76: Chapter 76 Void Avatar

"Sect Master, let me handle this."

Chi Shuying's expression was icy as she took a step forward.

She had long since considered Moonshadow Sect her home; how could she allow others to insult it so lightly?

Another reason was that after reshaping her Physical Body and restoring her Nascent Soul Stage Realm, she—her hands were itching. The opponent was at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, just right for practice.

Ling Hao nodded slightly, praising her inwardly.

Bringing along a capable (in all aspects) Deputy Sect Master was just so worry-free! If there's trouble, the Deputy Sect Master handles it; if not... *cough*, it hasn't reached that point yet.

The aura around Chi Shuying suddenly surged. The majestic pressure belonging to a Nascent Soul True Lord was released without reservation, instantly stirring the winds and clouds.

"Nascent... Nascent Soul Stage?!"

The Elders of Liuyun Temple, especially the red-faced Third Elder, had their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

They had always assumed this woman in the pink dress was merely another Golden Core Elder of Moonshadow Sect; who could have imagined she was actually a genuine Nascent Soul True Lord!

The Loose Cultivators watching from afar were in an uproar:

"Nascent Soul! Another Nascent Soul! Moonshadow Sect actually has two Nascent Souls guarding it?!"

"No wonder they dared to intervene! Two Nascent Souls in one Sect; this is the foundation of Moonshadow Sect!"

Jing Hong listened to these discussions and sneered inwardly: A bunch of frogs in a well! The foundation of Moonshadow Sect is Sect Master Ling, a Spirit Severing True Venerable! What is so strange about a Sect with a Spirit Severing expert cultivating a Nascent Soul?

Chi Shuying didn't waste words; with a light lift of her fair hand, two streams of light shot out!

One was the Floating Cloud Water Sleeve, its surface shimmering with pale golden Talismans; it was as soft as water yet as tough as steel, whistling through the air as it headed straight for Bai Ge.

The other was a mystic frost ice sword, its body crystalline and wrapped in dense water-elemental Qi, transforming into a sky full of ice-crystal sword shadows that pierced down like a torrential rain.

Bai Ge's expression changed drastically as he felt unprecedented pressure! He let out a low growl and formed hand seals, a nine-section lightning whip wrapped in purple lightning appearing in his hand. He swung it frantically, lightning snakes dancing wildly as he tried to defend himself.

However, Chi Shuying's offensive was like a violent storm! The Floating Cloud Water Sleeve was agile and tricky, nearly entangling the whip's main body several times, and its tough material left Bai Ge's arm numb from the vibrations.

The cold aura and dense sword shadows of the mystic frost ice sword were omnipresent, forcing Bai Ge to struggle desperately, his protective spiritual light flickering constantly as he retreated repeatedly.

Chi Shuying simultaneously threw out several Talismans, which transformed into golden chains or ice-and-fire storms, sealing off Bai Ge's escape routes.

Bai Ge was completely suppressed and in a sorry state, his Daoist robe shredded by ice crystals, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were filled with horror and humiliation.

"Damn it! This junior goes too far!" A trace of hideous madness flashed in Bai Ge's eyes.

He understood that he was no match at all and would only die if he continued fighting. Running away was useless, too, with another Nascent Soul Stage expert watching like a tiger stalking its prey.

Just as Chi Shuying's mystic frost ice sword tore through his protective spiritual light again, the tip nearly touching his chest.

"Ah!!! Let's die together!!!"

Bai Ge let out a desperate and venomous roar. The Nascent Soul within his body suddenly erupted with blinding white light! A destructive, violent energy exploded instantly!

Nascent Soul self-detonation!

Chi Shuying's pupils constricted slightly. She hadn't expected this old fellow to be so decisive and ruthless. At such close range, the energy of a Nascent Soul self-detonation was terrifying; even she would find it difficult to emerge unscathed.

She reacted extremely quickly, instantly recalling the Floating Cloud Water Sleeve to wrap around herself, positioning the mystic frost ice sword in front to activate its maximum cold defense, while simultaneously crushing several high-grade defensive Talismans.

Boom—!!! A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering roar!

The blinding white light swallowed everything nearby! The terrifying storm of destruction slammed fiercely into Chi Shuying's layers of defense.

The Floating Cloud Water Sleeve vibrated violently, the mystic frost ice sword let out a mournful cry, and the Talisman shields shattered layer by layer.

Chi Shuying let out a muffled groan; under the impact of this wave of destruction, her body was involuntarily sent flying backward.

A figure in white appeared behind her; a warm, powerful arm steadily wrapped around her slender waist, gently pulling her into his embrace and easily neutralizing the impact force. His other hand casually flicked toward the destructive energy at the center of the explosion.

That terrifying energy storm, which could have severely injured a Nascent Soul Cultivator, vanished instantly without a trace, as if it had never appeared.

Ling Hao looked down at Chi Shuying, whose hair was slightly messy but otherwise unharmed, and a playful smile curled at the corner of his lips:

"Deputy Sect Master... that posture of yours, flying over like that, was it because you were so frightened by that old thing that you lost your way..."

