While fleeing, Yun Che sent his divine sense inward and scanned his body.

  The icy flame within the proto-core had grown slightly dimmer.

  This flame originated from the proto-core itself. If used too many times before he successfully formed his Golden Core, it would inevitably damage the proto-core—and might even affect the final success rate of his Core Condensation.

  Although the flame possessed terrifying power, it was like a tree without roots. Each time it was used, its size shrank a little.

  Back in the underground valleys of the Fourteen Gorges, the icy flame had not truly displayed its destructive strength. It had merely relied on its terrifying dissolving temperature.

  But killing enemies in battle was completely different.

  If the enemy died instantly, it was manageable. But if they used magic treasures to defend themselves, the consumption of the icy flame during a prolonged battle would be several times greater.

  Furthermore, there were three opponents.

  The reason the flame had produced such an intimidating effect earlier was largely because Yun Che had displayed an endless stream of techniques along the way. The three cultivators had already become like frightened birds.

  Otherwise, when Yun Che killed the first one, the other two Core Formation cultivators would have had more than enough time to cast their spells.

  That was also why he had avoided using it before.

  After all, he had not yet reached the Core Formation stage. Even the slightest mistake was unacceptable.

  If possible, it was better not to use the icy flame at all.

  If not for this limitation, given Yun Che’s personality, he would have struck first and eliminated his enemies cleanly and decisively. He would never have dragged the fight out until now.

  He simply did not want even the slightest flaw to appear in the Golden Core he had struggled so hard to condense.

  Unless absolutely forced, Yun Che truly did not want to use the icy flame.

  But the enemy had pursued him relentlessly.

  Left with no other choice, he gritted his teeth and prepared to sacrifice his temporary chance at forming the core—even risking the destruction of the proto-core itself—to unleash the icy flame.

  Yet at that critical moment, seven or eight additional Core Formation cultivators suddenly appeared as reinforcements.

  Among them, the strongest had already reached the mid-stage of Core Formation.

  Yun Che’s heart trembled.

  He immediately abandoned any thought of killing his enemies and fled at full speed.

  At that moment, he understood clearly—

  This time, he had stepped onto a road of no return.

  Unless he successfully formed his Core, the consequences would be unimaginable.

  The three-hundred-thousand-li journey soon approached its outer edge.

  Behind him, ten Core Formation cultivators followed with leisurely expressions, chasing him as if they were watching prey struggle for entertainment.

  “Young brat ahead,”

  the Great Elder Qian Kun, a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, said lazily.

  “Let this old man see how far you can run. You killed an elder of the Douxie Sect. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, your death is certain.”

  With a casual wave of his right hand, a golden rune formed before him.

  He pressed it lightly.

  The rune flashed forward instantly.

  Yun Che’s neck hairs stood on end.

  Without hesitation, he shifted slightly, narrowly dodging the rune.

  But immediately afterward, more runes appeared.

  Dodging while gritting his teeth, Yun Che sped forward without turning back.

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  Gradually, the cultivators behind him drew closer.

  His eyes flickered.

  Right now, there was only one possible solution.

  The method carried enormous risk.

  But if it succeeded, all danger would be resolved.

  A cold light flashed in Yun Che’s eyes.

  He abruptly changed direction and sped away.

  Soon, a mountain peak appeared ahead.

  Thick mist surrounded the mountain, hiding its true appearance.

  Without hesitation, Yun Che rushed straight into the fog.

  At the moment he approached the mist, it suddenly split open, revealing a pathway.

  A beautiful woman dressed in purple robes appeared in panic.

  But at that exact moment—

  A series of dazzling golden runes shot forward like lightning.

  Just as Yun Che entered the mist, they struck his back one after another.

  Yun Che groaned and spat out a mouthful of blood.

  His body tumbled into the mist like a kite with its string cut.

  The purple-robed woman looked at the approaching Core Formation cultivators with a pale face.

  She waved a small flag in her hand.

  The mist instantly surged and concealed her figure.

  Moments later, the ten Douxie Sect Core Formation cultivators arrived before the fog formation.

  Among them stood a short old man with an unusually large head.

  He rubbed his massive skull and sneered darkly.

  “That little girl just now… she belongs to this old man. I happen to be lacking a furnace for cultivation.”

  He licked his lips greedily.

  With a grab of his hand, a giant spectral palm appeared and slammed into the fog.

  But the moment it touched the mist—

  The fog churned violently.

  A massive flood dragon over a thousand zhang long suddenly leapt out.

  The big-headed cultivator cried out in alarm and quickly retreated.

  His eyes flickered with uncertainty.

