Chapter 162: The Native Martial Venerable

Chapter 162: The Native Martial Venerable

To save the students invaded by the Chilling and Desolate Energy, Ning Xiaochuan had no choice but to use the so-called Northern Abyss Divine Art to absorb the energy.

There were a total of 107 students afflicted by the Chilling and Desolate Energy.

With each absorption of the energy from a student, Ning Xiaochuan’s cultivation grew stronger, and his Meridians became more flexible.

By the time he had absorbed the Chilling and Desolate Energy from all 107 students, his cultivation had advanced significantly, and the Martial Arts Profound Qi within his body carried an additional layer of coldness.

"Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi!"

Ning Xiaochuan completely refined the Chilling and Desolate Energy within him. Surging Profound Qi filled his body before erupting outward, forming a Profound Qi Shield with a diameter of 7 meters.

The surface of the shield shimmered like twilight clouds, displaying various mystical patterns.

This was Ning Xiaochuan’s seventh divine ability, and he was not far from reaching Great Perfection. Once the diameter of the Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi expanded to 9 meters, this ability would achieve Great Perfection, granting him defensive power far surpassing that of other warriors in the same cultivation realm.

While Ning Xiaochuan was saving the students, Yu Qianqian had been researching Corpse Poison, searching for a way to neutralize it.

"I think I know how to cure the Corpse Poison, but we still need two auxiliary mystic medicines—the Green-Red Medicinal Stone and the Scarlet Fire Lotus." As an Intermediate Heart Nurturer, Yu Qianqian had a deep understanding of heart-nurturing and alchemy.

Ji Hanxing retrieved a jade stone the size of a washbasin from her Heaven and Earth Bag. It shimmered in green and red hues, emitting a refreshing fragrance. "I happen to have a Green-Red Medicinal Stone. Take it for refining."

"Not long ago, I collected a fifth-grade Scarlet Fire Lotus. It should be of help to you." Zhuo Yufan, the leader of the Tianli Society, approached slowly, holding a flaming lotus in his hands, which he handed to Ning Xiaochuan.

After collecting these two mystic medicines, Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian immediately began refining them using the Heart Nurturing Cauldron.

Since Ning Xiaochuan’s heart was stronger than Yu Qianqian’s, he took charge of the refining while she assisted with the preparations.

The leader of the Cloud Alliance, the captain of the Law Enforcement Team, and others stood not far from Ning Xiaochuan. Though they coveted his Northern Abyss Divine Art, they refrained from pressing him while he was refining medicine, choosing instead to wait for the right opportunity.

Just as Ning Xiaochuan summoned the Heart Nurturing Cauldron outside his body and began alchemy, a deafening explosion echoed from outside the valley, followed by the howls of Blood Fiend Generals.

The expressions of everyone in the valley darkened—they had been discovered by the Natives’ experts.

Xiao Cheng, the leader of the Cloud Alliance, clenched his fists. "Han Fu, Zhuo Yufan, Liao Xian, let’s go reinforce the formation and prevent them from breaking in."

BOOM!

The moment he finished speaking, the formation at the valley’s entrance shattered, and a massive wave of Profound Qi surged inward.

A dense crimson cloud rolled into the valley, carrying within it towering, blood-red figures standing 5 meters tall—giant warriors charging in.

Zhuo Yufan drew a fourth-grade Profound Qi battle sword and said calmly, "Time to fight."

With a swing of his sword, a slash of Sword Qi tore through the air, cleaving a Blood Fiend General into pieces, reducing it to a thick mist of blood.

These individuals were all leaders and chiefs, the most powerful figures remaining in the Emperor's Martial Palace, their cultivation naturally extraordinary, possessing strength capable of rivaling veteran experts.

In just the first wave of clashes, over ten Blood Fiend Generals were shattered by them, turning into bloody mist.

"Roar!"

Those Blood Fiend Generals who had been sliced into bloody mist reformed their bodies and charged again toward the weakened students.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

Despite the protection of the five top experts, many students were still devoured by the Blood Fiend Generals, reduced to piles of white bones.

"Form the formation!" Han Fu, the captain of the Law Enforcement Team, shouted.

Han Fu, Xiao Cheng, Zhuo Yufan, and two other chief-level figures simultaneously unleashed their most powerful Mystic Artifacts, each guarding a direction to form a grand formation, shielding all the students of the Emperor's Martial Palace at the center.

Many Blood Fiend Generals attempted to breach the formation, but the moment they touched it, their bodies were torn apart by a tremendous force, turning into bloody mist.

The formation laid by the five experts was as solid as a fortress, but the number of Blood Fiend Generals was steadily increasing—it was only a matter of time before it was breached.

Some of the Blood Fiend Generals charged toward Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian, who were refining elixirs.

Ji Hanxing had not joined the battle yet, holding her Dragon Elephant Halberd Spear as she guarded Ning Xiaochuan, Yu Qianqian, and Yue Mingsong. Seeing the Blood Fiend Generals rushing toward them, a surge of Freezing Energy erupted from her body, covering the ground in thick ice and sealing the three leading Blood Fiend Generals within crystalline frost, turning them into massive crimson ice sculptures.

"Crack!"

These ice sculptures were shattered by the Blood Fiend Generals behind them, scattering into fragments of ice as scarlet as gemstones.

The Blood Fiend Generals let out terrifying roars, their faces twisted in fury, wielding broadswords as they swung seven blades simultaneously, unleashing seven waves of raging Sword Qi.

Each strike carried the power to slay a warrior at the Ninth Level of the Divine Body Realm.

