The Mystic Flood Dragon suddenly erupted from the sea, plunging into the battle between four Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragons and five Nascent Soul cultivators. Simultaneously, Zhu Yin emerged with three Fourth-Tier demon beasts, joining the fray. These beasts were a Fourth-Tier Early Stage Cloud Eagle and Heavenflame Condor, and a Fourth-Tier Mid-Stage Double-Winged Silver Tiger. Notably, the Heavenflame Condor was the very one whose eye Song Wen had blinded. The Demon Race's strategy was clear: eliminate one or two of the human cultivators first to shatter their morale. Seeing the arrival of the Mystic Flood Dragon, Zhu Yin, and other powerful reinforcements, Zi Yun quietly withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the Liangyi Sect's flagship. In the next instant, all sixteen Liangyi Sect warships participating in the battle swiftly repositioned themselves, their new formations subtly aligning with the Daoist principles of Yin-Yang Heaven-Earth balance. "Activate the formation!" Zi Yun's crisp command echoed across the fleet. Immediately, the Liangyi Sect disciples began forming hand seals, channeling their spiritual energy or Spiritual Power into black stone disks mounted on the prows of the warships. Each disk, over three meters tall, was carved with arcane runes that gradually radiated the power of the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth. The five fundamental forces of heaven and earth—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—slowly coalesced around the stone disk, forming a vibrant, five-colored halo. The radiant hues intertwined and revolved endlessly, symbolizing the dynamic interplay of mutual restraint and mutual sustenance. Gradually, the five-colored halos emanating from each giant flying ship expanded and merged into a unified formation. A resplendent barrier materialized, its five colors swirling in a mesmerizing display, enveloping all sixteen warships of the Liangyi Sect. This was the Five Elements Reversal Grand Formation, one of the sect's most formidable defensive formations. Meanwhile, the Cui Clan's nine giant flying ships had assembled their own Ghost Dao defensive formation. However, lacking the guidance of a Nascent Soul cultivator, its power paled in comparison to the Five Elements Reversal Grand Formation. "Cui Xuanjing, Lan Yin, Jing Yuanliang, retreat first. I'll cover your escape," Yun Xu suddenly commanded. Without hesitation, the trio immediately retreated. Lan Yin and Jing Yuanliang entered the Five Elements Reversal Grand Formation, while Cui Xuanjing joined the Cui Clan's Ghost Dao formation. With his support, even a Peak Nascent Soul cultivator would struggle to breach it. Left alone, Yun Xu faced the combined assault of four members of the Demon Race, four ferocious beasts, and Zhu Yin's relentless attacks, instantly finding himself in dire straits. Just as Yun Xu was fully occupied with defense, a Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragon stealthily approached. Its sharp proboscis easily pierced through Yun Xu's Mana Shield and plunged into his back. A bloodthirsty excitement flickered in the eyes of the Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragon. Though not highly intelligent, it instinctively knew that the flesh of powerful beings was the most succulent. Yet when it injected its corrosive poison into Yun Xu's body, paralyzing him, and began to drain his flesh and blood, the substance that flowed into its mouth was utterly tasteless, like chewing wax. Yun Xu's body withered and fell still under the Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragon's assault. But no matter how one looked at it, his corpse resembled a corpse puppet more than a living man. Puzzled, the Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragon continued its futile feast. Meanwhile, someone else understood the truth. "The Heaven and Earth Incarnation Technique!" Xing Wenyao, locked in combat with the phantom shadows conjured by the Ten Directions Heavenly Demon Formation, muttered darkly. Hearing this, Song Wen immediately recalled the incident from nearly a century ago: when the Mystic Flood Dragon and Heavenflame Condor ambushed the Liangyi Sect, they were defeated and fled. Yun Xu relentlessly pursued them, only to fall into a formation laid by Xing Wenyao. Daoist Lan Yin, surprisingly indifferent, had refused to aid him, retreating to Four Symbols City with her disciples as if Yun Xu's fate held no consequence. Now it seemed clear: the Yun Xu trapped in that formation