The world around them seemed to be struck by an earthquake; even their footing became unsteady.

They saw in the sky, where the thunderstone had exploded, a patch of void cracks appear, fully ten zhang across.

"The Formation’s broken!" Li Jin exclaimed in delight. Ye Qiu stared at that spot, his expression on the mask utterly calm.

Luo Shang, Zhang Yunke, and Song Qinglong all brightened; it had really worked, they had truly used brute force to break the Formation.

"Looks like we can get out of here." Song Qinglong said with joy.

However, just as Song Qinglong’s voice fell, Luo Shang’s expression changed. "Not good."

At this moment, Ye Qiu grabbed Li Jin in one hand and shot straight toward the crack in the sky.

It turned out that the grand Formation blasted open by the thunderstone hadn’t been completely shattered; instead it was slowly repairing itself, and at a very high speed. In the blink of an eye it shrank from ten zhang across to five.

If the grand Formation fully restored itself, then all their effort just now would be for nothing.

Ye Qiu had noticed this long ago, so he rushed over with Li Jin at the first possible moment, trying to get out of the Formation before the gap closed.

Three zhang!

Two zhang!

One zhang!

The grand Formation’s recovery speed was terrifyingly fast. Ye Qiu hurled Li Jin through the crack, then his whole body darted after.

When the opening was down to half a zhang, Ye Qiu and Li Jin leapt out of the Formation.

The grand Formation slowly sealed up and fully repaired itself. Li Jin sat on the ground, panting heavily.

"It’s about to heal completely." Li Jin said. At this time the three young masters of Luo He arrived before the crack, but it was no longer wide enough for the three of them to pass together.

Boom boom boom!

Luo Shang, Zhang Yunke, and Song Qinglong attacked in rapid succession, trying to slow the speed at which the crack was closing, even widen it to make it easier for the three to pass.

Their frenzied attacks did slow the healing somewhat, and in that instant the three squeezed through the gap one after another. Just as Song Qinglong, the last one out, slipped through, the grand Formation healed completely.

Getting rid of that previous grand Formation had cost the three of them quite a bit of strength.

Now, they had finally pushed a little deeper into the cave-dwelling.

Ye Qiu was preparing to leave with Li Jin, but Zhang Yunke’s figure blocked the way.

Ye Qiu looked at Luo Shang, as if asking what they meant by this.

Luo Shang said, "This is between you and him. I won’t interfere."

Luo Shang made it clear that Zhang Yunke’s move had nothing to do with him; they could settle it themselves.

"Kid, inside the Formation we agreed not to attack you. But now we’ve escaped the Formation, so that agreement no longer applies. Next, it’s time to settle our affairs." Zhang Yunke said calmly.

Earlier, Ye Qiu had been extremely arrogant, not the least bit afraid of him. If Ye Qiu had been a disciple of some major sect, that would be one thing—Zhang Yunke could give him some face and let it go—but Ye Qiu wore a mask, acting all mysterious. On what basis should Zhang Yunke give him face?

Besides, those Loose Cultivators had said before that Ye Qiu might have a Divine weapon on him, and also secrets related to that Stele. Zhang Yunke wanted to know them all.

Unlike Luo Shang and Song Qinglong, Zhang Yunke’s background wasn’t as strong as the Luo and Song families; in Luohé City his Zhang clan was only above average. If not for his own astonishing talent that had earned him attention from many, the Zhang family’s standing would have been even lower.

If he could get some good stuff from Ye Qiu, Zhang Yunke would naturally be very willing. Luo Shang and Song Qinglong might not want to make a move, but Zhang Yunke was more than eager. Any treasure he obtained would definitely bolster his family’s foundation. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Especially since Ye Qiu was wearing a mask; one glance and you could tell he was hiding secrets. If Zhang Yunke could uncover them, that would be even better for him.

"You people really are hypocrites. Just a moment ago you asked us to join forces to break the Formation, and now that we’re out, you immediately turn on us." Li Jin said indignantly.

Swish.

Zhang Yunke’s aura surged toward Li Jin at once. Instantly Li Jin was crushed beneath the pressure, unable to stand, as if a thousand-catty boulder had been dropped on him.

They only heard Zhang Yunke say coolly, "You’re just a Loose Cultivator. You’re not qualified to mock me."

"Then am I qualified?"

Suddenly Li Jin felt the weight on his body vanish, and he stood up at once. He looked at Ye Qiu, knowing Ye Qiu had stepped in for him.

Zhang Yunke’s aura had actually been casually blocked by Ye Qiu. His gaze sharpened as he stared at Ye Qiu, like a predator locking onto its prey.

"You aren’t qualified either!"

Zhang Yunke moved. His afterimage lingered in the air; his attack was as swift as rolling thunder.

Thud thud thud!

After three dull bangs, a shocking scene unfolded—Zhang Yunke actually went flying backward and crashed into the ground.

Hm?

Luo Shang and Song Qinglong’s expressions both changed; they looked utterly incredulous.

In their view, Ye Qiu at this moment shouldn’t have much strength left. How could he send Zhang Yunke flying in an instant?

After all, Zhang Yunke was at the Returning Ruins Realm.

Even Zhang Yunke himself hadn’t expected to lose so quickly. In just a single instant, he was blasted away.

"Damn it..." Zhang Yunke sprang up, rubbing his chest; that spot had nearly been punched through by Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu stood where he was, hands clasped behind his back, as if he hadn’t made a move at all.

In fact, Ye Qiu had planned to use his Saint avatar just now, but he suddenly discovered that this stretch of heaven and earth carried a repulsive force; he couldn’t bring the Saint avatar out from his Sumeru bag at all.

As a result, Ye Qiu had to act personally. Facing Zhang Yunke, he didn’t hold back in the slightest. His strength was nothing like what Zhang Yunke imagined; he hadn’t exhausted himself at all and was currently in peak condition.

He was someone who could sweep those of the same realm to begin with. Against Zhang Yunke, who was roughly at the same level, Ye Qiu spent almost no effort to send him flying in an instant.

He was so fast that even Zhang Yunke himself barely had time to react.

Zhang Yunke was naturally unwilling to accept this. He charged in again, but facing Ye Qiu in his best state, all his attacks were utterly futile.

Ye Qiu’s shoulders shifted back and forth, dodging every strike, then with a sudden blow sent Zhang Yunke flying again.

Seven or eight exchanges later, Zhang Yunke still hadn’t so much as brushed the hem of Ye Qiu’s robe, while he himself had been blasted away over and over. If anyone still couldn’t see that Zhang Yunke was no match for Ye Qiu, they would have to be an idiot.

With a flip of his palm, Ye Qiu sent Zhang Yunke shooting off like a kite, skidding far away. Ye Qiu moved his foot, and in a flash he was standing over the fallen Zhang Yunke, looking down from above. "Do you still want to fight?"

Zhang Yunke stared at Ye Qiu for a long moment without speaking. In the end, he lowered his head.

Even if he didn’t want to admit it, he had to: he was no match for Ye Qiu.

"Don’t force me to act again. Next time, I’ll kill you." Ye Qiu’s voice echoed in Zhang Yunke’s ears. Ye Qiu turned, called to Li Jin, and the two walked off, while Luo Shang and Song Qinglong didn’t make the slightest move to stop them.

But both of their gazes followed Ye Qiu’s back. Just who was this masked man, to so cleanly and decisively defeat Zhang Yunke? And if they themselves were to face him?

"I’m not his match either." Luo Shang murmured.

Ye Qiu’s appearance was destined to leave the three of them with the deepest impression.