Wang Jianqian's voice carried the force of spiritual power, spreading violently.
After repelling the woman's flying sword, his voice did not dissipate but instead surged outward endlessly like a tidal wave.
The woman's expression shifted, and she was forced back several dozen feet.
This guy…
In that moment, the ease and mockery on her face completely vanished, replaced by heavy solemnity.
Before entering the secret realm, under Elder Song's instructions, she had memorized all the top ten outer disciples of the other three sects.
This person was clearly not among them—so why was his strength so terrifying?
Buzz—
While she was distracted, Wang Jianqian's attack descended once again.
Verdant light engulfed her, and in an instant, a sword formation formed, trapping her inside.
Her expression shifted as she sent her flying sword slashing at the formation.
Boom!
The sword array only shuddered faintly, then immediately stabilized again.
"So solid!"
Her face darkened as she struck once more.
Yet the array remained entirely unharmed.
For the first time, horror surfaced in her eyes.
After trapping the woman in the Wood Sword Formation, Wang Jianqian no longer paid her any mind.
His figure flashed, catching Wang Yuyao just before she hit the ground.
"Senior brother…"
Seeing him, a faint smile appeared on Yuyao's bloodless face.
But her injuries were far too severe.
Barely two words left her lips before the motion tugged at her wounds.
She vomited blood violently, then her vision went black as she lost consciousness.
Wang Jianqian's expression tightened. He tapped several points on her body.
The remnants of the Bloodburst Pill's power instantly dispersed, and her hair returned to black.
When he probed further into her injuries, his heart sank.
She had already been gravely injured.
Now, after consuming the Bloodburst Pill, her body was on the verge of collapse.
He quickly fed her a Perfect Earth-Yellow Pill.
Placing his finger on her chest, he sent spiritual power into her body to help refine the medicine.
Such injuries would never respond to an ordinary pill, but a Perfect-grade pill could at least restrain the damage.
As the medicinal power spread, her condition finally stabilized.
Wang Jianqian exhaled in relief, fed her another Perfect Earth-Yellow Pill, then let it dissolve on its own. His gaze shifted back toward the woman trapped inside the sword formation.
He recognized her.
Ye Qingxue, disciple of Xuanqing Palace, ranked fourth among the outer sect.
At that moment, a sharp whistling pierced the air.
He turned to look.
At the horizon, five figures streaked closer.
Within breaths, they arrived at the battlefield.
When they saw the woman trapped inside the Wood Sword Formation, shock rippled across their faces.
"Senior Sister Qingxue is trapped! Hurry, break the formation!"
Without hesitation, they attacked the array.
Inside, Ye Qingxue's spirits lifted.
Coordinating with them, she launched her own strike at the formation.
Boom!
The sword formation trembled, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
"The formation's breaking—strike together and shatter it!"
The six rejoiced.
But just as they prepared to continue, the array shimmered with green light, and the cracks instantly vanished.
Their expressions froze.
"This array recovers too quickly. Forcing it down isn't realistic," Ye Qingxue said grimly.
The five exchanged looks, then their eyes turned toward Wang Jianqian.
"He's the one sustaining it. Kill him, and the array will collapse."
A cold voice broke the silence.
"Good idea!"
The other four brightened at once.
In the next moment, all five charged at Wang Jianqian, murderous intent surging.
Ye Qingxue noticed this but did not stop them.
Among the five, two were top ten outer disciples, the other three in the top twenty.
Five together, their strength rivaled her own.
This old man was strong, but splitting focus to maintain the array, could he really withstand them all?
As the five streaked closer, Wang Jianqian's face remained calm.
"Outer disciples ranked tenth and eighth of Xuanqing Palace, plus three nobodies who couldn't even crack the top ten…"
"Today, you've chosen death."
He clenched his fist.
Golden sword qi flared—not vanishing into the void, but condensing around his hand.
At that instant, his fist was a Golden Sword Formation.
Boom!
The sky roared.
Golden sword qi exploded outward, and the five vomited blood as they were hurled back faster than they had come.
"Impossible!"
Ye Qingxue's face twisted with disbelief.
Then realization struck, and horror flooded her features.
"Run! He's not someone we can fight. He's already reached the Third Compression Stage of Spiritual Power!"
Third Compression Stage!
Her words struck the five like thunder.
Terrified, they turned and fled without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Wang Jianqian faltered.
He had never heard of this "Third Compression Stage."
What exactly was it?
But with the five trying to escape, he shoved his doubts aside.
He punched once more.
Endless golden sword qi surged forth, engulfing the five in an instant.
They struggled desperately, but the deluge was too great.
One by one, their bodies were pierced through.
Moments later, as the sword qi faded, five corpses dropped lifeless from the sky.
Wang Jianqian opened his hand, dissolving the golden formation around his fist.
His gaze returned to the trapped woman.
With a gesture, the Earth Sword Formation merged with the Wood Sword Formation.
The gravity inside spiked instantly.
Ye Qingxue cried out, crushed flat against the ground, unable to move.
Wang Jianqian stepped into the array, looming over her.
"Tell me—what is this 'Third Compression Stage'?"
She froze.
He doesn't know?
Could it be… he isn't at that stage? But then, how can he be this strong?
"Speak!"
Impatience flickered across his face, and the chill in his voice made her heart tremble.
Hastily, she explained.
Soon, clarity dawned on Wang Jianqian's expression.
The Third Compression Stage was not a realm, but a step toward Foundation Establishment.
Foundation Establishment required compressing gaseous spiritual power into liquid.
After reaching the peak of Qi Refining, one had to compress their spiritual power.
Each compression was a "stage."
After four compressions, spiritual power would liquefy completely, marking the transformation into a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Thus, the Third Compression Stage was the extreme limit before Foundation Establishment.
Only those who stood at the very peak of Qi Refining could reach it.
At last, his long-held doubt was dispelled.
So that was why Ye Lingyun, Bai Xiruo, and Mu Lingxi—though all Qi Refining—were vastly stronger than common cultivators.
They had already stepped onto the path of compression.
After unraveling the mystery, Wang Jianqian's gaze sharpened as it fell back on Ye Qingxue.
A glint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.
"Now, I'll give you only two choices."
"Submit… or die."