"No one can leave if they disrupt His Highness's plan!"
At the critical moment, Ling Feng and Ke Qing dodged to the sides.
"Bang!"
The water blade struck the stairs, sending gravel flying. A large crack appeared on the steps.
After dodging the attack, Ling Feng and Ke Qing looked in the direction where the water blade came from.
Their pupils contracted sharply.
A large number of Hilichurls and Lawachurls had gathered at the entrance of the valley.
And in front of them, six Abyss Heralds stood behind two tall figures.
One, predominantly blue, had sharp blades on each arm.
The other was purple, like a mage, holding a purple book with both hands.
"Abyss Herald - Riptide and Abyss Lector - Violet Lightning."
Ling Feng frowned, warily watching the two elite monsters of the Abyss Order.
He had seen one of them in the story, and the other he hadn't encountered in the story yet, but had met on Floor 12 of the Abyss.
"Foolish humans! How dare you disrupt His Highness's grand plan? Leave no one alive, eliminate them all."
The Abyss Herald - Riptide wasted no words. With a wave of its hand, the Hilichurls and Lawachurls behind it charged towards the two of them.
A dense mass, like a tide.
"Break through with full force, do not engage in protracted battles."
Faced with so many enemies, anyone would normally be intimidated.
But Ke Qing advanced instead of retreating, gripping the Lion's Roar tightly as she charged towards the "tide."
Ling Feng's gaze sharpened. He switched his Lion's Roar to the Dragon's Bane and took a step forward, matching Ke Qing's pace.
Against so many enemies, a spear was more suitable than a blade.
Thousands of monsters, led by a fiery Axe Hilichurl at the forefront, followed by various Hilichurls and Mitachurls.
"Swift Shadow like a Sword!"
Just as they were about to collide with the monsters, Ke Qing threw a Thunder Stone and then transformed into a purple lightning bolt, rushing into the midst of the Hilichurls.
The sword shadows formed by Electro energy instantly killed a Lawachurl and several Hilichurls along the way.
Then, with Electro applied to her blade, she continuously swung her sword, slaying enemies and weaving through the monster horde at lightning speed.
"Earthfire."
On the other side.
Ling Feng, through his mastery of Earthfire, channeled energy through his spear, converging it at the tip.
The glass orb on the spearhead glowed red, and scarlet flames ignited fiercely on the tip, distorting the surrounding air with their intense heat.
Ling Feng stomped heavily on the ground, gripped his spear, and thrust forward, charging into the monster horde. His spear moved like a dragon, sweeping in all directions.
Accompanied by bursts of flame and lightning, one was a swift and agile lightning strike, the other powerful and dominant.
Hilichurls were killed one by one by Ling Feng and Ke Qing, dissipating into energy and vanishing into the heavens and earth.
Soon, the two had fought their way to the center of the valley, not far from the exit.
The Abyss Herald - Riptide, seeing that so many monsters could not defeat Ling Feng and Ke Qing, shouted at the Abyss Lector beside it.
"You guys go!"
"Yes, Lord Riptide."
Under the Abyss Herald's command, the Abyss Lectors first summoned a Lawachurl each, a total of six, including Rock Shield and Ice Shield Lawachurls, but no Electro Lawachurls.
It seemed the Electro Lawachurl and the Electro Abyss Lector were still on the other side of the sea, perhaps having failed their COVID-19 tests.
With the addition of the Lawachurls and Abyss Lectors, Ling Feng and Ke Qing's breakthrough progress halted abruptly, and they were intercepted.
"Boom!!!"
Ling Feng and Ke Qing were forced back several steps by the shockwave from two Lawachurls smashing into the ground.
"Six of them!"
Ling Feng and Ke Qing looked at the enemies blocking them with surprise.
A single Lawachurl was already difficult to deal with, let alone so many, especially with the long-range threat of the Abyss Lectors.
"It seems we can't leave without dealing with them."
"Ke Qing, you take care of the Abyss Lectors. I'll handle these Lawachurls."
Ling Feng said sternly.
The enemy had gone to great lengths to deal with them, and in this situation, he had to show some of his true strength.
"Are you sure?"
"Trust me."
Before Ke Qing could speak again, Ling Feng leaped off the ground like a cannonball, charging towards the Lawachurls.
The Dragon's Bane in his hand disappeared, replaced by the Blade of the War God, shining with a deep blue light.
Holding the Blade of the War God, Ling Feng's combat power soared. His greatsword swung with vigor.
The flaming sword energy and earth flames made all six Lawachurls struggle to cope.
As for their elemental shields?
Under the armor-piercing effect of the Blade of the War God, they visibly dimmed and shattered.
"Is this Ling Feng's true strength?"
Ke Qing watched with surprise, fighting six Lawachurls alone. Truly worthy of being a disciple of the immortals.
