This battle came entirely unexpectedly. Leaf Gray didn't even know who his opponents were. But from the moment he followed the big tiger's charge and launched his attack, the outcome of this conflict was predetermined: either you die, or I perish!

The cultivation world had no room for reasoning; cultivation level was the only reason. As a Spirit Creek Second Layer cultivator trying to reason with them would definitely not work, and he might even end up getting himself killed.

After making his move, he had already killed two of their members. The situation had become one of life and death, with no quarter given.

Although that Shixiong Rivera was willing to swear a Providentia oath to let the matter rest if Leaf Gray released the young master, that was only his personal oath!

One must remember, the person Leaf Gray captured was the young master of a sect. Such a figure, having suffered such a great loss, would never let it go easily. Even if Leaf Gray forced him to also swear a Providentia oath, he still had an entire sect behind him! Others would not be bound by the Providentia oath.

In the end, the most likely result would be Leaf Gray being hunted down by an entire sect.

To avoid such an outcome, there was only one method.

Utter annihilation!

Among the four cultivators, two were dead and one was severely wounded. The young master's neck was slit open by the longsword, blood gushing out like a fountain. He raised his hand to cover the side of his neck, but it was of little use.

And as Shixiong Rivera's furious roar faded, Leaf Gray had already kicked the young master squarely in the back, sending him flying out towards Daniel Rivera.

"Save me!" the young master screamed, flailing in mid-air.

Seeing the young master flying towards him and vaguely making out Leaf Gray hiding behind the young master and pouncing towards him, Daniel Rivera momentarily lost his composure.

If he didn't catch the young master now, the young master would surely fall to the ground, worsening his injuries, and might truly be beyond saving. Although the young master's neck was slit, the attacker had shown some restraint; if rescued promptly, there might still be a chance to save him.

But if he caught the young master, he would be unable to block the opponent's attack!

That moment of hesitation made Daniel Rivera feel the cunning of his enemy.

He ultimately didn't dare let the young master fall. This time, his protection had been inadequate, and punishment was unavoidable. But as long as he could preserve the young master's life, he would at least not be executed.

However, if the young master died, he would certainly have no way out.

Daniel Rivera, holding the two curved blades inverted in his hands, stepped forward two steps and raised his hands to catch the flying young master, simultaneously activating his protective spiritual power.

He had clearly seen the opponent's cultivation level – only Spirit Creek Second Layer. His own Fourth Layer cultivation was much stronger than the opponent's. He was confident that even if the opponent attacked, his protective spiritual power could withstand it for a moment.

Thud...

The sound of a blade piercing flesh echoed. The young master, just caught by Daniel Rivera, suddenly widened his eyes, mouth agape, and let out another scream from the intense pain.

Daniel Rivera's pupils also contracted to the extreme in that instant, watching helplessly as a longsword pierced through the young master's chest straight towards him.

He channeled his protective spiritual power with all his might.

If he had seen how Leaf Gray broke through that body cultivator's defense earlier, he wouldn't have been so blindly confident. Unfortunately, he had been fighting the big tiger earlier and hadn't seen clearly how that body cultivator died.

The gleaming blade flashed with a light – the Sharpness Spirit Pattern enhanced it. The protective spiritual power of a Spirit Creek Fourth Layer cultivator actually couldn't withstand this sharp blade. The protective spiritual power only slightly hindered the sword's thrust before being pierced.

Daniel Rivera felt pain in his chest. At this critical moment of life and death, he abruptly arched his body backward, preventing the sword from penetrating deeper.

At the same time, he released the young master he was holding. Crossing his two curved blades, he parried the longsword.

The blade had penetrated three inches into his flesh, unable to advance further. Daniel Rivera let out a long sigh of relief. Just as he thought he had blocked this attack, a strong gust of wind rushed from behind.

"Damn it!" Daniel Rivera immediately realized what was happening. Although the opponent was alone, there was still a snow-white big tiger. What was pouncing from behind was undoubtedly that big tiger.

Just as he was about to respond, his shoulder suddenly sank as if bearing a heavy weight. Simultaneously, a sharp, shrill sound reached his ears, causing his spirit to waver slightly.

The young master, still pinned between them by Leaf Gray's sword, wasn't dead yet. Facing Daniel Rivera's direction, his mouth wide open, he watched as that delicate, porcelain-doll-like spirit pounced onto Daniel Rivera's back and screamed directly into his ear.

Immediately after, the big tiger's burly figure pounced, its two front paws slamming squarely into Daniel Rivera's back.

The immense, irresistible force made Daniel Rivera's arched body straighten abruptly. He stumbled forward several steps. A tearing sound was heard as the longsword pierced through his chest, emerging from his back!

Succeeding with one strike, Leaf Gray immediately withdrew the sword, leaping backward. Not only him, but the big tiger, after delivering that blow from behind, also nimbly retreated several zhang.

Almost simultaneously as the big tiger retreated, Daniel Rivera stabbed backward twice with his blades into empty air.

He staggered back uncontrollably a few steps, his legs weakening. He quickly used his curved blades to prop himself up on the ground, avoiding the fate of collapsing to his knees.

Leaf Gray frowned as he looked at the wound on the other's chest. His stab had been aimed at the opponent's heart, but the result wasn't as intended. The strike was off target and failed to kill him instantly.

When Leaf Gray withdrew his sword and Daniel Rivera staggered back, the young master who had been pinned between them also collapsed to the ground. Blood stained the earth beneath him. His body twitched slightly a few times before falling still.

Daniel Rivera could no longer care to check the young master's condition. He only knew that he would probably die here today!

He, a Spirit Creek Fourth Layer cultivator, had been utterly disoriented in just over ten breaths by a combination of attacks from a Spirit Creek Second Layer cultivator and a big tiger...

If he hadn't experienced it personally, no one would believe such a story.

What grade of spiritual tool was that in the opponent's hand? It could actually break through his protective spiritual power with one strike!

Feeling his injury, Daniel Rivera knew in his heart that it was hopeless. Although he wouldn't die immediately, without immediate treatment, such a wound would only worsen. And judging by the opponent's ruthless style, he clearly wouldn't be allowed to leave alive.

Gasping for breath a few times, he raised one hand and pressed it against the back of his other hand. A faint red light immediately glowed on that hand.

Leaf Gray was watching him warily. According to his thinking, this Daniel Rivera was already severely wounded, so there was no need to fight him fiercely. He just needed to stall and wear him down, and eventually, he could finish him off.

But when he saw the red light glowing on the opponent's hand, he suddenly felt a sense of foreboding!

"Amber!" Leaf Gray shouted lowly, already charging towards Daniel Rivera with his sword.

Daniel Rivera quickly stood up, unsteady on his feet, blood pouring from the wound on his chest. He grinned ferociously: "The Ennead Star Sect will not let you go! You are doomed!"

Leaf Gray swung his sword down. Daniel Rivera crossed his dual blades, blocking this strike. However, he was powerless to defend against the big tiger, which seized the opportunity to pounce from the side. The big tiger bit down hard on Daniel Rivera's thigh, tearing off a large chunk of flesh.

Evie also emerged, clinging to Daniel Rivera's back, continuously shrieking and screaming, doing her utmost to play her part.

The big tiger, after biting off the flesh, was kicked away by Daniel Rivera. Evie, clinging to his back, was shaken off by his protective spiritual power. Daniel Rivera twisted his dual blades, causing Leaf Gray's center of gravity to shift. Although Leaf Gray quickly stabilized himself, a gleaming blade light was already searing into his vision.