Lin Yijun had naturally considered this possibility and promptly took out some food that the Purple Thunder Beast liked and some lure powder for beasts.

However, the Western Region cultivators weren’t particularly knowledgeable about elixirs and powders, and the items Lin Yijun had were probably subpar.

When the Purple Thunder Beast smelled the powder, far from being interested, it seemed to make a disgusted expression and turned away, intending to leave.

Having finally lured it out of its lair, Lin Yijun couldn’t just let it go like this.

She approached and made a feigned attack, hoping to regain the beast’s attention.

Perhaps the beast was truly irritated by this woman.

She neither attacked nor let go, just like a fly annoying it, until finally unable to bear it any longer, it almost shot out two thunderlights from its sharp teeth, aiming towards Lin Yijun.

She narrowly dodged one, but the other struck her side, grazing her.

An attack from a Golden Core Stage demonic beast was no joke.

Even though it was just a graze, Lin Yijun immediately spat out blood and fell from her wind and fire wheels like a fluttering red butterfly.

The Purple Thunder Beast didn’t even bother to check if she was dead, forming auspicious clouds beneath its feet and preparing to leave.

From the treetops, Qin Ruqing clicked her tongue and muttered, “Thought we could just sit back and relax. Who knew we’d have to exert ourselves? Life’s nothing but hard work.”

She formed a golden lotus in her palm and pricked her fingertip, dropping a drop of blood into the lotus. The lotus floated and swiftly chased after the Thunder Beast.

Luwei remembered something and asked, “Won’t this cause a commotion? I remember when Qingqing experimented with her blood in the family’s secret realm, she attracted all the realm’s beasts.”

Qin Ruqing replied, “No, the golden lotus isolates the blood’s aura. When it catches up to the Thunder Beast, I’ll just gently fan a bit of qi towards its nostrils, just a bit, Just enough to let it get a whiff.”

Luwei might not have fully understood, but the Thunder Beast clearly did.

It had been about to leave, but suddenly it saw a golden flower (Qin Ruqing’s hand transformed), and a scent, ethereal and tantalizing, that made one’s blood rush instinctively to chase after it.

The scent was elusive, initially dismissed by the Thundercloud Beast as a trick of the mind.

But as it pondered, the fragrance wormed its way into its nostrils.

Before the beast could fully comprehend, its massive paw instinctively changed direction.

Animals follow instincts; they seldom engage their minds.

The Purple Thunder Beast, without much thought, pursued the aroma that captivated its primal soul, heading straight for the canyon.

Meanwhile, the group of Hidden Cultivators, watching Lin Yijun fall victim to the monster’s attack and the Thundercloud Beast’s departure, assumed their plan had failed.

Some were on the verge of relaxing, ready to abandon the defensive formation.

However, the Hidden Cultivators remained steadfast, maintaining their array with the Buddha’s treasure.

One of them said, “Fairy Yijun previously advised us not to give up the formation easily if the situation turns unfavorable. Once the formation collapses, we’ll lose any chance. Let’s observe a bit longer!”

Indeed, upon closer observation, they noticed a turning point.

The Thundercloud Beast, originally set on leaving, inexplicably reversed course, its face covered in fur showing a salivating expression.

With no time to ponder its sudden change, they watched as the Thundercloud Beast entered the demon-suppressing formation.

A shout erupted from the Hidden Cultivators, “Activate the formation!”

Golden rays from six directions pierced the sky, chaining the monstrous creature with giant fangs at the center of the array.

The pressure on everyone spiked instantly when the demonic beast at the Golden Core stage entered the formation.

It felt as if a thousand-pound boulder had suddenly pressed down on them; the weaker ones spat out blood on the spot, quickly covered by those behind them.

The Hidden Cultivators’ Buddha beads spun rapidly with a buzzing sound.

Seizing the opportunity, one of them hastily pasted a series of talismans all over their body.

In moments, their eye sockets reddened, tears of blood trickling from the corners of their eyes.

This individual was truly tenacious, a person of great courage.

Their reckless actions aimed to detonate hundreds of spiritual weapons they had accumulated.

As expected, despite the impulsiveness of their actions, the results were effective.

Another cry came from the Hidden Cultivator, “Everyone, exert full power and detonate them all!”

With a deafening roar, a tremendous force exploded at the center of the formation.

The impact was so powerful that it seemed as if the heavens themselves were unleashing a thunderous calamity.

The Thunder Beast at the center of the formation roared furiously in shock and anger, but its cries were drowned out by the earth-shaking explosion.

The canyon trembled, and rocks around the formation began to collapse and tumble, burying both the formation and the Thunder Beast beneath them.

Gradually, the commotion within the formation settled down.

While the Thundercloud Beast appeared to have suffered severe damage, those maintaining the formation still felt the terrifying pressure emanating from it, indicating that it had not yet perished.

The group remained vigilant, unable to relax just yet.

However, the most perilous moment had passed.

It seemed the plan had succeeded, and now it was a test of endurance to see which side would outlast the other.

Qirong, bewildered, asked, “Is this a success then?”

Qin Ruqing merely smiled in response, saying nothing.

Her silence spoke volumes, indicating that the matter was far from over.

Qirong patiently continued to observe.

Meanwhile, upon seeing the situation calm down within the formation, members of the Lin family team rushed to the entrance of the canyon to find their young mistress, Fairy Yijun.

Yijun looked severely injured and barely conscious.

Supported by her family members, they approached the Hidden Cultivator who was controlling the formation.

One of them said, “Our young mistress is badly injured.”

“Serious, we need to take her for healing now.”

The six people standing in the hexagram positions all saw Lin Yijun’s miserable state.

Her young face was bruised, blood flowing from her body, some still dripping down.

