Duan Ye

"Duan Ye--!!! Help! Ahh ..."

"Ugh... that blond guy is so annoying..."

Duan Ye, the Saintess Duan Ye of the Divine Cult, gasped, snapped her dislocated shoulder back into place, and turned to roar angrily.

"Golden Core cultivator, and so are you?! Fight her yourself first, you son of a bitch!"

Then, pretending not to hear the screams from afar, "What kind of Saintess protector are you?!" she held the swords in both hands, braced her left elbow, used her shoulder armor as a shield, took a long stride, turned to the side, and with each breath, blood and fire blazed around her, red light enveloped her, and she was completely wrapped in crimson blood-red Qi flames, her red hair also fluttering with her True Breath.

The lit red flames spread crimson light, illuminating the dark forest and revealing nearby pieces of shredded flesh, also engulfed in flames, burning fiercely, as well as three strange, eerie shadows hiding deep in the woods, coldly watching Duan Ye.

Although it was a bit embarrassing to say it, Duan Ye had to admit that she seemed to have underestimated her opponent.

She had thought that the Devil Seed that had broken into the formation were just four demons and monsters of the same Nascent Soul Realm as her. She could easily kill them by beheading them with her treasured sword and burning their corpses with divine fire. So she thought she could finish the battle quickly and rushed up to attack. She took a punch without dodging.

But to her surprise, the punch was powerful and unpredictable. Although the shoulder guard blocked most of the force, the impact still dislocated Duan Ye's shoulder and arm. It didn't shatter on the spot, but it still caused her internal organs to tremble and her blood to surge.

But the demon's terrifying strength wasn't what surprised Duan Ye the most. The real issue was that the demon's speed and reaction time were also keeping up. Despite being caught off guard by Nascent Soul Stage cultivator's surprise attack, it was able to launch a conditioned reflex-like counterattack the instant it was struck! This physical ability had already surpassed that of an ordinary Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, and was approaching that of Martial God!

"Hoo... Hey! What are you three waiting for? Come at me all at once!"

Having activated his protective Qi and made thorough preparations, Duan Ye raised his fiery red eyebrows and glared at the three strange figures hiding in the darkness.

Why didn't they take the opportunity to attack... Damn it! These ugly freaks, are they showing mercy to the ladies? Ugh! Disgusting!

"Our rule is that whoever strikes first gets the prey."

Suddenly, those things hidden in the darkness spoke.

"Hey, Tian Silang, are you even capable of fighting?"

What?! He's not dead?! That's impossible!

Duan Ye narrowed his eyes. The strange humanoid corpse in front of him had clearly been scorched by divine fire, leaving only bones!

"... It wasn't dark yet, and you weren't yelling so loudly, and now you're already like this? Tsk, newbies are really useless."

"Hehe, then I'll have this fat woman. Hehe, I love pork belly the most."

"Who are you calling a fat woman, you bastard!"

Duan Ye flew into a rage! He lunged forward in a lunge stance, his bayonet thrusting forward! Man and blade became one, and Dao flames filled the sky!

"Crimson Fiend Blood Flame! Thrust Blade!"

The Crimson Fiend blood flames enveloping Duan Ye detached from his body along with the thrusting blade energy! They transformed into a crimson flame humanoid figure, like a burning fire spirit, wielding a flaming longsword! It pierced through the air, unleashing a raging sea of fire, directly striking the monster that wanted to eat pork belly!

However, the instant the True Qi Dao Flame left the body, the burning corpse fragments and severed arms on the ground suddenly leaped up, one claw grabbing Duan Ye's longsword, the other grabbing Duan Ye's viscera, the sharp claws reaching straight for the huge... ruby on her chest!

"Hmph! A mere trick! Blood Flame Dance!"

Duan Ye suddenly turned around to dodge, and at the same time swung his long sword, twirling it with dazzling swordplay. Crimson Dao flames on the blade rolled up all over the sky, like a sky full of silk ribbons, which wrapped around and blasted away the ghostly claws that were attacking him!

Then a figure leaped up and caught the claws. It was actually the fragments scattered on the ground that instantly reformed into 'Tian Silang'! Moreover, its entire body erupted with an incomparably dense baleful aura! Not only did it instantly extinguish the scorching blood flames on its body, but it also transformed into a protective true qi, a black baleful fire with the form and substance of flames!

Then, instead of landing, 'Tian Silang' abruptly turned in mid-air and accelerated forward with an incredibly strange and swift movement. Taking advantage of the moment when Duan Ye's Dao Qi had not yet returned and he had retreated, he launched a double claw attack, aiming straight for her head, chest, and abdomen!

