Chapter 187
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Chapter 187: A Storm Approaches
He Lou Feng vanished into the chaotic currents of time and space. With the Absolute Formation of Mist losing its master and the Ancient Formation of Heaven, set up by Nineteen, continuously bolstered by the royal power of Earth Emperor Realm experts from the human race, the balance shifted. Naturally, the brilliance of light, carrying the glory of the sun, moon, and stars, pressed down overwhelmingly on the misty realm.
After breaking through to the Earth Emperor Realm, Ming He had become increasingly adept at wielding the Star Lock. She possessed an abundance of treasures: the Star Lock, Azure Dragon Imperial Seal, and Vast Cauldron—each inherently exuding the grand and righteous essence of ancient times, naturally suppressing darkness and evil.
Though she still hadn’t unraveled the purpose of the square Black Cauldron obtained from the Vast Ancient Realm—crafted by the Soul Ancestor of the Soul Clan and said to be a spiritual artifact forged from the power of a million lives—it didn’t matter much to her. She chose to set it aside, focusing instead on wielding the Shadow Strike Sword alongside Qin Chu Yi’s Chi Li Sword in a seamless Dual Sword Fusion. As she slaughtered the alien races, she honed her swordsmanship, absorbing the blood essence of her foes as spiritual energy, her cultivation soaring at an astonishing pace.
This, of course, was to be expected. She had once been trapped in a world where everyone was her enemy. After achieving clarity in her heart and purifying the dust within, she experienced a moment of resonance with the heavens—an ancient and unparalleled baptism.
Later, she received the Heavenly Dao inheritance, cleaved through the darkness, and gained the gifts of cause and effect from the mortal world, the Trial of the Heart, and the Forging Stage from the Vast Ancient Realm. Her foundation was unshakable, her heart and Daoist realm steadfast; she merely needed time to refine and settle her experiences.
On the battlefield of the heavens, not only were there the demon race and the alien races, but also Zhou Yi, the Right Envoy of the demon race, leading an endless, overwhelming puppet army. The human practitioners stood firm on all sides, bearing far less pressure than before. With hope in sight, their spirits soared, and their cultivation advanced significantly.
The territories of the alien races shrank inch by inch at a visible pace, and everything seemed to be heading in a positive direction. Hope!
Ming He clenched her fist, driving her sword through a Tian Yan Tribe member. Her blue clothes were stained with blood, her right arm fierce, her gaze bright. Her long robe danced gracefully, her movements clean and fluid, making her killings appear almost poetic.
As she sheathed her sword and turned, she saw a Woman in White standing in the bloody mist, watching her with a critical gaze. “Ming He, you’re falling short! An Earth Emperor Realm practitioner should be faster at killing a Tian Yan Tribe member than you.”
The Woman in White was the lofty Demon Lord Mo Xiao. About a year ago, she had broken through the bounds of the Heaven Origin Realm, proudly ascending to the Human King Stage. She had arrived at the battlefield of the heavens in a whirlwind, inadvertently shattering Nineteen’s barrier.
It was said that when Nineteen had fallen into the Demon Race’s Shura Hall, she had also broken the bathtub of the young Demon Lord—a playful exchange that balanced their debt.
Ming He chuckled, kicking a Tian Yan Tribe member away, and calmly retorted, “Mo Xiao, even if your speed at killing Tian Yan Tribe members is faster, your strength can’t compare to mine here.”
Of course, there was a distinction in strength among the Tian Yan Tribe. While Mo Xiao, shrouded in magical mist, had taken down a large group, they were not of the high-tier variety Ming He had just slain. After all, low-tier Tian Yan Tribe members were easily produced and had previously caused significant trouble for the human race. Now, with Zhou Yi’s puppet army on the battlefield of the heavens, the outcome hinged on a higher-level contest.
However, the puppet army’s effectiveness stemmed from the *True Understanding of Puppets* written by Mo Xiao. Thus, Ming He decided not to dwell on their verbal sparring.
