116: Lin Yi's strength!

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Astral winds howled, and the air currents were like knives.

In the azure sky, a giant Azure Eagle was carrying two figures, flying rapidly toward the horizon.

Of the two figures, one wore white robes, carried a long sword on his back, and had a face as cold as frost.

The other person was dressed in black, holding a long black saber, standing as straight as a javelin, remaining motionless and steadfast amidst the high-altitude astral winds.

These two were Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan.

"Senior Brother Jiang, we've been in this Desolate Ancient Forest for three hours now. Based on the time, we should be approaching the Demon Ape Valley soon, right?"

High in the sky, looking down at the dense primeval forests passing beneath them, Lin Yi asked Jiang Hanhan.

"Yes, at the Azure Eagle's speed, we should arrive in about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

Hearing this, Jiang Hanhan spoke with an indifferent expression:

"Once we arrive, don't be in a hurry to enter the Demon Ape Valley. First, we'll find a cave outside to hide in, and wait until the 'body cleansing spirit fruit' is about to ripen in three days before we charge in."

"At that time, I'll be responsible for drawing the attention of the Demon Apes, while you find an opportunity to get close to the 'Body-Cleansing Spirit Fruit Tree' and pick as many spirit fruits as possible. Once we succeed, we'll split them seventy-thirty as agreed."

"No problem!"

Lin Yi nodded slightly.

Entering the Demon Ape Valley—which was led by a First Rank Peak Demon Ape Leader, with over twenty Demon Ape Captains comparable to the First Rank and hundreds of Demon Apes below the First Rank—to pick body cleansing spirit fruits was the task Jiang Hanhan had asked him to help with.

As for the body cleansing spirit fruit?

It was a First Rank cultivation-type Precious Medicine, and even among First Rank cultivation-type Precious Medicines, it was considered quite rare.

After consumption, it could significantly increase the cultivation of Martial Artists below the Innate realm, making it very suitable for Jiang Hanhan.

After all, although Jiang Hanhan's combat power had already reached the First Rank Invincible level, his cultivation had only just reached the First Rank Middle Stage.

It couldn't be helped! When he achieved martial Dao Enlightenment, the main talent he awakened was his Will Talent.

As for his Physical Body Aptitude, although it had increased significantly compared to before his Enlightenment, it was still far inferior to his terrifying Will Talent.

Therefore, during his years of traveling and training, Jiang Hanhan mostly sought treasures that could enhance his martial cultivation.

This body cleansing spirit fruit was clearly the target he had chosen this time.

Thoughts swirled in Lin Yi's mind, and in the sky, the giant Azure Eagle finally reached its destination after flying for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"Flap, flap, flap!"

In a forest about four or five li away from the Demon Ape Valley, the giant Azure Eagle flapped its wings and slowly descended.

Finally, when they were about a hundred meters from the ground, Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan jumped directly from the eagle's back, falling rapidly like meteors.

However, just as they were about to hit the ground, they became as light as feathers, landing softly without even crushing the withered leaves beneath their feet.

This was the fearsomeness of a First Rank expert who had comprehended the Third Level of Limit Breaking Force Exertion Realm and gained ultimate control over their Physical Body.

If this were his previous life, it would be an incredible existence; in ancient times, they might even be worshipped as gods by emperors. But on the Nine Provinces Continent, it was something every First-Rank Martial Artist could achieve.

"Alright, Lin Yi."

On the ground, watching the Azure Eagle quickly fly away into the distance, Jiang Hanhan also spoke indifferently:

"The Azure Eagle has gone to find a place to rest and forage on its own. It should return in about three days after we've picked the body cleansing spirit fruits. For now, let's find a place to rest, recharge our energy, and prepare for the big battle in three days."

"Yes, Senior Brother Jiang."

Lin Yi nodded and then followed Jiang Hanhan away.

Afterward, led by Jiang Hanhan, who was very experienced in wilderness survival, the two of them quickly found a habitable cave. They tidied it up and then waited silently inside... One day!

Two days!

Three days!

"Screech!"

A bird's cry, sharp enough to shatter gold and split stone, suddenly rang out from outside, instantly startling Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan, who were just about to head out.

Seeing this, the two looked at each other, quickly leaped up, and dashed out of the cave.

In the next moment, they saw a majestic giant bird with golden feathers, looking as if it were cast from gold, with a golden feathered crown on its head, streaking across the sky.

On the majestic giant bird were ten figures with powerful auras, each wearing golden armor and golden masks, looking like terrifying figures of legendary heavenly soldiers descending to the world.

"Not good! It's the Great Yuan Dynasty's Dragon Guard! Lin Yi, I'll hold them off for a while. You escape first!"

Seeing those ten figures on the giant bird, Jiang Hanhan's cold face couldn't help but change expression, and he immediately shouted to Lin Yi beside him.

