At this moment, Yang Wenqing's Qi Sea and Spirit Veins were circulating madly at an unprecedented speed. The sinews, bones, and muscles initially tempered by the Ninefold Refinement Method displayed their advantage, providing far greater carrying capacity.
The Golden Core in his mind shone brilliantly, greedily devouring the surrounding spiritual energy, which had become increasingly chaotic and violent due to the explosion, with unprecedented efficiency. After rapid conversion, it barely sustained the tottering golden barrier of the "Golden Light Bodyguard Spell."
The barrier twisted violently beneath the energy storm's onslaught, as though it would shatter the next moment. The immense pressure made every bone in Yang Wenqing's body creak. Fine threads of blood even began seeping from his seven orifices, while needle-like pain shot through his Spirit Veins—signs that overworking his spiritual energy was about to damage his foundation!
Just as Yang Wenqing felt he could no longer hold on and his consciousness began to blur, a gentle yet pure power surged into his body from behind him. It was Deputy Director Gao!
Deputy Director Gao had noticed that Yang Wenqing was at the end of his rope and that his Spirit Veins had been damaged from overexertion. Without hesitation, he took out a precious "Azure Wood Technique" talisman and sent it into Yang Wenqing's body.
Gentle green radiance entered Yang Wenqing's back, like sweet rain falling upon parched earth. It swiftly soothed the burning pain and tiny cracks in his Spirit Veins, repaired the discomfort in his internal organs caused by the shockwaves, greatly relieved his burden, and injected a surge of vitality into his nearly exhausted body.
With this fresh reinforcement, and with the Golden Core still desperately converting energy, Yang Wenqing's spirits lifted. Gritting his teeth, he poured the final thread of spiritual power squeezed from his body into the protective golden light without holding anything back.
"Buzz—"
The flickering barrier finally stabilized somewhat. Though it still struggled to endure within the energy storm, it did not shatter at once.
This destructive energy barrage continued for more than ten breaths before finally beginning to subside.
When the final wisp of violent energy swept past, Yang Wenqing could no longer endure. The instant the Golden Light Bodyguard Spell collapsed, his legs gave way and he dropped to one knee, gasping heavily. His entire body was drenched in sweat, and his face was pale as paper.
Deputy Director Gao looked at Yang Wenqing's back, his eyes filled with shock and complicated emotions. He quickly stepped forward to support the nearly drained Yang Wenqing and asked in a deep voice, "Are you all right?"
Then he added, "You could call this a blessing in disguise. In those ten-odd seconds just now, you completed more than half of the First Refinement of the Qi Refining Stage!"
Wang Jianchao glanced at Yang Wenqing, confirmed that he was fine, then immediately swept his gaze around the area. He softly reported to Deputy Director Gao, "The other combat squads have all suffered serious injuries to varying degrees. Some of our colleagues have even died in battle."
Deputy Director Gao thought quickly, then said to Wang Jianchao and Liu Xin, "We have Wen Qing to thank for this. I thought the record in his file—that his consciousness was powerful and that he refined spiritual energy at an unusually fast rate—merely meant he was different from ordinary people. I never expected him to possess such talent. The three of us are the only ones who need to know about this, understand?"
The two froze for a moment before answering in unison, "Understood!"
Deputy Director Gao continued, "Go see what good things are there. That man had at least Entry Realm cultivation. The Spirit-Gathering Formation he set up will definitely have spiritual liquid. And Jian Chao, this case was yours. You'll have to think of an explanation for the director."
Wang Jianchao and Liu Xin both nodded, then silently approached the central area.
Deputy Director Gao immediately used his badge to request support from the rear command center. Just then, a terrifying rumble like muffled thunder echoed from the sky.
Yang Wenqing and Deputy Director Gao both looked up. The heavens several miles away had been forcibly torn in half by an invisible mighty power.
To the left, the clouds resembled red-hot iron thrown into a furnace, taking on a heart-palpitating dark crimson hue. Even from so far away, scorching heat rushed toward them. To the right, the horizon seemed to have sunk into a bottomless sea. Heavy lead-gray clouds hung low, radiating a bone-piercing damp chill.
Suddenly, countless fine scarlet lights ignited across the dark-red sky, as though flowing fire were galloping deep within the clouds, turning that portion of the heavens into a burning brocade.
At the same time, the lead-gray cloud curtain abruptly split apart, pouring down a dense sheet of rain that connected heaven and earth. The violent downpour seemed poised to drown the entire world.
The next instant, the forces of extreme heat and extreme cold collided explosively in the distant sky.
In an instant, a destructive hurricane formed beneath the clouds, then crashed down upon the earth. No one knew where it landed, but the thunderous roar ringing in their ears proclaimed its devastating power.
Only a few breaths later, a frigid wind came rushing toward them. Its chill pierced to the bone, raising goosebumps all over Yang Wenqing's body.
Yet Yang Wenqing seemed not to notice. He stood where he was, looking up at the sky, his clothes whipping madly under the violent wind pressure sweeping in.
As he gazed at the terrifying spectacle in the distance, where flames scorched the heavens and boiled the seas while torrential rain poured down, he felt that vast pressure capable of crushing all things and deeply understood just how insignificant he was.
Before such world-altering power, the meager cultivation within his body was simply not worth mentioning.
"Don't think too much, and don't lose heart. Your talent is extremely high. One day, you'll be able to soar through the skies like them as well." Deputy Director Gao had long witnessed battles of this caliber. Noticing Yang Wenqing's mood, he gently patted Yang Wenqing on the shoulder.
As his words fell, another emerald-green radiance appeared at the other end of the clouds, like the purest vitality of spring. It instantly dispelled some of the oppressive atmosphere. Clearly, another Entry Realm cultivator from the City Defense Bureau had arrived!
The auras of the three Entry Realm cultivators intertwined in the sky, and the sky-burning sea of fire seemed to be suppressed, churning violently.
Suddenly—
"Boom!!!"
The red fire clouds abruptly contracted inward, then exploded with a thunderous blast. Blazing light instantly swallowed half the sky, as though a blood-red sun had burst apart overhead, forcing everyone to avert their eyes.
Within that ultimate brilliance and heat, Yang Wenqing vaguely saw a blurred crimson figure shoot out from the center of the explosion like a meteor flying against the current. At a speed beyond what the eye could follow, it fled toward the distant horizon, becoming only a tiny speck in the blink of an eye.
The deep-blue waterlight and newly emerged emerald radiance behind it immediately transformed into two long rainbows and gave chase. Yet after pursuing for only a brief moment, the two rainbows slowly stopped in midair. Their radiance gradually faded, and they finally hovered in the sky, seemingly abandoning the pursuit.
Clearly, the Fire Cultivator's desperate, all-out burst had successfully won him a sliver of life, allowing him to escape the battlefield.
The anomalies in the sky slowly began to settle, and the raging hurricane gradually weakened. Only a fine spiritual rain remained, washing over the ravaged earth.
Deputy Director Gao looked in the direction where the Fire Cultivator had vanished and finally let out a soft sigh. "He still got away."
Yang Wenqing remained silent, yet waves surged within his heart. He had witnessed firsthand the terrifying power of Entry Realm cultivators, as well as their pursuit and struggle against one another.
Deputy Director Gao glanced at Wang Jianchao and Liu Xin, who were busy collecting something in the central area, then rose and said to Yang Wenqing, "Meditate and rest here. I need to go treat the other colleagues."
Before you continue