It was no wonder that for a thousand years, no one had ever returned alive from the Yellow Springs World. Only upon seeing it with my own eyes did I realize this time I was truly finished.

Even the super expert Feng Qingtian and those few old monsters had been instantly annihilated by it. In this world, who else could possibly stand against it?

Curiosity truly kills! This time, I had played myself into a corner.

Roar! Roar!

Roar! Roar!

The vast, empty palace echoed only with the terrifying, frantic roars of the Yellow Springs Cult Master. Not a single person remained standing in sight.

Dragon War, myself, and the warriors from the Fengchao Gang and the Tianzhu Gang felt a chill run down our necks, wishing we could pass out right there. Heavens, please don't let it discover us, or we are surely dead.

At that moment, everyone covered their mouths with their hands, terrified that the Yellow Springs Cult Master would find them—us, hidden beneath shattered rock and dust. A full fifteen minutes passed before the enraged Yellow Springs Cult Master finally quieted down.

Even so, its heavy, ragged breathing kept everyone’s hearts pounding. The now calm Yellow Springs Cult Master scanned its surroundings, seemingly looking for any other living souls.

However, it soon gave up. Then, dragging that colossal Yellow Springs Hammer, it slowly walked towards us.

Heavens, did it discover us? Bai Ling and I were scared out of our wits, almost unable to stop ourselves from bolting, but reason warned us that any movement now would mean certain death.

Stomp! Stomp!

Stomp! The heavy footsteps grew closer, and then we felt the Cult Master’s massive form actually step right past us before returning to the enormous hexagram array where it had suddenly appeared.

A flash of golden light followed, and the immense silhouette of the Yellow Springs Cult Master vanished into the array. Silence returned to the surroundings, yet even then, those of us buried beneath the rubble dared not move an inch, afraid the Yellow Springs Cult Master might suddenly double back.

It wasn’t until a full hour later that we confirmed the Yellow Springs Cult Master was truly gone. “Mother of pearl!” Baldy was the first to emerge.

Dragon War, Bai Ling, and the other surviving warriors also scrambled out from the piles of debris. Every single one of us looked pale and nearly spent.

Fortunately, quite a few members of the Fengchao Gang and the Tianzhu Gang had survived. After a careful headcount, over forty had fallen in battle, most crushed by falling stones.

But those who lived were all injured, looking utterly wretched. “Hoo!

I thought we were goners!” Baldy collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. “I swear, if I ever make it out of this damned Yellow Springs World alive, I’ll never set foot in this place again,” Dragon War wheezed.

“That depends on whether we survive first,” I retorted sharply. “In any case, we need to leave here now!” Bai Ling was relatively calm.

“En,” Baldy nodded faintly. “Wait!” I quickly interjected, “First, let’s check around to see if any brothers are still alive.” “Right,” Dragon War agreed.

“If someone was lucky enough not to be crushed but was abandoned by us, that would be terrible.” “Everyone split up and search, be quick about it,” Bai Ling commanded. “Gang Leader, we found Liang Bu and Xuan Qi!

They still have a breath left!” someone exclaimed. “Give them healing medicine,” Bai Ling instructed.

“Feng Qingtian is still hanging on!” Fang Rou cheered. “Brother Xia Ya still has a pulse!” came Baldy’s voice, overjoyed.

“Save them immediately!” Everyone’s spirits soared. They hadn't expected that Feng Qingtian, who had taken a full blow from the Yellow Springs Cult Master, and Xia Ya, who had been swept by its battle aura, were still barely clinging to life.

At that moment, Feng Qingtian and Xia Ya were practically gasping for air, unconscious. Everyone rushed to pour healing medicine down their throats!

But there was no discernible improvement. Anxiety mounted.

“Let’s carry them back first,” Bai Ling said after performing necessary on-site first-aid checks, pulling out two stretchers from her spatial pouch with resignation. In this situation, they could only wait until they found the main group before making further plans.

The group carried the heavily injured, including Feng Qingtian, back along the way they had come. The scenery before them looked like the ruins after a heavy bombing run; the path could no longer be called a road—not a single flat spot could be found.

After walking for about half an hour, we finally rounded a fork in the road and located the members of the Hall of Dharma and the Hall of Tao who had gathered there. “Ah!