He paused deliberately, the arm around her waist tightening slightly, his warm breath nearly brushing against her earlobe: "Or... did you deliberately want to give this Seat a chance to play the hero saving the beauty?"

Chi Shuying leaned against Ling Hao's solid, warm chest, her nose filled with his crisp, clean scent. The domineering strength and sense of security from the arm around her waist caused her heartbeat, already slightly chaotic from the explosion's impact, to instantly spiral even further out of control.

"Sect Master! I..."

She looked up abruptly, meeting Ling Hao's deep eyes filled with a teasing smile; her cheeks instantly turned as hot as sunset clouds, and even her earlobes were dyed with a rosy flush. She had intended to show off her skills in front of the Sect Master, but ended up "throwing herself into his arms" in this manner...

This was simply... too embarrassing!

"I... I didn't! It was that old rascal..."

Ling Hao watched her rare display of panic, his smile deepening as he comforted her: "Alright, I'm just joking. To run into such a desperate madman right after recovering your cultivation, where you could only use seven or eight-tenths of your full strength, you handled it very well."

Chi Shuying's heart beat like a drum at this moment.

An unprecedented, strange tingling sensation spread from the spot where his palm touched her waist, making her whole body feel a bit weak. She hurriedly averted her gaze, not daring to look into Ling Hao's eyes again, with only one thought frantically echoing in her mind.

Sect Master... was he flirting with me just now?!

"Good heavens! Nascent Soul self-detonation! That old thing was forced into self-detonation!"

"Hiss... too ruthless! This Deputy Sect Master of Moonshadow Sect is too fierce! She actually forced a Nascent Soul expert of the same level to self-detonate to survive?!"

"The key is Sect Master Ling! He... what did he just do? With just a flick of his sleeve, the aftermath of the Nascent Soul self-detonation... it was gone?! That was the core aftermath of a Nascent Soul self-detonation! Not just a glancing blow!"

The Elders of Liuyun Temple were even more shocked and terrified, cold sweat dripping down them.

The red-faced Third Elder patted his chest, exclaiming in wonder:

"Did you see that? Deputy Sect Master Chi took the core power of the self-detonation impact head-on! Although she was pushed back, her aura remained steady, clearly showing amazing defense! How are these Nascent Souls of Moonshadow Sect all so... so..."

He couldn't find the words to describe it for a moment.

The withered Second Elder nodded.

The Grand Elder Yunshui took a deep breath, suppressing the raging waves in her heart, and said in a deep voice:

"Strong! Strong beyond imagination! Forcing an equal to self-detonate while remaining almost unscathed... Deputy Sect Master Chi's strength is likely far beyond an ordinary Nascent Soul Early Stage! What's more terrifying is Sect Master Ling..."

Her gaze toward Ling Hao was filled with awe,

"Lightly and casually extinguishing the aftermath of a Nascent Soul self-detonation with a flick of his sleeve... this... this..."

The Elders of Liuyun Temple, including Grand Elder Yunshui, were no less shocked than those Loose Cultivators at this moment.

Although they knew Ling Hao was strong before, when he broke the giant hammer, they thought that might have been Ling Hao's limit, at most Middle Stage or Late Stage Nascent Soul.

Only now did they realize how ridiculously wrong they were!

Thinking back on their self-righteous worries and doubts at the banquet earlier, they felt as ridiculous as clowns! Their old faces burned, and they were so ashamed they wished they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Chi Shuying leaned in Ling Hao's embrace, listening to his highly provocative remark about "losing your way or deliberately throwing yourself into my arms." Her cheeks were burning, her heartbeat like a drum, and she was so embarrassed and annoyed she wanted to break free immediately, yet she also craved the feeling brought by this solid chest.

She was just about to say something, but Ling Hao had already looked up, his gaze sweeping indifferently toward the only remaining enemy on the field—Song Qingfeng.

At this moment, the mockery on Song Qingfeng's face completely froze. Bai Ge's self-detonation and fall, and Ling Hao's casual flick of his sleeve, were like two loud slaps, striking his face fiercely.

Seeing Ling Hao's indifferent gaze locked onto him, Song Qingfeng was terrified out of his wits! A strong desire to survive made him let out a shrill scream:

"Stop! You can't kill me! My father is Ancestor Tianhuo! My mother is Ancestor Diyan! If you dare touch a single hair on my head, they will definitely..."

"Hmph!"

"Even if your parents were the Jade Emperor himself, they couldn't save you today!"

Ling Hao sneered and raised his hand, pressing down from a distance.

A massive spiritual power palm, blocking out the sky and sun, instantly condensed and slammed down onto Song Qingfeng!

"No—!"

Song Qingfeng let out a desperate shriek!

Just as the giant palm descended, a jade Talisman he wore close to his body, made of green jade, shattered with a "crack."

Two incomparably majestic phantoms appeared beside Song Qingfeng.