The main body of the blood tide was rapidly closing in on Ye Tai, Pang Cultivator, and the group of Golden Core cultivators.

Pang Cultivator’s will to survive was exceptionally tenacious; he unleashed every reserve he had, launching the few Thunder Pearls he had painstakingly gathered, along with several high-grade talismans, directly at the mass of blood mist demonic insects pursuing them.

"BOOM!"

The water-element Thunder Pearl exploded, generating a pillar of roaring lightning amidst a tempest of dark clouds, instantly tearing apart several hundred zhang of space and reducing the blood mist demonic insects within that radius to charred corpses.

The high-grade talismans released multi-elemental spells across a wide area, obliterating no fewer than a thousand demonic insects among the pursuers, forcing them to briefly slow down.

But the pause was momentary. The following wave, an enormous mass of blood mist demonic insects numbering tens of thousands, surged forward, instantly gnawing the corpses of their fallen kin to dust and continuing their relentless charge toward the Iron Feathered Azure Eagles guarding the rear. The Iron Feathered Azure Eagle let out a sharp shriek, its entire body transforming into a massive cyan-gray wind blade that plunged into the swarm, shredding vast swathes of the blood mist demonic insects into crimson spray.

In the blink of an eye, the blood mist demonic insects had completely engulfed the Iron Feathered Azure Eagle. The eagle, whose feathers were harder than refined iron, vanished into the swarm in mere moments.

"Fellow Daoists, quickly, strike! Eliminate this swarm of blood mist demonic insects!! If we break through this wave, we will soon reach the vicinity of the great island's Demonic Fowl Nest and use the power of the demon birds to escape the main blood tide force."

Hearing Pang Cultivator’s roar, the assembled cultivators knew the situation had become dire; one misstep meant eternal doom, perishing within the blood tide.

The Golden Core cultivators dared not delay. Their magical power was nearly exhausted, yet they frantically hurled all manner of consumable magic tools and mid-to-high-grade talismans they carried toward the pursuing blood mist demonic insects.

The spirit beasts they had nurtured were also released from their spirit beast bags, positioned on both flanks of the flying formation to intercept the frenzied assault of the demonic insects. This small group of just over twenty Golden Core cultivators commanded no fewer than seven or eight Golden Core-level spirit beasts. The cost of raising each Golden Core spirit beast far exceeded that of a Nascent Soul magic tool.

Yet, at this critical juncture, they released their spirit beasts to clash with the blood mist demonic insects. They would sacrifice their spirit beasts, exhaust all their treasures and high-grade talismans, just to preserve their own lives.

In Pang Cultivator’s squad, most Golden Core cultivators still retained some magical power to manipulate their respective magic tools, bracing themselves against the rapidly closing blood mist swarm. However, Sun Xing’s group of Golden Core cultivators had expended far too much power earlier; their magic reserves were now critically depleted.

Having expended all their resources, they possessed little strength left for counterattack, forced only to desperately gulp down spirit wine to recover their power, watching helplessly as the other cultivators who still had reserves engaged the blood mist demonic insects in fierce combat. Many gazes turned toward Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er, who led the flying formation at the very front.

It was only Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er who retained the vast majority of their magical power, capable of fighting at full strength. Both of them had refrained from participating in the annihilation of the two Ninth-Rank demonic beasts from the start, thus conserving their energy.

Whether they could escape this enveloping cloud of blood mist demonic insects now depended entirely on Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er’s ability to carve a path through the encirclement and lead the flying group to the vicinity of the Demonic Fowl Nest at maximum speed. Their confidence in Ye Qin, however, was not high.

After all, Ye Qin was only at the Fifth Rank of the Golden Core stage. Despite retaining significant magical power, his cultivation base was undoubtedly much weaker than that of Eighth or Ninth Rank cultivators like Sun Xing and Pang Cultivator.

Jiang Ling and Zheng Chenghui, upon seeing Ye Qin prepare to act, felt their spirits soar. Having fought side-by-side with Ye Qin before, they knew the true extent of his strength and certainly did not believe he was weaker than Pang Cultivator and the others.

The three members of Pang Cultivator's group, along with the Wang uncle and nephew trailing at the rear, had also witnessed Ye Tai and Huangfu Bing'er’s performance when ambushed by the wicked cultivators Cao brothers; consequently, they held great faith in Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er. Otherwise, Pang Cultivator would not have immediately thought of having Ye Qin take the lead when his own power failed him at this moment of crisis. A massive swarm of blood mist demonic insects descended from the sky, lunging to attack again.