The Great Yuan Dynasty's Dragon Guard was the strongest army of the Great Yuan Dynasty. Every soldier in the army was at least a First Rank Late Stage master, and ten of them working together could even hold their own against an Innate expert!

Facing such an army, even Jiang Hanhan, despite being First Rank Invincible, could absolutely not win. It would be good enough if he could just buy Lin Yi some time.

And even if he was just buying time, there was a possibility that he wouldn't be able to escape and would end up dying a miserable death.

As for dragging Lin Yi along to fight this squad of Dragon Guards?

That would be even more suicidal!

After all, Lin Yi's strength was only at the First Rank Middle Stage level over a month ago.

Although he had cultivated for more than a month now, it would be good enough if he could rival the First Rank Late Stage.

With that kind of strength, he could at most deal with one Dragon Guard; dealing with two would be impossible!

So, if Jiang Hanhan forced Lin Yi to fight alongside him, not only would they fail to defeat the Dragon Guards, but it would even lead to Jiang Hanhan himself dying here!

"Haha! Escape? Where do you two think you're going to escape to?"

Hearing Jiang Hanhan's words, a burly man wearing a golden mask on the back of the giant golden eagle laughed:

"With the 'Golden Sky Eagle' here today, every bird within a hundred-li radius is our eyes and ears. Even if you grew wings, you wouldn't be able to escape. Just die obediently! Hahaha!"

The burly man laughed, and after speaking, he and the nine Dragon Guards jumped directly from the back of the golden eagle.

However, at the very moment they jumped off the giant golden eagle...

"Boom!"

A powerful Xiantian True Essence instantly filled the entire Void Realm, enveloping the ten Dragon Guards and making them unable to move in an instant.

"Not good! It's an Innate expert! Marquis Huailin, help!"

Seeing this, the burly man cried out in terror.

As his voice fell, a light laugh also rang out:

"Hehe, Old Ghost Liu, so it was you who killed those three subordinates of mine last time."

"Hmph! A grand Xiantian Golden Core Realm expert, ranked fifteenth on the Earth Rankings, actually attacking a group of youngsters who haven't even reached the First Rank. Old Ghost Liu, over these years, you've really been regressing as you age!"

The laughter faded, and then, behind the ten Dragon Guards, a middle-aged man in black with an ordinary face walked forward slowly, his body exuding an overwhelming pressure as if he carried the infinite momentum of heaven and earth.

"Hmph! They dared to intercept and kill the geniuses of my Heavenly Mountain Sect, so what if I killed them?"

A cold snort rang out in the air. In the next instant, from a dense forest about several hundred meters away from Lin Yi, Pavilion Master of Tianshan Liu Donglai, dressed in green robes with an elegant face, stepped out, his eyes filled with surging killing intent.

"Hehe, you're right."

Hearing this, Marquis Huailin also smiled:

"Since my Great Yuan Dynasty can send people to intercept and kill your Heavenly Mountain Sect's geniuses, then your Heavenly Mountain Sect can naturally kill the experts of my Great Yuan Dynasty."

"But unfortunately, you can kill one, but you can't kill a hundred! You can protect this Lin Yi for a while, but you definitely can't protect him for a lifetime!"

"And today will be the day the two peerless geniuses of your Heavenly Mountain Sect, Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan, meet their end!"

"Heh! Their end? By your hand?"

Pavilion Master of Tianshan Liu Donglai sneered disdainfully.

This wasn't arrogance; he truly had the strength.

After all, being ranked fifteenth on the Earth Rankings proved that Liu Donglai was among the very top even among Xiantian Golden Core Realm experts.

Whereas Chen Zhao was just an ordinary Xiantian Golden Core Realm expert, ranked only sixty-third on the Earth Rankings. How could he compare?

"Hehe, naturally, I alone am not enough. But what if others are added?"

"Haha! You two, there's no need to hide anymore. Strike!"

Marquis Huailin Chen Zhao laughed heartily.

In the next moment...

"Jie jie jie..."

Two strange, piercing laughs suddenly rang out from the Void Realm.

Then, an old woman with a pale, thin face, wearing white robes and a tall hat inscribed with "Fortune at First Sight," and an old man with a dark, short body and a fierce appearance, wearing black robes and a hat with "Peace Under Heaven," both rushed forward from behind Chen Zhao. They crossed hundreds of meters almost instantly to reach Chen Zhao's side.

"Black Impermanence, Zhang Yuanling!"

"White Impermanence, Wang Miaoling!"

"You two actually defected to the Great Yuan Dynasty!"

Seeing these two figures, Liu Donglai's expression changed.

