Stone Wall Guard!"
The defensive technique erupted in front of Elder Huo Shun and a thick wall of compressed earth materialized between him and the descending palm.
The Emerald Crushing Palm struck the barrier and the impact sent a shockwave rippling outward. BOOM.
The wall cracked but held for a split second before shattering completely.
Mu Tian had already moved through the explosion of shattered earth and reappeared directly in front of Elder Huo Shun with his palm driving toward the elder's chest at close range.
Huo Shun's fist came up to meet the attack and the two techniques collided with brutal force.
BANG.
The impact cracked the ground beneath their feet and sent fractures spreading outward in jagged lines.
Mu Tian stepped back once and his body blurred forward again immediately.
His palms came in rapid succession and each strike carried devastating power behind it.
Bang.Bang.Bang.
Elder Huo Shun moved backward rapidly and his own techniques met each palm strike in quick exchanges, but the strain showed clearly in his movements.
Mu Tian pressed the advantage relentlessly and his attacks came faster with each passing second, forcing Huo Shun to give ground continuously.
WHOOSH.
Mu Xiang charged across the battlefield with his saber raised high and the blade came down toward Huo Ming with enough force to split him in half.
Huo Ming shifted to the side in one fluid motion and the saber cut through empty air where he'd been standing a heartbeat before.
Huo Lan was already moving and her long thin sword flashed forward as spiritual energy blazed along its length.
"Scarlet Sword Flash!"
The technique released a wave of crimson fire that shot toward Mu Xiang.
He snarled and brought his saber up to block and the fire scattered against the weapon with a sharp hiss.
WHOOSH.
Huo Ming appeared at Mu Xiang's side like wind crossing the distance and his fist drove toward the young man's ribs.
"Earth Shaker Fist!"
BANG.
A green defensive barrier materialized around Mu Xiang's body and intricate patterns glowed across its surface.
The fist struck the barrier and the force dispersed across the defense without breaking through. Chaos erupted.
Huo Lan and Huo Ming pressed in from both sides, their attacks coming fast and coordinated.
Huo Lan's sword flashed in quick arcs, fire-aspected qi trailing in bright streaks, while Huo Ming's fists struck like hammers, each blow carrying the weight of compressed earth qi.
Their techniques came in rapid succession and Mu Xiang's saber moved with incredible speed to deflect and block each strike.
He shifted his footing constantly and his blade work showed masterful skill as he held his ground against both ninth layer cultivators without giving way.
Huo Chen stood alert and watched the battles unfolding around him.
His eyes tracked Elder Huo Shun's fight with Mu Tian and noted how the elder continued losing ground with each exchange.
The clash between Huo Lan, Huo Ming, and Mu Xiang remained violent and intense with neither side gaining a clear advantage.
The cultivators who'd closed in on Huo Chen's position earlier stood nearby, watching the fighting unfold. They spoke among themselves while calculating their next moves.
"Which force is this that dares clash with the Mu Family?" one man asked.
"They said they're the Huo Family," another replied.
A third cultivator snorted dismissively. "The Huo Family? What's that supposed to be?"
"That brat over there took two of the Void Spirit Marrow." One of them gestured toward Huo Chen.
"What audacity from such a little brat."
The speaker crossed the distance in two long strides and his sword descended toward Huo Chen with deadly intent.
WHOOSH.
The blade cut through the air with sharp precision.
Huo Chen bent low and his body shifted slightly as the sword came down. His fist shot upward and struck the blade's edge at an angle, deflecting it to the side just enough to avoid the killing strike.
He moved forward to attack but the cultivator used a quick movement technique and his body slid aside, repositioning instantly.
The sword came down again in a vicious slash.
Bang .Bang.
They exchanged blows rapidly and their techniques collided twice in quick succession before both fighters separated.
BANG.
The earth beneath Huo Chen's feet erupted with explosive force and launched him forward in a flash. His fist drove toward the man's chest with tremendous force behind it.
CRACK.
The strike connected solidly and the cultivator's chest caved inward from the impact. Blood sprayed from his mouth in a bright red mist and his body flew backward through the air before crashing into the distance.
Huo Chen's gaze swept the battlefield immediately.
Several more cultivators were already moving toward his position with weapons drawn and spiritual energy flaring around them.
Elder Huo Shun continued his desperate defense against Mu Tian's relentless assault and the elder had given even more ground in the brief moments that had passed.
Huo Lan and Huo Ming's clash with Mu Xiang remained fierce and showed no signs of ending soon.
Far ahead, Huo Chen could see the other cultivators who'd secured Void Spirit Marrow were almost clear of the immediate area and had nearly escaped the chaos entirely.
Urgency flooded through him. They had to leave this place immediately.
BANG.
An earth platform erupted beneath his feet and launched him toward where Elder Huo Shun and Mu Tian fought.
He shot across the distance and his voice rang out clearly above the sounds of combat.
"Seniors, we have to leave here now!"