<h4>Chapter 343: Breaking the Stalemate!</h4>


    "How do I break this?!"


    Ling Feng''s mind raced as he desperately searched for a way to break the stalemate. If this continued, the Five Elemental Sword Guards would surely exhaust him to death.


    <i>Wait!</i>


    <i>The Heaven-ying Sword Art!</i>


    Suddenly, inspiration struck Ling Feng. He remembered the powerful sword technique that came with the Eradicator of Realms: the <i>Heaven-ying Sword Art.</i>


    What Ling Feng relied on wasn''t the Heaven-ying Sword Art''s powerful insta-kill ability, but its ability to exert a kind of oppressive force that immobilized opponents.


    He had used this technique to y many enemies and knew that once the Heaven-ying Sword Art was unleashed, even the strongest adversaries seemed to be bound by a force akin to thews of the Great Dao.


    This binding effect made it nearly impossible for opponents to evade and forced them to confront the attack head-on.


    Ling Feng''s n was straightforward. In the instant he unleashed the Heaven-ying Sword Art, he would use its oppressive force to immobilize the sword guards for a moment.


    That brief moment could be his only chance to turn the tide of the battle and achieve victory!


    However, whether it would work or not was uncertain.


    After all, the Five Elemental Sword Guards were not living beings and might not be affected by the Heaven-ying Sword Art''s suppressive power.


    Gritting his teeth, Ling Feng summoned his Earth-Fire true qi and erupted the Scorching Sky ze!


    <i>ng!</i>


    A crimson sword light zed, spreading like wildfire across the battlefield. As it enveloped the Five Elemental Sword Guards, they all froze momentarily!


    "It worked!"


    A gleam of excitement shed in Ling Feng''s eyes. The suppressive power of the Heaven-ying Sword Art could indeed affect the sword guards, regardless of whether they were living beings or not.


    This attempt had cost Ling Feng nearly half of his true qi and slowed him down significantly. The Water Sword Guard even managed to pierce his thigh with a sword, but despite the pain, Ling Feng felt a surge of exhration and hope.


    Forcing himself to gather more true qi, a determined smile yed on his lips.


    <i>Now is the time to get serious!</i>


    Given his current strength, Ling Feng couldn''t suppress all the Five Elemental Sword Guards at once. However, he could immobilize the Gold, Water, and Fire Sword Guards for about three breaths. During that brief timeframe, if he could eliminate the Wood Sword Guard, the situation would undoubtedly turn in his favor!


    "Come at me!"


    Ling Feng swallowed a Wood Spirit Pill while a hint of determination shed in his eyes. He had no intention of dying here.


    Wielding the Eradicator of Realms, he deflected the Fire Sword Guard''s attack from the right and then leaped backwards, positioning himself to epass the Gold, Water, and Fire Sword Guards in his line of sight.


    "Now! Earth-Water Army Breaker!"


    Ling Feng unleashed a torrent of true qi, activating his most powerful killing move.


    In an instant, the gold, water, and Fire Sword Guards were immobilized, unable to move as they faced the full force of the Earth-Water Army Breaker.


    Without hesitation, ignoring the weakness that followed his powerful attack, Ling Feng shed towards the Wood Sword Guard, the key to the entire formation.


    He had roughly three seconds. Missing this opportunity meant he wouldn''t have another Wood Spirit Pill to use for a second attempt.


    Using the Earth-Water Army Breaker drained him of half of his true qi. If he forced a second strike, he would bepletely drained. Even if he reached the Wood Sword Guard, it would only mean his death.


    First Breath!


    The Earth Sword Guard, realizing itspanions were immobilized, burst out from the ground, wildly swinging its earthy-yellow sword at Ling Feng.


    The Earth Sword Guard''s attack wasn''t aimed at Ling Feng but at blocking his path to the Wood Sword Guard, even if it meant taking a heavy blow.


    Ling Feng had initially thought the strongest Gold Sword Guard was the core of the formation. However, even after severely injuring it once, he noticed that the connection among the Five Elemental Sword Guards remained intact. As the battle progressed, Ling Feng realized they all instinctively prioritized the Wood Sword Guard''s safety!


    Whenever Ling Feng attacked the Wood Sword Guard, the other four would abandon their attacks and rush to defend it.


    As long as the Wood Sword Guard was intact, the Five Elemental Sword Guards couldn''t be defeated. But if the Wood Sword Guard was killed, it wasn''t just about losing one guard—the entire formation would copse. The Wood Sword Guard was the true core of the formation!


    "Out of my way!"


    Fire zed in Ling Feng''s eyes as his twenty-three meridian gates erupted with overwhelming true qi. With a powerful sh, he sent the Earth Sword Guard flying.


    Second Breath!


    Without the protection of the other four guards, the Wood Sword Guard was forced to face Ling Feng head-on.


    The Wood Sword Guard swung its green sword, emitting a blinding light. The sword force that was surging toward Ling Feng was simple yet exuded a sense of returning to basics. It found elegance through simplicity.


    Ling Feng''s eyes twitched. He had thought that the Wood Sword Guard was merely a healer, but its swordsmanship was also formidable. The Five Elements Heavenly Pce''s trial was insanely challenging!


    <i>ng!</i>


    The Eradicator of Realms shed fiercely with the wood-infused sword. Ling Feng gambled everything on this strike, channeling all his thunderous power. If he couldn''t kill the Wood Sword Guard with this blow, he would be in for another grueling fight.


    Third Breath!


    The Wood Sword Guard staggered back a few steps but didn''t hesitate. Itunched another quick strike filled with the abundant energy of wood, aiming straight for Ling Feng''s heart.


    Meanwhile, the guards suppressed by the Heaven-ying Sword Art were beginning to regain their mobility and were ready to return to the fight.


    Ling Feng panicked, urgently deploying his Boundless Sword Steps to swiftly close the distance to the Wood Sword Guard. The Eradicator of Realms shed across its neck.


    A green head flew high, tracing an arc beforending several paces away.


    The headless Wood Sword Guard didn''t die immediately. It tried to retrieve its head to reattach it, but Ling Feng wouldn''t allow it to. A Six Paths of Rise and Fall shattered the head to pieces. Only then did the Wood Sword Guard''s body copse, its spirit energy dissipating.


    With the Wood Sword Guard''s demise, the Five Elemental Sword Array disintegrated. Now, Ling Feng only had to face four opponents, eachparable to an eighth-level Transformation Realm martial artist.


    Though these opponents were still tough, they were no longer invincible.


    The remaining four Sword Guards, despite losing the formation''s support, continued their coordinated attacks, though now with visible ws.


    Ling Feng continuously activated the Heavenly Dao Eye, breaking their joint attacks one by one.


    Finally, after almost burning his eyes out and with two more Heaven-ying Sword Art strikes, Ling Feng managed to y the remaining four Sword Guards.


    "<i>Ugh!</i>"


    Ling Feng spat a mouthful of blood, his body covered in countless wounds. Every tendon in his body felt as if they were breaking.


    To kill the sneaky Earth Sword Guard, he had let the Fire Sword Guard stab through his abdomen. Such a severe injury would leave an ordinary martial artist powerless, but his Eight Destions Body Refinement Art showed its might.


    Ling Feng, like an undying cockroach, despite being battered, had won!