I cultivate the Chaos Technique

Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu's figures were like afterimages as they swiftly emerged from the shadowy bamboo forest.

The two were experiencing extremely complex emotions, feeling both relieved to have escaped and wary of the unknown dangers ahead.

The shadow of death from the Shadow Bamboo Sea still loomed over their hearts, but they were unaware that an even more dangerous trap awaited them.

The surrounding scenery changed rapidly; the lush green of the bamboo forest gradually faded, replaced by a gray wilderness.

The sky was obscured by low-pressure clouds, and an eerie stillness enveloped the surroundings; even the wind seemed to have stopped blowing.

An invisible chill silently seeped into Zhang Yifan's body, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on the sword in his hand.

"Something's not right here!" Lin Qingzhu's voice was low and filled with vigilance. Her eyes swept around, her brows furrowed. "It seems like some kind of restriction is lurking in the shadows."

Zhang Yifan nodded; he too sensed something ominous.

Although they managed to escape the Shadow Bamboo Forest, they were clearly not out of real danger.

He waved his hand, and a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy was released from his fingertips as he tried to explore the surrounding environment.

However, unexpectedly, his spiritual power seemed to sink into the sea without any response.

"Damn it!" Zhang Yifan's expression changed slightly. "There's a formation here that suppresses spiritual energy!"

Just then, faint lights and shadows appeared all around them, and intricate array patterns shimmered on the ground, like giant nets enveloping the space they were in. Lin Qingzhu's expression suddenly turned serious, and she said softly, "We've entered a large array, and a killing array at that!"

The surrounding array power gradually activated, and the spiritual energy in the air became viscous, like an invisible hand slowly suppressing the cultivation levels of the two. Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu exchanged a glance, both seeing deep wariness in each other's eyes.

"Let's go!" Zhang Yifan didn't hesitate, pulling Lin Qingzhu along as they sped forward. They couldn't worry about anything else now, only wanting to escape the formation's hold as quickly as possible. Along the way, the cultivators following behind them also quickened their pace, trying to flee this dangerous place. However, the formation's power began to manifest; as they ventured deeper, the killing intent in the air grew increasingly intense, a suffocating pressure enveloping everyone.

Suddenly, a scream shattered the silence.

Zhang Yifan stopped and turned around. He saw a cultivator lying on the ground, a sharp sword aura piercing his chest, blood gushing out. His face still held a look of terror, as if he hadn't even had time to react. The surrounding cultivators immediately panicked and retreated, their eyes filled with dread.

"Don't panic!" Zhang Yifan shouted in a deep voice, "This is a deadly trap within the formation! Everyone stay alert and don't make any rash moves!"

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than another scream rang out. Immediately afterward, several more cultivators collapsed without warning, their bodies seemingly torn apart by invisible blades, blood spurting out, and even their souls annihilated in an instant.

Zhang Yifan's heart sank. He could see that this formation was not just about suppressing spiritual power; it also harbored deadly dangers—every step could trigger the restrictions within the formation, causing the cultivator to die instantly.

"If this continues, we'll all be trapped here!" Lin Qingzhu whispered, her voice trembling with rapid breathing.

Zhang Yifan's eyes flickered as he quickly considered a solution. The current situation left them no room for further hesitation; they had to find a way to break the formation. Otherwise, even if they managed to escape the killing intent within the formation, they would eventually be overwhelmed by the oppressive power that suppressed their spiritual energy.

"Qingzhu, look over there!" Zhang Yifan suddenly pointed into the distance, his voice tinged with anxiety. "There seems to be a key point to the formation there!"

Following his gaze, Lin Qingzhu saw an unusual light flickering faintly on the ground in the distance, seemingly the core of the array's operation. Her eyes narrowed, and she nodded, saying, "That's right, the array's core is indeed there! If we destroy it, we might be able to escape!"

Without further hesitation, the two rushed towards the center of the formation. However, the moment they moved, the killing intent within the formation was reignited, and the surrounding air suddenly became violent, as if countless sharp blades were piercing out from the void and attacking them.

Zhang Yifan swiftly swung his sword, unleashing a sword aura that blocked the oncoming killing intent. However, his expression remained grim. The power of the formation far exceeded their expectations, and the earlier depletion of his spiritual energy had already left him feeling somewhat fatigued. Clearly, they could not afford to delay any longer.

