312: Chapter 312 Heavenly Favorite

Songhua County.

The once-prosperous Songhua County was now in ruins. Broken walls were submerged in murky, muddy water, and streets had turned into a swamp, with shattered furniture and driftwood floating about. The smell of silt and a faint, bloody scent permeated the damp air.

The entire ruined city was covered by a massive, transparent film, barely isolating it from the surging Songhua River outside.

Floating above the central square of the city was a strange stone emitting a gentle, five-colored halo.

Beneath the stone, the vast majority of the city's remaining able-bodied Cultivators were gathered. They sat cross-legged, their faces pale, sweat pouring down like rain, as they continuously funneled their meager remaining Spirit Power into it.

The other Cultivators were scattered around, seizing every second to meditate and regulate their breathing, hoping to recover their Spirit Power as quickly as possible to replace their exhausted comrades.

The Stargazing Platform at the highest point of Songhua County was the core node of the protective barrier.

Shui Wanqing sat cross-legged at the center of the formation eye. Her water-blue, wide-sleeved flowing cloud dress was stained with mud and sweat, her face was pale as paper, and her aura was weak.

Her hands formed seals, and her Spirit Power transformed into a pale blue beam of light, continuously injected into the floating five-colored stone.

Every output of Spirit Power caused her body to tremble slightly, and faint blue water patterns flickered on her neck and collarbone, with hints of Yellow Springs Death Qi attempting to overflow, only to be forcibly suppressed by her.

"Aunt... All the Medicinal Pill and Spirit Stone I had for replenishing Spirit Power... are gone."

Beside her, a silver-haired, purple-eyed girl wearing a Profound Underworld Flowing Fairy Dress (gradient water-blue to deep purple) said with a distressed expression.

Her small face was pale due to excessive transmission of Spirit Power.

"Aunt, that Sect Master Supreme you mentioned... how much longer until he arrives? He isn't... not coming, right?"

"He will come!"

Shui Wanqing's voice was decisive.

This sentence was not just an answer to her niece, but also a support for her own crumbling will.

Boom—!

Outside the barrier, the murky water of the Songhua River was like an angry Dragon, carrying mud, sand, and broken giant trees, violently crashing against that thin layer of five-colored light curtain again and again. Every collision caused the light curtain to shake violently, with ripples flashing wildly.

The force of the backflowing river water was like the heavens collapsing!

In mid-air outside the city, a figure shrouded in black mist coldly watched the stubborn splash of water-blue on the high platform.

He had a burly Physique covered in dark bone armor, with miserable green nether flames burning at his joints. His ferocious head had curved horns, and a pair of scarlet eyes filled with brutality and greed stared fixedly at the five-colored stone supporting the light curtain.

Ming Shi's expression was extremely ugly. He had been wandering in the Central Province when he was accidentally dragged into a spatial rift by the aftermath of a battle between a Mahayana Supreme of the Three Provinces Realm and the Devil Ancestor. It was only by a narrow escape that he emerged from this spatial rift at the bottom of the Songhua River.

As soon as he appeared, he triggered the river to backflow, intending to devour the city to recover his Origin Qi, but he hadn't expected to encounter such a tough nut as Shui Wanqing.

A mere First-Tribulation Loose Immortal (Void Refinement Stage), combined with this magical stone, had actually kept him at bay, stalemated for nearly three days!

"heaven-mending stone..."

The fire of greed burned fiercely in Ming Shi's heart; this unexpected "blessing" made him reluctant to leave. This item was of great benefit to Cultivators above the Void Tempering (Devil Emperor Realm) for stabilizing and expanding their Cave-Heaven Small World, and it could greatly enhance the use of Cave-Heaven power and combat strength.

If not for coveting this treasure, he would have fled long ago.

Watching Shui Wanqing, whose aura was becoming weaker and weaker on the high platform, Ming Shi let out a hoarse, ferocious laugh.

"Soon! Once your Spirit Power is exhausted, you will be lambs waiting to be slaughtered! As for that so-called Supreme she mentioned? Hmph, in this godforsaken place, what kind of Mahayana Supreme could there be! As long as a Supreme doesn't arrive in person, who can stop me!"

A fierce light flashed in his eyes, ready to strike, waiting only for the moment the barrier collapsed.

After another period of time, Shui Wanqing's body swayed violently. Her last bit of Spirit Power was exhausted, her vision went black, and unable to hold on any longer, she fell backward softly.

The cold, hard ground she expected did not touch her; instead, she fell into a warm embrace.

Shui Wanqing opened her eyes weakly and saw that familiar face, the surprise instantly dispelling her fatigue.

"Sect... Sect Master?!"

Ling Hao held her steadily and smiled down at her, "Mm, I am here."

Beside them, Su Fengyi's Phoenix eyes were filled with malice as she stared at Ming Shi outside the light curtain, full of Killing Intent.

"I will go deal with that evil spawn!"

Ling Hao's gaze swept over Ming Shi, discerning his true condition.

"Heavenly Demon Late Stage Realm, but his injuries are extremely severe, leaving him with only Early Stage combat strength. Be careful, it will be fine."

Su Fengyi nodded slightly, and her figure disappeared from the high platform instantly.

"Your Majesty! It's Your Majesty!"

"We are saved! Songhua County is saved!"

The Cultivators in the city witnessed this scene, and after a brief silence, they erupted into earth-shattering cheers and the wild joy of surviving a disaster.