"They're really here!"

Ye Qin cursed inwardly.

The sky was filled with extremely fierce gale energy, forcing him to fully mobilize his magic tools to enhance his protective aura against the violent gusts, all while maintaining maximum flight speed.

"Bing'er, absolutely do not leave the Cloud Concealment Barrier! ... Even if the worst happens and I deplete my essence trying to control the barrier, it can still outpace the blood mist demonic insects by a fraction."

"Understood!"

Huangfu Bing'er nodded lightly, focusing her attention in preparation.

Beneath her light gauze sun hat, her exquisite face remained placid and composed, unchanged by the encroaching swarm. She had already summoned her Purple Jade Blazing Fire Sword and Ice Soul Cold Light Sword; with hand seals, she controlled them as they swelled to lengths of fifty to sixty zhang, positioning the ice and fire swords on either side, ready to strike at any moment. Ye Qin opened his mouth and spat out three smaller swords that expanded with the wind, instantly becoming towering giants tens of zhang high. The indestructible Golden Bird Blazing Light Sword took the vanguard position.

The Southern Bright Flame Fire Sword, wreathed in surging Samadhi True Fire, and the Yellow Heaven Thick Earth Sword, possessing immensely strong defensive capabilities, flanked him. These three Nascent Soul magic tools were all suited for engaging battles against a vast number of enemies.

The Heavenly One Secluded Water Sword was terrifyingly powerful for single-target kills but ineffective for wide-area attacks, rendering it of little use in this situation.

The Green Bamboo Silk Sound Sword could suppress demonic insects with its extensive sonic waves, but deploying it rashly might endanger the Golden Core cultivators behind them. Their magic power was nearly depleted; they likely lacked the strength to even resist the celestial sound. Thus, Ye Qin did not summon these two flying swords.

He would not unleash the Grand Five Elements Sword Formation unless the situation became absolutely critical. Although the formation offered astonishing defense, it consumed a substantial amount of magical power, making sustained effort difficult.

"Three Nascent Soul magic tools, combined with Bing'er's dual ice and fire swords, plus the remaining combat strength of the other Golden Core cultivators and six or seven Golden Core spirit beasts—that should be enough to carve a path through this wave of tens of thousands of blood mist demonic insects!"

The thought had barely crossed his mind when a vast swarm of blood mist demonic insects, accompanied by an intensifying drone, closed the distance of a thousand zhang in an instant, sweeping them up like a thousand-foot tornado, fully enveloping their frantically fleeing group of cultivators. "Kill!"

The remaining cultivators who still possessed some reserves immediately hurled their respective flying swords, magic tools, and spells into the densest parts of the swarm. Beams of dazzling multicolored light carved a bloody path through the vanguard of the blood tide. "Ice Soul Severance! Fire Soul Edict!"

Simultaneously, Huangfu Bing'er shouted. The Purple Jade Blazing Fire Sword and Ice Soul Cold Light Sword on either side instantly fragmented into thirty-two rhomboid flying swords, each several zhang in size, spitting forth flames and ice crystals as they spun and slashed toward the blood mist vanguard!

Where these ice and fire swords rained down, the struck blood mist demonic insects were instantly shattered into dust and vapor. Furthermore, the fragmented ice and fire swords began to arrange themselves into a massive Ice and Fire Sword Formation.

The Purple Jade Blazing Fire Sword spewed rolling plumes of purple-red flames; the blood mist demonic insects shrieked miserably and vanished into ash. Meanwhile, the Ice Soul Cold Light Sword shot out streams of frost, slowing the demonic insects until they froze, cracked, and fell like icy rain. The cultivators in the group stared dumbfounded.

The offensive deployed by this seemingly ethereal woman, if aimed at a single target, might be slightly lacking compared to some late-stage Golden Core cultivators at the Eighth or Ninth Rank.

But against such a large number of low-to-mid-rank foes, its power was extraordinary, even surpassing many of theirs. Moreover, simultaneously controlling thirty-two flying swords was no small feat! However, the faces of the onlookers immediately grew grimmer.

This was because the second wave of the blood tide vanguard, while somewhat weaker in strength and fewer in number than the first wave that moved ahead, was far more tightly packed.

As soon as the cultivators' combined attack sliced a path through the center, the blood mist demonic insects rapidly regrouped in the middle and rear.

The demonic insects that managed to pass through the cultivators' formation and reach the back immediately folded back, converging on the cultivators ahead, making the situation even more perilous!

