The Gray-robed Old Man was shrouded in blood light, so dense it resembled a rolling sea of blood, surging and roiling. His expression had become grave to the extreme.
Though he carried old injuries, within the Ten Thousand Demons Blood Pool, his combat power was not inferior to that of any Top Grandmaster.
Yet even under such circumstances, he still found it difficult to suppress his opponent. Gu Qingchan, who had cultivated the Mystic Maiden Heart Sutra to great mastery and possessed two Divine Weapons to protect herself, undoubtedly possessed battle power no weaker than a Top Grandmaster!
Had it been any other Top Grandmaster, he could still have employed a war of attrition and dragged them into a bitter struggle. Within the Ten Thousand Demons Blood Pool, he had a supply of Ten Thousand Demons Essence Blood, giving him endurance slightly superior to that of a Top Grandmaster. In a prolonged battle, he would surely be the one laughing last.
But Gu Qingchan cultivated the Mystic Maiden Heart Sutra. Her foundation was solid and her True Essence pure. In terms of sustained combat, she might even surpass him!
Most crucially, he could already clearly sense that as the battle continued, Gu Qingchan was gradually adapting to his fighting style. When dealing with his offensive methods, she was becoming increasingly at ease.
This cannot continue. Otherwise, I will surely lose if this drags on! In the midst of battle, the Gray-robed Old Man's Spirit Platform remained clear, instantly grasping the heart of the matter. In that case, I can only use...
The Gray-robed Old Man hardened his heart and made his decision in an instant. No matter how great the price of that move was, he could no longer afford to care. Just as he was about to unleash his final method, blood light flashed between his brows, and he sensed an unfamiliar aura in the field.
"Where did this rat come from?" The Gray-robed Old Man snorted coldly. His withered finger pointed from afar, and blood light greatly flourished in an instant, turning into a blood-colored ripple that attacked the figure appearing at the stone gate.
Clang!
The lotus leaves upon the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp spun swiftly, ice essence spilling outward as they blocked the Gray-robed Old Man's attack.
"Why did he come here?"
Gu Qingchan's willow brows knitted slightly, and her lovely face changed faintly.
At the same time the Gray-robed Old Man discovered Chen Ping'an, she too noticed Chen Ping'an at the stone gate. By all reason, reinforcements from the Town Pacification Office should have delighted her. But the issue was that she and the Gray-robed Old Man stood at too high a level. This was simply not a battle Chen Ping'an could participate in.
If a Grandmaster had come, they might have been of some help to her. But although Chen Ping'an was brilliantly gifted and overflowing with talent, he had yet to step into the Grandmaster Realm. He had not even attained Dragon and Tiger Battle Power. In a battle between Top Grandmasters, even the aftermath was not something he could endure.
To her, Chen Ping'an's arrival was not reinforcements, but a burden.
Yet despite thinking this, Gu Qingchan's movements were not slow in the slightest. Seeing the Gray-robed Old Man's blood-colored ripple blast toward him, a Mystic Ice Divine Needle gleaming with pale-blue crystal light shot out in an instant.
The blood-colored ripple had only traveled halfway and had not yet neared Chen Ping'an when it collided with the Mystic Ice Divine Needle.
Bang!
A mass of blood light exploded, turning into specks of radiance.
"Trying to save him?" The Gray-robed Old Man sneered. His withered finger pointed again, and at the same time, the blood-colored pool water swept forth toward Chen Ping'an.
For a short period of time, he might not be able to take down Gu Qingchan, but dealing with a junior who had not even entered the Grandmaster Realm was more than easy enough.
Gu Qingchan wanted to abandon Chen Ping'an and strike directly at the Gray-robed Old Man. Yet in the end, she could not bear to watch this rather interesting junior perish before her eyes.
Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an possessed extraordinary talent. Given time, he would surely become a peerless Grandmaster! Such astonishing talent was not something she would lightly abandon unless it truly could not be done.
Buzz~ Buzz~ Buzz~
Blue light flashed as the divine needles darted through the air.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Masses of blood light burst apart and dispersed in mid-air.
