched her frantic efforts, not giving her a second thought.

Xu Yingxia laughed at her own naivety, having warned herself to never trust anyone again, and yet, she had willingly placed her trust in Zhou Yan, believing he could bring hope to the Pure Yang Sect.

But everything was so ironic.

At this moment, Xu Yingxia stopped blaming anything or anyone. She only blamed herself for lacking strength.

When on the brink of death, many things become clear, and Xu Yingxia found herself in this state of clarity under the pressure of imminent demise.

In that moment, she only mocked her own powerlessness and naivety.

But even in desperation, she wished to die with dignity.

Thus, at that moment, she chose self-destruction; after all, she had not died from her previous attempt and had since resigned herself to death. This time was just another try.

At that moment, Zhou Yan gently stepped forward, his intention slightly stirring as he activated the power of his Sword Soul.

In that instant, Xu Yingxia felt as if everything in heaven and earth suddenly slowed to a crawl—the Red Rhombus’s lethal attack hovered in the air, inching towards her.

Suddenly, Xu Yingxia felt a terrifying soul aura appear above her Soul, a massive Grey Dragon.

The horrifying presence of the ancient and vast Grey Dragon was so powerful that it nearly shattered Xu Yingxia’s Soul.

Shock filled her heart, but she knew this was Zhou Yan’s intervention.

She felt, suddenly, that she could control this Grey Dragon Sword Soul.

Thus, she instinctively gestured, her finger pointing towards the Red Rhombus.

Time intertwined.

"Ssshh—"

Xu Yingxia’s fingertip touched the Red Rhombus.

A sneer appeared on Fang Yunyin’s face, seemingly mocking Xu Yingxia for her audacity.

But the next instant, her smile froze.

For with that touch, a divine radiance erupted from Xu Yingxia’s fingertip, taking the form of an ancient and invincible Grey Dragon.

In a flash, a surge of pressure was released, the Red Rhombus shattered by a terrifying force. With a ’puff’, it disintegrated into dust.

An invisible, fearsome energy violently recoiled, slamming into Fang Yunyin.

"Puh—"

Fang Yunyin’s body shook violently, as if struck by brute force, unexpectedly blown backward into the Void, coughing out a great cloud of blood mist.

Fang Yunyin, from one side of the platform, flew across to the other, crashing against the light barrier of the floating stage. Her red Combat Armor was riddled with cracks.

Blood poured out, covering her entirely.

Her condition seemed pitiable, yet she sustained no fatal wounds.

To the discerning eye, it was apparent that ’Xu Yingxia’ had shown restraint.

"How is this possible?!"

"Even Fairy Fang Yunyin has failed? She is on the verge of Refining God and Returning Void, her Realm is unfathomable, her strength unparalleled among the young elites of our time! And yet she was defeated in one move? So utterly?!"

A group of Cultivators was agape, eyes wide with disbelief witnessing this turn of events, clearly shocked by this display of power.

This single move had turned the tables completely, yet there was no suspense in Fang Yunyin’s utter defeat!

And now, as the duel progressed, Cultivators began recalling Xu Yingxia’s previous words and thought of that mortal, as well as her near-despairing demeanor and that single cry for help.

Immediately, hearts among the Cultivators were stirred.

Countless pairs of eyes, upon realization, suddenly turned to look at Zhou Yan.