The crowd on Qingluo Square heard the bell ring. The disciples who had recently joined Biluo Cave had no idea what had happened, while those who had joined earlier and the Foundation Establishment elders all changed their expressions.

"Something's wrong! The Cloud Breaking Bell rang nine times! That only happens when enemies massively attack the mountain. Could someone be assaulting the Sect gate?" Fang Ge widened his eyes.

The Great Cave Master soared into the sky, his eyes shooting two beams of cold light several meters long, scanning in all directions before swiftly descending.

"Are we under attack?" the Second Cave Master immediately asked.

"From every direction except for the north: east, west, and south, enemies are approaching, and their numbers are not few! Cloaked in black robes, their origins unclear," the Great Cave Master said gravely.

"During the Sect gathering, most disciples are here, leaving our defenses elsewhere vulnerable. Clearly, the attackers are well-prepared. Shall we ask the Great Elder to join the fight?" the Second Cave Master wrinkled his brow as he spoke.

"Once the Cloud Breaking Bell rang, the Great Elder would have noticed, and he will decide on his own. Let's act separately for now. Have a few elders take people to guard the east and west sides. There may be more enemies at the southern gate; I'll lead a defense there personally. You, go and activate the Sect Protection Array immediately!" The Great Cave Master closed his eyes and took a breath, his eyes flashing confidently as he spoke rapidly.

"Understood," the Second Cave Master transformed into a tunnelling light and flew up, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye.

"Who knows where these audacious attackers from Silver Cat Xi Ying came to assault our Biluo Cave Sect gate. All elders heed my command and defend separately. Once the Sect Protection Array is activated and the Great Elder arrives, no matter how many attackers there are, there's no need to worry." The voice of the Great Cave Master wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present, instantly quieting the scene.

Next, the Great Cave Master began directing from the center, quickly allocating defensive forces in all directions of the gate. Groups of disciples, led by the elders, rushed toward various directions. Soon, only the Great Cave Master and more than thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivators, along with nearly four hundred Qi Refining disciples, remained in the square.

Yuan Ming was left behind, while Fang Ge and Mu He had already been dispatched to other teams and had left early.

"The rest of you, follow me to guard the gate. Today, as our Sect is under attack, you must all fight valiantly. Anyone who attempts to flee secretly, or plays tricks, will face my wrath after this, as I will personally cleanse our ranks!" The Great Cave Master's voice was chilling, sending a shiver through everyone present.

Naturally, no one dared object, and they all agreed aloud.

"Move out immediately!" The Great Cave Master transformed into a beam of white light, shooting towards the gate.

The other thirty-something Foundation Establishment Cultivators and some disciples summoned various flying creatures, each taking a few disciples and swiftly racing toward the gate.

The remaining disciples, who didn't have Flying Spiritual Beasts or were not carried by others—mostly those with lower cultivation and ordinary status within the Sect—had no choice but to grit their teeth and run on foot, closely following the main force toward the gate.

"With such a major incident befalling the Sect, where has Silver Cat Xi Ying gone?"

Yuan Ming naturally belonged to the latter group, and as he moved with the large group towards the gate, his heart was filled with anxiety.

Moreover, the fact that Biluo Cave's Sect Protection Array and the presence of several Core Formation experts like the Great Elder were no secret. Since the enemies dared to attack, they must have several Core Formation experts themselves; the situation was likely dire.

...

At Biluo Cave's Sect gate.

The Mountain Guarding Disciples were already clashing with the black-robed individuals. Although there were only thirty to forty Mountain Guarding Disciples and despite having activated the Defense Restriction Mechanism, they were no match for the black-robed attackers, who numbered ten times more, and were swiftly forced into retreat.

"These enemies took advantage of the Great Cave Master's convening of a full Sect assembly to attack. Troublesome intruders! Has there been any response from the Sect side?" a Foundation Establishment Elder wielding a giant hammer among the Mountain Guarding Disciples shouted as he sent two black-robed attackers flying with a heavy blow.

This man, named Qi Wei, was an elder of the Law and Regulations Hall at Biluo Cave, and it was his turn to guard the gate today.

"Just received a message; the Great Cave Master is already on his way with reinforcements," replied a person beside him, bathed in blood, who was named Wulu.

"Good! Fellow disciples, hold on a little longer. Since they've come to court death, let's show them what we're made of!" Qi Wei bellowed.

At that moment, several black-robed individuals leapt forward, hurling several magic artifacts at them like bolts of lightning.

Although all of these individuals were Qi Refining Stage Cultivators, each was a high-level practitioner around the Qi Refining Tenth Layer, making their magic artifacts significantly powerful.

"Scram!" Qi Wei flicked his sleeve outward.

A white round orb shot out from his hand, swelling in size like a house as it flew, "bang bang" knocking away several magic artifacts.

Without any pause, the white giant pearl continued and struck several black-robed individuals.

The individuals were hit as if by a meteor, blood spraying from their mouths as they were knocked back, one of them having his head struck directly, causing his skull to crack and resulting in his instant death.

Although Qi Wei could still hold them off, the other Mountain Guarding Disciples were overwhelmed by the number of enemies, and their defensive line was on the verge of collapse.

Qi Wei rapidly formed hand gestures, and the white giant pearl began to emblazon seven star patterns on its surface.

Bang bang bang!

Dozens of beams of starlight rained down like droplets, striking the group of black-robed assailants, triggering a wave of bloodshed.

"The Seven Star Pearl!" a voice came from the front; it wasn't loud, yet it subdued the surrounding combat and shouting.

