The fierce battle in the Shadow Woods continued.
Blood gushed from the giant tiger's shoulder and neck, staining its black-and-gold fur crimson. Its enormous body staggered, yet it still did not fall.
"Roar-! Roar-!!"
It threw back its head and roared in fury, shaking the sea of trees and sending dead leaves fluttering down. Its blood-red eyes fixed on the direction in which the woman had fled. With towering brutality and hatred, it suddenly strode forward on its enormous paws, dragging its battered body after her with a roar.
The ground thundered beneath its feet, and trees snapped one after another. The demonic tiger's furious roars still echoed through the distant darkness.
For a brief moment, silence returned to the surroundings. All that remained was the ravaged woodland, charred trunks, and that patch of spiritual herbs still shimmering with spiritual light.
In the shadows, Qin Yu watched calmly, both hands gripping the Spear of Ashen Annihilation. Only after confirming that the ferocious beast's presence had completely receded did he slowly speak.
"All right. Let's go."
His voice was low, but carried an irresistible resolve. "We're going over now."
Yang Zheng and the other disciples felt their hearts jolt. They quickly steadied their breathing, suppressed their shock and exhaustion, and followed close behind.
The six emerged from the shadows and entered the patch of spiritual herbs that had just been ravaged by blood and fire.
The air still carried a burnt, sickly-sweet tang of blood, and cracks covered the ground. Yet the spiritual herbs still shone through the glowing mist, wreathed in spiritual breath, like countless stars fallen into the mortal world.
As everyone gazed at the sight, conflicting waves of shock stirred in their hearts. Only Qin Yu remained composed. He pointed his spear slightly ahead, a glimmer of determination flashing in his eyes.
Across the ruined woodland, the bloody mist gradually dispersed, leaving only the spiritual herbs glimmering faintly. They seemed untouched by the flames of battle; against the charred earth, they looked all the more sacred and precious.
Crystalline dewdrops trembled on the blades of grass, giving off faint spiritual breath. Each spiritual herb possessed its own distinct charm. Some were wreathed in flowing light, like fallen stars; some gave off a delicate fragrance that refreshed the mind; others glowed with golden light, stirring ripples through the heart meridians.
Qin Yu took a deep breath, his gaze cold and steady as he swiftly scanned the surroundings. Only after confirming that the beast's presence had completely receded did he lower his voice and instruct them:
"Quick! Spread out and gather them. Keep the roots and stems intact-don't damage them. Move gently, and don't make any loud noises. We don't have much time-more demonic beasts could be drawn here at any moment!"
"Yes!"
The disciples immediately nodded. Though lingering fear remained on their faces, Qin Yu's calm direction soon steadied their minds. They took out the small knives and jade bottles they carried, then bent down to harvest the spiritual herbs with utmost care.
"This Five-Leaf Azure Spirit Grass-watch the roots and stem. Get it into a bottle!"
"There's a Fire Cloud Flower here. I'll dig it up-don't touch the stamens. They break easily!"
"Ah, this is Golden Flame Grass! It can be refined into mortal-grade pills!"
Quiet exchanges rose and fell. Everyone moved with extreme caution, sweat trickling down their temples, yet none dared slacken in the slightest.
Yang Zheng stood guard on the perimeter, resting on his sword. The Azure Balance Sword shimmered with faint azure light, and his eyes remained vigilant, ready to fend off sudden danger at any moment. Though he did not gather herbs himself, his whole body was taut as he guarded his companions' backs.
Qin Yu bent down himself and pulled up a spiritual herb wreathed in faint purple mist, roots and all. Its roots were translucent as jade. The moment it entered his hand, a warm, gentle current of clear Qi flowed up his arm into his heart meridians, refreshing his spirit.
His eyes flickered, but he did not pause. He swiftly placed the herb inside a jade bottle and spoke in a low, stern voice:
"Faster! We must finish within one incense stick's time and leave immediately!"
Everyone's heart jolted, and their movements grew swifter. Under their careful harvesting, the entire patch of spiritual herbs was gradually gathered, its spiritual breath collecting inside the jade bottles like countless points of starlight being gathered one by one.
The air was taut, the atmosphere heavy. Everyone understood: this was not merely an opportunity, but a race against time.
Just as Qin Yu's squad finished gathering all the spiritual herbs and medicinal plants, suddenly-
"Roar-!"
