The night grew colder.
But the air around Xu Tian burned with pressure.
Five opponents.
Each one stronger than the last group.
And this time, they moved as one.
Xu Tian didn't wait.
He stepped forward first.
Fast.
Breaking the rhythm before it could form again.
His strike went straight toward the nearest cultivator.
Clean.
Direct.
The man reacted quickly.
He raised his arm to block.
The impact landed.
A sharp sound echoed.
The cultivator staggered back half a step.
Not much.
But enough.
The formation broke for a moment.
Xu Tian moved immediately.
No hesitation.
He shifted to the side.
Avoided the strike coming from behind.
Turned.
Countered.
His movements were precise.
Controlled.
But the others adapted just as quickly.
Another attack came from the left.
Then one from the front.
Xu Tian stepped back this time.
The pressure increased.
Heavier.
More coordinated.
"…They've done this before," he thought.
The attacks didn't overlap randomly.
They flowed.
Each one forcing him into the next.
Xu Tian's eyes sharpened.
He adjusted.
Step.
Turn.
Block.
But the space around him grew tighter.
They were closing in.
The man who hadn't moved before finally stepped forward.
His presence alone made the air heavier.
Xu Tian felt it immediately.
"…So he's the core."
The others shifted subtly.
Not retreating.
But aligning.
Their attacks became sharper.
Faster.
Xu Tian was forced back another step.
Then another.
The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly.
His grip on the children tightened.
"…This is bad positioning."
He couldn't move freely.
Couldn't use full motion.
The attacks came again.
Stronger.
Xu Tian blocked one.
Dodged another.
But the third connected.
A solid impact against his side.
His body shifted.
Not thrown.
But pushed.
Xu Tian steadied himself instantly.
His breathing remained calm.
But his focus deepened.
"…Not enough."
The energy inside him responded.
Moving faster.
Clearer.
It wasn't forced.
It flowed.
Xu Tian stepped forward again.
This time, with more intent.
His strike met one of theirs.
The impact spread outward.
The cultivator in front of him faltered.
Just slightly.
Xu Tian pressed forward.
Again.
And again.
He didn't try to escape.
He pushed into them.
Breaking their rhythm from the inside.
The formation wavered.
For a moment.
The man in the center reacted.
His hand rose.
The air shifted instantly.
Heavier than before.
Xu Tian felt it pressing down.
Not just from one direction.
From everywhere.
"…So this is your method."
Xu Tian didn't retreat.
Instead, he lowered his stance.
The energy inside him surged.
Not wildly.
Focused.
It spread through his body.
His movements changed.
Smoother.
Faster.
Sharper.
The next attack came.
Xu Tian stepped into it.
Their forces collided.
This time-
He didn't give ground.
The cultivator in front of him stepped back instead.
Surprise flashed across his face.
Xu Tian didn't stop.
He moved again.
Closing the distance.
His strike landed cleanly.
The man staggered back.
The formation broke completely.
For a brief moment-
There was space.
Xu Tian saw it.
And took it.
He moved out of their center.
Fast.
Precise.
The pressure around him lessened.
But only slightly.
The man in the center stepped forward again.
His gaze locked onto Xu Tian.
"…You're adapting," he said.
Xu Tian remained calm.
"Yes."
The answer was simple.
The man's eyes narrowed.
Then he raised his hand again.
The air shifted once more.
Heavier.
Sharper.
More focused.
The others adjusted their positions again.
This time, tighter.
More controlled.
Xu Tian felt it clearly.
"…This isn't over."
He adjusted his stance.
The children remained still.
Unaware.
Xu Tian's gaze sharpened.
The energy inside him moved again.
Stronger than before.
Closer to something.
Not yet complete.
But close.
Very close.
The man in front took another step.
"…Let's see how long you last," he said.
Xu Tian didn't respond.
But his presence changed.
Because this time-
He wasn't just holding on.
He was about to break through.