Six beams of white light connected with one another.
The white barrier rapidly expanded, enveloping Linley, Bebe, and all the cavalry around them.
Wherever the white light passed, warhorses neighed in terror.
Several cavalrymen failed to retreat in time. When their bodies touched the edge of the barrier, their armor and flesh hissed together, turning to ash in an instant.
"Retreat!" Silan's expression changed drastically. "Everyone, get back!"
Without needing his reminder, the cavalrymen were already scattering in flight.
Albert went so far as to turn his horse around and gallop toward Basil Provincial Capital.
Although he did not know what exactly this white light was, he knew that Landan and the other five were certainly not ordinary disciples of a Sword Saint.
Silan followed close beside him.
"Young master, hurry!"
"What about Linley?"
"He's dead for sure!" Silan glanced back. "If we stay, we'll only die with him!"
Albert gritted his teeth and looked into the distance.
Jenny was still on Haeru's back.
As long as Linley was killed, he would have a chance to take Jenny back.
But the white barrier had already closed completely.
The six people inside looked like six white flames descending from the heavens.
Albert dared not look any longer.
He activated his battle-qi and fled swiftly with Silan.
Inside the battle formation, Jenny's face was pale.
Looking at the six people in knightly armor ahead, she finally understood why Linley had refused to let her stay in the provincial capital, and understood that the seemingly ordinary pursuit had been a trap from the very beginning.
She gripped the black fur on Haeru's neck.
"Big Brother Lei."
Linley did not look back.
"Haeru, take her away."
Haeru gave a low growl.
Jenny froze.
"But you..."
"Remember what I told you," Linley said gravely. "Hold tight to Haeru's neck."
Jenny looked at his back.
Linley had already drawn the Black Jade Heavy Sword.
The edgeless heavy sword lay across his front. No light shone from its blade, yet it made the surrounding air grow heavy.
The six angels raised their hands simultaneously.
Six beams of light crisscrossed and connected, and the white barrier contracted inward.
Jenny bit her lip.
"I'm not leaving."
"If you stay, you'll only distract me."
Linley spoke very directly.
Jenny trembled.
Linley's voice softened a little.
"Haeru will protect you. Go to Yunfeng Town. Grandpa Doehring and the others are there."
Jenny looked at Haeru.
The Black-Striped Cloud Leopard had already lowered its limbs, its dark golden eyes fixed on the six angels ahead.
It did not shrink back.
But neither did it disobey Linley's command.
Jenny knew that if she continued to stay, she would only become Linley's weakness.
She looked at Linley one last time.
"You must stay alive."
"I will."
Haeru abruptly turned around.
Jenny hugged its neck tightly.
Haeru pushed off the ground with all four paws, its body becoming a black afterimage as it charged away from the battlefield.
Inside the white barrier, the six angels did not stop them.
Their target had only ever been Linley.
Linley watched Haeru's figure rapidly recede. Only after confirming that Jenny had left the barrier's range did he slowly turn around.
Bebe crouched on his shoulder.
"Boss, we can make our move now."
Linley nodded.
Boom!
Black dragon scales emerged from beneath his skin.
His arms thickened.
His bones lengthened.
Linley's body suddenly expanded, transforming in an instant into a black dragonman nearly eight meters tall.
Dark golden dragon scales covered his entire body, dragon horns grew from his forehead, and he held the Black Jade Heavy Sword in his dragon claw.
"Linley."
Landan stood at the very front of the Six-pointed Battle Formation, her voice icy. "You will die today."
"Steller said the same thing."
Linley planted both feet on the wilderness ground.
The earth trembled slightly.
A trace of coldness flashed through Landan's eyes.
"Lord Steller once said that your attacks can penetrate defenses. But our Angel Battle Formation is beyond comparison with ordinary battle-qi armor."
"We'll know once we try."
The six angels stepped forward simultaneously.
The white barrier advanced with them.
The surrounding soil was forced to either side by the pressure of holy light power, and deep furrows appeared in the ground.
Linley did not retreat.
He stared at the angel at the very front of the Six-pointed Battle Formation.
This position was where the convergence of the six angels' power was most apparent.