"Everyone stay close to me and don't move!" Zhang Yifan shouted to the remaining cultivators behind him. They had already suffered heavy losses. Of the dozens of cultivators who had originally escaped from the Shadow Bamboo Sea with them, only a dozen or so remained, and each of them wore a look of fear and exhaustion.

Upon hearing Zhang Yifan's words, everyone suppressed their fear and followed closely behind him and Lin Qingzhu, rushing towards the center of the formation.

But the formation clearly wouldn't let them have their way so easily. As they drew closer, the killing intent intensified, each step feeling like walking on a blade. The surrounding space began to distort, as if countless phantoms were flashing before their eyes, confusing their judgment.

"Illusion!" Lin Qingzhu's eyes turned cold. She quickly formed a hand seal and softly shouted, "Break!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a beam of light shot from her fingertips, instantly shattering the surrounding illusion. Zhang Yifan's vision cleared again, but at that moment, an unprecedented killing intent suddenly descended.

"Be careful!" Zhang Yifan's heart pounded with alarm, and he drew his sword without hesitation to meet the killing intent. However, the killing intent did not come from some tangible attack, but from the most insidious trap in the formation—an invisible aura suddenly pressed down on his sea of ​​consciousness, attempting to directly destroy his soul.

Zhang Yifan felt a sharp pain emanating from the depths of his mind, and his vision blurred instantly, as if countless phantoms were overlapping before him. He gritted his teeth, trying his best to steady himself, but the oppressive feeling grew stronger and stronger, almost unbearable for him.

Just as his mind wavered, a cool aura suddenly surged into his consciousness, dispelling the murderous intent. Zhang Yifan's expression changed, and he turned around to see Lin Qingzhu with her eyes slightly closed, surrounded by a faint halo of light. Clearly, she had intervened to help him resolve the crisis.

"Thank you..." Zhang Yifan said in a low voice. He knew that if Lin Qingzhu hadn't intervened in time, he would probably have been seriously injured.

Lin Qingzhu shook her head slightly, her voice still calm: "Be careful, don't be careless."

Zhang Yifan nodded and quickly adjusted his state. They maintained their speed, continuing their advance towards the array's core. Along the way, several more cultivators perished in the killing intent, their blood staining the ground and filling the air with a nauseating stench of blood.

As they finally approached the core of the formation, its power reached its peak. Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu were barely holding on, and few of the cultivators behind them remained. Exhaustion and despair were etched on everyone's faces, yet they did not choose to retreat—for they knew that only by breaking through the formation could they find a glimmer of hope.

"This is it!" Lin Qingzhu's voice was filled with excitement and urgency as she pointed forward, the light drawing ever closer.

However, just as they were about to touch the core of the formation, the surrounding air suddenly froze, and a figure appeared silently in front of them.

Zhang Yifan's heart tightened, and an incredulous shock flashed in his eyes. He had thought that this formation was some kind of uncontrolled restriction, but the person who appeared in front of him now completely shattered his guess.

This person is clearly the mastermind behind the formation, but who exactly is he? And why did he set up such a complex killing formation?

At that moment, all the questions flashed through Zhang Yifan's mind. However, the figure offered them no explanation; his gaze was cold and indifferent, as if he were looking down at a group of ants. The killing intent in the air suddenly intensified, as if an invisible giant hand was pushing them step by step into the abyss of death.

Alarm bells rang in Zhang Yifan's mind, yet under such pressure, he was powerless to resist. He could only grip his sword tightly with all his might, preparing to meet the impending final blow.

Just then, the figure suddenly spoke, his voice low and cold: "Very good, you've made it this far, which is enough to make me look at you differently... Unfortunately, it all ends here."

As soon as he finished speaking, the killing intent in the air instantly solidified. Zhang Yifan felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, as if all his strength had been drained away. However, just as he was about to lose consciousness, Lin Qingzhu beside him suddenly made her move, a sharp sword aura slicing through the sky and heading straight for that figure.

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the mysterious black hand, but he did not back down. Instead, he gently raised his hand, his fingertips twitching slightly, and the sword energy suddenly dissipated in mid-air.

"Your resistance... is futile."

The voice remained cold, carrying an absolute sense of suppression.