Qin Yu gazed at the demon core in his palm for a long time, his eyes gradually growing calm.
This demon core's presence is exceedingly strange. Recklessly refining it might bring a backlash.
With that thought, he turned his hand and tucked the demon core into his robes.
He now carried two demon cores against his chest:
One came from the Spirit Awakening Realm demon wolf he had previously slain in the Shadow Woods, its presence pure and its spiritual power clear;
The other was this mutated demon core from the Soul-Rending Mountain Range, black and red intertwined, with gray light within, pulsing like a heart and exuding an inexplicable danger.
The two demon cores, with their utterly different presences, seemed to faintly resonate against his chest, one clear and one turbid, confronting each other. As Qin Yu walked, he could even feel an intermittent pulse at his chest, like an echo of the heartbeat of heaven and earth interweaving with his own.
Qin Yu looked ahead. Deep within the Soul-Rending Mountain Range, black mist churned, occasionally surging with strange lights and shadows, as though the silhouette of a massive beast flickered within it. Cracks crisscrossed the earth, faint, low rumblings rising from them, as though the entire mountain range were slowly trembling.
"This anomaly... is certainly not something an ordinary demon beast uprising could explain."
Qin Yu's gaze was resolute as his hand slowly tightened around his battle spear.
"Since I'm already here, I must investigate the source. If there truly is some great terror, I must at least confirm it with my own eyes."
He drew a deep breath, fully spread his Spiritual Sense, and stepped slowly but firmly into the thick mist.
Withered trees surrounded him like ghostly shadows, and the black mist resembled demonic flames. Faint roars and screams drifted from afar, as though countless living beings had perished here.
Qin Yu's chest grew slightly warm. As he ventured deeper, the presences of the two demon cores grew increasingly restless. The gray point of light in the mutated demon core, in particular, pulsed faster and faster, as though guiding him toward some unknown abyss.
"Ahead... lies the source."
Qin Yu murmured to himself, anticipation and caution gleaming together in his eyes as he continued deeper into the Soul-Rending Mountain Range, step by step.
As he advanced, a vast surge of spiritual presence suddenly scattered the black mist ahead.
Qin Yu stopped and looked up, his heart abruptly constricting.
At the far end of heaven and earth stood a gigantic tree that blotted out the sky and sun.
Its roots coiled across the earth like mountain ranges, plunging deep into the rock, as though the entire Soul-Rending Mountain Range had come into being because of it; its trunk was immensely thick, gray-brown patterns winding upward like scars carved by hundreds of millions of years. Above its crown, countless branches spread like rivers of stars stretching across the horizon, and innumerable points of light gleamed among its leaves, like stars hanging in the night sky.
The dark clouds and crimson sunset in the sky were wholly illuminated by the tree. Clouds churned around the edges of its crown, and occasionally a blue-white arc of lightning leaped between its branches, lighting up the entire mountain wilderness as though the gods had descended.
Qin Yu held his breath as both demon cores against his chest began vibrating at once.
The ordinary demon core emitted trembling spiritual light, while the gray point of light on the mutated core pulsed wildly, as though summoned by some power!
The wind howled, carrying strange, low murmurs that echoed beside his ears, as though the ancient tree itself were whispering. The earth trembled faintly with it, and mountains, rivers, and lakes beneath its shadow reflected countless points of light, like myriad spirits bowing in worship.
"This... is the source of the disturbances in the Soul-Rending Mountain Range?"
Qin Yu's pupils contracted, and an unprecedented shock rose within him.
At that moment, he felt as though he stood at the meeting point of heaven and earth, where the boundary between the mortal and the eternal blurred, making even his soul tremble.
Holding his breath, Qin Yu slowly approached the gigantic tree. The gray point of light in the demon core against his chest pulsed ever faster, as though urging him to reach the tree at once.
Yet, just then-
Whoosh-!
The black mist ahead abruptly churned, and three figures stepped out of the void.
Their leader was none other than the alluring, cunning woman from the Shadow Woods. She was still as seductive as before, but her gaze was even sharper than that day, and a cold smile curled her lips.
Two unfamiliar men stood on either side of her.
The one on the left had a presence as steady as a mountain, Spiritual Qi surging powerfully within him; he was clearly already at the middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm;
The man on the right wore a billowing black robe and a cold expression. Yuan power surged around him like a tide, its pressure slightly warping the spiritual presence of heaven and earth. He was unmistakably an expert at the middle stage of the Yuan Transformation Realm!
