The battlefield was in ruins.
Ancient trees that had stood for centuries lay scattered across the ground. Deep craters scarred the earth, while countless sword marks stretched for hundreds of meters.
Lin Yuan had never imagined that a battle between true experts could reshape the landscape itself.
His chest rose and fell as he struggled to calm his breathing.
"So..."
"This is what real power looks like."
He finally understood why Gu Chen had always warned him not to become arrogant after every breakthrough.
Compared to Elder Xu Jian...
He was still taking his first steps on the path of cultivation.
He clutched his fists tightly,one day he would become just as powerful
The Blood Spirit stood amidst the dust.
One of its arms had been severed by Xu Jian's sword art, yet black mist continuously poured from the wound.
Before everyone's eyes, the broken arm slowly began to regenerate.
Li Tian's face paled.
"It... it's healing!"
Xu Jian narrowed his eyes.
"As expected."
The Blood Moon leader laughed more.
"A Blood Spirit isn't alive."
"So long as the formation remains..."
"It can continue restoring itself."
Lin Yuan immediately looked toward the crimson formation beneath the creature.
Its runes were still glowing.
Spiritual qi from the surrounding forest was flowing into it like rivers feeding a lake.
He suddenly realized the truth.
"The formation is supplying it with power."
Formation Arrays
Not all cultivators fought with swords or fists.
Some specialized in Formation Arrays.
A Formation Array was created by carving spiritual runes into the earth or objects and supplying them with spiritual qi.
Depending on the array, it could:
Protect a city.Trap enemies.
Gather spiritual qi for cultivation.Strengthen allies.
Seal ancient creatures.
However, every formation had one weakness.
Its Formation Core.
Destroying the core usually caused the entire formation to collapse.
Xu Jian naturally understood this.
Unfortunately...
The Formation Core lay directly beneath the Blood Spirit.
Destroying it would not be easy.
The Blood Moon leader smiled.
"You've noticed."
"But you'll never reach it."
The Blood Spirit attacked again.
This time, instead of using brute strength alone, black flames erupted from its skeletal hands.
The flames touched the ground.
The earth instantly withered and cracked.
Xu Jian leaped into the air.
The flames narrowly missed him but spread across the forest floor.
Wherever they passed, plants turned to ash.
Lin Yuan instinctively retreated.
Even from dozens of meters away, he could feel the terrifying heat.
Not far away, Zhao Feng stared at the battlefield.
Then he quietly spoke.
"Lin Yuan."
"What are you looking at?"
Lin Yuan didn't take his eyes off the formation.
"The ground."
Zhao Feng frowned.
"The ground?"
Lin Yuan nodded.
"The Blood Spirit isn't immortal."
"It's borrowing strength from that formation."
Understanding flashed across Zhao Feng's face.
"You think..."
"...destroying it will weaken the spirit?"
"Exactly."
Li Tian, overhearing their conversation, scoffed.
"And how do you expect us to destroy something beneath a monster that could crush us with one step?"
Lin Yuan remained silent.
He didn't have an answer.
Not yet.
High above them, Xu Jian and the Blood Spirit exchanged another series of attacks.
Azure sword light collided with crimson flames.
The resulting shockwaves shook the entire valley leaving massive craters on the ground.
Although Xu Jian remained in control, he could not find an opportunity to strike the formation.
The Blood Spirit protected it instinctively.
At that moment, a familiar voice echoed softly in Lin Yuan's mind.
"Every chain binds something."
Lin Yuan froze, looking at .
It wasn't Gu Chen.
It wasn't Elder Xu.
The voice came from deep within the First Chain.
Ancient.
Majestic.
As though it had existed since the birth of heaven and earth.
For only an instant...
He saw a vision.
An endless black chain wrapped around a blazing crimson sun.
The sun struggled desperately.
Yet no matter how fiercely it burned...
It could not escape the chain's grasp.
The vision vanished.
Lin Yuan's breathing quickened.
He looked at the Blood Spirit again.
Then at the crimson formation.
A thought struck him.
"If the First Chain can suppress..."
"Can it suppress the formation?"
He didn't know.
He had never consciously used the Chain before.
Everything it had done until now had been instinctive.
But if there was even a chance...
He had to try.
Meanwhile, Gu Chen, hidden among the distant cliffs, suddenly opened his eyes.
He had sensed it.
The faint awakening of the First Chain.
His usually calm expression became serious.
"No..."
"Not now."
"If it reveals itself here..."
"He didn't know if the Azure cloud sect will either protect him or kill him to avoid him falling into the wrong hands."
He almost stepped forward.
Almost.
But then he forced himself to remain still.
Lin Yuan needed to make his own choices.
That was the only way he could truly grow.
The Blood Moon leader suddenly noticed Lin Yuan staring at the formation.
His smile faded.
"...So you've figured it out,he knew he couldn't afford to waste anymore time here ,he was still in the territory of the Azure cloud sect and longer the fight went on the more chances of the higher ups of the sect been alerted,he needed to end this as soon as possible.
So
Without hesitation, he pointed toward Lin Yuan.
"Kill the boy first!"
The surviving one-armed assassin obeyed instantly.
Ignoring Xu Jian and the others, he rushed straight toward Lin Yuan.
His cultivation was far above Lin Yuan's.
The distance between them vanished in moments.
Zhao Feng stepped forward despite his injuries.
"I'll stop him!"
He thrust with the broken half of his spear.
The assassin knocked Zhao Feng aside effortlessly.
Li Tian gritted his teeth and joined the fight with a borrowed blade.
Even together...
They were forced back.
The assassin was simply too strong.
Zhao Feng shouted out
"Lin Yuan we will buy you as much time as possible so if you have something to do ,do it as soon as possible."
He raised his sword for the killing blow.
Lin Yuan nodded and slowly closed his eyes.
His consciousness sank into his dantian.
Before him floated the ancient black chain.
Covered in mysterious runes.
Silent.
Immense.
For the first time...
Instead of waiting for it to act on its own—
Lin Yuan reached out.
And grasped the First Chain.
The moment his fingers touched it...
The entire world seemed to stop.
A deep metallic sound echoed through his soul.
Clang...
Far away, Xu Jian's expression changed.
Gu Chen's eyes widened.
Even the Blood Spirit suddenly turned its head.
The assassin leader shouted immediately kill him now .