She was barely breathing, nearly at the end.

The hermit monk, standing in the hidden position, couldn’t bear to look.

He said, “Seeing Fairy Yijun injured so severely, should we break the jade token and seek treatment outside?”

Lin’s family quickly replied, “Thank you for your kindness, but we have healing tools with us. We should be able to manage.”

No one would stop someone so close to death from seeking treatment.

Besides, all six people needed to control the formation and couldn’t spare much attention for other matters.

They all nodded in agreement.

Soon, Lin’s family disappeared from sight.

Qin Ruqing, who had been lying on the treetops all this while, finally moved.

Her lips curled slightly, and there was a hint of green in her eyes.

“Let’s go, time to act. Follow them!”

As Qirong followed Qin Ruqing, he asked, “Wasn’t she severely injured by the Thundercloud Beast’s lightning strike?”

Qin Ruqing snorted. “Severely injured? If she were, how could she go monster hunting so soon?”

Sure enough, they followed Lin’s family, observing that they didn’t look like they were rushing to rescue anyone.

After carrying Lin Yijun forward for a while, they suddenly stopped.

Lin Yijun, who had been lying with closed eyes and barely breathing, suddenly opened her eyes and sat up.

“Young miss, are you okay?” someone asked with concern.

Lin Yijun snorted.

There was no sign of serious injury.

She raised her hand and pulled off a jacket she was wearing over her chest and back.

By now, the jacket had been shattered by the lightning strike.

Lin Yijun rubbed her chest. “Luckily, I had this defensive garment. Otherwise, I would have had a rough time this time.” She picked up the small garment and looked at it a few times. “Unfortunately, such precious material can no longer be used.”

Despite her regretful words, she didn’t hesitate to throw away the garment and stand up, her gaze urgent. “Let’s go! Let’s find that little Thunder Beast!”

Not long after they left, several figures swiftly passed through the area.

Following Lin Yijun’s path, Qin Ruqing asked Tang Zifeng, “What was she wearing? It looked really sturdy.”

Tang Zifeng explained, “It’s a defensive robe made of Jiao yarn, extremely rare and with very strong defensive capabilities.”

Qin Ruqing clicked her tongue. “That sister is truly wealthy.”

“Hey, didn’t she throw away that clothing? With such precious material, couldn’t we pick it up and repair it? It might still be usable against attacks like the Golden Core.” Qin Ruqing thought of turning back to retrieve the garment, but Tang Zifeng held her back.

He looked somewhat helpless. “She’s already passed through… Besides, the Jiao yarn was damaged by the blast and can’t be used anymore. I’ll make you an even better one in the future. For now, hurry and catch up with them.”

Qin Ruqing acknowledged with an “oh.”

Pursuing someone was indeed simple for her now, given her solid Foundation Building cultivation.

Watching the Lin family and their group running in the opposite direction of the Thundercloud Beast’s nest, they stopped near a hidden waterfall.

From her storage ring, Lin Yijun took out some kind of fish, preserved or roasted, sprinkled with an unknown powder.

It seemed their earlier attempt to lure the Thundercloud Beast hadn’t shaken their confidence.

The people from Xiling seemed to have unwavering trust in their concocted medicines.

Lin Yijun threw the powdered fish towards the waterfall.

It was a scene that startled anyone who saw it.

An unexpected scene unfolded: the fish didn’t get washed away by the waterfall but seemed to have been thrown into it by Lin Yijun.

Lin Yijun and her family members each held something resembling a star disk, waiting in hiding.

Before long, a beast’s head emerged from the waist of the waterfall.

Its nose twitched, sensing its surroundings, and then it jumped out.

It was entirely purple, with two pairs of huge and fierce fangs, surrounded by crackling electricity.

It was unmistakably a miniature version of the Purple Thundercloud Beast.

Qin Ruqing, hidden nearby, watched with a realization dawning on her face.

“The Mysterious Heart Liquid was originally used to assist in Core Formation and improve the chance of success. But that previous Purple Thundercloud Beast had clearly already reached Golden Core Stage, rendering the Mysterious Heart Liquid useless for it. Now, it seems it’s meant for its offspring.”

The young beast obviously lacked the experience of its parents.

Fooled by the fish, it walked right into a giant net used for capturing beasts.

The Lin family members swiftly leaped out, manipulating their star disks and setting up formations.

It appeared that the star disks controlled a formation akin to a miniature Fuzhen Demon-subduing Array.

Lu Wei frowned and said, “It looks like the Lin family got wind of this early. They came to the Floating Island early just for the Mysterious Heart Liquid. For this, the Lin family made thorough preparations.”

Qirong was more concerned about the outcome. “Sister, can this formation restrain that young Purple Thundercloud Beast?”

Qin Ruqing smiled and replied, “Whether it can restrain it, I don’t know. But what I do know is that using this formation, she won’t need me to intervene personally.”

Tang Zifeng understood her implication and hesitantly nodded. “Are we not playing the role of the decoy?” He clearly understood Qin Ruqing’s style.

Qin Ruqing turned to look at him, grinned, and said, “Decoy? When there’s strength, seizing directly is always more convenient!”

Qin Ruqing had already discerned that the young Purple Thundercloud Beast was at the late Foundation Building stage.

After advancing in her own cultivation, aside from her innate fire talents, she hadn’t experimented much with other skills.

Encountering such a suitable demon beast now, Qin Ruqing couldn’t resist the opportunity.

Suddenly, Lin Yijun and the others manipulating the star disks felt something amiss.

Their gazes shifted and saw several figures emerging from the dense bushes to their right.

Leading them was a dazzling woman in red…

Lin Yijun widened her eyes. “It’s you! You… You actually followed us here!”