Qin Yu's heart tightened, and he suppressed even his breathing to the barest minimum. With his current strength, even though he had reached initial entry into the Qi Condensation Realm, he was absolutely no match for these three.
Sweeping his gaze around, he swiftly darted behind a fractured boulder. Interwoven branches and leaves and thick black mist there concealed his presence perfectly.
Through a narrow gap, Qin Yu watched the three.
The woman raised her eyes and stared at the distant tree, a flash of burning greed crossing her gaze. "We've finally found it... As the sect predicted, this Soul-Rending Ancient Tree has indeed awakened."
The Qi Condensation Realm man agreed quietly. "With such a wondrous tree of heaven and earth, even a single spiritual leaf would be enough to exchange for countless cultivation resources."
The man at the middle stage of the Yuan Transformation Realm gave a cold snort. "Enough talk. The presence here is unstable. Some great terror must be lurking. Investigate the source first, then decide what to do."
The three gradually released their presences, like three invisible mountains pressing down on the forest. The lurking demon beasts around them immediately roared in agitation, yet their presences kept the beasts from daring to move rashly, leaving them only to growl within the mist.
Hidden behind the boulder, Qin Yu's heart pounded violently. His hand silently tightened around his battle spear, his gaze icy.
I saw her in the Shadow Woods... To think she's joined forces with even stronger people. It seems the secrets of this Soul-Rending Ancient Tree are certainly not something I can easily lay claim to alone.
The three exchanged glances, then swept toward the foot of the gigantic tree together.
The alluring woman raised a hand, and an ancient mirror, entirely black and inlaid with red gems, appeared in midair. Blood-colored patterns abruptly flashed within its surface, dim light flowing out to shine upon the tree's roots.
"Once the Soul-Rending Ancient Mirror is brought out, it will surely stir this tree's slumbering source presence." Her voice was low, with a trace of urgency.
The Qi Condensation Realm man immediately sat cross-legged and formed hand seals, releasing Spiritual Qi from his dantian into a formation. Blue-green light interwove across the ground, faintly forming a spiritual formation several zhang across. Runes flickered, its presence steady, as though stabilizing space.
The black-robed expert at the middle stage of the Yuan Transformation Realm directly brought forth a blood-colored halberd. The instant it plunged into the earth, a thunderous hum erupted. Dense blood mist spread from the halberd in every direction until it enveloped the area beneath the gigantic tree.
Boom-!
As the three unleashed their presences together, the entire forest abruptly shook!
The ground beneath the Soul-Rending Ancient Tree began cracking, and a layer of deep-blue light appeared beneath its roots, as though some ancient seal were being pried open. The air distorted, and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi surged wildly toward it, forming a violent vortex.
Hidden behind the broken rock, Qin Yu's eyes flashed with horror.
They're... forcibly awakening this ancient tree!
The gigantic tree's formerly tranquil glow abruptly brightened. The "stars" above its crown lit up one after another, brilliant as a river of stars pouring down. At the same time, a low rumble rose from deep within its trunk, as though an ancient beast were slowly awakening.
Demon beasts roared on every side. Countless pairs of scarlet eyes lit up throughout the forest, and the beasts howled madly in unison. Yet they did not charge out. Instead, as though suppressed by some invisible force, they all prostrated themselves facing the gigantic tree, trembling incessantly.
The blood throughout Qin Yu's body instantly boiled, and the mutated demon core inside his robes pulsed madly, almost bursting through his clothing. Its gray point of light shone at its brightest, resonating with the tree's deep-blue radiance.
What secrets... does this tree conceal?
Qin Yu's breathing quickened, but he still firmly suppressed his impulses, held his breath, and watched the movements of the three and the tree from hiding.
Just as the three jointly activated their secret arts and the Soul-Rending Ancient Tree trembled ever more violently-
Heaven and earth abruptly fell silent.
An utterly chilling pressure slowly spread from deep within the tree's shadow, enveloping the entire mountain wilderness in an instant. The air abruptly froze, and even breathing became difficult, as though an invisible hand had seized the throats of every living being at that moment.
Then, from deep within the black mist, a tall humanoid figure slowly emerged.
