“Boom!”

A black flood dragon emerged from the clouds, spewing a jet of black flames towards the small courtyard where Xu Taiping and his companions were.

Although the flames were eventually blocked by the Golden Scales Formation, everyone below couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread.

“That demonic cultivator hasn’t given up yet?”

Xu Taiping glanced at the black flood dragon above and then turned to Xu Ziyan beside him.

“No,” Xu Ziyan shook her head, her face full of worry. “It seems he’s using the black flood dragon to probe the formation’s weak points, trying to find a way to break it.”

“Is there nothing we can do?”

Xu Taiping asked.

“Unless we can predict where they’ll attack next, there’s nothing we can do but watch.”

Xu Ziyan looked helpless.

Xu Taiping nodded.

“As expected of a demonic lord-level cultivator.”

He murmured. This demonic cultivator was clearly more difficult to deal with than the simple-minded, muscle-bound golden-haired demonic cultivator from before.

“How many days until the Cloud Dream Marsh formation reactivates and we get teleported out?”

Xu Taiping asked Xu Ziyan.

“Two days left.”

Xu Ziyan replied.

“Two days? Can the formation hold for two days?”

Xu Taiping was worried.

“If they try to forcefully break it, the Golden Scales Formation won’t fear them. But if that demonic cultivator finds a way to break it, that’s another story.”

Xu Ziyan was equally worried.

“Don’t think too much about it. For now, just focus on healing your injuries.”

She advised Xu Taiping.

Xu Taiping nodded. He indeed needed to recover his blood and energy.

…

That night.

Xu Taiping, who was soaking in a medicinal bath and meditating, was suddenly awakened by a knock on the door.

“Who is it?”

He opened his eyes and asked.

“It’s me.”

A cold female voice sounded from outside.

It was Lin Buyu.

“Wait a moment.”

Xu Taiping immediately stood up from the bath, used his internal energy to disperse the water, and quickly got dressed.

“Huh? Where is she?”

When he opened the door, he found no one there.

“Here.”

Just as Xu Taiping was about to step out to look, Lin Buyu appeared in front of him out of thin air.

Clearly, she had used her robe to hide herself.

“Buyu, what brings you here so late?”

Xu Taiping invited Lin Buyu inside.

“The Golden Scales Formation might not hold until the Cloud Dream Marsh formation reactivates.”

Lin Buyu got straight to the point.

“Why do you say that?”

Xu Taiping was puzzled.

Although the demonic cultivator had sent the black flood dragon to probe a few times today, it had failed each time, clearly not finding a way to break the formation.

“Lin Buyan said so.”

Lin Buyu replied.

Then, with a lazy expression and a bit of impatience, she explained to Xu Taiping, “I observed today that the black flood dragons attacked different spots each time. They were clearly testing something. In the last few attempts, after changing their attack order and strength, several weak points in the formation showed signs of loosening. If this continues, it won’t take long for them to find a way to break it.”

“Is there a way to fix it?”

Xu Taiping frowned.

The Golden Scales Formation was their last line of defense. If it was broken, he had no confidence in dealing with a demonic lord-level cultivator.

“No.”

Lin Buyan shook her head.

“I came to discuss with you what to do after the formation is broken.”

Lin Buyu took back control of her body.

“But the opponent is a demonic lord.”

Xu Taiping couldn’t think of any solution.

“Do you have a backup plan, Buyan?”

He asked curiously.

“Don’t count on me. I used up most of my divine essence killing that demonic flood dragon at the Listening Wind Pavilion.”

“And even if I could fight, in my current state, I can’t take on a demonic lord.”

Lin Buyan said.

Hearing this, Xu Taiping was even more puzzled. He immediately asked Lin Buyu, “Then what is your plan?”

“We still have this.”

Lin Buyu suddenly raised her right hand, pulled back her sleeve, revealing a jade bracelet on her wrist.

“The Listening Wind Pavilion’s formation eye bracelet?”

Xu Taiping instinctively raised his left hand, revealing a similar jade bracelet on his wrist.

“Old Duan said these bracelets contain a few true words left by the master of the Listening Wind Pavilion. These true words might save our lives.”

Lin Buyu said.

Hearing this, Xu Taiping slapped his forehead and said, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten.”

“I want to see what these true words are and what power they hold.”

Lin Buyu stood up and reached out to Xu Taiping, revealing her intention for the night.

“Alright, I want to see too.”

Xu Taiping nodded and naturally took Lin Buyu’s hand.

“Interlock your fingers.”

Lin Buyu reminded him.

“Got it.”

Xu Taiping interlocked his fingers with Lin Buyu’s.

“Boom!”

Almost instantly, a surge of intense spiritual energy spread from the jade bracelets on their wrists.

Then, images related to the bracelets’ abilities flooded their minds, much like when they used the Jade Scroll of Transmitting Techniques.

“There are three true words: ‘Heartfelt Connection,’ ‘Eternal Decay,’ and ‘Mutual Destruction.’”

“‘Heartfelt Connection’ allows you to know each other’s thoughts and the thoughts of any spiritual beings within a hundred feet, lasting for one day. ‘Eternal Decay’ accelerates the decay of everything within a hundred feet based on the caster’s state of mind, lasting for one hour. ‘Mutual Destruction’ can severely injure or even kill all enemies within a hundred feet, including those in the Transformative Realm, but it will turn the bracelet wearers against each other, lasting for the duration of a stick of incense.”

Xu Taiping summarized.

“But you can only choose one of the three at a time, and you can’t use any of them again for half a month after casting.”

Lin Buyu added.

“If you don’t mind turning against me, we could try ‘Mutual Destruction’ and perhaps kill those demonic cultivators.”

Xu Taiping joked.

“I do mind.”

Lin Buyu refused flatly.