Fierce battle in the Shadow Woods
The woman's crimson lips curved slightly. She raised a fingertip, and a dense surge of Spiritual Qi erupted!
With a gentle push of her slender, jade-like palm, the air instantly warped. Spiritual pressure surged like a tsunami, accompanied by a bewitching red light, threatening to crush Qin Yu and his squad outright.
Boom-!
Spiritual pressure swept in all directions. Every leaf exploded, dead branches flew, and heaven and earth made way for her. Several Mortal Fetus Realm disciples felt their blood and Qi churn beneath the pressure. Their faces instantly turned deathly pale, and they staggered.
"So this is... the power of Spirit Awakening Realm Greater Accomplishment!" Someone was horrified, his breathing almost freezing.
Yet at the center of that pressure, Qin Yu gripped the Spear of Ashen Annihilation with both hands. Spiritual Qi erupted around him, blue-white radiance igniting across his body as he forcibly collided with the red spiritual pressure.
Boom!
The air abruptly exploded. Shock waves surged outward, pressing the surrounding spirit herbs flat as shredded leaves danced across the sky.
Though Qin Yu was forced back thirty feet, he remained firmly planted on the ground, his gaze cold and as sharp as a spear's edge.
Just then, a companion at Mortal Embryo Realm Greater Accomplishment gritted his teeth, pointed at their opponents, and shouted:
"Senior Brother Qin Yu, they're from the Pure Fragrance Garden sect! They've long been bullying disciples of other sects, relying on their status and cultivation!"
Qin Yu's gaze sharpened. The Spear of Ashen Annihilation trembled lightly, releasing a clear metallic ring that quelled his teammates' terror. He answered coldly, his voice like a freezing wind cutting their faces:
"Hmph. This was never the only place in the Shadow Woods with opportunities and spirit herbs."
He raised a hand and pointed at the five opponents. Cold light reflected from his spearhead, and fierce killing intent permeated his voice:
"You think the Pure Fragrance Garden alone gives you the right to run roughshod over everyone? If you really want to seize them by force, try us and see whether we're weak!"
"Senior brothers-everyone, attack!"
At Qin Yu's cold shout, his teammates' blood instantly caught fire.
Yang Zheng stepped forward first, the Azure Balance Sword flashing green. His shout thundered: "Anyone who dares bully Brother Yu will have to get past my sword first!"
The other Mortal Fetus Realm disciples gritted their teeth and raised their weapons, Spiritual Qi bursting forth. Under Qin Yu's leadership, the six-person squad's momentum suddenly soared like a rainbow. They faced the five opponents across the distance, their killing intent colliding fiercely within the Shadow Woods until even the air seemed to ignite.
The seductive woman sneered, scarlet light suddenly bursting from her eyes. She formed hand seals, red light gathering at her fingertips and tracing a blooming, blood-flamed demonic flower in the air in an instant.
"Flame Shadow Demon Flower!"
With her low shout, the demonic flower abruptly bloomed. Flames transformed into dozens of scarlet petals that spun and danced, sweeping outward with searing spiritual pressure! Each petal resembled a burning blade, slicing scarlet trails through the air and instantly staining the forest's light and shadows blood-red.
Boom-!
The swarm of petals attacked, rushing straight at Qin Yu and the six!
"Form up!" Qin Yu shook his spearhead. Spiritual Qi surged wildly within him, and blue-white radiance abruptly shot from the Spear of Ashen Annihilation.
Qi Shield Spear Wall!
The spear spun, Spiritual Qi gushing like a torrent to form a curved blue-white shield before him and his squad. Spiritual light flowed across its surface, like a wall of Spiritual Qi.
Boom, boom, boom!
Scarlet petals battered the spear wall madly. Spiritual light and flames surged wildly, and the explosions' shock waves shattered the surrounding ancient trees. Burning branches and leaves rained down. The ground cracked inch by inch, and billowing dust filled the air!