It wore ancient armor interwoven with dark silver and vivid blue, its intricate patterns seemingly inscribed with countless long-forgotten ancient runes. The armor's edges gleamed with a cold metallic luster, as though it remained indestructible after countless ages. Pale hair, like falling frost and snow, spilled from beneath its heavy helmet. Embedded at the helmet's center was a savage beast motif, and a cold, deep-blue light shone from its hollow eyeholes, as though it could pierce a person's soul.
It gripped a greatsword in both hands.
The blade was long and chilling, pale-blue spiritual light flowing along it like a frozen river of stars. Its surface was covered in ancient patterns and the images of roaring beasts. Each faint tremor of the sword made the air quiver with it, as though all of space were submitting to it.
Flowers and grasses silently withered beneath its feet. The surrounding petals, branches, and leaves noiselessly turned to dust and vanished into the void, leaving only coldness spreading like a tide in every direction.
Its presence made Qin Yu's heart pound fiercely behind the rock, and all the bones in his body creaked faintly.
The greater completion of the Soul Foundation Realm!
This was a terrifying cultivation level capable of shaking an entire sect, standing above the Yuan Transformation Realm and already touching upon the fusion of the soul with the laws of heaven and earth. Even its residual force alone would be enough to instantly crush a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator.
The alluring woman and her two companions abruptly paled, even their breathing freezing in an instant. The black-robed man at the middle stage of the Yuan Transformation Realm turned ashen. The moment their gazes met, he did not even dare raise his eyes, cold sweat winding down his neck.
"H-how could such a being exist here..." The Qi Condensation Realm man's throat went dry, and even his voice trembled.
Qin Yu held his breath and focused, pressing himself tightly against the rock, wishing he could suppress even the sound of his heartbeat.
Because he understood clearly:
If this being noticed even the slightest trace of him, he would have no chance of survival!
The terrifying creature slowly raised its greatsword, pointing its tip straight at the earth.
Boom-
Invisible sword intent pressed down like a mountain. The surrounding air instantly solidified, shattered stones hanging motionless in midair as space warped, as though about to be crushed outright. The deep-blue membrane beneath the Soul-Rending Ancient Tree abruptly stilled, and the "stars" among its branches gradually dimmed, as though they too were submitting to this pressure.
The alluring woman turned deathly pale, her mind on the verge of collapse. Gritting her teeth, she abruptly waved her hand, and the Soul-Rending Ancient Mirror shrank back into her sleeve, its light extinguishing completely.
"Retreat, now!!!"
Her voice was piercing, nearly tearing her throat apart.
Without hesitation, the Qi Condensation Realm man dispersed his spiritual formation and instantly became a streak of blue-green light, darting into the distance. The black-robed Yuan Transformation Realm man was ashen, extreme apprehension flashing in his eyes. He raised his hand and shook his halberd, using the recoil to retreat dozens of zhang in an instant before turning and hurtling away.
The alluring woman followed close behind, her sleeves fluttering, resentment and fear in her eyes. "Damn it... Why would this ancient tree's guardian appear now! Curse it... One day, I will return!"
The three figures flashed through the black mist and vanished without a trace, leaving only residual Spiritual Qi lingering through the forest.
Hidden behind the rock, Qin Yu held his breath throughout, his eyes fixed on the terrifying creature. Only after the three had completely departed did he slowly exhale a stale breath, fierce shock and bewilderment rising together within him.
This being... probably belongs to a level utterly beyond our understanding. If the Soul-Rending Ancient Tree is an opportunity, then it is a heavenly chasm.
Before the ripples of the trio's retreat had fully faded, only that terrifying armored creature remained between heaven and earth, standing silently beneath the gigantic tree, its greatsword lowered to the ground and radiating an incomparably chilling light.
Qin Yu held his breath, his chest heaving violently, his fingertips gripping the edge of the rock so tightly that he failed even to notice his nails digging into its cracks.
Just then, the creature slowly raised its head.
Beneath its helmet, deep-blue eyes suddenly lit up like two lamps in the abyss. Its gaze swept across the void. Though utterly soundless, it struck Qin Yu's heart like a heavy hammer, almost making it burst from his chest.
Whoosh-
The air abruptly grew cold. Frost instantly coated the surrounding branches and leaves. Petals fell in a rustling shower, turning to dust the instant they neared the ground and scattering on the wind.
Every hair on Qin Yu's body stood on end.
Damn it... It's sensing me!
