Chapter 161: How Could I Abandon You?

At this moment, Chen Lingxi stood a short distance from Lin Suri.

The spiritual qi around him was incredibly dense, cascading like a waterfall.

He stood tall and straight, radiating an extraordinary aura.

Not far away, Zhou Ying's corpse had already been smashed into a bloody mist by the Heaven-Seizing Seal. The mist lingered in the air, and even as the fierce wind blew past, a faint stench of blood remained.

By now, Yun Huozhi and Qian Ji had retreated dozens of zhang away.

Spiritual qi continuously churned around the two of them, various spells and divine abilities poised to strike. Yet, at this very moment, their faces were filled with absolute horror.

Zhou Ying was a figure on the Eighth Floor of Qi Circulation!

Although her background wasn't top-tier, she was absolutely not a weakling within this Grotto-Heaven.

Just a moment ago she had been smiling warmly, intending to capture someone's soul, yet in the blink of an eye, she had been killed by Chen Lingxi's divine ability!

She didn't even have a sliver of a chance to resist.

When Qian Ji cultivated in the Fenglong Peaks, he had seen many powerhouses and geniuses. But the Ninth Floor and the Eighth Floor of Qi Circulation were only a single floor apart!

With just a single floor of difference, this young man in black robes was actually able to instantly kill Zhou Ying...

His thoughts reaching this point, he took a deep, sharp breath.

'It seems Shi Hong really did die by this man's hand.'

'To kill a Tenth Floor cultivator with a Qi Circulation Ninth Floor cultivation... it's simply inconceivable.'

Thinking of this, the chill in his heart deepened.

The Fenglong Peaks cultivator turned to look at Yun Huozhi, only to see that the usually composed cultivator's eyes were also brimming with dread.

Yun Huozhi was indeed afraid.

The cultivation method he practiced was intimately tied to people and objects, making his perception of the flow of heaven and earth's qi much sharper than that of ordinary cultivators.

'That giant hand seal divine ability has definitely reached the Subtle stage...'

'Moreover, the purity and density of this person's spiritual qi actually carries a bit of a Tenth Floor presence... It's far too astonishing.'

Qian Ji and Yun Huozhi rapidly calculated in their minds. Qian Ji in particular swept his gaze back and forth between Chen Lingxi and Lin Suri.

That was until he saw the Thunder Radiance Longsword in Chen Lingxi's hand flash with blinding golden light.

This youth of mysterious origins and extraordinary combat power was still using his own qi to protect Lin Suri, standing like a guardian deity with an awe-inspiring presence!

The two men exchanged a glance.

Yun Huozhi shook his head, the motion barely perceptible.

In the next instant, the spiritual qi around them erupted. They abruptly activated two profound cloud-soaring techniques, clearly intending to flee!

But at that exact moment, pale golden thunder patterns flashed across the blade of the Thunder Radiance Longsword in Chen Lingxi's hand. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into a blinding brilliance.

The thunderlight was simply too intense.

Even under the bright daylight of this realm, it shone so brightly that no one dared look directly at it.

"Trying to run?"

Chen Lingxi took a step forward and spoke softly. He looked like a divine general walking out of a Thunder Pool, his entire body wreathed in raging lightning, his imposing aura soaring to an unimaginable height.

The moment his voice fell, his figure vanished. He transformed into a human-shaped bolt of lightning, crashing straight toward Yun Huozhi and Qian Ji. Yun Huozhi's pupils sharply contracted. He channeled his cloud and mist divine ability, conjuring cloud chains in an attempt to block Chen Lingxi.

Qian Ji did the same. Gritting his teeth, he drew the Ink-Colored Longsword at his waist with a crisp ring, instantly spreading a biting coldness.

He swung his longsword, and the blade burst with dozens of ink-colored sword qi rays that slashed directly at Chen Lingxi!

But Chen Lingxi was far too strong right now.

His spiritual qi vastly exceeded that of anyone in the same realm, and his divine abilities and spells were anything but ordinary.

He bulldozed his way forward. As he circulated the Thunder Garment Technique, the pale golden lightning abruptly flared, condensing into a robe woven entirely of thunder that draped over his Myriad Marvels Dharmic Robe.

The Thunder Garment Technique clashed head-on with the barrage of sword rays.

