Time rewinds slightly, outside the formation.

The exit of the secret realm has remained closed for several hours, and hundreds of people have gathered outside.

Originally, disciples from both sects didn't have to pay any fees; even when they went out to pay tribute to their sects, it would be counted as sect contribution. But now, with Ye Feng involved, an extra fee has been added out of nowhere.

This turned what was once a somewhat harmonious secret realm into a dog-eat-dog world.

Even disciples of the Hunyuan Sect would extort money from people by trickery and force.

Currently, the safest place in the entire secret realm is within a kilometer radius of the array set up by Ye Feng.

But now, that peace has been broken!

A figure in white appeared instantly, took out a small, glowing sword from the front of the formation, pointed the tip at the array, and began chanting incantations.

Most of the independent cultivators who witnessed this scene wore amused expressions.

A formation that hundreds of people couldn't break, and he could break it all by himself with just a small sword? That's laughable!

[Who is this guy? He actually dares to challenge Han Li all by himself.]

Doesn't he know that this formation is a level two formation that even ordinary Golden Core cultivators can't break?

It seems they aren't from two separate factions; none of them have joined up with the people from the other two factions.

[I heard that a Heavenly Sword Sect camp has been set up outside. It might be their Holy Son. Let him try and see how powerful he is. Once he makes a move, Senior Han will definitely charge him a hefty toll, and he'll be stripped of everything he owns.]

...

The numerous independent cultivators had different thoughts. Only a very few geniuses in the entire audience could sense the power of the small sword, but no one believed that this one strike could break the formation.

The power emanating from the small sword was gradually amplified, and the crowd went from watching with amusement to trembling with fear.

Soon, the small sword grew to a foot long and, under the white-robed man's control, shot forward sharply, aiming directly at the array's protective barrier.

The sword tip and the protective aura erupted with blinding white light, and in an instant, a sound like shattering glass echoed throughout the entire arena.

The crowd erupted in uproar!

"It's really been broken!"

"This is incredible! Whose holy son is this?"

"Han Li is doomed."

...

Fang Xun, who had just retrieved the small sword, showed a look of surprise on his face.

This formation is level three! The Thousand Swords Strike failed to kill the person instantly.

Fortunately, the formation broke, and there weren't enough people...

Before he could go forward, he saw the formation that had just been broken rise up again.

[Damn it! They actually had a backup plan!]

But time waits for no one. If that person had more time, they might have been able to continue making arrangements...

Fang Xun immediately took control of the small sword again and thrust it forward, with himself following closely behind.

The small sword attacked again, and Ye Feng could only raise his shield and watch helplessly.

The opponent's sword is so extraordinary; it must be able to track auras. If we run away now, we'll only die faster...

"Bang!"

This time, the sound of the formation breaking was even softer than before, like a balloon bursting. The protective shield behind the formation only vanished after the small sword pierced through it and reached Ye Feng.

All that was gained was a slight weakening of the sword's aura.

The fire shield that consumes divine power, break!

The water shield that was meant to impede speed, break!

The solid, sturdy earthen wall breaks!

The magical iron shield is broken!

But the iron shield held out for a brief moment.

There is hope!!

The wooden shield, imbued with regenerative power, is broken!

Five Elements Bracelet! Shield!

A light shield containing almost a third of Ye Feng's spiritual power formed in front of him.

This time it lasted a full half second!

"Thief, die!"

Fang Xun, who was following closely behind, was shocked to see Xiao Jian's attack blocked. He hurriedly swung his sword, preparing to finish off Ye Feng in one fell swoop.

"Get out of here!"

Ye Feng's two bracelets clashed, and his remaining spiritual energy suddenly erupted. Fang Xun's sword energy was dissipated by the strong gale before it even reached Ye Feng, and Fang Xun was also blown hundreds of meters away.

The shockwave stretched for over two thousand meters, sweeping away even those in the early and mid-stages of Foundation Establishment who were lying prone.

This attack exhausted all the remaining spiritual power of the Five Elements Bracelet. In terms of spiritual power intensity alone, it was completely comparable to the Azure Lotus Sword Song.

With this final, all-out strike, the Five Elements Bracelet had fulfilled its mission and broke into several pieces.