  The other Core Formation cultivators also stared at the mist formation carefully.

  “When did such a formation appear here?”

  Great Elder Qian Kun said calmly.

  No one answered.

  Qian Kun snorted.

  “This formation can manifest a flood dragon. It’s definitely not simple.”

  “Kun Sang, try your Ten-Thousand-Peak Seal.”

  Kun Sang, one of the original three pursuers, immediately rose into the air.

  With a sweep of his sleeve, the black stone seal appeared.

  It expanded rapidly, transforming into a massive mountain peak.

  Kun Sang pressed his hand downward.

  The giant peak crashed down violently.

  The fog dragon roared and surged upward to collide with it.

  Thunderous explosions shook the sky.

  The giant peak was blasted backward.

  Kun Sang’s face turned pale as spiritual power surged chaotically within his body.

  He took several deep breaths before stabilizing himself.

  Meanwhile, the flood dragon’s body dissolved into mist.

  The formation returned to calm.

  Qian Kun sneered.

  “Kun Sang, lend me your seal.”

  Without waiting for approval, he grabbed it from the air.

  The giant peak shrank back to its original size in his hand.

  With a swipe of his palm, he erased Kun Sang’s divine sense imprint and replaced it with his own.

  Then he spat out a mouthful of spiritual energy onto the seal.

  After the energy merged with it, he tossed the seal into the sky.

  The seal expanded once more—

  This time twice as large as before.

  A colossal black mountain floated overhead, blotting out the sun.

  Qian Kun pressed his hand down.

  The mountain crashed toward the formation.

  The flood dragon appeared again and charged upward.

  But this time—

  The moment they collided, the dragon shattered instantly.

  The giant peak continued falling.

  At that moment—

  Ten flood dragons suddenly manifested within the formation and wrapped around the mountain.

  Qian Kun sneered.

  “Elders—attack together!”

  The remaining Core Formation cultivators immediately unleashed their magic treasures, beginning a full assault on the formation.

  Meanwhile, inside the cave dwelling—

  Yun Che, supported by Su Wanqing, staggered inside.

  He spat out several mouthfuls of blood.

  The flood-dragon armor on his back had been deeply dented, emitting faint black smoke.

  Within the smoke, the armor slowly wriggled and restored itself to its original shape.

  Without this armor, Yun Che would not have merely been injured.

  Although Qian Kun was only mid-stage Core Formation, the power of his Great Annihilation Rune was terrifying.

  Anyone struck directly would have their entire skeleton shattered.

  Yun Che’s face was pale.

  He immediately took out the wooden box containing the Hundred Beast Spirit Furnace from his storage bag and handed it to Su Wanqing.

  “This is a fifth-grade pill furnace. Refine the Heaven-Separation Pill as quickly as possible.”

  After speaking, Yun Che opened his mouth and released the crystal flying sword.

  The sword hovered beside his shoulder, its tip gleaming coldly.

  Yun Che was naturally cautious.

  Even though he possessed Su Wanqing’s soul blood, he would never fully trust anyone.

  Necessary precautions were always required.

  Su Wanqing stared blankly at the wooden box in her hands.

  After opening it and seeing the furnace inside, she instantly realized how precious it was.

  She looked up at Yun Che softly.

  “They were chasing you… because of this?”

  Yun Che closed his eyes and began meditating.

  “ No.”

  His reply was indifferent.

  Su Wanqing looked at him with complicated emotions.

  With her intelligence, she had already deduced the truth.

  The pursuers were almost certainly after the furnace.

  A fifth-grade pill furnace was worth an unimaginable fortune.

  “You… how did you obtain it?”

  “Did you trade for it… or steal it?”

  She bit her lip gently, her gaze softening.

  Yun Che frowned and opened his eyes.

  “Go refine the pill.”

  At that moment—

  The entire cave suddenly shook violently.

  Sounds of battle roared outside.

  Yun Che took a deep breath and closed his eyes again, focusing on breathing meditation.

  Su Wanqing had not seen Yun Che for three years.

  During those three years, she had repeatedly replayed every moment of their encounter in her mind.

  Gradually she had come to believe that Yun Che would never force such humiliating demands upon her.

  For three years she had not dared leave the cave.

  Fortunately, cultivators required little food. A few spirit fruits and medicinal pills were enough to sustain her.

  Whenever she thought of Yun Che, her emotions became complicated.

  She had once imagined that one day she might suddenly die—meaning Yun Che had perished somewhere outside.

  She had also imagined Yun Che suddenly appearing in the cave again.

  But never in any of those thoughts…

  Had she imagined this scene—

  Yun Che returning while being pursued by ten Core Formation cultivators.