"Everyone, I possess a forbidden sword technique, but it requires borrowing your spiritual energy.
If you all transmit your spiritual energy to me, I can launch a thunderous strike, instantly carve open a bloody path, enter the palace, and kill that Ye Yunfei!
However, for a short period, you may lose a considerable portion of your spiritual energy.
Because I need to refine the spiritual energy you transmit to me into sword energy for slaying the enemy."
Ximen Yi suddenly spoke up.
"Oh?!"
The other Acupoint Opening Realm experts all turned to look at Ximen Yi.
"Everyone, think about it. Ye Yunfei has already entered the palace, and the treasures inside have likely been taken by him.
Moreover, he can control these beasts. Even if we manage to fight our way into the palace, he will undoubtedly summon all these beasts inside again, and we will once more be surrounded.
Therefore, we must resort to an unorthodox move!
Otherwise, the treasures within this palace will surely all belong to Ye Yunfei.
Are you all willing to just stand by and watch as Ye Yunfei takes every single treasure in this palace?
Let alone other things, just the value of those dozens of primary Dao artifacts is incalculable!"
Ximen Yi continued.
"Ximen Yi, if we all lose a portion of our spiritual energy to help you perform that forbidden secret art, our combat power will certainly drop.
Meanwhile, your combat power will surely skyrocket. Even if we do get into the palace, we certainly won't be able to defeat you.
Then, won't all the palace's treasures just fall into your hands?"
Nangong Yong suddenly spoke up.
Hearing this, the hearts of the other Acupoint Opening Realm experts all gave a lurch.
This was precisely what they feared.
"How about this: I will make a solemn oath. After we join forces to break in and kill Ye Yunfei, we all rest on the spot, and no one is allowed to take any treasures from the palace.
After you all have fully recovered your spiritual energy, we will then each rely on our own abilities to compete for the palace's treasures. What do you say?
I will inscribe my sworn oath into jade slips and give each of you a copy, which can serve as proof later.
We are all from major factions, backed by our respective sects. If I dare break my oath, I'm afraid your sects will come looking to settle the score."
Ximen Yi pondered for a moment before saying in a grave voice.
"Fine.
I agree.
No matter what, we absolutely cannot let Ye Yunfei take those treasures from the palace!"
Qin Yue declared his stance.
"I also agree."
Nangong Yong thought it over and agreed as well.
The other Acupoint Opening Realm experts also voiced their agreement one after another.
Thus, Ximen Yi quickly took out several dozen jade slips, recited a solemn oath, and inscribed it into these jade slips. The content was exactly what he had just said.
Then, Ximen Yi distributed these jade slips to the other Acupoint Opening Realm experts.
"Everyone, please transmit your spiritual energy into my body!"
Ximen Yi shouted sternly.
As soon as his voice fell, Ximen Yi gripped a longsword in his right hand, formed a strange seal with his left, and performed a sword-incantation gesture.
Immediately, streams of sharp Sword Dao runes began to manifest one after another.
Boom! Boom!...
One by one, the Acupoint Opening Realm experts circulated their techniques, extended their palms, aimed at various vital points on Ximen Yi's body from a distance, and transmitted their torrential spiritual energy over.
"City-Linking Slash!"
Ximen Yi roared fiercely.
Boom! Boom!...
Threads of violent sword energy gushed continuously from his body.
Ximen Yi's aura was steadily climbing!
The longsword in his hand erupted with terrifyingly bright sword light.
At the same time, the energy auras of the other Acupoint Opening Realm experts were declining.
Because all the spiritual energy they had transmitted to Ximen Yi was being refined by him into sword energy!
"You beasts, all of you, die!"
Ximen Yi raised his longsword and slashed forward.
Boom...
A massive sword beam, over a hundred meters long and more than ten meters wide, abruptly formed, cruel and violent, carrying a menacing aura that sought to obliterate everything, as it shot forward.
This sword beam contained boundless sword intent, possessing a momentum that could cut down all things.
Rumble...
Wherever the sword beam passed, the aftershocks plowed a giant trench in the ground below, like a giant serpent burrowing through soil, sending dirt and rocks flying everywhere.
Pu! Pu! Pu!...
All the beasts blocking the front, even those only slightly grazed by this sword beam, were instantly shredded into nothingness and vanished.
This strike was a combined attack of forty Acupoint Opening Realm experts! Its power was simply indescribable!
This one slash slaughtered no fewer than eight hundred beasts!
In less than the time of a single breath, all the beasts in the front had been cleared out and disappeared.
Only a wide road remained, leading straight to the palace gates.
"Everyone, follow me! I will use this forbidden secret art one more time to kill Ye Yunfei!
Once Ye Yunfei is dead, all the treasures inside this palace will belong to us!"
After unleashing his slash, Ximen Yi did not pause for even a moment. His figure flashed, and he charged directly into the palace.
Whoosh! Whoosh!...
The other Acupoint Opening Realm experts also utilized their movement techniques and surged into the palace.
