192: Chapter 192: The Ancestor's Strength

High above the Jade Maiden Palace, two armies stood in a tense standoff, the atmosphere heavy as lead.

Shen Qinghe stood suspended in midair, her white robes pure as snow and her long hair fluttering with the wind.

She looked at the dense, dark array of airships opposite her, her eyes as cold as ice. Though her voice was not loud, it rang clearly in everyone's ears:

"Xueli, you bring so many people to my Jade Maiden Palace. Are you seeking to start a war?"

Opposite her, Old Ancestor Xueli stood with his hands behind his back, his crimson robes snapping in the wind, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

"Start a war? Shen Qinghe, you misunderstand," he said unhurriedly. "This seat came today for only one person."

He paused, his gaze sweeping toward the direction of Dan Peak. "Xiao Yuan. He killed dozens of Cultivators from my Yinluo Sect in the Tianyuan Secret Realm. If this grudge is not avenged, where will the honor of my Yinluo Sect lie? Hand him over, and this seat will immediately withdraw my troops."

A cold gleam flashed in Shen Qinghe's eyes, and a mocking sneer touched the corner of her lips.

The Tianyuan Secret Realm?

Avenge those Cultivators?

Most of those so-called "Cultivators" were Loose Cultivators abducted by them. The actual Disciples of the Yinluo Sect numbered barely over thirty, with the highest cultivation being only at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Since when did the Yinluo Sect care so much about the lives of Foundation Establishment Cultivators?

Moreover, life and death in the Tianyuan Secret Realm are bound by fate; Disciples who died inside were always killed due to their own lack of skill. To settle accounts after leaving the Secret Realm? How shameful of him to utter such words.

"Xueli," Shen Qinghe said indifferently, "by your logic, in previous trips to Secret Realms, quite a few of my Jade Maiden Palace Disciples were killed by your Yinluo Sect. Should this seat also demand justice from you?"

Old Ancestor Xueli's expression stiffened, then he sneered, "That is your business. This seat is here today strictly to seek justice."

Shen Qinghe looked at him and suddenly smiled.

That smile was as cold as frost, carrying an inexpressible contempt.

"Then let us fight."

Without any nonsense, her figure blurred as she charged straight at Old Ancestor Xueli!

Old Ancestor Xueli's face changed slightly; he hadn't expected her to actually strike.

But he was, after all, a Nascent Soul Peak expert. He reacted instantly, striking out with a palm as bloody mist surged forth!

Boom...!

The two exchanged a palm strike. Old Ancestor Xueli stumbled back three steps, while Shen Qinghe remained completely motionless!

Old Ancestor Xueli's pupils contracted slightly: "You... Nascent Soul Peak?!"

He hadn't expected Shen Qinghe's cultivation level to be even higher than he imagined! On the surface, she appeared to be only at the Late Stage Nascent Soul, but in truth... she had already touched the threshold beyond Nascent Soul!

Shen Qinghe didn't answer, striking out with another palm.

Where her palm wind passed, even space warped slightly!

Old Ancestor Xueli hurriedly defended himself, retreating step by step.

Although he was at the Nascent Soul Peak, Shen Qinghe's spiritual power was denser and far more profound than his. Each palm strike weighed as heavy as a thousand tons, suffocating him!

"Dammit!" he cursed internally. When did this woman make a Breakthrough?

He had only come this time to create chaos and had no desire to perish here. Given her cultivation level, one wrong move could genuinely lead to his demise!

On the other side, Shen Qinglian had also engaged her opponent.

Her opponent was a Middle Stage Nascent Soul expert from the Yinluo Sect, boasting a fierce expression and aggressive demeanor.

But after only a few moves, he realized something was wrong... This woman clearly had the Aura of only a Middle Stage Nascent Soul, yet her techniques, movement skills, and control over spiritual power were distinctly at the Late Stage Nascent Soul level!

"You..." His expression changed dramatically.

Shen Qinglian gave him no chance to speak, slamming her palm directly into his chest, sending him flying backward while spitting blood!

In a single exchange between the two Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators, one was injured and forced to retreat!

On Peak Master Yun Ruowei and Yun Qingwan's side, the battle was not so easy.

After all, they were newly ascended Nascent Souls; although their Foundations were stable, their combat experience was still somewhat lacking.

