The sudden appearance of Xu Ling was like a ferocious beast materializing in the jungle; the cultivators from various sects were so awestruck by the might of a Golden Body master that their will to resist evaporated instantly.

"Ten Yang Spirits cannot defeat one Golden Body"—this was an undeniable truth in the cultivation world, a principle that every elder cultivator painstakingly taught the younger generation in every sect.

Xu Ling's overwhelming power plunged the crowd into despair, yet a very small number of individuals on the scene were still unwilling to yield, frantically scrambling for countermeasures.

Li Yundong stared fixedly at Xu Ling, silent, his mind racing to formulate a plan of action.

Zhou Qin, standing beside him, knew the formidable power of a Golden Body master, but her resolute and competitive nature lent her the bravado of a young bull unafraid of a tiger. She quietly whispered to Li Yundong, "Master, what do we do? Is there any way to take him down?"

Li Yundong remained silent. Zi Yuan murmured, "A Golden Body master can render their Indestructible Golden Body immune to almost all spells and the vast majority of magical artifacts. Only immensely powerful arrays or a rare few artifacts can damage their Yang Spirit; there is almost no way to break their Indestructible Golden Body. The Eight Desolations Six Harmonies Sword can break his Golden Body, though I doubt he's foolish enough to let it strike him head-on."

Su Chan also spoke with a worried expression, "If I had known, I would have insisted on taking Master's Eight Desolations Sword."

Zi Yuan shook her head. "The Eight Desolations Sword and the Six Harmonies Sword were originally a mother-and-child pair. Now that they are separated, reuniting them is no simple matter. Bringing it here would have been useless."

Su Chan grew more disheartened. "Ah? Then what do we do? Yundong, you must think of something quickly! We can't just stand by and watch this brute snatch all three Earth Origin Spirit Pills, can we?"

It was then that Li Yundong slowly spoke, "When I was at Mount Kari Sacred Mountain, I managed to injure this fellow using the Immeasurable Longevity Buddha Fundamental Seal, but he recovered as lively as ever very quickly. I believe it only caused him a temporary loss of mobility; it didn't strike at his core."

Zhou Qin and Su Chan didn't think much of it, but Zi Yuan was utterly shocked. She exclaimed, "You actually managed to injure a Golden Body master? That... that's incredible! This is the first time I've ever heard of a Yang Spirit expert wounding a Golden Body master!"

Li Yundong shook his head. "It was nothing. I used the Buddhist Great Hand Seal; the time required for the mantra chanting alone was long enough for you to circle the globe eighty times! Such a lengthy incantation only resulted in a minor injury for him. What is there to brag about in that?"

Zhou Qin gritted her teeth and declared, "Master, why don't we distract him while you perform that Immeasurable Longevity Buddha Fundamental Seal?" Li Yundong's expression hardened, and he resolutely stated, "Absolutely not! Last time, in order to hold him off, three guardian Vajras perished by his hands, and Duoji Danzeng nearly sacrificed his life! Furthermore, if Meiduo hadn't transformed into Qing Lhamo, I never would have had the time to unleash that Great Hand Seal. If you want to go distract him, that is suicide. I will not let you take that risk."

Zhou Qin argued anxiously, "But Master, how can one enter the tiger's lair without incurring the tiger's wrath? Someone has to take the risk!"

Li Yundong glared, his voice rising in anger. "When I say no, it means no! Even if someone must enter the tiger's lair, it will not be you!"

Su Chan, unable to interject, glanced around the surroundings. She suddenly whispered, "Yundong, perhaps if it really comes to it, we should just give up on the Earth Origin Spirit Pills. The Medicine King Cauldron should still be here; why don't we go for the Cauldron instead? As long as the green hills remain, we don't have to worry about firewood!"

Li Yundong's eyes suddenly flickered toward the alchemy chamber. A thought sparked in his mind, and he let out a low cry of immense joy, "I have an idea!"

Su Chan, Zi Yuan, and Zhou Qin were instantly delighted, speaking in unison, "What idea?"

Li Yundong chuckled darkly. He quickly scanned the surrounding cultivators hidden in the shadows and sneered, "Wan Zhenyuan resorts to diverting disaster to the east; do you think I cannot use the tactic of driving the tiger to devour the wolf?"

Saying this, he suddenly spoke slightly louder to Su Chan, "Chan'er, you take the Medicine King Cauldron and leave first; don't worry about us!"

Li Yundong controlled his volume with subtle precision; it was clearly intended as a whisper, yet it was pitched perfectly for Xu Ling to overhear.

