316: One dead and one seriously injured

Jiang Donghua's eyes were icy cold. The Dou Qi within his body was rapidly circulating along a mysterious trajectory, and his Soul Power was focused and condensed. He was preparing to unleash a trump card he had never shown before: a Soul Attack powered by his Spirit Realm Soul!

The biggest reason he dared to challenge three Xuanming Sect Elders, including Chen Ming, as a Three-star Dou Zong, was this powerful Soul realm that far surpassed his current cultivation.

However, before this fully charged strike could be launched, another anomaly occurred on the field!

The strength of the Black Robed Man who had suddenly appeared and instantly killed Gloomy Spring was undeniable. But what shocked Jiang Donghua even more was that almost simultaneously as Chen Ming and Elder Gui Ying teamed up to attack Xiao Zhen, another figure darted out like a ghost from the shadows at the edge of the battlefield!

This person was also clad in black robes, moving as fast as lightning. His target was clearly Mu Chen, who had been thrown into a corner by Chen Ming, his Dou Qi sealed, and was now barely alive!

The Black Robed Man scooped up Mu Chen, said nothing, turned, and sped away in the opposite direction of the battle, showing no intention of fighting.

“Bastard! Put him down!”

Seeing this, Chen Ming flew into a rage and tried to disengage to stop him.

Mu Chen was the important prisoner the Sect Master had specifically requested; if he were rescued, he would have no way to explain himself upon returning!

But how could Xiao Zhen allow him to succeed?

He laughed loudly, and his offensive grew fiercer. His palms flew, and golden Dou Qi rained down like a storm, tightly pinning down both Chen Ming and Gui Ying. Simultaneously, he shouted toward the Black Robed Man who had rescued Mu Chen and the stunned Jiang Donghua.

“Kid! You have the person, hurry up and leave! Do you want to wait for the Xuanming Sect reinforcements?!”

Fighting alone against a Peak Dou Zong and a Five-star Dou Zong, he not only avoided falling into a disadvantage but, relying on exquisite Di-rank Dou Techniques and rich combat experience, fought brilliantly, firmly tying down both opponents and creating a valuable window of time for their retreat.

Jiang Donghua instantly understood the situation before him.

This sudden Black Robed expert was an ally, not an enemy, and his objective also seemed to be rescue.

Although he didn't know their origins or purpose, the most crucial thing right now was ensuring Mu Chen’s safety!

He took a deep look at the mysterious Black Robed Man who was covering their retreat, hesitated no longer, and made a swift decision.

The circulating Dou Qi in his body instantly calmed, and the condensed Soul Power quietly dissipated.

“Senior, I will repay this great kindness in the future!”

He said this in a deep voice, his figure transforming into a blue streak of light. Ignoring the fierce battle behind him, he sped off in the direction of the retreating Black Robed Man who was carrying Mu Chen.

Chen Ming watched helplessly as Jiang Donghua also attempted to escape. He was so furious his eyes seemed ready to burst, and he attacked frantically, yet he could never break through Xiao Zhen's obstruction, only letting out unwilling roars.

“No matter who you are! The Xuanming Sect will never rest until you are dead!!”

However, the threat was drowned out by the sound of even more intense energy collisions.

Xiao Zhen fought one against two, his figure moving freely across the battlefield.

Jiang Donghua pushed his speed to the limit and caught up with the Black Robed Man carrying Mu Chen in just a few breaths.

Just as he was about to intercept him, the Black Robed Man suddenly slowed down, turned his head, and said with a suppressed laugh.

“Brother Jiang, it really is you! How long has it been? Did you actually break through to Dou Zong? Your cultivation speed is terrifying!”

The voice carried a hint of familiar exuberance and warmth.

Jiang Donghua was startled, stopping dead in his tracks. His sharp gaze fixed on the pair of eyes beneath the black robes that were still bright in the night.

A name instantly slipped out.

“Xiao Han?! Why is it you?!”

He had never expected that the Black Robed Man who suddenly appeared and rescued Mu Chen was actually Xiao Han, his acquaintance from Jia Nan Academy—the one with the mysterious background and cold personality!

Xiao Han tore off his mask, revealing a face full of urgency but unable to hide his excitement.

“Hey, it is me! There’s no time to explain now. My grandfather is covering us against those two old bastards, but he definitely can't hold out too long fighting a Peak Dou Zong and a Five-star Dou Zong alone! We need to run!”

“That’s your grandfather?”

Jiang Donghua interrupted him, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

If that powerful Black Robed Dou Zong was Xiao Han’s grandfather, things would be much easier!

Perhaps their original plan could be even bolder!

Jiang Donghua abruptly stopped and grabbed Xiao Han, who was still trying to run, his tone resolute.

“Don’t run!”

“Huh? Don’t run? Wait to die?” Xiao Han looked bewildered.

“Why run?”

Jiang Donghua stared at him intensely, speaking rapidly.

“Tell your grandfather not to get bogged down in the fight. He needs to immediately shake off those two and converge on us! I have a way to deal with them!”

Xiao Han widened his eyes, almost thinking he had misheard.

“Deal with them? Brother Jiang, are you joking? That’s a Peak Dou Zong plus a Five-star Dou Zong!”

“It’s good enough if my grandfather can just hold them off. Deal with them? How are you going to deal with them?”

“Trust me!”

Jiang Donghua stared intently into Xiao Han’s eyes, his tone carrying an undeniable confidence and determination.

“Brother, I’m only asking you once: do you trust me?”