A sudden furious roar thundered in their ears, shaking the treetops. The points of light among the spiritual herbs dimmed, as though violently sucked away. Heavy footsteps sounded through the distant trees, each step seeming to tear apart the earth. Shadows surged through the mist like a vast army bearing down upon them.
Before Qin Yu could collect himself, he heard himself shout, "This is bad-!"
He strode forward several paces. The Spear of Ashen Annihilation swept a ring of azure-white ripples through his hands, its lingering radiance casting long trails of light through the evening mist. The soil beneath his foot shattered with a single step, and the surrounding air grew still, as though devoured by him.
Before Qin Yu could argue, Yang Zheng spoke with unprecedented urgency and resolve. "Retreat! Senior brothers-go, now! I'll bring up the rear, or we'll all die!"
Before his words had faded, he had already turned and led the other three lightly injured senior brothers away at a sprint. The Azure Balance Sword swung at his waist, its light tearing through the curtain of mist. His figure became an azure streak, leaving a trail of fallen leaves and rising dust. The others supported one another and glanced back at Qin Yu, their eyes filled with both terror and a trust they refused to relinquish.
The corner of Qin Yu's mouth twitched. He wanted to stop them, but when he saw Yang Zheng's resolute gaze and the companions behind him relying upon him, the words caught in his throat. As though handing over his most precious shield, he could only answer quietly, "Go! I'll hold them off-hurry and take the spiritual herbs and medicinal plants away!"
Reaching the edge of their retreat route, Yang Zheng turned back and shouted louder, "Senior Brother Qin, please be careful!"
His voice left a clear echo through the Shadow Forest, mingling with the renewed roars in the distance, becoming the warmest yet most piercing human voice of that moment.
Yang Zheng led his senior brothers past several twisted tree shadows. Fallen leaves flew beneath their feet, tracing arcs like shattered gold. Behind them, white rifts tore through the mist, and sunlight slanted through the gaps, carving out bands of light that stretched and split their figures. The instant Yang Zheng looked back, the determination in his eyes seemed polished bright by fire-not fearlessness, but a choice to shoulder responsibility.
Without waiting for Qin Yu's reply, he leaped toward the forest's edge. The wind swallowed his voice, leaving only those words echoing again and again:
"Senior Brother Qin-please be careful!"
Watching them disappear into the light and shadows at the end of the forest path, Qin Yu felt an indescribable weight rise within him. He tightened his grip on the spear shaft, azure-white light trembling between his fingers. Like a lone flagpole, he stood straight upon the grass that had been baptized by battle. The wind carried the scent of broken trunks and trampled grass, while low roars still echoed in the distance.
His gaze was tranquil, as though it pierced the layers of mist and saw the deeper darkness ahead. At last, he murmured to himself-not out of fear, but resolve:
"All right... I understand. Go."
Then Qin Yu moved deeper into the forest, his spear's radiance becoming an unapproachable line through the evening haze. His steps were steady, each one seeming to tread upon a promise: no matter what danger lay ahead, he would not let those people die in vain, nor allow those who coveted their gains to take everything that rightfully belonged to them.
A deeper silence returned to the Shadow Woods, yet those words, "Senior Brother Qin, please be careful," still echoed among the trees, branded into everyone's chest.
Mist churned through the woods, and the sound of heavy breathing abruptly drew near. Amid a series of cracking trunks, the wounded ferocious beast appeared once more. The wound across its shoulder and neck remained a mangled mass of flesh and blood, but its bloody presence and brutality were even greater than before.
Its enormous tiger body stood several zhang tall, its fur bristling, its interwoven gold-and-black markings like burning flames. Its eyes, blood-red as an abyssal pool of blood, locked onto Qin Yu. Remnants of blood stained its two fangs, dripping onto the ground and corroding the soil with hissing sounds.
Its breathing thundered. Each heave of its chest stirred a storm, shaking the surrounding branches and leaves into a rustling frenzy. Suddenly, its nostrils quivered, and it stared down at the ravaged earth beneath its feet-that entire patch of spiritual herbs and medicinal plants had been harvested bare. Not a single plant remained!
"Roar-!!!"
The beast flew into an utter rage, throwing back its head with an earth-shaking roar. Its sound waves were like sharp blades, distorting the air, cracking the ground, and sending broken stones flying. Small beasts within several dozen zhang all prostrated themselves, while birds scattered from the forest in panic.
After its roar, its blood-red eyes fixed on Qin Yu again, as though it were bellowing, "You! You're the one who took everything from me!"