As silhouettes surged in the distance, the thick, sticky aura in the air almost became palpable. Ming He glanced at the sky, kicked over a group of Tian Yan Tribe members, and then leapt lightly to Mo Xiao’s side.
“The mission is done for today; the main force of the Tian Yan Tribe is coming. Let’s go!” She grabbed Mo Xiao by her collar, lifting her up, and swiftly moved toward the central pavilion.
Under the sunset, their silhouettes elongated, and amidst the swirling sand, one could faintly hear Mo Xiao’s dissatisfied and proud voice: “We’re retreating, so why pull my collar?”
Ming He calmly replied, “Do you want me to carry you?”
As if joking, her embrace was reserved solely for her Senior Sister. The mere thought of holding the Demon Lord was amusing; she clearly had no grasp of the situation.
Mo Xiao choked slightly, about to say something, but suddenly noticed the formation master in black clothes standing under the pavilion, holding the array flags, her expression subtly amused.
Unaware, Mo Xiao happily slipped from Ming He’s grasp and rushed over to Nineteen, chattering animatedly. “Nineteen, have you strengthened the formation? Do you have any insights on the formation you wanted to study? You know, I killed so many Tian Yan Tribe members today!”
“Ming He seems so gentle, but you don’t know how she treated me. And oh, she killed fewer Tian Yan Tribe members than I did, yet she shamelessly boasts that those Tian Yan Tribe members are really strong. How ridiculous!”
She looked up at Nineteen, who stood a step higher on the stairs, her eyes bright and eager for praise, like a kitten raising its tail.
Nineteen glanced at her with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, took her hand, and walked away toward a dim, uninhabited corner.
Tsk, tsk.
Ming He’s eyes sparkled with mischief, her lips curling in a sly smile as she turned to find Qin Chu Yi leaning casually against the dark railing. Qin Chu Yi’s crimson robes fluttered in the breeze, her cool gaze and faint smile lending her an air of detached amusement.
Puzzled, Ming He approached and tugged playfully at Qin Chu Yi’s loose strands of hair. "Senior Sister?"
Qin Chu Yi ignored the playful gesture, her voice cool and measured. "Still thinking of hugging her, are you?"
How bold!
Ming He paused, her smile softening as she gently wrapped her arm around Qin Chu Yi’s waist. "No," she murmured, her voice tender. "I only want to hug you, Senior Sister."
She glanced at Qin Chu Yi’s slightly flushed ears, knowing full well that her senior sister was teasing her. Still, she felt compelled to explain. "If it weren’t for Nineteen being busy reinforcing the Ancient Formation of Heaven today, and Mo Xiao insisting on scouting the high-tier Tian Yan Tribe, I wouldn’t have accompanied her."
"Besides," Ming He added, tilting her head to meet Qin Chu Yi’s gaze, "you know the nature of her relationship with Nineteen, Senior Sister."
Her expression was open and sincere, her gem-like eyes reflecting a hint of innocence that wasn’t entirely genuine. Qin Chu Yi, caught off guard by that earnest gaze, was reminded of countless moments when Ming He had looked at her just like that—moments when her hands had been busy undoing Qin Chu Yi’s robes. The memory made her grit her teeth in frustration.
Just as she was about to retort, she noticed a shift in Ming He’s expression. The playful glint in her eyes was replaced by a pained wince. "Senior Sister," Ming He said, her voice tinged with hurt, "I’m injured. It hurts so much, and you don’t even care!"
The sword cultivator’s gentle eyes now held a mix of accusation and vulnerability. Though Qin Chu Yi knew Ming He was likely exaggerating to distract her, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern. Her gaze dropped to Ming He’s right arm, where the blue fabric of her sleeve was torn and stained with dark blood. The wound beneath was gruesome, the flesh mangled and oozing, the scent of burnt flesh lingering in the air.
Qin Chu Yi’s heart clenched. She sighed softly, taking Ming He’s hand and leading her toward the barrier. Once seated, she carefully removed the torn fabric from Ming He’s shoulder. With a flick of her fingers, she summoned a thread of spiritual energy to cleanse the wound, then crushed a pill and sprinkled its powder over the injury. As she worked, she couldn’t help but notice the way Ming He clenched her jaw, her brow furrowed in silent endurance.
