A majestic scarlet copper mountain towered like a giant over the land, and the scarlet copper trees dotting its body shone with a dazzling light.

Currently, an intense battle was enveloping the giant mountain.

Several tens of thousands of Spirits hovered in the air, covering the entire sky. Boundless Spirit power swept outwards, rippling the surrounding space.

Four Spirits stood with their hands behind their backs at the center of this giant army. At the very front stood Lu Xiao and Han Yuan, the respective pavilion masters of the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion.

Zhu Lian followed at Lu Xiao’s side, and standing beside Han Yan was a very thin man who had a pair of eyes that shone like a blade. This man was called Zhao Yin, and he was the Mountain Pavilion’s Spirit commander for the Heaven Flame Ritual. From the powerful Spirit undulations spreading from his body, it was clearly an individual that had stepped into the Transformative stage.

The four of them were currently gazing indifferently towards a certain spot in the distance.

Outside the giant scarlet copper mountain was a giant barrier made from Spirit power. Layers of mist like vortexes could be seen on the surface of the barrier, and nearly ten thousand Spirits continuously poured their Spirit power into the barrier from the inside. It was the Forest Pavilion.

On the Fire and Mountain Pavilions’ side, Spirits continuously unleashed an endless barrage of attacks. The attacks bombarded the Spirit barrier, causing giant ripples to emerge.

“Mu Qingyan is quite capable. To think that she can utilize the Forest Pavilion members’ Spirits to form a Thousand Spirit Cloud Eddy boundary,” Zhu Lian could not help but praise as he gazed at the giant Spirit barrier.

“Without the Fire Pavilion’s help, our Mountain Pavilion will likely be delayed for a long time even if we managed to triumph over the Forest Pavilion.” The man called Zhao Yin faintly nodded in agreement.

Lu Xiao indifferently said, “How much longer until it is broken?”

Zhu Lian did not dare to let Lu Xiao wait. He quickly estimated and replied, “I’m afraid we’ll need half a day.”

Lu Xiao frowned. “Too long. Although I’ve dispatched Wang Chen to delay the Wind Pavilion, Zhou Yuan is extremely crafty and may have realized what we’re up to.”

Zhu Lian bitterly chuckled. “Mu Qingyan’s Thousand Spirit Cloud Eddy boundary boasts extremely strong defensive properties. If they are determined to defend, there’s really nothing we can do for a time. The only option is to slowly exhaust their Spirits.”

Lu Xiao knew that it was useless to say anything else, and he could only nod in acknowledgement.

“No need to be anxious, brother Lu. Zhou Yuan might not be able to guess our plan. He might still be foolishly waiting for the Fire Pavilion to attack them.”

Han Yuan laughed. “Moreover, I feel that you think too highly of him. The Fire Pavilion should be capable of easily crushing the Wind Pavilion. If you had immediately attacked them, they would have been wiped out long ago.”

Lu Xiao indifferently said, “Zhou Yuan is too unfathomable. The Heaven Flame Ritual was originally slated to be overseen by my Heavenly Spirit Sect, but grand elder Chi Jing had suddenly decided to interfere out of nowhere, forcing the sect master to change it into a free-for-all. If I somehow fail, it will be very difficult to explain. Hence, it is not wrong to practice a little more caution.”

Han Yuan felt that Lu Xiao was making a mountain out of a molehill and that there was no need to invest so much thought for a mere Wind Pavilion. However, he also understood that this matter would affect sect master Xuan Kun’s reputation, and Lu Xiao did not dare to be careless.

“After we finish off the Forest Pavilion, Zhou Yuan will have no chance regardless of what tricks he prepares!” Han Yuan chuckled.

Lu Xiao nodded. He urged Zhu Lian and Zhao Yin, “Increase the attacks and break this Spirit barrier as soon as possible so we can eliminate the Forest Pavilion.”

Zhu Lian and Zhao Yin did not dare to tarry. The two Transformative stage Spirits personally took action, directing angry wave after angry wave of boundless Spirit power to crash into the giant Spirit barrier.