Qin Yu felt his chest tighten. The spiritual breath of the Spirit Awakening Realm began circulating involuntarily within him, and his fingers instinctively tightened around his battle spear. That killing intent squeezed his heart, until even the air seemed to solidify into blades.
Facing a ferocious beast at the middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, he knew he had no way out-this was a true struggle between life and death!
The black-and-gold giant tiger's chest heaved. Its shoulder and neck were still mangled, the wound charred black, clearly grievously injured by the woman's sect-issued hidden weapon. Even so, it remained like a Devil Beast from primordial times, its savage presence sweeping through its surroundings as though to tear heaven and earth apart.
Blood dripped from its body, each drop sending up billows of black mist as it corroded the soil and released a pungent smell. Its steps were heavy, yet every footfall collapsed the ground into an enormous pit, flinging soil and churning the air.
Qin Yu's gaze was cold and stern, his battle spear gripped tightly in his hands. Though he knew the beast had been gravely wounded, it still possessed enough fighting power to easily crush mortal flesh and tear apart those in the Spirit Awakening Realm. The slightest carelessness could cost him his life.
"Huff-" He drew a deep breath and circulated the Mystic Origin Body Tempering Art frantically. Spiritual Qi surged forth, his sinews and bones rumbling within him like resounding war drums. He activated the Spiritual Breath Essence Condensation Method as well, drawing the surrounding Spiritual Qi into his dantian in an endless stream.
Deep within his brow, gray light flashed and vanished. Though that trace of power was brief, it shook Qin Yu's mind. He knew-this gray light was his trump card, but he could not reveal it lightly.
"Spirit Spear Heaven-Guiding Art!"
With a low shout, he stamped both feet down, shattering the ground. The Spear of Ashen Annihilation tore through the sky, trailing an afterimage as light pulsed along its shaft. Gray Ring · First Form [Falling Light Afterimages] erupted-a succession of gray-white spear afterimages split apart, weaving into an array of real and illusory shadows that swept toward the beast like the canopy of heaven, disrupting its perception.
The giant tiger's bloody pupils abruptly contracted, and it swept an enormous paw across its path. The air shattered beneath the paw's shadow, and mountain-like force tore apart swathes of afterimages. Yet the real and illusory spear lights still darted around it, drawing streaks of blood and opening fresh gashes across its wounds.
"Roar-!"
The beast roared, the red light in its eyes blazing fiercer as bloody killing intent rushed at him. It suddenly threw back its head and bellowed. Bloody mist churned around its body, condensing into near-solid protective Sha Qi that enveloped Qin Yu.
Qin Yu shuddered, his shoulders numbed by the shock wave, while the ground beneath his feet was blasted into a deep pit. Yet his gaze remained cold as a blade. His spear pointed toward the heavens, and Spiritual Qi roared through his entire body.
He knew perfectly well that he could not afford the slightest lapse in this battle!
The black-and-gold giant tiger's furious roar shook the heavens, its heaving chest carrying the force of thunder. It suddenly opened its mouth, condensing bloody mist and demonic baleful intent into a pitch-black sphere of energy. Purple arcs flickered within it, as though it would tear heaven and earth apart.
"Roar-!"
With a thunderous boom, the sphere shot forth, becoming an enormous black-and-purple pillar of light that charged straight toward Qin Yu. Ancient trees instantly turned to ash in its path, the earth shattered, and even space faintly distorted.
Qin Yu's pupils contracted sharply. Spiritual Qi surged wildly throughout his body, his dantian burning like a raging fire. He knew that unless he met this strike with everything he had, he would undoubtedly die!
"Spirit Spear Heaven-Guiding Art, third form-Heaven-Guiding Strike!"
With a furious shout, he poured all his Spiritual Qi madly into the Spear of Ashen Annihilation. Dazzling radiance burst from its shaft. Azure-white spiritual light resonated with the spiritual breath of heaven and earth, and the surrounding air instantly exploded into a gale.
The earth beneath Qin Yu collapsed with a crash. He shot skyward like an arrow loosed from its bow, gripping the battle spear in both hands. Flipping in midair, he cleaved downward with the crushing might of thunder!
"Boom-!"
In an instant, the spear's light became an arcing blade several zhang long. Accompanied by the roar of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, it slashed toward the black-and-purple pillar the beast had unleashed.
The two destructive forces collided head-on in midair!
