Chapter 574: Cooperation

The addition of Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu greatly alleviated Yu Yin’s pressure.

No matter how strong Yu Yin was, it was impossible for her to defeat such a large number of Core Formation Stage cultivators simultaneously.

These were no ordinary Core Formation Stage cultivators, but Unity Stage experts who had voluntarily downgraded to Core Formation Stage. In terms of vision and technique, they were all capable of playing dumb while secretly dominating in Core Formation Stage competitions and claiming the championship.

“The former Pavilion Master of Heaven’s Kill Pavilion is quite creative, imprinting your image on the golden core,” Bai Hongtu laughed, still finding time for wild thoughts while facing the crowd’s assault.

“If he were to shatter the core to form a Nascent Soul, do you think the Nascent Soul would look like you?”

The moment Bai Hongtu imagined a child with Jiang Li’s mature face, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Jiang Li remained expressionless and kicked Bai Hongtu right into the enemy group. Soon, the melodious sound of Bai Hongtu’s howling could be heard.

Hearing this sound, Jiang Li felt even more energized in his fighting.

“Tianming Daoist, your weapon is quite good,” Jiang Li confronted Tianming Daoist and his weapon.

The former Pavilion Master of Heaven’s Kill Pavilion wanted to shake his head, but unfortunately, his skin was too rigid to turn his neck.

He couldn’t even speak now.

“Indeed, such a handy weapon – it’s the first time I’ve seen one like this in all my years,” Tianming Daoist swung the former Pavilion Master of Heaven’s Kill Pavilion like the wind, brimming with confidence. Facing Jiang Li as an enemy, he felt not the slightest fear.

His cultivation technique hadn’t given him any warnings – it was completely safe.

In Tianming Daoist’s eyes, there were only two levels: completely safe and extremely dangerous, with no transitions in between.

His understanding of his sect’s techniques surpassed even that of the founding master, all achieved through diligent practice without any exaggeration.

Tianming Daoist swung the former Pavilion Master of Heaven’s Kill Pavilion toward Jiang Li with immense force, enough to crack the earth and topple spiritual plants if it hit the ground.

Soon, the Pavilion Master of Heaven’s Kill Pavilion was grimacing in pain.

His indestructible nature was useless before Jiang Li.

When the former Pavilion Master of Heaven’s Kill Pavilion could finally speak, he said what he had long wanted to say: “I surrender!”

The former Pavilion Master of Heaven’s Kill Pavilion fled in haste, leaving Tianming Daoist alone.

Jiang Li threw a punch, and Tianming Daoist’s body automatically reacted, dodging it. After experimenting several times, Jiang Li discovered that Tianming Daoist really had some skills.

During the experimentation, Jiang Li incidentally knocked out the surrounding cultivators from the competition.

“Body moving with intent, sensing fortune and misfortune – you’ve really put considerable thought into the golden core.”

Tianming Daoist looked quite pleased with himself.

“But if you think this counts as victory, you’re making a huge mistake.”

As Jiang Li spoke, he activated his golden core, gathered spiritual energy, and unleashed the supernatural power of Three Heads and Six Arms. Two hands threw punches while four hands executed supernatural abilities, creating a net-like fist wind that pressed forward step by step. With exquisite supernatural techniques coordinated with his fists, he gradually narrowed Tianming Daoist’s dodging space.

Controlled by the golden core, Tianming Daoist repeatedly retreated.

Finally, Tianming Daoist backed against a large tree. Facing Jiang Li’s six incoming fists, the golden core stopped controlling his body.

Tianming Daoist instantly understood that this meant there was no way to avoid this move.

Tianming Daoist took Jiang Li’s six punches head-on and was forced to leave the arena.

Just as he flew into the air, he saw the former Pavilion Master of Heaven’s Kill Pavilion flying toward him furiously.

Bai Hongtu broke through the multiple layers of encirclement and returned to the center of the battlefield.

At the battlefield center, Jiang Li faced enemies head-on while the other two covered his back. Yu Yin and Bai Hongtu made the same choice.

Yu Yin confronted the Old Dragon King. Knowing that trading attacks would put him at a disadvantage, the Old Dragon King chose to defend and neutralize Yu Yin’s force. Meanwhile, Yu Yin also had to handle attacks from others, making it difficult for her to finish off the Old Dragon King in one go.

Bai Hongtu and Sword Sovereign crossed swords again, both displaying the pinnacle of Core Formation Stage sword cultivation. Bai Hongtu held victory in his grasp – the signposts he had planted earlier could form an array that would greatly enhance his combat power.