Meanwhile, inside the palace.
"I've finally deciphered them completely."
Ye Yunfei had been standing still for a while and had now fully comprehended all the formations shrouding the weapon racks and medicine shelves.
To martial artists of the Canghuang Realm, these formations were considered quite advanced, but in Ye Yunfei's eyes, they were not particularly profound.
Furthermore, these formations had been laid here for an extremely long time, and their power had severely dissipated.
At this moment.
Ye Yunfei's expression suddenly changed.
An extremely dangerous aura was transmitted into the palace from outside its gates.
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power sensed outward and saw the scene of Ximen Yi killing over eight hundred beasts with a single slash.
"This is bad!"
Ye Yunfei inwardly exclaimed.
"All of you, move close to me! Now!"
Ye Yunfei roared.
Whoosh! Whoosh!...
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's roar, Hu Miao, Qiqi, Pan Yi, Xiao Xue, Cai Yan, and the other disciples from the Taiyi Temple immediately rushed with all their might towards Ye Yunfei's position.
They all regarded Ye Yunfei as their leader and would unconditionally follow his orders, of course.
While roaring, Ye Yunfei moved, his sleeves sweeping outwards at the fastest speed, rolling over the weapon racks and medicine shelves to collect the artifacts, herbs, and pills.
"Ye Yunfei, prepare to die!"
A great roar rang out. Ximen Yi had already charged into the palace, his murderous gaze fixed on Ye Yunfei.
"City-Linking Slash!"
Seeing Ye Yunfei still collecting primary Dao artifacts, Transformation-Grade herbs, and pills, Ximen Yi grew anxious and unleashed his sword again.
The other Acupoint Opening Realm experts also all activated their techniques, transmitting their spiritual energy to Ximen Yi.
Boom!
A thick, giant sword beam instantly formed, locked onto Ye Yunfei, and blasted forth.
Boom...
Everything in its path was annihilated by this sword beam!
Moreover, the speed of this sword beam was terrifyingly fast; the moment it was unleashed, it arrived behind Ye Yunfei!
At this time, Ye Yunfei had already collected the thirty-one primary Dao artifacts, all the Transformation-Grade herbs and Transformation-Grade pills, and was reaching out to grab that cluster of the Heart of the Sea Blue Flame.
Collecting a hetero-flame required certain techniques; otherwise, if the hetero-flame acted out, it could be extremely dangerous.
Ye Yunfei employed a secret art for collecting hetero-flames, releasing streams of gentle runes from his palm, lightly lifting the cluster of the Heart of the Sea Blue Flame onto his palm.
Simultaneously, with his other hand, Ye Yunfei swept out his sleeve, scooping up Hu Miao, Qiqi, and the others, and teleporting them all into the Phantom Tower.
"Haha...
Ye Yunfei, you are dead for sure!"
"Ye Yunfei, this is the consequence of opposing us!"
"What a pity. There's no chance to capture this brat and claim the bounty now."
Watching with their own eyes as that thick sword beam had already reached behind Ye Yunfei, those Acupoint Opening Realm experts couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Earlier, outside the palace gates, they had personally witnessed the terrifying power of this sword beam. In their view, Ye Yunfei had no possibility of surviving when faced with such an attack!
Whoosh!
Finally, Ye Yunfei successfully stored away the Heart of the Sea Blue Flame. He immediately activated his spatial teleportation technique to dodge to the side.
But it was already too late!
Boom...
The thick sword beam, trailing vast waves of sword energy, churned and ground towards Ye Yunfei!
This sword strike was the combined attack of forty Acupoint Opening Realm experts; its power was too terrifying!
With a wave of his hand, Ye Yunfei retrieved a completely golden law seal, rapidly enlarging it to block against that thick sword beam.
Clang...
An ear-splitting, massive metallic impact rang out.
The thick sword beam slammed violently against the golden law seal.
A terrifying, immense force surged towards Ye Yunfei.
Furthermore, the churning waves of sword energy carried by that thick sword beam transformed into countless sharp sword lights, slicing towards Ye Yunfei's body.
Sss! Sss!...
Many sword lights pierced straight through Ye Yunfei's body, leaving behind shocking bloody holes all over. His entire body was riddled like a sieve, not a single part remained intact, with blood splattering wildly.
Bang!
Then, Ye Yunfei's body was sent flying and tumbled away, landing in the distance.
Fortunately, that golden law seal had blocked the strike; otherwise, this slash would have undoubtedly smashed Ye Yunfei's body to pieces.
That golden law seal was none other than the primary Dao artifact Ye Yunfei had obtained earlier in that Void-Grade herb garden!
Although Ye Yunfei had not yet refined this primary Dao artifact, it was incredibly sturdy. Even struck by that thick sword beam, it bore not a single mark.
"Still not dead?!
Everyone, let's add another slash and utterly annihilate Ye Yunfei!"
Ximen Yi shrieked harshly.