He was lying on the ground with his head propped up with a small stone as his bloodied robes stuck to his body, and the gaping hole in his chest still trickling out blood as the Dark Qi Dara infused into the arrow prevented the blood from clothing, the wound from healing, and the King from recovering…

"It is done, your highness… We have used a total of fifteen Qi Sea stage Qi Stones…

"

The old man replied as wind began to whip around the area and the runes on the mysterious formation began to light up one after the other;

"My Lords and my Lady, the formation is prepared… Safe Journey, we will be awaiting your return when you have fully recovered…

"

It was in this moment that the Elder Dong trio realized that there were other figures present within the courtyard as well;

Then they saw three cloaked figures walk out from behind a patch of tall flowers, approaching the formation with two of them barely able to walk, hanging their arms around the necks of the third figure amongst them, who was trying all his possible best to continue moving;

"So it's true…

" Elder Tao's eyes widened as they all stepped into the courtyard;

"Your Highness, doing such shady things behind the backs of all your Elders and Grand Elders is unbecoming of the King that you are supposed to be, don't you think?

"

Elder Dong spoke as he gazed at the formation which was still greedily absorbing the Qi in the QI Stones placed at its center whilst the wind in the area continued to increase in intensity;

"Tch… Worm, will this be a problem!?

"

Fu asked with a lethargic but solemn expression as he looked towards the Elder Dong trio who already had their hands on the hilts of their swords;

"Elder Dong, what do you think you are do-!? *Cough!* *Cough!*

"

King Tian bellowed but before he could finish his statement, his internal injury abruptly ruptured as he coughed out two mouthful of fresh blood before blood began to rapidly trickle out of his wound…

"Your highness!

" The Scribe frantically called out as he tried to rush over before King Tian held up his hand, halting the old man in his steps;

"Scribe, please settle things here…

" King Tian managed to add before losing consciousness;

He had lost a lot of blood during the battle and there was a hole in his heart which made it extremely difficult for him to breather, not to even talk of speaking or making unnecessary gestures, and he was trying to ensure the safe return of the Fu trio, but his bellow earlier had made matters worse hence his falling out of consciousness…

"Elder Tao, we will leave the destruction of that formation to you…

"

"Oh, I guarantee that…

" Elder Tao replied Elder Dong;

"Elder Du, use everything in your power to hold back those injured trio and try to buy as much time as possible for Elder Tao…

"

Elder Du didn't say anything, but the manner with which he drew out his sword spoke volumes as the duo moved towards the formation and the Fu trio, whilst the Scribe who just finished checking up on King Tian to ensure that he was still alive tried to dash towards the formation, but Elder Dong appeared before him;

"I don't know who you are, and neither do I know what you want with or are doing with him, but for now, I am not allowing you close to that formation…

"

Elder Dong solemnly spoke as the old man gave a slight chuckle before bringing out a small dagger that glistened with a unique mysterious color which seemed to be the blood residue of whatever or whoever fell prey to that dagger prior to today…

Then the old scribe chuckled;

"Hehe… You think you have what it takes to stop me?

"

"Hmph!

"

Elder Dong snorted as he appeared in front of the old scribe in two slow but mysteriously fast steps which slightly caught the Old Scribe off-guard;

"Frostbite Slash!

"

Elder Dong bellowed as the Old Scribe followed suit;

"Shadow Piercer!

"

Whoosh!

Clang!

The duo collided ferociously sending sparks flying all over the place as Elder Tao arrived in front of the formation;

"Tch! Su… Cheng… Lie there for a bit, everything would be over in a flash!

"

Fu was almost growling with red eyes as he drew his twin swords and bolted towards Elder Du who leisurely watched him advance, and when Fu got within range, he grinned and swung his hand forward;

"Hmph! Of course I am not so stupid to fight you head on…

"

Elder Du chuckled as Fu's eyes widened in shock as he saw five lit dynamites heading for towards him;

'Tch… I can't even dodge them, and neither can I block them all…'

'Damn you lowly worms!'

Fu cursed in his head as he sheathed his swords, lurch to an abrupt halt before whipping out a fan;

"Die!

"

He screamed as he aggressively waved the hand fan;

"Wind Scythes!

"

He bellowed as fresh blood burst out of his mouth;

Whoosh!

Skreein!

Wind blades burst forth from the fan as it slammed into the dynamites sending them back towards Elder Du who was absolutely caught off-guard;

Kaboom!

Splurt!

Elder Du was blasted several meters away from the point of explosion as he threw out mouthfuls upon mouthfuls of fresh blood before slamming miserably into the wall of the King's chambers, with scorched clothes and several third degree burns on his face and exposed body parts…

Another one of the also dropped right beneath the squatting Elder Tao;

Kaboom!

Elder Tao was launched about fifty meters into the air;

"Ahk!

"

He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and as he was dropping back to the ground, he saw one arm and one leg descending just above him, and from what he could see, they looked pretty much like his, and it was in that moment he looked at himself and realized that the acrobatic limbs he was seeing were actually his…

'Am I truly going to die here?'

The unfortunate Elder Tao thought to himself, and in the next instant, all the pain from the massive blast caught up and assaulted all his senses as he instantaneously blacked out, before landing with a loud 'Bang!'