For an instant, heaven and earth seemed to freeze. Then a roar like an exploding star shattered his eardrums. An enormous shock wave swept in all directions, uprooting ancient trees and sending stones flying like rain, while enormous trenches split open across the ground.
Qin Yu felt as though both arms would be broken by the impact. His sinews and bones cracked within him, and blood surged through his chest, nearly making him spit blood. Yet his eyes stayed fixed ahead, never retreating in the slightest.
The spear light and black-and-purple pillar held each other in stalemate for a moment. Finally, with a tremendous crash, the pillar was cleaved apart, exploding into countless points of light that scattered like meteors across the night sky!
"Roar-!"
The beast let out a wretched, furious roar. Its enormous body staggered backward, and the wound across its shoulder and neck burst open, blood gushing like a spring.
Qin Yu plummeted from midair. The instant he landed, the ground beneath his feet shattered into a web of cracks. He knelt on one knee, his battle spear still driven straight into the soil. His breathing was rapid, his body drenched in sweat, yet an unyielding light burned in his eyes.
With this strike, he had met a Qi Condensation Realm beast head-on-and had not yielded!
The black-and-gold giant tiger staggered back several steps, bloody mist surging around it, while the scarlet in its eyes grew ever more frenzied. Its chest heaved violently, and a rumbling like war drums sounded within it, as though it would burst apart in the next instant.
Suddenly, it threw back its head with a furious roar and opened its enormous jaws. The presence of the demonic core inside it abruptly surged forth!
It was the power of a demonic beast at the middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm desperately burning its life. The demonic core shone within its chest like a pitch-black sun, frantically drawing in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and condensing it into a black sphere wreathed in purple arcs, its presence terrifying to the extreme.
"Roar-!"
This strike was not merely an act of slaughter. It seemed more like its final, life-ending move, meant to bury everything before it.
Qin Yu's expression changed sharply. His chest constricted, and the Spiritual Qi inside him surged almost beyond control. He struggled to raise his battle spear, preparing to activate the Spirit Spear Heaven-Guiding Art once more, but this time, his body had already reached its limit.
Black light erupted with a thunderous crash, like heavenly lightning that could destroy heaven and earth, engulfing Qin Yu!
"Boom-!!"
The air was instantly torn apart, the explosion shaking heaven and earth to pieces. Wherever the shock wave passed, ancient trees vanished into ash and the ground collapsed completely.
The force swept over Qin Yu's entire body. His battle spear instantly began humming violently from the impact. The webs of his hands split open, blood splashing down his arms. He was blasted bodily away, his chest feeling as though it had been struck by a massive hammer, the sound of breaking ribs resounding inside him.
"Cough-!"
He spat blood and slammed into the ground, leaving a deep crater amid flying stones. He struggled to prop himself up with his battle spear, but his vision swam, and his ears were filled with ringing.
Spiritual Qi ran wild inside him. His sinews and bones seemed to be breaking apart inch by inch, and blood kept pouring from his mouth. He realized-this was the deadliest strike he had suffered thus far.
In the distance, the presence of the giant tiger's pitch-black demonic core remained frenzied, as though it would unleash another attack in the next instant.
Qin Yu's heart sank. A metallic sweetness rose in his throat, yet his gaze remained cold.
At this moment, he was already on the brink of utter desperation.
The black-and-gold giant tiger's roar tore through heaven and earth. Its demonic core burned completely, and black light of utmost violence swelled within its chest, as though in the next breath it would become a world-destroying torrent, annihilating Qin Yu together with the forest.
Its blood-red eyes fixed on Qin Yu with towering hatred and killing intent. Bloody mist seethed around its body like an erupting volcano, its fur standing on end, its oppressive presence making even the air give off sharp tearing sounds.
Qin Yu knelt on one knee, his body spattered with blood and the battle spear trembling in his hands, but he no longer had the strength to unleash another form. He could clearly sense that destructive power aimed at him. In the next instant, he would perish here completely.
At that very moment-
"Hum-!"
Within him, that long-hidden trace of gray light suddenly erupted!
In an instant, heaven and earth changed color. The gloomy mist of the Shadow Woods was scattered, the air froze, and time seemed to stop. That gray light poured from Qin Yu's body without the slightest sound, yet it was more terrifying than any thunderbolt.
Where the gray light passed, all things fell into annihilation.
It made no sound, caused no explosion. There was only an indescribable power of "returning to zero." The instant the gray light enveloped the black-and-gold giant tiger gathering its ultimate strike, its enormous body suddenly stiffened.