The Mystic Ice Divine Needles blocked the blood-colored ripples, but though they wished to stop the sweeping blood waves, their hearts had more than enough will while their strength fell short. Her Mystic Ice Divine Needles specialized in offense and possessed almost no defensive power. Especially against such wide area offensive methods, they were simply inadequate.
The Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp protecting her could have done so. But the problem was that the distance between them was too great; the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp could not reach that far. Moreover, even if it could arrive in time to protect him, she might not have been willing to use it to rescue Chen Ping'an. If the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp left her body, the Gray-robed Old Man would never miss such a perfect opportunity. At that time, with his offense sharp and all his methods unleashed, she might face the danger of being overturned in this battle.
Though she thought highly of Chen Ping'an, he was far from worth making such a gamble for.
As long as the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp remained with her, she might narrowly lose this battle, but her safety would be assured!
Watching the blood-colored pool water surge over, Gu Qingchan's starry eyes flickered, and she let out a quiet sigh.
So be it. Once this battle is over, I will take good care of your younger sister for you.
Splash—
Blood water swept forth like raging waves, arriving before Chen Ping'an in an instant.
Chen Ping'an had not expected that the moment he appeared, he would become the center of the field. Having risen from the bottom, he was well-versed in human affairs and understood people's hearts. Naturally, he did not expect Gu Qingchan to disregard her own safety to rescue him.
Gu Qingchan's willingness to act and block two consecutive attacks already counted as having done everything righteousness demanded.
Chen Ping'an's expression was calm. Gripping the Earth Crocodile Golden Flame Saber tightly, he slashed forward fiercely before the towering blood waters.
"Secret art of the Soul Severing Saber, Soul Severing One Saber!"
Whoosh!
Gray-white light mingled with deep-blue radiance as it flowed. In this strike, Chen Ping'an condensed a trace of Martial Will, raising the battle power he displayed outwardly once more.
Bang!
The Saber Light collided with the blood wave. Though it did not shatter it in a single slash, it nevertheless carved open a gap. Blood water poured down, containing Blood Demon baleful intent. Chen Ping'an shifted his footing and deftly dodged through the opening.
Boom! Splash—
The blood wave contained immense force, smashing all the surrounding stones to pieces. Broken rocks rolled down and blocked the stone gate. The Blood Demon baleful intent swept over them, instantly staining them crimson.
"Dragon and Tiger Battle Power!" Gu Qingchan's beautiful eyes narrowed, a trace of surprise appearing within them.
She had not expected Chen Ping'an to break through at this critical moment between life and death, erupting with battle power sufficient to enter the Dragon and Tiger Rankings.
Between life and death lay great terror!
Thus, there were often people in the world who, in order to temper themselves, wandered between life and death year after year, seeking opportunities to break through. Some died in the process, but some succeeded and advanced another step.
Those who could seize that flash of inspiration at the line between life and death were all people blessed by fortune.
It seemed Chen Ping'an was such a person as well.
"He didn't die?" A trace of strange color appeared on the Gray-robed Old Man's face, only to vanish without a trace the next instant.
The longer one lived, the more things one saw.
Though people who could receive sudden inspiration and break through at the brink of life and death were rare, they did exist. This had indeed exceeded his expectations, but given the current situation, it was not anything important.
"He is merely a rat. He cannot affect the overall situation. The urgent matter is to keep Gu Qingchan here!" The Gray-robed Old Man's eye sockets were deeply sunken as he revealed a cold smile.
Without Gu Qingchan helping him block attacks, even if that saber-wielding boy's cultivation had broken through, he would never survive. From a great distance, the power of his blood-colored ripples might not have been especially terrifying, but they still possessed solid Grandmaster Combat Power.
Even with Dragon and Tiger Battle Power, could he block one ripple? Could he block two? Three? Or even... more!
Once Gu Qingchan died, this rat could be extinguished with a wave of his hand.
