Dragon Blood Saint Emperor

The Celestial Pass Mountain Range was a sprawling chain of verdant, lush green mountains.

"My lord, this is the Celestial Pass Mountain Range. It’s an extension of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains in the Beastman Empire’s territory."

"The Celestial Pass Mountain Range is rugged and steep, like a natural chasm separating the Grand Emperor Country from the Beastman Empire. It serves as the border. Once we cross it, we’ll reach the Celestial Pass Thirteen Cities of the Grand Emperor Country."

Ye Wushuang stood on the back of the Xiaoo Yue Celestial Roc, hands clasped behind him, quietly gazing down at the beautiful mountains and rivers below. Beside him, Lan Xinyu explained in a soft voice.

Having earned Ye Wushuang’s approval, a newfound confidence appeared on Lan Xinyu’s face. She was no longer as timid and cautious as before.

The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains!

Ye Wushuang gazed toward the endless mountain range in the distance, knowing it was the territory of the Beastman Empire. It was not far from the Endless Wilderness, either.

"Let’s go have a look at the Celestial Pass Thirteen Cities."

Ye Wushuang pulled his gaze back and called down to the Xiaoo Yue Celestial Roc. But just then, he seemed to spot something and immediately shouted, "Down! Now!"

Hearing his command, the Xiaoo Yue Celestial Roc obeyed and dove down, finally landing the three of them on a mountain ridge.

Just then, Ye Wushuang’s gaze fell upon an old path to the east. A group of beastmen, wielding sharp weapons, were frantically slaughtering another group of people.

There were about a hundred of them. Some had the heads of leopards on human bodies, while others had the bodies of tigers with human faces—they were all different. However, they were all clad in black iron armor, and every single beastman was exceptionally savage, killing anyone they came across.

As for the other group, they were humans, mostly defenseless women and children. In the eyes of the beastmen, however, they were all the same: targets to be slaughtered.

"Everyone, rally to me! Quickly!" a heroic-looking woman shouted from within the crowd. The Red Tassel Spear in her hand continuously pierced one beastman after another. Beside her, a dozen or so Spiritual Spring masters were fending off the encirclement from all sides.

"Slaughter them all!"

The beastmen’s eyes were crimson, glinting with a demonic, violent light as they charged madly at the heroic woman. In just a few moments, three or four of the dozen people by her side had been killed.

Seeing this, the heroic woman shouted to a young man at the Spiritual Spring Eighth Layer next to her, "Qian Tong, get them back! I’ll cover the retreat!"

"Yurong, there are too many of them! With our strength, we can’t possibly hold them off. We should retreat now!" the young man named Qian Tong replied. A flicker of cowardice crossed his face as he started to fall back alone.

"Qian Tong, if you dare desert your post, I’ll kill you myself!" Seeing him about to abandon everyone and flee, Guo Yurong snapped, glaring at him with murderous intent.

BOOM!

Seizing the opening, a tiger-headed beastman launched a surprise attack, swinging a massive black Battle Axe down toward Guo Yurong. She spun around and hastily thrust her Red Tassel Spear to block the blow.

However, the power contained within the black Battle Axe was terrifying. Her hasty parry was not enough to stop it. With a loud CLANG, the axe crashed against her Red Tassel Spear. The violent impact sent the spear flying from Guo Yurong’s grasp.

Guo Yurong let out a muffled grunt as the recoil sent her flying backward.

"ROAR!"

Seeing his chance, the tiger-headed beastman raised its Battle Axe high and let out a triumphant roar.

"Kill them all!" Wielding the black Battle Axe, the beastman charged toward a small boy, devoid of any mercy. The axe descended from the sky, aiming to cleave the child in two.

"Whaaa..."

Feeling death approach, the little boy cried out in terror, struggling to flee. But an unseen pressure locked him in place, making escape impossible.

"Qian Tong, stop him! Quickly!"

Guo Yurong steadied herself and watched, her expression shifting to one of horror. She screamed at Qian Tong, who wasn’t far away. He was closer to the boy; he was the only one who could possibly intervene in time.

’Block him? Does she think I’m an idiot? That would be suicide. He’s just a lowlife, filthy and insignificant. Why would he be worth risking my life for?’

