Chapter 921: Madness

Ye Mo prepared for a fierce battle upon reaching the platform. Seeing a Golden Core state level 5 cultivator challenge him, he immediately consumed a cultivation-enhancing pill and a Lin Blue Fruit.

Guang Wei noticed Ye Mo's actions and, seeing the challenger—stronger than the level 4 cultivator they'd slain together—desperately urged her senior sister, "Big Martial Sister, help him! He—"

The senior sister glanced at the two peak Golden Core cultivators from the South Side and shook her head. Intervening would break the rules and invite a concerted attack.

Guang Wei, desperate to assist, started to move, but her senior sister quickly shouted, "Guang Wei, stop! Do you think you can help him?"

Guang Wei, understanding her limitations, sighed and resigned herself to watching. She hoped Ye Mo would yield, but the cultivator's killing intent was palpable.

Several cultivators recognized the Lin Blue Fruit Ye Mo consumed, their eyes gleaming with avarice. While not a level 7 spirit herb, its value was comparable. A Foundation Establishment cultivator possessing such a rare item was astonishing.

The Golden Core level 5 master sneered, "Punk! Remember my name: Jin Suozhen, Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, South Peace State! For that Lin Blue Fruit, I'll leave your body intact."

Many regretted not having intervened earlier; Ye Mo's demise would have left them the fruit.

Jin Suozhen waved his hand, unleashing a gray metal hoop, initially palm-sized, which expanded to a meter in diameter above Ye Mo. Dozens of dark rays, radiating a chilling aura, shot forth.

Qin Muxin's expression changed; she'd lost to this very hoop before. Without her spirit artifact armor, she would have perished. The dark rays were potent, dissolving even spirit sense.

The hoop's deployment immediately inflicted pain on Ye Mo's spirit sense, stunning him. He hadn't anticipated a magic artifact capable of corroding spirit sense.

Meanwhile, the cultivation-enhancing pill and Lin Blue Fruit took effect, igniting his body. He relied on the Three Birth Chant.

The Chant generated a swirling vortex of spirit chi, while Ye Mo launched his Illusion Cloud Essence Binding Strike. Defending against the attacks simultaneously activated his potential. His sword rays targeted not Jin Suozhen, but the hoop's dark rays, creating a sizzling clash.

Simultaneously, Ye Mo summoned countless top-grade spirit stones, forming a rudimentary spirit-gathering formation. This generated a larger spirit chi vortex. While ideal for two years hence, he lacked the time, gambling on this life-or-death situation to unlock his potential.

Witnessing Ye Mo withstand the hoop attack shocked onlookers, but the sight of his immense spirit chi vortex left them astounded. Seeing the spirit stones, they realized he was attempting core formation.

Mad! No one believed Ye Mo was sane. A Foundation Establishment cultivator countering a Golden Core cultivator's full-powered attack while attempting core formation was suicidal. Even survival guaranteed flawed cultivation.

The senior sister stared, then said to Qin Muxin, "I was wrong. He's not an idiot; he's a madman."

Guang Wei, equally stunned, found Ye Mo's actions beyond crazy.

Jin Suozhen's face turned green; his lethal attack thwarted by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, who then dared to form his core during combat.

Enraged, Jin Suozhen hurled a dark red orb at Ye Mo and drew his long sword. Everyone watched in disbelief; a Golden Core level 5 fighting a Foundation Establishment cultivator was already humiliating, and now, he was using Red Lightning.

Red Lightning, a single-use spirit-level magic artifact, unleashed a devastating lightning blast. Even a Golden Core tertiary cultivator would struggle to survive, let alone a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The Three Birth Chant voraciously consumed spirit chi, intensifying the pressure from the dark rays and pushing Ye Mo towards a breakthrough.

Seeing the Red Lightning, Ye Mo, aware of his ability to absorb the lightning's essence, halted his counterattack.

A deafening rumble followed. Ye Mo was enveloped by Red Lightning; sparks and explosions erupted, scattering the spirit chi vortex. Yet, Ye Mo closed his eyes, unleashing the Illusion Cloud Exert Will Strike. His power neared the Golden Core state. Countless sword rays deflected the dark rays and the scattered Red Lightning.

The most powerful lightning bolt, however, struck Ye Mo directly, even drawing stray bolts.

Lost in absorbing the lightning, Ye Mo forgot the battle. His power surged, the spirit chi vortex expanding dramatically.

Seeing Ye Mo struck, everyone believed him finished. Even a peak Golden Core cultivator would be critically injured.

Guang Wei closed her eyes in anguish; Ye Mo was, she thought, done for.

Qin Muxin sighed. She highly respected Ye Mo; his Pill Concoction Hall fame wasn't accidental. Her master considered him a genius, and she hadn't entirely dismissed marrying him, only angered by his rejection. But seeing him engulfed in lightning filled her with sadness.