Xingchen! Dragon War!” Seeing us emerge safely, Long Xin, Long Qi, Dong Guan, and the others from the Fengchao Gang and Tianzhu Gang mages and Taoists were overjoyed.

They swarmed around us, unable to say a word. They simply embraced each other in emotion.

“You scared us to death,” Dong Guan said, still shaken. “We thought we’d never see you again,” Long Xin sobbed, wiping away tears.

The others weren't much better. “No matter what, it’s good that you’re alive,” Long Qi and Jin Hong remarked with deep emotion.

Unexpectedly, all six members of our Youlong Gang were safe and sound. Inevitably, there were moments of relief and reflection among those who had survived the ordeal, but many brothers would never return.

Thinking of this, no one could manage a smile. This search mission had resulted in devastating losses.

The Fengchao Gang and Tianzhu Gang were relatively lucky, but the Vermillion Bird Alliance warriors had lost over one thousand seven hundred men, accounting for two-thirds of the total casualties. The remaining warriors, including those from the Tianzhu Gang and Fengchao Gang, numbered only a little over twelve hundred.

The losses in the Hall of Dharma and the Hall of Tao were equally severe, most killed by the deluge of massive stones unleashed by the Yellow Springs Cult Master. “I never imagined the Yellow Springs Cult Master was this terrifying!” Upon hearing Bai Ling, Baldy, and the others describe the situation, everyone remained deeply unnerved.

“Even the combined might of the Thunder Array formed by the Eight Great Elders and the Nine Great Experts was no match for it.” The Eight Great Elders and the Nine Great Experts were almost entirely wiped out, and the rescued Feng Qingtian and Xia Ya remained unconscious. The Vermillion Bird Alliance’s highest remaining commander naturally fell to the Deputy Head of the Hall of Dharma, the young expert from the Feng family, Feng Qingkong.

Everyone subconsciously looked toward Feng Qingkong. “What should we do now?” Bai Ling and the others looked to Feng Qingkong, hoping he could devise a plan.

“Let’s wait until the Alliance Leader awakens before deciding anything. For now, the best course is to fortify our position and avoid any rash action,” Feng Qingkong advised.

“I suppose that’s all we can do,” Baldy and the others agreed, raising no objections. The main group set up camp in a defensible corner.

Once settled, they immediately began reorganization efforts. “First, take a headcount, tally the casualties, and check our dry rations,” Feng Qingkong said seriously.

“Yes.” ................................. Soon, the casualty reports were compiled.

Warriors remained at just over twelve hundred; mages at three thousand eight hundred; and Taoists at eight hundred. The original group of over eight thousand eight hundred was now down to five thousand eight hundred—three thousand dead.

The War Hall suffered the heaviest losses; the Vanguard Hall was entirely annihilated. No one had anticipated that this exploration of the Yellow Springs World would end in such a dire situation.

They had initially believed that the sheer number of experts in the Vermillion Bird Alliance, combined with the Thunder Array formed by the Nine Great Elders and the Nine Young Experts, would be enough to handle the Yellow Springs Cult Master. But reality once again proved that this terrifying entity was absolutely beyond human capacity to conquer.

A cloud of gloom hung over everyone. They realized that unless they could defeat the Yellow Springs Cult Master, no one would ever leave the Yellow Springs World; the final outcome would be being trapped here until death.

Once stabilized, Bai Ling and Baldy recounted the harrowing details of what they had witnessed. The sheer terror of the events was chilling, and everyone admired how they managed to escape right under the Cult Master’s nose.

However, given their current plight, no one felt like dwelling on past triumphs. Feng Qingkong and the others gathered to discuss countermeasures.

Meanwhile, I, Long Xin, and the others found a corner to sit, waiting for Feng Qingkong's group to devise a workable solution. “Xingchen, do you think we can still leave alive?” Long Xin and the others looked at me with expectant eyes, as if I held the key to some clever solution.

“You should ask Dong Guan about that,” I said with a wry smile. “After all, he specializes in spatial magic and understands barriers better than anyone.” “I’ve already told you, the only way to leave is to either defeat the Yellow Springs Cult Master or use stronger magic to shatter the Yellow Springs Barrier,” Dong Guan stated flatly.

“That’s the only way. Stop asking me.” He continued, “But shattering the Yellow Springs Barrier is absolutely impossible.

