Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

The most severely injured, Tao Xingyuan and Wang Haoran, were taken care of by the medical team and went into a deep sleep after their treatments ended.

Li Zhaojiang and Jiang Hong were awake, though their spirits were obviously not very high.

Of course, their low spirits were understandable.

To put it nicely, they were "defeated by Yan Yu's team," but to put it unpleasantly, they were "unable to beat the ladies." Who could easily accept that?

"I'm going to go into the thatched cottage with them for a bit," Li Minghu came over and said.

"Sis?" Li Zhaojiang was instantly alarmed.

What? I lost this time, and big sis wants to jump ship to another team?

I... I'm going to go demonic!

"After all, we fought for this Mysterious Realm for so long, I want to see what's inside," Li Minghu said diplomatically.

She didn't say that Yan Yu had invited her to help out, to avoid Li Zhaojiang overthinking, a display of high emotional intelligence.

"Oh," Li Zhaojiang thought, relieved, "then you need to be careful, sis. Yan Yu, he's up to no good! After he added you as a friend last time, he never even chatted with you, obviously trying to string you along!"

"Don't talk nonsense," Li Minghu said with a laugh.

On the other side, Zhao Yuanzhen also began to suspect as she asked:

"Yan Yu, why did you invite that woman over?"

"She's useful," Yan Yu said.

"What use is she?" The more Zhao Yuanzhen asked, the more jealous she became, continuing to probe, "You couldn't possibly have developed a fancy for her, could you?"

"What do you mean 'developed a fancy'?" Yan Yu said with dissatisfaction, "Summer insects cannot speak of ice; it's pointless to explain to you, a fool."

Zhao Yuanzhen was furious and was about to open the Book of Hatred when she heard Yan Yu add:

"By the way, aren't you very fond of making friends? Why not try to establish a relationship with her?"

The Demonic Sect Enchantress was taken aback by these words and immediately started pondering.

Could this Li Minghu also possess great potential?

No way! I see her coughing day in, day out, clearly showing inherent defects in her physical constitution. Can such a sickly person also grow into something more?

Humph, I won't just believe whatever you say; I will confirm it with my own eyes!

When Li Minghu came back, she nodded at Yan Yu and suddenly noticed a certain young lady staring intently at herself.

She gave Zhao Yuanzhen a slight nod and a gentle smile.

Zhao Yuanzhen quickly averted her gaze, feeling as if facing a formidable enemy.

Such an innocent smile, even I nearly let down my guard for a moment. She's definitely not some ordinary person!

"Everyone is here, let's go," Yan Yu said.

The group of six people then headed for the thatched cottage. Su Yunjin saw that Li Minghu looked pale and weak and wanted to go over to support her, but was politely declined.

"You don't have to worry about me," Li Minghu said with an awkward smile, "I'm fine."

"If there's a problem, tell me at any time," Su Yunjin said earnestly.

Yan Yu led the way into the cottage, and the scene before them suddenly changed. It was spacious and bright inside, completely opposite to its outward appearance.

Could this be... the Mustard Seed Sumi Array?

Unexpectedly, the original owner of this Mysterious Realm was also an ancient cultivator skilled in formations!

The interior of the cottage was a large hall, also with countless Flying Swords inserted in the ground.

However, unlike the broken swords outside, the Flying Swords here were mostly intact, each radiating its unique spiritual luster.

At the end of the hall, a female figure in green clothes was sitting on her knees.

That figure slowly turned around and said,

"My mother forged swords and constructed this cottage here in bygone days. You came here in search of treasure, but you must not disturb the tranquility of this place."

Yan Yu's eyes narrowed slightly, only to hear Li Minghu remind from behind:

"She is not a real person; it seems she is just an image? Pay attention, there is no shadow on the ground."

Everyone hurriedly looked, and indeed, there was no shadow at her feet.

Another long sigh was heard, and the green-clothed female immortal slowly stood up.

She spun gracefully to face the crowd, her visage blurred as if veiled by a misty gauze, rendering any facial features indiscernible.

Her left hand gently pinched in the shape of a lotus, while her right hand rose elegantly. A nearby Flying Sword suddenly sprang up, lightly floating into her grasp.

"Since that's the case," the female immortal's voice became even more ethereal, yet was paradoxically crystal clear, "listen well."

"My mother is known as the Recluse of the Secluded Grotto. If you wish to take her treasures, you had better weigh carefully..."

She gripped the Flying Sword in her right hand, flicking a brisk sword flower, and stated coldly:

"...whether you have the ability to do so!"

