Thud!
A punch landed squarely on the eye of one of the white tigers, and it let out a bloodcurdling roar of pain.
Hao Yang lunged forward, breaking off one of its fangs and driving it straight into the beast's throat. A stream of bright red blood gushed forth as the tiger collapsed to the ground.
The remaining white tigers immediately pounced on Hao Yang. Their fangs sank into his flesh his arm was torn off, his neck savaged, and his leg nearly ripped apart. But even then, he refused to die.
He bit down on the neck of another white tiger with his own teeth, blood spurting out like a river.
As another tiger aimed for his head, Hao Yang mustered every last ounce of strength and thrust the broken fang in his hand into the creature's heart.
Thud!!!
It collapsed instantly. The three remaining tigers, watching the scene in horror, trembled as they had never before. Then, as if driven by instinct, they turned and fled without looking back.
Hao Yang collapsed onto the ground, his body a shredded mess an arm missing, his neck torn, his leg nearly severed. He dragged his dying body toward Su Baining, blood trailing in thick lines. With his only remaining hand, he tried to reach her face, to touch her gently one last time.
But he no longer had the strength. His hand didn't even make it to her cheek. He smiled at her one last time, tears falling from his eyes, as his eyelids slowly shut.
Su Baining, just regaining consciousness, saw Hao Yang lying in a pool of blood.
Her eyes widened. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, and her heart was torn apart by pain. She tried to call his name.
"Hao... Yang..."
But the words were barely a whisper, as though they were never spoken. She forced her broken body to crawl toward him, reaching out to grasp his hand tightly. His hand was cold colder than she had ever felt before.
She wept silently. No sound came from her throat. There was only the pain, searing through her chest and body, and yet she could do nothing about it.
BOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!
A massive explosion echoed through the forest. A large airship came crashing down from the sky, flames engulfing the trees and spreading through the woods.
Footsteps echoed.
"Do you wish to become my disciples?"
The voice rang through the forest. A young man stood before Su Baining, gazing down at her and the dying Hao Yang. His eyes were icy. Su Baining clenched her teeth, tears still flowing down her cheeks.
"Save... him..."
Han Ming looked down at the two gravely wounded youths. He slowly raised his hand and used his spiritual power to heal their injuries, halting the bleeding from their torn bodies.
Though they were both on the verge of death, Han Ming was deeply impressed by them. As the healing took effect, their consciousness began to return though their bodies were still terribly weak.
Su Baining tried to raise her head slightly. Her voice was hoarse and barely audible.
"Please... save him... you can do whatever you want with me..."
Her words made Han Ming shake his head slightly, yet he remained impressed by the strength of their resolve.
"Of course. I have no reason to harm you," Han Ming replied gently. "However, you must first pass my test."
Su Baining clenched her teeth and struggled to lift herself before lowering her head in a bow. "Thank you… Elder…"
Han Ming didn't reply further. He simply tossed two Emperor-grade pills into their mouths.
As soon as the pills slid down their throats, immense power erupted within their meridians. Torn wounds began to mend at an astonishing rate. Missing limbs regrew, fractured bones were repaired, and even the spiritual energy they had lost returned to their bodies.
Hao Yang and Su Baining widened their eyes in disbelief. They had never felt such overwhelming power before. Once their bodies had fully recovered, both of them fell to their knees before Han Ming, tears brimming in their eyes.
"Thank you, Elder!" they cried in unison.
Han Ming offered a faint smile. "Just don't let me down."
In that instant, an arcane formation activated, and a massive surge of energy swept the two into a dimension of trials.
Not long after, they were sent back. The two of them looked up at Han Ming with deep respect and gratitude before speaking together.
"We greet you, Master!"
A system notification echoed aloud.
[Congratulations to the host for acquiring the third disciple! Received 1 disciple reward box.]
[Congratulations to the host for acquiring the fourth disciple! Received 1 disciple reward box.]
Han Ming spoke. "Open them."
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Emperor-grade Pill 'Black Sun Elixir' +1, Supreme Emperor Weapon 'Divine Sun Spear' +1, Emperor Scripture 'Deity of the Sun' +1.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Emperor-grade Pill 'Frozen Lifeforce Elixir' +1, Supreme Emperor Weapon 'Emperor Ice Scythe' +1, Emperor Scripture 'Eternal Ice Heart' +1.]
Han Ming smiled slightly, then began instructing them in the two Emperor-level arts.
"You two must first learn these techniques."
He carefully explained the training methods of both cultivation arts. Hao Yang received the 'Deity of the Sun' scripture, while Su Baining received the 'Eternal Ice Heart' scripture.
As they began reading, a torrent of energy surged into their bodies.
Hao Yang felt a blazing heat ignite within him. His meridians burned like solar fire, yet he felt no pain. On the contrary, he felt stronger with each passing moment.
Su Baining, on the other hand, felt her body grow cold like it was being encased in ice. The air around her turned so frigid that even specks of dust in the air began to freeze.
Han Ming stood watching their cultivation with a satisfied smile. Afterward, he handed them pills designed to enhance and stabilize their bodies further.
The power of the pills strengthened their physiques rapidly. Each was tailored specifically for them, and the spiritual energy flowing within their bodies transformed into pure, refined threads of power.
Han Ming continued observing their training. When he saw that they had grown to the peak of Qi Control Stage 9, he finally halted their cultivation.
At last, Han Ming bestowed the Emperor-grade weapons upon them.
Hao Yang received the Divine Sun Spear, its golden and crimson light radiating outward, waves of searing energy sweeping through the forest.
Su Baining received the Imperial Ice Scythe, and the area around her instantly transformed into a frozen snowstorm.
"From this moment on, the two of you are my third and fourth disciples."
The two knelt once more. "This disciple greets Master!"
A system notification echoed in the air.
[Congratulations to the host for investing in a disciple with no fortune. Return received: 800x. Rewarded: +800 Emperor-grade Pills, +800 Emperor Weapons, +800 Emperor Scriptures.]
[Congratulations to the host for investing in a disciple with no fortune. Return received: 1000x. Rewarded: +1000 Emperor-grade Pills, +1000 Emperor Weapons, +1000 Emperor Scriptures.]
Han Ming gave a small smile, then turned toward Hao Yang and Su Baining, who were still overwhelmed and trying to make sense of what had just occurred.
"You two, come and greet your senior sister. Her name is Rong Lixian."
Rong Lixian offered them a gentle smile and nodded. Hao Yang and Su Baining quickly knelt in respect.
"Junior disciples pay respect to Senior Sister!"
Rong Lixian chuckled softly. "No need to be so formal. We're all disciples of the same sect now. From here on, we help each other."
Hao Yang and Su Baining could sense the overwhelming strength within Rong Lixian. Though she emitted no pressure, her presence alone carried a serene and commanding aura.
Han Ming watched his disciples with satisfaction. However, he didn't plan to return to the Holy Land just yet. He wanted to find one or two more disciples first.
Just then, a sharp scream from a young girl rang out.
"Who the hell are you people?!"
Han Ming turned toward the voice and saw a large group of cultivators floating in the air.
With a single glance, his eyes scanned their strength.
Dozens were at the Nirvana stage, and one stood at the Heaven's Cavern level.
The girl who shouted carried an air of arrogance, as if the world belonged to her. She wore ornate robes adorned with a blazing dragon motif the unmistakable symbol of the Imperial Hong Clan, one of the most powerful families.
But as she continued yelling in fury, an old man standing behind her suddenly stepped forward.
His body trembled violently, and his face turned deathly pale, as though awakening from a nightmare.