"Ah-!" Several Mortal Fetus disciples felt their blood and Qi roil under the shock waves, but they held on desperately, their eyes bloodshot as they continuously poured Spiritual Qi into the shield.
Yang Zheng roared and abruptly raised the Azure Balance Sword upright. Its light became a green streak that slashed down before the shield, forcibly stopping a burning fragment of the demonic flower. Sparks scattered, and the smell of scorching filled the air!
Just as the shield shook violently, Qin Yu's gaze turned fierce. He abruptly charged forward, his spearhead aimed straight at the woman, and shouted furiously:
"Spirit Light Slash!"
Spiritual Qi erupted from the spear tip, becoming a straight blue-white sword ray that cleaved outward with a radiance that tore heaven and earth apart!
Boom!!!
The spear light collided with the remaining demonic flowers in midair, instantly releasing a blinding radiance. Scarlet and blue-white intertwined like flames and thunder crashing violently together. Shock waves swept in every direction, fierce winds carried off branches and leaves, and the forest's demonic herbs were pressed flat.
Several breaths later, the scarlet flames and spear light shattered together, dissolving into countless motes of light within the forest mist.
The air fell silent for an instant, leaving only everyone's rapid breathing and pounding hearts.
The seductive woman's gaze tightened slightly, though a sneer still lingered on her lips. "Hmph... interesting. To think a mere newcomer to Spirit Awakening could take one of my attacks head-on."
Qin Yu pointed his spear diagonally toward the ground, his robes snapping in the wind. Blue-white light still flickered at its tip as he answered coldly, "If that's all you can do, there's no need to waste any more words."
Their first exchange had actually ended in an even match!
The woman snorted coldly and abruptly turned her fingertips. Scarlet spiritual light gathered wildly, forming a long whip of demonic fire blazing with fierce flames in the air.
"A mere outer-sect ant dares boast so wildly?-Shatter!"
The whip lashed down. Flames roared like a raging dragon, sweeping toward them in waves of scorching fire!
Boom!
The flames crashed down, instantly engulfing Qin Yu and his squad. The air warped with heat, spirit herbs withered to ash, and the ground cracked and churned, as though a blazing inferno had descended upon the world.
"Pfft-!"
Yang Zheng swung his sword desperately to defend, but his realm was ultimately too low. The impact of the flames instantly shattered his sword force, and scorching shock waves swept across his entire body. He spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot and staggered, nearly falling.
"Junior Brother Yang!"
Three disciples at the middle stage of the Mortal Fetus Realm immediately rushed forward and took positions on either side. Spiritual Qi gushed forth as they forcibly blocked the second wave of flames for Yang Zheng. Their spiritual shields exploded before them, their clothes were scorched black, and blood streamed down their arms, but they still gritted their teeth and refused to retreat.
The senior brother at Mortal Embryo Realm Greater Accomplishment roared and swept his sword horizontally. A gray-green sword ray barely tore through the flames, blocking the sparks rushing straight toward Yang Zheng's face. Flames exploded against him, instantly mangling his shoulder, but he still held on desperately, his eyes full of resolve.
Yang Zheng was pale and trembling all over, yet he forced himself upright, using the Azure Balance Sword to support himself. His gaze remained fixed on the woman, his voice hoarse but utterly firm:
"I'm... fine! With Brother Yu here, I'll never fall!"
Seeing this, the woman pursed her red lips and gave a light, cold laugh. "Heh, you really do have some backbone. Unfortunately... you might block it once, but you won't block it twice."
She raised the demonic fire whip high again. Scarlet flames churned, its presence even hotter than before.
At that moment, Qin Yu stood at the storm's center, gripping the Spear of Ashen Annihilation tightly. Blue-white radiance abruptly rose around him, his gaze icy and his voice low as thunder:
"You hurt my companions... you're dead."
His spearhead shook, Spiritual Qi gushed forth, and his presence surged like furious waves on a raging sea. All heaven and earth trembled with it!
