Chapter 376: Chapter 374: The Eternal Guardian
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A terrifying crimson light suddenly erupted from Jiang Chen’s body. His Divine Thought Power was burning away frantically.
He had already nearly exhausted his Divine Thought Power.
But in this moment, Jiang Chen threw caution to the wind, burning his Divine Thought Power to activate his most powerful God-Devouring Realm.
BOOM...
The moment the God-Devouring Realm appeared, it instantly enveloped the surrounding hundred miles.
Within this hundred-mile radius, all living creatures felt a terrifying dread, a tremor that came from the depths of their souls.
"No..."
"It’s this terrifying domain again! Run!"
"I don’t want to die..."
One expert after another tried to flee, but they couldn’t stop the blood from gushing out from within their bodies. Their entire forms violently exploded.
Streams of crimson energy, along with the Power of Living Creatures from every being within a hundred miles, all converged on Jiang Chen. His flagging strength surged, constantly rising until he was restored to his absolute peak state—the Union Palace Realm Seventh Stage of cultivation!
His consciousness was already beginning to fade.
But Jiang Chen’s blood-red eyes were incomparably resolute, fixed on moving forward no matter the cost!
He glared at Tu Shanhe and Xiang Tianwen like a maddened lion, completely possessed. "Xiang Tianwen! Tu Shanhe! I’ll have you accompany my master in death!"
ROAR...
Jiang Chen brandished the Spirit-Slaying Sword.
A terrifying wave of heat suddenly burst from his body as he charged toward Xiang Tianwen in an instant.
Xiang Tianwen frowned, a flash of surprise in his eyes. ’What kind of Secret Technique is this? How can it make this ant suddenly become so powerful?’
"Your Highness, this kid is full of strange tricks. His cultivation has only just entered the Union Palace Realm, yet he used this Secret Technique to get me into this state..." Tu Shanhe said, his expression grave as he offered a warning.
Xiang Tianwen glanced at Tu Shanhe, then a disdainful look crossed his face. "Do I need you to remind me? He’s just an ant. No matter how strong he gets, how strong can he be? I only need to blow a single breath to obliterate both his body and soul!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiang Tianwen took a deep breath.
The Spiritual Power in the surrounding world reversed, and fierce winds began to flow backward. Even the clouds in the sky were pulled by his breath, drifting down toward the ground.
The rubble and shredded plants on the ground were all lifted high into the air.
WHOOSH...
Xiang Tianwen suddenly exhaled.
A great gale erupted, stirring up the wind and clouds.
That single breath unleashed a destructive storm. Wherever it passed, mountains collapsed, the earth split, and not a single blade of grass was left. Several small mountains were blown directly to smithereens. Even powerhouses like Yuwen Zheng and Xue Junlin found it difficult to maintain their footing in the gale.
They were sent flying.
"How... how can such a terrifyingly strong person exist?"
"A single breath... We can’t even withstand a single breath from him?"
"Just what kind of being is this Xiang Tianwen?"
Everyone was stunned.
They looked toward Jiang Chen. At the center of the storm, he was thrown back again and again by the gale, smashing through mountain peaks. The moment he stabilized himself, he would charge forward again, only to be sent flying once more, crashing violently into the ground and clawing through the earth in an attempt to get closer to Xiang Tianwen.
And yet... all his efforts couldn’t even break through a single breath from Xiang Tianwen!
"Hahaha! Jiang Chen, aren’t you so arrogant? Aren’t you so proud? Aren’t you a genius? Look at you now! You can’t even withstand a single breath from His Highness! And you think you can get revenge for your own master? How laughable! You truly don’t know your own limits!" Tu Shanhe laughed until he was bent over, as if watching the most ridiculous performance.
Jiang Chen’s eyes were bloodshot.
The overloaded burning of his Divine Thought had already reduced his consciousness to near chaos.
Only the will for revenge was left to support his body.
Again and again, he charged toward Xiang Tianwen and Tu Shanhe.
He was like a fish swimming against the current, a mere speck in the vast ocean, but he was defiant, unyielding, and would never give up!
Not far away...
Under the Black Emperor’s protection at the edge of the storm, Xiao Qingyi covered her mouth with her hands. Tears welled in her eyes, which were filled with anguish and sorrow. "Brother Chen..."
"Jiang Chen..."
"Boss..."
Little Black and Little White’s eyes were wide as well.