He felt that deep-blue light gradually focusing through space, as though passing through the rock and black mist to fall directly upon him. At that moment, the Spiritual Qi within him almost froze, and even his thoughts grew sluggish beneath the pressure.
On the brink of crisis, the mutated demon core against Qin Yu's chest suddenly hummed and vibrated. Its gray point of light abruptly brightened, turning into a barely perceptible ripple that quietly spread outward.
Boom-
The creature's gaze paused where Qin Yu was for an instant, then slowly withdrew. The deep-blue light dimmed, and it lowered its head once more, holding its sword in both hands like a statue from time immemorial, not moving again.
Qin Yu's heart pounded wildly, and the clothes on his back were already soaked through. He secretly gritted his teeth:
If not for this mutated demon core... it probably would have discovered me already!
Cold sweat rolled down his temples, and his fingertips still trembled faintly. Yet he forced his mind under control and hurriedly concealed his presence, not daring to make the slightest reckless move.
Qin Yu waited a long time with bated breath. Only when the terrifying creature showed no further movement did he slowly back away, skirt the thickest black mist, and follow his original route toward the outskirts of the Soul-Rending Mountain Range.
The mountain path was silent, lined with withered trees. Occasionally, the wind howled, carrying an oppressive low moan. Cautious the entire way, he silently decided that he must bring news of the Soul-Rending Ancient Tree and its guardian back to Cloud-Leveling Hall as soon as possible.
Yet, just as he thought he could escape for the moment-
The black mist ahead suddenly churned, and three figures abruptly appeared.
The alluring woman at their head wore a mocking gaze, a derisive smile curling her lips as she spoke in a sweet voice:
"Oh my, little brother, what a coincidence. Where might you be going?"
She advanced with delicate steps, her waist swaying. Though her voice was soft and seductive, it carried icy killing intent. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Qin Yu as though she wanted to tear him apart.
"Last time in the Shadow Woods, you ruined your big sister's plans and cost me dearly."
The woman slowly raised a hand, her slender fingers tracing through the air and drawing out a thread of red light. She narrowed her eyes and smiled coldly:
"Tell me... how should we settle that debt?"
Behind her, the Qi Condensation Realm man stared coldly at Qin Yu, Spiritual Qi faintly flowing between his fists. The black-robed expert at the middle stage of the Yuan Transformation Realm folded his arms, disdain and amusement in his gaze, as though watching prey already caught in a jar.
Qin Yu stopped, his eyes instantly turning cold as his hand slowly settled on his battle spear.
Black mist churned around them. Killing intent and oppressive presences gradually gathered, and the air filled with tension ready to ignite at a touch.
Qin Yu's gaze sharpened slightly, and he slowly spoke, his voice low but cold:
"Last time in the Shadow Woods, you used your power to bully others, yet you blame me for ruining your plans? Now you're blocking my path here. The disciples of Pure Fragrance Garden truly have impressive methods."
The woman chuckled, the corners of her eyes curving seductively. "Little brother, you certainly have a stubborn mouth. Your big sister likes that defiant look best... because watching it get smashed is what makes things interesting."
As her words fell, Spiritual Qi abruptly surged around her, and the pressure of Spirit Awakening Realm greater accomplishment swept out like a tide. The surrounding black mist was forcibly scattered, and loose stones on the ground rattled.
"Hmph..." Qin Yu snorted coldly, circulating his Spiritual Qi at the same time. His Qi Condensation Realm presence erupted with a boom. Although slightly inferior in realm, its sharpness was like a sword cleaving through the air, driving straight toward the woman's spiritual pressure.
"Oh?" The woman's gaze lifted slightly, surprise flashing in her eyes. "To think you've broken through to the Qi Condensation Realm in such a short time... It seems I really underestimated you last time."
The man at the middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm behind her said coldly, "Senior sister, even if this brat has broken through, he's only at initial entry into the Qi Condensation Realm. I can suppress him with one hand."
The black-robed expert at the middle stage of the Yuan Transformation Realm merely sneered, his arms folded and his voice filled with contempt. "No hurry. Let the brat hop around a little first. A mere initial-entry Qi Condensation Realm cultivator is only courting death, no matter how gifted he is."
Qin Yu's expression was stern, his eyes fixed on the three, faint spiritual light flickering along his battle spear.
"Since you insist on coming here to die, I won't hold back."