Qin Yu gripped the Spear of Ashen Annihilation with both hands. Spiritual Qi surged thunderously within him, and his spear force whipped up a fierce whirlwind, forming a vast storm of Spiritual Qi. Bearing destructive power and thunderous roars, it was about to meet the woman's demonic fire whip.
But just then-
"Roar-!!!"
A heaven-shaking roar abruptly erupted from deep within the spirit herbs, like thunder exploding in a clear sky. Everyone's eardrums rang, and their chests tightened.
The next instant, the spirit herbs exploded outward, and an enormous creature slowly emerged.
It was a gigantic tiger-shaped ferocious beast, fully thirty feet tall, covered in black-and-gold fur that gleamed coldly like metallic scales. Its blood-red eyes resembled lanterns, with vertical pupils carrying a bloodthirsty, savage presence as they locked onto everyone present.
Its fangs were over a foot long, gleaming with a chilling light. White mist constantly streamed from its mouth and nose, actually freezing the air until it cracked. Every step pressed a huge crater into the ground, shattering thick roots and rocks together and making the earth hum.
Most terrifying of all, a pair of bony horns grew from its spine. Black mist curled from their tips, interspersed with eerie murmurs, like countless wronged souls wailing.
"The Qi Condensation Realm... middle stage!"
Someone shouted hoarsely, their voice laced with bone-deep terror.
Its presence far exceeded everyone present. Whether Qin Yu's initial stage of Spirit Awakening or the woman's Spirit Awakening Greater Accomplishment, both were utterly fragile before this ferocious beast.
"Roar-!"
The giant tiger roared again. Thunderous sound waves made every disciple stagger, and the medicinal herbs that had shone so brilliantly within the spirit herb patch now bowed low, as though submitting to its pressure.
The air instantly froze. Swords and spear, flames and storm-all stopped at that moment.
Everyone's gaze fell upon the terrifying beast, and their hearts abruptly clenched.
Fear and pressure instantly shrouded the entire scene.
Its roar shook the heavens, and the earth trembled. The giant tiger's enormous body seemed to have awakened from hell. Its blood-red eyes locked onto everyone, its fangs gleamed chillingly, and sinister baleful Qi surged toward them like a tide.
The oppressive weight of death enveloped everyone.
"The middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm..." A disciple's voice trembled. His hands and feet were icy, and he could barely hold his sword.
Yet the woman from the Pure Fragrance Garden sneered. "Hmph, a mere beast dares get in my way!" Her seductive figure quivered, and flames ignited along her scarlet whip. She released her Spiritual Qi and stared straight at the patch of spirit herbs. The four behind her at Mortal Embryo Realm Greater Accomplishment wore even greedier looks, their gazes glued to the medicinal herbs without the slightest intention of retreating.
Qin Yu's gaze sharpened.
The spirit herbs... they really were the source of this beast's actions.
He already understood: this demonic tiger had not appeared at random. It was a ferocious beast guarding the spirit herbs. Whenever anyone dared covet them, it would inevitably become enraged.
"Don't touch the spirit herbs. Retreat slowly!" Qin Yu lowered his voice and transmitted his words. His spearhead trembled slightly, and the Spiritual Qi around him formed a thin barrier, quietly protecting his squad.
Yang Zheng and the others immediately complied. They held their breath and focused, slowly restraining their presence as they retreated step by step.
On the other side, however, the people from the Pure Fragrance Garden showed no restraint at all. The woman sneered and shouted, "Treasures lie right before you, and all you can do is retreat? What a bunch of trash!"
At that moment, Qin Yu's eyes flickered slightly, and his hands abruptly formed a seal.
Spirit Spear Fleeting Shadow!
A gray-white streak of light shot from the spear tip, becoming an afterimage that sped away and landed beside the Pure Fragrance Garden squad. Its fluctuations of Spiritual Qi were extremely conspicuous, as though someone were charging toward the spirit herbs.
