Chapter 652 - 661: Annihilating the Heaven-Burying Sect (9)

Qing Xing glanced at the Purple Gold Yuan Qi swirling around Wen Qingye but paid it no mind. With a wave of his sleeve, the thick black clouds roiled, and countless black Primordial Qi Flying Swords materialized, aimed at Wen Qingye.

Each of the black Flying Swords bristled with dense Law Power—the very Law of the Taiyi Heartless Dao. There were dozens of them, and the Primordial Qi contained within each was more than a master at the Life and Death Realm Fifth Layer could block.

"Go!"

Qing Xing flicked a finger, and the countless black swords instantly descended upon Wen Qingye like a rain of blades.

"Cold Ice Sword Technique, First Sword—Frigid Downpour!"

The black swords were unnaturally fast, and Wen Qingye certainly wasn’t careless. He swung his One Thought Sword, and a beam of Sword Aura descended from the heavens. It carried with it thousands of purple afterimages, like a violent downpour rushing to the ground.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The countless beams of Sword Aura clashed against the black swords, managing to block every last one of the Flying Swords. The attacks canceled each other out, dissipating into a sky full of shimmering motes of Primordial Qi.

PTHOO!

Just then, Tu Bai, whose cultivation was a notch weaker, was struck by one of Qing Yun’s palms. He spat out another mouthful of green blood. It was the third palm strike he had taken from Qing Yun.

Qing Yun stared in astonishment at Tu Bai, his heart reeling in shock. ’A typical Martial Artist at the Life and Death Realm Third Layer Heaven would be dead after a single one of my palm strikes. But this kid has taken three and is still standing? This is unbelievable.’

Tu Bai could feel his life force slowly fading. He took a deep breath and murmured to himself, ’The time it takes for an incense stick to burn isn’t up yet... Not yet... I have to hold on a little longer...’

BANG!

Qing Yun struck again. The merciless palm strike sent shockwaves through the air, sending Tu Bai’s body flying dozens of yards away.

Tu Bai’s massive frame carved a long, green streak of blood into the ground. His body seemed to be falling apart, with a green fluid slowly oozing out and staining the earth.

His hair was matted with green blood and dirt, but nothing could hide the feral light in his eyes. He planted a hand on the ground and slowly pushed himself halfway up.

Blood continued to pour from his wounds.

"You... from Taiyi Hall... this old man... isn’t dead... yet!"

A hush fell over the onlookers, their pupils contracting in shock.

Qing Yun, who had been about to rush Wen Qingye, froze in his tracks. He turned his head and stared at Tu Bai, no longer able to hide his astonishment.

’Just how much willpower does this kid have?’

’Even a master at the Life and Death Realm Fifth Layer would be deader than dead after three of my palm strikes, yet he’s still alive?’

"Why?" Qing Yun asked, looking at Tu Bai before him. The question was instinctual.

Tu Bai’s lips twisted into a wretched grin. "The... time... for one... in... incense... stick... isn’t... up..."

Everyone was stunned, their minds flashing back to what Wen Qingye had said earlier.

’Did Tu Bai really trust Wen Qingye that much?’

’To disregard his own life and death... what an incredible display of trust.’

At that moment, a tremor went through everyone’s heart.

"Go down!"

Suddenly, Qing Yue’s roar ripped through the sky.

BOOM!

The next moment, another thunderous sound echoed. Sima Feng’s green robe was gone, his entire body covered in countless wounds that crisscrossed his teetering frame. Blood streamed from his body, flowing for several yards across the broken earth, yet he had not retreated a single step.

"I... I, Sima Feng, would rather die on my feet than live on my knees!" Sima Feng’s voice was as thin as a thread; if not for the masters present, no one would have heard him.

Qing Yue said grimly, "Move aside, and I’ll spare you today."

He couldn’t stand Sima Feng’s frenzied attacks any longer. ’Even after using that Secret Skill, he’s not my match, but he’s still bogging me down. I’ve used every ounce of my strength, and he still just refuses to die!’

Sima Feng slowly raised his head to look at Qing Yue. "Move aside? You... underestimate me, Sima Feng. As long as I’m not dead, you won’t take a single step past me."

At that moment, Tu Bai whispered, "Dy...ing... is... simp...le. Madman... I’ll... I’ll... join... you."

Everyone watched the two blood-soaked men, their own breathing growing ragged.

Life and death!

At this moment, they no longer cared about such things. What they cared about was the time it took for an incense stick to burn. What they cared about was that unwavering trust. What they cared about was the profound bond of their friendship.

And amid it all, what no one seemed to notice was that the time it took for an incense stick to burn was nearly up.

ROAR!

A massive roar, like rolling thunder, exploded in everyone’s ears, shaking the very heavens.

Alarmed, everyone whipped their heads around to look.

Wen Qingye stood firm against the gale, his expression as steady as a mountain. His body radiated a purple-gold light, and behind him, the flickering phantom of a strange, colossal beast had appeared.

A black Seal Technique had formed in his palm, and it began to burn furiously with wisps of purple flame.

SHHHHHH...

Gusts of black, spectral wind suddenly whipped up all around, chilling everyone to the bone.

"Undying Seal Technique, First Form: Soul-Reaping Funerary Wind!"

With a swing of his arm, the Seal Technique tore through the void, blasting directly toward Qing Xing, whose face was as grim as still water.

"Jade Balance Hand!"

Qing Xing roared. He flipped a hand as fair as jade, and a colossal, jade-white palm descended from the sky to collide with Wen Qingye’s Seal Technique.

BOOM!

The vast aura of Primordial Qi seemed to become tangible, and an even more terrifying pressure swept across the hearts of the onlookers.

BANG!

As the Seal Technique dissipated, the jade-white Hand Seal also burst apart.

The cold sneer on Qing Xing’s lips had not yet faded when his expression abruptly changed. Ahead, Wen Qingye’s expression was as placid as an undisturbed well, even as a trickle of red blood seeped from his lips. His hands continued to move, and another Seal Technique rapidly materialized.

"Undying Seal Technique, Second Form: Separation and Death Shatter the Heart!"

Instantly, countless streams of black and white energy swirled around an even more magnificent and immense Seal Technique that came surging forward.

The two Seal Techniques seemed to be linked. Though they appeared to be two separate moves, Wen Qingye executed them with such speed that they flowed as one.

Qing Xing was still in the process of mobilizing his Primordial Qi and simply could not react in time. He could only stare, dumbfounded, as the Seal Technique surged toward him.

In a daze, he had no choice but to clench his fist and throw a desperate punch.

RUMBLE!

The black Seal Technique surged forward, not pausing for an instant. It crushed his defense and slammed into the ground, raising a deafening roar and a cloud of dust that blotted out the sky.