White-robed Youth had already drawn his sword and engaged the old peach tree first.

However, although his cultivation at the tenth level of Qi Refinement was impressive, and he managed to cut down a few peach blossoms, he was still far from being a match for the old peach tree.

Just as the sword light of White-robed Youth was about to strike the trunk, the old peach tree suddenly changed. The peach blossoms on its branches simultaneously released a pink mist, merging into a cloud that enveloped the old peach tree.

The sword light of White-robed Youth struck the pink mist, but it was as if it had fallen into quicksand, unable to move an inch.

“Wicked creature, how dare you?” White-robed Youth's expression changed. He tried to recall his flying sword, but it was caught by the red mist, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not retrieve it.

Not only that, the red mist followed White-robed Youth's spiritual power, invading back toward him. White-robed Youth's face instantly flushed red, as if drunk, and he could only struggle to hold on.

The situation deteriorated rapidly. Gavin Yates and Evelyn Murray were both shocked. Evelyn Murray wanted to help, but was stopped by Gavin Yates: “This tree demon is strange. Don’t interfere.”

Gavin Yates reached out and made a slicing motion in the air, sending out an invisible sword energy that severed the connection between White-robed Youth and the old peach tree, rescuing White-robed Youth and handing him to Evelyn Murray: “You two fall back. I’ll deal with this demon.”

With that, he drew his sword and thrust forward, unleashing a golden sword light.

Gavin Yates’s sword light was far more powerful than White-robed Youth’s, like a white rainbow streaking across the sky, the dazzling sword light slashing straight at the old peach tree.

The old peach tree used the same trick again, the red mist growing even denser, blocking Gavin Yates’s sword light. The red mist rippled like water, and even the forceful strike from Gavin Yates was neutralized.

William Lynn exclaimed inwardly, “Thank goodness.” To withstand a strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Gavin Yates, this old peach tree truly possessed Foundation Establishment strength.

Luckily, he hadn’t acted rashly before. Otherwise, even with the Arctic Magnet Sword, if he had tried to challenge the old peach tree alone, it would have been like throwing a meat bun at a dog—gone for good.

Gavin Yates snorted coldly, his bright sword light transforming into mist, expanding with a roar. The sword energy soared upward, forming a towering pillar of cloud.

When the pillar reached its limit, the mist exploded, turning into a torrential rain of sword energy, thousands upon thousands shooting in all directions.

The old peach tree remained unhurried. All the peach blossoms on its branches fell, transforming into a rain of petals that shot toward Gavin Yates.

Unlike before, when the petals seemed light and powerless, this time the petals were like sharp arrows, piercing clouds and splitting stone.

The rain of petals and the endless sword energy collided in midair, erupting in a stunning clash.

Petals shattered, sword energy dissipated, the two forces intertwined, and the world became hazy.

William Lynn, hiding in the shadows, watched with excitement: “So this is the power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator—truly impressive.”

As he watched, he pondered: if he encountered a Foundation Establishment cultivator, how should he respond?

It would be best to avoid fighting, but if he had to, he must first set up the Nine Heavens Thunder Trap for an ambush, then, while the opponent was dealing with the thunder, immediately attack from both sides with the Arctic Magnet Sword.

Victory or defeat would be decided in just a move or two. If even such an attack couldn’t harm the enemy, then it would be time to run as fast as possible.

Overall, with the advantage of surprise, an ambush wasn’t impossible, but the odds of victory were still slim.

While William Lynn was lost in thought, the battle on the other side was reaching its climax.

In the clash between sword energy and petal rain, Gavin Yates seemed to have the upper hand. After shattering hundreds of peach blossoms, the remaining sword energy continued to bombard the old peach tree.

The torrential sword energy fell upon the old peach tree like a storm. The old peach tree was enveloped in a layer of crimson demonic light, dazzling and radiant, directly withstanding the onslaught.

Like raindrops striking water, the red demonic light rippled outward in waves. A single sword energy might not break the old peach tree’s defense, but this attack involved thousands of sword energies. Under such a relentless assault, the old peach tree truly felt battered by the storm.

Evelyn Murray and White-robed Youth both cheered loudly.

The villagers of Stone Village, who had fled far away, also stopped to watch the battle. Seeing Gavin Yates gaining the upper hand, they cheered in unison.

Only William Lynn’s gaze grew sharp, a sense of unease rising in his heart: “Something’s not right.”

He certainly wasn’t worried for the old peach tree, but rather sensed that the old peach tree was holding something back.

Seeing that the old peach tree was only defending and not counterattacking, the cautious Gavin Yates grew more confident. His sword techniques changed, and he merged with his sword, soaring into the sky.

At that moment, the misty sword energy instantly transformed into a blazing sword light. Man and sword became one, slashing straight down at the old peach tree.

This strike abandoned the ever-changing nature of the mist, focusing all its power on lethality and destruction. Gavin Yates’s spiritual power surged, forming a mighty sword light dozens of meters long and as wide as a door, unstoppable and overwhelming.

But just then, William Lynn heard a soft laugh in his ear.

It was that same low, hoarse female voice, filled with disdain and contempt.

William Lynn’s eyes widened suddenly, and he saw the crimson demonic light around the old peach tree contract into a fist-sized orb.

The orb looked unremarkable, but as William Lynn gazed at it, he felt his very soul tremble.