The air instantly froze. Their presences collided between the trees like two raging tides, killing intent intertwining with Spiritual Qi, as though everything would erupt in the next instant.
Black mist churned, and killing intent exploded through the air.
"Hah!"
Qin Yu abruptly swung his battle spear across, spiritual light blazing in an instant. Qi Condensation Realm power poured into the spear tip, and a Spirit Light Slash tore through the air! Blue-silver sword light became a long rainbow, cleaving straight toward the woman with a thunderous roar.
Boom!
The woman waved a hand, red light flashing within her sleeve. With effortless ease, she forcibly shattered the spiritual light. The explosive aftershock burst in midair, scattering into countless flecks of light. Her lips curled slightly as she sneered, "You dare contend with me at initial entry into the Qi Condensation Realm?"
At the same time, the man at the middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm lunged to attack, his fist carrying vast Spiritual Qi as it hurtled toward Qin Yu's chest like a massive mountain. The black-robed Yuan Transformation Realm expert continued watching coldly from the sidelines, clearly thinking nothing of Qin Yu.
Qin Yu's heart sank, and he instantly pushed his Spiritual Sense to its limit. That exchange had already made him understand-he had no chance of winning a head-on fight!
Run!
As the thought flashed through his mind, spiritual light flared beneath Qin Yu's feet, and he immediately used Light Spirit Step. Spiritual Qi poured into both legs, his body suddenly lightening as he became an afterimage and darted sideways. The Qi Condensation Realm man's heavy fist struck the ground, forcibly smashing out a pit about a zhang deep, stone fragments flying as waves of air swept wildly outward.
"Don't think you can escape!" the woman shouted sharply. Red light shot from her fingertips, several spiritual rays tearing through the air in pursuit like sharp chains.
Horror filled Qin Yu's heart. Shaking his battle spear, he abruptly unleashed Spirit Current Whirl. Spiritual Qi instantly spread, forming a small whirlwind spanning three meters and forcibly shredding the pursuing red rays. Taking advantage of the aftershock, Qin Yu flashed away and slipped into the thickest black mist.
Amid the churning black mist, Qin Yu swiftly put a plan into action: he circulated his spiritual presence, deliberately leaving false Spiritual Qi afterimages in several different directions to make it difficult for his pursuers to lock onto his true body.
The woman snorted coldly and darted straight into the mist after him, but amid the overlapping afterimages, she instantly lost track of Qin Yu.
"Damn it!" She ground her teeth in fury and abruptly stamped her foot, forcibly scattering a large swath of black mist, yet no one was there.
Far away, Qin Yu had completely concealed his presence. Using the black mist as cover, he had already stealthily climbed a fractured cliff face, his figure blending into the shadows of the rock as his chest heaved violently.
Fighting them head-on is impossible... I can only outwit them.
He gripped his battle spear tightly, cold sweat sliding from his forehead along his temples, yet silently swore in his heart:
For today's humiliation, I will repay them a hundredfold one day!
The alluring woman's gaze was sinister, spiritual presence endlessly coiling around her fingertips as she cast a cold glance into the depths of the black mist.
"There's definitely something strange about this brat. Otherwise, he couldn't have ruined my plans in the Shadow Woods and then appeared here now."
She gritted her teeth, a vicious smile forming at the corners of her lips.
"Split up and pursue him! No matter what corner he's hiding in, dig him out for me!"
As her words fell, the Qi Condensation Realm man immediately answered. His spiritual presence became a streak of blue-green light as he charged into the depths of the forest, branches and leaves flying amid a rumbling roar.
The black-robed expert at the middle stage of the Yuan Transformation Realm snorted coldly. Though disdain remained on his face, he still stepped toward a valley on the other side. His figure slowly faded into the black mist, leaving only a chilling residual pressure to overawe heaven and earth.
The alluring woman remained alone, coldly smiling as she surveyed her surroundings. She shook her sleeve, and the black mist abruptly churned. Blood-colored runes became spiritual butterflies and scattered, drifting in every direction across the mountain range, evidently laying down a sensing formation.
"Little brother... from Cloud-Leveling Hall, this time I'll make sure you can neither live nor die."
The black mist gradually swallowed her, her voice echoing between heaven and earth with a cold, sinister laugh.
Meanwhile, Qin Yu huddled in the shadow of a broken wall, his Spiritual Qi completely withdrawn, but a cold light flickered in his eyes.
