Daqian Martial Saint

The gray-robed old man was shrouded in a bloody light so dense it resembled a churning, crimson ocean, surging violently. By now, his expression was grim to the extreme.

Although he carried old wounds, his position within the Ten Thousand Demon Blood Pool meant his combat strength was in no way inferior to that of any Top Grandmaster.

Yet even in this situation, he found it unexpectedly difficult to suppress her. Gu Qingchan, having cultivated the Profound Lady Heart Method to the Great Success Realm and possessing two Divine Weapons for protection, now undoubtedly had combat power on par with a Top Grandmaster!

Against any other Top Grandmaster, he could have resorted to a war of attrition, dragging them into a bitter struggle. Positioned within the Ten Thousand Demon Blood Pool and supplied by the Ten Thousand Demon Essence Blood, his ability to sustain a fight was a cut above that of a Top Grandmaster. In a prolonged battle, he would have undoubtedly been the one to have the last laugh.

However… Gu Qingchan cultivated the Profound Lady Heart Method. Her foundation was solid and her True Essence was pure. When it came to endurance in battle, she was likely even superior to him!

Most critically, he could already clearly sense that as the fight wore on, Gu Qingchan was gradually adapting to his combat style. She was handling his Attacking Means with increasing ease and confidence.

‘I can’t let this go on. A prolonged fight will mean certain defeat!’ Amidst the great battle, the gray-robed old man’s Spirit Platform was clear, and he instantly grasped the crux of the matter. ‘In that case, the only option is to use…’

The gray-robed old man hardened his heart and made a swift, resolute decision. No matter how great the cost of that move, he clearly couldn’t afford to hesitate now. But just as he was about to unleash his final resort, a bloody light flickered between his brows. He had sensed an unfamiliar aura in the area.

“Where did this rat come from!” The gray-robed old man snorted coldly. He pointed a withered finger from afar, and in an instant, the bloody light flared, transforming into a crimson ripple that shot toward the figure appearing in the stone doorway.

DING!

The lotus leaves on the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp spun, unleashing a wave of Ice Soul that blocked the gray-robed old man’s attack.

‘How did he end up here?’

Gu Qingchan’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, and the expression on her beautiful face changed.

She noticed Chen Ping’an in the stone doorway at the same moment the old man did. Logically, she should have been happy to see reinforcements from the Garrison Commandant’s Office. The problem was, the battle between her and the gray-robed old man was on a completely different level—far beyond what Chen Ping’an could possibly handle.

If a Grandmaster had arrived, they might have offered some assistance. But while Chen Ping’an was exceptionally brilliant and overflowing with talent, he had yet to step into the Grandmaster Realm. He hadn’t even reached the combat level of the Dragon and Tiger Chart. The aftershocks alone from a battle between Top Grandmasters were more than he could possibly withstand.

To her, Chen Ping’an’s arrival was not a rescue, but a liability.

But despite her thoughts, Gu Qingchan’s actions were by no means slow. Seeing the old man’s crimson ripple hurtling toward Chen Ping’an, she flicked her wrist, and a Profound Ice Divine Needle shimmering with a pale blue, crystalline light shot out in an instant.

The crimson ripple had only traveled halfway to Chen Ping’an when it collided with the Profound Ice Divine Needle.

BANG!

The bloody light exploded into motes of luminescence.

“Trying to save him?” the gray-robed old man sneered. He pointed his withered finger once more. Simultaneously, the water of the Blood Pool surged up and swept toward Chen Ping’an.

He might not be able to take down Gu Qingchan quickly, but dealing with a junior who hadn’t even reached the Grandmaster Realm would be child’s play.

Gu Qingchan was tempted to abandon Chen Ping’an and strike directly at the old man. But ultimately, she couldn’t bear to watch this rather intriguing junior perish before her eyes.

‘Mang Blade Chen Ping’an’s talent is extraordinary. Given time, he’s sure to become a peerless Grandmaster! A talent this brilliant… unless the situation is truly hopeless, I shouldn’t give up on him so easily.’

VMM~ VMM~ VMM~

Blue light flashed as the Divine Needle darted through the air.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Bursts of bloody light exploded one after another, dissipating in midair.

The Profound Ice Divine Needle blocked the crimson ripples, but while she wanted to stop the sweeping wave of blood, she lacked the power to do so. Her Profound Ice Divine Needle was designed for attack and had almost no defensive capabilities. It was especially ineffective against a wide-area offensive technique like this.

The Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp protecting her, on the other hand, could do it. The problem was, the distance was too great; the lamp couldn’t reach that far. Besides, even if it could, she wasn’t sure she was willing to use it to save Chen Ping’an. If the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp were to leave her side, the gray-robed old man would never miss such a perfect opportunity. His attacks would become relentless, and he would use every move at his disposal. In that scenario, she feared she would face a true crisis.

‘As much as I value this Chen Ping’an, he isn’t worth me taking such a risk.’

‘As long as the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp is with me, I may narrowly lose this battle, but my own safety is guaranteed!’

Watching the deluge from the Blood Pool crash down, Gu Qingchan’s starlike eyes flickered, and she let out a soft sigh.

‘So be it. After this is over, I will take good care of your sister for you.’

SPLASH~

The bloody water surged like a raging tide, reaching Chen Ping’an in an instant.

Chen Ping’an hadn’t expected to become the center of attention the moment he arrived. Having risen from the bottom rungs of society, he was worldly-wise and understood human nature. He certainly harbored no illusions that Gu Qingchan would risk her own life to save him.

The fact that Gu Qingchan had been willing to intervene and block two attacks for him was already more than he could have asked for.

Chen Ping’an’s expression was calm. He tightened his grip on his Earth Crocodile Golden Flame Saber and, facing the monstrous wave of blood, fearlessly swung his saber forward.

“Soul-Breaking Blade Secret Technique, Soul-breaking Slash!”

SWOOSH!

A grayish-white light, mixed with a faint blue glow, swirled around the blade. With this slash, Chen Ping’an condensed a sliver of his Martial Arts Will, once again elevating his outwardly displayed combat power.

BOOM!

The saber’s light met the wave of blood. While it didn’t shatter the wave in a single blow, it did carve an opening. As the blood wave, thick with Blood Evil Qi, splashed down, Chen Ping’an’s footwork shifted, and he deftly dodged through the gap he had created.