The tail of the meteor streaking against the flow of the sky cleaved the heavens into two, the fiery golden light inclusive.

The swirling dust began to settle, clearing the view for the onlookers. The Golden Body of the Amritakundalin in the sky once again revealed its form. The colossal skull adorned with the Skull Crown tilted slightly. In comparison to the towering Golden Body, the meteor that cut through the sky seemed more like a tadpole, albeit with a longer tail.

A brilliant flash ignited, and the three black holes representing the eyes on the skull burst forth with a radiant light. A surge of crimson color transformed into a sea of blood-red light that swept across the sky. The blood light was so intense that it swallowed the meteor in an instant, followed by a violent combustion.

However, within a blink, a shadow rapidly expanded in the blinding blood light. Initially, it was the same size as the three black holes on the Golden Body's face, but within a few breaths, the shadow enlarged rapidly, like a massive mouth, into which large swathes of the surrounding blood light fell, disappearing without a trace.

Gan Shi Zhen strained her eyes to observe the high-altitude spectacle. Ever since she identified Yi Xin, her brows had remained furrowed, and this moment was no exception.

The newcomer was shrouded in a layer of silver-gray mist, obscuring their true appearance. However, the techniques they employed were not concealed in the slightest. Watching the dazzling light disappearing into the void, Gan Shi Zhen quickly concluded:

"This is the Swallowing All Light Barrier, the Rakshasa Sect's top-tier divine ability!"

It was well-known that the East Sea Rakshasa Sect was the most proficient in Illusion techniques among the Cultivation World. The sect's categorization of Illusion techniques was so refined and meticulous that it was considered the pinnacle of this path. Being proficient in Illusion techniques meant also being proficient in dispelling them. In this sense, the Rakshasa Sect's ability to dispel Illusion techniques was unrivaled.

The Swallowing All Light Barrier was a divine ability to dispel Illusion techniques. It was said to be capable of devouring all tangible light, rendering all light-based Illusion techniques useless. Moreover, this divine ability also provided an excellent defense against attacks that radiated large amounts of light and heat.

The ability to wield the Swallowing All Light Barrier, and to intervene within the True Immortal's Domain, was rare even within the Rakshasa Sect. Who could it be...

As she was pondering, a voice suddenly echoed in the female cultivator's ear. It was Yu Ci shouting, "I can't hold it back!"

Everyone was puzzled, only Gan Shi Zhen understood his meaning:

In the end, Yu Ci could resist the pressure of the "Domain" at the Nature-Connecting Realm thanks to his keen senses and superior breath regulation skills. But now, with the addition of an Authentic Cultivator, the pressure of the "Domain" had intensified, and the impact had become more complex. This had already exceeded Yu Ci's limits, and his Breath Regulation Technique could no longer hold it back!

Gan Shi Zhen, without uttering a word, let her short sword fly from her hand, drawing a circle in the void and creating a space twenty feet in diameter. The area, filled with sword energy, neutralized the pressure formed by the "domain". This move was similar to Meng Wei's Flawless Sword Circle, but its range was larger, and it was executed with greater ease, displaying Gan Shi Zhen's extraordinary skill.

Only at this moment did Gan Shi Zhen have a chance to alert Shi Song and the others about the pressure of the "domain", advising them to move as close to the sword circle as possible, which resulted in a moment of chaos.

Inside Gan Shi Zhen's sword circle, the pressure on Yu Ci was greatly reduced. He could finally catch his breath, and then he laughed, "The newcomer, is she a friend or foe?"

"Indeed."

Gan Shi Zhen took his words as idle chatter. Secretly admiring Yu Ci's relaxed attitude, she responded with a smile. She looked up at the sky and observed the operation of the Eighteen Dark Demons Wheel Formation. With the help of this expert from the Rakshasa Sect, the situation had reached a stalemate. The most urgent task now was to break the formation and lead the people on the ground to a safe place.

Cliff City was in chaos, and it was time for the city's bigwigs to step up.

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However, Yu Ci continued, "The newcomer, is she from the Xuan Yin Sect?"

Gan Shi Zhen was surprised, "You recognized it?"

Yu Ci chuckled, "I didn't recognize it, but it has a certain... flavor..."

Gan Shi Zhen looked back at him. The initial surprise had passed, and her current sentiment could be summed up as "admiration".

The "domain" formed by two Authentic Cultivators clashing seemed chaotic, but there was a relatively fixed rhythm within the chaos. If the opponent changed, the rhythm would also change accordingly. Cultivators of the same or even higher level could glean a great deal of information from this, no matter how inconceivable it might seem to ordinary people.

Evidently, Yu Ci didn't understand the principle behind this, but he had experienced the change in this "rhythm" from the actual situation—even if his understanding was still rather rudimentary, it was enough to earn admiration.