With that thought, the Gray-robed Old Man's gaze sharpened, and he no longer hesitated. Blood light abruptly blazed around him as his withered fingers, like dead branches, waved repeatedly, directly pointing toward Gu Qingchan.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Accompanied by piercing sounds of tearing air, one blood-colored ripple after another surged out as though tangible, carrying astonishing might as they blasted toward Gu Qingchan in an instant.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Before Gu Qingchan, the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp shone brilliantly. Its lotus leaves spun and danced, turning into layers upon layers of crystalline radiance like an indestructible shield, blocking the blood-colored ripples outside. With every collision, rings of frost ripples spread outward, and thick energy fluctuations filled the air.
By the time Gu Qingchan had blocked all the blood-colored ripples, the Gray-robed Old Man's figure had vanished without a trace, as though he had melded into the surrounding air. Taking advantage of that brief gap, he had silently slipped into the depths of the blood pool, leaving behind only barely visible circles of blood-colored ripples spreading across the surface.
"Did he hide inside?" Gu Qingchan's gaze was cold as she became vigilant.
She and the Gray-robed Old Man had fought fiercely for a long time. They had repeatedly unleashed killing methods and trump cards, and both had consumed an enormous amount of True Essence, yet they were still far from being at the end of the road. The Gray-robed Old Man's action undoubtedly meant he was plotting something.
"He hid in the blood pool?" Chen Ping'an looked weak, his body half leaning against the shattered stone wall as though he had been seriously injured.
Ever since earlier, he had been weighing whether he should act. This Gray-robed Old Man's battle power far surpassed that of the Blood-robed Man from before. He was a genuine Top Grandmaster.
And with the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp protecting her and the Mystic Ice Divine Needles attacking, Gu Qingchan's battle power had likewise steadily entered the threshold of a Top Grandmaster.
The two were locked in a head-on clash, fighting with extreme intensity.
If he revealed his strength and assisted Gu Qingchan, there was a great chance they could defeat this gaunt Gray-robed Old Man. But...
After some consideration, Chen Ping'an ultimately decided to wait and observe first.
Certainly, if he joined forces with Gu Qingchan, they could defeat this Top Grandmaster of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. But the problem was that defeat was merely defeat; it did not mean killing him. As a Top Grandmaster, who knew whether the Gray-robed Old Man possessed some life-preserving method hidden at the bottom of his chest?
Furthermore, if he and Gu Qingchan joined hands, it might seem like two against one, but since neither was familiar with the other's fighting methods and their cooperation lacked tacit understanding, they might not achieve the effect of two against one. If his first strike failed and he lost the initiative, it would become difficult to find another chance later.
Rather than that, it was better to observe quietly and seek an opportunity. If a good chance appeared, he would rise up and strike, heavily injuring the Gray-robed Old Man in one blow!
After the Soaring Dragon Movement Technique reached minor mastery, Chen Ping'an's battle power had risen another small step. But though his current strength was formidable and could crush ordinary Jade Balance Middle Stage cultivators, he was still several levels short of a true Top Grandmaster.
Otherwise, he would not need to be so wary. He would simply crush his opponent with sheer momentum! If two Top Grandmasters joined forces, even if their coordination was not so seamless, heavily injuring another Top Grandmaster would not be nearly so difficult.
Glug glug glug~
Fine bubbles continuously emerged across the blood-colored pool surface, as though it were boiling.
"Not good!"
Gu Qingchan's lovely face changed slightly.
At the unfathomably deep bottom of the blood pool, a terrifying aura like one emerging from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood suddenly erupted. Like a violent storm, it swept through the entire space.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Without the slightest hesitation, spiritual light around Gu Qingchan shone brilliantly, like stars adorning the night sky. Mystic Ice Divine Needles shot forth one after another, carrying biting sharpness and endless keenness like meteors tearing through the heavens as they streaked toward the depths of the blood pool.
The Mystic Ice Divine Needles pierced into the blood pool, instantly splashing up countless streams of blood water like blooming blood lotuses—gorgeous and eerie.
Splash—
The blood pool seemed like an enraged giant beast, churning without cease. Vast quantities of blood water transformed into surging waves that swept upward, blotting out the sky and covering the earth. The sea of blood roiled, its waves carrying thick bloodshed and death, sending chills through one's heart as though they could freeze one's soul.