Splitting up to pursue me... instead, they've given me a chance to catch my breath.
His gaze sharpened, his thoughts racing as he began considering how to use the treacherous terrain of the Soul-Rending Mountain Range to turn the tables on them.
Qin Yu held his breath and stood silently in the shadow of the broken wall, his eyes fixed on the distant, churning black mist.
"Splitting up to pursue me..."
He murmured under his breath, and a sudden flash of inspiration struck him.
That's right... earlier, I caught a glimpse of a mutated demonic dragon farther in! Its presence was terrifying, its cultivation close to Greater Completion of the Soul Foundation Realm. If I hadn't dodged away quickly back then, I would already have met my end in the Yellow Springs.
His gaze darkened, and a trace of coldness slowly curled at the corner of his lips.
I can't fight them head-on, but the demonic dragon can. If I can lure them near it, even if it can't wipe them all out, it should at least send one of them to his death first.
Qin Yu quietly withdrew his spiritual presence and slipped out from behind the broken wall with extremely light movements, hurrying along the rugged mountain path. He did not choose the fastest route, instead weaving exclusively through rough terrain, dense woods, and places thick with black mist. Every step was taken with the utmost caution, leaving not a trace of Spiritual Qi.
His destination-the enormous rift where that demonic dragon dwelled!
As he approached, a heavy stench of blood gradually filled the air, as though countless living creatures had been devoured here. Deep claw marks scored the mountain rocks, each hideously savage and exuding power that could destroy heaven and earth.
Qin Yu stopped and stared down into the rift. Amid the roiling black mist, an enormous figure lay coiled. Its scales were black as iron, interspersed with strange grayish-white markings, and each breath made the mountain range tremble. Its wings were half-spread, and the pressure it gave off seemed almost enough to crush heaven and earth.
"A mutated demonic dragon at Greater Completion of the Soul Foundation Realm..." A cold gleam flashed in Qin Yu's eyes, his breathing quickening.
With my current strength, I can't possibly face it head-on, but-
He tilted his head to listen. Sure enough, rapid fluctuations of spiritual presence came from far behind him. It was the presence of the Qi Condensation Realm man, who was following his trail in pursuit.
Qin Yu's gaze was sharp as a blade as he swiftly settled on a plan:
First, I'll lure that Qi Condensation Realm fellow here and let him test the demonic dragon's claws for me. As for that seductive woman... I'll settle accounts with her last!
Black mist churned through the mountain woods.
Qin Yu raced onward, pushing his Light Spirit Step to its limit. Afterimages crisscrossed through the woods, his spiritual presence flickering in and out, as though he were deliberately leaving a clear "trail."
Behind him, the Qi Condensation Realm man clung doggedly to his trail, his eyes filled with murderous ferocity.
"You little bastard! Don't even think about escaping the palm of my hand!"
He drove his spiritual power to its fullest, his fists flashing with azure light. Each time he landed, he smashed a deep crater into the ground, sending mud and stones flying amid thunderous booms, like a savage beast in a frenzied hunt.
Qin Yu glanced back with a cold smile, a hint of provocation in his eyes. His voice cut back like a blade. "You think you can catch me? Catch up if you've got what it takes!"
"You're courting death!!!"
The Qi Condensation Realm man was utterly enraged. His Spiritual Qi erupted wildly, and his speed suddenly soared. His figure became a streak of azure light, sticking close to Qin Yu without letting up.
Qin Yu snorted inwardly. Pivoting, he suddenly swept onto a mountain ridge, vaulted over several jutting slabs of broken rock, and headed straight toward the rift. Along the way, he even deliberately slowed for a moment, leaving several extremely obvious traces of residual Spiritual Qi.
The Qi Condensation Realm man's eyes were bloodshot. At this sight, he became even more certain that Qin Yu had reached the end of his rope, and killing intent surged within him. "Brat, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, you'll die by my hand today!"
Soon, one pursuing and the other fleeing, the two passed through stretch after stretch of withered woods and rocky walls, finally approaching the enormous rift shrouded in the stench of blood.
An even more terrifying pressure than before rushed toward them, and heaven and earth seemed to fall abruptly still. From deep within the rift came low breathing that shook the soul like the pounding of war drums.
A cold gleam flashed in Qin Yu's eyes as he murmured inwardly:
This is far enough... the prey and the hunter are about to trade places.