Translator: Cinder Translations
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"Ji Yin, Si Xi, you dare to betray me!"
Ji Qing's voice was cold, laced with a murderous chill.
Song Wen smiled and said, "Ji Qing, don't get it wrong. I'm not your subordinate, so how can I be betraying you?"
"You took my Earth Burial Lotus," Ji Qing retorted.
Song Wen responded, "I was coerced into agreeing by you. Furthermore, you were never sincere from the start, leaving a tracking mark in the Earth Burial Lotus."
Ji Qing's eyes blazed with anger as he turned toward Si Xi.
"Si Xi, I have treated you well, why are you also betraying me?"
Si Xi replied, "Ji Qing, I am focused on studying formations and have no interest in fighting or killing. Yet, you kept forcing me to do things I didn't want to do. I followed your orders and offended Zhu Yin, so why should I not join her and kill you instead? Then, no one will ever force me to do their bidding again."
Zhu Yin wore a smug smile and mockingly said, "You not only lost your way, you even lost the support! Ji Qing, you've lost the hearts of the people."
Ji Qing's gaze sharpened like a blade, coldly sweeping over the three of them. Suddenly, he burst into laughter.
"Good, good, good... You three actually want to die together. Fine, I will fulfill your wish. Ji Yin, Si Xi, do you really think I would place all my hopes on you?"
As his words faded, a large amount of blood mist suddenly erupted from Ji Qing's body. His form began to grow taller and expand, black hair sprouting from his body.
His aura also soared, creating the illusion that he could break through to the Nascent Soul Realm at any moment.
"What is this technique?" Song Wen asked in astonishment.
Before he finished speaking, Song Wen summoned the Mystic Frost Knife and swiftly slashed at Ji Qing.
Now that the mask of cordiality had been torn off and Ji Qing was clearly using some powerful secret technique, they naturally had to act before the technique was fully completed.
Zhu Yin's face grew serious. She summoned her Red Silk and protected her body. A peak-tier third-stage corpse puppet also appeared by her side.
"Ji Yin, there's no need to waste your efforts. Your magic treasure won't be able to break through the blood mist around him. We'll only be able to hurt him once his transformation is complete, and the blood mist dissipates."
"What Ji Qing is using is the Immortal Corpse Transformation. This technique can forcibly increase his strength for a short period, enhancing his body's defense, attack, and speed in all aspects."
"The Immortal Corpse Transformation originates from the Hall of the Nether Gods. Our sect has only recently obtained this technique, less than a decade ago. I hadn't expected that Ji Qing would succeed in this secret technique when even my master couldn't complete this secret technique, yet."
"However, we're not left without a shot. The Immortal Corpse Transformation consumes a lot of energy, and Ji Qing's cultivation isn't enough to maintain it for long. As long as we can delay him for some time, until his energy runs out, we can win."
Zhu Yin spoke with confidence.
Just as she said, the Mystic Frost Knife struck the blood mist and was easily repelled.
Si Xi wasn't idle either. He clearly understood the power of the Immortal Corpse Transformation and was quickly setting up a defensive formation, hoping to use the formation's power to resist Ji Qing.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, a loud roar came from the blood mist.
A black, over ten feet tall, fanged, and clawed corpse emerged from the mist.
Ji Qing pushed off the ground, leaping high into the air and pouncing toward the three of them.
While in mid-air, he swiped his claw through the air.
Three black claw beams shot out, swiftly targeting Zhu Yin.
"Si Xi, hurry and set up the formation! I can only buy you a moment!" Zhu Yin shouted.
The Red Silk around her flew out like flowing fire, wrapping around the three claw beams.
As the Red Silk danced in the air, its red glow intensified, and the claw beams were each blocked.
At the same time, the peak-tier third-stage corpse puppet, radiating deathly energy, extended its claws, aiming for Ji Qing.
However, Ji Qing's speed was clearly superior. Before the corpse puppet's claws could even reach him, he struck the puppet's chest with a single claw.
A large chunk of rotten flesh was torn off from the puppet's chest, and the massive impact caused its body to plummet toward the ground.
"Boom!"
The corpse puppet crashed heavily to the ground.
Rock and debris flew about!
The hard ground was smashed, creating a large crater.
A cold gleam flashed.
Song Wen activated his Void Breaking Blade, slashing toward Ji Qing's face at lightning speed.
Ji Qing casually swatted the Void Breaking Blade away like a fly.
Then, he continued his lunge towards Zhu Yin.
As long as he killed Zhu Yin, neither Ji Yin nor Si Xi would pose a threat to him, and he wouldn't need to continue using the Immortal Corpse Transformation.
Looking at Ji Qing, who was getting closer and closer, Zhu Yin's expression grew serious, but there was no sign of fear.
She moved her hand in a formation gesture, and a blue fire wall suddenly appeared, blocking the space between her and Ji Qing.
Ji Qing raised his hand and swiped at the fire wall.
The fire wall immediately cracked, leaving a gap.
Ji Qing's body soared through the air, attempting to enter the gap, but as he was about to pass through the fire wall, his body suddenly froze in place, stopping in the middle of the fire wall.
At some point, the Red Silk had flown up from behind and tightly wrapped around Ji Qing's right foot, pulling him back.
Ji Qing, about to use his strength to break free from the Red Silk's restraint, was suddenly trapped as the fire wall's gap closed, engulfing his upper body in the blazing flames.
"Roar!" A furious roar came from within the fire wall.
Ji Qing circulated his energy, and a surge of deathly aura erupted from his right foot, freeing him from the Red Silk's hold, and he managed to pass through the fire wall.
At this point, Ji Qing looked quite disheveled. His upper body was charred black, with cracks appearing in several places.
Wounded and furious, Ji Qing bared his nearly three-inch fangs and lunged toward the nearby Zhu Yin.
Zhu Yin didn't retreat a step. Her expression remained steady, seemingly with a backup plan.
Suddenly, a flash of green light appeared.
A formation barrier rose up in front of Zhu Yin.
Si Xi had finally completed the defensive formation.
"Bang!"
Ji Qing didn't have time to slow down and crashed headfirst into the formation barrier, making him dizzy.
His eyes flashed with murderous intent as he scanned the three people inside the formation.
"You think, you can stop me using this hastily set up formation!? "
He swung his claws and fiercely slashed at the formation barrier.
Five eerie black claw marks streaked through the air, resembling five sharp sword beams, crackling with thunderous force as they struck the barrier.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion erupted as the claws collided with the formation barrier, releasing a blinding light and sending powerful energy waves in all directions.
Ji Qing's attacks were like a violent storm, one wave following another, with the formation barrier swaying on the verge of collapse.
With each swipe of his claws, the force was terrifying, as if it could tear the very space apart.
Zhu Yin saw the formation was about to collapse and spoke.
"Ji Qing, if you attack me, aren't you afraid my master will hold you accountable?"
"Hmph! The four of us went to the Valley of Rebirth this time without telling anyone. Even if I kill you, Yin Shuo won't suspect me," Ji Qing's voice was filled with disdain.
(End of the Chapter)
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