Chapter 747 748: Both Sides Suffer Losses

A Nine Heavens Martial Emperor was supreme, unparalleled. Even a mere Divine Thought clone was not something Third Layer Martial Emperors like them could withstand.

"Trying to run? You're all staying right here."

The figure's expression was cold as it threw another punch. The terrifying fist pierced the void, creating countless ripples that swept over the dozen or so fleeing Martial Emperor experts in cascading waves.

SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!

Just like rotten watermelons bursting, the ten First and Second Layer Martial Emperors had no way to resist. In an instant, they all exploded into a mist of blood, leaving not a single bone behind.

As for Wei Zifu and the other two Third Layer Martial Emperors, countless cracks rapidly appeared on their bodies. Streams of blood gushed out, and they seemed fragile enough to shatter at a touch.

The intense shockwave sent the three flying backward, wretched and drenched in blood.

"My lord, please wait!"

Wei Zifu and the other two cried out in terror, scared out of their wits.

"Hm? Not dead? Then die."

The towering figure didn't listen to their explanation at all. It gathered its Profound Energy and threw another punch. A brilliant torrent struck one of them directly in the chest. BANG! The armor on his chest shattered to pieces, and an irresistibly powerful force surged into his body.

KABOOM!

With a sound like a bursting balloon, the Third Layer Martial Emperor's face twisted in shock and rage as his entire body abruptly exploded, scattering countless mangled limbs and pieces across the sky.

"Damn it! You're a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor, it's true, but you think a mere Divine Thought clone can kill me?"

A savage look appeared on Luo Mingjiang's face as a black talisman suddenly materialized in his hand.

Strange wisps of black energy swirled on the talisman's surface. Activated by Luo Mingjiang, they formed into a black, ghostly face and shot into the body of Lingkong Cave's Nine Heavens Martial Emperor Divine Thought clone.

SIZZLE!

The black energy rampaged wildly inside the ethereal figure. Streams of ink-like energy bound Lingkong Cave's Nine Heavens Martial Emperor Divine Thought clone tightly, frantically corroding its body.

"What is this?"

Lingkong Cave's Void Martial Emperor was greatly alarmed.

He was a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor. Although the form attached to Qiu Yuan was only a Divine Thought clone, it still possessed the might of a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor, which was why it could crush its enemies with such ease, slaughtering Martial Emperor experts like dogs.

But this black power wasn't of a high grade—it hadn't even reached the Nine Heavens Realm. Yet, it was able to corrode his body and continuously drain his Nine Heavens Emperor Qi. He couldn't help but be shocked.

In a mix of shock and rage, the Void Martial Emperor furiously channeled his Nine Heavens Emperor Qi to resist the black Evil Qi, roaring in fury.

'Good, it actually works.'

Luo Mingjiang, however, was overcome with wild joy.

He had found this black talisman in some ruins earlier. It was an ancient object from this mysterious land.

Although Luo Mingjiang didn't know what the talisman was, he had felt a heart-pounding power from it, which was why he had used it at this critical moment.

He hadn't expected the black talisman to be so effective, throwing the Martial Emperor's phantom into such a frantic state.

"Go!"

Having landed a successful blow, Luo Mingjiang didn't dare to linger for a second. He turned and fled.

"Luo Mingjiang, leaving already? Isn't this outcome a little too unsatisfying for you?"

Just then, Wei Zifu spoke up from the side with a savage snarl.

"Wei Zifu, did that punch scramble your brains? If we don't go now, when will we?"

Luo Mingjiang looked over, speechless and confused.

Although his black talisman had temporarily trapped the enemy Martial Emperor's Divine Thought clone, it was clear that the talisman wasn't some heaven-defying Tier Nine treasure. The black Evil Qi it released was rapidly dissipating under the Divine Thought clone's assault.

Given a little more time, the Martial Emperor's Divine Thought clone would surely break free. At that point, he and Wei Zifu would be utterly powerless to fight back.

"Hmph. So many of our men died, we wasted so many treasures, and in the end, we get nothing and have to flee like beaten dogs. I refuse to accept this," Wei Zifu said, his face savage and his eyes bloodshot.

"What's the use of not accepting it? If we can't kill that Divine Thought clone, we're both going to die. Wei Zifu, if you're not leaving, then I am."

Luo Mingjiang couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on Wei Zifu and turned to leave.

The instant he turned, a look of resolve flashed in Wei Zifu's eyes. "Who says we can't kill that Divine Thought clone?"

As his voice fell, another black bead appeared in Wei Zifu's hand.

"You actually have another Explosive Yin Bead!"

Luo Mingjiang was stunned.

Explosive Yin Beads were exceedingly rare and precious. It was surprising enough that Wei Zifu had one before, but who would have thought he had another?

"With this Explosive Yin Bead, it's enough to kill him."

With a savage expression, Wei Zifu activated it with his Profound Energy. The black Explosive Yin Bead shot out like a streak of light, instantly slamming into the Void Martial Emperor's Divine Thought clone.

The moment he threw the Explosive Yin Bead, a look of reluctance crossed his face.

He had obtained the Explosive Yin Beads several years ago after a life-and-death struggle in a perilous secret realm. There were three in total, and they had always been his life-saving treasures.

One had already been used two years ago, leaving him with two for self-defense.

He had just used one to break through Qiu Gong's defenses. He had planned to save the last one for later, perhaps to kill Luo Mingjiang and the others and hoard the treasure for himself after seizing the top-grade Profound Stone.