As the Fire Pavilion’s and Mountain Pavilion’s attacks intensified, the Forest Pavilion felt even more pressured.

Mu Liu stood on a peak, his handsome face filled with iciness. The Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion suddenly joining hands to besiege them had indeed caught them off guard. After all, this was the first time something like this had happened over many years of Heaven Flame Rituals.

There had never been a ritual as bitter as this.

Mu Liu clenched his jaw in anger before turning towards a boulder behind him where Mu Qingyan was seated. She was tightly gritting her teeth as she continuously directed the ten thousand Forest Pavilion Spirits to replenish various spots in the barrier, desperately defending against the onslaught.

However, as time passed, Mu Liu began to see the Spirits of more and more Forest Pavilion members turn into a streak of fire and disappear. It was the protective mechanism of the Heaven Flame Cauldron activating once the Spirit weakened to a certain level.

If this continued, it was only a matter of time before they were wiped out.

“Mu Liu, you bastard. We can’t hold out for much longer!” cursed Mu Qingyan.

Mu Liu awkwardly scratched his head as he displayed a bitter smile. If he had his physical body, his strong Genesis Qi foundations would allow him to charge out to engage the enemy in battle. Unfortunately, he was merely a Spirit that had only reached the Corporeal stage. Even if he did charge out, he would only be instantly exterminated.

Mu Liu helplessly said, “I can’t do anything. Who could have expected them to be so shameless and go after our Forest Pavilion first? This makes no sense at all.”

Mu Qingyan glared at him. “Isn’t it because you got scammed by Zhou Yuan to cooperate with the Wind Pavilion?”

Mu Liu shrugged. “What can we do now?”

“What else? We can only wait for the Wind Pavilion to realize something is wrong and come to our aid!”

Mu Qingyan muttered, “However, I fear that Zhou Yuan will still be stupidly waiting for the Fire Pavilion to attack them. Even in that one in a million chance he realizes something is amiss, he might not dare to bring the Wind Pavilion over since both the Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion are here.”

Mu Liu shook his head. “If Zhou Yuan was that kind of person, he would not have dared to kill Fang Ao. He may usually appear gentle, but he’s actually very ruthless.”

“I hope you’re right.” Mu Qingyan gave a slight nod. She did not continue the conversation and instead cast all her attention into directing the Forest Pavilion. She needed to personally oversee the Thousand Spirit Cloud Eddy boundary, or it would soon crumble under the enemy’s barrage.

However, she also knew that even a boundary like this would not last for long under such tremendous pressure. Its demise was only a matter of time.

She could only pray that Zhou Yuan was a little smarter.

Half a day stealthily passed while the Forest Pavilion bitterly endured.

The boundary that enveloped the mountain had already become extremely faint like a thin membrane. Anyone could see that it was almost over for the Forest Pavilion.

In the sky, Zhu Lian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The Spirit barrier should be finished after a few more waves of attacks and without its protection, the Forest Pavilion would have to face the crazed onslaught of the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion.

“Pavilion master, the Forest Pavilion is finished.”

Zhu Lian looked towards Lu Xiao with a somewhat pleased smile.

Lu Xiao nodded in acknowledgement as his expression finally relaxed a little. Once the Forest Pavilion was defeated, the Wind Pavilion would become easy pickings like fish on the chopping board.

“Zhou Yuan, a rabbit is still a rabbit no matter how much it jumps. Once the sleeping lion awakens, the rabbit will be finished.”

A faint smile rose from the corners of Lu Xiao’s mouth.

However, Zhu Lian’s and Zhao Yin’s expressions suddenly changed. They turned their heads at the same time, their expressions turning ugly as they looked towards a certain direction.

When Han Yuan saw them turn their heads, he asked, “What—”

However, his words came to an abrupt halt before he could finish. His pupils shrank slightly as he gazed into the distance where several thousand Spirits were rapidly approaching.

Lu Xiao watched with a chilling expression as the corners of his lips twitched. The iciness in his eyes could almost freeze the air.

“The Wind Pavilion is here.”

Zhou Yuan was always ruining things for him!