Looking at Jiang Donghua's eyes, which were still bright in the darkness and filled with determination and a hint of madness, Xiao Han instantly recalled the various miracles Jiang Donghua had created while in the Inner Academy, as well as the fact that he was now a Dou Zong.

A surge of unknown excitement rushed through him, and he gritted his teeth.

“Damn it! I trust you! If you screw me over, I won’t forgive you even as a ghost!”

After speaking, he stopped hesitating, immediately put two fingers into his mouth, gathered his Dou Qi, and blew a sharp, prolonged, and highly penetrating special whistle!

This was the emergency signal he had agreed upon with his grandfather, indicating a change in plans and instructing him to converge immediately!

At the same time, Xiao Zhen, who was fiercely fighting Chen Ming and Gui Ying in the distance, heard the whistle. Although he was inwardly puzzled, his trust in his grandson made him act without hesitation.

He instantly forced back the furiously attacking Chen Ming with a palm strike and laughed heartily.

“Haha, I won’t continue fighting you two strange, yin-yang practitioners! This old man is leaving!”

Before his words finished echoing, his figure rapidly retreated, turning into a black flash of light and speeding toward Xiao Han and Jiang Donghua’s location!

“Trying to leave?! Stay here!”

Seeing this, Chen Ming was enraged to the point of smoke coming out of his seven orifices. How could he and Elder Gui Ying let him go!

The two immediately burst out with their fastest speed, chasing relentlessly!

“They are catching up! Brother Jiang, what exactly is your plan?!”

Xiao Han looked at the two terrifying auras rapidly approaching behind them, his palms sweating from nervousness.

Jiang Donghua gently placed the heavily injured and unconscious Mu Chen behind a large rock, turned to face the pursuers, took a deep breath, and a look of unprecedented solemnity and determination flashed in his eyes.

His Soul Power began to condense frantically in a way it never had before.

“Get ready, it might be a little dizzying.”

Xiao Zhen increased his speed to the maximum, sweeping past the three of them like a black bolt of lightning.

The moment he stopped, before he could even open his mouth to curse the three little bastards who dared to stop and wait for death, the murderous sneers of Chen Ming and Gui Ying already tore through the air from behind!

“Hahaha! Seeking death! Let’s see where you can run now!”

Two figures radiating terrifying auras had already closed in. On Chen Ming’s palm, a jet-black cold light capable of freezing the soul was condensed, while Gui Ying was poised like a viper, ready to deliver a fatal blow!

Xiao Zhen’s expression drastically changed. The Dou Qi in his body circulated frantically, preparing to fight to the death and buy a sliver of hope for the three youngsters.

However, at this critical moment!

Jiang Donghua, standing right at the front, suddenly lifted his head!

In his eyes, there was no longer the light of Dou Qi, but a brilliance as deep as the starry sky!

An invisible, formless power carrying a destructive and violent aura erupted from him like a volcano that had been dormant for ten thousand years!

This power ignored physical distance, instantly pierced through space, and violently slammed into the minds of the rapidly charging Chen Ming and Gui Ying!

“Buzz—!”

The sneers on Chen Ming and Gui Ying’s faces instantly froze, replaced by extreme confusion and pain!

Their consciousness felt as though it had been violently struck by an invisible giant hammer; their vision went black, and their souls felt a tearing agony!

Their rapidly flying bodies instantly lost control, like kites with severed strings. Driven by inertia, they slammed heavily and straight into the rocky wall of the adjacent hillside!

“Boom! Boom!”

Two muffled sounds rang out, and crushed rock flew everywhere.

Two powerful Dou Zongs were actually blasted by this invisible attack, embedding them directly into the mountainside and temporarily stripping them of all movement capability!

Especially Gui Ying, the slightly weaker Five-star Dou Zong, whose eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth streamed blood like small creeks!

His body twitched slightly, then fell silent. His soul had actually been directly shattered by this incredibly violent Soul impact!

A Five-star Dou Zong had fallen just like that!

As for Chen Ming, who had reached the strength of a Peak Dou Zong, although he barely managed to save his life thanks to a stronger Soul realm, blood poured from his seven orifices, his eyes were unfocused, and he had fallen into a severely dazed state, making recovery impossible in the short term!

This sudden, earth-shattering reversal completely stunned Xiao Zhen, who had been preparing to fight desperately!

He watched the scene before him in disbelief, then abruptly turned his head to look at the young man in blue robes standing in front—whose face was slightly pale, but whose eyes were still sharp.

“A Soul Attack?! And such terrifying Soul Power!”

Xiao Zhen gasped, instantly understanding.

After all, he was a well-informed Peak Dou Zong, and he immediately determined that the invisible, formless, yet incredibly powerful attack was the extremely rare and dangerous Soul Power!

The shock lasted only a moment. Xiao Zhen was a veteran expert who had weathered many storms, certainly not a hesitant person.

He immediately realized this was a golden opportunity that came once in a thousand years!

“Good kid! Well done!”

He roared, giving Jiang Donghua an appreciative look, and then murderous intent surged in his eyes!

Since they had formed a blood feud with such a powerful enemy, they must strike while he was down and take his life!

“middle-rank earth tier Dou Technique—Great Splitting Hand!”

Xiao Zhen did not hesitate. He poured all the Dou Qi in his body into his right palm without reservation. A massive golden energy palm print instantly condensed, carrying the terrifying might to shatter mountains and crack stones, and slammed violently toward Chen Ming, who was still embedded in the mountainside and in a dazed state!