: Annihilated at Will

The voice grew weaker and weaker, then abruptly stopped.

The arrogant sneer on the Black Fiend Cult Leader's face froze instantly.

Instead, there was disbelief and astonishment, which quickly turned into fear.

"A Core Formation cultivator?!"

The Black Fiend Cult Leader retreated explosively, his surging black and red demonic energy rapidly contracting and simultaneously condensing into several bone shield phantoms in front of him.

Unfortunately, it's still too slow.

Lu Jianghe remained calm, made a hand seal with one hand, and unleashed another Five Thunder Orthodox Technique.

Several streaks of blue and white lightning tore through the sky, instantly shredding the hastily formed bone shield along with the figure behind it.

The intense lightning exploded, not only completely evaporating his protective evil aura, but also dismembering and paralyzing the Black Fiend Cult Leader.

In an instant, it shattered into several charred fragments in mid-air, accompanied by a pungent burnt smell and a stench of blood, before falling into the ravaged bamboo forest below.

If there was still some uncertainty about Lu Jianghe's identity before...

At this moment, witnessing this superb and powerful lightning technique, Zhong Weiniang had no more doubts.

It was that senior cultivator who instantly killed the second-tier Azure Scale Python in the small swamp that day, saving her and Jing-ge.

In addition, the four of them felt a profound shock to their minds.

Han Li sighed inwardly.

Thinking back on this matter, we sought help and prepared backup plans, but we still lost our third senior brother Liu Jing, two of Chen Qiaoqian's clansmen, and Wu Xuan.

Although the group had worked together to trap the opponent temporarily using the Reversed Five Elements Formation, that opponent was, after all, a pseudo-core cultivator.

They were not entirely confident that they could completely annihilate it, and they had no idea what kind of perilous situation would arise if they forcibly broke through the formation.

However, Lu Jianghe only made one move, and the previously ferocious Black Fiend Cult Leader was already dead without a complete corpse.

Witnessing this scene made him realize once again with crystal clarity that the distance between them was truly like an insurmountable chasm.

There is already a very deep gap between Foundation Establishment and Pseudo-Core Formation.

The difference between a pseudo-core cultivator and a true core cultivator is like heaven and earth.

Song Meng, Chen Qiaoqian, and Zhong Weiniang bowed in unison, saying, "Thank you for saving us, seniors!"

Lu Jianghe didn't stand on ceremony. He glanced at the group and got straight to the point: "Perfect timing. Does any of you have a Chaoyuan calyx that's over 500 years old? I'm not asking for it for free. You can exchange it for spirit stones or materials of equivalent value."

I just saved them from wasting a talisman, so let's use this as an opportunity for exchange.

Upon hearing this, Han Li instantly understood that what Lu Jianghe needed was the final ingredient for refining the "White Bone and Flesh" elixir.

The three looked at each other in bewilderment.

They truly do not possess such a thing.

Although there were some medicinal herbs in the storage bag, firstly, none of them were five hundred years old, and secondly, there was no "Chaoyuan'e" variety.

The group looked at each other, their faces showing hesitation and apprehension.

He was afraid that saying no would displease this senior surnamed Lu.

Judging from the expressions of the three men, Lu Jianghe knew that they did not have such a thing on them.

However, these words were not meant for them, but were primarily addressed to a certain person.

In fact, Han Li happened to have several such medicinal herbs in his storage bag.

This includes the most crucial Chaoyuan'e, and its age was carefully controlled to be around five or six hundred years.

This is precisely the preparation he made for unforeseen circumstances.

Lu Jianghe noticed the flicker in Han Li's eyes and knew that this kid was probably quite interesting.

He wanted to exchange with himself, but hesitated because he was worried about revealing his wealth in front of his fellow disciples.

"Young man Han, come with me to the side and let's talk."

Lu Jianghe spoke in a flat tone.

"Okay, Brother Lu."

Han Li responded, then turned to Song Meng, Chen Qiaoqian, and Zhong Weiniang and said, "You guys clean up the mess first. I'll go with Senior Lu and be right back."

Song Meng nodded repeatedly, "Oh...oh, Junior Brother Han, you go ahead, we'll take care of things here."

Han Li and Lu Jianghe flew to the side.

Zhong Weiniang had a chubby face, and when she spoke, the corners of her mouth turned up, revealing two shallow dimples.

"How does Junior Brother Han know a senior in the Core Formation stage? It seems their relationship is quite close..."

Chen Qiaoqian, dressed in Huangfeng Valley attire, exuded a refined and elegant air, seemingly lost in thought.

"Junior Brother Han is a meticulous and cautious person. It's not surprising that he kept his acquaintance with such a master a secret. Let's see what this demon left behind so we can report back."

On the other side, in a secluded spot.

Lu Jianghe's gaze fell on Han Li: "I noticed you seemed hesitant to speak earlier, is there something you want to say?"

Han Li took out a jade box, opened it to reveal a red flower with purple and gold inside, and said with a slightly hesitant tone, "I found one not long ago, but unfortunately it is about six hundred years old, less than a thousand years old."

That's enough.

Lu Jianghe spoke succinctly, raising his hand to summon the jade box and the spiritual plant, which floated lightly into his storage bag.

Immediately afterwards, he flicked his fingers lightly.

A faint light flew swiftly toward Han Li.

Han Li subconsciously reached out and caught it, and upon closer inspection, he realized it was a storage bag.

"Inside are a thousand spirit stones and pills suitable for Foundation Establishment stage cultivators to improve their cultivation."

"Brother Lu, this is way too valuable..."

Lu Jianghe chuckled. "No matter what, you're a junior. Why would I take your things for nothing? However, I might as well tell you in advance that the array diagram you gave me before was actually an 'ancient teleportation array,' which I've already had Xin Ruyin repair. The purpose of searching for these spiritual herbs this time is to cure her Dragon Roar Physique. If there are any left over, considering you took out this Chaoyuan Calyx, I won't hesitate to give you one or two later."

As he spoke, the missing piece, about ten feet in size, flew out from Lu Jianghe's waist and hovered quietly in mid-air.

Han Li froze on the spot, his face filled with disbelief. "It's fixed so quickly?!"

His face showed shock, even more intense than when he had just seen Lu Jianghe.

It wasn't until Lu Jianghe took it back that he came to his senses.

"Young Han, once we get back and heal Xin Ruyin's Dragon Roar Body, I will use the teleportation array. If you want to leave Tiannan, then we can go together. It's up to you. Think it over carefully and go to the courtyard in the border town market."

After speaking, Lu Jianghe moved slightly and instantly transformed into a light blue streak of light, disappearing from Han Li's sight.

As for why Lu Jianghe didn't ask about the exact location of that ancient teleportation array?

Both of them were fully aware of the situation.

Just as he showed a corner of the array diagram, he would never give it to Han Li.

The latter, of course, would not easily reveal the location that was crucial to their survival.

In all human actions, one should leave room for maneuver.

In the cruel world of cultivation, how can one entrust everything to others?

Both sides had such concerns, so Lu Jianghe left only the words, "After you've figured it out, come find me in that courtyard in the border town market."

That will be the time when the truth is revealed and everyone lays their cards on the table.

By the time Han Li returned to the bamboo forest, the battlefield had already been cleaned up by Song Meng, Zhong Weiniang, and Chen Qiaoqian.

Song Meng held an ancient jade slip, a brocade handkerchief, a book, and five small beads of different colors in his hands and handed them directly to Han Li.

"Junior Brother Han, everything that Emperor Xu had is here."