Hun Clan Half-Saint

Nothing but desolation as far as the eye could see. The grayish-brown earth was a scene of barren death, without a single trace of vegetation. Thick clouds of energy drifted through the sky above, adding the faintest hint of life to this utterly silent landscape.

All of a sudden, a concealed energy fluctuation rapidly spread across the entire land. It was so well hidden that only truly powerful experts could vaguely sense it.

"Do any of you feel anything unusual?"

A cool female voice abruptly rang out, breaking the stillness of the land.

"Miss Yao Ling, you may be overthinking it. None of us feel anything strange." Gu Qingyang exchanged glances with the others before answering decisively.

"Mm, I hope so. Commander Qingyang, we've already ventured this deep into the Heavenly Tomb. It's best to be more prepared. The energy forms here are not easy to deal with." Yao Ling unconsciously lowered her voice as she warned them.

Gu Qingyang nodded. Over the past few days, they had never encountered an energy form below the level of a Nine-star Dou Zun. They had even exchanged several moves with three Half-Saint-level energy forms. Had Yao Ling not been prepared beforehand and unleashed all her Dou Techniques the instant those energy forms appeared, forcing them all back, this group would likely have endured several bloody battles.

"Kaiyang Mingguang Armor!"

Yao Ling silently chanted in her heart. Her soul power merged with the Dou Qi around her body, condensing into a set of azure-blue armor over her. This armor not only possessed formidable defensive capabilities but could also enhance its wearer's soul power. However, maintaining it continuously consumed an enormous amount of Dou Qi. Even a Half-Saint expert like her could not ignore such a terrifying expenditure.

Yao Ling took several medicinal pills radiating a medicinal fragrance from her Medicine Gourd and swallowed them in one gulp. Seeming to recall something else, she tossed the Medicine Gourd into the air. Dozens of light specks shot out from it and flew into everyone's hands.

"Take five Eighth-grade Seven-color Xuanhuang Qi Replenishing Pills and Bone-regenerating and Blood-activating Pills each, plus one Eighth-grade Eight-color Eight Desolations Life-Returning Pill. If you use them up, come ask me for more." Yao Ling caught the Medicine Gourd and fastened it to herself as she spoke indifferently.

The moment those words fell, everyone's expressions turned strange.

"What? Do you think I'm being stingy?" Yao Ling's expression became slightly unnatural as well. Considering the sheer quantity of pills she carried, taking out only this much did indeed seem somewhat stingy.

"Th-this... we're merely astonished by your generosity, Miss. Even we cannot casually use such pills." Gu Qingyang recovered and replied with an ingratiating smile. The Gu Clan did not lack Eighth-grade Pills, but pills above Eight-grade Six-color were considered high-grade even among Eighth-grade Pills. Even for them, obtaining such things was quite difficult.

"Heh, there's no need for that. My Yao Clan is renowned among the Ancient Eight Clans for pill refinement. These few pills hardly count as generosity." Yao Ling chuckled softly. "I can sense two Half-Saint energy forms blocking the path to the northwest. Let's change routes."

The group turned toward the southwest. Before they had walked for more than a few minutes, everyone sensed two powerful auras of pressure. Yao Ling's face darkened to the extreme. Unlike the other energy forms that wandered aimlessly, these two were steadily approaching them at a rather swift pace!

"Friends, remain vigilant."

The moment her words fell, two gaunt old men flashed out from the void and blocked their path.

"Every debt has its debtor. The two of us are only here for trouble with that little girl from the Yao Clan. If you do not wish to throw away your lives for nothing, you still have time to run. If you leave too late, don't blame this Saint for showing no mercy." The lips of one gray-robed elder twitched.

"Miss Xun'er, what do you intend to do? The four of us will obey all your orders." Gu Qingyang leaned close to Xun'er's ear and spoke softly in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"If we stand by and do nothing, then the next time this happens, there'll be no saving the situation. Forget two Half-Saint energy forms—even one would be beyond our ability to handle." Xun'er whispered. "Though I don't particularly want to travel with her, we're tied to the same rope now. When it's time to act, we act..."

"Dun Saint, stop wasting words. Let's take care of these people together." Seeing that they had not retreated, the other black-robed elder gave a sinister laugh. "To wipe out the young geniuses of the Xiao, Gu, and Yao Clans in one sweep—such an opportunity is truly rare in a thousand years..."

"Attack together!" Before he could finish, Xun'er shouted coldly. Several Heavenly Grade Dou Techniques shot through the air in an instant, catching the two Half-Saint energy forms off guard and forcing them both several steps back. Yet they quickly steadied themselves, their hand seals shifting as they drew two Energy Crystal Walls in the air, blocking all of the group's attacks.

"Miss Xun'er, leave the stronger energy form to me. You only need to restrain the other one." Seeing that they had not fled but instead fought at her side, Yao Ling could not help feeling somewhat moved. Her body flashed, and in an instant she appeared before the gray-robed elder, striking out with her palm.

"Hun Yun, the young ones are yours. I'll deal with this little bitch." The gray-robed elder sneered and struck out with his palm, meeting Yao Ling's palm head-on. "It seems this Saint has been dead for too long. The youngsters of today truly know neither heaven nor earth, utterly unaware of this Saint's illustrious reputation in life..."

"As you command." The black-robed elder moved, flickering before Xun'er and the others as he fought them with apparent madness. The battlefield within the Heavenly Tomb was immediately divided into two fiercely clashing battlefields.

"Old man, you really are quite confident. We're both High-level Half-Saints. What right do you have to call yourself a Saint in front of me?" Yao Ling sneered as she withdrew her jade-like hand, which was faintly aching. Though she spoke thus, she was inwardly shocked. In their first exchange, she had actually suffered a small loss.

"Little girl, I don't like being called old man. Let this Saint teach you what it means to respect one's elders and honor the Dao." A trace of killing intent surfaced on the gray-robed elder's face at that form of address. He took a deep breath and slowly drew an enormous blade over ten feet long from the void. Several souls curled around the blade, continuously letting out mournful wails.

"Dying beneath this old man's Myriad Souls Wailing Blade will be your honor!"

The gray-robed elder's speed surged to the extreme as he charged toward Yao Ling in a frenzy. Space shattered wherever he passed. Yao Ling did not dare be careless, streaking through the air and leaving behind only afterimages. That old undead had been trapped in the Heavenly Tomb for so many years and still possessed such strength. Before his death, he had likely reached the level of a half-step Dou Saint. Against an expert of this caliber, all she could do was desperately evade.

"Found you!"

She had only just narrowly dodged a fierce blade wind that swept past her ear when she discovered that the gray-robed elder had already flashed to where she would land next. Seeing this, the gray-robed elder gave a grim smile and swung his long blade toward her waist!

"Bang!"