Chapter 134
Ying Bing's ears twitched slightly.
She heard footsteps behind her.
It wasn't Tang Xiaobao.
It was him.
He was truly strange.
Ying Bing couldn't help but recall the scene on the stone steps leading to the sky.
It seemed that no matter the pressure, it was as if it had no effect on that young man.
The divine form of the bronze tree, though incomplete, contained a will that even the inner breath or the realm of observing the divine could not withstand.
Yet Li Mo followed along with an air of leisure.
For some reason, having him behind her at this moment brought a sense of reassurance.
"This isn't the time to think about that."
In just a few dozen meters, the two had arrived at the entrance of the palace.
This palace was clearly more vast and imposing than the several below.
The plaque above read:
"Chao Tian Palace"
"Enough of these tricks."
"Come out."
Ying Bing narrowed her eyes at the palace entrance, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
The area in front of the palace was empty; there were no stone tablets present.
---
Chapter 134: Li Mo, Are You Selling the Blood Phoenix Essence?
"I was once the Master of the Seventh Realm," Han Zhen said, hands clasped behind his back, speaking in a calm tone.
The Master of the Seventh Realm was nearly the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
No faction could claim to be transcendent without a Master of the Seventh Realm in command.
To see the emperor without bowing, one could enjoy the treatment of a noble in the court.
His powerful voice echoed within the palace.
"Master of the Seventh Realm?"
Li Mo was puzzled.
Ying Bing's expression remained as cold as ever.
The palace fell into an awkward silence.
Han Zhen: "..."
The reactions of the young man and woman were not what he had imagined.
No shock, no awe, no wild joy—none of it.
Well, it made sense.
The Qingyuan Sect had fallen to such a state.
The strongest they had encountered, Shangguan Wencang, was merely at the Fifth Realm's outer scene.
"You two are still just frogs at the bottom of a well in the Eastern Wilderness," Han Zhen said, maintaining his patience, his chest slightly puffed out.
"When you reach the Fourth Realm's outer scene, you'll understand how insignificant you are, like a mayfly gazing at the vast sky."
His words carried unparalleled confidence and grandeur.
Then, he fell flat.
Ying Bing: "..."
Li Mo: "E."
To be fair, Li Mo thought Han Zhen's ability to paint a grand picture was lacking; he was too earnest, not at all professional.
He had a few suggestions but wasn't sure if he should voice them.
Han Zhen squinted at the two who remained unmoved, and with a hint of admiration, he said, "You two are remarkably calm; you have the demeanor of those destined for greatness."
"Very well, I'll speak plainly."
"I am not an ordinary Master of the Seventh Realm. Thousands of years ago, I was the national master of the Great Shang, traversing the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths for millennia."
"If you have my guidance, you will surely enter the Seventh Realm in the future."
"Divine skills, rare treasures—many things you have never even seen in the Qingyuan Sect will be at your fingertips."
His voice vibrated through the air, his words seemingly transforming into delicate fingers that tugged at the heartstrings, laden with immense temptation.
Han Zhen believed he was being quite sincere.
For thousands of years, he had never expended so much effort in persuasion.
Suddenly—
The pale golden remains of the Master of the Seventh Realm stood up.
A faint, alluring red pulsed at its heart, and as it throbbed gently, blood-red patterns spread across the bones, forming intricate runes.
A powerful and terrifying aura surged forth.
This was both a display of strength and a threat.
"The Blood Phoenix Essence has been reduced to this state by you."
Ying Bing frowned slightly.
"..."
Han Zhen's eyelids twitched, and a hint of danger flickered in his gaze.
"Uh."
Li Mo pondered for a moment and asked, "Are you suggesting a plot to overthrow the Great Yu and restore the Great Shang?"
Han Zhen seemed surprised but did not deny it.
Li Mo cleared his throat and continued, "How about this? I have some modest resources. Why don't you sell the Blood Phoenix Essence to me?"
"Then we can each go our separate ways, how does that sound?"
"What do you say?"
Han Zhen was almost laughing in anger, his expression darkening completely.
Behind him, the bronze divine tree faintly materialized.
