The vast sky was shrouded in darkness, so dense that even the sunlight could barely penetrate. The square below was completely enveloped in shadows, and everyone had to cover their bodies with their battle qi to see the ongoing battle in the faint light. As the darkness spread across the horizon, the enormous cloud arrow pierced through the void, surging forward with terrifying force. The sharp sound of the arrow’s impact echoed repeatedly.
“Ten Thousand Shadows Bind!”
As if he had melded into the surrounding darkness, Ling Ying’s hands formed a rapid seal. The black curtain covering the sky surged, and boundless black streams of energy shot out, intertwining as they met the oncoming cloud arrow.
A white and a black stream, both filled with tremendous energy, collided in midair, causing a deafening explosion. Instantly, a massive surge of energy erupted, scattering the dark clouds and allowing rays of sunlight to shine through, illuminating the square in a speckled pattern.
“This person is quite strong…” Jia Xingtian looked up at the figure in the black robes, his face grave. “Judging from the earlier attack, his strength is likely around the level of a seven-star Battle Emperor.”
“Indeed, he’s very strong. And his elemental skills seem to be somewhat dark-tinged, which is rather uncommon,” agreed Fa Ma, glancing around before asking, “Should we intervene if this continues? After all, the Yunlan Sect is still a part of our Jia Ma Empire.”
Jia Xingtian frowned, pondering for a moment before replying, “Let’s observe for now. This mysterious Battle Emperor doesn’t seem intent on causing too much trouble. If Xiao Yan can safely leave, he will likely not stay long. Also, we’re unsure if there are other forces backing him, so it’s best not to act rashly.”
Hearing this, Fa Ma nodded slightly and remained silent.
“Haha, you have some skill indeed. No wonder you’re so arrogant,” Ling Ying slowly emerged from the black curtain, looking down at the pale-faced Yun Ling, and laughed.
Yun Ling gritted his teeth, his gaze following the retreating Xiao Yan through the gaps in the black curtain. His mouth twitched, and the intense pain in his head made him increasingly irrational.
“Stay here!” he roared, his face flushing again as powerful battle qi surged from his body, shaking the surrounding clouds.
“Hmph, so stubborn! Don’t think I’m afraid to kill!” Ling Ying’s face darkened as he saw Yun Ling’s unwillingness to give up. His hand slowly extended from his sleeve, and a black, dense energy mist gathered in his palm, forming a two-meter-long black spear. The spear’s surface was covered in black patterns, and the energy flowed like water, giving off a sinister aura.
Gripping the black spear, Ling Ying glanced at Yun Ling below, then suddenly twisted his body, his right foot stepping back. With a twist, his body unleashed a massive black energy stream towards Yun Ling, who was still within the cloud sea.
“Devouring Serpent Strike!”
The black spear, like a meteor, tore through the sky, and the black energy swirling around it took the form of a giant black serpent. The serpent roared, causing the space to tremble.
Sensing the terrifying force descending from above, Yun Ling’s face paled. He realized that this time, his opponent was not holding back. In a panic, he waved his hands, and the surrounding cloud sea responded, forming a three-meter-wide cloud shield. The shield shimmered with a faint light, appearing solid and sturdy.
After the cloud shield appeared, the surrounding clouds thinned, clearly indicating that creating the shield had consumed a lot of energy.
The black spear’s momentum did not falter in the face of the cloud shield. It continued its relentless advance, slamming into the shield with a thunderous crash. The shockwave made the Yunlan Sect disciples cover their ears.
In the sky, the black and white energies intertwined, distorting the space where they met. Ling Ying’s attack was incredibly powerful, worthy of a Battle Emperor.
“Hmph, break!” Watching the two energies stalemate, Ling Ying slowly formed a seal, and a low roar rumbled from his throat.
With his roar, the black spear’s energy surged, and an eight-meter-long black energy serpent rose from the spear. Its maw, filled with a bloodthirsty aura, opened wide and, to Yun Ling’s shock, swallowed the cloud shield.