Black and White Impermanence were originally two Xiantian Golden Core Realm experts from Yong Province within the Nine Provinces. Later, because they had committed too many evils, they were wanted by the ruler of Yong Province—the Buddhist Holy Land "Great Chan Vajra Temple," which sent several Xiantian Golden Core Realm divine monks to hunt them down.

However, unexpectedly, although the individual strength of Black and White Impermanence was not high—even being at the bottom among Xiantian Golden Core Realm experts and weaker than Chen Zhao—

their Cultivation Techniques could complement and stack with each other. Working together, they could actually unleash strength within the top thirty of the Earth Rankings. In the end, they had managed to escape from those several Great Chan Vajra Temple Xiantian Golden Core Realm divine monks and had been missing ever since.

Originally, Liu Donglai thought these two had been scared off by the Great Chan Vajra Temple and had gone into hiding. He didn't expect them to have secretly joined the Great Yuan Dynasty. With these two joining the fray, things were truly troublesome now.

"Jie jie jie!"

On the other side, seeing Liu Donglai's grim face, the short Black Impermanence also laughed triumphantly:

"Liu Donglai, since you know the reputation of us siblings, then stop struggling."

"Leave obediently on your own and let us kill these two youngsters. That way, everyone will have it easy."

"Otherwise, if we start fighting, jie jie jie, your 'Floating Life Heaven Net Sword' might not necessarily be able to withstand our 'Myriad Ghost Divine Palm'!"

"Hmph! What big talk!"

Hearing this, Pavilion Master of Tianshan Liu Donglai's face also instantly turned cold:

"Just two stray dogs with nowhere to run after being hunted by the Great Chan Vajra Temple, and you dare mention your reputation in front of me?"

"As for that mere 'Myriad Ghost Divine Palm,' it's just some third-rate martial art from who knows where, yet you dare act so insolently before my 'Floating Life Heaven Net Sword'!"

"Wu Han, you hold off the Dragon Guards for a while for Lin Yi, and let Lin Yi leave first."

"As for the three of you, come at me together!"

"Old thing! You're looking for death!"

As soon as Liu Donglai finished speaking, Black and White Impermanence were instantly enraged.

The two circulated their palms, and Xiantian True Essence erupted.

In an instant, centered on the two of them, an infinite and massive black mist enveloped a radius of dozens of meters.

And within the infinite black mist, phantoms of evil ghosts emerged one after another, wailing and howling as they charged toward Liu Donglai.

Seeing this, Marquis Huailin Chen Zhao struck a palm toward Liu Donglai as well, while shouting to the burly man in golden armor beside him:

"Huang Jiu, you take five men to besiege Jiang Hanhan. Don't let him escape."

"As for the other four, go and kill that Lin Yi!"

"Haha! In this battle, I want the two peerless geniuses of the Heavenly Mountain Sect to perish in this Desolate Ancient Forest!"

"Yes, Marquis Huailin!"

Hearing this, the ten Dragon Guards were also incredibly excited and immediately charged toward Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan.

"Lin Yi, go!"

Seeing this, Jiang Hanhan didn't say much. His face remained as cold as frost, but there was a hint of resolve to face death in his eyes. He reached behind him with his right hand, drawing his sword while striding forward to engage the ten Dragon Guards in close combat.

Then—

"Boom!"

An explosion sounded, and Jiang Hanhan, who had charged forward, was instantly sent flying.

The Dragon Guards' strength was far greater than Jiang Hanhan had imagined after all; he was defeated in just a single exchange.

Although he struggled to his feet and desperately blocked seven of them, three of them still broke through Jiang Hanhan's blockade and charged ferociously toward Lin Yi.

"Lin Yi!"

"Lin Yi!"

Seeing this, Jiang Hanhan and Liu Donglai both shouted in extreme anxiety. Liu Donglai, in particular, was so furious his eyes turned red.

"Haha! Good, good, good! Things are progressing even more smoothly than imagined! Today, we are destined to achieve a monumental merit. This peerless Genius of the Heavenly Mountain Sect is dead for sure!"

Contrasting with the anxiety of Liu Donglai and Jiang Hanhan, the Great Yuan Dynasty's forces laughed maniacally.

Especially the three Dragon Guards who had broken through the blockade; they were ecstatic, and their bodies even trembled with excitement as they saw themselves getting closer and closer to Lin Yi.

However—

"Swish!"

Just as the three were still in their excitement, a dazzling galaxy of saber light suddenly sliced through the sky.

The galaxy was a hundred meters long and several zhang wide, with countless astral phenomena swirling within it. It looked exquisite and beautiful, seemingly without threat.

But in the next moment, when the galaxy of saber light collided with the three...

"Slash!"

The sound of flesh being torn apart rang out.

Beneath this dazzling galaxy of saber light, the three Dragon Guard soldiers, three First Rank experts, were like three ants.

With a single strike, they were cut into six pieces!