Having learned so many secrets, he expected them to be in the same boat, yet they wanted to act as if nothing had happened?
"A wild horse is hard to tame. When I was young, I was just as unruly as you."
"Then let you experience firsthand what despair truly means!"
As he spoke, his form began to dissolve, transforming into blood.
---
Chapter 135: The Great Battle Against the Groundhog, Yin Hua Xuan Joins the Fray
Middle-aged Han Zhen had not anticipated this.
The Blood Phoenix Essence contained countless living beings' blood, a power that even the realm of observing the divine could not fully control.
He was no different.
Thus, he took a different path and refined his own remains.
And Ying Bing...
She had directly ignited that essence, causing her aura to soar.
Clearly, the connection to the Blood Phoenix Essence had not been severed.
Why?
Why had the Blood Phoenix Essence abandoned him, becoming so docile before Ying Bing?!
Inner breath peak...
Observing the divine one aperture...
Observing the divine two apertures...
...
Observing the divine nine apertures!
At this rate, Ying Bing was about to touch the threshold of the inner scene!
In the midst of their clash, Ying Bing's aura continued to rise.
She shifted from evasion to counterattack.
This was mainly because that skeletal frame had once belonged to a Master of the Seventh Realm, possessing many divine anomalies, remaining pristine even after thousands of years.
Even a Fifth Realm outer scene expert would find it hard to inflict damage here.
Bang—
The rosy light blocked Han Zhen's punch, dispersing some of its force.
Seizing the opportunity, Ying Bing parted her crimson lips:
"Freeze."
The aura of the Taiyin surged, and a bright moon slowly rose above the blood river.
Wherever the moonlight reached, all things froze.
If not for the ability to think, one might almost believe time and space had come to a standstill.
Han Zhen's expression changed dramatically.
"Who are you?!"
"Could it be that you, like me..."
Ying Bing ignored his words, focusing all her mind on the sword.
Her jade-like fingers brushed against the frost of the heavens, and the sword light blazed forth, the fierce sword energy causing the blood river to tremble.
This sword would annihilate all.
This sword would surely hit its mark.
The sword of selflessness.
The target of this sword was Han Zhen's soul.
"Annihilate."
The bright sword tip continued to magnify.
Han Zhen no longer had the luxury to ponder how she could wield such power beyond her realm; he only knew that if he didn't fight with all his might, he wouldn't even have the chance to do so.
Veins bulged on his forehead as he gritted his teeth and uttered three words:
"Seize the heavenly secrets!"
In a daze, Han Zhen's body appeared to regain some youth.
"Defy the heavenly path!"
The gray in his hair vanished.
"Defy fate!!"
Han Zhen's aura reached its peak.
He could finally move.
This was one of the few powerful secret techniques he had mastered that he could currently use.
The cost was equally immense.
He had overdrawn his future for the sake of the present.
Snap—
Han Zhen brought his palms together, catching that deadly sword.
The energies of both sides flickered and clashed, nearly shattering the void.
Boom—
...
The tremendous noise reached those below.
"What kind of inheritance is up there? The commotion is so great!"
"Do you think it could be that the inheritance is too precious, and Li Mo and Ying Bing are fighting over it?"
"That doesn't seem likely; how could the inner breath realm create such a grand spectacle?"
"I sense a terrifying sword intent; could the inheritance be related to swords?"
"No, that aura... seems to be far more profound and majestic than the outer scene..."
...
Those below were all puzzled.
Some bold individuals even wanted to move closer to take a look.
But at that moment—
Boom—
The entire secret realm shook.
On the other side—
Bang—
Young Han Zhen was sent flying by a blow, crashing into a pillar of the bronze temple like a cannonball.
"You..."
"After living for thousands of years, is this all you've got?"
Li Mo held the Starry Pillar in his hand, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
Young Han Zhen staggered to his feet, his eyes still unfathomably deep.
"You can't win."
"Since you are a disciple of Shang Wu, I can forgive your offense, as long as you abandon the dark..."
"Have you ever been a girl?"
Li Mo suddenly interjected.
Han Zhen's tone faltered for a moment.
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