The Early Stage Nascent Soul experts of the Yinluo Sect fighting them were all veteran powerhouses with seasoned, crafty methods, leading to a fierce stalemate.

However, Peak Master Yun Ruowei and Yun Qingwan coordinated tacitly, one attacking and one defending, gradually stabilizing the situation and even showing signs of launching a counteroffensive.

The Golden Core battlefield presented an even more one-sided situation.

Jade Maiden Palace had over fifty Golden Core Elders, nearly twenty more than the enemy.

At Ancestor Qinghe's command, everyone unleashed their power together. Sabers flashed, swords gleamed, and Spells roared, driving the Golden Core Cultivators of the Yinluo Sect and Jing Country back step by step!

Leng Youyue and Lin Zhirou mingled in the crowd, displaying only Golden Core Peak strength without revealing their Nascent Soul cultivation.

Even so, their strikes were ruthless and precise; every move they made guaranteed someone fell.

Watching from below, Xiao Yuan's lips curled up slightly.

In this fight, the Jade Maiden Palace firmly held the upper hand, leaving no reason to worry.

Below, the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Cultivators of the Yinluo Sect were frantically attacking the sect-protecting grand Formation. Spells, Talismans, and Magical Artifacts rained down on the light barrier, stirring up layers of ripples.

Yet the light barrier remained completely unshakeable.

The Jade Maiden Palace's sect-protecting grand Formation was personally set up by the founding Ancestral Master and reinforced over thousands of years; how could these mere minions breach it?

Ancestor Qinghe clearly knew this as well. The reason she ordered the Foundation Establishment Disciples to withdraw into the Formation was that she didn't want needless sacrifices. Shielded by the Formation, they were perfectly safe.

High in the sky, Shen Qinghe and Old Ancestor Xueli were locked in a fierce battle.

Old Ancestor Xueli grew increasingly alarmed as they fought... This woman's strength far exceeded his expectations.

Every palm strike was as heavy as a thousand tons, and every move was exquisitely flawless. Even pushing himself to the limit, he could barely hold her off, completely devoid of any chance to strike back!

But he could not retreat.

He had to delay Shen Qinghe and hold back the powerhouses of the Jade Maiden Palace. As long as his subordinates below succeeded in seizing the dan bell, this trip would be worth it!

"Shen Qinghe!" He struck out with a palm as bloody mist surged. "You think you've won? The real show has only just begun!"

Shen Qinghe creased her brows slightly, a faint sense of unease rising in her heart. Naturally, she had also guessed that the enemy clearly had another objective on this trip.

If they had truly come to launch a full-scale assault, it would be impossible to bring only these forces. Not to mention, although Jade Maiden Palace's overall strength was inferior to that of the Yinluo Sect...

...the Yinluo Sect would never dare attack so recklessly either, as it would only end in mutual destruction!

However, her Divine Sense had been keeping a close eye on Xiao Yuan the entire time. Even if the enemy had tricks up their sleeve, she wasn't worried; she actually wanted to see what they were planning!

...

Fire Peak, Old Ancestor's Immortal Cave.

Zhao Quanzhen stood by the window, gazing at the fierce battle in the sky, his face turning darker and darker.

"Shen Qinghe... is actually strong to this extent?" he muttered, his voice trembling.

Grand Ancestor Tie Wuji, Grand Ancestor Zhou Yanzhen, and Grand Ancestor Liu Xuanyin stood behind him, their faces equally grim.

They had originally thought Shen Qinghe was merely at the Late Stage Nascent Soul, never imagining her strength was infinitely close to the Nascent Soul Peak—even stronger than Old Ancestor Xueli!

Shen Qinglian too; despite possessing only the Aura of a Middle Stage Nascent Soul, she beat the opposing Middle Stage Nascent Soul opponent into total defenselessness!

"Fortunately..." Grand Ancestor Tie Wuji swallowed hard. "Fortunately, we didn't act in person."

Grand Ancestor Zhou Yanzhen nodded, his back soaked in cold sweat. "If we had exposed ourselves, Shen Qinghe and Shen Qinglian would definitely take the opportunity to clean house."

Grand Ancestor Liu Xuanyin said nothing, merely staring intently in the direction of Dan Peak.

"Our people should be succeeding soon, right?" she whispered.

All four of them looked towards Dan Peak in unison.

There, the subordinates they dispatched were currently carrying out their move.