"Xi Ying once said that Spoken Witches are divided into different levels of strength based on their Cultivation Realm," Yuan Ming looked at the withered man, saying.

"So, is there still a chance to fight?" Hua Zhi's eyes lit up slightly.

"I observed his condition and it seems unusual, as he exists symbiotically with the Magic Cloud Tree, which indicates that he is not a true Spoken Witch. Besides, considering the results of the previous attacks, his 'speak and follow' influence is limited to a three-foot radius. There's still a chance to defeat him," Yuan Ming contemplated.

"Then what do you want me to do?" After hearing his analysis, Hua Zhi didn't quite understand but felt there must be some truth to it.

Yuan Ming knitted his brows in silence, thought for a moment, then waved his hand, and the Shura Blood Devouring Map rustled as it unfolded, with Blood Shadow and Hong Ling emerging and flying out at the same time.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan." Both of them cupped their fists at the same time.

Yuan Ming briefly explained the situation to the two, and Blood Shadow immediately said with a smile, "So, you mean we should all attack at the same time, preventing him from casting his 'speak and follow' Divine Skills, right?"

"Exactly," Yuan Ming nodded.

As his words fell, the four of them, including Hua Zhi, dispersed and attacked the withered man from different angles.

At the moment of their charge, the withered man also seemed to sense the crisis. The Magic Cloud Tree shook violently, its vines lashing out like crazy towards them.

The four maneuvered and dodged the assaulting vines, approaching closely.

Hua Zhi saw several vines stabbing at her like spears and immediately transformed her hands into vines to form a pitch-black Round Shield in front of her, charging towards the withered man with her body leading the way.

On the other side, Blood Shadow swung his Blood Transformation Saber, sending a blood-colored saber light flying diagonally towards him.

Hong Ling frowned slightly as she flipped her wrist, and a burst of red light surged out, aiming straight at the target.

In front of the withered man, Yuan Ming gripped the Soul Destroying Sword, swinging it in a slashing strike.

The three of them, attacking from different directions, kept a cautious distance of several meters from the withered man in the center of the Magic Cloud Tree, fearful of entering the range of his 'speak and follow' Divine Skills.

Only Hua Zhi, remembering what Yuan Ming said about the three-foot range, plunged headlong into the fray.

The three Daoist Techniques reached him first, but as they approached, the withered man suddenly shouted, "Magic shall not persist!"

This voice was much louder than any before, and before the three Daoist Techniques could get within a zhang of his body, they disappeared into thin air with a 'poof.'

"So his range has indeed expanded…" A chill went through the three simultaneously.

"Hua Zhi, come back quickly..." Yuan Ming called out loudly in a hurry.

It was too late, however, as Hua Zhi barged right in front of the withered man, her black shield rushing fiercely towards him.

Yuan Ming frowned but then noticed that Hua Zhi's attack hadn't dissolved, his eyes immediately revealing a hint of delight.

"Six Senses beclouded," the withered man's voice rang out again.

Hua Zhi, so close at hand, suddenly swerved off course, staggering like a drunken fool, missing her target and thudding into the void on the other side of the Magic Cloud Tree, tumbling out.

Several tree vines immediately stabbed towards her back.

Hua Zhi reacted fast, spinning the black shield behind her in an emergency. However, due to the disruption of her Six Senses, her movement was severely misshapen, and under forceful control, she managed to bring it to the right side of her back only.

Two of the vines pierced the shield, shattering it into pieces.

The other several vines stabbed directly into Hua Zhi's back, preparing to drag her back up the tree.

At that moment, a blood shadow flashed, and Yuan Ming arrived like a shadow, slashing the vines with his sword and retreating with Hua Zhi back to their original position.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, it won't work. His 'speak and follow' Divine Skills are not just aimed at one person; any magic, he can nullify all at once," Blood Shadow commented.

"However, it seems that he wasn't able to dissolve Hua Zhi's attack?" Hong Ling pondered.

"That's because Hua Zhi's attack wasn't a Daoist Technique and thus couldn't be obliterated just with the words 'Magic shall not persist,'" Yuan Ming said with a grin.

"Indeed, it seems he also said 'Six Senses beclouded' after that. Is that a word spell to confuse perception?" Hong Ling asked.

"Yes, he has to use different word spells to deal with two different forms of attacks," Yuan Ming nodded.

Upon hearing this, a bright smile lit up Hong Ling's face: "So, it's not about the number of attackers; it's the diversity in the methods of attack that's key."

"So, if we use different methods of attack, we can keep him too busy to counter with word spells at the same time?" Blood Shadow realized, speaking out.

Yuan Ming shook his head upon hearing this, saying, "The vulnerability might not be that significant."

"Why do you say that?" Hong Ling asked, puzzled.

"In reality, there are only three distinct types of attack: Body Technique attacks, Daoist Technique attacks, and Divine Soul attacks. For instance, whether it's magic, Magic Treasures, or talismans, no matter how diversely they're used, they'll all be affected by the phrase 'Magic shall not persist.' Moreover, we still don't know whether his 'speak and follow' can act directly upon a person," Yuan Ming mused.

There was a graver concern he hadn't voiced because he knew that with the power of a Spoken Witch, one could determine life or death with a single word.