Amidst the flashing lightning, the sword rays were like moths flying into a flame. In an instant, they were shattered by the thunder and scattered away.

At that same moment, Chen Lingxi's own sword light arrived.

Wherever the edge of his sword passed, countless bolts of lightning tore through the void, making it seem as if the very air was being scorched.

This strike was simply too overbearing, utterly astonishing.

The moment Yun Huozhi's profound cloud chain divine ability touched this sword light, it shattered into pieces. The thunder sword aura did not lose a fraction of its momentum; like two lightning dragons, it crashed down onto Qian Ji and Yun Huozhi.

Rumble!

In an instant, the two Eighth Floor cultivators perished on the spot. Their corpses plummeted, crashing into the distant mountain range.

Their deaths were clean and swift; they barely had an ounce of strength to resist.

Chen Lingxi sheathed his sword, and the flowing lightning on the Thunder Radiance Treasure Sword slowly withdrew.

Lin Suri remained standing in his original spot, taking in the entire scene.

'He instantly killed two Eighth Floor cultivators...'

Lin Suri couldn't help but be amazed.

Three Eighth Floor cultivators had besieged him. If he hadn't had the protection of his martial uncle's projection, he would have only been able to flee in panic when facing three cultivators of the same realm.

'Moreover... even if I advance to the Ninth Floor, I could never kill two Eighth Floor experts this easily.'

'And these people were definitely not easy opponents...'

His eyes flickered as he recalled how those three were like clay chickens and earthen dogs in front of Chen Lingxi. They hadn't even managed a decent struggle before they were all wiped out. From the moment Chen Lingxi appeared to the deaths of those three, mere dozens of breaths had passed.

Thinking of this, a surge of emotion welled up in Lin Suri's heart.

'It seems the world truly is vast, filled with countless powerhouses. To think that even in this Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven, I could encounter such a genius.'

'Furthermore, this Chen Lingxi is actually a good person.'

His mind drifted back to what Chen Lingxi had just said about the two of them being life-and-death friends.

'Chen Lingxi and I once fought against Xi Yuan of the Que Star Xi Family together. Xi Yuan was incredibly strong back then; a single moment of carelessness could have cost us our lives.'

'In the end, Xi Yuan fell to the two of us. Put that way, he and I truly are life-and-death friends.'

Reaching this conclusion, Lin Suri let out a quiet sigh.

'Come to think of it, during that last time in the Ancestral Mountain, it was also Brother Chen who bailed me out.'

Back then, Chen Lingxi had been a complete stranger to him, yet he had actively revealed himself, not only saving him from danger but even joining forces with him to hunt down Xi Yuan.

If Chen Lingxi hadn't been there at the time, even if he managed to survive, he probably would have had to exhaust all of his hidden trump cards.

'Thinking back on it now, this Brother Chen not only possesses extraordinary talent and formidable cultivation, but more importantly, he is trustworthy and values past ties. He truly is a good person; otherwise, why would he step in to help me?' Lin Suri mused inwardly.

'I currently have my martial uncle's avatar protecting me. Even though the Myriad Realms Projection hasn't fully activated yet, and this avatar doesn't even hold a ten-thousandth of my martial uncle's true power...'

'...it is still more than enough to be called formidable in this Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven. I have no need to fear anyone.'

'Yet Brother Chen mistakenly believed I was in fatal danger... I've truly troubled him.'

Thoughts continued to churn in Lin Suri's mind.

Only then did Chen Lingxi turn his head. He offered a faint smile. "Are you unhurt, Daoist Brother?"

Lin Suri gave him a deep look, cupped his fist in a salute, and spoke with profound sincerity. "Fellow Daoist, you have aided me multiple times. I, Lin, will remember this."

Chen Lingxi chuckled. "Although this is a struggle for fortunate encounters, being able to make a close friend or two is also a wonderful thing."

Lin Suri was just about to reply when he suddenly furrowed his brow.

Chen Lingxi did the same.

By now, Chen Lingxi had already stepped within a hundred li of the Killing Power Cauldron Vessel, and a cauldron vessel's spiritual light had silently appeared above his head.

The two of them injected their spiritual qi into the cauldron vessel's spiritual light. Instantly, a profound aura blossomed within Chen Lingxi's mind.

In the next moment, both Chen Lingxi and Lin Suri sensed Wu Mohe and Digong Bo!