However, Duan Ye was, after all, a true disciple of the Three Great Sects and a protector of the Divine Sect. She already knew the abilities of these Devil Seed and was naturally prepared. She simply swung her sword wildly and no longer engaged in a head-on attack with the enemy as before. Instead, she used the technique of deflecting and shifting force to redirect and deflect 'Tian Silang's' incredibly powerful and heavy attack.

At the same time, her eyes shone brightly, as clear as stars. She was actually fighting two against one, and at the same time, she was using her primordial spirit to control the blood-flame blade shadows that she had just shot out. The fire blades danced wildly, stabbing and slashing wildly, chasing after the 'pork belly' and killing him!

"Hehehe! This woman is so fat, but she's so petty. Tian Silang, you'd better teach her a lesson quickly, or I won't be able to stand it anymore! Hehehehe!"

However, despite being pursued by the Blood Flame Blade Shadow, the 'Pork Belly' remained completely unfazed. He darted left and right through the twilight forest, playfully teasing the Blade Shadow with a game of hide-and-seek, his movements as swift as a ghost! It was as if the ball of fire was being flung away by his own shadow.

Meanwhile, 'Tian Silang' roared wildly, fearless of the oncoming blazing wind and blades, his fists and claws striking wildly, using brute force to overcome skill!

Moreover, although it is a routine without any martial arts techniques, a wild and furious attack driven by the instinct of a beast, as long as it does not strike the blade directly, it can be detonated by the flames of the blade. However, Tian Silang will suddenly unleash a move or two at once, with great force and terrifying power, a long-range, body-piercing attack!

It even shattered Duan Ye's sword fire, striking directly at her body, forcing Duan Ye to be distracted and change his move. He turned to the side and used his shoulder armor to block the fist's energy, while the fierce wind from the fist also swept the black evil flames towards him. Although this could not harm Duan Ye's refined Dao body at the True Person Realm, the evil flames still corroded and tore apart her protective Dao clothing, revealing a huge... cough cough, gemstone.

"You bastard! Die!"

A dignified protector of the Divine Sect was beaten until he was practically naked! Enraged, Duan Ye of Crimson Fiend blood flames from his body, erupting like a volcano! A pillar of flame shot into the sky, piercing through heaven and earth, and like a volcanic eruption, completely shattered the formation!

Although the malevolent energy could suppress the Crimson Fiend Spirit Fire, the difference in quantity was so astonishing that even 'Tian Silang' could not withstand it and was directly blasted away by the exploding blood-fire heat wave!

His entire body was blown apart, burned to a crisp, leaving only a charred human skeleton. He lay on the ground like a lynx, but it was only now that one could see that the bones of his limbs were clearly deformed, turning into the curved and sharp claws of a wild beast.

But even after being bombarded head-on, it still couldn't be blasted into Tian Silang! In fact, when the moonlight shone on it, the black hairs on its skeleton, which looked like fine hairs, began to grow densely, as if flesh and blood would soon grow back!

The surrounding forest was also blasted away and burned to ashes. The flames illuminated the true forms of the other three demons hiding in the shadows.

Aside from Tian Silang, who was standing upright like a burnt-out piece of firewood, it was clear that the other three were originally human, but their bodies had been mutated and deformed, transformed into completely different monsters by evil energy.

The towering pillar of blood-red flames swept away the pursuing sword shadows as well. The 'pork belly' stopped running away and landed behind 'Tian Silang' with a chuckle. This monster had an unusually large head and a face that resembled a lewd old man with a mustache and squinting eyes, licking his lips with his tongue. However, his body was thin and short, like a child holding a bronze head for a lion dance.

To the left of 'Pork Belly' stood a gigantic figure, nine feet tall, with a grayish-black complexion and a square, rock-like body. His two beady eyes, like moss, were hidden in the crevices of his muscles.

To the right of 'Pork Belly' was a young man with a ponytail who looked no different from an ordinary person, except that his forehead, from the nose up, was a flat, solid piece without brow bones or eye sockets.

The right claw of 'Tian Silang', the forehead of 'the Man Without Eyes', the tongue of 'the pork belly old man', and the shoulder of 'the rock man' all condensed with a sinister aura, like quicksilver in a stream, forming a black lotus flower.

"You! You're actually from the Black Lotus Sect!"

Facing these demonic children head-on was Duan Ye, who had fully displayed his True Person Realm strength and physique.

After all, with such a level of Crimson Fiend Blood Flame being unleashed, the short jacket covering her upper body was naturally burned away by the flames. Apart from her shoulder armor, arm guards, and magical artifacts like her longsword and necklace, only her black trousers, made of some unknown material, remained unburnt even under the high temperature.