had been an incarnation, just as he was now. "If 'Yun Xu' was merely an incarnation, where is his true body?" Song Wen wondered, turning to scan the sixteen Giant Flying Ships of the Liangyi Sect. Yun Xu was nowhere to be seen. Xing Wenyao observed the formations of the three major powers with undisguised disdain. "Don't think your formations will keep you safe. Remember, Yin Shuo and Xuan Chengzi are still outside." After delivering this taunt, Xing Wenyao addressed Zhu Yin and the demons beside him. "Ignore them. I'll hold off the Wu Ji Sect's Ten Directions Heavenly Demon Formation. You go assist Demon Kings Feng Ying and Yuan Hao. Don't let Yin Shuo and Xuan Chengzi escape. If either of them falls, the Human Race will face eternal damnation." Follow current novᴇls on novel※fire.net Immediately, Zhu Yin, the four Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragons, and four other demons bypassed the Giant Flying Ships and charged toward Xuan Chengzi and Yin Shuo. "Yin Shuo! Xuan Chengzi! Fellow Daoists, be careful!" Ye Hua shouted urgently. He activated the Ten Directions Heavenly Demon Formation, manipulating the colossal Phantom Shadow to slam its palm down on Xing Wenyao. However, Xing Wenyao activated his Green Wooden Ruler, which sprouted a thick vine. The vine coiled endlessly upward, forming a massive shield above him. The Phantom Shadow's gigantic hand crashed into the vine shield, cracking many strands but failing to shatter it completely. Just as the scales of victory seemed to be tipping in favor of the Demon Race, a sudden and shocking turn of events occurred. Four Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragons abruptly lunged forward, their sharp proboscises piercing Zhu Yin and the three Fourth-Tier demons beside her. A Fourth-Tier Early Stage Cloud Eagle, caught completely off guard, was unable to react in time and was struck directly in the head. Instantly poisoned by the Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragon's venom, the Cloud Eagle's body went numb. It could only watch helplessly as its flesh and blood were drained away. Its body rapidly withered, soon reduced to nothing but a hollowed-out husk. Zhu Yin and the other two Fourth-Tier demons narrowly escaped the ambush. As their attackers prepared to pursue, Xing Wenyao roared in fury, "Damn it! What in the world is going on here?!" As he spoke, four vine-like tendrils shot from his Green Wooden Ruler, each transforming into a spear-like projectile aimed at the four Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragons. The dragons vibrated their thin wings, nimbly dodging the vines, and then soared high into the sky, vanishing into the distant horizon. By now, Xing Wenyao had realized something was amiss. He lowered his gaze to the sea's surface. Daoist Yun Xu emerged from the waves, a severed human head clutched in each hand. The heads were those of two women, each possessing strikingly beautiful features. However, instead of pearly white teeth, their mouths revealed rows of slender, pointed fangs. They weren't human—they were mermen! From the very beginning, Daoist Yun Xu had never boarded the Liangyi Sect's warship. Instead, he had quietly lurked in the depths of the sea. Taking advantage of the fierce battle between the two sides, he located the two Fourth-Tier mermen hiding on the seabed and eliminated them both. With the mermen dead, control over the four Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragons was lost. It turned out that the Human Race had never truly intended to land on the island. The feigned assault was merely a diversion to draw the Demon Race's attention, buying Daoist Yun Xu time. As the Bloodshadow Mosquito Dragons retreated, the Demon Race suffered another loss—a Fourth-Tier Cloud Eagle. The balance of power had shifted dramatically. The once-dominant Demon Race now found themselves at a disadvantage. The Human Race wouldn't let such an opportunity slip away! The Cui Clan and the Liangyi Sect simultaneously deactivated their grand formations. Five Nascent Soul cultivators from their ranks surged forward, charging toward Zhu Yin, the Mystic Flood Dragon, the Heavenflame Condor, and the Double-Winged Silver Tiger. Author’s Note: Writing this chaotic battle scene was exhausting. Balancing all the characters while maintaining logical consistency was a real challenge, but it was necessary for the narrative. 📖Read (RDC) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c1098. [+2] 🔑Early Access at $5. ✍Translated (6) Series, (4.1K+) Chapters, (5.8M+) Words.