Who would have thought that Qiu Yuan would have a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor's Divine Thought clone with him? Unwilling to accept defeat, Wei Zifu had no choice but to use his last Explosive Yin Bead.

BOOM!

A deafening roar echoed through the heavens. The Void Martial Emperor's Divine Thought clone, already being corroded by the black Evil Qi, was immediately engulfed in a ball of black fire. The instant before it was enveloped, its body fluctuated violently, and cracks began to appear all over it.

A Divine Thought clone, after all, was merely condensed from a wisp of a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor's will and essence blood. Though powerful, it was extremely unstable. Under the combined assault of the black talisman and the Explosive Yin Bead, it was on the verge of collapsing and dissipating.

"Yes!"

Exultant joy appeared on the faces of both Wei Zifu and Luo Mingjiang. In the next moment, however, their joy froze.

"Damn you! A couple of Martial Emperor ants think you can destroy my Divine Thought clone? Hmph, before my Divine Thought clone is destroyed, I have more than enough time to kill you."

The moment its Divine Thought clone began to crumble, the Void Martial Emperor roared and threw a punch with lightning speed.

RUMBLE!

A hazy fist of power formed between heaven and earth. It broke through the blast radius of the Explosive Yin Bead like a falling meteor or a hawk striking from the sky, instantly hitting Wei Zifu's body.

POW!

Like a hammer smashing an egg, Wei Zifu's expression shifted from wild joy to shocked fury as his body instantly exploded, turning into a rain of blood that splattered across the air.

After blowing Wei Zifu apart, the mighty fist's momentum didn't decrease in the slightest as it continued on toward Luo Mingjiang.

"No!"

Luo Mingjiang cried out in shock and rage, defending with all his might, his face a mask of terror as a vast power slammed into his body.

Fortunately, at that critical moment, the Void Martial Emperor's Divine Thought clone finally collapsed completely, dissipating into the void. The terrifying fist of power, having lost its source, weakened considerably.

Even so, the profound armor on Luo Mingjiang's chest instantly shattered. He coughed up a mouthful of blood—countless ribs were broken, and all his internal organs were ruptured. He was blasted into the ground like a cannonball, twitching and foaming at the mouth with blood, completely unable to fight.

On the other side, Qiu Yuan and Qiu Gong were also hit by the aftershock of the Explosive Yin Bead's blast, coughing up blood and looking utterly wretched.

COUGH! COUGH!

Coughing up blood, Qiu Gong walked over to Luo Mingjiang. His gaze was as savage as a wolf's, his expression incomparably grim.

"Spare me... I'll give you everything."

Luo Mingjiang said, his face full of terror as he sputtered bloody foam.

"Haha, spare you? You killed my Lingkong Cave's elders and destroyed my Lingkong Cave Ancestor's Divine Thought clone, and you want me to spare you?"

Qiu Gong laughed up at the sky, his eyes filled with venomous hatred. Then, before Luo Mingjiang's despairing eyes, he shattered his head with a single punch.

SWISH!

A Storage Ring flew into Qiu Gong's grasp. He sneered, "After I kill you, isn't everything of yours mine anyway?"

At that moment, a rather disheveled Qiu Yuan also collected the various Storage Rings and excitedly went to Qiu Gong. "Father, these are the Storage Rings from those guys."

"Good, very good."

Qiu Gong took the Storage Rings, but there was no joy on his face. This time, their Lingkong Cave had lost four Second Layer Martial Emperor Elders, which was undoubtedly a huge loss for them.

Fortunately, their gains were also substantial. Not to mention the contents of Luo Mingjiang and the others' Storage Rings, the single top-grade Profound Stone Ye Xuan had given them was a priceless treasure in itself.

"I'm heavily injured now, Qiu Yuan. You and I need to find a place to hide and recover from our injuries first."

"Yes, Father."

Qiu Gong and Qiu Yuan immediately shot into the sky, preparing to leave.

"Heh heh, what's the rush, you two?"

Abruptly, a light, chuckling voice sounded in their ears, scaring them both out of their wits. The voice came from not far from the battlefield. 'Could a powerful expert have been lurking there this whole time?'

At the thought of an expert lurking nearby, they were scared witless. Their hearts sank as they quickly turned to look, only to see a black toad carrying a smiling figure flying gently toward them.

It was Ye Xuan, whose fate had been unknown.

"It's you? You're not dead?"

Qiu Gong and Qiu Yuan felt a sense of relief, then spoke in surprise.

"What, were you two hoping I was dead?" Ye Xuan asked, feigning confusion.

"Of course not." Qiu Yuan glanced at Qiu Gong, a faint smile on his face as he flew toward Ye Xuan. "Young friend Xuan Ye, you truly are a lucky man. Since you're alright, you should come with us..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Qiu Yuan, who was now right in front of Ye Xuan, had a savage glint flash in his eyes. He threw a punch brimming with killing intent at Ye Xuan.

BOOM!

The iron fist, containing the power of a Tier Eight Second Layer expert, landed solidly on Ye Xuan's chest without any deviation.

"What? You..."

However, Qiu Yuan's eyes instantly filled with utter shock.

Under the force of his punch, Ye Xuan, still sitting on Erhei, hadn't moved an inch. He was still looking at him with a grin, but his smile was now laced with coldness and ridicule.