"You insolent junior!"
At that moment, Huang Se could no longer hold himself back in the Great Hall of Qingyun. He made his move. Two of his disciples had lost to Ling Tian in succession, and he could hardly save face. With a furious shout, a terrifying pressure bore down on Ling Tian.
"Whoosh!"
The pressure forced Ling Tian to slide back several steps. He braced himself with his spear and barely managed to stay on his feet. He glared at Huang Se as the man advanced, his defiance growing stronger by the moment. But the terrifying pressure weighed so heavily on him that he couldn't even speak.
"Peak Master Huang Se, picking on someone younger than you—have you no shame?" Yuan Ming was the first to lose patience and rebuke Huang Se. The other peak masters also urged Huang Se to stop.
"I'm only giving him a little punishment. I won't hurt him." Huang Se's face reddened, but he still refused to back down. Then he looked at Ling Tian and said, "Junior, do you submit?"
"What is there to submit to?" Ling Tian bit down hard on his tongue. A mist of blood sprayed from his mouth, but his spirit only surged higher.
"Brother Ling Tian, you..." Tears burst from Hua Min'er's eyes, and she was about to rush over. But Yun Ying, standing beside her, held her back. With her cultivation, she couldn't break free of Yun Ying's grasp.
"Sister Yun Ying, let go of me! Brother Ling Tian is in danger. I have to be with him!" Hua Min'er pleaded with Yun Ying. Tears mingled with blood from her bitten lips, making her look strikingly beautiful, yet filled with deep sorrow.
"What can you do for him if you go over there? You'll only distract him. Besides, Peak Master Huang wouldn't dare kill him. Don't forget that Senior Lingyun is behind Ling Tian." Yun Ying didn't dare release Hua Min'er and hurriedly tried to reason with her.
"I... I..." After hearing Yun Ying's words, Hua Min'er knew her senior sister was right. She stopped trying to rush toward Ling Tian, but still watched him anxiously, her tear-streaked face pitiful and lovely.
"Min'er, don't cry. I'm fine." Ling Tian managed to turn his head and give Hua Min'er a reassuring look. But the moment he let his attention wander, the pressure on him increased sharply, and he even spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Brother Ling Tian, you..." Seeing him spit blood, Hua Min'er felt as if her heart were being cut by a knife. But she knew she couldn't distract him, so she hurriedly fell silent.
"Hmph, stubborn fool. Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson." Seeing that Ling Tian still wouldn't yield, Huang Se increased the pressure of his spiritual sense a little more.
Ling Tian grew anxious as the pressure mounted. He felt he could collapse at any moment. Suddenly, a light flashed in his mind, and he remembered the bow. He slammed his spear into the ground. With difficulty, he focused a wisp of spiritual sense and reached out to the bow and arrows. At last, they came into his hands. He bent the bow with all his strength, nocked an arrow, and aimed at Huang Se, drawing the string back without releasing it. A vast killing intent surged toward Huang Se, and Ling Tian immediately felt somewhat relieved.
Huang Se saw Ling Tian aiming the bow at him and suddenly sensed a terrifying danger rising from the depths of his soul. Cold sweat broke out all over him. He hurriedly circulated his spiritual sense and brought forth his Natal Dan Artifact, facing Ling Tian.
The pressure on Ling Tian instantly increased severalfold. The bow and arrow began to show hairline cracks, and it looked as if they would soon succumb to the terrifying pressure and shatter. Ling Tian felt disheartened. His cultivation was still too low. Even though his bow and arrow were far better than Huang Se's Natal Dan Artifact, Huang Se could still rely on his artifact to kill him with ease.
"Hmph! Whoever dares harm my son, Huang Se, has some nerve."
Just as Qian Jun was about to arrive, a voice that filled Ling Tian with joy rang out. His father had finally come. For the first time, he realized how much he had missed him.
Lingyun came flying through the air and stood between Ling Tian and Huang Se. His hair billowed in fury, and he looked like a god or devil. He swept his right hand through the Jade Flute, and a sharp killing aura, solid as a blade, pointed straight at Huang Se.
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed across the sky as Huang Se collapsed onto the ground. Even his Natal Dan Artifact fell beside him, letting out a mournful whine.
"Thank you, Senior, for sparing my life." Huang Se struggled to his feet and gave Lingyun a dejected, deep bow.
"Hmph. I'm letting you go today. When my son has grown stronger, he'll deal with you himself for what you've done. Get out!" Lingyun swept his robe and berated Huang Se.
Huang Se could only smile bitterly. What could he do when he was outmatched? He could only let his disciples support him as he staggered away.
"Father, I've disgraced you." Ling Tian lowered his head before Lingyun, looking at him with shame.
"Hehe, Tian'er, it wasn't your fault. When you faced a powerful enemy, you stood firm and refused to yield. That alone was admirable. Cultivation can be improved, but such determination is rare." Lingyun praised Ling Tian.
"But... but I still lost. If you hadn't come, I'm afraid I'd already be dead." Ling Tian felt dejected.
"Hehe, it's not that easy for you to die. Don't forget what's inside you..." Lingyun said, pointing at Ling Tian's dantian.
Ling Tian naturally understood what his father meant. He was just about to say something when Hua Min'er rushed over and interrupted him.
"Wuwu, Brother Ling Tian, you scared Min'er to death." Hua Min'er hugged Ling Tian, her tear-streaked face still full of lingering fear. She felt she had almost lost the chance to ever see him again.
"Silly girl, don't cry. Didn't you promise me?" Ling Tian looked at the crying Hua Min'er, his heart aching as he tenderly wiped away her tears.
"Min'er only cries for you." Hua Min'er's face flushed crimson, but she kept her gaze fixed on Ling Tian and declared resolutely.
Ling Tian felt warmth fill his heart at her words, but still said, "Silly girl, I won't let you cry again. All right, all right. You should be happy today, not cry."
"Mm, Min'er won't cry." Hua Min'er looked at Ling Tian and stopped sobbing. Thinking of his promise not to let her cry again, she felt her heart overflowing with happiness.
"Min'er, I'm afraid I can't stroll around with you today. I need to go back and treat my wounds. Here, this is a gift for you." Ling Tian felt a pang of disappointment. He was badly injured, and his father had already given him several urgent looks. He reluctantly took out the little box and the Small Sword.
"Mm, Brother Ling Tian, go back and get some rest. Uncle Lingyun, please take him back right away." Hearing that Ling Tian needed to treat his wounds, Hua Min'er hurriedly urged him to leave, then looked at Lingyun imploringly.
"Mm, young lady, you're quite nice. I'll do what I can. Don't worry." Lingyun smiled faintly, then glanced at her to signal that she should accept the gift Ling Tian was offering.
Hua Min'er's face reddened, and she hurriedly accepted the gift. Lingyun brought forth the Jade Flute and helped Ling Tian up. Then they turned into a streak of Mysterious Light and flew away, leaving Hua Min'er staring blankly after Ling Tian.
Before you continue