Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 745 - 316: Unshakable Resolve (Part 3)

According to ancient tales, the Vermilion Bird rises anew from flames. While full rebirth as in those stories remains beyond reach, they can certainly mend their injuries.

Divine Feathers across the bodies of all present expanded in size, merging into a single entity that clad the colossal Vermilion Bird Divine Form in plumage and a majestic crest.

In that moment, it felt like a supreme divine beast had roused itself amid the skies, unfurling wings that blanketed the firmament, bearing talons of unrivaled keenness where even a minor twitch could rend the emptiness.

"Screech!"

A majestic cry echoed forth, rivaling the thunderous roars of dragons.

"Vermilion Bird Thousand Strikes Against Dragons!"

The immense Vermilion Bird Divine Form, summoned by the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect, surged ahead to clash with the approaching Rule Cyan Dragons.

Blasts of wind howled savagely from its form, its aura brimmed with terror, and its razor-sharp talons struck with deadly accuracy, impaling two dragon heads right away and destroying those two Rule Cyan Dragons.

Its wings functioned like divine blades from the heavens, sweeping sideways to carve three Cyan Dragons into multiple segments!

Naturally, the Cyan Dragons weren't entirely overpowered by the Vermilion Bird, since numerous ones lunged right up to it.

The bigger dragon forms started grappling directly with the Vermilion Bird.

The tinier dragon shapes, resembling cords, scaled the Vermilion Bird's body, aiming to wrap it up entirely!

But in a flash, countless Divine Feathers burst from the Vermilion Bird Divine Form, each acting as a heavenly sword that swiftly reduced them to dust.

Witnessing the swift response from the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators, Ning Qi, Qi Keqing, and the rest felt a touch of surprise.

They truly lived up to their status as experts from a mid-tier Spirit Domain in the Vast Realm, displaying impressive prowess.

Qi Keqing descended into the formation, issuing the order, "Activate the Jade Light Seven Killing Array!"

"Yes!"

The command had barely ended when their lineup shifted, with the troops dividing promptly into seven separate groups.

Starlight gleamed from each group, varying in shade, though they seemed subtly connected.

"Seven Killings Extinguish Stars Slash!"

Everyone bellowed together, as the Jade Light Immortal Sect forces unleashed a horrifying strike all at once.

Seven strikes aligned into a pattern mimicking the Big Dipper, booming like seven massive stars overhead, morphing into a star-killing configuration that hurtled toward the Vermilion Bird.

The Vermilion Bird, tangled in its fight against the Cyan Dragons, sensed the fresh assault coming straight at it.

Flames exploded endlessly from its frame in an instant, engulfing the whole void in fire.

Right then, it exhaled a sacred blaze ahead, resembling a huge blazing orb that set the void ablaze, sending the heat levels spiking suddenly.

The Seven Killings Extinguish Stars Slash smashed into it.

At once, a dazzling clash of multicolored radiance and fire unfolded, as though they were countering one another's force.

Cultivators on both sides pushed their utmost power, channeling every bit of strength into the fray, leading to a brief deadlock in the confrontation.

Soon enough, a tremor hit both groups, forcing them to pull back a full mile from the collision's force.

The two sides eyed one another with fiery gazes, appearing utterly stunned.

Qi Keqing and her companions sensed that these Vast Realm cultivators possessed overwhelming might.

Earlier, they had seized a key position, but that stemmed from sheer fortune.

Afterward, they clashed with teams from various Vast Realm sects, yet through their collective force, they managed to wipe out the foes each time.

However, this encounter proved entirely different.

They remained unaware that the Vast Realm cultivators facing them hailed from the mightiest sect in that mid-tier Spirit Domain of the Vast Realm.

The enemy mid-tier Spirit Domain already surpassed their own former Spirit Domain in power.

For one, Ning Qi had eliminated numerous foes from the Spirit Bird Domain before, and for another, Qi Keqing stood as a fabled powerhouse, guiding the Jade Light Immortal Sect to confront power with even greater power.

As for the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators, much like those from the White Crane Immortal Sect felled by Ning Qi, they wore faces of uncertainty.

Had they truly run into experts from the lower ranks of the Mountain and Sea Realm's Spirit Domain?

Both factions drew in deep breaths, hastily restoring their energies.

The clash between them symbolized the strife of two entire Spirit Realms, bound to rage without mercy.

All of a sudden, a message reached Qi Keqing.

"Senior Sister Qi, do we truly have to continue battling the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect?" the transmission asked.

Qi Keqing glanced at the sender, recognizing Elder Li, the one who had earlier doubted the Array Cultivation approach.

With a faint crease in her brow, she responded, "Elder Li, what are you implying? Are you suggesting I direct the troops to retreat as well?"

Elder Li shot back:

"Senior Sister Qi, that's not my intent at all. My point is, we're exposed out here while Ning Qi stays hidden. If we wear ourselves out fighting the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect to the bitter end, only for them to reap the rewards, wouldn't that make our desperate struggle pointless?"

He hesitated briefly, then continued, "We need to draw them away, or we'll end up taking a massive hit!"

Elder Li's argument held solid logic; voicing it openly would likely win broad support.

Still, he opted for a private message, showing deference to Qi Keqing.

After pondering briefly, Qi Keqing answered, "Elder Li, I get where you're coming from, but I'm not willing to go that route!"

Elder Li, upon hearing her stance, replied with some frustration, "Senior Sister Qi, I spoke up for your sake, but this isn't the moment for lofty ideals. When survival hangs in the balance, notions of willingness don't apply. It's live or perish; any tactic is fair game!"

Worried about her rejection, he pressed on, "You're part of the Jade Light Immortal Sect, not some commander for the Mountain and Sea Realm's war domain. Don't jeopardize the Jade Light Immortal Sect's gains or those of Fuyao Realm!"

Qi Keqing answered firmly, "That's enough, Elder Li. My decision stands. We must never let the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect learn about Ning Qi and their presence!"

Deep down, she recognized that from a practical standpoint, Elder Li's advice rang true.

Yet Qi Keqing saw the bigger picture. Though her bond with Ning Qi was casual, she firmly believed he wouldn't stand idle while they battled endlessly against the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect and met their doom here.

She was confident Ning Qi shared her expansive perspective.

If they followed Elder Li's plan, revealing details of Ning Qi's Profound Truth Realm allies to the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect or pulling them into the mess right now, the ensuing conflict would undoubtedly grow far more tangled and arduous.