Its blood-red eyes dimmed in an instant, and its roar cut off abruptly. Before the black-and-purple light within its demonic core could pour forth, it disintegrated directly into ash.
Boom-!
It was not an explosion, but complete disappearance.
The entire giant tiger-from its enormous body of flesh and blood to its demonic core, and then every trace of its existence between heaven and earth-was erased by the gray light. No bones remained, no bloodstains, as though it had never existed. Only empty air and collapsed earth remained.
Silence. Deathly silence.
The instant the gray light faded, heaven and earth returned to normal. Wind once again brushed through the woods, and faint birdsong echoed. Yet the beast from before seemed to have been nothing but an illusion, erased completely.
Qin Yu remained kneeling on one knee in a daze, his chest heaving violently, his eyes fixed on his own hands.
"This... this is..."
His throat went dry, and his heart felt as though an invisible hand had clenched around it. That trace of gray light had not only saved him, but utterly annihilated a demonic beast at the middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm-even its very existence was gone!
It was a power beyond comprehension, a power that even heaven and earth could not contain.
For a long time, Qin Yu could not collect himself. The scene of that instant kept echoing through his mind.
What exactly was that gray light?
The wind murmured through the vast emptiness of heaven and earth. His solitary figure stood there, while profound shock filled his heart.
Qin Yu's chest still heaved violently, and the scene of that gray light echoed through his mind like a nightmare. Yet he knew well-he could not remain here for long.
"I can't stay any longer..."
Gritting his teeth, he took out a high-grade healing pill bestowed upon him by Deacon Zhang Hao. Once in his mouth, the pill dissolved into a warm spiritual current that swiftly spread throughout his limbs and body, slowly mending his surging blood and broken sinews and bones.
Qin Yu slowly closed his eyes, allowing spiritual breath to circulate through his dantian as he forcibly steadied his breathing. A moment later, though his face remained pale, clarity had returned to his eyes.
"Yang Zheng and the others should have reached the outskirts by now... I can't let them worry."
He braced himself with his battle spear, then leaped up, using his momentum to step against a tree trunk in midair. Like a gust of wind, he swept through the sea of trees.
Night mist churned. His passage stirred bursts of fierce wind among the branches and leaves, sending leaf fragments dancing and glittering in the moonlight.
Though pain still wracked his body, his steps were firmer than before. As the wind howled past, only one thought remained in his heart:
Catch up with them.
They were the brothers he trusted most, the ones for whom he bore responsibility.
And so Qin Yu became an azure-white afterimage, his spear's light flickering in and out of sight as he cut through the thick mist of the Shadow Woods, racing toward Yang Zheng and his companions.
Mist churned through the Shadow Woods in the night wind. Several disciples waited anxiously in a clearing, their expressions taut, their weapons still held in their hands.
Suddenly, branches and leaves rustled, and a familiar figure stepped out of the mist, his spear tip gleaming coldly beneath the moonlight.
"Brother Yu!"
Yang Zheng was the first to rush forward, his eyes reddened, his voice carrying worry long held back. "I was worried sick! You finally came back!"
The other disciples gathered around as well, their faces filled with the excitement and unease of having survived a calamity. Someone asked nervously, "Senior Brother Qin, are you all right? That beast's roar nearly overturned the whole forest..."
Qin Yu smiled and raised a hand to pat Yang Zheng's shoulder, his tone calm. "I'm fine. Luckily, I had a flash of inspiration and seized a chance to get away. As long as you're safe, I can rest easy."
Having spoken, he looked at the sincere faces before him, yet inwardly his heart sank.
I absolutely cannot let the matter of the gray light leak...
During his battle with Luo Chuan, that fleeting flash of gray light had already aroused suspicion in quite a few people. And now, even a Qi Condensation Realm beast had been erased completely-if outsiders learned of it, it would likely bring countless covetous eyes and calamities upon him.
Even I don't know what this gray light really is. All I know is that it's extremely dangerous and extremely mysterious. Until I understand it completely, I must keep my lips sealed tight as a bottle.
Qin Yu gathered his thoughts, calm returning to his face. He merely said, "Let's go. We'll rejoin the main group first. We shouldn't stay here long."
Yang Zheng nodded emphatically, still staring at him, as though afraid he would lose his brother again in the blink of an eye.
With an unspoken understanding, none of them asked any more questions. They swiftly re-formed their ranks and disappeared with Qin Yu into the depths of the night.