The atmosphere of exhaustion and despair was swept away, and many people were moved to tears. There were also some who looked at Ling Hao, showing suspicion, not understanding who this young man who came with Her Majesty the Empress was.

Ling Hao's gaze paused for a moment on the five-colored heaven-mending stone.

Taking out a Nine-Turn Hunyuan Creation Pill, Ling Hao held the weak and powerless Shui Wanqing in one arm, and with the other hand, he brought the Medicinal Pill to her lips, saying gently: "Come, open your mouth."

A blush appeared on Shui Wanqing's pale face, and she struggled, saying:

"Sect... Sect Master, I... I can do it myself..."

Before she could finish, the faint blue water patterns on her neck suddenly erupted, and a thick, intense Yellow Springs Death Qi surged out, causing her body temperature to plummet, and even tiny ice crystals condensed on her skin! The surrounding air instantly filled with the strong, fishy-sweet scent of the Yellow Springs.

"Ugh!" Shui Wanqing groaned in pain, her body trembling violently.

Ling Hao's eyes narrowed, his arm holding her tightened slightly, and his Chaos Spiritual Power instantly surged into her body, forcibly suppressing the violent and cold Death Qi.

At the same time, his fingers holding the Medicinal Pill gently pried open her soft lips and pushed the pill inside. The pill melted upon contact, and the vast, gentle Spirit Power quickly nourished her withered Meridians.

In this close contact, Shui Wanqing felt the strength of Ling Hao's arm and the warmth of his chest, as well as the strange sense of comfort brought by the flow of his Chaos Spiritual Power within her body, and even...

The heat from the palm pressing against her waist made her pale cheeks turn even redder, her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably, and her body felt increasingly soft and weak.

Outside the light curtain, Ming Shi's furious roar came.

"Hmph! Undergoing Tribulation fifth level?! You dare to block me?"

He was tough with his words, but alarm bells were ringing in his heart. In his prime, he naturally wouldn't be afraid, but now, severely injured, facing someone at the Undergoing Tribulation fifth level in perfect condition, his chances of winning were slim.

He considered retreating, but his gaze swept over the heaven-mending stone, and his greed flared up again.

"So what if you were a Heavenly Demon Late Stage in your prime?"

Su Fengyi was full of Killing Intent,

"Now that you are so severely injured that you can't even beat an Undergoing Tribulation Early Stage, stop acting like a big shot! Die!"

She condensed a brilliant Phoenix True Fire in her hand, which turned into a golden-red rainbow and stabbed straight at Ming Shi.

Ming Shi's black mist rolled around him, condensing into a huge Nether Bone Claw to meet the Phoenix True Fire, seemingly giving it his all.

However, just as the two were about to collide, his figure suddenly turned into a ghostly shadow, bypassing Su Fengyi's attack trajectory with incredible speed, appearing like a phantom above Songhua County.

Above, the light shield had already disappeared, and the five-colored stone was slowly falling. The girl in the purple dress was flying in mid-air, just about to reach out to catch it.

"Hahaha! This treasure is mine! I won't play with you anymore!"

Ming Shi's figure appeared beside the heaven-mending stone, laughing in ecstasy, his bone claws grabbing at the heaven-mending stone like lightning! He had calculated that Su Fengyi would not be able to save it in time. As for the girl nearby, she was just an ant.

Even the fear in that girl's eyes made him even happier!

The expected panic did not appear on Su Fengyi's face; instead, a mocking arc curved on her lips.

"Hmm?!"

Ming Shi was confused, only to suddenly discover in horror that he couldn't move.

He struggled to turn his scarlet eyes, meeting Ling Hao's deep gaze on the high platform.

"No—!!!"

Ming Shi roared in his heart,

"Mahayana Supreme?! He really is a Mahayana Supreme?! Why?! How is this possible in such a place?!"

Endless fear drowned Ming Shi. He knew the answer to why Su Fengyi hadn't chased him, and he also knew his own death date!

Ling Hao looked at him indifferently, extended a hand, pointed his five fingers at the void, and closed them gently.

Crack!

Ming Shi's body shattered into pieces, turned into dust, and then into fly ash.

The crisis was resolved, and the Songhua River water outside the barrier lost the traction of the Heavenly Demon's power and began to recede slowly.

"Phew... Scared, scared me to death..."

The girl in the purple dress patted her chest, flashed, returned to not far from Shui Wanqing, and looked at Ling Hao curiously.

"Thank you!"

"Aunt, is this the Sect Master Supreme you mentioned?"

Ling Hao gazed at Shui Liuli, silver hair and purple eyes, the tips of her hair shimmering with water-blue light, her petite figure wrapped in the Profound Underworld Flowing Fairy Dress, the white jade lotus pendant at her waist swaying gently, and a peculiar aura lingering around her.

This is... the daughter of Luck?

With a thought, a semi-transparent panel appeared before Ling Hao's eyes:

[Name: Shui Liuli]

[Age: 18]

[Spiritual Root: Water Spiritual Root]

[Physique: Yin and Yang Dual Body, Heavenly Water Sacred Body, Nine Nether Sacred Body.]

[Cultivation: Nascent Soul fourth level]

[Favorability: 50]

[Status: Heaven's Favor (Water Element Realm), Heavenly Dao Mark (Three Provinces Realm)]

18 years old, Nascent Soul fourth level?!

Yin and Yang Dual Body? Heavenly Water Sacred Body? Nine Nether Sacred Body?

Heaven's Favor? Heavenly Dao Mark?

And... Water Element Realm?!