Within the green spatial gate that served as Duan Lingchen's resting place, currents of pure spiritual power, mingled with the blood of countless corpses and spirit beasts, surged continuously toward the center of the formation. Crimson lines intertwined with glowing black streaks flared to life every time the power flowed through the junctions, resembling a living circulatory system.
Duan Lingchen hovered motionlessly at the heart of the formation, surrounded by the stench of blood. Millions of spirits were disintegrating and merging into his soul body. His eyes were shut tight, his expression calm, yet every breath he drew was firm and heavy, like that of a sacred mountain. His form, too, was slowly becoming more stable.
Not long after Han Ming arrived, the corpses scattered throughout the hidden tomb were entirely consumed. Not a single drop of blood or trace of spirit remained. Even his puppet returned, bearing an enormous pile of medicinal herbs. Most were of poor quality, some too damaged to be usable, but he kept them all anyway.
The aura surrounding Duan Lingchen began to stabilize. Though it was still a far cry from his former glory, it was clearly much firmer than before.
Han Ming stared at the figure in front of him once more. His expression seemed as though he wanted to sigh, but in the end, he merely gave a faint smile. He had clearly underestimated the insatiable hunger of a god who had died of old age.
All the power he had absorbed had done nothing more than extend Duan Lingchen's life by six months and seven days... nothing more.
"Well, better than nothing..." he murmured.
But then, his expression shifted instantly as the surrounding space twisted violently.
Ting!
A fierce clash of blades echoed through the air. Han Ming's Sword of Light shot forth to block an incoming strike from a jet-black sword that had descended from above without warning.
A figure dressed in black emerged mid-air, shrouded in waves of darkness that spread like poisonous fog. Han Ming clenched his teeth and darted to Duan Lingchen's side in an instant.
His brow furrowed deeply. "You two still aren't dead?!"
The black-clad man grinned and replied, "We really did die. But Hell told us to drag you down with us!"
Han Ming didn't hesitate. Another Sword of Light materialized behind him, cleaving through the air as it flew toward the black-clad man.
Squelch!
The Sword of Light pierced through the enemy's body with precise force, yet at the same moment, a spear of darkness appeared in the man's hand and thrust toward Han Ming's throat, grazing it dangerously close.
"Master!!"
"Elder Han!!"
All seven disciples shouted out at once. Even Ye Liyin cried out.
But before anyone could come to his aid, a strange light suddenly flared, blinding all eyes.
"Back!!" Lei Chen shouted instantly, but it was already too late.
Squelch!
One of the Swords of Light swept across Lei Chen's face before he could react. Both his eyes were destroyed in an instant, blood spraying into the air. Then, another Sword of Light shot straight into his heart with lightning speed. The golden-robed man who had struck him spoke.
"That's one taken."
Though gravely injured, Lei Chen still managed to swing his sword in return. Its tip stabbed deep into the abdomen of the golden-robed man at that very same moment.
Squelch!!
The cold smirk on the golden-robed man's face immediately vanished. He hadn't expected Lei Chen's sword to pierce his body. And as he recalled the moment just before the strike landed, he realized a mysterious power had coated the blade. He paused for a breath before turning to look at Han Ming in shock.
Suddenly, the remaining six disciples of Han Ming moved in perfect unison.
Rong Lixian's Dragon Pearl rose above her head, radiating multicolored light that surged like a dragon toward the golden-robed man's head.
Su Baining's Frost Scythe released the chill of death itself as she slashed it toward his neck.
Hao Yang's Flaming Spear ignited in searing flames and thrust directly at his heart.
Feng Huangjun's Void Fan swept gently, the gust it stirred transforming into blades of nothingness that tore toward his dantian.
Guan Zixuan's Flute of Death sang a chilling tune that weakened all enemies and strengthened every ally who heard it.
And finally, Ye Liyin's Halberd of Chaos roared through the air, hurtling straight for the golden-robed man's skull.
All six attacks struck in unison, as if they had rehearsed the moment countless times. Their powers, each unique, combined into a single force of death from which there was no escape.
The golden-robed man sensed it instantly. Each of their weapons was laced with a trace of Han Ming's power. If even one of those attacks struck directly, death was certain.
Though his face remained expressionless, the feeling began to creep in.
Death… was right at his throat.
Then, standing amidst the swirling storm of power, the golden-robed man tilted his head slightly and spoke in a calm, quiet voice.
"I made a mistake…"
Squelch!!
A Sword of Light appeared from behind and pierced straight through the golden-robed man's heart with such blinding speed that it was impossible to follow with the naked eye.
"You damned brat... what the hell are you doing!?" the golden-robed man roared in shock.
"I should be the one asking you that. What took you so long to kill a mere Saint-level opponent?" the black-robed man, whose body had been pierced by countless Swords of Light from Han Ming, replied coolly.
Ye Lin stood frozen, stunned by the sight before him. His mind went blank. He couldn't process what had just occurred, unable to follow any of it. Everything had happened far too quickly. He hadn't even had the chance to move.