The look in Gan Shi Zhen's eyes made Yu Ci feel a bit awkward. In fact, he had let slip that he could indeed sense the "rhythm" of the "domain". But to grasp a crucial point from the complex and chaotic information all at once, was still related to the "Iceberg" in his mind.

After all, the one who left this vast amount of information was none other than the Rakshasa Ghost King. The method she used was clearly linked to the person who had arrived; amidst the chaotic hints, it stood out like a neatly wound ball of thread. As for the exact identity of the person, Yu Ci was not going to waste his time pondering. He turned and asked:

"Good Beauty Monk, who from your teachings has arrived?"

This question shocked many, but Yu Ci didn't care what they thought, his gaze fixed on Shan Jiao's slightly pale, pretty face.

At first, Shan Jiao seemed a bit confused, but quickly, realization dawned on her. A blush crept onto her pale face, making it seem as if it was glowing: "That's right, it's Master Ming!"

"Uh..."

Yu Ci had his answer, but he didn't know what expression to show. He wasn't the only one. Master Ming, Ming Lan? The one who was only at the Nature-Connecting Upper Stage at her peak, now old and frail, barely hanging on, was the one in the sky?

At that moment, Gan Shi Zhen's warning came: "Be careful, the Eighteen Dark Demons Wheel Formation has been activated."

Yu Ci looked up abruptly. The eighteen Flesh and Blood Puppets hadn't moved. In fact, these puppets were made of special clay, filled with flesh and blood, and stimulated Curse Power. They were sturdy, but not meant for physical combat. Instead, they served as the core, driving the Three Thousand Yin Demons in the formation, converging on the eighteen nodes where the puppets were located, rotating and transforming into numerous dark and evil illusions. When it reached its peak, it was said to transform the area within the Array Formation into eighteen layers of Demonic Ghost Land, summoning the Nine Nether Extreme Fire, damaging the physical body and attacking the Divine Soul, leaving no place for burial.

"To break the formation, the key is to destroy those Flesh and Blood Puppets. However, the puppets are the most critical nodes in the formation. Once triggered, they will unleash the ultimate power of this formation... Such an impact, only a few here can withstand, but the children will likely not escape unscathed."

Shi Dian shared his research, his aged face, covered with long scars, was a dull grey. For this operation against the Pure Water Sect, he had summoned the elites of the Thousands Spirits Sect, and even half of the Thirteen Eagles from the Lifeless Sword Sect. If they were to suffer heavy losses here, it would be akin to uprooting the foundations of the Cliff City sects, something absolutely unacceptable.

"But the decision on how to break the formation," Shi Song said, "is not up to me, but Gan Shi Zhen."

Setting aside Ming Lan's question for the moment, Yu Ci glanced at Shi Song. He who had spoken so freely must have seen that Gan Shi Zhen was gentle in nature, not one to forcefully make decisions that could cost lives. If it had been He Qing, things might not have been so straightforward.

By now, the impact of the Great Handprint of Amritakundalin Golden Body had significantly subsided. The dust that filled the sky should have settled, but on the ruins, a thick layer of fog, resembling iron-grey gauze, had risen again. Within it, hundreds of Yin Demons' ghostly figures wandered, chilling to the bone.

These Yin Demons were not out for a leisurely stroll. After appearing, they shrieked and charged at the sword circle Gan Shi Zhen had set up around the perimeter. But Gan Shi Zhen was a master of defense. The sword circle she had created with the aura of the "Sword of Holding the Middle Way" was not so easily broken. Not to mention the cultivation of the Four Clarity Sect, which always emphasized nurturing Grand Righteous Qi, the natural nemesis of these malevolent spirits. Ghostly figures surged forward in waves, only to dissipate into green smoke. In the center of the sword circle, Gan Shi Zhen remained composed, showing no signs of pressure.

However, at this moment, Yu Ci heard Gan Shi Zhen's soft whisper in his ear: "This can only hold them off for a while. Each rotation of the Eighteen Dark Demons Wheel Formation increases the damage. When it reaches the eighteenth rotation, I won't be able to protect these people anymore."

Yu Ci smirked, his demeanor betraying no sign that they were discussing matters of life and death. "If we continue to hold out, not to mention this evil formation, even if another great handprint comes down from above, we won't be able to withstand it...

"So, we still need to break the formation!"

Yu Ci said decisively: "Master Gan, move half a mile to the northeast!"

Gan Shi Zhen didn't say a word, only manipulating her spiritual intent. The short sword flying around her suddenly changed its angle, pulling the perfect sword circle towards the northeast. Yu Ci also remained silent, charging forward along the path opened by the Sword Energy.

This was the tacit understanding developed in the Sky Rift Valley. While Shi Song and the others were still stunned, Yu Ci had already dashed a thousand feet away. His hands met in front of his chest, forming a seal. Immediately after, a purple light as thick as a child's arm shot out into the sky.

...