Chapter 308 Making a Move

As the aura of death descended, the middle-aged man instinctively turned, forming a sword seal and striking towards the sky above him.

A round of azure sun immediately broke through the air, releasing scorching heat and erupting with astonishing fluctuations.

Just as everyone was puzzled, a sword light, even more radiant than the azure sun sword wheel, suddenly appeared within the treetop!

It was merely a sword light, but as it descended, the middle-aged man from the Azure Sun Sword Sect felt as if a heavenly curtain was falling!

A vast aura pressed down heavily. The disciples of the two factions with weaker cultivation couldn't help but stagger back several steps, their waists bending slightly.

And this was merely the residual power of the sword light!

*Puff!!!*

In an instant, a strange sound came from above!

Following that, everyone saw the azure sun wheel, like a punctured skin bag, suddenly deflate. The spiritual energy it contained poured out, and its volume shrunk by several folds!

The middle-aged man's expression changed. He continuously altered the hand seals, unleashing torrents of magic power without regard for depletion, attempting to reignite the power of the azure sun sword wheel.

However, in the next moment, with a crisp *ding*, a long sword was seen flying backward from the azure sun. Not only was its spiritual energy in disarray, but its sword energy was also dissipating.

In just an instant, the azure sun wheel was torn apart by the sword light. Its immensely powerful might shattered into pieces, and its once dazzling brilliance abruptly dimmed.

However, after tearing through the azure sun, the sword light remained. Although it had expended most of its strength, it still slashed down with undiminished momentum!

Seeing this, a fierce glint flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes. As the magic power he had previously unleashed was severed by the sword light descending from the heavens, he was about to employ another tactic.

But with the breaking of the azure sun sword wheel, the backlash of the technique swept through his body, causing him to let out a muffled groan. He could only muster less than twenty percent of his magic power!

"Brother Wu, I'll help you!"

A figure flashed over. It was another middle-aged man, a late-stage Spirit Enlightenment realm cultivator from the Tranquil Heart Hall.

Before speaking, he had already spread his arms, and countless paper cranes flew out from his sleeves, converging into a shield above the two of them in an instant.

*Clang!!!*

A sound of metal striking metal echoed. The sword light, capable of tearing through the azure sun, struck the shield formed by the paper cranes, yet it was unable to cleave through it!

This was partly due to the sword light's depleted strength, but it also proved the immense power possessed by these seemingly ordinary paper cranes!

"What scoundrel dares to launch a sneak attack!"

The middle-aged man surnamed Wu, without revealing his emotions, wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth and then looked up.

As his mind moved, the long sword that had been knocked away earlier flew back, circling around him, appearing to have lost some of its sentience.

Gazes followed upwards, and everyone then saw a youth standing on the treetop of a colossal tree, holding a sword. The dense branches beside him seemed to have been cut by sharp blades.

Sensing the gazes upon him, Ji Yuan smiled slightly. The sword intent on his body suddenly became more solidified.

He had always fought using the Nine Yuan Heavy Water Scripture, but in reality, his highest achievement now was the Profound Heaven Dao Scripture, which he had been comprehending since he embarked on the path of cultivation!

Just as a trace of impatience began to appear in the eyes of the middle-aged man surnamed Wu and the others, the youth standing on the treetop finally moved!

At this moment, Ji Yuan leaned forward, took a step, and then fell straight down as if he had lost his footing.

But in the next breath, he seemed to transform into a divine sword, his potent sword intent erupting from within him, wisps of sword qi flowing around his body.

"Seeking death!"

The middle-aged man surnamed Wu's eyes blazed with anger. Seeing the youth transform into a sword light and slash towards him so arrogantly, he let out an angry roar.

He pointed with his hand, and the long sword beside him shot out. Several layers of restrictions were fully activated, and a far more potent power was brewing.

Concurrently, the cultivator from the Tranquil Heart Hall beside him prepared to join forces to eliminate the youth before them.

However, as soon as his mind moved, he felt intense heat behind him, and sharp cries rang out.

He turned to look and saw firelight surging, forming numerous palm-sized firebirds that swarmed in from all directions.

Without hesitation, he waved his long sleeve, and the paper cranes flying beside him immediately soared out, intercepting the firebirds that seemed capable of obscuring the sky!

*Clang!!*

A sound like striking a golden bell echoed, a dazzling light flashed, and then two powerful auras surged out.

In mid-air, the sword light condensed by Ji Yuan collapsed, revealing his form as he slashed downwards with his sword.

Before him, a long sword shone with light, and scorching waves of heat rolled in. A wisp of azure flame flickered on the sword's body.

Sensing the rapidly ascending power of the sword before him, his eyes flashed with sharp light, and then the sword intent within his body was unleashed!

In an instant, any cultivator within the scope of the sword intent could see a heavenly curtain descending, its vast momentum pressing down on them, making it difficult to breathe.

At the same time, under the impact of the powerful sword intent, the continuously rising power on the sword abruptly paused, then collapsed at an even faster rate. The long sword, already damaged in its sentience, became even dimmer.

As the heavenly curtain descended, the long sword could no longer bear the strain. With a mournful cry, the magic power within it immediately collapsed, and the sword body turned into an afterimage, sent flying into the distance.

However, after blasting away the sword before him, the power of Ji Yuan's strike was also exhausted. His figure drifted lightly seven or eight zhang away.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the disciples of the two factions, taking in their grim expressions. Then, he lightly patted the spirit beast pouch at his waist.

With a flash of light, a massive dark shadow immediately appeared in everyone's sight, and heavy ripples of water surged outward!