No sooner had her words fallen, than a loud shout from Yan Yu was heard:

"Draw swords!"

The ladies had not yet reacted when Yan Yu had already drawn the Immortal Sword at his feet, surging forward with the Shifting Technique.

He closed the distance in a flash, thrusting his long sword directly at the lady in the azure dress.

A crisp sound was heard, as the Immortal Swords in their hands collided and were subsequently pushed out of their grasp by the rebounding force.

Yan Yu's Immortal Sword spun downward, eventually rolling to a halt at Li Minghu's feet. The azure-clad lady's sword also flew backward but stabilized after only a step or two, as if gripped by some invisible hand, then abruptly changed direction, the tip steadily pointing at Yan Yu.

The venerable Sword Control technique of the Taoist sect Famen Zhengzong!

The ladies had by now realized what was happening and hurriedly grabbed swords nearby, rushing to support Yan Yu.

The azure-clad lady stood still, while the Flying Sword transformed into a stream of light, instantly aiming for Yan Yu's chest—only for him to swiftly grasp the blade, forcefully arresting its momentum.

A gray light shrouded Yan Yu's right hand, revealing he had activated the Earth-Element Sturdiness Curse. Otherwise, contact with the Flying Sword would have severed his fingers.

Even so, the Flying Sword kept clacking in his palm, ready to break free the moment his grip slackened and thrust viciously into his body.

Lin Ning was the quickest to react and move, dashing over with the Shifting Technique, stopping abruptly with a Wood Bending Charm in effect, extending her hand to help him grasp the sword hilt.

Chen Lingyun and Su Yunjin spread out to the left and right, quickly attacking the azure-clad lady with Impact Curses. Zhao Yuanzhen and Li Minghu closely followed up with the impact curses, brandishing their Immortal Swords as they charged forward.

Catch the ringleader first to capture all his followers!

Confronted by the pincer attack from various ranges, the azure-clad lady revealed not a hint of panic. Instead, she formed a Taoist hand gesture with her left hand and chanted aloud:

"The Southern Dipper governs the sky, beckoning the stars into a river!"

In that moment, from their scalps to the napes of their necks, everyone began to feel an intense tingling.

Although none of them had yet cultivated Divine Sense, their heightened senses as cultivators immediately detected something invisibly brewing at a rapid pace...

The next second, a tremendous water pressure erupted inside the room.

Whether it was Zhao Yuanzhen, Li Minghu, Lin Ning, or those further away like Chen Lingyun and Su Yunjin, they were all swept up in the sudden, forceful deluge.

On one hand, the instinctive panic caused by suffocation set in, and on the other, the water pressure was compressing their bodies from all directions, with their eardrums being the initial victims, followed by their nasal cavities and mouths being forcibly expanded by the water's force...

Yet this all quickly ceased. The turbulent currents lost control and, under the influence of gravity, swiftly plummeted and dispersed, cascading out through the gaps in the doors and the floor.

The drowning ladies collapsed onto the ground, vomiting water profusely.

Lin Ning was the first to rise, struggling to focus through blurred vision, and saw Yan Yu's sword had pierced the azure-clad lady's abdomen. Her figure was slowly fading away, her voice full of disbelief:

"How can this be, why..."

"A level cap below 10, yet casting a level 50 spell?" Yan Yu said disdainfully, pulling out the Immortal Sword, causing the lady's illusion to completely dissipate.

Turning back around, he saw the ladies scattered about, all seemingly quite injured.

The Zhendong Army medical team, three military cultivators who had originally followed in silence as though planning to find a corner to hide in, had unfortunately been struck as well... And because they were cornered when the flood struck, they had nowhere to hide and were violently thrown against the wall, now unable to stand.

There was no choice but to rely on my foresight.

"Su Yunjin?" Yan Yu asked. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." Su Yunjin, who had been standing further away and thus sustained only minor injuries, stood up and said, "I'll treat you all."

The ladies sat where they were, allowing Su Yunjin to check their injuries and administer treatment. After all, she had heeded Yan Yu's arrangement and seriously learned the art of "Runescript Surgery" from the medical team. Even if she wasn't as skilled as the professionals, she was sufficient for emergency treatments and stabilizing their conditions.

"Yan Yu," Lin Ning spoke up weakly after recovering her spirit a little, "why do you seem unharmed?"

Yan Yu was standing where the azure-clad lady had knelt, examining the cushion beneath her, and replied:

"I had the Earth-Element Sturdiness Curse activated at that moment."

"Barrier Charm?" Lin Ning was surprised.

"Earth overcomes water, have you forgotten?"