Seeing this, the six Abyss Lectors began to cast spells to ambush Ling Feng.
"Sword out! Shadow follows!"
Ke Qing, seeing this, no longer held back. Her Vision flashed with brilliant purple light, and the power of Electro surged within her.
Her body became an afterimage, vanishing into the lightning, transforming into a bolt of lightning that weaved through the six Abyss Lectors, executing rapid slashes like a sword array.
In one second, twenty-one strikes, coupled with high Electro damage, shattered the elemental shields of all six Abyss Lectors except for the Hydro one.
"Let's kill this human first."
"Come on!"
The Abyss Lectors launched spell attacks at Ke Qing in unison. Ke Qing's gaze sharpened, and she began to fight against the Abyss Lectors and Hilichurls.
"Hoo..."
On the other side, Ling Feng had already dealt with three Lawachurls, his breathing becoming a little rapid.
The Abyss Herald couldn't stand it any longer. These Lawachurls had taken them considerable effort to bring in and open a passage. If they died again, they would have to find new ones.
He made a decisive move.
"Violet Lightning! Eliminate him with me."
"All obstacles to His Highness's great cause must be eliminated."
"Feel the grace!"
Just as Ling Feng was about to finish off a Lawachurl with a single strike, several water blades, a bolt of purple lightning, and three lightning spheres simultaneously bombarded him.
Ling Feng immediately abandoned his finishing blow and raised his sword to defend.
"Bang!"
All the attacks landed on the Blade of the War God.
Ling Feng was sent sliding back several meters before he managed to stop himself.
"Finally, you've made a move."
Ling Feng's expression was serious. He had been waiting for the Abyss Herald and Abyss Lector to make their move for a long time.
They were the most threatening to him present.
Since he had never fought them before, Ling Feng didn't know their strength.
The Abyss Herald's performance in the story was decent.
Although he was defeated by the Traveler in the end, he never used his elemental shield throughout the fight, indicating he hadn't gone all out. (PS: Referring to the CG after his defeat.)
Especially the Abyss Lector - Violet Lightning, whom he had only fought when grinding the Abyss. His in-game performance was also strong, mainly because their shields were too thick.
The Lawachurls saw this and tried to charge forward again, but were sternly stopped by Riptide.
"Go kill that human. This human is mine."
The Abyss Herald - Riptide's level was clearly higher than the Lawachurls.
After all, even Abyss Lectors were ranked above Lawachurls, let alone elite-level Abyss Heralds.
The three Lawachurls immediately obeyed and focused their attacks on Ke Qing.
Facing three Lawachurls, five Abyss Lectors, and numerous Hilichurls and Lawachurls simultaneously, it was already Ke Qing's limit.
The main reason was that the Lion's Roar in Ke Qing's hand was not the evolved version.
If this were in the game, it would mean Ke Qing's Lion's Roar had not been enhanced past level 40.
In other words, Ke Qing's strength was sufficient, but her weapon was not strong enough.
If Ke Qing had Ling Feng's Super Lion's Roar, it would have been much easier.
Ling Feng wanted to go to Ke Qing's aid, but the Abyss Herald - Riptide and Abyss Lector - Violet Lightning in front of him would likely not give him the chance.
The Star-Patterned Armor was his trump card and could not be used yet.
Besides, using it would only make him invincible temporarily.
If he couldn't kill them and they escaped, knowing that Ling Feng possessed such defensive equipment, the next ones to arrive would be even stronger beings or traps designed for him.
The Star-Patterned Armor was not truly invincible. It could only resist about 30% of the power of a Nascent Soul stage attack, and only three times.
It could resist about 70% of the power of a Core Formation stage attack.
It could resist about 90% of the power of a Golden Core stage attack.
If the opponent had a combat power equivalent to the Golden Core stage, he would basically be finished.
"Human, your strength is considerable, but unfortunately, you must die here today. All who obstruct His Highness's plan shall be eliminated!"
"Less nonsense, come!"
Both figures charged forward simultaneously.
"Clang clang clang..."
The dual blades and the greatsword clashed violently.
Water blades, fire blades.
A large amount of steam diffused.
For a time, the two fought to a draw.
It had to be said, the Abyss Herald - Riptide's attack speed was quite fast. Ling Feng could only keep up with its attack speed by exerting his full strength.
Coupled with the sneak attacks of Abyss Lector - Violet Lightning using Sky Thunder and lightning balls.
After a fierce battle, both Ling Feng and Riptide sustained injuries, though Ling Feng's were more severe.
On the other side, Ke Qing, fighting with all her might, had killed three Lawachurls and three Abyss Lectors.
However, due to excessive depletion of elemental energy and stamina, she was struggling to fend off the attacks of the Hilichurls and was already covered in wounds.
This won't do!