Huangfu Bing'er, while controlling the Ice and Fire Sword Formation, glanced toward Ye Qin beside her, whose magical power was already at its peak. Ye Qin nodded! "Golden Sun Blazing Light Sword, Southern Bright Flame Fire Sword, strike!" Ye Qin roared, flicking his wrist. The two Nascent Soul magic tools stationed in front shot out. Immediately after, the fastest and sharpest Golden Bird Blazing Light Sword unleashed ten thousand rays of golden light, transforming into a colossal golden sword seventy or eighty zhang in size, piercing straight toward the front lines.

It tore through the dense and terrifying blood mist vanguard like a ragged cloth; none could withstand its edge. The Fourth and Fifth Rank blood mist demonic insects were more fragile than tofu under the decades-long sword light emanating from the Golden Bird Blazing Light Sword!

Closely following was the Southern Bright Flame Fire Sword, its blade only growing to about fifty or sixty zhang. Flames roared ferociously. After a flash of firelight, clumps of azure flames erupted. These azure flames instantly morphed into fiery Rocs, their azure wings sweeping toward the surrounding blood mist demonic insects.

The foremost wave of the blood mist vanguard rapidly diminished at a visible rate under the combined might of Ye Tai and Huangfu Bing'er, supplemented by the auxiliary attacks of the other Golden Core cultivators.

But the blood mist demonic insects that surged past the group to attack the rear were perilously close, nearly engulfing the few lower-ranked cultivators at the back of the formation! "We're done for, finished!"

The cultivators at the rear, the Wang uncle and nephew, along with mid-stage Golden Core cultivators like Zheng Chenghui and Jiang Ling, were filled with terror and despair, utterly helpless.

Aside from them, there were other Golden Core cultivators whose magic was nearly spent, enough only to sustain their flying swords and protective auras, leaving them incapable of deploying magic tools to eliminate the insects.

And the other Golden Core cultivators who retained a sliver of reserve power were already locked in combat with the blood mist demonic insects, barely able to defend themselves, let alone spare aid.

Ye Qin had already blasted a path through a large section of the blood mist with the Golden Sun Blazing Light Sword and Southern Bright Flame Fire Sword. Seeing the situation in the rear, he coldly commanded, sweeping the Yellow Heaven Thick Earth Sword outward. "Yellow Heaven Thick Earth Sword, go!"

The Yellow Heaven Thick Earth Sword, the most defensively potent of his Nascent Soul magic tools, morphed into a giant blade and slammed downward, striking the very end of the cultivators' flying formation.

The pursuing wave of blood mist demonic insects slammed into the massive body of the Yellow Heaven Thick Earth Sword.

"CRACKLE! BANG!"

It sounded like countless grains of sand striking a stone slab, sending them flying backward.

"Many thanks for your aid, Daoist Ye!"

The Wang uncle and nephew, Jiang Ling, and others, having narrowly escaped death, rejoiced and immediately offered fervent thanks.

Seeing a turn in fortune, the dejection vanished from the faces of the assembled cultivators.

Those who had recovered some magical power immediately re-entered the fray, helping to alleviate some of the pressure on Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er in the front.

Ye Qin, while manipulating his magic tools, felt the pressure intensifying tenfold.

Huangfu Bing'er beside him also wore a strained expression.

No matter how high their combat prowess, it could not change the fact that they were both only at the Fifth Rank of the Golden Core stage. Slaying such a massive blood mist vanguard was already difficult; dividing their attention and magical power to shield the weakest members of the group made the strain almost unimaginable.

Ye Qin did not abandon the Wang uncle and nephew, Jiang Ling, or the other Golden Core cultivators whose power was spent; he chose decisively to save them. The reason was simple: it wasn't a selfless desire to sacrifice himself for his comrades. Rather, he had already spotted a massive island in the distance over the sea.

Though still far away, for the incredible speed of Golden Core cultivators, it would be reached in an instant. Saving even one comrade was preferable.

If it weren't for the continuous relief provided by comrades recovering small amounts of power to share the burden, Ye Qin would have been forced to deploy his absolute strength to fight the blood mist demonic insects.

Even so, Ye Tai and Huangfu Bing'er could sustain this effort for, at most, two or three incense sticks' worth of time, and that was while constantly consuming Ninth-Grade Vermilion Cloud Spirit Nectar. The group of cultivators then blasted through another section of the blood mist swarm, charging forward. Ahead, a colossal island spanning several hundred li appeared in the sight of all the Golden Core cultivators.

