Chapter Fourteen: Fierce Battle—The Three Great Late-Stage Celestial Spirits!
Feeling the fierce gust of wind, Huo Qing smirked, raised his fist, and, infused with spiritual power and sword aura, suddenly struck back!
Bang!
The violent wind exploded, yet Huo Qing remained unmoved. However, Ye Jiuyou’s body trembled, and he was hurled backward in a sorry state, spewing mouthfuls of fresh blood.
Pain contorted Ye Jiuyou’s face. Inside him, besides the turbulent flow of qi and blood, there was a dense, stabbing sensation—an invisible sword intent relentlessly ravaging him.
“No wonder that useless Yu Luo was crippled by your single punch. You’re not an ordinary fellow, indeed. You can’t be judged by common sense,” Ye Jiuyou sneered darkly.
Huo Qing chuckled faintly but the murderous intent in his heart grew even fiercer.
So this scoundrel was behind it all.
Whoosh!
A fiery red spiritual whip descended, its scorching heat igniting the air, sweeping horizontally toward Ye Jiuyou.
“Ye Jiuyou, I shall start collecting my father’s debts from you!” Ye Hongling’s eyes blazed with overwhelming fury.
Yet, facing Ye Hongling’s fierce strike, Ye Jiuyou neither dodged nor avoided. A strange, eerie smile curled at the corner of his lips.
Huo Qing’s gaze locked tightly on Ye Jiuyou’s side, a strong sense of unease surging within. In the next moment, he grabbed Ye Hongling’s wrist and instantly retreated with great speed.
The scorching spiritual whip, hovering just an inch before Ye Jiuyou, as if encountering an immense resistance, vanished into thin air.
At the same time, a piercing finger imprint tore through the void, shooting straight toward them like a deadly missile.
Without hesitation, Huo Qing activated the Heavenly Martial Seal, unleashing a defensive barrier that enveloped both of them.
The finger imprint struck the barrier’s surface, ripples spreading rapidly but failing to penetrate it.
Finally, both forces dissipated.
“Eh…”
A faint sound of surprise seemed to echo softly.
Huo Qing helped Ye Hongling to her feet, unable to speak further, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on a dark silhouette that had suddenly appeared ahead.
The shadow removed his hat, revealing an aged face. He was short and gaunt, with deep sunken eyes.
Yet, this half-buried figure exuded an icy chill that permeated Huo Qing’s entire body.
This man had reached the late Heavenly Spirit Realm.
Unlike the Earth Spirit Realm, each stage of the Heavenly Spirit Realm was vastly different, especially the late stage, which was a decisive watershed. A late-stage master could easily annihilate several mid-stage opponents.
Among the great families of the Heavenly Shu Commandery, a late Heavenly Spirit Realm expert was considered a guest of the highest honor, holding a very prestigious status.
---
“What an interesting little fellow. But if you think this defensive barrier alone can save your life, you’re greatly underestimating me...” The old man in the black robe shook his head and smiled faintly.
As he advanced step by step, Ye Hongling recognized him and her expression instantly changed.
“Ye Jiuyou, how dare you secretly mobilize the Black Seal Guards of the Prince’s Mansion! Do you even know what crime you’ve committed?!”
The Black Seal Guards were the elite protectors of the Prince’s Mansion, never called upon under ordinary circumstances—and even if they were, Ye Jiuyou, a junior, had no right to command them!
Ye Jiuyou replied indifferently, “The Black Seal Guards, I use them when I want to…”
After speaking, he glanced at Ye Hongling with contempt and sneered, “No wonder the Fourth Prince’s Mansion suffered such a disaster. Turns out, you and your father are equally obstinate!”
“You—!” Ye Hongling’s fury nearly burst forth, but the presence of the black-robed elder beside her forced her to restrain herself.
The situation was becoming unbearably troublesome.
Having spoken, Ye Jiuyou turned to Huo Qing with a mocking smile.
“You’re truly bold, killing even the Second Young Master of the Han family. What surprises me most is that after killing him, you didn’t hide away in some remote place but instead came to this Dark Demon City to flaunt yourself. Tsk tsk, you really don’t fear death…”
With that, ignoring Huo Qing’s sudden darkening face, he lightly clapped his hands and laughed:
“Friends of the Han family, it’s time you come out and meet this fellow.”
At his words, two terrifying bursts of spiritual power erupted like volcanic explosions, a punch and a palm blasting toward Huo Qing like cannonballs.
Simultaneously, two thunderous angry shouts resounded:
“You brat, you’ve made me search for you in vain!”
“Today, you shall pay with your life for my nephew!”
Bang!
The Heavenly Martial Seal was unleashed once more, but this time, the defensive barrier lasted only a moment before shattering.
Phut!
Huo Qing’s throat burned as he spat a mouthful of fresh blood, his body flying backward, crashing through several walls.
He forced himself to stabilize his stance, coughing up blood. His clothes were torn to shreds, and most terrifyingly, two imprints of fists and palms were branded on his chest, grotesque and terrifying.
“Huo Qing!”
---
Elsewhere, Ye Hongling rushed over, tears streaming down as she stared at Huo Qing’s battered form.
“Huo Qing... it’s all my fault, I’ve brought you harm…”
Three late Heavenly Spirit Realm masters closing in, she could think of no way to escape alive.
The thought that her grudges would now entangle Huo Qing filled her with overwhelming guilt.
Huo Qing’s face remained expressionless as he softly said,
“It’s nothing. This day was inevitable. But if they want to kill me, it won’t be so easy.”
He stood up, his pupils reflecting the three approaching masters, and he grinned:
“Old codgers, you’re truly unreasonable. That Han Mo City was evil through and through; his end was his own doing. I rid you of a pest, yet you don’t thank me but blame me instead.”
“Shut up, you sharp-tongued brat! For killing my nephew, today you shall die with him!” The middle-aged man on the left roared fiercely, his face ashen with rage. He was Han Yunfeng, one of the three late Heavenly Spirit Realm masters of the Han family.
The elder on the right also radiated murderous intent. His name was Han Chenfeng, a highly senior predecessor of the Han clan.
“You take a step back and deal with Ye Jiuyou. I’ve injured him earlier; handling him shouldn’t be hard for you,” Huo Qing said calmly.
“Alright, be careful!” Ye Hongling bit her lip, knowing she would be more of a hindrance than a help to Huo Qing here.
She faced Ye Jiuyou, palm raised. A blood-red long sword appeared, its tip pointed obliquely at Ye Jiuyou, terrifying spiritual fluctuations surging forth.
“Today, I will see you fall here!”
The sword blade shimmered like flowing light, its momentum fierce, slashing down abruptly.
“Hmph, I want to see how strong you are without the resources of the Prince’s Mansion, you stray dog!”
The two quickly clashed.
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Elsewhere,
Huo Qing was surrounded by three enemies. The vast spiritual energy rippled like tides, causing the rooftop to tremble faintly.
“Sword Dance!”
Huo Qing vanished from where he stood, leaving only afterimages darting wildly.
He knew how dire the situation was, so he unleashed his killing move immediately!