Myriad Daos of the Heaven

Jiang Jichen paid no mind to what everyone else was thinking.

He felt that Blood Hand held no hostility toward him. After all, the man had blocked an attack for him at the valley entrance. Therefore, walking alongside him was far safer than standing with Guo Qishan and the others.

Besides, the most powerful person here was undoubtedly Blood Hand from the Blood Refining Alliance. Sticking close to him was clearly the safest option.

It was just that no one else was as thick-skinned as Jiang Jichen, not only acting overly familiar but also daring to sidle up to Blood Hand of the Blood Refining Alliance, getting to within a meter of him.

Guo Qishan and Zhongg Li had originally planned to find an opportunity to shove Jiang Jichen in front of the Poison Beetle King, but now that he was sticking so close to Blood Hand, they had no chance at all.

Yee Youmeng and Luoo Long stuck close to Jiang Jichen. With the lowest Cultivation Realms in the entire group, the fact that the three of them had made it this far naturally made them the center of attention.

At the same time, with the exception of the Blood Refining Alliance, everyone else was their enemy, and would have loved nothing more than to kill them.

BOOM!

The earth trembled as tens of thousands of Poisonous Beetles, driven by the Poison Beetle King, swarmed toward the group. The insects constantly blocked their path, slowing their advance.

When they were still a thousand meters from the valley exit, the Poison Beetle King finally caught up.

Its enormous body descended from the sky, casting a dark shadow that loomed over their heads.

"This is bad! The Poison Beetle King is here! We have to attack together, or we’re all going to die!"

Someone shrieked in terror.

At this, Blood Hand and the members of the Blood Refining Alliance came to a halt. Jiang Jichen and his two companions followed suit.

Blood Hand spoke calmly, "I have a technique that can condense everyone’s attacks into a single strike. You just need to channel your attacks into the ring of light I will create."

As he spoke, Blood Hand’s hands were already a blur of motion.

Jiang Jichen noticed that Blood Hand was wearing a pair of black gloves.

His ten fingers became a blur. Faint wisps of blood-red light drifted from his fingertips, coiling around and around until they formed a massive, crimson ring of light.

"Blood Circle Spirit Condensation!"

Jiang Jichen heard Blood Hand’s low cry.

"Don’t hold back!"

The moment the blood-red ring of light formed, Jiang Jichen sent a voice transmission to Yee Youmeng and Luoo Long.

Then, without hesitation, the three of them unleashed their strongest attacks, channeling them into the blood-red ring.

Yee Youmeng slashed out with a beam of blade energy. It looked simple and unadorned, but the power contained within was unimaginable.

The totemic radiance condensed by Luoo Long also roiled with power; it was by no means weak.

And Jiang Jichen, with his Red Copper Rust Sword, unleashed a strike—Star Destruction!

Besides the three of them, the seven disciples of the Blood Refining Alliance also attacked without a moment’s hesitation. They unleashed crimson slashes of blade energy that howled like a sea gale, their momentum astonishing.

The rest of the cultivators hesitated. Some even took advantage of the fact that Blood Hand’s group was occupied with the Poison Beetle King to make a break for the valley exit, not even glancing back.

They were only a thousand meters away; it would only take ten breaths’ time to break through.

There were fewer than fifty people left to begin with, but now more than ten had already dashed off, completely ignoring Blood Hand’s instructions to stop and channel their attacks into the crimson ring.

After a moment’s hesitation, Guo Qishan, Zhongg Li, and the Independent Cultivator Captain finally stopped, unleashed their strongest attacks, and sent them into the blood-red ring.

With the addition of their power, the blood-red ring grew even brighter. Even from a distance, everyone could sense the terrifying Power of Destruction contained within it.

Just then, however, Zhongg Li suddenly grabbed Wei Xiaohao. "Young Master Wei, you’re no use here. Go on ahead. As soon as you’re outside, find the Eldest Young Master!"

As he spoke, Zhongg Li tossed Wei Xiaohao toward the valley exit.

In total, thirty-two people had contributed their power to the blood-red ring.

The power of thirty-two people’s attacks condensed into one was terrifying to behold, especially since, apart from Jiang Jichen, Yee Youmeng, and Luoo Long, the rest were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

The blood-red ring of light transformed into a massive crimson saber that slashed down at the Poison Beetle King!

PFFT!

Despite the Poison Beetle King’s incomparably tough defenses, the blade sliced a deep wound into its body. Green juices splattered everywhere as it was sent flying backward.

"Fall back!"

Blood Hand shouted again at that moment.

No one was about to miss this chance to escape. It was only a thousand meters, a distance they could cross in ten breaths.

Jiang Jichen didn’t hesitate either. His figure flickered as he grabbed Luoo Long and Yee Youmeng and charged toward the valley exit at top speed.

Seven hundred meters, six hundred, five hundred... one hundred!

The valley exit was right before their eyes, only a hundred meters away. Blood Hand and his team were obviously in the lead—no one dared to challenge them—and they became the first to escape the valley. Jiang Jichen followed close behind them, but there was still nearly a hundred meters to go. Still, getting out was just a matter of a few more breaths.

But just then, a sudden sense of crisis washed over Jiang Jichen. Without a second’s hesitation, he pulled Yee Youmeng and Luoo Long aside, dodging out of the way.

"Illusory Indeterminacy!"

Executing Shadow Step, he narrowly avoided the terrifying attack. The spot where he had just been standing, as well as the space directly in front of it, was completely engulfed by the assault. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

A moment ago, he would have been killed whether he had stayed put or moved forward.

That was why Jiang Jichen had retreated instead of advancing.

"Just an Innate Sixth Layer brat. You contributed the least, yet you’re trying to escape the fastest? The nerve! Get back to the rear!"

Guo Qishan sneered from the side.

Zhongg Li’s expression was just as cold.

The Independent Cultivator Captain also shot them a hostile glare.

The previous attack hadn’t just come from Guo Qishan; Zhongg Li and the Independent Cultivator Captain had also struck at the same time to block his path. If not for them, Jiang Jichen would already be out of the valley.

After forcing Jiang Jichen back, Guo Qishan, Zhongg Li, and the Independent Cultivator Captain all rushed ahead.

Jiang Jichen’s expression was livid, but he clearly couldn’t do anything about them at the moment. He could only try to continue rushing forward.

However, Zhongg Li’s cold voice drifted over. "Those who contribute the least should know their place and stay at the back! You can leave after all of our people are out!"

As he spoke, he attacked, striking out with his palm toward Jiang Jichen. He wasn’t just trying to stop them from advancing; he was trying to kill all three of them.

Clearly, these people were trying to kill them!

Jiang Jichen’s face was utterly grim. The Poison Beetle King had already righted itself and was about to overtake them.

Meanwhile, the members of the Guo Family, the Zhongg Family, and the independent cultivators’ team faced no such obstruction. They quickly got ahead and escaped the valley.

This left Jiang Jichen’s trio as the very last ones. Even so, they still had a glimmer of hope; after all, it was only a hundred meters.

However, Guo Qishan, Zhongg Li, and the Independent Cultivator Captain just sneered. They attacked simultaneously, bombarding the ground in front of Jiang Jichen and blocking their advance once more.

Behind them, the Poison Beetle King was already swooping down from the sky again for the kill.

At this moment, with their path blocked ahead and death behind, they were truly trapped in a hopeless predicament.