However, as the billowing flames were instantly withdrawn and Daoist energy protected him, the crimson, pulsating fire clouds formed a skirt-like armor, enveloping Duan Ye and preventing him from being completely exposed.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the subtleties of Qi Refinement Stage, the Divine Sect is still a notch below the Profound Sect. This Crimson Fiend Blood Flame Armor is three points inferior to the Heavenly Garment Body Protection True Qi. Not only does it consume a lot of energy and require all efforts to maintain, but the flames flicker and occasionally reveal the huge... well, those who know, know.

"Hey boss! How come you got your clothes ripped off?! What kind of protector are you?!"

The five Nascent Soul Stage in the arena turned their heads to look at the scene. Not far away, a bright light screen, like an inverted bowl, was as smooth and warm as jade. It actually blocked the rampaging Blood Flame Divine Fire that had leveled the mountains.

Within that protective aura, Qin Nanxin sat cross-legged in the formation, performing hand seals to regulate her breathing. Above her head floated a sphere of light that was emitting a faint glow. This was a protective magic treasure that had created the protective shield, but its nature was unclear. However, even the divine fire unleashed by the Divine Sect's protectors could not break through it, indicating that it had consumed a great deal of energy. Qin Nanxin sat cross-legged with her eyes closed, her white hair fluttering, seemingly in deep meditation, completely still.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen was distributing Emei pills to a group of Ink Bamboo Mountain disciples who had been rescued from behind the screen but had been drained of their life essence and were now unconscious.

As for Ban Yu, the Saintess Maiden of the Divine Cult, she had already Imprisoning Immortal Rope, with a talisman pasted on her head, and was obediently kneeling on the ground.

"Shut up! How dare you talk to me like that! I left you so many magical treasures! And you were still in the formation! How could she catch you so quickly?!"

"Tsk, boss, can you be reasonable? She just formed her core last month, she's still young! How can she be compared to this old woman with white hair and eyebrows, who looks like she's been widowed for hundreds of years!"

Look, she broke the spell and snatched the treasure in just a few swift moves. She's clearly furious; no one can beat her! Stop playing around, okay? Hurry up and finish off those ugly monsters in a few moves, and come save me!"

"Ugh! I'm so angry! Blood Flame Greatsword Formation!!"

Duan Ye was practically going mad. She swung her sword and slashed wildly, not at the protective shield where Ban Yu was. In that instant, she unleashed seventeen or eighteen slashes, all of which transformed into blood-flame sword shadows. In an instant, the sky was filled with blood shadows wielding fiery blades, and the sky was filled with flashing sword light and flames. These blood shadows actually formed a sword array and rushed up to besiege the Black Lotus Sect's experts, turning the forest into a sea of fire.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Duan Ye concentrated his Dao power, gathering all his strength into the longsword in his hand. The blade condensed into a crimson light like a branding iron. Then, with a roar, "Blood Talisman Crimson Fiend Blade!!", he raised the blade above his head, not caring about exposing himself, and charged forward, determined to kill the four evil Devil Embryo first, and then deal with the Daoist disciples of Emei.

When Ban Yu saw that the Duan Protector were all naked in the fight, he was taken aback. He realized they were locked in a fierce battle, then his eyes darted around, and he gave Lin Chen, who was still rescuing his fellow disciples, a sly look. He muttered something under his breath.

"Hey, one-handed brat, don't waste your energy. These people have already fallen victim to my divine sect's secret technique. The god is in a dream, and you must use the primordial spirit technique to save them. That white-haired female Dao Breath has exhausted her life force and can't help you."

"Why don't you do me a favor? Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll not only beg the boss over there to spare your lives, but I might even help wake all these people up."

Lin Chen couldn't wake the Mo Shan disciples that Qin Nanxin had rescued from behind the screen. They were still in a daze, with bulging veins on their faces and blood seeping from the skin and mucous membranes around their mouths, noses, and eyes. It was unclear whether this would damage their foundation. The Emei master Qin also remained motionless, so Lin Chen couldn't help but ask...

"If we release you, will you keep your promise and leave Ink Bamboo Mountain?"

Ban Yu rolled her eyes at him, "Why do I need you to save me! This white-haired woman is only Golden Core cultivator. Once our leader kills all those ugly monsters, she'll naturally have time to save me. None of you are the people I'm looking for. My life or death is entirely Yinian to me, okay!"

Besides, even if I were to kill you all, do you think Ink Bamboo Mountain would dare offend my Blood Talisman God Sect for the sake of a few Qi Refining disciples like you?

Lin Chen snorted angrily, not wanting to pay any more attention to her.

Ban Yu chuckled again, then her expression changed as she pleaded, "But you're only at the Qi Refining Stage, yet you managed to enter my formation and resist my spells. Perhaps you really are destined to be with my Divine Sect! How about it, why don't you become my disciple and be this Saintess's little follower? After all, you haven't formally joined the Ink Bamboo Mountain sect, have you?"