The remaining blood tide vanguard and the main body of the tide, which had just devoured all the Golden Core spirit beasts, could no longer pose a fatal threat.

On that massive island rose dozens of undulating mountain peaks that pierced the clouds.

At the summit of every peak swirled dense flocks of demonic fowls.

Innumerable black dots, the demonic fowls, ascended from the peaks, letting out piercing cries.

Ye Qin and the group of Golden Core cultivators gasped upon seeing this.

This large island seemed to hold an untold number of nests.

The countless demon birds in the island's sky quickly coalesced within a short time into a dense "dark cloud" spanning two to three hundred li.

The demon birds on this island had clearly detected that a colossal blood tide, spanning several thousand li, was rapidly approaching their domain. Demon fowls would never lightly abandon their nesting grounds. They were preparing to meet the oncoming blood tide head-on.

And the vast blood tide immediately began to contract. They had discovered the immense "dark cloud" of intensely concentrated aura of their natural predator gathering above the great island ahead.

"Hahaha, we’ve arrived! The demon birds on this island usually specialize in preying on various demonic insects and sea beasts; they are one of the natural enemies of the blood mist demonic insects. While they are far inferior to the blood mist swarm in sheer numbers, each individual is many times stronger." Pang Cultivator was overjoyed.

Normally, every Golden Core cultivator would flee from such ferocious demon birds and such a massive Demonic Fowl Nest. But now, seeing them felt like seeing a savior; their spirits soared, and everyone eagerly gazed upward from their flying swords.

In fact, once the beast hordes engaged in battle, they would completely ignore passing Golden Core cultivators. This was precisely the cultivators' chance to escape. "Hahaha... the blood tide has met its match! There must be no fewer than tens of thousands of demon birds on this island!" "A miracle!" "We haven't been unlucky to the absolute limit! Alas for my Sixth-Rank Golden Core spirit beast...!" Seeing the hope of escape, the cultivators were overwhelmingly delighted.

Ye Qin, however, had no time for joy; seeing the chance to flee the blood tide so close, he allowed himself a brief moment of relief.

He raised his right hand, forming a mudra, and the Yellow Heaven Thick Earth Sword shrank into a three-foot-long yellow dagger, hovering near Ye Qin. Immediately after, Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er together recalled the other four Nascent Soul magic tools from the front. Having done this, both of their faces were ashen white. "Daoist Ye, you have worked hard. Let us contribute now!"

Sun Xing, the Ninth-Rank Golden Core cultivator, along with several other late-stage Golden Core cultivators who had recovered some strength, quickly stepped forward to relieve them. Ye Qin did not stand on ceremony, merely offering a slight bow with Bing'er before retreating to the middle of the flying formation. Jiang Ling and Zheng Chenghui immediately gathered around them to shield them while they recovered. Jiang Ling, Zheng Chenghui, and the Wang uncle and nephew all looked on with profound admiration. Pang Cultivator’s group of three, however, displayed extremely complex expressions.

The massive blood tide behind them began to slow dramatically upon sighting the giant island, rapidly condensing as the insects on the flanks quickly converged toward the center.

"Fellow Daoists, salvation is before us! We fly down, hugging the sea surface, to evade the demon birds!" Sun Xing shouted, lowering his flying sword and leading the group toward the ocean. Everyone followed closely; to break formation now would be a needless death.

The Fire Feathered Demon Fowls, with their great enemy upon them, paid no attention to these human cultivators. The leader of the Fire Feathered Demon Fowls above the island let out a sharp cry, and countless others shrieked in unison as they charged toward the blood tide, trailing streams of fire-feathered light—a spectacular sight.

The cultivators flew close to the water surface, changing direction.

As they flew past the giant island, all the cultivators couldn't help but look back.

They saw the Fire Feathered Demon Fowls, spanning several hundred li, diving upon the even larger blood tide, spewing torrents of red flames that scorched the forward insects. Their sharp beaks, hooked claws, and the mid-rank fire elemental magic unleashed by their fanned fire feathers inflicted massive casualties upon the blood mist demonic insects.

The advance of the blood tide stalled momentarily as the main forces from all directions converged here, engaging in a desperate, mutually destructive battle with the Fire Feathered Demon Fowls. From the depths of the seabed, countless more blood mist demonic insects emerged to join the fray. In an instant, the entire island was filled with the sounds of two monstrous swarms locked in furious combat, sounds overwhelming the senses. Finally free from the deadly crisis, every cultivator let out a sigh of relief, feeling as if they had crossed lifetimes...