"This is... the energy that just disappeared has returned?!"
"A magic trick? No! This energy... is even more powerful than before!"
"Why do I have a chilling feeling?"
"Not good!"
"Quick, dodge!"
"..."
Someone finally reacted, but it was too late.
The enormous energy that had been locked onto Zi Linling instantly descended upon the Hehuan Sect.
Numerous houses collapsed, kicking up clouds of dust.
"Ahhhhhhh..."
Screams echoed endlessly, broken limbs and mangled corpses flew everywhere, and the smell of blood spread, quickly becoming so pungent it induced nausea.
However, the entire Hehuan Sect was already covered by its own sect-protecting formation, and under the influence of the Chaos Seal, Zi Linling had complete control over it.
Thus, the people of Hehuan Sect became trapped creatures, confined within a limited space.
Li Hehuan watched with his own eyes as half of the Hehuan Sect's disciples died under this single attack, his face contorted into a savage grimace.
He gritted his teeth and roared, "Disband the sect-protecting formation!"
He had no choice but to do so. If another attack of this magnitude occurred, the remaining half of his disciples would not be spared.
But the sect-protecting formation was no longer something he could simply disband at will.
"Disband? Dream on!"
Zi Linling's sharp cry rang out as she changed the seals in her hand again.
"Gather!"
"Haste!"
The power of words – spoken words become reality – once again displayed its might.
The Hehuan Sect's sect-protecting formation began to autonomously draw spiritual energy from Qingcheng Mountain and condense it upon itself.
The formation lit up with visible speed, and the trees on Qingcheng Mountain turned yellow just as quickly.
Concurrently, the mountain entrance formation began to waver, and the low-level formations near the foot of the mountain started to crumble.
Li Hehuan's face turned green as he looked at the dense glow on the sect-protecting formation.
"Zi Linling, are you truly going to exterminate us all?"
Zi Linling sneered, "Are you joking? With things having come to this pass, do you expect me to leave you with seeds for a comeback?
Besides, aren't you familiar with this scenario?
You used to be the butchers, and others were the lambs to the slaughter. And now? The butcher has changed to me, and you have become the lambs to the slaughter. Are you not accustomed to it?"
Zi Linling's voice suddenly turned cold, and she continued, "What goes around comes around. You sowed the seeds of your past actions, and today is the inevitable fruit.
And today, it is merely the Dao of Heaven using my hand to settle past karmic debts! Therefore, you have no need to speak further. Prepare to die!"
"Good! Very good! Zi Linling, you forced my hand!"
Li Hehuan grit his teeth, disregarding the lives of everyone else, and turned to flee towards the depths of the Hehuan Sect.
There lay the sect's forbidden grounds, their last trump card.
Zi Linling let out a cold laugh, "Flee? Once I've dealt with these filthy things, I'll deal with you properly!"
As she spoke, the seals in her hand changed again.
"Haste!"
"Slash!"
Another attack descended upon the Hehuan Sect, shaking the sect-protecting formation to the point of cracking.
"Boom!"
With a deafening roar, the Hehuan Sect's main compound instantly became a colossal pit.
Everyone inside, except for Li Hehuan who fled towards the forbidden grounds, became dead men.
The difference was that some were reduced to碎肉 (minced meat), some to 肉块 (chunks of flesh), and some miraculously remained whole corpses.
With that last strike, the Hehuan Sect's sect-protecting formation had nearly drained all the spiritual energy from Qingcheng Mountain.
Therefore, after completing that attack, the formation was depleted of energy and completely shattered.
Zi Linling's face was pale, and she swayed unsteadily.
The use of the Chaos Seal and consecutive uses of the power of words had completely depleted her soul power.
At this moment, even a single breath caused her head to throb with agonizing pain.
However, she had no time to rest.
For in the direction where Li Hehuan had disappeared, several extremely dangerous auras were continuously strengthening, as if several dormant terrifying entities were slowly awakening.
Therefore, what Zi Linling had to do now was to recover to her optimal state as quickly as possible.
She had a feeling that even at her peak, she would not be a match for those terrifying entities.
She swallowed Soul-Increasing Pills one after another. With the aid of her Phoenix True Fire, she rapidly replenished her depleted soul power.
It was only her who could do this; any other person would have exploded and died from consuming such a quantity of pills!
A moment later, her soul power had recovered by fifty percent, while the terrifying auras in the Hehuan Sect's forbidden grounds continued to climb.
"I can't wait any longer!"
Zi Linling stood up and activated her Phantom Dragon Steps, quickly pursuing the direction Li Hehuan had taken.
She needed to kill Li Hehuan before those terrifying entities fully awoke.
A few breaths later, an opening appeared before her.
At the entrance, the words "Forbidden Grounds" were carved onto a stone tablet, instilling a sense of awe.
Zi Linling shouted, "Li Hehuan, come out and die!"
She was unsure of the situation within the forbidden grounds and was unwilling to rush in blindly.
Moreover, she could sense that those terrifying auras were emanating from within the cave.
"Zi Linling, aren't you powerful? Then come in yourself! However, don't blame me for not warning you. This is the resting place of the past sect masters of my Hehuan Sect. If you enter, be prepared to die!"
Li Hehuan's hysterical voice echoed from the depths of the cave.
Zi Linling swallowed another handful of Soul-Increasing Pills and said coldly, "It seems your Hehuan Sect does have some foundation.
Let me guess, there are at least three old monsters within this cave who are not dead, but are in a state of self-sealing, correct?
And these old immortals sealed themselves and fell into a slumber because their lifespans were running out, right? I imagine they won't live much longer after waking up this time, correct?
It seems this is the final trump card of your Hehuan Sect. Very well, since I am to destroy your Hehuan Sect, I will do so thoroughly!
These old ones who should have turned to dust deserve to sleep forever!
Li Hehuan, I'm coming. Are you ready to die?"
Zi Linling spoke as she stepped into the cave.
The cave was extremely cold. This cold was not a haughty cold, but a bone-chilling frigidity that seeped into one's marrow.
This chilling sensation was quite similar to the feeling in the ninth level of the Ghost Altar – the feeling of the underworld.
Thus, even someone as powerful as Zi Linling could not help but shiver.
Fortunately, the cave was not deep.
After ten breaths, Zi Linling stood before Li Hehuan.
She said with a cold smile, "Li Hehuan, you've truly found an excellent burial site for yourself!"