Watching Jiang Chen get thrown back time and again, Xiao Qingyi’s heart ached. A look of grim resolve suddenly flashed in her eyes, which were as bright as brilliant starlight.
The Black Emperor seemed to sense something and looked at Xiao Qingyi, his expression changing slightly. "Qingyi, what are you planning to do?"
"I can’t let Brother Chen fight alone. I want him to know that no matter what, he still has me!" Xiao Qingyi’s face was resolute.
It was hard to imagine that such a gentle young woman could have such a determined side.
The Black Emperor froze, and his expression changed drastically. "Are you thinking of using your Martial Soul Talent? No, absolutely not! Don’t the inherited memories you received when you broke through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm state that you can only use your Martial Soul Talent once in your lifetime? And that if you do, your chance of survival is only one in a hundred million? You’re committing suicide!"
"No!"
Xiao Qingyi shook her head, her voice unwavering. "Even if it means certain death, I will never let Brother Chen come to any harm. No matter what, I want to be with him, to fight by his side."
"You..."
The expressions of the Black Emperor and Little White changed.
But they were completely powerless to stop Xiao Qingyi.
Xiao Qingyi suddenly shot into the sky, flying against the fierce wind to Jiang Chen’s side.
Jiang Chen was covered in blood. His Divine Thought Power was burning to its absolute limit, and his entire body was like a tightly wound spring, on the verge of snapping at the slightest misstep.
Xiao Qingyi’s slender, delicate hand quietly grasped Jiang Chen’s. Jiang Chen’s entire body trembled.
His eyes, swirling with crimson light, turned to look at Xiao Qingyi, revealing a hint of confusion. His face contorted in extreme pain, and a hoarse voice echoed from his lips. "Qing... Qingyi? What are you doing here?"
"Brother Chen, you’ve always been the one protecting me. Today, let me be the one to protect you!" Xiao Qingyi held Jiang Chen’s hand, her face radiant with a happy and contented smile.
"Brother Chen, did you know? Ever since you fought that Yun Ruochen to protect me, I’ve had feelings for you. After Aunt Yun and the people of Taoyuan Town disappeared, you became my only family in this world. More than once, I’ve dreamed of becoming your bride!"
"We lived a happy life!"
"Brother Chen, you didn’t know, did you? The truth is... I really, really love you!"
A soft, holy white light bloomed from the young woman’s body. Her face was filled with a blissful smile, her deep, star-bright eyes fixed on the man she loved.
A serene and satisfied smile touched the corners of her lips. Her voice was gentle, like celestial music. "Brother Chen, you have to remember, no matter when, no matter where, I will always be with you. If you do not leave me, I will be with you through life and death!"
"Qingyi, what are you doing?"
Jiang Chen froze. Forcing himself to hold on to his remaining consciousness, the uneasy premonition in his heart grew ever stronger.
The holy light around Xiao Qingyi grew increasingly brilliant, and a pillar of light suddenly shot up into the heavens from behind her.
A colossal, thousand-zhang-tall Martial Soul flew out from her body.
The thousand-zhang-tall Martial Soul resembled a majestic Divine Spirit, with wings sprouting from its back and a holy halo above its head. It stood silently behind Xiao Qingyi, its arms crossed over its chest.
Xiao Qingyi’s body slowly ascended into the air.
Jiang Chen tried to grab her, but an infinite force pushed him away. As Xiao Qingyi ascended, two crystal-clear teardrops streamed down her blissfully smiling face. "Brother Chen, if there is a next life... I mean, if... I hope I can be your most beautiful bride and stay with you for all eternity!"
"No... Qingyi, don’t do something foolish! Don’t..."
Jiang Chen’s consciousness returned for a brief moment of clarity. His eyes flew wide as he roared hysterically.
However, Xiao Qingyi had already risen to the center of the majestic Martial Soul. Enveloped in holy light, under the horrified gaze of even Xiang Tianwen, her expression became incomparably solemn, noble, and sacred. Her gentle voice, however, boomed like thunder, resounding throughout the heavens and the earth...
"In my name, I grant you agelessness, undying life, and immortality. Time shall not erode your body; death shall not touch your soul... My beloved Jiang Chen, you shall receive the protection of a Divine Spirit, free from sickness, pain, disaster, and hardship..."
Xiao Qingyi gazed lovingly at Jiang Chen. The holy light condensed and enveloped him. "Eternal—Guardian!"