So, you need to think about how to defeat the Yellow Springs Cult Master.” “If even the Elders of the Vermillion Bird Alliance and Feng Qingtian couldn’t defeat the Yellow Springs Cult Master, what good do you think I’ll be?” I truly wondered what they were thinking. “But you are still recognized as the foremost young expert across the Four Continents!” Long Xin shot back, exasperated.

“Can’t you think of some solution?” “Boss, you’re trying to get me killed,” I said nervously, glancing around. “You all know my skills are patchy at best.” “Hehe, patchy cat skills,” Dong Guan teased.

“Didn’t you know? Cats have nine lives.

The fact that you managed to escape calmly under the Yellow Springs Cult Master’s nose proves you’re a nine-lived cat who can’t be killed.” “Nine-lived cat, my foot,” I replied irritably. “Facing the Yellow Springs Cult Master, even a hundred lives wouldn't be enough.” “That’s true,” Dong Guan admitted with a wry chuckle.

“Still, you’ve seen big battles before. Don’t you truly have no ideas at all?” “Isn't that obvious?

If I had a solution, would I still be sitting here?” As we were busy bickering, Bai Ling found us. “Xingchen, can you come with me for a moment?” Bai Ling looked at me, her expression somewhat hesitant, which puzzled me.

“What is it?” I asked, slightly confused. “Brother Feng and Brother Xia have woken up, but they wish to see you.” “Feng Qingtian and Xia Ya?” Long Xin and the others looked instantly tense.

“Why do they want to see Xingchen?” Even I felt a twinge of guilt; our first thought was that our identities might have been exposed. “It’s nothing.

They want to discuss how to resolve the current situation,” Bai Ling assured us. “They want to see me?” I felt helpless.

“What good ideas could I possibly have?” “Just come with me first,” Bai Ling said, pulling me up before I could argue further. Long Xin and the others followed anxiously.

The makeshift command post was a large tent housing about forty people—the core leadership of the Vermillion Bird Alliance. Those I recognized included Feng Qingtian, Xia Ya, Xia Na, Baldy, and Fang Rou.

“You must be Xingchen, the one Xia Na mentioned?” Feng Qingtian looked at me with unconcealed surprise. “Brother Xingchen!

Sister Long Xin!” Seeing us enter, Xia Na was visibly delighted and quickly greeted us. “The Alliance Leader wanted to see me,” I said, nodding slightly toward Xia Ya and Xia Na.

After all, I was Xia Na’s savior, and Xia Ya had spoken with me a few times; we were acquaintances, right? “Sit,” perhaps still weakened by their injuries, both Xia Ya and Feng Qingtian looked quite pale.

They gestured to a few floor cushions beside them. “……” Although I didn't know what Feng Qingtian and Xia Ya were plotting, I felt something was off.

How could someone as high-ranking as Feng Qingtian summon a minor figure like me? “Bai Ling told us that we owe our lives to you,” Xia Ya said, looking at me with a strange expression.

“Bai Ling saved you; it has nothing to do with me,” I replied, feeling a sudden, inexplicable unease under the probing gaze of Xia Ya and Feng Qingtian. “We can discuss that later,” Feng Qingtian interjected.

“Bai Ling mentioned that your quick thinking saved many of the Fengchao Gang and Tianzhu Gang brothers!” Xia Ya continued. “You know our current predicament, so I won't elaborate further.” “We have been racking our brains trying to figure out how to escape this predicament,” Feng Qingtian stated.

“Bai Ling suggested you might have some clever ideas, so we called you here too.” “I see,” I breathed in relief, instinctively glancing at Bai Ling and Baldy. “More people means more potential solutions,” Bai Ling smiled.

“En,” I nodded slightly. As the saying goes, two heads are better than one—it seemed Feng Qingtian and the others intended to pool their wisdom.

“Everyone is here,” Feng Qingtian announced. “Think hard, everyone.

How can we escape our current predicament?” “……” Everyone looked bewildered. This was understandable; if the young experts like Feng Qingtian and the combined might of the Eight Elders in the Thunder Array couldn't contend with the Yellow Springs Cult Master, what could the rest of them possibly achieve?

Feng Qingtian and Xia Ya likely had no answers themselves, which is why they called everyone together. “How about we search around again?