Ji Hanxing swung her Dragon Elephant Halberd Spear like a divine pillar in battle, blasting away seven Blood Fiend Generals, sending them crashing chaotically against the valley walls and causing boulders to tumble down from the mountaintop.

Ning Xiaochuan naturally sensed the arrival of the horde of Blood Fiend Generals and immediately stored the Heart Nurturing Cauldron back into his Heart Ventricle, nurturing the unfinished Intermediate Elixir within.

"These Blood Fiend Generals possess Undying Bodies. If we stay trapped here, we’re doomed. Only by escaping the valley can we survive," Ning Xiaochuan said to Ji Hanxing.

Though the power of the Demonic Sword could absorb Blood Fiend Generals, the Blood Qi they contained was too intense—Ning Xiaochuan could only absorb one at a time, requiring two hours to refine it.

Yet before them stood dozens, even hundreds, of Blood Fiend Generals. Even someone as powerful as Ji Hanxing would be in mortal danger if surrounded by so many.

The five experts had already formed a battle formation, drawing the bulk of the Blood Fiend Generals' attention. There was no hope of rescue from them—they could only rely on themselves.

Ning Xiaochuan summoned the Double-headed Stone Beast, allowing Yu Qianqian and Yue Mingsong to leap onto its back as they fought their way out of the valley.

Ji Hanxing, wielding the Dragon Elephant Halberd Spear, cleared the path ahead, sweeping through all directions, shattering Blood Fiend Generals into bloody mist as she carved a bloody escape route.

Ning Xiaochuan walked at the rear, channeling the Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi to fend off the pursuing Blood Fiend Generals.

After half an hour, the four of them finally fought their way out of the valley, ready to make their escape.

Suddenly, a dark, sinister wind swept through the air, coalescing into a wrinkled elderly man who appeared to be in his eighties or nineties. His entire being exuded a chilling aura, like an old ghost wandering the underworld.

"Is he human? Or a ghost?" Yue Mingsong found the old man's sudden appearance deeply unsettling.

The elderly man stood atop a black cloud, his body hovering above it.

"Hehehe… A bunch of tender little brats. What a delicious feast," the old man chuckled eerily, revealing a mouthful of aged teeth, two of which were gold.

"So he is human!" Yue Mingsong exclaimed in shock.

"You may call me the Black Lai High Priest," the old man declared.

At the mention of his name, Ji Hanxing's expression darkened as if facing a formidable enemy. "You all go first. I'll hold him off," she said grimly.

"No one is leaving today."

Two beams of light shot from the Black Lai High Priest's pupils, transforming into two skeletal palm imprints that sent Ji Hanxing flying.

Severely injured, she collapsed to the ground, unable to stand.

With just a glance, he had effortlessly overpowered Ji Hanxing, a top-tier cultivator, rendering her completely helpless. His strength was terrifying.

"Earth Martial Essence… He's a Martial Venerable!" Ning Xiaochuan's brow furrowed tightly.

Facing a Martial Venerable, even summoning the Demonic Sword wouldn’t guarantee escape. Were they fated to die here today?

The Black Lai High Priest glanced at Ji Hanxing in surprise. "Still alive? Impressive. Among the younger generation, your cultivation is remarkable. But sooner or later, you will die—and become my meal."

Ji Hanxing struggled to rise, her armor slightly dented, her meridians feeling as if they were on the verge of snapping.

The Black Lai High Priest drew a Bronze Dagger, singling out Ji Hanxing first. Her high cultivation made her flesh the most divine—eating her would be like consuming mystic medicines, boosting his own power.

"Wait!" Yue Mingsong shouted.

The dagger already hovered over Ji Hanxing's arm, ready to carve out a piece of flesh. The Black Lai High Priest turned his icy gaze toward Yue Mingsong.

Under that stare, Yue Mingsong shivered but stammered, "Uh… you’re not going to eat it raw, are you?"

"What’s wrong with eating it raw?" the Black Lai High Priest replied irritably.

Yue Mingsong said, "Eating raw meat is tasteless."

"Since when does eating people require refinement?" The Black Lai High Priest frowned slightly.

"Of course it does!" Yue Mingsong insisted. "There’s steaming, stir-frying, stewing, braising, roasting, deep-frying, boiling—eating raw is the lowest form of culinary barbarism."

He pointed at Ning Xiaochuan. "This guy here? He’s the grandson of Demon Emperor Duanmu Han, the Demon Sect’s number one expert. You know how he eats human flesh?"

"He eats it too?" The Black Lai High Priest studied Ning Xiaochuan with newfound interest.

The Black Lai High Priest, though residing in the Emperor's Ruins, was not entirely cut off from the outside world. Through some ancient methods, he could allow a select few to enter the Yulan Empire. Thus, he had indeed heard of Demon Emperor Duanmu Han's fearsome reputation as the Demon Sect's foremost expert.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "I do eat a little now and then, but not often."

Yue Mingsong sighed dramatically. "My friend here is being modest. What do you mean 'not often'? Three meals a day—and you call that 'not often'? He’s practically insatiable, specializing in devouring young maidens in their prime, carving out the tenderest parts of their flesh and preparing them through eighteen meticulous steps. He even has over 300 maids just to cook his meat!"

The Black Lai High Priest seemed to see through their stalling and let out a sinister chuckle. Pointing at Ning Xiaochuan, he said, "Come here. Since you’re so fond of human flesh, I’ll let you have the first taste of this young lady. Her cultivation is profound, her skin snow-white and tender—truly the finest ingredient. Tell me, which part would you like to eat first?"