"Someone like you thinks they're worthy?" Qin Hao sneered, waving his hand. A golden light shot forth, arriving after launching yet striking first, precisely blocking the Yu family man's path.
Golden light and purple thunder collided, erupting in a deafening roar! Shockwaves swept in all directions, shaking the treasures on several nearby stone pillars.
The Yu family man was forced back several steps, his expression dark: "Qin Hao, though your Qin family is strong, if you want to monopolize the Spirit Transformation Pill, you'll have to ask if the others agree!"
Before he finished speaking, several leaders of the independent cultivator alliance had surrounded them. Though they each fought for themselves, they now tacitly aimed their hostility at the most powerful—the Qin family.
"Young Master Qin, treasures belong to those with affinity. Surely your Qin family can't take all the benefits?" A bald, burly man said with a fake smile.
Qin Hao stood with hands clasped behind his back, expression indifferent, as if facing not a group of predatory experts but mere ants. "Affinity?" A mocking curve appeared at his lips. "On Buzhou Mountain, strength is affinity. If you're not convinced, feel free to try."
"Arrogant!" The bald man roared, hefting a massive axe and lunging forward first!
When he moved, the others from the independent cultivator alliance also struck. Dozens of attacks bombarded Qin Hao from all directions!
Qin Hao's sneer remained unchanged. He didn't even move his feet. He simply raised his right hand and pressed down lightly.
"Hummm—!"
A golden barrier suddenly expanded, blocking every attack! Those seemingly powerful techniques, blade lights, and sword energies struck the barrier like mud oxen entering the sea, vanishing without a trace.
"What... what kind of defense is this?!" The bald man was horrified.
Qin Hao didn't answer. He flipped his palm, and the golden barrier instantly transformed into countless light blades, shooting back in reverse!
"Ahhh—!" Screams erupted as the independent cultivator alliance members couldn't dodge in time. Seven or eight were pierced by light blades on the spot, falling dead. The bald man blocked three with all his might, but the fourth severed one of his arms. He screamed and retreated.
The terror of a single strike!
The entire hall fell silent.
Those who had been eager to act were now doused with cold water, no longer daring to make rash moves. Even the Yu family's mid Golden Core man's expression became extremely ugly.
Qin Hao said flatly: "Anyone else?"
No one answered.
Qin Hao snorted lightly and turned toward the central pillar. Qin Xue and three Qin family guards followed closely. No one dared block their way.
Just then, a sudden change occurred!
The ground around the central pillar suddenly lit up with countless intricate patterns! The patterns wove into a massive formation, instantly enveloping Qin Hao and the others!
"Not good! It's a trap!" Qin Xue cried out.
Before she finished, within the formation, golden thunder-fire materialized from thin air, pouring down like a storm! Each bolt of thunder-fire matched the full-power strike of a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Qin Hao frowned, golden light blazing around him as he withstood the thunder-fire head-on. But the thunder-fire was too dense and too powerful. Even he was forced into continuous retreat, temporarily unable to approach the pillar.
"Hahaha!" The Yu family man laughed triumphantly. "Qin Hao, did you really think our Yu family would let you succeed so easily? This 'Heavenly Thunder-Fire Formation' was personally laid by our Yu family ancestor—prepared specifically for you!"
He turned and shouted to the others: "Everyone! As long as the Qin family stands, none of us will obtain the Spirit Transformation Pill! Now is the perfect opportunity to eliminate them together!"
The independent cultivator alliance leaders exchanged glances and nodded in unison. Though the bald man had lost an arm, the hatred in his eyes burned even stronger: "Right! Kill the Qin family first!"
In an instant, the Yu family, the independent cultivator alliance, and members of several smaller clans all attacked, assaulting the trapped Qin family members!
Qin Hao, trapped in the formation while fending off thunder-fire bombardment, actually fell into disadvantage. Qin Xue and the three guards resisted desperately, but there were too many enemies. They gradually couldn't hold.
"Brother, what do we do?" Qin Xue said urgently.
Qin Hao's expression was grim, a fierce gleam flashing in his eyes. He took a deep breath, his aura suddenly surging—signs of burning vital blood!
Just as he was about to fight to the death, a clear voice rang out—
"Everyone, ganging up like this is rather disgraceful."
Everyone turned to see Margaret approaching with her forces. Behind her, Scarlet, Adam, Bai Qingxue, Bai Wuhen, and others stood in a line, their presence formidable.
The Yu family man's expression changed: "Margaret! You're helping the Qin family?"
Margaret said coolly: "I'm not helping anyone. I just can't stand watching you take advantage of someone's crisis. Besides..." She glanced at Qin Hao in the formation. "If the Qin family is truly destroyed by you, wouldn't I be next?"
The Yu family man ground his teeth: "You insist on wading into this muddy water?"
Margaret didn't answer, simply drawing her sword. Scarlet leveled her spear, Bai Wuhen unsheathed his ice sword—their stance spoke for itself.
The Yu family man glared at her hatefully, then looked at Qin Hao still fighting like a trapped beast in the formation. Finally, he ground out: "Retreat!"
The Yu family members and the independent cultivator alliance remnants withdrew reluctantly. But the "Heavenly Thunder-Fire Formation" continued operating, thunder-fire constantly bombarding. The Qin family members couldn't escape for the moment.
Margaret looked at Dustin. Dustin nodded slightly and stepped forward, carefully observing the formation.
After a moment, he said: "Though this formation is powerful, the formation eye is at the central pillar's base. Destroy the formation eye, and the formation will collapse."
Qin Hao heard this from within the formation, his gaze flickering. He stopped trying to withstand the thunder-fire head-on and instead charged toward the pillar's base with all his strength. Golden light shielded him as he weathered the thunder-fire bombardment, finally reaching the pillar. He struck a faintly glowing node at the pillar's base with one palm!
"BOOM—!"
The formation shook violently, then shattered! The thunder-fire filling the sky instantly dissipated, leaving only scorch marks covering the ground.
Qin Hao emerged from the formation, his aura somewhat unstable, but still standing straight as a pine. He looked at Margaret, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.
"Princess Margaret, I'll remember this favor." He said flatly.
Margaret shook her head: "No need. I only did what should be done."
Qin Hao glanced at her, then at Dustin behind her, nodding slightly before leading Qin Xue and the others toward the central pillar.
This time, no one dared block their path.
The Spirit Transformation Pill fell into Qin Hao's hands.
– Marinien
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