Perhaps we can find another exit,” finally, someone spoke after a long silence—a young Taoist in his early thirties. “That’s useless.

Since it’s a barrier, the surroundings are inevitably blocked by the barrier wall. Finding any spot will yield the same result,” the young Taoist’s suggestion was immediately refuted by the crowd.

“Let’s focus on how to kill the Yellow Springs Cult Master. Only by killing it can the barrier be lifted,” someone proposed.

“Is there really no other way besides killing the Yellow Springs Cult Master?” a female Taoist asked. “That is correct; killing the Yellow Springs Cult Master is the only way,” Feng Qingtian confirmed.

“So, everyone, please focus your thoughts in that direction.” “Even the Thunder Array couldn't handle the Yellow Springs Cult Master. What other methods are there?” Dong Guan whispered behind me, and the others around him felt the same way.

“Unless there’s an array formation more powerful than the Thunder Array, I genuinely can’t think of anything else,” someone suggested. “The Thunder Array,” another person proposed, “If there’s a way to boost the power of the Thunder Array, perhaps there’s still a chance.” “I regret to inform you,” Feng Qingtian said helplessly, “Our ancestors have tried countless times in this regard.

Sadly, over the last three thousand years, we have never achieved any further improvement.” “The Thunder Array, what exactly is that formation?” I quietly asked Bai Ling beside me. “The Thunder Array has a profound history,” Bai Ling stated solemnly.

“Have you ever heard of the ancient Phoenix Sky Warriors and their Heroes?” “Phoenix Sky Warriors, Heroes,” I racked my memory. “The Ranger's Manual mentions them.

I recall the Heroes of the Phoenix Sky Warriors all perished during the Phoenix Sky War. Even now, the church has Phoenix Sky Warriors, but there are no Heroes anymore.” “Exactly,” Bai Ling confirmed.

“After the Phoenix Sky War, the Divine Dragon Empire lost its strongest guardian—the Heroes of the Phoenix Sky Warriors. The reason the Phoenix Sky Warriors and their Heroes were called the strongest protective force was due to the Heroes' unparalleled, immense power.

Among this strength, both the Phoenix Sky Warriors and the Heroes possessed a terrifying super skill called the Heroic Combination.” “Heroic Combination!” I almost jumped up in shock, staring at Bai Ling. “Are you saying Heroic Combination?” As a legendary player, few wouldn't know of the Heroic Combination; I certainly knew about it in the modern world.

“Yes, the Heroic Combination,” Bai Ling affirmed. “The Phoenix Sky Warriors and their Heroes developed different combination skills based on the profession of their respective Heroes.

Among them, the combination forged between the Phoenix Sky Warriors and the Mage Heroes was called 'Thunderous Strike.'” Bai Ling murmured dreamily, “Legend says the power of Thunderous Strike could shake heaven and move the earth, possessing the might to split mountains and crack stones. No matter how powerful the opponent, they could not withstand it.

One full-power combination strike from a Phoenix Sky Warrior and a Mage Hero could stop even gods and demons; that is why this ultimate skill was called Thunderous Strike.” “Thunderous Strike, Thunderous Combination?” Jin Hong gasped. “Are you saying this Thunderous Combination is Thunderous Strike?” “Well, one can only say the two are deeply related,” Bai Ling explained.

“After the Phoenix Sky War, the Heroes who fought alongside the Phoenix Sky Warriors, sharing their resolve, also perished. Since then, no one has been able to execute Thunderous Strike.

However, the method for cultivating Thunderous Strike was preserved. Later generations tried to replicate the power of Thunderous Strike based on this technique.” At this point, Bai Ling sighed helplessly.

“Unfortunately, no matter how later generations practiced, they could never reach the terrifying power achieved by the combined efforts of the Phoenix Sky Warrior and the Mage Hero. Furthermore, variations in coordination led to various backlash effects, injuring the practitioners.

Later, someone modified this cultivation method, changing the pair-training between the Warrior and Mage into a group of several people. This unexpected change significantly reduced the chance of error, but the power was still far less than the true Thunderous Strike.

To compensate for these shortcomings, the technique was improved again, evolving from several people to ten. This refined technique became the current Thunderous Combination.

The ten-person combination that formed the Thunderous Array continued for three thousand years.”