It was also the most dangerous part of the battle formation.
Linley stepped forward with his right foot.
"Supreme Force!"
An invisible force erupted around his body.
The earth, the air, and even the white barrier ahead seemed to be pressed down by an invisible giant hand.
The six angels' movements faltered simultaneously.
At that very instant, Linley moved.
The Black Jade Heavy Sword traced a black arc.
"Profound Truths of the Earth, Hundredfold Waves!"
Boom!
The heavy sword struck the white barrier.
The barrier's surface merely dented inward slightly.
Conventional battle-qi attacks could not shake the Six-pointed Battle Formation at all.
But the vibration waves within the heavy sword did not stop.
One.
Two.
Ten.
A hundred vibrations surged along the Black Jade Heavy Sword into the barrier.
The white holy power could not stop this force.
It passed through the barrier and struck directly inside that ninth-level angel's body.
"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!"
The vibration waves erupted continuously within the angel's internal organs.
That angel's body shuddered violently.
His eyes widened, and terror appeared on his face for the first time.
Holy light power flooded frantically into his body, but it could not stop his internal organs from being shattered by wave after wave.
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
The next moment, his body crumpled to the ground.
The Six-pointed Battle Formation had lost a corner.
The white barrier shattered with a boom.
The remaining five angels retreated simultaneously.
They stared fixedly at their fallen companion, scarcely able to believe the scene before them.
"How is this possible?"
"His attack passed through the battle formation!"
Linley gave them no chance to catch their breath.
He stepped forward and raised his heavy sword again.
"Retreat!" Landan shouted sharply.
Four Two-Winged Angels flew backward simultaneously.
Landan, however, did not retreat.
She looked at Linley, the coldness in her eyes deepening.
"We can't let him keep using it."
The remaining four Two-Winged Angels exchanged glances.
Their armor suddenly cracked apart.
White light burst out from within their bodies.
Four illusory wings of light slowly unfurled behind them.
Their auras, originally at the level of ninth-level warriors, instantly surged.
The initial stage of the Saint Realm!
The four angels rose into the air simultaneously.
Blood constantly seeped from the surfaces of their bodies. Their sixth-level flesh could no longer withstand the power erupting within them.
"Return to the Lord's embrace," Landan said coldly.
Four white figures charged at Linley simultaneously.
Linley swung the Black Jade Heavy Sword.
Clang!
A Two-Winged Angel blocked the heavy sword with his longsword, but Hundredfold Waves sent his body flying backward.
The second angel attacked from the side, driving a fist toward Linley's ribs.
Linley raised his left arm across his body.
Bang!
Dragon scales burst apart.
Linley was knocked back more than ten meters.
The four angels at the initial stage of the Saint Realm were too fast.
Even though their bodies were collapsing, the power they unleashed for this short time still far exceeded Linley's current strength.
Bebe!
Linley used Soul Transmission.
A black shadow darted from his shoulder.
Bebe's body rapidly expanded as he moved, transforming in the blink of an eye into a black Shadowmouse nearly a meter long.
He made no sound.
His sharp claws reached straight for an angel's chest.
That angel reacted extremely quickly, bringing his longsword across to block.
Clang!
Bebe slapped a claw against the blade.
The longsword bent.
The angel's body was sent flying sideways by the blow.
Bebe followed close behind.
He was faster than an angel at the initial stage of the Saint Realm.
His black figure flickered repeatedly.
Before the angel could defend himself, sharp claws tore open his chest.
His sixth-level body was already bearing power far beyond its limits.
The instant his breastbone cracked, white light burst from the wound.
The angel's body rapidly disintegrated.
Bebe crushed his heart with one swipe, then immediately withdrew.
The angel fell from midair.
The first Two-Winged Angel was dead.
The other three lunged at Bebe simultaneously.
Linley stepped across, blocking the way in front of Bebe.
The Black Jade Heavy Sword cleaved down head-on.
Boom!
Hundredfold Waves erupted.
One angel raised his sword to block, but the vibrations traveled through the blade into his arm, then surged into his chest.
Every bone in his arm shattered at once.
Linley turned his wrist, sweeping the heavy sword across his opponent's chest.