Qi Wei's expression turned solemn, knowing that the enemy Core Formation experts had finally revealed themselves. He quickly recalled the white giant pearl and suspended it above his head.

Just then, a yellow glow flashed beneath his feet, and a yellow array spontaneously emerged from the ground.

Qi Wei was startled and promptly retreated, but he was a step too late.

Dozens of whip-like yellow lights shot out from within the array, binding Qi Wei's legs before he could react.

"Earth Binding Array!" Qi Wei was immobilized at once, yet he did not panic; he fiercely slapped his right hand down.

A green sharp claw magic artifact emerged out of nowhere, swelling several times in size. Its claws, emitting a foot-long green light, viciously clawed at the Earth Binding Array.

The green claw light appeared extremely sharp, and with a loud bang, it tore through a corner of the Earth Binding Array.

More than a dozen rays of starlight shot out from the white giant pearl, striking the Earth Binding Array and riddling it with holes.

However, the Earth Binding Array was not destroyed. The ruptured parts healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the yellow tendrils still firmly trapped Qi Wei, tightening even more.

"The Earth Binding Array is only a basic magic array; how can it be so tough!" Qi Wei exclaimed in disbelief.

"This is not the usual Earth Binding Array, but the Yin-Yang Earth Binding Array I modified. With Yin on top and Yang below, you only destroyed the Yin Array; how could you possibly escape?" A white figure slowly emerged from among the people in black robes, appearing to be a young girl with a mask on her face and bare feet, but each time her foot touched the ground, the phantom imprint of embroidered shoes appeared.

If Yuan Ming were here, he would surely recognize her as the female array master who had caused a great commotion in Black Rock City with her Wave Hand Array.

Qi Wei quickly extended his Divine Sense to probe the ground and found another Earth Binding Array operating several meters below, resonating with the surface array.

"The Great Cave Master has brought people here; prepare to meet your end!" Qi Wei shouted and then frantically attacked the ground Yin Formation with the green sharp claws and the white giant pearl.

The female array master flicked her fingers and a dirt-yellow orb fell into the array, merging with it.

The Earth Binding Array shone brightly with yellow light, causing many modifications in its array patterns, including the addition of many spiked designs.

The array's yellow light flashed continuously, and several large ground spikes suddenly sprouted, stabbing into Qi Wei's body.

However, Qi Wei's yellow robe suddenly emitted a dazzling light, forming a dirt-yellow light screen that blocked the attack of the ground spikes.

The female array master let out a light gasp but paid it no further mind; she raised her hand again,

effortlessly shooting out five green rays that landed on the outer perimeter of the Earth Binding Array.

A series of green array patterns rapidly spread, instantly forming a green array that reflected against the two Earth Binding Arrays, with Yimu Spiritual Power swiftly pouring into the Earth Binding Array.

The sound of rumbling within the Earth Binding Array resumed, and more large ground spikes emerged from thin air, nearly half of which had turned green, sparkling with a woody luster.

The yellow light screen around Qi Wei shattered in response, with several ground spikes penetrating his body, piercing through his Dantian and heart. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but he died before he could speak.

"Elder Qi Wei has fallen!" Wulu exclaimed in shock, having already retreated far back and continuing to flee while gesturing with his index finger.

With Qi Wei's demise, the control of the white giant pearl and the green sharp claws was lost, returning them to their original size and flinging them far away, right next to Wulu.

Wulu flicked his sleeves, gracefully scooping up the items, then ran even faster.

With Qi Wei's defeat, the Biluo Cave Mountain Guarding Disciples completely lost their will to fight, were slaughtered, and quickly fell into disarray; the people in black robes soon approached the mountain gate of Biluo Cave.

The ground at the mountain gate of Biluo Cave shook incessantly as large black stone pillars sprouted from the ground, rapidly forming a stone array.

The Stone Forest appeared chaotic and without pattern, but the moment those in black robes entered, they immediately became dizzy and disoriented.

The Biluo Cave Disciples were unaffected, relying on the Stone Forest to fend off the people in black robes, blocking them once again.

Nearby on a large tree, Silver Cat Xi Ying was perched, blending with the leaves.

"Wave Hand Array, could this be the female assassin that Yuan Ming spoke of, seeming like a Five Elements Combined Body? Such outstanding talent." She watched the female array master and muttered with interest.

The female array master seemed to sense something and turned her head towards where Xi Ying was.

But there was nothing unusual to be seen, just emptiness.

The female array master slightly furrowed her brows but soon looked away, commanding the people in black robes to attack the Stone Forest.

A few meters away on another tree, a silver flash passed – Xi Ying appeared and looked up at the distance.

"Fantastic, whoever is coming, hurry up and break in. Why are you dawdling?"

She then swiftly moved towards the direction of Biluo Cave Sect, her body exuding a strange silver light, and swiftly fading away. In a few breaths, she completely disappeared, leaving no trace of her presence.

…

Meanwhile, Yuan Ming was mingling among over a hundred Registered Disciples, hurrying towards the mountain gate.

Although his cultivation was far superior to that of the other Registered Disciples, at that moment, he had subdued his presence and did not stand out in the crowd.

After reflecting on the situation, he felt quite worried and, whether intentionally or not, gradually lingered at the back of the group.

"A great battle is inevitable today; it's really bustling," a cheerful voice suddenly rang in his mind; it was Xi Ying.

Yuan Ming's heart stirred, and he glanced around but did not find Xi Ying's figure; he then whispered in an almost indiscernible voice, "Do you know who these people are?"

He was not adept in sound transmission techniques, and had to communicate with Xi Ying in this way, relying on her divine skills to hear his words.

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