Buzz buzz buzz~
The Blood Demon baleful intent contained within the blood water was like invisible demonic claws, tightly wrapping around the Mystic Ice Divine Needles. The pale-blue light on the needles trembled without end, seeming to release one shrill cry after another, recounting boundless despair.
Blood water rained down like a tempest as a towering figure slowly emerged, carrying sky-reaching Blood Demon baleful intent like a demon god returning from hell.
"Die!" A deep, resounding voice, like an ancient demonic chant, echoed through the space.
Whoosh!
At the instant the voice sounded, the towering blood-colored figure had already appeared before Gu Qingchan.
"Ten Thousand Demons True Body!" Unbelievable shock appeared on Gu Qingchan's face.
A Supreme Divine Skill—the Ten Thousand Demons Body Forging Art!
The Ten Thousand Demons Sect had run rampant for many years, its foundations unfathomably deep. The Ten Thousand Demons Body Forging Art was one of the sect's renowned arts that guarded its legacy.
Forge the true body with Ten Thousand Demons Blood Demon baleful intent! This was Ten Thousand Demons Body Forging!
Once the Ten Thousand Demons Body Forging Art was cultivated to perfection, one could activate the divine skill and transform into the Ten Thousand Demons True Body.
Buzz~ Buzz~ Buzz~
In an instant, the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp guarding Gu Qingchan shone with great treasure light. Lotus leaves spun through the air, resisting the towering figure's attacks.
"What is that thing!?" A trace of astonishment appeared on Chen Ping'an's face.
This blood-colored figure was a full sixteen feet tall, its entire body enshrouded in thick blood mist. It was as though every inch of skin had been soaked in blood, exuding an ancient, evil, and immense aura. Its body was covered in densely packed blood-colored patterns, like ancient totems and curses from the source of blood, flickering with eerie light.
Within the swirling blood mist, muscular contours could vaguely be seen, revealing a primitive wildness and sense of power, as though every muscle contained terrifying strength capable of destroying mountains and rivers.
His features were twisted and savage, and madness and bloodlust gleamed in his eyes, making people feel fear and despair without realizing it.
Chen Ping'an's thoughts raced. Within a single breath, he recognized the origin of this cultivation art.
The Sixteen-Foot Demon Body—the Ten Thousand Demons True Body!
This ferocity and aura far exceeded his Golden Body Indestructible. This was the gap between a Supreme Divine Skill and a top-tier divine art. It was a gap that could not be concealed even if one cultivated the divine art to absolute perfection.
Gu Qingchan's hair flowed like a waterfall, and her palace dress fluttered. Faint icy crystalline light emerged behind her, while petal-like points of light swirled around her body.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The treasure lamp's lotus leaves spun, blue light flashing as they collided fiercely with the Elder transformed into the Ten Thousand Demons True Body.
Before this sixteen-foot demon body, Gu Qingchan's figure seemed impossibly petite. Her body was light and agile as she tried to widen the distance between them, but she was tightly entangled and trapped where she stood.
"I will break your Mystic Maiden Conception!" A crazed, bloodthirsty roar tore through the sky as a giant hand, vast enough to blot out heaven and earth, came crashing down.
Boom!
The next moment, the treasure lamp let out a mournful cry, its light dimming. The petal-like points of light around Gu Qingchan were completely annihilated under that destructive force, turning into nothingness.
"Mystic Moon!"
Gu Qingchan's face remained calm as she softly spoke. Deep-blue netherglow flickered in her eyes, and a powerful spiritual fluctuation erupted in an instant. Like an Ice Blade carrying frost and the intent to sever souls, it shot directly into the Elder's brow.
"Ah! Divine Sense Soul Sever, damn it!" The Elder looked crazed as he roared in pain, blood mist surging.
Boom!
The light around Gu Qingchan dimmed. Under the immense impact, she flew away like a kite with its string cut, tracing a long arc before crashing heavily onto the distant ground.
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