The sword had no sharp edge, yet the impact of Hundredfold Waves forcibly tore his body open.
Before that angel hit the ground, Bebe had already darted out from behind Linley.
Black claws pierced his back through his heart.
The second Two-Winged Angel was dead.
The remaining two angels changed direction simultaneously.
Instead of attacking Linley, they charged straight at Bebe.
Bebe was extremely fast, but two streaks of white sword light cut off his retreat.
Linley swung his sword to block one of them, but the other's fist had already struck Bebe.
Bam!
Bebe was sent flying.
His body slammed into the wasteland and rolled dozens of meters.
"Bebe!"
Just as Linley was about to rush after him, the angel before him slashed at him.
He could only raise the Black Jade Heavy Sword to block.
Boom!
The two swords collided.
Linley's legs sank into the ground.
This angel's strength was too great.
The battle-qi within Linley drained rapidly, and his dragon scales kept cracking apart.
A cold look appeared in the angel's eyes.
"Mortal, die."
Just as he was about to strike again, a dull impact suddenly sounded behind him.
The black Shadowmouse burst out of the ground.
Bebe's claws pierced straight through the other angel's abdomen.
That angel's body stiffened.
Bebe wrenched his claws apart.
White light and blood burst out together.
The third Two-Winged Angel was dead.
The remaining angel's expression finally changed.
His flesh had already begun to collapse.
Bloody gashes split open across his body, and white holy power sprayed from the cracks.
The Black Jade Heavy Sword in Linley's hands suddenly thrust forward.
"Profound Truths of the Earth, Hundredfold Waves!"
The angel held his longsword across his chest.
The Black Jade Heavy Sword struck the longsword.
A hundred waves of vibration instantly penetrated the blade.
The angel's chest caved inward.
He spat out blood and flew backward.
Bebe changed direction in midair and caught up with him.
Black claws pierced through the center of his brow.
The fourth Two-Winged Angel was dead.
Silence returned to the wilderness.
The four Two-Winged Angels' corpses fell one after another.
Their white wings of light dissipated.
Only Landan remained.
She glanced around.
Her sixth-level body was already on the verge of collapse.
Fine traces of blood appeared across her once-fair face.
She felt no fear.
Only icy killing intent.
"Bebe."
Landan's gaze settled on the black Shadowmouse. "You hid yourself well."
Bebe did not answer.
He merely crouched low, his claws pressed against the ground.
"But you can't save Linley."
Landan spread her arms.
White holy power surged madly out of her.
Boom!
Four pairs of enormous white wings of light suddenly unfurled behind her.
Her aura continued to rise.
The Saint Realm middle stage!
Linley tightened his grip on the Black Jade Heavy Sword.
More than half the battle-qi within him had already been depleted.
He had not broken through.
He was still at the peak of the eighth level.
But Landan had already charged over.
She was as fast as a bolt of white lightning.
Bebe met her first.
The black figure and the white blur collided in midair.
Boom!
Landan struck Bebe with her palm.
His body smashed into the ground like a meteor.
The earth split open.
Linley's heart clenched.
"Bebe!"
"Boss, I'm still alive."
Bebe's voice was weak, but it still reached Linley's mind clearly.
Landan was already in front of Linley.
She struck out with her palm.
Linley held his sword across himself to block.
Clang!
The force of her palm struck the Black Jade Heavy Sword.
The Black Jade Heavy Sword bent.
Linley slid backward, his feet plowing two deep furrows through the ground.
His arms went intensely numb.
"How many more can you block?" Landan asked coldly.
Linley did not answer.
He took the Purple Blood Soft Sword from his interspatial ring.
The purple blade instantly straightened.
Its edge sliced through the air, thrusting straight toward the center of Landan's brow.
Landan tilted her head aside to evade it.
The Purple Blood Soft Sword grazed her cheek, leaving a bloody mark.
Surprise flashed in her eyes.
This sword could actually pierce her current defenses.
Linley took the opportunity to retreat.
The Purple Blood Soft Sword shifted constantly in his hand, sometimes thrusting straight, sometimes slashing sideways.
Landan's four wings made her too fast; she avoided a vital strike every time, but she could not close in immediately either.