Of course, the consumption it caused to the caster's Divine Soul was also tremendous.

But to cast a word spell powerful enough to dictate life and death with a single utterance, one must be sufficiently close, or in physical contact with the target; otherwise, it is very difficult to be effective.

This was also the reason Yuan Ming, after regaining his human form, chose to maintain his distance and avoid close combat.

"Continuing to guess isn't the solution. Let's try attacking again. I'll go in for a body technique attack. If it doesn't work, I, Blood Shadow, will just escape with Blood Shadow Flee. The two of you, one with magic and the other with divine soul attack, let's see the effect first," Blood Shadow said, growing impatient.

"That is feasible," Yuan Ming replied, frowning in thought for a moment before nodding in agreement.

As he spoke, Blood Shadow's figure immediately transformed into a blood light and in the blink of an eye appeared in front of the withered man, with the Blood Transformation Saber in his hand glowing brilliantly as he slashed horizontally at the man's head.

Hong Ling followed closely, flicking her wrist and shooting a straight red beam of light.

Yuan Ming had already pressed his hand to his forehead and pointed forward, launching a soul crow wrapped in the All Living Beings Dream Rune at the withered man's forehead in a soul collision.

The withered man's black eyes showed no sign of change as he muttered lowly, "Six senses unclear."

The blade of Blood Shadow immediately lost its aim, missing the withered man's side and slashing at the empty air.

Immediately after, the man spoke again, "Magic nonexistent."

Hong Ling's attack dissipated out of thin air.

However, before he could speak the third word spell, Yuan Ming's soul crow had already crashed headfirst into his Sea of Consciousness.

The withered man's head jerked backward sharply.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming was overjoyed and immediately harnessed the power of the All Living Beings Dream Rune, casting an Illusion Technique in an attempt to control him.

Yet, in the next instant, his expression froze, and he soon witnessed the Magic Cloud Tree in front of him grow a thousand times bigger, with the withered man's body also swelling a thousandfold.

Standing beneath the giant figure, he felt as insignificant as an ant, instantly filled with the thought that he was unable to prevail.

However, after a moment of panic, Yuan Ming quickly came to his senses and urgently called back the soul crow.

Only then did the illusion in front of him finally vanish.

"Such formidable Divine Soul Power, truly worthy of someone capable of casting 'speak and follow the law' Divine Skills," Yuan Ming remarked as his sight returned to normal, taking a deep breath and revealing a wary look in his eyes.

Blood Shadow and Hong Ling both retreated and asked, "Failed again?"

"That fellow is very likely to have reached the Realm of Word Witch; my Illusion Technique can't control him. However, I've noticed that his Soul Power seems to have weakened," Yuan Ming said thoughtfully with furrowed brows.

"Why do you say that?" Hong Ling asked, puzzled.

"When I first saw him, I was controlled by his illusion. I struggled to break free from the illusion, but it wasn't as easy as it was just now," Yuan Ming explained.

Previously, when he locked eyes with the withered man, if it had not been for the power of the Undying Tree transforming him into a tree form, he could not have freed himself from the illusion; this time, however, he awoke from it quite easily.

"This indicates that casting his word spell actually consumes a great deal of Soul Power. As long as we significantly deplete his Soul Power and he can no longer cast word spells, that will be our moment of victory," said Hong Ling, her eyes lighting up.

"Exactly," Yuan Ming agreed with a nod.

"It's also fortunate that he's closely connected to that tree and cannot leave to attack. Otherwise, he would be even more difficult to deal with," Blood Shadow said sincerely.

Having settled on a strategy, the three of them began to take turns employing their Divine Skills, attacking the withered man.

When Hua Zhi had recovered a bit, she too immediately joined the assault.

As Yuan Ming attacked, he also stimulated the Qi Observation Technique, carefully watching the changes in the withered man. P#u@bl^icat^io.n! co@ur&t@esy of M|V&|*L-E-&M#PY!R.%

About an hour later, he noticed that the range within which the withered man could cast his word spells had shrunk by more than half, and the power of the spells was much reduced.

Several times, their attacks were only weakened by the word spells, but didn't completely disappear.

When Yuan Ming saw once again that the red light cast by Hong Ling had been weakened into a faint glow and scattered on the body of the withered man, he knew the opportunity had arrived.

After signaling with telepathy, Yuan Ming waved his hand, and the Night Parade of Hundred Demons unfurled in mid-air, with countless evil ghosts rushing out eagerly toward the withered man.

"Begone, hundred ghosts," the withered man shouted with a voice strained to the breaking point.

Many ghosts turned into a mist and vanished, but many did not disappear, showing that his power was greatly overtaxed and his word spell's potency was severely diminished.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming and the others hesitated no longer and launched their attacks with full force.

Hong Ling waved her hands, shooting red beams from various angles in rapid succession.

The Magic Cloud Tree seemed to dance like a host of demons as it brandished its vines and branches toward the red beams.

Following close behind, the blade light from Blood Shadow granted no reprieve, continuously hacking down one after another.

Yuan Ming waved his hand, launching several Fireballs imbued with the Power of the Sun, flitting up and down as they collided with the withered man.