Chapter 567 - 361: Awakening (Part 2)

But it was clear that once the Power of Incense was broken and the blood mist’s influence spread completely, there would be no escape.

A bitter smile touched Wen Chang’an’s lips.

’What am I supposed to do? In a situation like this, what options do I have?’

As the foremost disciple of the Red Heart Sect at the Refining the Internal Organs realm, his strength was comparable to a master of Sensing. Yet, in this situation, he was nothing more than a slightly stronger ant, powerless to change their fate.

Watching the Yin Soldiers surge forward again, seemingly tireless, even someone as resolute as Wen Chang’an felt a sense of suffocation.

However, waiting to die was not his way. He would fight with all his might, even if it was his last moment.

’For a member of the Red Heart Sect, slaying demons and exorcising evil is our duty. To die in battle is an honor!’

Yet, just as the group prepared to make their final stand...

SWOOSH!!

The blood mist to the side suddenly parted, as if a fissure had been torn through common fog. Several figures flashed through the opening, appearing within the mist.

The light that pierced through from the outside seemed to ignite a spark of hope.

’Reinforcements?!’

Witnessing this, the survivors nearly cried out in shock. The Celestial Net Department Thousand Households leading them immediately recognized three of the figures as Ten Thousand Laws Incarnations.

But they didn’t appear to be the main force. Two other figures stood in front of the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnations.

One was tall and powerfully built, wreathed in an auspicious glow. His skin vibrated faintly. Though no Primordial Qi radiated from him, the encroaching blood mist was repelled by his skin alone. The mist couldn’t penetrate a one-foot radius around him, like water parting before a swimming dragon.

The other had a plain face but a slender build and was shrouded in a deep green light. The instant they entered the blood mist, this person performed a Seal Formation with their hands. The deep green light blossomed into a lotus, shielding the area and cutting off the blood mist’s influence.

’Who are these two?’

No one could recognize Zhao Xuanqi or Spirit.

The sudden development instantly drew the attention of Jing Zeng and his legion of Yin Soldiers.

Zhao Xuanqi, in turn, immediately noticed the survivors. His gaze fell upon Wen Chang’an and several other "senior brothers" from the Red Heart Sect in their simple robes, all at the Refining the Internal Organs realm. His expression shifted slightly, and he moved at once.

ROAR!!

As he moved, the Qi and Blood in his body surged, rumbling like the roar of a Divine Dragon that shook the very air.

As his body erupted with power, the Ghost God-moving ability of his Thirty-Six Celestial Spirit Acupoints activated. The shrouding blood mist instantly disintegrated, clearing a path before him.

Without any Technique or burst of Primordial Qi, Zhao Xuanqi gave his arms a slight shake. Like a Divine Bird taking flight, two streams of Gang Qi shot out, imbued with the Ghost God-moving ability.

SWOOSH!!

A row of Yin Soldiers was instantly sliced in two by the Gang Qi.

The bodies of Yin Creatures were tough and difficult to harm; only Primordial Qi could inflict maximum damage. Yet, even without using Primordial Qi, Zhao Xuanqi’s Cultivation Technique alone was enough to deal significant damage to them.

’A perfect body should have no obvious weaknesses!’

He carved a path forward, and the densely packed Sword Soldier Ghosts were completely unable to stop him. In less than two breaths, he stood before the survivors.

His towering form was like a mountain, a celestial pillar that could seemingly weather any storm.

SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH!!

Behind him, numerous Yin Soldiers were dismembered, but the surrounding blood mist immediately swarmed over them. Severed limbs began to reattach, and wounds healed with frightening speed.

The undying property of the blood mist was at work.

VMM!!

Then, a deep green light washed over the area. Countless green vines sprouted from the ground, and leaves unfurled from them in an instant.

Each leaf landed with precision, covering the wounds on the Yin Soldiers’ severed limbs. This seemed to briefly interfere with the blood mist’s power, preventing the soldiers’ injuries from healing. Severed arms and legs tumbled to the ground.

One Leaf Blind!!

Spirit’s exquisite control over Vitality had countered the blood mist’s restorative power!

With the two of them working together, nearly a third of the Yin Soldiers were instantly neutralized, rendered immobile!

The onlookers stared, dumbfounded by such power.

However, the Yin Soldiers were not the greatest threat. The true danger was the source of the blood mist: one of the Ghost Gate Twelve Riders, Jing Zeng, the Blood-Burning Spear!

VMM!!

The blood mist coalesced upon the long spear, forming a searing, bloody light as the surrounding mist began to boil. Whether it was because he sensed the threat from Zhao Xuanqi or because his own power had increased, Jing Zeng’s next strike was unlike any before.