However, because the shield disappeared, Xiao Jian was not only not blown away, but also suddenly accelerated and stabbed towards Ye Feng's chest.

However, the sword's imposing presence has diminished considerably...

Although it was still terrifying, a look of joy appeared on Ye Feng's face.

"You want to kill me? Not so easy!!"

Just as the sword tip was about to reach Ye Feng's chest, a token that was neither gold nor wood suddenly appeared.

A magic weapon of the Five Elements Sect!

"Hiss... hiss..."

The token was struck by the small sword, emitting a teeth-grinding, ear-piercing sound.

"Buzz!"

The token finally emitted an orange light, followed by the appearance of cracks.

Ye Feng suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head.

This is the mental shock caused by the shattering of the artifact that had been bound to its master.

With Ye Feng's mental strength, the shattering of ordinary spiritual artifacts wouldn't even cause him the slightest impact.

However, controlling this magical artifact required nearly one-fifth of his divine sense.

The shattering felt like being hit on the head with a club, leaving my head buzzing.

Fang Xun steadied himself seven hundred meters away, and looked up into the distance.

Ye Feng's still-standing figure terrified him like a curse.

How... is this possible?

A magical artifact controlled by the power of a Golden Core cultivator is comparable to a strike from a Nascent Soul cultivator. Even if the artifact is incomplete, it is still an attack at the Nascent Soul level.

It was only weakened slightly by a level-two formation, yet it managed to block it? How... is that possible?

But now is not the time to stand still!

Fang Xun quickly summoned his flying sword by making a hand seal.

If Jun Aocheng's stored magical power is completely exhausted, his spells will become useless.

Ye Feng watched helplessly as the flying sword was about to shatter the token, and the glimmer of light on the sword's tip gradually disappeared.

Although the sword's imposing presence was still awe-inspiring, its inherent aggressive sharpness was not as intense as before.

Just then, as Fang Xun made a hand seal in the distance, the little sword changed direction and prepared to return...

"Trying to escape? Not so easy!"

Without saying a word, Ye Feng reached out and grabbed at the flying sword!

Although he was gripping the hilt of the sword, the small sword was surrounded by sword energy, and the skin on his palm was instantly torn apart, revealing the muscles and blood vessels beneath.

"Fix it for me!"

"Trading points -1000, status +10; Trading points -1000, status +10..."

"Raise my body refinement cultivation level!"

"Trading points -100,000, Body Refinement Foundation Establishment Level 2; Trading points -200,000, Body Refinement Foundation Establishment Level 3..."

Ye Feng's body refinement cultivation has remained stagnant for a long time, simply because as a cultivator's mana increases, their body naturally undergoes transformation. Generally speaking, body refinement is one grade lower than mana cultivation.

However, Ye Feng's spiritual sense and magical power far surpassed those of ordinary people, and his body refinement cultivation had directly advanced to the first level of Foundation Establishment.

Without a body-refining technique, the effort required to improve is ten times greater, and there are no special effects whatsoever. Even if one were to reach the tenth level of Foundation Establishment, one might only be able to contend with a rogue cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

But now, every bit of strength is crucial in determining victory or defeat.

130 million trading points, go all out!

"Transaction points -12.8 million, Body Refinement cultivation at Foundation Establishment level nine."

"Transaction points -25.6 million, Body Refinement cultivation at Foundation Establishment level 10!"

In less than two seconds, Ye Feng's body reached the tenth level of Body Refinement.

Whether it's body refinement or cultivation techniques, reaching the Golden Core stage requires undergoing a tribulation of lightning.

However, the current restrictions within the secret realm prevent one from reaching the Golden Core stage; the tenth level of Foundation Establishment is the limit.

If one wishes to further enhance their body refinement, they must first overcome the tribulation of lightning.

One can either refine their body to overcome tribulation or cultivate their magic to overcome tribulation, and then continue to use trade points to improve.

However, without the improvement of cultivation techniques, attempting to temper one's body and survive the tribulation would likely result in instant death.

A Foundation Establishment level 10 body refinement might not make one exceptionally strong in combat, but for now, it's enough!

"Take it!"