Qian Tong snorted coldly to himself. If he went forward now, he could indeed save the boy. But that also meant he would have to face that beastman.

That beastman had defeated Guo Yurong, a warrior at the Peak of the Spiritual Spring Ninth Level. Its strength was obviously terrifying. Facing it with his own power would likely mean death. How could he possibly be willing to risk his life for some insignificant commoner?

BOOM!

He made a show of launching two half-hearted attacks, but his body was already moving backward.

"Bastard!" Guo Yurong cursed, seizing the opportunity to charge forward herself. This group of women and children had been abducted by the beastmen from the Grand Emperor Country. They had already suffered the pain of losing their kin; how could she let them suffer another horrible tragedy at the hands of these monsters?

She had rescued this group of women and children, and she was determined to bring every last one of them back safely.

BOOM!

Guo Yurong charged forward at top speed. The terrifying True Essence gathering in her palm formed a pillar of light that blasted toward the black Battle Axe.

But her attack was already useless. Qian Tong’s retreat had cost them the crucial window of opportunity. The black Battle Axe descended mercilessly upon the little boy, completely unstoppable.

PFFT!

But at that exact moment, a flash of Sword Light suddenly materialized from the void, instantly piercing the beastman’s neck. The sharp tip of the sword erupted from the beastman’s throat, dripping with blood and shining with a deadly light!

BAM!

With a flick of the Ancient Sword, the beastman was thrown back, its powerful body torn in two by Sword Qi in mid-air. A rain of blood fell from the sky!

All eyes turned to the sky. Guo Yurong stopped in her tracks, and even Qian Tong ceased his retreat, staring at the purple-robed figure standing in mid-air.

"Kill him!"

Seeing their comrade slain, the other beastmen roared in fury and charged as one, their terrifying weapons swinging wildly.

The purple-robed figure’s eyes narrowed. He raised the Ancient Sword, and its Sword Body unleashed a terrifying torrent of Sword Light, like a Heaven-Reaching Sword River cascading down.

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!

The deadly Sword Light pierced through the bodies of one beastman after another, annihilating them completely.

The purple-robed figure shot out a hand, seizing the beastmen’s bodies. Dead or alive, they were all drawn into his Dantian.

For a moment, everyone was left utterly dumbfounded.

The entire sequence of events had lasted no more than a few seconds.

Such terrifying power left everyone stunned. It took them a moment to snap out of it, but then they erupted in joyous cheers. The elation of escaping certain death was beyond words.

Joy washed over Guo Yurong’s face as she strode toward the purple-robed figure.

"Yurong, we don’t know who he is. I fear he may have ill intentions. Don’t go near him." Qian Tong suddenly stepped in front of Guo Yurong, acting like her self-appointed Flower Protector as he watched the purple-robed figure.

’Unknown identity?’

’Ill intentions?’

The purple-robed figure turned his head abruptly, glanced at Qian Tong with a frown, but said nothing. He simply turned to leave.

"Benefactor!"

Just then, the little boy down below called out.

The purple-robed figure paused and turned to look at the little boy.

"I want to be strong! I want to survive!" The little boy’s eyes were fixed on the purple-robed figure. He dropped to his knees with a THUD and spoke eight words.

"If you want to be strong, first, you must stop your tears."

The purple-robed youth stared at the little boy and spoke. After a moment’s hesitation, a ray of golden light shot into the boy’s brow. Then, he leaped into the air, landed on a silver roc, and vanished from sight.

"One day, I will be as strong as you!" The little boy stood up and wiped the tears from his face. A look of resolve appeared on his youthful features. ’From now on, I will bleed, but I will not cry!’

The image of that purple-robed back was imprinted on his heart. From that day forward, it became the goal he would strive for.

Hmph!

Only after watching the purple-robed youth depart did Qian Tong let out a cold snort and turn to Guo Yurong.

Suddenly, a slap landed squarely on his face. The resounding CRACK stunned Qian Tong, who could only stare blankly at Guo Yurong.

"You’re no man at all!"

Guo Yurong spat the words out with disgust before turning to lead the others away. Her quiet voice pierced Qian Tong’s heart like a sharp knife.