If Chen Tian were here, he would surely recognize the maiden and the youth as Qing Yao and Sheng Tianyi. Qing Yao and Sheng Tianyi exchanged glances, their auras surging, yet the cultivators surrounding them paid them no mind.
A ferocious-looking youth spoke, "You can only blame yourselves for being here and entering the secret realm. Hand over the opportunities from the secret realm."
"Elder, that maiden is a prime specimen. Don't forget about us later!"
"Alright, this elder knows."
Amidst the exchanges, Qing Yao, on the verge of fury, stepped forward. Her figure transformed into a streak of cyan light, charging directly at an old man in the crowd. The old man's expression was calm as he said, "Seeking death."
Sheng Tianyi also rose and attacked proactively. Facing encirclement by over a dozen cultivators of the same realm, Sheng Tianyi and Qing Yao were no match for them. While they could win in a one-on-one fight, their only hope now was to quickly defeat the strongest opponents and deal with the remaining disciples.
The old man watched Qing Yao's attack with disdain. His figure flickered, engaging Qing Yao in combat. Sheng Tianyi, meanwhile, was entangled by four or five disciples, unable to break free. The two sides became locked in a fierce battle. Qing Yao and the Elder of the Han Ying Sect exchanged blows, with Qing Yao being forced back a step with each impact. Qing Yao had only recently recovered her peak Foundation Establishment realm strength, which was still unstable. Coupled with the fact that her opponent was a cultivator in the third stage of the Void Annihilation realm, Qing Yao's ability to fight above her level was already impressive. Qing Yao and the Elder of the Han Ying Sect fought to a standstill.
The Elder of the Han Ying Sect remarked with a hint of satisfaction, "To cultivate to this extent at such a young age, and possess such strength... Young lady, why not join my sect and become my personal disciple? You will be well compensated."
"Old man, do you think I don't know what you're thinking? Dream on," Qing Yao retorted angrily, refusing outright. Han Ying Tianyuan's expression remained calm. He slightly increased the power of his attacks. With each collision, Qing Yao was forcefully pushed back. Qing Yao stabilized herself, and a cyan lotus platform appeared beneath her feet. Her aura surged, and she ascended to the first stage of the Void Annihilation realm. This was a secret technique. Qing Yao intended to end the fight quickly, otherwise, she would die. She still had revenge to exact and could not perish here.
She stepped forward, walking on lotus flowers, her body enveloped in cyan light. She threw a punch. Han Ying Tianyuan showed no surprise upon seeing Qing Yao use a secret technique to boost her strength. Such methods of enhancing power were commonplace in the cultivation world; who didn't know them?
Han Ying Tianyuan also possessed such techniques but saw no need to use them now. What if she raised her cultivation to his level? He was confident he could capture the young girl.
He threw out his fists, cyan airflow swirling around them. Their fists met, sending shockwaves spreading outwards. Trees collapsed, mountains trembled, and rocks continuously fell from the peaks, as if the entire mountain range was about to collapse.
Qing Yao's fists instantly changed to palms. She retracted her palms and struck out. Han Ying Tianyuan's combat awareness kept pace, his arms swiping left and right, deflecting her palms. Qing Yao lifted her left leg, aiming for Han Ying Tianyuan's chin. Han Ying Tianyuan flickered, disappearing from his original position. Qing Yao's attack missed. Han Ying Tianyuan appeared behind Qing Yao, his palm, wrapped in cold currents, striking out, aiming for Qing Yao's back.
Qing Yao turned around in time, extending a palm. Their palms collided, and both Qing Yao and Han Ying Tianyuan were sent staggering back dozens of meters.
Han Ying Tianyuan stood steadily in the air. On Qing Yao's side, a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth. Qing Yao spoke, "Is the gap still that large? Even with the secret technique to boost my realm, the difference in strength is too significant."
The power gained from secret techniques was ultimately superficial. Only the power cultivated to the Void Annihilation realm was genuine. However, Qing Yao did not give up. At least now she could contend with him to some extent.
She still had many methods at her disposal, but using them would expose her, attracting her enemies. Qing Yao knew her enemies well and understood their methods. This was why she had been hesitant to go all out.
She could resolve the current crisis by using her other skills, but the next crisis would not be so simple. Qing Yao acted for her own sake and for the sake of the Divine Spirit Sect.
On Sheng Tianyi's side, his long sword clashed with four or five disciples. These disciples were from the Han Ying Sect, their realms being at the seventh or eighth stage of Foundation Establishment. Sheng Tianyi could not dispatch them quickly. Individually, none of them could match Sheng Tianyi, but they ganged up on him, disregarding any pretense of fairness.
A difference of one minor realm could result in a vast disparity in strength. If they fought one-on-one, it would be suicide. For the disciples of the Han Ying Sect, no one dared to attack alone. Ganging up on him would ensure they could hold him back until the elder finished, thus ending the battle.
Han Ying Tianyuan's figure suddenly appeared by Qing Yao's ear, saying, "You dare get distracted while fighting me?"
He launched a punch towards her face. Cyan light flared in Qing Yao's eyes, and a cyan barrier enveloped her body. The punch struck the cyan barrier, causing it to crackle and then shatter. As his fist was about to hit Qing Yao, a cyan short saber appeared in her hand. The saber flashed, and a blade of light streaked towards Han Ying Tianyuan's fist.
With a "ding," the saber struck his fist as if it were steel. However, this blow deflected the trajectory of his punch, causing it to miss. Qing Yao seized this opening, her right hand gripping the cyan short saber tightly. The saber flashed with a blade of light, aimed at Han Ying Tianyuan's neck.
Han Ying Tianyuan crossed his arms, the blade of light colliding with them, sparks flying. He was forced back several meters. Qing Yao turned around, about to help Sheng Tianyi, but Han Ying Tianyuan blocked her path.
