Daqian Martial Saint

BOOM! RUMBLE~

The blood wave carried immense force, shattering the surrounding rocks. Debris tumbled down, blocking the stone gate. A wave of Blood Evil Qi swept out, instantly tainting the area.

“Dragon Tiger Battle Power!” Gu Qingchan’s lovely eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise in their depths.

She never expected Chen Ping’an to achieve a breakthrough at such a critical, life-or-death moment, unleashing the combat strength required for the Dragon and Tiger Chart.

Great terror lies in the crucible of life and death!

Thus, many in this world would constantly walk the line between life and death to temper themselves, seeking a chance for a breakthrough. Some died in the process, but others succeeded, advancing to a higher level.

Those capable of seizing that fleeting moment of insight on the verge of death were all individuals blessed by destiny.

It seemed Chen Ping’an was one of them.

‘He’s not dead?’ A peculiar look flashed across the gray-robed old man’s face, but it vanished in an instant.

He had lived a long time and seen many things.

Individuals who, by a stroke of insight, managed a breakthrough on the brink of death were rare, but they certainly existed. While this was outside his expectations, it was ultimately unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

‘He’s just a rat, unable to affect the bigger picture. The most pressing matter is to keep Gu Qingchan here!’ The gray-robed old man’s eyes were deeply sunken, a cold sneer playing on his lips.

‘Without Gu Qingchan to block for him, that brat never would have survived, even with his breakthrough. From a distance, the power of my blood ripples isn’t overwhelming, but they still have solid Grandmaster Combat Power.’

‘Even with Dragon Tiger Battle Power, he might block one, but can he block two!? Three!? Or even… more!’

‘Once Gu Qingchan is dead, this rat can be crushed at will.’

At this thought, the gray-robed old man’s gaze hardened, and he hesitated no more. A bloody light erupted around him as his withered, twig-like fingers waved repeatedly, pointing directly at Gu Qingchan.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Accompanied by sharp whooshing sounds, tangible crimson ripples surged forth, carrying astonishing power as they instantly blasted toward Gu Qingchan.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Before Gu Qingchan, the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp shone brilliantly. Its lotus petals spun, transforming into layers of crystalline light that formed an indestructible shield, deflecting the crimson ripples. The collisions created rings of frosty ripples, and the air filled with potent energy fluctuations.

By the time Gu Qingchan had blocked all the crimson ripples, the gray-robed old man had vanished without a trace, as if he had merged with the air. Seizing that brief opening, he had silently slipped into the depths of the Blood Pool, leaving only faint, barely visible crimson ripples spreading across its surface.

‘Did he hide inside?’ Gu Qingchan’s gaze was cold, her heart on high alert.

She and the gray-robed old man had fought for a long time, using numerous lethal techniques and playing many of their trump cards. Both had consumed a tremendous amount of True Essence, but they were far from exhausted. The old man’s action clearly indicated he was plotting something.

‘He hid in the Blood Pool?’ Chen Ping’an’s face was pale as he leaned against the shattered stone wall, looking seriously injured.

Ever since a moment ago, he had been debating whether or not to make a move. This gray-robed old man’s combat power far surpassed that of the previous Blood Robe Man; he was a genuine Top Grandmaster.

Meanwhile, Gu Qingchan, protected by the Ice Lotus Treasure Lamp and attacking with the Profound Ice Divine Needle, had also firmly crossed the threshold into the ranks of Top Grandmasters.

The clash between the two was incredibly intense, with neither side giving an inch.

‘If I revealed my true strength and helped Gu Qingchan, we’d have a high chance of defeating this wizened gray-robed old man. But…’

After some deliberation, Chen Ping’an ultimately decided to hold back for now and observe.

‘True, if I act now and team up with Gu Qingchan, we can defeat this Top Grandmaster from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. The problem is, defeating him is one thing, but actually killing him is another. As a Top Grandmaster, who knows what kind of last-resort, life-saving techniques he has hidden away.’

‘Furthermore, while it looks like a two-on-one fight, we’re not familiar with each other’s combat styles, so our coordination would be clumsy. We might not get the full advantage of having two people. If my strike fails and I lose the element of surprise, finding another chance will be difficult.’

‘Given all this, it’s better to observe quietly and wait for an opening. If the right chance appears, I’ll strike suddenly and heavily wound the gray-robed old man in a single blow!’

After reaching Minor Achievement in his Wandering Dragon Body Technique, Chen Ping’an’s combat power had risen by another small increment. Although he was now strong enough to crush an ordinary Mid-Jade Balance Stage cultivator, he was still several notches below a true Top Grandmaster.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t need to be so cautious and could have just overwhelmed his opponent with force. Even if their coordination wasn’t perfect, it wouldn’t be nearly so difficult for two Top Grandmasters to join forces and severely injure another.

BLUB BLUB BLUB~

Tiny bubbles continuously surfaced on the Blood Pool, as if it were boiling.

“This is bad!”

Gu Qingchan’s expression changed.

From the unfathomable depths of the Blood Pool, a terrifying aura erupted—one that felt as if it had been born from a mountain of corpses and a Sea of Blood. It swept through the entire space like a violent storm.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Without the slightest hesitation, a brilliant Spiritual Light, like stars dotting the night sky, erupted from Gu Qingchan. One Profound Ice Divine Needle after another, each carrying a biting edge and infinite sharpness, shot like meteors toward the depths of the Blood Pool.

The Profound Ice Divine Needles pierced the Blood Pool, instantly sending up a spray of blood that bloomed like magnificent yet eerie blood lotuses.