"An ordinary divine artifact?" Landan said coldly. "You have more secrets than the Radiant Church's records show."
Linley turned his wrist.
The Purple Blood Soft Sword thrust out from a bizarre angle.
Landan extended two fingers and caught the blade between them.
"You think a single sword can stop me?"
Her five fingers suddenly exerted force.
The Purple Blood Soft Sword bent into a crescent.
But Linley released its hilt.
The Black Jade Heavy Sword cleaved down soundlessly from the other side.
Landan's expression changed.
She released the Purple Blood Soft Sword and dodged sideways.
The heavy sword grazed her shoulder.
Hundredfold Waves passed through the white holy power, making the blood and vital energy within her churn.
But the power of the Saint Realm middle stage was too great.
She merely staggered a step before charging at Linley again.
Linley swung his sword repeatedly to block.
Every collision sent him staggering backward.
Large patches of dragon scales shattered.
Blood flowed from his chest and arms.
Landan's body was also continually collapsing.
She knew very well that she could not last much longer.
So her attacks grew faster and faster.
"Die!"
A white palm broke through the heavy sword's defense and slammed into Linley's chest.
Crack!
The sound of breaking bones rang out.
Linley's chest caved in, and blood sprayed from his mouth.
His entire body flew backward.
Landan did not pursue him.
Her body suddenly stopped.
The residual vibrations from that earlier sword strike erupted within her.
One wave.
Ten waves.
A hundred waves!
Landan's internal organs were shaken to pieces.
She lowered her head to look at her chest, disbelief appearing on her face for the first time.
"That's impossible..."
Her body swayed.
Linley crashed into the ground, his consciousness already beginning to blur.
He forced himself up and grabbed the Black Jade Heavy Sword.
In the distance, Bebe finally burst out from underground.
His black fur was soaked with blood, and his aura was weak, yet he still lunged at Landan.
Landan raised her hand.
White light gathered in her palm.
She was going to kill Bebe first.
Linley gritted his teeth.
His Dragonblood Battle Qi circulated furiously.
"Bebe, get back!"
Bebe did not retreat.
He suddenly changed direction in midair, his sharp claws grazing Landan's wrist.
The white light was knocked off course.
Landan's body paused for an instant.
Linley seized that instant, gripping the Black Jade Heavy Sword tightly with both hands.
"Hundredfold Waves!"
The Black Jade Heavy Sword came crashing down from above.
Boom!
Landan had no time to dodge.
The heavy sword struck her shoulder.
A hundred layers of vibrations surged into her body at once.
Her internal organs had already been shattered by the first vibration. Now, struck by Hundredfold Waves again, her body caved in completely from her shoulder to her chest.
Blood seeped from the corner of Landan's mouth.
She looked at Linley, unwillingness still in her eyes.
"You... are only a mortal..."
Linley said nothing.
He kept both hands pressed firmly down on the heavy sword.
Landan's body finally lost its strength, collapsing limply to the ground.
Her four pairs of wings of light dissipated piece by piece.
Her soul emerged from her shattered body.
The next moment, an invisible force appeared between heaven and earth.
Unable to resist at all, Landan's soul was sucked directly into the Laws of the Universe.
The wilderness grew quiet once more.
Linley released the Black Jade Heavy Sword.
His body swayed, and he dropped to one knee.
Bebe landed beside him.
He had already returned to the size of a palm, and his wounds were still bleeding.
"Boss."
"I'm fine," Linley said.
No sooner had he spoken than he coughed up a large mouthful of blood.
A sharp pain shot through his chest.
At least three bones in his chest had broken, and his internal organs had also been severely jolted.
Linley forced himself into a cross-legged sitting position.
He mobilized his Dragonblood Battle Qi, circulating it through his body according to the method in the Dragonblood Secret Canon, and began repairing his injuries.
In the distance, Haeru had already disappeared with Jenny.
Only Linley, Bebe, and six gradually cooling corpses remained on the battlefield.
The Dragonblood Battle Qi returned to his dantian.
Linley's body shuddered slightly.
Deep within his dantian, the Battle-qi that had accumulated for so long began to surge abnormally for the first time.