Lin Chen squinted at Ban Yu, who was bound up and had a talisman stuck to her forehead, his eyes filled with pity.

"Hey! Don't be ungrateful! I'm only giving you this opportunity because you have some rare talent! Do you know how many people are lining up and kneeling, wanting to become my disciple!"

Ban Yu angrily said, "That! That white-haired woman first broke my formation, then destroyed my treasure, and then used her treasure to take a huge hit from the eldest sister! Even if she is from the Qin Family of Emei, she is still at the Golden Core stage, and her Dao Qi is exhausted, and her Qi power is completely gone!"

Pick up a brick from the ground and smash it hard on the back of her head! One blow will drive her into a madness! As long as you perform this great service for my cult, I guarantee I'll ask a Dharma King-level figure to accept you as a true disciple!

"Do you know the Pure Dharma King? He's my godfather! Do you know the Light Dharma King? He's the boss's father! With two great Dharma Kings and me, a Saintess, protecting you! Who dares to touch you! Follow us and become our underlings, and we'll guarantee you a bright future! You'll reach the pinnacle of life! Waaaaaah!!!"

Lin Chen took a talisman and stuck it to Ban Yu's mouth.

"Kid, are you stupid? You don't even go to the cult?"

Lin Chen was startled and turned his head to look. He saw that the 'Man Without Eyes' among the four monsters was already standing outside the Qi barrier. It turned out that even with such cultivation, the Duan Protector was entangled by the three demonic cultivators and was struggling to break free!

The 'Man Without Eyes' actually peeked around, sniffing here and there, and suddenly reached out and tore open a gap in the Qi shield, stepping inside!

Lin Chen was shocked! Instinctively, he grabbed a stone from the ground and rushed forward, blocking the path of the Mo Shan disciples, Ban Yu, Qin Nanxin, and everyone else, confronting the Devil Embryo!

The 'Man Without Eyes' didn't seem to mind, and casually touched the lotus flower on his forehead, saying to Lin Chen,

"If I had your opportunity to join the Divine Sect and spread the true Dharma, why would I bother going to the Black Lotus Saint Mother to receive ordination and become some kind of protector of the sect... Why did you refuse? Don't you know how powerful the Divine Sect is?"

Although Lin Chen felt a chill run down his spine from the black lotus glare on the 'Man Without Eyes's' face, a strange surge of heat rose in his chest. He couldn't help but wipe the brick in his hand on the ticket on his severed wrist for light, then smashed it into the man's face, roaring...

"I am a disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain! I fear no Demon Path like you!"

Before the stone could even hit the 'Man Without Eyes's' face, it turned into rotten soil in mid-air.

To Lin Chen's surprise, the 'Man Without Eyes' neither provoked nor mocked him. Instead, he suddenly looked wary, slowly stepped back, and retreated from the protective shield!

Lin Chen was completely dumbfounded, and couldn't help but look at the severed arm. How could this ticket be so powerful?

Then a white shadow flashed past Lin Chen.

"Stay inside my Qiankun, and don't come out."

Lin Chen nodded quickly, looking gratefully at the Emei nun who had intervened to save him, her back as white as blazing light... But had her hair grown long?

The "Man Without Eyes" gradually makes things worse. Although he has no eyes, sometimes, not having eyes means he can see more.

"... You, you broke through?! How did you break through to the Nascent Soul Stage so quickly?! I didn't even undergo tribulation!"

Qin Nanxin rolled up her sleeves, revealing her fair and jade-like arms. Her full head of white hair fluttered up, not because her hair ornament had come loose, but because her hair had suddenly grown long, cascading down like a waterfall to her waist.

Qin Nanxin stopped bowing and took a deep breath, removed her hair crown, simply tied her long hair up with a ribbon, rolled up her sleeves, and looked up at the Devil Embryo in front of her.

Her eyes seemed to have no pupils, her skin was like milky white porcelain, and only a white light emanated from her crystal-clear skin, spreading out a three-inch-long arc of light in the darkness. Then, that white halo slowly and undeniably lit up, illuminating a white star in the blazing red fire and the dim night.

"This is the Qian Yuan Gui Cang Nascent Soul Stage. I didn't want to break through now, but since I've been forced to, then you will all die."

The "Man Without Eyes" roared and fled.

"The Mystic Eyes and the Guardian Spirit protect you--"

Qin Nanxin raised her hands, her fair wrists resembling dragon teeth.

"Dry Heavenly Dragon".

The next moment,

The Man Without Eyes transformed into a malevolent demon.

The next moment,

Qin Nanxin transformed into a celestial dragon of pure Qi.

Then that demon,

It was then torn to pieces by the dragon.