Boom!
The giant tiger's blood-red eyes abruptly turned, locking onto that afterimage. Sinister baleful Qi instantly exploded. With a sudden roar, it became a gigantic black-and-gold blur, hurtling straight toward the Pure Fragrance Garden squad with the force to destroy heaven and earth!
"Wh-what?!" The woman's expression changed as she abruptly felt that killing intent envelop her.
"Ah-!!!" Before a Mortal Fetus disciple beside her could finish crying out, the shock wave of the demonic tiger's furious roar sent him flying. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he slammed into a tree trunk and immediately lost consciousness.
The woman's face turned livid. She lashed her whip fiercely, flames dancing wildly as she forcibly blocked one swipe of the demonic tiger's claw. Amid the thunderous impact, flames exploded, the forest floor shattered inch by inch, and the spirit herbs swayed, their radiance dimming.
"Damn it! Why did it target us first?!" the woman cursed shrilly, a trace of panic flashing in her eyes.
On the other side, Qin Yu shook his spearhead and rapidly withdrew with Yang Zheng and three disciples. His cold voice reached his squad's ears. "Don't stop. Retreat at full speed! The beast has already shifted its target to them!"
Everyone was horrified, yet they could not help feeling secretly fortunate.
As Yang Zheng ran, he looked toward Qin Yu with admiration filling his eyes, his heart surging:
Brother Yu... he actually turned the enemy's greed against them in such danger and got us out!
Flames and furious roars continued thundering behind them. The Pure Fragrance Garden squad was forced back again and again, blood mingling with roars, with not the slightest breathing room between life and death.
Seizing this heaven-sent opportunity, Qin Yu's group of six finally escaped that infernal area.
Forest mist closed in again, swallowing their figures.
Qin Yu lowered his spearhead, his gaze deep and cold.
In these Shadow Woods, the weak could only become prey. To get out, one had to be calmer and more ruthless than anyone else.
The six ran swiftly. Only when the thunder of flames and roars gradually faded into the distance did Qin Yu wave a hand, signaling them to stop.
They found a secluded hollow deep within the forest, screened by shrubs and shrouded in gloomy mist, extremely well hidden.
"Haah... haah..."
Several disciples gasped for breath, their foreheads covered in cold sweat and their expressions still haunted by lingering fear.
Yang Zheng forced himself to remain standing. The swordsman's robes across his chest were scorched black and torn, with traces of blood seeping through. Qin Yu frowned and immediately had him lean against a large tree. He took a spirit pill from his robes and held it to Yang Zheng's lips. Before their departure, Deacon Zhang had specifically entrusted this pill to Qin Yu for their safety.
"Take it. Regulate your breathing and stabilize your Qi." Qin Yu's words were brief, but carried a firmness that brooked no refusal.
Yang Zheng gritted his teeth and nodded. He swallowed the spirit pill and sat cross-legged, Spiritual Qi slowly circulating within him as a little color gradually returned to his face.
Seeing this, the other disciples secretly admired him-whether for his calm in battle or his care for his companions, Qin Yu fully deserved his place as the squad's core.
Qin Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and gazed toward the churning mist in the distance. The giant tiger's furious roars and explosions of flame still came from there. Clearly, the Pure Fragrance Garden party was locked in a battle to the death with the beast.
He slowly spoke, his voice low and calm:
"We'll stay out of the way for now and restore our strength. Once that beast and those women have fought until both sides are badly wounded, we'll go harvest the spirit herbs."
A disciple at the middle stage of the Mortal Fetus Realm sucked in a breath, shock flashing in his eyes. "Senior Brother Qin... you mean-let the fisherman reap the profit?"
Qin Yu nodded, his spearhead lying across his knees, its light flickering. "That's right. In the Shadow Woods, the weak can only be eliminated. There's no need for us to fight them to the death, much less face that Qi Condensation Realm demonic tiger head-on. Borrowing strength to counter strength is the safest way."