Xu Ling instantly paused, looking around with surprised elation. He repeatedly exclaimed, "Yes, yes! Since the Earth Origin Spirit Pills manifested here, the Medicine King Cauldron must be nearby too! Haha, where is the Medicine King Cauldron? This Daoist wants it too!"

At this, everyone present erupted in outrage!

It was one thing for the brute to steal the Earth Origin Spirit Pills; did he also intend to snatch the goose that laid the golden eggs?

This was utterly intolerable!

Su Chan, at first confused by Li Yundong's sudden, contextless remark, quickly grasped his intention and cleverly nodded. Without another word, she dashed toward the alchemy chamber.

Xu Ling immediately intercepted her, laughing loudly. "So it's here! Little fox, stand aside obediently. If you are sensible, this Daoist might spare you when my mood is good! Otherwise, this Daoist will claim you without a second thought!"

As he stepped in front of her, even though he was merely short and stout, Su Chan felt as if a terrifying monster, yet to bare its fangs, stood before her. Her heart hammered wildly. She dared not linger, spinning around and flying back to Li Yundong's side, feigning righteous indignation as she said, "You are so unreasonable! Do you want every single advantage?"

Xu Ling roared with laughter. "Are you only just realizing that? That’s the benefit of having the bigger fist! Might makes right, haha!"

Saying this, he carelessly turned away from them, exposing a massive opening to his back as if the others were mere phantoms. He placed both hands on the wall of the alchemy chamber, his True Essence surging outward. Immediately, Xu Ling's bones began to crackle and pop like firecrackers, and soon the massive stones of the alchemy chamber started to tremble, minute fissures appearing everywhere.

Zi Yuan gasped in horror as she watched. She whispered, "Master once said that Golden Body masters are top-tier cultivators who can defy the rules. I couldn't understand it then, but now I see what he meant! This Xu Ling is using his inherent True Essence power to shake the formations within the hard rock and break the array here! Such means... truly miraculous!"

Zhou Qin chided, "At a time like this, Zi Yuan, you have the leisure to praise the enemy?" She looked anxiously at Li Yundong and urged, "Master, shouldn't we act now?"

Li Yundong nodded, then immediately shook his head. He stated gravely, "Don't rush! The cultivators from all sects are currently angry but dare not speak, their collective spirit is like dry tinder, needing only a spark to become a raging fire. Once I light that spark, you follow right after! But only use your magic treasures; do not approach him. If you find him looking your way, flee immediately! Do you understand?"

Zhou Qin and Zi Yuan both nodded. Su Chan asked suspiciously, "What about me?"

Li Yundong shook his head. "You have no magic treasure, so you cannot advance. Stay aside and keep an eye on Ke Lisi in the distance."

Su Chan pouted instantly, looking thoroughly displeased.

While they were speaking, Xu Ling had forcefully torn a gap about an arm's width in the alchemy chamber wall. Spotting the Medicine King Cauldron inside, he burst into laughter, beckoned with one hand, and drew the Cauldron into his grasp. With his other hand, he summoned the three Earth Origin Spirit Pills into his palm.

Li Yundong roared, "Move!"

Instantly, Zi Yuan and Zhou Qin unleashed their magic treasures: the Six Harmonies Sword, the Fire God Whip, and the Nine Heavens Zi Yuan Silk all shot out, aggressively attacking Xu Ling.

The Six Harmonies Sword, when used alone by Li Yundong, did not possess great destructive power, but it was swift and agile, catching opponents off guard. Zhou Qin's Fire God Whip was not a top-tier artifact capable of inflicting damage on Xu Ling, but Zhou Qin deliberately aimed a strike at Xu Ling's face.

Even with his Golden Body protection, being lashed across the face with a whip—even if it caused no pain—was infuriating. Anger disturbs one's composure, leading to openings!

Among the three treasures, the Nine Heavens Zi Yuan Silk wielded by Zi Yuan was the strongest in terms of single-target combat potential.

As it attacked, the treasure coiled tightly, resembling a rotating purple diamond drill bit, relentlessly stabbing toward Xu Ling. Its speed caused obvious ripples in the surrounding air; its force was so intense that even a Golden Body master like Xu Ling felt a sharp chill, his brow furrowing deeply!

Xu Ling felt that if the Nine Heavens Zi Yuan Silk managed to pierce him and he allowed it to continue without interference, it might eventually drill a hole right through him! Golden Body masters were powerful, but that didn't mean they were absolutely invincible or impervious to piercing—the principle of a rope wearing away wood or water dripping through stone applied.

Xu Ling frowned, raised a hand, and flicked his finger, sending the Six Harmonies Sword cl