Did they really think he was just simply drawing enemies for Yu Yin?

“Golden Revival Array!” Bai Hongtu shouted loudly.

However, no array responded to Bai Hongtu’s call.

Holy Maiden Jingxin had just pulled out all the signposts, leaving not a single one behind.

“Where’s the array?” Sword Sovereign was completely baffled, not understanding what madness had taken Bai Hongtu.

Jiang Li pointed behind Li Er and shouted as if seeing an acquaintance: “Look, your wife.”

Li Er trembled with fright, his golden core becoming ineffective.

“Cheng’er, listen to me, I’m completely devoted to you…”

“How many pieces has this heart of yours shattered into?”

Seizing the opportunity while Li Er was off guard, Jiang Li stepped forward, thunder and lightning crackling in his palm, and smeared it across Li Er’s face.

The thunderbolt shattered the air between Jiang Li’s palm and Li Er’s face, creating a vacuum zone that generated tremendous suction.

As Jiang Li pulled his hand back, Li Er’s face stretched forward, his body losing balance and falling face down.

Losing balance before Jiang Li was a major combat taboo. Without Jiang Li even needing to strike, Li Er knew he was definitely defeated.

While fighting Jiang Li, Li Er had anticipated various unexpected moves from him, but he still hadn’t foreseen Jiang Li’s combat methods.

Sure enough, Jiang Li landed various supernatural techniques on Li Er’s weak points, and Li Er withdrew from the competition.

“Fighting like this won’t lead to an end, let’s finish this quickly.”

Yu Yin and Bai Hongtu instantly understood Jiang Li’s meaning and activated their golden cores.

Three golden cores rotated simultaneously, echoing each other from afar and generating a marvelous connection. Spiritual energy transmitted between the three of them, with two golden core illusions appearing beside each person’s actual golden core in their dantian.

One solid and two illusory, the three golden cores slowly rotated as if containing infinite mysteries.

The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets all things.

The three golden cores continuously refined spiritual energy, keeping the three of them in optimal condition at all times.

“Those three never refined external cores at all – they kept their golden cores in their most primitive form!” someone shouted, immediately recognizing that all three had first-grade golden cores with perfect golden luster and flawless fullness!

Only this type of golden core could cooperate with each other and share the core’s capabilities with companions.

After they added other elements to their golden cores, the cores were no longer flawless and could only be used by themselves.

“See what I said back then – we didn’t need to discuss it, we would all choose not to refine external cores and cooperate against enemies,” Bai Hongtu laughed. Long before the competition started, he had already anticipated this situation.

The three of them were definitely going to be surrounded and attacked. To achieve victory, the only way was cooperation – three people forming cores together was the sole method.

Before the competition, none of them had mentioned this method.

“Just a coincidence,” Yu Yin said expressionlessly, flatly denying it.

Their depleted magical power was replenished, returning the three to their peak combat strength, even surpassing it.

With one person having three golden cores, they could employ techniques previously beyond their reach.

“The gentle breeze turns to rain and also to swords.” Bai Hongtu placed two fingers at his brow and pointed toward Sword Sovereign.

Sword energy like fine drizzle struck Sword Sovereign without causing pain or itch, but immediately after came a storm of wind and rain. Sword Sovereign was like a boat on the sea, swallowed by towering waves.

“Remove the dragon’s eyes.” Yu Yin drew an image of the Old Dragon King, vivid and lifelike, then erased the eyes from the painted Old Dragon King.

The Old Dragon King found his vision going dark, unable to see anything.

The three were like sharks entering the sea, while the crowd resembled a school of fish, capable only of fleeing for their lives.

Before long, only the three figures remained on the battlefield.

“Haha, in the end, it still comes down to this furnace showing its true capabilities!” The Crimson Sun Cauldron appeared last, holding three thousand golden cores in its mouth.

What are three golden cores? In terms of golden core numbers, you’re not even worth a fraction.

Jiang Li rotated his neck, restoring his Mahayana Stage strength, and sneered coldly: “Do you really think that just because you’re holding golden cores in your mouth, you’re a Core Formation Stage cultivator? Since when do spiritual treasures have Core Formation Stage classifications?”

Everyone could temporarily lower their physical strength to become Core Formation Stage cultivators, but with your Crimson Sun Cauldron’s material quality being what it is – a top-grade Dao artifact – can you really lower your strength to become a Core Formation Stage cauldron?

“Hey hey hey, what are you doing? I advise… I beg you not to do anything reckless.”