The two auras were rapidly approaching. One was as mysterious as clouds and mist, yet carried a biting, piercing energy that was absolutely extraordinary.

The other person did not cultivate spiritual qi, yet her aura was as scorching as a furnace. Within her churning dark-golden blood energy, a deep, heavy killing intent overflowed, marking her as equally formidable.

At the same time, the two of them also sensed the three Heavenly Boat women, as well as a few Qi Circulation Seventh Floor figures who intended to fish in troubled waters.

'Those three Heavenly Boat women all have their own distinct names as well.'

Chen Lingxi frowned slightly.

Crown Prince Ying Chi had once told him that the three Heavenly Boat women shared three bodies but one soul, and were essentially the same person.

But now, under the senses provided by the Killing Power Cauldron Vessel, the spiritual qi of the three Heavenly Boat women was different. Although they shared the same origin, they were not identical, and their names were all completely different.

'This is probably Emperor Daye's handiwork again. Perhaps those three Heavenly Boat women also believe they are the exact same person.'

Chen Lingxi murmured to himself.

'It's good that they're coming...' A hint of a smile flashed through Chen Lingxi's eyes. He looked at Lin Suri, his expression suddenly shifting into one of anxiety, and said, "Brother Lin, you must leave this place as quickly as possible!"

"Wu Mohe, Digong Bo, and a few palace experts are coming to besiege and kill me.

"If you stay here, I'm afraid your life will be in danger. It's best if you leave as soon as you can."

Hearing this, Lin Suri showed no signs of panic. Instead, he raised his eyebrows slightly and looked toward the distance, watching the dense, oppressive auras draw closer and closer.

Chen Lingxi looked at Lin Suri with apparent worry, as if he wanted to urge him again.

But at that moment, Lin Suri spoke softly, his tone completely calm and open. "Fellow Daoist!

"I know you were previously lying in wait a hundred li away from the cauldron vessel. If it wasn't to save me, you probably wouldn't have exposed your whereabouts right now, nor would you have drawn all this murderous intent toward yourself."

His eyes were tranquil, and a heartfelt smile surfaced on his face. "Since you've plunged yourself into danger just to save me, how could I... possibly abandon you?"

'This Lin Suri truly has the demeanor of a gentleman,' Chen Lingxi sighed emotionally, his evaluation of Lin Suri rising by another few notches.

'I was forced by the current situation to scheme against him. If there's a chance in the future, I must repay him.'

Thinking this, he furrowed his brow again and said, "Brother Lin, there is something you don't understand! Wu Mohe is a Tenth Floor figure, and his background is not weak either. Among all the profound cultivators, his foundations can be considered top-tier.

"And as for Digong Bo, although she doesn't cultivate spiritual qi, her physical blood energy has likely reached the Six Profound Realm.

"That massive bow of hers and the precious saber at her waist are no ordinary weapons. In a head-on clash, an ordinary Ninth Floor figure would absolutely be no match for her.

"Then there are the three Heavenly Boat women. Their individual cultivation isn't very profound, but by forming an array, the three of them can unleash Ninth Floor combat power... These people absolutely cannot be underestimated."

He paused briefly, his gaze landing on Lin Suri, and a trace of worry seeped into his tone. "Brother Lin, your cultivation is slightly lacking. If you are surrounded by them, I'm afraid your chances of survival will be grim.

"Besides, they came here for me. If I end up dragging you down, I won't be able to forgive myself."

Lin Suri chuckled softly. He suddenly clasped his hands behind his back, and the aura around him instantly erupted, merging seamlessly with the heavenly winds sweeping through the area, making him appear increasingly ethereal and extraordinary.

"Fellow Daoist... you underestimate me. Since this is a struggle for fortunate encounters, why don't you and I join forces and slaughter them all? What do you say?"

As Lin Suri spoke, the aura surrounding him abruptly changed.

Chen Lingxi faintly saw a red shadow flash by, and an unimaginably formidable aura swept out from Lin Suri's body, covering the heavens and the earth.

That imposing presence was as if a divine being had descended upon Lin Suri's physical form. It was so radiant that one couldn't look straight at it, its intensity blazing like the brilliant sun—utterly terrifying.

'Such strength... its intensity has likely reached the Qi Circulation Eleventh Floor...'