Han Ming remained silent, his expression still cold as ever. He simply locked eyes with the black-robed man, then slowly raised his hand once more.
Fwoosh!
Countless Swords of Light burst into the sky, radiating an overwhelming brilliance as they shot toward the golden-robed man in a frenzied storm.
But at that very instant, the black-robed man in front of Han Ming suddenly moved without hesitation. A surge of dark energy erupted into the sky, forming an abyssal veil that devoured every Sword of Light as though they had never existed.
Han Ming's eyes widened instantly. He understood at once the man had chosen to take the blow.
Slash!!
The sound of flesh being torn rang out as a Sword of Light countered and pierced into the black-robed man's head. But at that moment, countless needles of light came hurtling toward Han Ming from every direction.
Gritting his teeth, Han Ming unleashed his power to tear open the void before him in an attempt to block the incoming assault. But his spiritual energy began to spiral out of control as a dark poison rapidly spread through his body, corroding him from within like a death curse. He could no longer maintain the void barrier across his entire body.
Squelch!!
One of Han Ming's arms was severed. The needles of light tore clean through it with ease, though the remaining needles were swallowed into the void the moment they approached.
At the same time, the body of the golden-robed man, who had just launched his attack at Han Ming but lost his momentum after being pierced by the Sword of Light, was struck from all directions by the full force of the six disciples' attacks. The fusion of multiple forces became a storm of death, tearing his body apart until not a trace of his original form remained.
Ye Lin, who had been preparing to join the assault, suddenly halted when a voice echoed inside his head.
"Boy, lend me your body for ten seconds."
It was the voice of Duan Lingchen, his own ancestor. Without hesitation, Ye Lin let his consciousness withdraw, allowing the ancestor to take full control of his body in an instant. In that very moment, Ye Lin's aura transformed, and a burst of spiritual energy erupted that everyone present could feel.
Whoosh!!
He shot forward in a blink, his left fist slamming directly into the golden-robed man's chest.
Boom!!
A thunderous impact rang out as the golden-robed man's body shattered, exploding into a mist of blood in an instant.
At the same time, Han Ming seized the moment to cleave the black-robed man's head clean in two. Blood sprayed in all directions, yet what Han Ming hadn't expected was the sight of the black-robed man grinning even as his head was being split apart.
"Can I ask you to be bedridden for a year... God of Light?"
That voice echoed on and on, refusing to fade. Then the black-robed man's body turned into a swirling black vortex, devouring everything around it into a void of emptiness.
Simultaneously, the body of the golden-robed man, who had just perished, suddenly transformed into millions of Swords of Light, exploding outward. The sky within the special dimension became a dazzling display of light like a meteor shower amidst a stormy night, but within it lay a destructive power that nothing could resist.
Billions of Swords of Light clashed against the swirling black vortex at the center of the Tomb of the Divine Herb God. A destructive force beyond imagination was born, as if the heavens themselves had cast judgment. The hidden realm twisted and contorted until it barely resembled its former shape. Those who still remained could only struggle to escape, doing all they could to avoid the Swords of Light that slashed through the space like a storm gone mad.
Standing not far away, Duan Lingchen clenched his teeth. He saw Han Ming's figure being swallowed into the black vortex, and he knew all too well that if nothing was done right now, no one else would survive.
But before he could gather more power, Ye Lin's body the vessel he was using suddenly coughed up blood violently. His entire form trembled, jerking uncontrollably in a manner that was downright terrifying.
"This is bad…" Duan Lingchen muttered under his breath. Ye Lin's body could no longer withstand the power he was channeling.
Even while engulfed in the vortex, Han Ming's consciousness remained clear. His eyes scanned his disciples, now strewn across the battlefield, all grievously wounded. Some had lost limbs, others were pierced through by the Swords of Light. Only Rong Lixian, with her formidable physique, remained mostly intact. The rest were critically injured.
Han Ming gritted his teeth and raised his hand. Drawing out the last of his strength, he tore open the Void.
"Rong Lixian, send them out first!" His voice rang out through the chaos.
The Void opened behind Ye Lin and the fragment of Duan Lingchen's soul. Rong Lixian instantly transformed into a colossal dragon, exhaling a powerful breath that swept Ye Lin's broken body into the Void at maximum speed. Just before they vanished, Han Ming tossed a dimensional ring through the rift as well.
His voice echoed once more. "We'll meet again…"
Ye Lin, carried by the wind, shouted back, "Elder Han!!"
Duan Lingchen, hearing the cry, chuckled softly and said, "Truly... I thank you. If there's something you want to eat, I'll be sure to burn offerings for you in the future."
Han Ming smiled faintly as he watched Ye Lin's figure and Duan Lingchen's soul fade from sight. Once they were gone, he lifted his hand once more and gave a gentle wave. In that moment, everything seemed to fall into utter stillness.