77: Liu Family of Tianbei City

Travel within the spatial wormhole was monotonous and perilous. The violent spatial energy was like invisible blades, constantly cutting and squeezing the protective energy of the transverser. Time lost its meaning here, with only the eternal, unchanging streams of light and whistling.

Li Ao sat cross-legged on an energy node, his eyes tightly shut, his brows deeply furrowed. His internal condition was worse than expected. The backlash from forcefully breaking through with the Black Iron Hegemon Body, coupled with the injuries from directly enduring a remote attack from a Dou Zun, and finally, the depletion from burning his Origin to unleash the “Return to Stillness” strike, had pushed his tempered Physical Body to the brink of collapse.

His Meridians were like dry, cracked earth, riddled with fissures, making the flow of Dou Qi incredibly difficult. The slightest carelessness could lead to more severe damage. His Qi Sea was almost depleted; the Dou Qi that was once as full as a lake now only had a few faint wisps remaining. The most troublesome part was that the wisp of Annihilation Rule also seemed extremely unstable due to excessive overexertion, sometimes dormant, sometimes restless within his body, bringing needle-like stinging pain.

He had to dedicate most of his mental energy to guiding his Qi and blood, barely maintaining the vitality of his Physical Body, while simultaneously resisting the constant spatial pressure from outside. The recovery speed was agonizingly slow.

“I must find a foothold as soon as possible, or… find a Heaven And Earth Treasure that contains immense vitality,” Li Ao mused. Ordinary Medicinal Pills were no longer very effective for his current injuries.

After an unknown period, at the end of the passage ahead, a stable white light finally appeared, rapidly expanding as the distance shortened.

The exit was approaching!

However, just as the wormhole was about to reach its destination and the surrounding spatial fluctuations were becoming calm, an unexpected change occurred!

“Boom—!”

The entire spatial passage suddenly vibrated violently! The previously relatively stable spatial energy became incredibly turbulent, like a lake into which a giant rock had been thrown, stirring up monstrous waves! Dark spatial rifts appeared without warning, frantically devouring everything in their path!

“This is bad! It’s a spatial storm!”

“Quickly stabilize yourselves!”

The other travelers in the wormhole immediately panicked, all vigorously activating their Dou Qi, and various colored lights illuminated as they tried to stabilize themselves in the storm.

Li Ao’s expression changed slightly. If he were at his peak, he would naturally not fear this mere spatial storm, but his current state was less than one in ten thousand, making this storm undoubtedly adding insult to injury for him!

He forcibly gathered a breath of Origin Qi, and a dark golden Qi and blood formed a faint light membrane on his body surface. His hands gripped the energy node beneath him tightly, stabilizing his body.

“Crack!”

A huge spatial rift, like the gaping maw of a beast, suddenly tore open not far from him! A terrifying suction force came, and several Dou Kings who failed to dodge in time were swallowed without even a scream, instantly turning into nothingness!

Li Ao was also pulled by the powerful suction, his body unstable, seemingly about to follow suit!

In a critical moment, a fierce light flashed in his eyes. Disregarding his injuries, he forcefully activated the restless wisp of Annihilation Rule!

“Freeze!”

With a low shout, a silver-gray airflow suddenly spread out from him as the center. Although its range was extremely small, it strangely “solidified” the space within three feet of him for a moment! The terrifying suction force also paused for that instant!

It was this momentary reprieve! Li Ao’s Thunder Sound Steps instinctively activated, and using the repulsive force, his body, like a swimming fish, narrowly escaped that death zone, shooting towards the increasingly close exit light spot!

Behind him, the spatial storm grew fiercer, and the entire passage began to twist and collapse!

“Whoosh!”

Li Ao’s figure, like an arrow released from a bowstring, finally rushed out of the violent spatial wormhole, slamming heavily onto the hard ground.

“Pfft!”

The moment he landed, he could no longer suppress the injuries within his body, violently spitting out a mouthful of dark red clotted blood. His aura instantly withered to the extreme, and his vision went black, almost causing him to faint.

He struggled to maintain his last shred of consciousness, looking around.

This was a massive bluestone plaza, far grander than the one in Tianya City. On the plaza, people came and went, with powerful auras everywhere. Dou Kings were as numerous as cattle, Dou Emperors were not uncommon, and he could even occasionally feel several obscure, profound auras far exceeding Dou Emperors!

The Heaven And Earth energy permeating the air was so dense it was almost tangible. With every breath, he could feel a subtle increase in his cultivation.

Was this Central Plains?

Before Li Ao could examine his surroundings closely, he felt several ill-intentioned gazes fall upon him. He was currently covered in blood, his aura weak, like a lamb awaiting slaughter. In this place of mixed Dragons and snakes, he was undoubtedly the best fat sheep.

His heart was solemn, knowing that this was not a place to stay long. He had to leave immediately and find a safe place to heal his injuries!

He struggled to stand up but found that excruciating pain shot through his limbs and bones. He barely had the strength to stand.

Just then, a clear voice, slightly surprised, sounded beside him:

“Oh? My friend, you are gravely injured. Did you encounter a storm in the spatial wormhole?”

Li Ao laboriously raised his head and saw a young man dressed in a light green robe standing not far away, looking at him with concern. The man had a handsome face, a gentle demeanor, and clear eyes, not appearing to be a villain. His aura also indicated he was a Dou Emperor, and his Foundation was quite solid.

Behind him, two steady-looking elders followed, their sharp gazes sweeping over the surrounding malevolent stares, subtly shielding Li Ao in the middle.

“Your Excellency is…?” Li Ao’s voice was hoarse, maintaining his vigilance.

“I am Liu Qing, from the Liu family of Tianbei City,” the green-robed man smiled slightly, cupping his fist. “Seeing that my friend is severely injured, if you don’t mind, you can come with us to a nearby Liu family outpost to rest and heal. When traveling, who doesn’t encounter difficulties?”

Liu Qing? Tianbei City Liu family?

Li Ao’s mind quickly flashed through the scattered information about Central Plains forces. There indeed seemed to be a place called Tianbei City, and the Liu family was considered a powerful force within it.

He glanced at Liu Qing and then sensed the auras of the two elders, weighing his options. In his current state, staying here would be more dangerous than beneficial. This Liu Qing did not seem to have malicious intentions; perhaps he could temporarily leverage their influence to overcome the immediate difficulty.

“Then… I shall trouble you,” Li Ao no longer hesitated, nodding. The most urgent task was to recover from his injuries.

Seeing him agree, Liu Qing’s smile widened, and he motioned for an elder to step forward and help Li Ao up: “My friend, there’s no need to be polite. Please follow me.”

Under the escort of Liu Qing and his companions, Li Ao temporarily left the perilous plaza, heading towards the Tianbei City Liu family’s direction.

He did not know that shortly after he left, at another spatial wormhole exit, a young man carrying a black ruler also stepped onto the land of Central Plains, looking somewhat disheveled. Xiao Yan looked at this strange and vast world before him, took a deep breath, his eyes filled with anticipation and fighting spirit.

Central Plains, I have arrived!

And Li Ao and Xiao Yan, these two latent Dragons from the Jia Ma Empire, finally descended upon this larger stage, one after another. Their arrival was destined to stir up new waves on this ancient and vast continent!

Was Li Ao’s temporary stay at the Liu family a blessing or a curse? Could he quickly regain his strength and find a way to save Medusa? And what challenges and opportunities would Xiao Yan, newly arrived in Central Plains, face?

Everything will slowly unfold in Central Plains, a place where heroes gather.