However, Sacred Lord Kasyapa's mood sank with each passing moment as the Holy Land's defensive system continued to crumble.
Clearly, he had already realized that time was running out for him.
If he did not launch his attack soon, the moment the defensive system shattered, he would be completely exposed. At that point, the entire ambush plan would be declared a failure.
"I can't wait any longer!"
Sacred Lord Kasyapa's mind was crystal clear. Gritting his teeth, he flickered his Dharma Body, and an ancient trident materialized in his hand.
With a flip of his left hand, Sacred Lord Kasyapa produced a golden, ancient talisman.
"This strike must either kill my target in one blow, or I will be surrounded without any possibility of escape." Sacred Lord Kasyapa knew there was no third option.
Any cultivator who had reached the Divine Path possessed a powerful heart and an unwavering resolve.
Having made up his mind, Sacred Lord Kasyapa did not hesitate for even a heartbeat. He hurled the golden talisman directly, and countless blinding bolts of golden lightning erupted outward like innumerable small serpents.
The golden lightning instantly coalesced into a golden ocean, crashing down around the sallow-faced Divine Path cultivator.
The sallow-faced man had been pouring his full strength into attacking the defensive system. When he saw the sudden golden lightning, he let out a cold snort. His dharma robe suddenly billowed outward, emanating streaks of eerie green radiance that appeared to intercept the golden lightning perfectly.
At that very moment, Sacred Lord Kasyapa's Dharma Body slashed diagonally out from within the golden light, the trident stabbing toward the sallow-faced man's waist with lightning speed.
That was also the hardest area to defend.
As the sallow-faced cultivator dodged the golden lightning, he had already sensed someone ambushing him. With a backhand swing, a streak of cold light slashed outward, attempting to block the second wave of attack.
This was the instinctive response of a powerhouse. And it had to be said—this instinct came not a moment too soon. Just as the trident was about to pierce through, his backhand blade caught it at precisely the right angle.
However, Sacred Lord Kasyapa's trident carried incomparable momentum. Although the blade had interrupted its force, the residual energy did not dissipate. It actually pierced through the green radiance and sank into the man's dharma robe. In an instant, blood seeped along the fabric, staining half the robe red in the blink of an eye.
"Damn it!"
The other three Divine Path cultivators immediately rushed to his aid.
Three attacks bore down from Sacred Lord Kasyapa's left, right, and rear without the slightest mercy.
Sacred Lord Kasyapa inwardly cursed his bad luck. He had unleashed two devastating killing moves in succession, yet they had only wounded the opponent—no fatal blow had been delivered.
Under the cover of his allies' support, the sallow-faced man managed to break free, transforming into a streak of green radiance that shot backward, his face still pale with shock.
Though his dharma robe was stained with blood, the wound the sallow-faced cultivator had sustained clearly had not touched his foundation.
"An Kasyapa—the gates of heaven stand open and you refuse to walk through, yet here you barge into the gates of hell with no door. Very well, very well. Today, we shall see how we hunt you down!"
The sallow-faced cultivator viciously flicked his bloodied robe, raising his long saber high. His eyes blazed with hatred, locked firmly onto Sacred Lord Kasyapa.
The bald cultivator sighed. "Friend An, you brought this upon yourself. Don't blame us for failing to honor old sentiments."
This bald cultivator had still retained some measure of goodwill toward An Kasyapa. But now, with An Kasyapa having launched his attack, that goodwill had been彻底 severed once and for all.
The two great guardians' strength surpassed both the sallow-faced and the bald cultivators. Seeing the sallow-faced cultivator wounded, their expressions remained utterly unruffled.