Although the spear weakened after consuming the shield, Yun Ling, now defenseless, was gripped by terror. But the black spear did not stop; it pointed straight at Yun Ling’s heart and shot forward.
As the spear’s tip loomed closer, Yun Ling gritted his teeth, his hands covered in battle qi, and desperately grabbed the spear. Simultaneously, he twisted his body violently.
“Phew!” As his hands touched the spear, the force sent Yun Ling spewing blood and falling to the ground.
Once Yun Ling left the cloud sea, the surrounding clouds dissipated, leaving the elder’s faces pale. They clutched their chests, groaning in pain.
Compared to the elders, the Yunlan Sect disciples who had contributed to the cloud sea were in even worse shape. Weaker disciples spat blood and fainted, while stronger ones managed to endure, though their expressions were grim.
Ling Ying’s single strike nearly crippled the entire Yunlan Sect, demonstrating the overwhelming power of a Battle Emperor.
“Boom!” The force carried by the black spear slammed Yun Ling down, sending him crashing into the square. Stones flew, and huge cracks, like those from an earthquake, spread from the impact point. The cracks were so large that the Yunlan Sect disciples had to move to avoid them, highlighting the terrifying power of Ling Ying’s attack.
Standing in the air, Ling Ying watched the chaotic square, waving his hand as the black shadows retreated back into his body. Warm sunlight returned, bringing a slight sense of relief to the shivering Yunlan Sect disciples.
As they regained their composure, everyone’s eyes turned to where Yun Ling had fallen, where a deep pit marked the ground, making the Yunlan Sect disciples swallow hard.
“He’s not dead yet…” Jia Xingtian sighed, seeing the situation growing increasingly out of control.
From the deep pit, a hacking cough sounded, and a figure slowly climbed out, looking disheveled and far from the imposing elder of the Yunlan Sect. Yun Ling, his clothes tattered and face covered in blood, was bleeding profusely from his waist, drenching the ground.
Though he had avoided a fatal hit, the spear’s sharp energy had severely injured him.
Looking at the dejected elder, the Yunlan Sect disciples all sighed.
Surprisingly, Yun Ling’s face showed no anger, but a calm, almost lifeless expression. He coldly glanced at the blood dripping from his waist, then touched the gruesome wound on his head, and laughed, a hint of madness in his voice.
“You are indeed strong…” Yun Ling looked up, his smile filled with a sinister edge.
Ling Ying’s brow furrowed, and he slowly twisted his hand, surrounded by black energy. “Your life is also quite tenacious. If you find living too tiring, I can help you end it.”
“Haha…” Yun Ling’s eyes locked onto Ling Ying, and he burst into laughter, his injuries flaring up, causing him to cough more blood. Wiping his mouth, he raised his head, his eyes wild and fierce.
“I don’t care who you are, but you are the first person in many years to make the Yunlan Sect look so pathetic. If I let you leave today, our reputation in the Jia Ma Empire will be ruined. For the sake of the sect’s honor, you must not… leave!”
“You lack the power…” Ling Ying sneered.
“I do lack the power… but…” Yun Ling smiled grimly, and under everyone’s watchful eyes, he took out a cloud-white flute from his ring. Blowing into it, a strange, sharp tone echoed through the mountain.
The sharp sound reverberated, and the entire Yunlan Mountain fell silent, only the flute’s melody filling the air.
Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma exchanged a glance, their pupils narrowing as they remembered something.
“That old man, he’s still alive!” As Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma spoke, a mighty and ancient aura descended from the depths of the mountain, carrying an unstoppable pressure.
As the immense aura awakened, a graceful and beautiful figure in the sky, hundreds of miles away from the Yunlan Sect, paused, gazing in the direction of the Yunlan Sect. Her serene face was filled with shock.
“Teacher… how did he awaken?”
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