Yang Zheng opened his eyes. Though his breathing was still weak, he nodded without hesitation. "Brother Yu's right. As long as we survive, no amount of scheming is wrong."
The other three exchanged glances and finally gritted their teeth and nodded, their eyes holding both fear and trust in Qin Yu.
Qin Yu's expression was stern, the Spear of Ashen Annihilation in his hand and his gaze deep as the sea:
"Remember, we didn't come here to show off. We need to obtain opportunities and spirit herbs, but more importantly, we all need to leave alive."
Mist churned through the forest, and thunderous crashes and screams that tore heaven and earth apart came from the distance. Qin Yu's squad lay quietly concealed, waiting like hunters, ready to strike at the most crucial moment.
Deep within the Shadow Woods, thunderous crashes erupted without cease.
The thirty-foot-tall black-and-gold tiger raised its head and roared at the sky. Its sound waves shattered branches and leaves, its blood-red eyes like ghostly flames from hell as they locked onto the Pure Fragrance Garden disciples before it.
The flaming whip in the seductive woman's hand whistled outward, its scarlet radiance like streaming fire crossing the sky as it struck fiercely at the side of the giant tiger's neck. With a tremendous crash, flames exploded, the air warped with heat, and the ground cracked inch by inch.
Yet the giant tiger paid it no heed. It abruptly opened its jaws and spat out a dense cloud of black mist. Reeking of blood and decay and filled with sinister baleful power, the mist instantly swallowed the flames, then even rolled back toward the woman, forcing her to retreat repeatedly.
"Roar-!"
An enormous claw swept down through the air with mountain-like pressure, smashing straight toward a disciple at Mortal Embryo Realm Greater Accomplishment.
The disciple's eyes abruptly contracted. He desperately raised his sword to block, sword light flashing brilliantly, only to be shattered by the enormous claw in an instant!
"Ah-!"
Blood sprayed wildly. His body flew like a kite with a severed string, smashing through several ancient trees before crashing heavily to the ground, never to make another sound.
"Second Junior Brother!" Another Mortal Fetus disciple roared hoarsely, his eyes nearly splitting as he charged with his sword raised. His sword ray arced like a rainbow, slashing fiercely across the giant tiger's belly, yet leaving only a shallow white mark. The next instant, the giant tiger's tail swept across with the sound of wind and thunder, cutting him in half at the waist and scattering a rain of blood!
"Roar-!"
The giant tiger roared relentlessly, its black-and-gold fur standing on end and gleaming with a chilling light. Every furious roar carried a terrifying shock wave that battered the surrounding spirit herbs flat.
The woman's face was deathly pale. Her whip danced, flames blotting out the sky and sun as she desperately defended, but every exchange left her blood and Qi churning and her arms streaming with blood.
"Damn it! How could this beast... be this strong?!" she cursed through gritted teeth, her voice trembling.
The two remaining disciples at Mortal Embryo Realm Greater Accomplishment had long since lost their fighting spirit. Their eyes were filled with terror, yet the giant tiger had already locked firmly onto them.
Blood and fire intertwined, screams and furious roars rang without end, and the entire spirit herb patch had become an inferno. Between heaven and earth, only the black-and-gold giant tiger's savagery and crushing might remained.
The spirit herb patch had become an inferno. Embers drifted through the air, and bloody mist spread. The bodies of four Pure Fragrance Garden disciples lay strewn about, some smashed by a swipe of the giant tiger's claw, others torn apart and flung away. Severed limbs and blood stained the entire grassy clearing red.
Only the seductive woman remained standing alone amid the spirit herbs, her robes tattered, her hair disheveled, and blood spilling from the corner of her lips.
Her chest heaved violently, but a terrifying, vicious light burned in her eyes as she stared fixedly at the black-and-gold giant tiger before her.