Han Ying Tianyuan looked at the weapon in Qing Yao's hand, his eyes filled with greed. He thought to himself, "This must be a Saint Spirit Weapon. Otherwise, it wouldn't possess such an aura. This weapon is mine."
Han Ying Tianyuan said indifferently, "Young lady, hand over the short saber and make a Heavenly Dao oath to become my slave. I will spare your life, how about it?"
"Wishful thinking," Qing Yao sneered at Han Ying Tianyuan. The weapon in her hand was a Saint Spirit Weapon, the Empress's natal weapon. How could she possibly hand it over? As for the Heavenly Dao oath, it was even more impossible. As an Empress, would she willingly become a slave? No. Making a Heavenly Dao oath meant that if she ever broke it, she would be annihilated by the Heavenly Dao.
Considering the Empress's temperament, Qing Yao would never agree, even if it meant death.
"You refuse a toast and insist on a forfeit. Since you are unwilling, I will forcefully refine you into a slave. This weapon is not for you to wield. Hand it over."
Han Ying Tianyuan, seeing Qing Yao repeatedly defy him, finally became enraged.
He thought she, as a genius and prodigy, would have some self-awareness. It turns out she's just an idiot.
Han Ying Tianyuan's aura erupted, and the resulting blast of energy sent Qing Yao flying back over ten meters. As Qing Yao stabilized herself, Han Ying Tianyuan appeared before her, his palms striking out. Qing Yao held the short saber horizontally to resist. With successive palm strikes, Qing Yao was continuously pushed back, spitting blood from her mouth.
Qing Yao exclaimed, "You're a body refiner, and even an Indestructible Realm body refining martial artist."
Han Ying Tianyuan, a dual cultivator of both pháp and martial arts, roared, "It's too late to realize that now. Die!"
He brought his palms down with all his strength. Qing Yao knew she couldn't withstand it.
The physical resilience of body refiners was far superior to that of ordinary cultivators, especially a dual cultivator of both pháp and martial arts.
The cultivation realms in the Immortal Realm were divided into: Body Refining Realm, Spirit Refining Realm, Spiritual Energy Realm, Spiritual Essence Realm, Spiritual Meridian Realm, Spiritual Blood Realm, Spiritual Marrow Realm, Spiritual God Realm, Void God Realm, Foundation Establishment Realm, Void Annihilation Realm, God Annihilation Realm, Emperor's Tomb Realm, Immortal Realm, Immortal King Realm, True Immortal Realm, and Heavenly Immortal Realm. The realms before the Spiritual God Realm belonged to mortals. Only by breaking through to the Spiritual God Realm did one become a qualified cultivator.
Cultivators practiced spells, but the cultivation world also had body refining martial artists. The body refining realms were divided into: Diamond Realm, Stupa Realm, Indestructible Realm, Body Shattering Realm, and Longing Realm. Completing the first realm, the Diamond Realm, was equivalent to reaching the Spiritual God Realm for martial artists. Moreover, body refining was even more arduous than normal cultivation.
The physical body of an Indestructible Realm cultivator was comparable to that of a third-stage God Annihilation Realm cultivator. Coupled with the opponent's dual cultivation of pháp and martial arts, their strength was not simply one plus one equals two. Qing Yao was no match for him.
With several consecutive punches, Qing Yao's body was smashed into the mountainside below, creating a massive crater. Qing Yao lay in the crater, bleeding profusely, unable to move.
Han Ying Tianyuan suddenly moved, a figure descending towards the deep pit on the ground. Sheng Tianyi couldn't even clearly see how Han Ying Tianyuan attacked before being rendered powerless with a single punch.
"Cough, cough!"
"Pfft!"
Both Sheng Tianyi and Qing Yao were severely injured, with Qing Yao suffering the worst. She coughed up a large amount of blood and internal organ fragments, her aura rapidly weakening, as if on the verge of death.
Qing Yao said, "Old man, if you kill us, your Han Ying Sect will also be buried, and even your backing Holy Land will go down with us, hahaha."
Sheng Tianyi, recalling something, also began to laugh. "That's right! The Empress and I have the Divine Lord as our backer. If we die here, and the matters are reported to the Divine Lord, he will surely annihilate the Han Ying Sect and the Han Tian Holy Land. It's worth it."
"You're about to die, yet you dare to boast. Perish."
Han Ying Tianyuan was unfazed by Qing Yao's threat. Their Han Ying Sect was one of the most powerful sects in the Central Domain, backed by two great Holy Lands above. What was there to fear?
A world-shattering giant palm descended from the sky, slowly moving downwards, wrapped in cold currents. Qing Yao and Sheng Tianyi closed their eyes. There was no other option. Both were severely injured and could not resist this attack. To her death, Qing Yao was unwilling to unleash her full power, fearing that the Divine Lord and the Divine Spirit Sect would suffer unintended harm because of her.
"Noisy. Attacking my people, have you thought about how you're going to die?"
A furious roar echoed from afar, reaching the battlefield. The giant palm of cold currents shattered under the roar. Before the speaker arrived, his sonic wave alone had shattered Han Ying Tianyuan's attack.
Han Ying Tianyuan looked up at the sky, and a figure appeared before his eyes. The youth took a step forward, as if covering hundreds of meters. With just three steps, he instantly descended from the sky to the ground. He waved his hand, and Qing Yao and Sheng Tianyi's bodies were enveloped in light. In an instant, Qing Yao and Sheng Tianyi's conditions were restored, as if they had fully recovered.
Chen Tian stood on the ground, looking at Han Ying Tianyuan in the sky. That glance made Han Ying Tianyuan fall into a moment of panic.