We cannot continue like this.
We must break through in one go.
"Ke Qing."
Ling Feng held the Blade of the War God, cleaving through the Hilichurls and Lawachurls blocking his path.
Ke Qing heard him and quickly began to break through towards him.
"You're not getting away!"
Riptide no longer held back. A Hydro elemental shield covered its body, and it transformed into an afterimage, charging towards Ling Feng at extreme speed.
At the same time, Violet Lightning unleashed thunder magic, hurling several purple lightning spheres towards Ling Feng.
Sensing the threat from behind, Ling Feng turned and brought the Blade of the War God horizontally in front of him.
He blocked Violet Lightning's lightning spheres, then swung the Blade of the War God again and engaged Riptide in battle.
Riptide's attack speed, under full power, was even faster than before. Ling Feng could no longer keep up with its speed.
"Annoying, Blade of the War God, Awaken!"
Blocked forcefully once again, Ling Feng was becoming agitated.
"Host, to use the awakening skill of the Blade of the War God, you need to make the Blade of the War God recognize you as its master. The method of recognition is: Blood Recognition, pay attention, one drop of vital blood."
"Just one drop of vital blood, I still have that."
Ling Feng forcefully split Riptide with a saber strike, then bit his finger. A drop of blood, intensely red, fell onto the blade of the Blade of the War God.
In an instant, the blood seeped into the Blade of the War God.
At the same time, Ling Feng felt a connection with the Blade of the War God.
He could sense its location in the unseen, and could wield it without true energy.
Simultaneously, the pressure from the Blade of the War God on him disappeared.
[Ding! 'Blade of the War God' successfully recognized master!]
[Ding! Host's first attempt at Blood Recognition rewards: 10 Willpower.]
"Awaken!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the Blade of the War God, sensing Ling Feng's command, instantly turned golden and radiant.
Ling Feng felt a surge of energy pour into his body from the Blade of the War God, doubling all his attributes.
Bang!
Ling Feng's saber strike sent the charging Abyss Herald reeling backward.
"Ten seconds."
After repelling the Abyss Herald, Ke Qing also fought her way over, followed closely by the Hilichurls.
"Let's go."
Ling Feng gripped the Blade of the War God and slashed, his flaming sword energy instantly clearing a small open space.
The two, one after the other, dashed towards the exit. Since Ling Feng was covering their retreat, he was a meter or two behind Ke Qing.
The two raced against time, rushing towards the entrance of the valley.
"Rumble!!!"
Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently. Both of them stumbled, almost falling.
"Another earthquake?"
"It's the third leyline energy surge. This ruin is collapsing."
To Ling Feng's confusion, Abyss Lector - Violet Lightning provided the answer.
"Rumble!!!"
At the same time, the entire ruin was shaking violently.
The ground cracked and collapsed, and countless massive stones fell from above, smashing onto the ground and kicking up layers of dust.
"Ke Qing, hurry!"
Ling Feng sheathed the Blade of the War God and ran at full speed.
In this critical situation, who had time to fight? The Abyss Herald and Abyss Lector not far away were already opening portals to escape.
Bang!
Whoosh!
As they ran, the ground around Ke Qing crumbled inch by inch, and the ground at the entrance also began to collapse.
Water surged out from the outer walls of the valley.
"Not good!"
Ke Qing, momentarily careless, suddenly stepped on empty air and began to fall.
Ke Qing wanted to throw out a Thunder Stone and then use it to return to the ground, but the falling rocks and swirling dust made it impossible for her to use her elemental skill for a moment.
"Ke Qing!"
Seeing Ke Qing fall, Ling Feng didn't hesitate and jumped down.
"Ling Feng."
"I've got you."
"Hold on tight."
"Mhm."
In mid-air, Ling Feng caught the falling Ke Qing, releasing his true energy to fly, attempting to head towards the exit.
But more and more falling stones appeared, and the entire valley was on the verge of collapse.
Several massive stones smashed down towards them, blocking their path almost entirely.
"Ling Feng, be careful."
"Blade of the War God!"
In an instant, Ling Feng, with one hand holding Ke Qing's hand, summoned the Blade of the War God with the other to cleave open the falling boulders.
However, with the dust and debris scattered in the air, Ling Feng could no longer determine the location of the exit.
At the same time, due to the fierce battle, the true energy in his dantian was almost depleted.
"Damn it! Just a little more!"
Moments later, the true energy in Ling Feng's dantian was no longer sufficient to support his flight. In this confined space, he couldn't even use sword riding.
And they were only about a meter away from the broken entrance gate.
Ultimately, Ling Feng and Ke Qing both fell.
"True Energy Shield."
Just as they were about to hit the underground river, Ling Feng used up all his true energy to form a shield to resist the impact.
But the two were swept away by the rapidly flowing underground river.