"Beast..." She ground her teeth, her voice hoarse. "You killed my companions... if I don't kill you today, I swear I'm no human!"
Boom!
The flaming whip in her hand ignited again, its fire blazing to the utmost. Scarlet flames coiled around her like a gigantic fiery python, roaring as it surged into the sky.
"Flame Shadow Demon Flower--Extreme Flame!"
The woman roared and swept her flaming whip fiercely across. A gigantic demonic flower of flame abruptly erupted in the air, its scarlet petals unfolding layer upon layer. In an instant, it spread across dozens of feet, enveloping the entire spirit herb patch.
The air burned, the spirit herbs wailed, and heaven and earth seemed torn apart by the flames.
The giant tiger roared, killing intent intensifying in its blood-red eyes. It abruptly raised its head and bellowed at the sky, its black-and-gold fur standing on end. Black mist churned from the bony horns on its spine, forming a domain of sinister baleful power that forcibly tore the flaming demonic flower apart!
Boom!
Flames and black mist collided. The explosion shook the ground until it cracked, toppled ancient trees, and sent waves of air sweeping hundreds of feet.
The woman swayed, a mouthful of blood surging into her throat, yet she continued staring fixedly at the giant tiger, nothing but hatred and madness in her eyes.
"Come on... Who dies is still anyone's guess!"
She bit the tip of her tongue and sprayed blood mist over her long whip. Its flames abruptly surged, as though she meant to burn her own life away to perish together with this Qi Condensation Realm demonic tiger.
The giant tiger's blood-red eyes shone like lamps, its killing intent towering to the heavens. Its massive body lunged again, the ground crumbling inch by inch beneath its feet. Waves of air whipped dust and sand across the sky, as though it would crush heaven and earth itself.
The seductive woman gritted her teeth, a flash of ruthlessness and madness crossing her eyes. She flipped her left hand, and a concealed weapon suddenly appeared in her palm, pitch-black as ink and covered in strange runes.
The concealed weapon was only palm-sized, yet it exuded an icy sense of destruction. Even the surrounding air seemed to be swallowed by it, giving off a low hum.
This is... the sect's forbidden weapon, the [Soul-Splitting Nail]! The woman's heart trembled, but there was no retreat now.
She violently spat blood onto the concealed weapon. Its runes abruptly lit up, black light erupting like thunder, as though a slumbering savage beast had awakened.
"Die!"
The woman roared in fury and flicked her wrist. The Soul-Splitting Nail became a streak of pitch-black lightning, tearing through the air and shooting straight into the giant tiger's shoulder and neck!
BOOM!!!
A deafening blast rang out, and black light exploded like thunder within the giant tiger's body. Flesh and blood flew, its scales shattered, and a huge, bloody hole was ripped through its shoulder and neck. Blood gushed wildly like a waterfall!
"ROAR-!!!"
The giant tiger let out an agonized roar that shattered countless branches and leaves throughout the woods, making even heaven and earth rumble. Its enormous body convulsed violently before crashing to the ground, crushing a vast patch of spirit herbs.
The shock wave left the woman trembling all over, her Qi and blood surging until she could barely keep her footing. But she knew this was her only chance. Hastily gritting her teeth, she turned, her figure becoming a crimson afterimage as she fled deeper into the woods with all her strength.
After running dozens of zhang, blood still seeped from the corner of her mouth, and her chest heaved violently, yet her heart was filled with anger and unwillingness:
Damn it! If those brats hadn't delayed me and enraged this beast, how would I have ended up in such a state? Now I've actually been forced to use the life-saving concealed weapon the sect bestowed on me...
Overwhelming hatred flashed in her eyes, her nails digging deep into her palms:
The next time I meet them, I'll tear them into ten thousand pieces and make them repay their lives in blood!
Before her words had faded, her figure had vanished completely into the dark depths of the Shadow Woods, leaving only the grievously wounded giant tiger roaring in fury amid the spreading blood mist, shaking all of heaven and earth.