Long Ya's controlled evil soul repeatedly lashed out at the Nascent Soul cultivators who were fighting other evil souls. Each time this happened, Han Lian had to intervene quickly to stop the attack. Otherwise, their side would surely suffer casualties. This left Han Lian stretched thin, and she was almost injured by Long Ya herself.
Sensing that the situation was worsening, Xian Feng darted out from behind the protective barrier. The two joined forces, their combined attacks temporarily suppressing both the Divine Transformation–level evil soul and Long Ya.
Seeing the Divine Transformation evil soul held back, the other Nascent Soul cultivators increased their efforts, speeding up their slaughter of the remaining evil souls.
While the battle raged outside, Yan Xiguang, who had been the first to consume the genetic enhancement potion, was surrounded by increasingly intense spiritual fluctuations. He was showing clear signs of advancing in cultivation.
Yan Xiguang had taken a gamble when he consumed the potion, never expecting Ran Xi Zūnzhě's concoction to be this effective. In such a short time, his cultivation had already reached the verge of breaking through.
Knowing this opportunity was too rare to miss, Yan Xiguang immediately popped a pill into his mouth to assist his breakthrough to the Divine Transformation stage. After all, there was no ambient spiritual energy within the barrier; he had to rely entirely on himself.
Yan Xiguang's breakthrough was only the beginning. As time passed, spiritual fluctuations grew stronger within the barrier. All the cultivators who had taken the potion were desperately striving to break through.
With a sweep of her spiritual sense, Yunxi sensed this phenomenon clearly. She knew that so many simultaneous breakthroughs would require an immense amount of spiritual energy, yet the barrier contained none. Fortunately, the cultivators attempting breakthroughs had brought out all their hidden reserves: some clutched spiritual veins, some frantically consumed pills, and others swallowed rare treasures, all to ensure their success in advancing to the Divine Transformation stage.
By the time Han Lian and Xian Feng drove the Divine Transformation evil soul away and returned to the barrier, Yunxi was already swapping in new energy blocks. Several cultivators had successfully advanced to Divine Transformation.
Yan Xiguang was the first to step forward and thank them. Han Lian, still concerned, spoke privately with Yan Xiguang before approaching Yunxi for more potion.
Once Huaxian Gate's Xian Yao confirmed that most cultivators had successfully broken through, she took the initiative to request more potion. Those who came forward assured Yunxi they wouldn't take Ran Xi Zūnzhě's potion for free.
During this time, Yunxi deliberately feigned a shortage, setting up her cauldron twice to refine additional batches. Only after much effort was she able to supply each person with a share. However, those who had taken the genetic enhancement potion but failed to break through were denied a second dose.
"It's not that I'm unwilling to give you more," Yunxi explained, "but this potion can only be taken once in your lifetime. No matter how much you take afterward, it will no longer have any effect."
The cultivators, though disappointed, had no choice but to accept this.
Seizing a lull in the attacks, Yunxi stepped out of the barrier. She intended to locate Long Ya's hidden blade. She refused to believe it had simply vanished.
This time, she did not rely on her spiritual sense. Instead, she carefully examined the grand hall inch by inch with her eyes.
Han Lian and Xian Feng soon joined her search, the three fanning out to cover different directions.
When Yunxi reached one of the massive stone pillars, she noticed that the vivid carvings were all composed of human faces, their expressions twisted and grim. She also spotted an empty section on the pillar's surface.
Her almond eyes narrowed slightly. She remembered clearly that when she and Wei Yunqing had been the first to arrive here, all nine pillars had been completely covered with carvings, leaving no bare spots.
Perhaps Yunxi's long scrutiny had drawn attention, because Han Lian and Xian Feng appeared beside her, their gazes also fixed on the pillar.
Han Lian's eyes flashed as she pointed at one spot.
"I recall a humanoid carving here," she said. "Its appearance resembled the Divine Transformation evil soul that Xian Feng Daoyou and I slew together."
"So the evil souls emerged from these pillars."
Realization dawned on Yunxi, and she turned her attention to the central pillar.
They flashed over to it, and Yunxi carefully examined every carving. Pointing at an inconspicuous section, she asked:
"Look, doesn't this resemble the dragon-patterned saber?"
Both Han Lian and Xian Feng followed her gaze. After a close inspection, they exchanged a knowing nod.
Han Lian spoke thoughtfully. "Ran Xi Daoyou, you're suggesting that the dragon-patterned saber is sealed inside this pillar?"
Yunxi did not answer directly. Instead, she asked: "When you two killed that Divine Transformation evil soul, what happened to the dragon-patterned saber in its hand?"
"It vanished," Xian Feng replied.
"Could it have returned here?" Han Lian wondered aloud.
Yunxi sent her spiritual sense sweeping over the entire pillar but remained puzzled. Logically, Long Ya should have been sealed within the pillar. Yet somehow, it could briefly emerge, directing evil souls to attack them. What was the purpose of this strategy?
Was it merely trying to help the evil souls claim new bodies and break free of the seal? But so far, the evil souls had emerged in order of ascending strength, as though deliberately giving them time to adapt, allowing them to seize the upper hand.
Why didn't Long Ya simply unleash an Out-of-Body–level evil soul from the start? If that had happened, even with a hundred cultivators working together, they would have been annihilated.
The more Yunxi thought, the deeper her frown became. She was certain she had missed a crucial clue.
Han Lian summoned her protective Ice Lotus, intending to strike the pillar, but Xian Feng stopped her.
"Han Lian Daoyou, don't act rashly. This could be exactly what the evil souls want: for us to break the pillars and release them completely."
Realization dawned on Han Lian. She retracted her Ice Lotus and rubbed her temples. "Thank you, Xian Feng Daoyou, for the reminder. I was impulsive. It seems even inside the barrier, we've been influenced by their evil energy. This isn't like me at all."
Xian Feng nodded in understanding. He could sympathize. Nearly forty percent of the Nascent Soul cultivators brought here had already perished, and everyone's resources were half-spent. No one knew how much longer they could hold out. The constant fighting kept them on edge, making mistakes inevitable. At least Han Lian, being at Divine Transformation, could still listen to reason.
Yunxi studied the carving of the dragon-patterned saber for a long time before finally speaking."Let's wait. I refuse to believe it won't show itself again."
She turned and swiftly returned to the barrier. Xian Feng and Han Lian exchanged a glance and followed her. This time, instead of returning to their own sect members, they stayed by Yunxi's side.
Xian Feng raised his hand to set up a barrier and said,
"Ran Xi Daoyou, have you discovered something?"
Yunxi nodded. "I think I may have found a way out of here."
Joy flickered across their usually calm faces. Han Lian immediately asked,
"What way?"
"Kill every single evil soul in this place."
Xian Feng's eyelid twitched. "You mentioned this method before, but the evil souls keep getting stronger. If we truly aim to annihilate them all, the cost will be immense."
"Don't worry," Yunxi said calmly. "That dragon-tooth weapon will help us."