Chapter Seventy-Two: The Innate Astral Qi of the Primordial Void

Sword Gate, upon the flat expanse.

By now, Ling Yan and the Lord of Heaven’s Wrath had already engaged in fierce battle. Though Heaven’s Wrath was known for his fiery temper, his strength was indeed as famed as legend claimed, far beyond the likes of Xuan Yuan or Shen Que.

It was said that he first arrived at the Hall of the Abyss at the age of eight, serving as a young attendant pouring tea and sweeping floors, and more than two thousand five hundred years had passed since then. All these years, he had lived at the side of the Immortal Brahma, inheriting the true legacy of the God of War in every respect. His temperament was straightforward and sincere, his mind unsullied by worldly distractions, an innate state perfectly suited for cultivating the Hall of the Abyss’s grand and unrestrained Celestial Sword Technique, as well as the Primordial Force of the Abyss.

In terms of cultivation alone, his talent even surpassed that of Senior Brother Heaven’s Punishment; it was only that Heaven’s Punishment had followed the God of War longer, thus his mastery was deeper. Though Ling Yan herself wielded the Jade Frost Flute, one of the ten supreme treasures of the Wildlands, and possessed a profound cultivation, having inherited the true teachings of the Celestial Emperor Ling Xiao, she was undeniably strong. Yet after exchanging over a dozen blows, she still failed to gain the slightest advantage.

Of course, this was also because, after breaking the Ninefold Demon-Slaying Sword Formation, Ling Yan had expended much of her spiritual power, while Elder Heaven’s Wrath had been waiting in reserve, conserving his strength. The situation was reminiscent of a horse race, with the opponent sending his finest steed against Ling Yan’s at best middling one, seizing every possible advantage.

After yet another flurry of exchanges in the air, neither combatant could gain the upper hand. But from Bai Mu’s perspective, Ling Yan was already at the end of her strength. In the sunlight, beads of sweat could be seen glistening on her smooth brow, her hair already disheveled, her attacks and defenses lacking the effortless grace of before—no doubt the strain of breaking the demon-slaying formation had taken its toll.

Across from her, the Lord of Heaven’s Wrath was also drenched in sweat, soaking his once-white robe. Each punch still carried a fierce force, shaking Ling Yan’s Jade Frost Flute so violently she could barely wield it, yet his increasingly disorderly footwork told all that he too was nearing his limit.

Had this been any other time, Bai Mu would have charged forward to fight alongside Ling Yan without hesitation. But now, that was simply impossible.

Their opponent was not only the formidable Lord of Heaven’s Wrath, but also the dignified Lord of Heaven’s Blaze, who watched from the sidelines. Should Bai Mu act rashly, Heaven’s Blaze would surely join the fray, and with both holy sons attacking at once, Bai Mu and Ling Yan would not survive ten moves.

Yet the one most unsettled on the field was, in fact, the Lord of Heaven’s Wrath himself. For nearly a thousand years he had roamed the Wildlands unchallenged; there were few who could withstand even a single move from him, let alone reach a stalemate like this—especially when his opponent was a delicate young woman of sixteen or seventeen! It was inconceivable—when had so many prodigies emerged in the Wildlands?

He realized that if the battle dragged on, even if he managed to win, his thousand years of reputation would be lost in a single day. So, just as Ling Yan prepared to unleash her ultimate move with the Jade Frost Flute, Heaven’s Wrath quickly retreated several feet and landed steadily on the ground, his face dark as he stared at Ling Yan, both hands gathering a faint, slowly brightening force that coalesced into an orb of light before his chest.

"The Primordial Force of the Abyss?" Ling Yan glanced at him, a faint smile on her lips. "So, you’re at last ready to use your trump card?"

Heaven’s Wrath snorted dismissively, giving no reply. He continued to gather his strength, intent on delivering a fatal blow.

Ling Yan had long heard tales of this singular force, the signature technique of the Hall of the Abyss. In her centuries-long struggle with Fairy Xiyan, she had already experienced the deadly power of the God of War’s creation. She dared not be complacent; with a flourish, she swept the Jade Frost Flute, sending three emerald shadows arcing through the air, transforming into invisible sword energy that closed in on Heaven’s Wrath as he gathered his strength.

At the same moment, she spun gracefully to the ground, seized the dazed Bai Mu, and the two shot down the mountain like falling stars.

"Trying to run?" The middle-aged, scholarly Lord of Heaven’s Blaze, who had been watching intently, gave a cold laugh. In the blink of an eye, his form blurred, and in a flash of afterimages, he appeared before Ling Yan and Bai Mu.

He raised his hand and struck—a single palm that released a force which split in two, each streaking toward their abdomens. The attack was both strange and terrifyingly powerful.

"Look out!" the pair cried in unison, instinctively leaping in opposite directions and narrowly escaping the ferocious assault.

But they were still too young, lacking in experience. In dodging Heaven’s Blaze’s attack, they left themselves open to the even greater threat behind them—Heaven’s Wrath.

At that moment, Heaven’s Wrath had already finished gathering his strength; the Primordial Force of the Abyss shone bright between his palms, barely contained. Seeing Ling Yan forced back toward him, his lips curled in a cold smile. His palms thrust forward, unleashing the force like a raging beast, surging straight for Ling Yan’s slender back.

She could never have imagined that the upright and fierce Heaven’s Wrath would seize the opportunity to strike from behind. By the time she sensed the looming danger, the Primordial Force was already less than half a meter away, ready to dash her soul to the heavens in the next instant.

"My life ends here..." Ling Yan despaired inwardly, but her hand moved instinctively, slashing the Jade Frost Flute behind her and conjuring a barrier of spiritual energy that wrapped tightly around her at the very last moment.

Boom!

A deafening crash erupted from her back. With her muffled cry and the sickening crack of torn flesh and breaking bone, the sound rang out like a funeral bell, echoing in every ear.

The Primordial Force of the Abyss shattered the hastily-formed barrier in an instant, its ruthless power slamming into her spine so brutally that the breaking of bone was clearly heard by all.