SWOOSH!!

He swung his spear, and a bloody light shot forth. As it traveled, it absorbed the surrounding blood mist, its power growing even more intense.

The spear’s radiance slashed toward Zhao Xuanqi, who stood protectively in front of the others. It was far stronger than any of his previous attacks.

Snapping out of their momentary astonishment, the survivors immediately tried to gather their strength to help Zhao Xuanqi face the attack.

But Zhao Xuanqi gave them no such chance.

BOOM!!

He stomped his foot, and the ground trembled violently as his figure shot forward to meet the spear’s light head-on.

The Acupoints All Over his Body released Force, and the Vitality condensed within them flooded his entire being.

BANG!!

The muscles in his legs and right arm swelled in an instant, like balloons inflated far beyond human limits.

Unfettered Self!!

SCREECH!!

He brought one arm down in a chopping motion. The auspicious glow surrounding him erupted, clinging to his Gang Qi as it met the blood-red spear radiance.

BOOM!!

The spear’s radiance shattered instantly, but the Gang Qi from Zhao Xuanqi’s strike also broke apart. A powerful shockwave slammed into his body, a terrifying rebound of force.

ROAR!!

His Qi and Blood surged, unleashing a draconic roar. The concussive force was instantly dispersed by the rush. Simultaneously, his skin vibrated, once again repelling the assaulting blood mist. His momentum barely broken, he continued his charge toward the crimson Ghost General.

’So this is one of the Ghost Gate Twelve Riders? To still have this much power after being sealed for so many years?’

’It seems I can’t keep this up for long with physical strength alone.’

’My Vitality is finite. A prolonged battle is not to my advantage, and according to the intel, this opponent excels at wars of attrition.’

’I need to end this quickly and find the next target.’

Zhao Xuanqi made his decision.

VMM!!

Within his five viscera, four talismanic Forms emerged. The runes etched within them instantly empowered his body.

Heart, Lungs, Kidneys, Spleen!!

BANG!!

A terrifying Nether Fire erupted from his body, flaring toward the heavens.

Cold, brutal, and savage!!

Netherworld Killing Fire!

In an instant, he was before Jing Zeng, his fists a blur of motion.

Gang Qi, auspicious light, and Killing Fire fused into one, creating an unimaginable force.

Bi Fang! Vermilion Bird! Simurgh! Divine Falcon!!

Various Flying Bird Forms condensed and shifted continuously, causing the surrounding blood mist to churn and tremble, sealing off every escape route around Jing Zeng.

The terrifying aura, the incredibly fluid and baffling transitions between Techniques, the perfect fusion of flesh, Magic, and Gang Qi—it left everyone watching in a stupor.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

A relentless barrage of fists and feet, giving no quarter!

Jing Zeng swung his spear, blocking repeatedly, but it was merely the instinctive self-preservation of an Evil Spirit; he was completely unable to defend against Zhao Xuanqi’s assault.

The terrifying Killing Fire and powerful blows exploded against his body. His armor shattered, and his rotten flesh burst open.

Jing Zeng, one of the Ghost Gate Twelve Riders, was being utterly suppressed, forced back step by step!

However, as the source of the Realm, Jing Zeng’s own regenerative abilities were beyond imagination. The moment he was injured, the blood mist would erupt, and his wounds would heal in the blink of an eye. Even Spirit couldn’t find an opening to use a Technique to restrict his recovery.

This regeneration was not infinite, however. It all stemmed from the power of the blood mist. While the healing of ordinary Yin Soldiers consumed little of it, repairing Jing Zeng’s own body was a massive drain. In less than ten breaths, under Zhao Xuanqi’s terrifying barrage, the surrounding blood mist had already grown visibly thinner.

’This...’

The group was ecstatic. At this rate, the blood mist would soon vanish completely. The Realm’s shroud would lift, and Jing Zeng’s regenerative abilities would temporarily fail. At that point, using the Power of Incense, it was highly likely they could seal him within the Twelve Pillars once more!

’Who on earth is this man? His strength is simply unbelievable!’

’No consciousness? Is he only acting on instinct?’

Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes narrowed, a hint of disappointment in them. He had hoped to witness the true strength of such a legendary figure, but it now seemed that years of being sealed and weakened had not only diminished his power but had also erased his consciousness.

’This is just a walking corpse, unable to display even half of its true power.’

However, perhaps sensing its own impending doom under Zhao Xuanqi’s terrifying assault, the violence in Jing Zeng’s scarlet eyes slowly faded as he retreated, replaced by a cold, detached rationality.