Since their first meeting in the Liu Yun Mountains, the two had faced countless life-and-death moments together. Qin Chu Yi knew Ming He better than anyone. When the pain was real, Ming He never complained—she simply endured. The fact that she was now visibly struggling spoke volumes about the severity of her injury.
Qin Chu Yi’s hands moved more gently, her voice softening to a whisper. "Next time we face the Tian Yan Tribe, I’ll fight by your side."
The low-tier Tian Yan Tribe members were handled by Human King stage practitioners and the puppet army, but the high-tier ones required the strength of Earth Emperor Realm experts. Though the high-tier Tian Yan Tribe wasn’t numerous, the human race’s Earth Emperor Realm practitioners were few and far between. Most were occupied maintaining the four city formations and the Ancient Formation of Heaven, leaving only a handful free to confront the high-tier threats.
Even so, Ming He and Qin Chu Yi didn’t need to pair up for safety. Ming He, having recently broken through to the Earth Emperor Realm, was already on par with fifth-tier Earth Emperor Realm experts. And now, having solidified her cultivation at that level, she was a force to be reckoned with.
Ming He opened her eyes, meeting Qin Chu Yi’s gentle gaze. It felt like a cool stream washing over her, soothing her restlessness and filling her with a quiet sense of contentment. She smiled softly. "Alright."
Once the wound was tended to, Ming He took Qin Chu Yi’s hand, and the two strolled past the ancient pavilion. Around them, Earth Emperor Realm practitioners sat in meditation, maintaining the formations, while Human King stage practitioners refined their blood energy. The approaching night signaled a brief respite in the battle.
Except for the armored guards of the human race’s four cities, who moved through the darkness with their lives entrusted to their comrades, most of the day’s fighters had returned to the relative safety of their defenses. Under the moonlight, they removed their armor and calmed their spiritual energy.
The scene was serene, the moonlight filtering through the clouds to cast dappled shadows on the pavilion. The breeze carried a hint of spring’s chill, but Ming He felt none of the tranquility. Instead, a heavy, suffocating weight settled in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
It felt like being trapped in a stifling world, with no escape, waiting for an inevitable end. She could almost see the last rays of sunlight being snuffed out, leaving only darkness.
This feeling—it was the calm before the storm.
Somewhere in the distance, the breeze stirred the low-hanging branches, but the pavilion remained peaceful. Yet, as Ming He met Qin Chu Yi’s equally solemn gaze, she couldn’t shake the sense of impending doom.
Her heart tightened, but then she smiled. After all, she wasn’t entirely unprepared.
The human race, along with Nineteen, Fu Yao, He Lou Feng, and Jiang An, had long warned her of the truth: Below the Emperor Realm, all are but ants.
The Tian Yan Tribe’s clan leader was on the cusp of breaking through to the Emperor Realm. Though she and Qin Chu Yi had once slain one of his avatars, they couldn’t stop the overwhelming force he wielded.
The human race’s only options were defense and retaliation.
They hoped Ming He would grow strong enough to stand against the Tian Yan Tribe’s clan leader, to defeat him, even kill him. But if she couldn’t, then so be it. They would face their end together.
Ming He sighed deeply. Her unease wasn’t without cause.
Human King stage practitioners, once they mastered the forces of nature, gained the ability to sense danger and avoid harm. Earth Emperor Realm experts were even more attuned to such instincts.
But this time, the danger was unavoidable. It was destruction on a scale they couldn’t escape.
At her current level—fifth-tier Earth Emperor Realm—how could she possibly defeat an Emperor Realm practitioner?
Ming He’s smile turned bitter. She and Qin Chu Yi were right to feel the way they did.
Standing there, she could already sense the rising tide of destruction, spreading inexorably across the battlefield of the heavens.
It was like a sword aimed at the heart of the Tianwu Continent.
The Tian Yan Tribe’s clan leader was on the verge of breaking through to the Emperor Realm. He was just one step away.
